The 4th line is getting better every game. I wouldn't be surprised to see them catch fire and put up 4 goals a series and be the difference for us. Carter, Josefson and even Bernier are adequate-great 4th liners. MUCH better than ahl-adequate 4th liners.

I see Parise, Zajac and Elias being consistently great in the postseason, and Kovy maybe having 1-2 great series.. but idk if he'll be as consistent as these 3. I think Clarkson-Henrique will connect for a handful of goals too.

I'm hoping Greene steps it up. He's been good and unnoticeable, which is great, but I think he can do more offensively without sacrificing his D.
If Larsson comes back I expect him to be sharp and focused. Coach won't let him comeback if he is anything besides that, unless Harrold has an attrocious game. When we got Zidlicky I figured it was because either Tallinder wasn't going to be back, or Larsson/Fayne would sit. I really wish Tallinder was playing over Larsson, but Harrold is holding it down so far.

who was the WFAN Devils play by play before ML? I liked the 2 guys we had on the radio, I just can't remember who they were.

Josefson has 3 points in his last 5, 6 in the last 14. Not terrible when you consider his ice time, linemates, and the offensive play of the whole team over that period. I really think he's starting to find his offensive game at the NHL level, don't think I would consider him snake bitten anymore.
- rmdevil313

Goal-scoring wise. He's snake bitten.

The 4th line is getting better every game. I wouldn't be surprised to see them catch fire and put up 4 goals a series and be the difference for us. Carter, Josefson and even Bernier are adequate-great 4th liners. MUCH better than ahl-adequate 4th liners.

I see Parise, Zajac and Elias being consistently great in the postseason, and Kovy maybe having 1-2 great series.. but idk if he'll be as consistent as these 3. I think Clarkson-Henrique will connect for a handful of goals too.

I'm hoping Greene steps it up. He's been good and unnoticeable, which is great, but I think he can do more offensively without sacrificing his D.
If Larsson comes back I expect him to be sharp and focused. Coach won't let him comeback if he is anything besides that, unless Harrold has an attrocious game. When we got Zidlicky I figured it was because either Tallinder wasn't going to be back, or Larsson/Fayne would sit. I really wish Tallinder was playing over Larsson, but Harrold is holding it down so far.
- MartysBetter88

I know Zach had a good playoffs the year we beat Tampa in round 1 and got out round 2 vs Ottawa. But other than that he hasn't done much has he? Not sure about Zajac doing much either.

The one and only thing I would ever hold against Parise is his need to show up in the postseason. Everyone else gets bashed to no end if they don't produce, but he's been virtually non-existent in the playoffs. He needs to come out on fire, as does Kovy so then haters can STFU finally.

I like the pick-to-click of JJ. He's due to go on a stretch run of finally burying the puck, the dude gets plenty of chances.

People still keep going with this...

Fayne isn't matched up against Ovechkin for no reason. Fayne is just your not flashy solid defenseman, I don't get what everyone hates about him. To say Harrold is better than him and Larsson whose been playing real bad of late, come on now.
- _Zippy_

I'm not saying he's better than Larsson (although if you take out the "potential" bias he probably is technically, but you catch the drift), just Fayne. But as much as you don't get my disdain for Fayne, I don't get everyone's love for the guy either so we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

The one and only thing I would ever hold against Parise is his need to show up in the postseason. Everyone else gets bashed to no end if they don't produce, but he's been virtually non-existent in the playoffs. He needs to come out on fire, as does Kovy so then haters can STFU finally.

I like the pick-to-click of JJ. He's due to go on a stretch run of finally burying the puck, the dude gets plenty of chances.
- FLdevilsFAN

JJ has been playing solid. The only reason I wouldn't pick JJ to break out is because he is going to be stuck on the 4th line, and won't get any PP time. He has great skating and is good defensively. Hope he can finally stay healthy next season so he can develop.

Kovy has been huge for us this season. He has more points than Ovechkin.

He does a solid job. Compare him to most other play by play broadcasters around the league, he is better than a lot of them. He isn't as good as Doc, but then again is anyone?
- zach parise9

I like Gord miller

Kovy has been huge for us this season. He has more points than Ovechkin.
- nyy

Yeah so do a lot of players...Ov has struggled for most of the year. Still one of the best in the league.

Kovy has been huge for us this season. He has more points than Ovechkin.
- nyy

and as kovy goes so does the team, and thats a good sign as kovy keeps growing into the devils system and that will bring more success as he becomes more consistent (even when he isnt scoring)

it will be very interesting to see what parise decides to do this offseason

He is. Hence the nickname Scott 'Money' Wedgewood.
- Todd.Cordell

i like it

Kovy has been huge for us this season. He has more points than Ovechkin.
- nyy

ovechkin has been awful this year

Goal-scoring wise. He's snake bitten.
- _Zippy_

He's not a goal scorer...

I'm not saying he's better than Larsson (although if you take out the "potential" bias he probably is technically, but you catch the drift), just Fayne. But as much as you don't get my disdain for Fayne, I don't get everyone's love for the guy either so we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
- FLdevilsFAN

Fayne plays a steady all around game and is usually pretty good at keeping his mistakes low. He needs to add more grit to his game especially around the net, but he's solid at moving the puck, solid skater, solid point shot, good 1 on 1 defender, sound positioning, etc. What are your knocks on his game?

and as kovy goes so does the team, and thats a good sign as kovy keeps growing into the devils system and that will bring more success as he becomes more consistent (even when he isnt scoring)

it will be very interesting to see what parise decides to do this offseason
- dmarsden2988

Just an interesting thing I've realized.. The last couple solid players that left NJ don't really have that much success. Gomez... Bum. Gionta.. Decent player but can't stay healthy and doesnt seem to stand out. Martin.. Decent year last year. But struggling this year. Wonder if Parise would think of that? Maybe he is beat where he is? Devils bring out the best in players I guess.

He's not a goal scorer...
- rmdevil313

I know, but it doesn't mean he's not snake-bitten when it comes to goal scoring.

Just an interesting thing I've realized.. The last couple solid players that left NJ don't really have that much success. Gomez... Bum. Gionta.. Decent player but can't stay healthy and doesnt seem to stand out. Martin.. Decent year last year. But struggling this year. Wonder if Parise would think of that? Maybe he is beat where he is? Devils bring out the best in players I guess.
- K-dizzle

rafalski did pretty good and neidermayer

Fayne plays a steady all around game and is usually pretty good at keeping his mistakes low. He needs to add more grit to his game especially around the net, but he's solid at moving the puck, solid skater, solid point shot, good 1 on 1 defender, sound positioning, etc. What are your knocks on his game?
- rmdevil313

I agree on the mistakes part, he doesn't have catastrophic turnovers like some guys. I agree he needs some grit but i think more important is his awareness since he's looked dumbfounded in front of the net on more than one occasion and had several pucks go in our own net off of his own stick and skate. Can't clear the crease like most of our D men (think about how great a season Marty would've had had our D had some balls to throw some people on their asses). His puck moving has been solid the last few games, he's had some good breakout passes I'll give him that. I know his point shot has yielded some timely goals, but I disagree. I think Harrold has already, in limited action, hit the net more consistently. Fayne's skating is horrible, see above and below. As far as 1-on-1 the times that he does get beat its with speed as skaters seem likely to skate right around him, but other than that he's "solid" nothing more. Completely disagree on positioning, that's my biggest knock on him with awareness being second. He's left his man alone to chip in back door passes and rebounds all year.

All in all, I'd say he's no better than Harrold...both are essentially 7th Dmen. But I feel Harrold has earned more ice time, and since someone has to sit i think it should be Fayne. Larsson sitting has its purpose, but i think it should end come playoffs. Unless he has a horrible game in the playoffs, Larsson should play. If the Devils get another top-4 guy next season I'd love to see Fayne as our 7th defender. He can be solid, but nothing more. Which is what you need from a guy in that role. I think if he's going to start it should be minimal minutes.

I like Fayne better under JL than I do under PDB. But then again, that's a lot of players.

But, since I don't want to end on a negative note since some of you get off on that, I'll admit that PDB has done a great job this year in my opinion. Better than I though he would do. I still wanted Hitchcock, but it's past that now. So we have to be in on DeBoer, so I'm all-in on DeBoer. It's taken time and I originally thought he was a horrible hire, but I like what he's done with the offense. If this team can play well offensively during the playoffs like they have the 2nd half of the season here, they have a shot. As long as the D shows up to play mentally.

I like DeBoer and i think he increases our chances of re-signing Parise. I think, even though he hasn't had the greatest year in some respects, that Parise has had fun this year playing in PDB's system and with Kovy and Henrique (even though that experiment's over now with Zajac back). I think Parise would be foolish not to re-sign with this team.

Especially with "Money" Wedgewood waiting in the wings.

rafalski did pretty good and neidermayer
- BDizzlez

Rafalski was an undrafted God. But, in all fairness, Neids and Rafalski went to stacked teams.

Wait, Rob Neidermayer?


j/k

But Scotty had plenty of success outside NJ.

I agree on the mistakes part, he doesn't have catastrophic turnovers like some guys. I agree he needs some grit but i think more important is his awareness since he's looked dumbfounded in front of the net on more than one occasion and had several pucks go in our own net off of his own stick and skate. Can't clear the crease like most of our D men (think about how great a season Marty would've had had our D had some balls to throw some people on their asses). His puck moving has been solid the last few games, he's had some good breakout passes I'll give him that. I know his point shot has yielded some timely goals, but I disagree. I think Harrold has already, in limited action, hit the net more consistently. Fayne's skating is horrible, see above and below. As far as 1-on-1 the times that he does get beat its with speed as skaters seem likely to skate right around him, but other than that he's "solid" nothing more. Completely disagree on positioning, that's my biggest knock on him with awareness being second. He's left his man alone to chip in back door passes and rebounds all year.

All in all, I'd say he's no better than Harrold...both are essentially 7th Dmen. But I feel Harrold has earned more ice time, and since someone has to sit i think it should be Fayne. Larsson sitting has its purpose, but i think it should end come playoffs. Unless he has a horrible game in the playoffs, Larsson should play. If the Devils get another top-4 guy next season I'd love to see Fayne as our 7th defender. He can be solid, but nothing more. Which is what you need from a guy in that role. I think if he's going to start it should be minimal minutes.

I like Fayne better under JL than I do under PDB. But then again, that's a lot of players.

But, since I don't want to end on a negative note since some of you get off on that, I'll admit that PDB has done a great job this year in my opinion. Better than I though he would do. I still wanted Hitchcock, but it's past that now. So we have to be in on DeBoer, so I'm all-in on DeBoer. It's taken time and I originally thought he was a horrible hire, but I like what he's done with the offense. If this team can play well offensively during the playoffs like they have the 2nd half of the season here, they have a shot. As long as the D shows up to play mentally.

I like DeBoer and i think he increases our chances of re-signing Parise. I think, even though he hasn't had the greatest year in some respects, that Parise has had fun this year playing in PDB's system and with Kovy and Henrique (even though that experiment's over now with Zajac back). I think Parise would be foolish not to re-sign with this team.

Especially with "Money" Wedgewood waiting in the wings.

- FLdevilsFAN

i saw the long post and was thinking it was mb86 very deceiving

I know, but it doesn't mean he's not snake-bitten when it comes to goal scoring.
- _Zippy_

2 goals in the last 5 games is pretty good for a non-goal scorer.

I agree on the mistakes part, he doesn't have catastrophic turnovers like some guys. I agree he needs some grit but i think more important is his awareness since he's looked dumbfounded in front of the net on more than one occasion and had several pucks go in our own net off of his own stick and skate. Can't clear the crease like most of our D men (think about how great a season Marty would've had had our D had some balls to throw some people on their asses). His puck moving has been solid the last few games, he's had some good breakout passes I'll give him that. I know his point shot has yielded some timely goals, but I disagree. I think Harrold has already, in limited action, hit the net more consistently. Fayne's skating is horrible, see above and below. As far as 1-on-1 the times that he does get beat its with speed as skaters seem likely to skate right around him, but other than that he's "solid" nothing more. Completely disagree on positioning, that's my biggest knock on him with awareness being second. He's left his man alone to chip in back door passes and rebounds all year.

All in all, I'd say he's no better than Harrold...both are essentially 7th Dmen. But I feel Harrold has earned more ice time, and since someone has to sit i think it should be Fayne. Larsson sitting has its purpose, but i think it should end come playoffs. Unless he has a horrible game in the playoffs, Larsson should play. If the Devils get another top-4 guy next season I'd love to see Fayne as our 7th defender. He can be solid, but nothing more. Which is what you need from a guy in that role. I think if he's going to start it should be minimal minutes.

I like Fayne better under JL than I do under PDB. But then again, that's a lot of players.

But, since I don't want to end on a negative note since some of you get off on that, I'll admit that PDB has done a great job this year in my opinion. Better than I though he would do. I still wanted Hitchcock, but it's past that now. So we have to be in on DeBoer, so I'm all-in on DeBoer. It's taken time and I originally thought he was a horrible hire, but I like what he's done with the offense. If this team can play well offensively during the playoffs like they have the 2nd half of the season here, they have a shot. As long as the D shows up to play mentally.

I like DeBoer and i think he increases our chances of re-signing Parise. I think, even though he hasn't had the greatest year in some respects, that Parise has had fun this year playing in PDB's system and with Kovy and Henrique (even though that experiment's over now with Zajac back). I think Parise would be foolish not to re-sign with this team.

Especially with "Money" Wedgewood waiting in the wings.

- FLdevilsFAN

I don't think his net-work is a result of his positioning rather than just mental lapses. He's usually right by the guy he leaves alone, he just needs to get him the (frank) outta the way or tie him up.