I think Sal playing is a decision that comes from Lou. Everytime DeBoer is asked about Sal he brings up poop like intangibles, character, "he's our captain", etc. Never talks about his actual play.
- rmdevil313

I have a ferrari... but it has a weed whacker engine in it. It's still a ferrari though

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ponds_to_his_critics.html
- TheJerseyDevil1

We get it, he brings veteran leadership to a young defensive corps. That's a fine reason to have him on the team, a "meh" reason to have him in the lineup every night, but absolutely not a reason to give him 20+ minutes of ice time/night, especially in key situations.

I think Sal playing is a decision that comes from Lou. Everytime DeBoer is asked about Sal he brings up poop like intangibles, character, "he's our captain", etc. Never talks about his actual play.
- rmdevil313

He says the same poop about Gio it's not Lou PDB loves Bryce.

I have a ferrari... but it has a weed whacker engine in it. It's still a ferrari though
- blizzzard

Basically, although I don't know if Salvador was ever a ferarri.

Basically, although I don't know if Salvador was ever a ferarri.
- rmdevil313

Intangibles man !

He says the same poop about Gio it's not Lou PDB loves Bryce.
- NickA

Gionta gets 4th line minutes, Bryce gets 20+. Yeah, pete puts him in stupid situations but he does that with everyone. Pete's also not the only coach that likes some character players on his 4th line.

Gionta gets 4th line minutes, Bryce gets 20+. Yeah, pete puts him in stupid situations but he does that with everyone. Pete's also not the only coach that likes some character players on his 4th line.
- rmdevil313

We need to bring in an assistant coach is who is going to challenge Pete a guy who is going to want his job and also a guy who is going to be there and say woah wtf are you doing someone with no attatchments to the sals and gios of the team. Hell same could be said about Lou. These guys have gotten to complacent and they don't answer to anyone they just get to sit there and tell the fans that we don't know what we are talking about and that the best players are playing...

So I guess Tootoo will miss a couple games after that blocked shot. So at least there's that.

We need to bring in an assistant coach is who is going to challenge Pete a guy who is going to want his job and also a guy who is going to be there and say woah wtf are you doing someone with no attatchments to the sals and gios of the team. Hell same could be said about Lou. These guys have gotten to complacent and they don't answer to anyone they just get to sit there and tell the fans that we don't know what we are talking about and that the best players are playing...
- blizzzard

To be honest I don't think Pete is guaranteed to have this job much longer. Lou still needs to make the playoffs, and 3 years in a row especially after the moves that Lou made over the summer might be enough to get him fired.

So I guess Tootoo will miss a couple games after that blocked shot. So at least there's that.
- TheJerseyDevil1

So I'm guessing we'll hear about Bernier getting called up soon.

So I'm guessing we'll hear about Bernier getting called up soon.
- rmdevil313

Still need one more or maybe two more guys to be injured first. We have Ruutu waiting to come back in and JJ waiting for his first chance I believe.

Still need one more or maybe two more guys to be injured first. We have Ruutu waiting to come back in and JJ waiting for his first chance I believe.
- blizzzard

I was joking, definitely think Ruutu will get another chance.

To be honest I don't think Pete is guaranteed to have this job much longer. Lou still needs to make the playoffs, and 3 years in a row especially after the moves that Lou made over the summer might be enough to get him fired.
- rmdevil313

I know every one thinks trades are so hard to make but they happen a lot. You could argue that those trades don't always work out but Lou needs to try this could be year three like you said and the earlier you get on something the better. It makes 0 sense to have a first round pick like JJ not playing regularily in any league for the 3rd straight season. At what point to we start treating our first round picks like they should be ? It's more then to late for Teddy and JJ but holy (frank) to waste almost 4 years of first round picks is crazy. It's not like they just didn't pan out the case is we helped a lot in their not panning out and it looks like the same thing is starting to happen to Larsson. How do you get away with running a franchise like this ? Something has to be done and yea it will involve risk but if you aren't taking risks in this league then you aren't going to win anything. I don't give a crap how many fourth line players we took a risk on that isn't what I mean at all I mean bringing in a big time player for a very large asset. This team is never going to rebuild right ? so why not trade the first in 2016 ? and Larsson and a roster player for something nice? hell even throw in a 2nd in this years draft. That way you give up one roster player for a really good roster player and the rest are pieces needed for a rebuild which we would just use on more safe players instead of game changers.

So I guess Tootoo will miss a couple games after that blocked shot. So at least there's that.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I thought Brunner played pretty well the last game. He skated with authority, nice to have some speed out there.

With our luck Severson will ask for the moon on his deal. How about a Larsson for Baertschi trade ? They where both drafted in 2011 and both have failed to stay in the line ups. I think it would be good for both teams and both players to get a change of scenery and Sven can play all year in Albany with Boucher and Matteau where as Larsson would have to clear waivers to be sent down.
- blizzzard

That might be a deal Calgary might explore. Especially with what is going on with them and Wideman. They have Bennett, Porier, Gaudreau, Monahan, Jooris, Stajan, Klimchuk etc.

I thought Brunner played pretty well the last game. He skated with authority, nice to have some speed out there.
- TRDevil

Yeah I liked him too, I just don't like him on the 4th line. He looked great when he was out of a checking role on the PP.

Maybe Zubrus will take one for the team and move down

I thought Brunner played pretty well the last game. He skated with authority, nice to have some speed out there.
- TRDevil

Ruutu - JJ - Brunner on the 4th line?

I know you guys say that JJ isn't a fourth line center, but the others aren't really 4th liners either.

This is what I dont get. Ill give Brunner credit he did play quite well... But to say he is the only player with speed is crazy. Henrique is not slow at all neither is Zajac, Greene, Zid, Havlat, Elias, Gionta, Severson, Merril, Gelinas, Cammy. By my count that is at the least 3 guys playing that we didnt have last year that really impoves the speed of the team. The guys who are slow are Clowe, Ryder, Sal, Zubs, Larsson. Everyone else is either a pretty quick skater or above average and by no means slow. The excuse to have brunner in solely because of speed isn't a real reason anymore.

I know every one thinks trades are so hard to make but they happen a lot. You could argue that those trades don't always work out but Lou needs to try this could be year three like you said and the earlier you get on something the better. It makes 0 sense to have a first round pick like JJ not playing regularily in any league for the 3rd straight season. At what point to we start treating our first round picks like they should be ? It's more then to late for Teddy and JJ but holy (frank) to waste almost 4 years of first round picks is crazy. It's not like they just didn't pan out the case is we helped a lot in their not panning out and it looks like the same thing is starting to happen to Larsson. How do you get away with running a franchise like this ? Something has to be done and yea it will involve risk but if you aren't taking risks in this league then you aren't going to win anything. I don't give a crap how many fourth line players we took a risk on that isn't what I mean at all I mean bringing in a big time player for a very large asset. This team is never going to rebuild right ? so why not trade the first in 2016 ? and Larsson and a roster player for something nice? hell even throw in a 2nd in this years draft. That way you give up one roster player for a really good roster player and the rest are pieces needed for a rebuild which we would just use on more safe players instead of game changers.
- blizzzard

Here's the problem though, this team that's willing to give up the franchise/elite player has to want larsson. Eberle might be available, but edmonton is probably looking for a more established defensman to help their team, not a player with potential like larsson. Winnipeg has lots of talented defensman and might not want a package around larsson for kane.

That might be a deal Calgary might explore. Especially with what is going on with them and Wideman. They have Bennett, Porier, Gaudreau, Monahan, Jooris, Stajan, Klimchuk etc.
- tomburton99

It's poor asset management on our part. We need to do something with this kid. Already lost former first round picks Tedenby for nothing we won't get anything for Josefson at this point and Larsson didn't look to sharp in his first game of the season ( albeit he has sat for 5 games so I give him some benefit of doubt ) but we have done enough watching of players leave for absolutely nothing. Parise, Kovalchuk, Clarkson, Tedenby ( ruined ) Josefson ( ruined ). We need to get something out of Larsson before it's to late.

Here's the problem though, this team that's willing to give up the franchise/elite player has to want larsson. Eberle might be available, but edmonton is probably looking for a more established defensman to help their team, not a player with potential like larsson. Winnipeg has lots of talented defensman and might not want a package around larsson for kane.
- rmdevil313

Why not add Skinner to the list of players on our team with Concussions ? Why not see if a package like that can get you Eric Staal ? The Canes are going nowhere fast they could take a risk and have a roster spot for a Larsson and have two firsts in 2016 and two seconds in this years draft. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be a team or player who is having troubles just blow them away with an offer. Whats it going to hurt to make a big shake up to are team if it's a move you can argue makes us better today ? I'm sick about hearing what something might do to the locker room ( that's what we have Sal for )

Why not add Skinner to the list of players on our team with Concussions ? Why not see if a package like that can get you Eric Staal ? The Canes are going nowhere fast they could take a risk and have a roster spot for a Larsson and have two firsts in 2016 and two seconds in this years draft. Sometimes it doesn't even have to be a team or player who is having troubles just blow them away with an offer. Whats it going to hurt to make a big shake up to are team if it's a move you can argue makes us better today ? I'm sick about hearing what something might do to the locker room ( that's what we have Sal for )
- blizzzard

No thanks on staal, he's been on the decline for a while.

Actually if his brothers came along I might be down for it.

No thanks on staal, he's been on the decline for a while.

Actually if his brothers came along I might be down for it.
- shvingter88

You mean all of them ? I wouldn't want two Zajacs on the team which pretty much what Jordan is. We can't have our cake and eat it apparently. If we make a trade for someone like Staal everyone would say no way he is to old then if you make a trade for eberle or kane its we don't rebuild so what we just stay the course and finish 10-8th forever like the Calgary Flames did forever before they finally relized they where a lot farther away then they had thought. Thats the exact team that comes to mind when I think of this Devils team and their mentality is that Flames team that was just so clueless about where they where at and the personnel they had. This team is a sloppy mess of crappy old players and free agent signings there is maybe 3 decent pieces on this entire team and we or the people in charge run this team like we still have Parise and Kovalchuk...

You mean all of them ? I wouldn't want two Zajacs on the team which pretty much what Jordan is. We can't have our cake and eat it apparently. If we make a trade for someone like Staal everyone would say no way he is to old then if you make a trade for eberle or kane its we don't rebuild so what we just stay the course and finish 10-8th forever like the Calgary Flames did forever before they finally relized they where a lot farther away then they had thought. Thats the exact team that comes to mind when I think of this Devils team and their mentality is that Flames team that was just so clueless about where they where at and the personnel they had. This team is a sloppy mess of crappy old players and free agent signings there is maybe 3 decent pieces on this entire team and we or the people in charge run this team like we still have Parise and Kovalchuk...
- blizzzard

With all of the players going UFA over the next two years we will have a pseudo rebuild anyhow. I really hope most of them are not re-signed.

They have Zubrus on the first line again in practice.