Clarkson almost feels that he has to be loyal after Lou gave him the chance. He is very thankful that Lou gave him a shot and he tries to repay that. That's where Clarkson's staying in New Jersey stems from.
- _Zippy_

That means nothing: Rafalski was a nobody and the Devils made him into an NHLer (see how old he was when he "broke out") and then he bolted for Detroit.

fayne won't be ready for the start of the season so we'll roll larsson, fayne, tallinder, greene, salvador and zidlicky and we always get injuries throughout the year so i imagine once fayne gets back someone else will be injured.
- BDizzlez

fayne may play at the start, depending how he heals and rehabs, and if lou and deboar feel comfortable and confident where he is

i remember seeing that he should be back in time for the season when news first broke that he is/got surgery

even if he is ready i dont know who he would play with in a pairing, so i do feel like Lou has something up his sleeve trade wise, hopefully for a top 6 winger (and still sign semin to a short term deal)

volchenkov-zidlicky
greene-salvador
tallinder-larsson

That means nothing: Rafalski was a nobody and the Devils made him into an NHLer (see how old he was when he "broke out") and then he bolted for Detroit.
- archromat

I know about Rafalski, but Clarkson is a lot more appreciative. You just see everything he says about the organization, especially when he signed his latest deal. It was just all praise and being thankful that Lamoriello gave him a shot.

The devils shouldn't go get Gionta back; Sykora's the same skill bracket as he is and he only comes at 1M a season. I was happy to see them (Gio and Gomez) leave. The only players anyone should want on Montreal right now are PK Subban, David Desharnais, Carey Price, or Max Pacioretty, and they're all not for trade. The rest are inconsistent.

I doubt the Devils are getting Ryan. I think they should pick up Mueller and trade for another top six forward to make somewhat of a versatile surplus (in the case of injury) since the organization isn't deep on forward prospects. Tallinder would be the ideal candidate for the trade. I just hope they don't deal for Ales Hemsky.

They're not going to acquire Semin because he's too inconsistent. Why get a psychological pit for 5 years? Way too risky. Sure, they might fix his game and if he returns to the skill he's capable of, he's a bargain. But he reminds me of Alex Kovalev... you don't know what you're going get from him. Some nights, two goals, other nights he might as well have not been playing.

Lou just (hopefully) isn't silly enough to give Semin a risky deal. He'll probably more likely sign with Detroit as I think they're more desperate.
- archromat

i wouldnt mind eric cole either IMO

and IF we sign semin (short term) it will mean the other team will have to at least focus on him even if he isnt in the "zone" and being a threat as they know he has a shot that could change the game and by that it will allow kovalchuk more room and not be locked down, you cant just look at 1 player and his production, he is a threat even when he doesnt get on the scoresheet

if we dont have another threat other than kovy then it will be easy to stop him and dry up our offense

unfortunately there really isnt anyone available other then semin and we dont have the pieces to trade for a top 6 forward that would help without overpaying (we are not getting ryan) and we all know doan isnt signing here

I know about Rafalski, but Clarkson is a lot more appreciative. You just see everything he says about the organization, especially when he signed his latest deal. It was just all praise and being thankful that Lamoriello gave him a shot.
- _Zippy_

parise said the same kinda stuff to a degree, i wont believe it till it happens from now on

parise said the same kinda stuff to a degree, i wont believe it till it happens from now on
- dmarsden2988

I still believe that Parise's was genuine. He was obviously torn between NJ and Minnesota. He wanted to be loyal, but in the end, his family swayed him a bit and the history between his dad and it being his home state was too good to pass up. It still took Suter agreeing to sign in Minnesota before Parise signed, I still believe that had Suter not signed in Minnesota, or mutually agreed to with Parise, he would be in New Jersey. I would be absolutely pissed if he was goner on July 1st or 2nd, but since he took his time, it was obviously tough for him to walk away from NJ regardless.

i wouldnt mind eric cole either IMO

and IF we sign semin (short term) it will mean the other team will have to at least focus on him even if he isnt in the "zone" and being a threat as they know he has a shot that could change the game and by that it will allow kovalchuk more room and not be locked down, you cant just look at 1 player and his production, he is a threat even when he doesnt get on the scoresheet

if we dont have another threat other than kovy then it will be easy to stop him and dry up our offense

unfortunately there really isnt anyone available other then semin and we dont have the pieces to trade for a top 6 forward that would help without overpaying (we are not getting ryan) and we all know doan isnt signing here
- dmarsden2988

Elias is a bigger offensive threat than Parise. We have two threats in Kovalchuk and Elias, and Zajac, Zubrus, Henrique are all great complimentary pieces and are also threats.

Elias is a bigger offensive threat than Parise. We have two threats in Kovalchuk and Elias, and Zajac, Zubrus, Henrique are all great complimentary pieces and are also threats.
- _Zippy_

elias is getting up there in age and while he has been productive consistently, i dont know how long he can keep that up, i would love it if he could.

but look at 2 seasons ago without parise, we were only winning games due to defense and not because we were scoring, and deboar has a more open game then what lemaire used

(Sign Semin to about 6.5 per for 5 years and then sign Sykora for maybe a small bump up from what he was getting) and trade Tallinder and Tedenby for Brian Gionta. That would all fit under that cap with room to spare and it would still leave us with
Volchenkov Greene
Salvador Zidlicky
Larsson Harrold
and there would still be Fayne pending we don't let him walk in arbitration. Semins career stats are a little better than Zachs with fewer games played and he is friends with Kovalchuk who has proven to be a hard working Russian who wouldn't let his bud slack off. Then having Sykora around would be good for the Elias line, and who wouldn't want to see Carter flanked by both Giontas.
Kovalchuk Henrique Semin
Elias Zajac Sykora
Clarkson Zubrus Bernier or Josefson
Gionta Carter Gionta
- Jeff_121

That comment is full of fails.

That comment is full of fails.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I still don't get the "Lets trade for Brian Gionta's 5 million dollar salary to have him play on the fourth line" idea.

I still believe that Parise's was genuine. He was obviously torn between NJ and Minnesota. He wanted to be loyal, but in the end, his family swayed him a bit and the history between his dad and it being his home state was too good to pass up. It still took Suter agreeing to sign in Minnesota before Parise signed, I still believe that had Suter not signed in Minnesota, or mutually agreed to with Parise, he would be in New Jersey. I would be absolutely pissed if he was goner on July 1st or 2nd, but since he took his time, it was obviously tough for him to walk away from NJ regardless.
- _Zippy_

Thats one way to look at it. I look at it as he was working with Suter the whole time and only used the devils and his so called desire to be loyal and stay as tactic to get more money.

I still don't get the "Lets trade for Brian Gionta's 5 million dollar salary to have him play on the fourth line" idea.
- _Zippy_

Gionta Bros...

Thats one way to look at it. I look at it as he was working with Suter the whole time and only used the devils and his so called desire to be loyal and stay as tactic to get more money.
- NickA

If it was about the money, he would've signed elsewhere where more money was offered. His family definitely swayed him, you could tell his dad wasn't particularly fond of NJ and his wife lived in Minnesota during the season. That had a ton to do with it, Gomez was just a douchebag that went with the money, I understand his hate but the hate towards Parise, to me, isn't justifiable or warranted. From a fans standpoint, it's disappointing but he's not a fan. I was worried all along about the lack of ties to NJ with his family or anything. He had no ties to NJ besides playing for the Devils, no house, no gf, etc. If he met a girl in NJ, it would be a totally different story.

If it was about the money, he would've signed elsewhere where more money was offered. His family definitely swayed him, you could tell his dad wasn't particularly fond of NJ and his wife lived in Minnesota during the season. That had a ton to do with it, Gomez was just a douchebag that went with the money, I understand his hate but the hate towards Parise, to me, isn't justifiable or warranted. From a fans standpoint, it's disappointing but he's not a fan. I was worried all along about the lack of ties to NJ with his family or anything. He had no ties to NJ besides playing for the Devils, no house, no gf, etc. If he met a girl in NJ, it would be a totally different story.
- _Zippy_

Whatever it was, I'd just hope the Devils fans stay classy. These things have a way of coming back to haunt whoever loses in the situation. If the fans stay bitter about it, bad things happen; if the fans stay classy about it and let bygones be bygones, then good things will probably happen in New Jersey because it'll be a positive atmosphere. We can take the positives of the situations "Oh well, he only had 69 points last year"... heck PA Parenteau had almost as much as he did and the Avs stealthed him away for way cheaper. Even Mueller is capable of putting up 69 points if he's at his absolute best (he did score 20 in 15 for the Avs, so he does have upside if it's still hidden).

Whatever it was, I'd just hope the Devils fans stay classy. These things have a way of coming back to haunt whoever loses in the situation. If the fans stay bitter about it, bad things happen; if the fans stay classy about it and let bygones be bygones, then good things will probably happen in New Jersey because it'll be a positive atmosphere. We can take the positives of the situations "Oh well, he only had 69 points last year"... heck PA Parenteau had almost as much as he did and the Avs stealthed him away for way cheaper. Even Mueller is capable of putting up 69 points if he's at his absolute best (he did score 20 in 15 for the Avs, so he does have upside if it's still hidden).
- archromat

He's going to be booed November 11th or whenever that game is, when he shouldn't be. It's well within his right to join another team.

He's going to be booed November 11th or whenever that game is, when he shouldn't be. It's well within his right to join another team.
- _Zippy_

What do you expect? Players leave and then they get booed that is how it is. He had the choice to stay, and he didn't. Gomez leaving to New York was within his rights but does that mean he should not have been booed? Fans are passionate, so who cares boo him if you want.

What do you expect? Players leave and then they get booed that is how it is. He had the choice to stay, and he didn't. Gomez leaving to New York was within his rights but does that mean he should not have been booed? Fans are passionate, so who cares boo him if you want.
- zach parise9

oh I get it now. thanks.

oh I get it now. thanks.
- Pomegrant

Thats nice. Your welcome.

What do you expect? Players leave and then they get booed that is how it is. He had the choice to stay, and he didn't. Gomez leaving to New York was within his rights but does that mean he should not have been booed? Fans are passionate, so who cares boo him if you want.
- zach parise9

It's just not classy. It's just like the "You Suck" thing. It's well within his right to go somewhere else, if we boo him, then why don't we boo Boulton or boo Ponikarovsky?

It's just not classy. It's just like the "You Suck" thing. It's well within his right to go somewhere else, if we boo him, then why don't we boo Boulton or boo Ponikarovsky?
- _Zippy_

Cause they didn't (frank)ing talk all this poop about wanting to stay and be a devil...Then to waste are time and miss out on other FA's cause he wanted to stay like he said but in reality it was all lies. Hes a two face scheming scumbag and im gonna boo him until i lose my voice. Im not just pissed that he left its the fact he said all this poop about wanting to stay and blah blah but he didn't stay so clearly he didn't want to come back that bad. He acts like he only cares about winning and he puts himself above the team but he has just proven he cares more about the name on the back then the logo on the front. I also don't see how he seemed to have Marty convinced he was coming back but then doesn't....The dude (frank)ing played the entire organization open your eyes.

Cause they didn't (frank)ing talk all this poop about wanting to stay and be a devil...Then to waste are time and miss out on other FA's cause he wanted to stay like he said but in reality it was all lies. Hes a two face scheming scumbag and im gonna boo him until i lose my voice. Im not just pissed that he left its the fact he said all this poop about wanting to stay and blah blah but he didn't stay so clearly he didn't want to come back that bad. He acts like he only cares about winning and he puts himself above the team but he has just proven he cares more about the name on the back then the logo on the front. I also don't see how he seemed to have Marty convinced he was coming back but then doesn't....The dude (frank)ing played the entire organization open your eyes.
- NickA

Best revenge is to win without him, and best way to win is by being positive. Booing him will just make him feel important. Booing him won't rectify the situation. He's not important to me anymore; I feel like he's played for the Wild all his career now. He essentially has. But some guys out there, they'll be true Devils (like Scott Stevens, Marty Brodeur). He obviously wasn't.

Best revenge is to win without him, and best way to win is by being positive. Booing him will just make him feel important. Booing him won't rectify the situation. He's not important to me anymore; I feel like he's played for the Wild all his career now. He essentially has. But some guys out there, they'll be true Devils (like Scott Stevens, Marty Brodeur). He obviously wasn't.
- archromat

We barely play them hes getting booed everytime it does happen.

yawn

I really feel Lou will do nothing else.

We're not gonna trade for anyone because we don't have the pieces (face it, we're Devils fans, we overvalue our own players. Fans of all teams do this).

We're not going to sign Mueller, he'll be on IR by the end of training camp.

We're not going to sign Semin because he will want too much, which is why there's a delay right now. That's why there's always a delay. Driving up the price. Plus he's the only sniper out there right now, the only decent UFA left period. His price will go up just on supply/demand alone. Plus, I don't think it's Lou's style to try and win a bidding war with Detroit or Pitt for that type of player. That would only inflate his ego even more.

We stand pat. If anything, Lou may move a defenseman before the trade deadline. That's about it.

This off season blows I thought it was supposed to be dominoes after the 2 big signings and its deader then a disco hall no rumors no trades no nothing barely any new blogs