We've got to get the guys who are slumping to start producing.
Brunner's confidence has to be at an all time low right now, if he could get something going on that top line then maybe the confidence rises and he starts contributing.
- FAZOOL

If Brunner or Ryder's name was Mogilany I would agree with you. But these guys aren't all stars and do not deserve such preferential treatment. Brunner should be a healthy scratch at this point guy has done nothing but hurt the team with stupid penalties. If JJ, Teddy, Larsson and every other young kid has a leash as long as a pinky why should they be any different.

We can only hope
- shvingter88

He as been assigned to the Devils sled hockey team affiliate

He's not returning.
- FAZOOL

If he does he'll probably be slower.

If Brunner or Ryder's name was Mogilany I would agree with you. But these guys aren't all stars and do not deserve such preferential treatment. Brunner should be a healthy scratch at this point guy has done nothing but hurt the team with stupid penalties. If JJ, Teddy, Larsson and every other young kid has a leash as long as a pinky why should they be any different.
- NickA

Good point, i didn't take into consideration the preferential treatment.
By no means should he be rewarded for crappy play by being put on the top line, i was thinking more along the lines of getting him kick started. Hopefully the west coast trip will get him going!

Good point, i didn't take into consideration the preferential treatment.
By no means should he be rewarded for crappy play by being put on the top line, i was thinking more along the lines of getting him kick started. Hopefully the west coast trip will get him going!
- FAZOOL

Needs to show something before we can promote him up a line. Hopefully he does something on this road to make the coach do something. It's not like Henrique who was playing good and getting put on the third line. He is the guy we really need to get going and should worry about.

So what the (frank) is Lou's explanation for not keeping Merril up? If one guy goes down aka peter Harold when he gets steamrolled into the fifth row who the hell is going to play defense? Teddy!? He better call up another Dman if not Merril before we go out.

Good point, i didn't take into consideration the preferential treatment.
By no means should he be rewarded for crappy play by being put on the top line, i was thinking more along the lines of getting him kick started. Hopefully the west coast trip will get him going!
- FAZOOL

He to me seems to be exactly like every other player that was supposed to be the best player not playing in the nhl. Just poop. There are reasons why these guys aren't playing in the NHL because they are used to the softer leagues with giant ice surfaces where you could skate for 3 days straight and never see another player. Bring them over here to the smaller ice and the north american game and they struggle mightily. Now I realize we didn't pull him over from europe that he played in the nhl last season and signed as a free agent from the wings but still he is just like those other guys. He is a fringe NHLer that is getting way more ice time and pp time then he is good for hence a little more points then a fringe nhler who sees 3 games a year and gets 5 minutes of ice time in those 3 games.

So what the (frank) is Lou's explanation for not keeping Merril up? If one guy goes down aka peter Harold when he gets steamrolled into the fifth row who the hell is going to play defense? Teddy!? He better call up another Dman if not Merril before we go out.
- NickA

Travis Zajac is doing such a great job on the point of the pp he might just put him back there if an injury occurs.

So what the (frank) is Lou's explanation for not keeping Merril up? If one guy goes down aka peter Harold when he gets steamrolled into the fifth row who the hell is going to play defense? Teddy!? He better call up another Dman if not Merril before we go out.
- NickA

What's going on with Salvador; any word on when he's coming back?

What's going on with Salvador; any word on when he's coming back?
- FAZOOL

His foot is concussed.

His foot is concussed.
- blizzzard

- shvingter88

I am really surprised that out of all the teams looking for defense none are "rumored" to be talking with NJ. So either Lou isn't shopping any of them or Liles is such an upgrade over all of our D that would be available ( which in my opinion should be everyone not named Larsson, Gelinas, Merril ). I don't know why anyone would want Liles he has fallen into Komisarek territory and that's the bottom line. You don't put a guy like that in the AHL if you could be show casing him and he is still a legit nhl player instead of a 6th or 7th guy.

I am really surprised that out of all the teams looking for defense none are "rumored" to be talking with NJ. So either Lou isn't shopping any of them or Liles is such an upgrade over all of our D that would be available ( which in my opinion should be everyone not named Larsson, Gelinas, Merril ). I don't know why anyone would want Liles he has fallen into Komisarek territory and that's the bottom line. You don't put a guy like that in the AHL if you could be show casing him and he is still a legit nhl player instead of a 6th or 7th guy.
- blizzzard

If only we could dump volchenkov. Salvador too. Neither will happen.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=692054&navid=DL|NHL|home

Here is the down low on that series the NHL is going to have.

If only we could dump volchenkov. Salvador too. Neither will happen.
- shvingter88

I am honestly not so much worried about Salvador. He only has about this year maybe 1 more left in him and he will retire. Volchenkov has like 3 left Zid is up after this season but is only 36 so for his next contract Lou will give him a a 3 year 12 mil (4 a year ) deal. Fayne will be lost in free agency ( You guessed it for nothing ). Harrold I am not sure if he has a year left after this season I think he does but he will sign an extension to keep him here for another 4 years 10 mil ( 2.5 a year ).

I am honestly not so much worried about Salvador. He only has about this year maybe 1 more left in him and he will retire. Volchenkov has like 3 left Zid is up after this season but is only 36 so for his next contract Lou will give him a a 3 year 12 mil (4 a year ) deal. Fayne will be lost in free agency ( You guessed it for nothing ). Harrold I am not sure if he has a year left after this season I think he does but he will sign an extension to keep him here for another 4 years 10 mil ( 2.5 a year ).
- blizzzard

Harold is getting at least 6 million a year who are you kidding.

Harold is getting at least 6 million a year who are you kidding.
- NickA

That's when I will have to hand in my Devils fan card.

Harold is getting at least 6 million a year who are you kidding.
- NickA

And he'll be named captain!

Harold is getting at least 6 million a year who are you kidding.
- NickA

With the minutes he logs each night it's worth it

With the minutes he logs each night it's worth it
- shvingter88

Harrold is in the Pete DeBoer Hall of Fame at least, right below Carter and above Gionta.

The next two weeks on the schedule are troublesome. Need to get out of this tough West coast jaunt with 3 points and then really take care of business with Carolina. They are a point ahead of the Devils but somehow a -19 in goal differential.

Harrold is in the Pete DeBoer Hall of Fame at least, right below Carter and above Gionta.

The next two weeks on the schedule are troublesome. Need to get out of this tough West coast jaunt with 3 points and then really take care of business with Carolina. They are a point ahead of the Devils but somehow a -19 in goal differential.
- ElvisLemieux

Cam Ward has just returned though so they could be swinging back up instead of continuing to drop.

Cam Ward has just returned though so they could be swinging back up instead of continuing to drop.
- blizzzard

And they've always haunted the Devils, too. Never an easy game.

Doomed

So what the (frank) is Lou's explanation for not keeping Merril up? If one guy goes down aka peter Harold when he gets steamrolled into the fifth row who the hell is going to play defense? Teddy!? He better call up another Dman if not Merril before we go out.
- NickA

It is better if he goes down and gets some games in, instead of being a healthy scratch. He can be called up if an injury happens.

It is better if he goes down and gets some games in, instead of being a healthy scratch. He can be called up if an injury happens.
- Rseen

That's fine but they should of brought someone else up. Just don't want to see some dman go down in the first game and not be able to get a call up here in time for the next game.