I think at this point it's a given some of these guys are gonna be on the way out.

There's an overabundance of bottom 6 FWs. You can't stuff 10lbs of poop in a 5 lb bag and sell it as a dozen roses.

Maybe ditch Brunner too, I know some people are in love with his youth & speed but if you can't cut it in offensively starved NJ where's it's one dinosaur competing with another, or one trash bin player competing with another, then maybe youre not cut out for the NHL.

Remember when everyone got bent about losing Bergfors, Halischuk, and Urbom?

Some of these guys are expendable. Actually quite a few are. It's time for Lou to trim the fat.

There's still gonna be quite a bit of fat on this roster, but he could trim some off.

I think at this point it's a given some of these guys are gonna be on the way out.

There's an overabundance of bottom 6 FWs. You can't stuff 10lbs of poop in a 5 lb bag and sell it as a dozen roses.
- FLdevilsFAN

I think Bernier will be sent down. I don't see the point in keeping him up here when he wouldn't be playing with 14 FW all ready signed, not including Gomez, Carter and Tootoo.

I think at this point it's a given some of these guys are gonna be on the way out.

There's an overabundance of bottom 6 FWs. You can't stuff 10lbs of poop in a 5 lb bag and sell it as a dozen roses.

Maybe ditch Brunner too, I know some people are in love with his youth & speed but if you can't cut it in offensively starved NJ where's it's one dinosaur competing with another, or one trash bin player competing with another, then maybe youre not cut out for the NHL.

Remember when everyone got bent about losing Bergfors, Halischuk, and Urbom?

Some of these guys are expendable. Actually quite a few are. It's time for Lou to trim the fat.

There's still gonna be quite a bit of fat on this roster, but he could trim some off.
- FLdevilsFAN

Halischuk has become an decent third liner, I wouldn't mind him if we had some guys that were better than the guys we have, but now he would be just like most the other guys we have.

Edit: Bernier, Gionta, Ryder, Brunner I think should go and that's just on FWs. With Ruutu and Zubrus being in the bottom six now it pushes out two guys, because of signing Cam/Havlat.

Cam, Zajac, Jagr, Elias, Rico, Havlat, Clowe, Zubrus, Ruutu, JJ, that's ten guys. Carter, Tootoo should be signed, IMO, Tootoo is better than Bernier, that's 12. They should only sign Gomez if they are gonna use him in a top 9 role, signing him for a 4th line role is a waste, and IMO he would be better and produce more if put with Elias/Havlat, but that makes too much sense, so Lou/Pete won't do that.

We have 14 forwards, 9 defenseman, and 3 goalies signed. Severson and Helgeson will be in Albany and either Clemmensen/Kinkaid. That's gives us 23 players, this does not include Gomez, Tootoo, Carter. If one or two are signed, and Bernier, Gionta sent down, or trades occur like Brunner/Ryder than we would have enough room for him.
- Devils9503

Bernier and Gionta will most likely not get sent down, they don't have 2 way contracts. My gut tells me that the first roster spot opened up will go to carter. It wouldn't make sense for him to turn down guaranteed money for an opportunity to win a roster spot on a tryout. So now Lou would be moving 2 forwards (which he seems to be having trouble doing) so we can carry 8 defensmen when we already have Helgeson and Severson in albany? Doesn't seem to be worth the trouble just to get another young defensman when we already have plenty.

Bernier and Gionta will most likely not get sent down, they don't have 2 way contracts. My gut tells me that the first roster spot opened up will go to carter. It wouldn't make sense for him to turn down guaranteed money for an opportunity to win a roster spot on a tryout. So now Lou would be moving 2 forwards (which he seems to be having trouble doing) so we can carry 8 defensmen when we already have Helgeson and Severson in albany? Doesn't seem to be worth the trouble just to get another young defensman when we already have plenty.
- rmdevil313

You could never have enough young good defenseman, when the two you have will be in the minors and he is ready now. As for Gionta and Bernier, unless they don't sign one of the three tryout guys two will be sitting anyways every game.

You could never have enough young good defenseman, when the two you have will be in the minors and he is ready now. As for Gionta and Bernier, unless they don't sign one of the three tryout guys two will be sitting anyways every game.
- Devils9503

That would be the plan, with more forwards you typically need the extra replacement. And what do you mean by he is ready now? He is very unproven averaging only 9 mins a game in his short stint last season. Let's not act like he would come in with a starting spot in the lineup. He would most likely be the 8th defensman with two more than capable call-ups waiting in Albany which is why I don't think it makes sense to add him.

Bernier and Gionta will most likely not get sent down, they don't have 2 way contracts. My gut tells me that the first roster spot opened up will go to carter. It wouldn't make sense for him to turn down guaranteed money for an opportunity to win a roster spot on a tryout. So now Lou would be moving 2 forwards (which he seems to be having trouble doing) so we can carry 8 defensmen when we already have Helgeson and Severson in albany? Doesn't seem to be worth the trouble just to get another young defensman when we already have plenty.
- rmdevil313

i agree We have an abundance of young D, and yes you can have too many because you're not going to ice 3 rookies every few years. No use in going crazy to bring this guy in. Merril, Larsson, Gelinas, Severson, Helgeson, Santini, Jacobs? and maybe Scarlet.. all young, all could be in the NHL for the next 10-15 years. Chances are we'd sign UFAs along the way anyway. We don't need another dman.

the Ruutu-Gomez-Brunner line is what I'm sticking with. Either that or Tootoo on the right. But Tootoo isn't THAT much better than Bernier, so idk if we bother (but why give him a tryout then? because Lou.) Then there's Ruutu-Carter-Bernier and "do it live". It's offense vs. checking with these 2 4th lines. I think we need to shoot for the offense (pun). Plus having Gomez gives us another decent powerplay guy.

Gelinas looks beast mode so far. It is nice to be in a "who is better" situation rather than another "who is the least bad" situation.
- TRDevil

Oooh baby.


-Keeper owner

I think at this point it's a given some of these guys are gonna be on the way out.

There's an overabundance of bottom 6 FWs. You can't stuff 10lbs of poop in a 5 lb bag and sell it as a dozen roses.

Maybe ditch Brunner too, I know some people are in love with his youth & speed but if you can't cut it in offensively starved NJ where's it's one dinosaur competing with another, or one trash bin player competing with another, then maybe youre not cut out for the NHL.

Remember when everyone got bent about losing Bergfors, Halischuk, and Urbom?

Some of these guys are expendable. Actually quite a few are. It's time for Lou to trim the fat.

There's still gonna be quite a bit of fat on this roster, but he could trim some off.
- FLdevilsFAN

Uh.....no?(Only reason anyone was upset with Urbom was because it was through waivers)

And I don't think anyone here is really begrudging Lou shipping out some of the dead weight. The problem is that Lou is stuck between a rock and 29 cheapskate GMs

Uh.....no?(Only reason anyone was upset with Urbom was because it was through waivers)

And I don't think anyone here is really begrudging Lou shipping out some of the dead weight. The problem is that Lou is stuck between a rock and 29 cheapskate GMs
- bobert836

There have been plenty of trades made since Lou made a trade last and to he honest it's still one that I shake my head at. With that in mind I think it's more an issue of how cheap Lou is more then it is the other gms. I'm sure he is trying to move the two worst players we have and likely is over valuing them and every gm in the league has a clear perspective on what the guys Lou is offering and aren't going to give (frank) all up for players just because Lou over values them.

Next year we could see Helgeson replacing Salvador and Severson replacing Zidlicky. I like the way the D is falling into place. Then when Santini is ready, we can trade the weakest link in our young D core and be set for years to come

I just read the comment section of TG's articles and it is painful to see how clueless some of our fans are...

So much for all of those Bobby Ryan hopes for next year!

So much for all of those Bobby Ryan hopes for next year!
- TRDevil

Thank (frank)ing God

Such an overpayment

Thank (frank)ing God

Such an overpayment
- shvingter88

Its amazing how much players are getting these days. These teams better hope their prospect pool turns out or they will be very top heavy. I guess with the buyout provision it is not that big of a deal but some of these teams are allocating much cap in one or two guys.

Its amazing how much players are getting these days. These teams better hope their prospect pool turns out or they will be very top heavy. I guess with the buyout provision it is not that big of a deal but some of these teams are allocating much cap in one or two guys.
- TRDevil

Really surprised they gave him that money because that team is broke as poop

Next year we could see Helgeson replacing Salvador and Severson replacing Zidlicky. I like the way the D is falling into place. Then when Santini is ready, we can trade the weakest link in our young D core and be set for years to come
- IrischesGlueck

exactly. i'm in no rush to get them here. let them play tons of games against top competition in Albany. They'd make a perfect pair really.

just realized Janssen is still on the team

Josefson will get a shot to prove himself in Gomez's spot between Ruutu and Brunner.

sooo there's no tv, radio, or stream available for the game tonight? what the hell

We have a lot of young Dmen that are either NHL ready or close. Many are good and have top 4 potential. I think Helgeson is going to be a solid player for us. Big physical defensive Dman, could get called up due to injuries if someone like Salvador is out, but should be ready for full time duties next season. I think Severson will be ready next season too. Helgeson will be 25 next season but a rookie, not exactly super young but not experienced in the NHL level. Can we really go with a d corp consisting of Merrill, Larsson, Gelinas, Helgeson and Severson along with the vet Greene? Its possible but I think it might be a good idea to trade someone for a good young forward. We have Santini coming up too.

Possible pairs next season:
Greene-Merrill
Gelinas-Larsson
Helgeson-Severson

We have a lot of young Dmen that are either NHL ready or close. Many are good and have top 4 potential. I think Helgeson is going to be a solid player for us. Big physical defensive Dman, could get called up due to injuries if someone like Salvador is out, but should be ready for full time duties next season. I think Severson will be ready next season too. Helgeson will be 25 next season but a rookie, not exactly super young but not experienced in the NHL level. Can we really go with a d corp consisting of Merrill, Larsson, Gelinas, Helgeson and Severson along with the vet Greene? Its possible but I think it might be a good idea to trade someone for a good young forward. We have Santini coming up too.

Possible pairs next season:
Greene-Merrill
Gelinas-Larsson
Helgeson-Severson
- Rseen

it's gona be either good, or a train wreck. A lot rides on how Gelinas-Larsson pan out this year.

sooo there's no tv, radio, or stream available for the game tonight? what the hell
- Senor_Elias

it's the Devils, man

Thank (frank)ing God

Such an overpayment
- shvingter88

You have to overpay to keep stars now. I don't think it is that bad of a deal.

it's gona be either good, or a train wreck. A lot rides on how Gelinas-Larsson pan out this year.
- MartysBetter88

They need to take a step forward, especially Larsson. Gelinas has to get better defensively. Larsson needs to take a top 4 role, not good enough to be an average Dman.

You have to overpay to keep stars now. I don't think it is that bad of a deal.
- Rseen

He only had 7.15 million worthy seasons playing with a bunch of stars on the loaded '10 and '11 Ducks teams, where he went 35, 29 and 34, 37. Other than that, he's been a 60 point player. He should be the 3rd option in a team's offense, 2nd at best, not their #1. He's being paid like a #1.

But Ottawa has to keep some sort of established goal scorer, so they overpay.