Todd Cordell: Devils Sign Matteau, Don't Rule Out Him Making Team Out of Camp

Agreed. He'll also get a head start on his French to make a smooth transition for our move to Quebec.

Agreed. He'll also get a head start on his French to make a smooth transition for our move to Quebec.
- rmdevil313

Thinking ahead...I like it! Haha.

He reminds me alot of David Clarkson, if Matteau plays well in camp and earns a spot and has a good start to the season do the Devils move him at the deadline rather than pay him in the offseason? What would he ever be worth?

He reminds me alot of David Clarkson, if Matteau plays well in camp and earns a spot and has a good start to the season do the Devils move him at the deadline rather than pay him in the offseason? What would he ever be worth?
- Kovaltron

Matteau won't be able to produce (this year) anywhere close to what Clarkson did last year. It's just given. I really, really don't think it's a good idea to give Matteau NHL time this year. I wouldn't deal Clarkson, either.

Couturier was the steal at the draft, demolishing the Q (though it'll probably turn out to be a 2003 type draft)... this guy (Matteau) probably went exactly where he should have gone. A career "roster player".

He's not that small, though, at 6'1 210 lbs - makes you think he could make the transition and play top 9 seeing as that it's pretty much his potential anyway. He doesn't have that much more to bulk up... maybe 5-10 lbs. If he's playing with Elias, he could have padded stats. I still think he'll go straight to the Q, but after a year, he could come to the NHL and play 2nd line wing with Cole-type play or third line crash a-la McKay.

i'm just ready for mock drafts to start up again. I want to see some preseason, see our kids. So many things around the league that I'm curious about!

I'm really curious how Nash is going to work out in NY and how good they'll be.. Kreider was great in the playoffs (his 1st NHL action).
Also really curious how Dallas will fair out with Whitney and Jagr.. and how bad or good Bryz will be for the Flyers.
What will the Kings record be by the end of the season?
How bad will the Ducks be, will Ryan get traded, will Selanne play more than 60 games and get more than 60 points? Can Hiller carry them?
Will Rask be as good as we expect him to be?
How about the rookies in Buffalo. .. and the kids in Edmonton!
How well will Carolina's top line, and top 6 be now that they've added Staal and Semin? Will Detroit FINALLY miss the playoffs?
How good will Minnesota be, and what will Parise's numbers look like playing with Koivu and Heatley!
What about the new look Habs.. bleh..Galchenyuk?.
How will Pitt's D be and just how many points will Crosby put up.. being that he's not injured!
Tampa's goaltending- Will Lindback be the answer?
Will Toronto make the playoffs?.. will a trade be made for a G, or will Reimer be the man? how will those players mesh together.. JVR??
WILL LUONGO BE TRADED!??!
can Florida make the playoffs again with Carolina and Washington being improved??
yeesh.

from what i've read on your twitter feed and on here you really don't seem to have much faith in matteau...do you think he was a bad pick that high or do you just think he needs more development time than other players?

Todd Cordell: Devils Sign Matteau, Don't Rule Out Him Making Team Out of Camp
- Todd.Cordell

I need to know how giorock feels about this

from what i've read on your twitter feed and on here you really don't seem to have much faith in matteau...do you think he was a bad pick that high or do you just think he needs more development time than other players?
- Xnightwish

He's a young kid, no need to rush him


We have barch as a replacement for Parise so we are set there

He's a young kid, no need to rush him


We have barch as a replacement for Parise so we are set there
- shvingter88

predictions for next season:
Kovalchuk: 35g, 85p
Elias: 30g, 70p
Barch: 45g, 98p

book it

Matteau won't be able to produce (this year) anywhere close to what Clarkson did last year. It's just given. I really, really don't think it's a good idea to give Matteau NHL time this year. I wouldn't deal Clarkson, either.
- Todd.Cordell

If he really impresses at training camp, I would give him at most 3-4 games then send him down to the Q just so he can see what he needs to do to be ready when he makes the jump.

Matteau won't be able to produce (this year) anywhere close to what Clarkson did last year. It's just given. I really, really don't think it's a good idea to give Matteau NHL time this year. I wouldn't deal Clarkson, either.
- Todd.Cordell

The thing about it is whether the Devils feel that he is going to be anything more than a third liner. If they have second line aspirations for him like a Lucic or someone of that caliber, then they let him develop. His style of play can certainly allow him to come in and play a tough-to-play-against style game on the third/fourth lines.

He is the type of player that can sniff NHL action even though he is very young, like O'Reilly, given his style of play.

predictions for next season:
Kovalchuk: 35g, 85p
Elias: 30g, 70p
Barch: 45g, 98p

book it
- Pomegrant

Man barch is really going to struggle carrying kovy this year

Man barch is really going to struggle carrying kovy this year
- shvingter88

Why did we even sign him? I say we cut our losses and just trade him for Gomez as soon as possible. At least he produces

Why did we even sign him? I say we cut our losses and just trade him for Gomez as soon as possible. At least he produces
- bobert836

Oh my

No offense to devil fans, But do you see your team as a playoff contender next year?

For some reason I think NJ will be dreadfull.

Thankfully Adam Henrique is a stud. Lets hope he can pick up Parises slack.

No offense to devil fans, But do you see your team as a playoff contender next year?

For some reason I think NJ will be dreadfull.

Thankfully Adam Henrique is a stud. Lets hope he can pick up Parises slack.
- vancity787

No, the Devils will contend for a lotto pick next year. And yes, I believe they will be dreadful. They have been dreadful sine 2004.

No offense to devil fans, But do you see your team as a playoff contender next year?

For some reason I think NJ will be dreadfull.

Thankfully Adam Henrique is a stud. Lets hope he can pick up Parises slack.
- vancity787

Well at first I was worried, but when they signed barch my attitude changed

dreadful

Well at first I was worried, but when they signed barch my attitude changed
- shvingter88

Everyone's poopting on Barch... He's just a fighter in there for games against the Rangers, Flyers, etc.. When its late in the 3rd period in a meaningless regular season game and things get chippy, I'd rather see Barch taking punches to the face over Henrique or Kovalchuk. He's got no more of a role than Boulton did this year, and I'd take Barch over Boulton anyway

No offense to devil fans, But do you see your team as a playoff contender next year?

For some reason I think NJ will be dreadfull.

Thankfully Adam Henrique is a stud. Lets hope he can pick up Parises slack.
- vancity787

Everyone thinks NJ will be dreadful every year....happened 1/2 of one year

Everyone's poopting on Barch... He's just a fighter in there for games against the Rangers, Flyers, etc.. When its late in the 3rd period in a meaningless regular season game and things get chippy, I'd rather see Barch taking punches to the face over Henrique or Kovalchuk. He's got no more of a role than Boulton did this year, and I'd take Barch over Boulton anyway
- TheJerseyDevil1

good thing we kept Janssen to back him up!.. just in case there's an injury or something.

Everyone thinks NJ will be dreadful every year....happened 1/2 of one year
- Xnightwish

true story. I think we finish somewhere between 9th-5th this year. Other teams improved, we've stayed the same.

Pittsburgh
Washington
Boston
NYR
Carolina/NJ/Philly/Florida/Buffalo, TORONTO. Yes, I think Toronto makes a push.

true story. I think we finish somewhere between 9th-5th this year. Other teams improved, we've stayed the same.

Pittsburgh
Washington
Boston
NYR
Carolina/NJ/Philly/Florida... TORONTO. Yes, I think Toronto makes a push.
- MartysBetter88

Are defense corps is still one of the better ones around the league (would only say boston and the rags have a better one in our conference) and we have Kovy to carry the load offensively. I'm interested to see if he thrives more now that Zach is gone...i never felt they meshed too well. I'm curious to see who his center shall be. Don't think you can go wrong with either Zajac or Henrique. But depending on the winger i would like to see Henrique with him i think.