Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk And The Quest For a Center

Probably Lokionov at this point but I could see either of them centering him and they probably all will at some point during the season. We just need to get a top 6 left wing for that line. Personally I would like to see Cammalleri in that position and he could be available.

Well definitely not Henrique Personally i would play Lokti with him. I really like what they did together and it's easier to improve defensively then it is to create chemistry offensively. Lokti and Kovy clearly have some chemistry and I would like to see Pete try and get the most out of that.

Well definitely not Henrique Personally i would play Lokti with him. I really like what they did together and it's easier to improve defensively then it is to create chemistry offensively. Lokti and Kovy clearly have some chemistry and I would like to see Pete try and get the most out of that.
- NickA

Good points. I could see it. They'd need a defensive minded LW to play with them, IMO.

Good points. I could see it. They'd need a defensive minded LW to play with them, IMO.
- Todd.Cordell

Glad you said this, as long Zubs is brought back i think he would work perfectly with them. He's a big body that is good in the corners, boards, and is a net presence. Granted we need to sign him first and I hope we do. We definitely missed him when he went down last year.

With Loktionov there's more offense, with Zajac there's better defense. But I don't see a huge advantage/disadvantage for either pairing. I might prefer Loktionov just because it might help him develop better. The real question is the wing though.

With Loktionov there's more offense, with Zajac there's better defense. But I don't see a huge advantage/disadvantage for either pairing. I might prefer Loktionov just because it might help him develop better. The real question is the wing though.
- newjerseypaul

K so have Zajac take draws but play wing on the first line.

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk And The Quest For a Center
- Todd.Cordell

Horcoff?

Horcoff?
- Iggysbff

No

Horcoff?
- Iggysbff

Barf.

Say it with me everyone:

Krystofer Barch

Horcoff?
- Iggysbff

*snort* If the Devils picked him up, I'm taking a hiatus.

Really hope ownership gives Lou the money he needs to lock up Henrique long term. Probably going to be a 1-2 year deal though.

Long term checklist for a successful Devils team:

1. Draft Shinkaruk as the new top line winger that was never filled from Parise's departure.

2. Work Larsson and Merril into regular roles in the lineup.

3. Give Boucher the entire year in the AHL.

4. poop or get off the pot with Urbom and Gelinas. Either give them time in the NHL or move them for picks. 3 full years in the AHL is long enough.

5. (this won't happen, but it should) Waive Hedberg to the AHL and give Kinkaid a full season of learning all he can as a backup in the NHL while Marty is still around.

Long term checklist for a successful Devils team:

1. Draft Shinkaruk as the new top line winger that was never filled from Parise's departure.

2. Work Larsson and Merril into regular roles in the lineup.

3. Give Boucher the entire year in the AHL.

4. poop or get off the pot with Urbom and Gelinas. Either give them time in the NHL or move them for picks. 3 full years in the AHL is long enough.

5. (this won't happen, but it should) Waive Hedberg to the AHL and give Kinkaid a full season of learning all he can as a backup in the NHL while Marty is still around.
- TheJerseyDevil1

agreed with everything but merrill, i think he should at least start a few games here but i think a season in albany would help him the most at this point

Glad you said this, as long Zubs is brought back i think he would work perfectly with them. He's a big body that is good in the corners, boards, and is a net presence. Granted we need to sign him first and I hope we do. We definitely missed him when he went down last year.
- NickA

i've been saying this since he went out with injury last season. That's a line I want to see. Zubrus is very solid on both ends, brings stability, Lokti can be dynamic (and hopefully will improve defensively with time in our system and under our coaches), and then you have a sniper on the right. That's a great line.
Elias-Zajac-____ can be more of a 2-way line. I don't want to say checking line because they both possess offensive skills, but they're so good defensively.

Todd- I'd curious what Zajac's numbers are with Elias in comparison to with Kovalchuk, and what Elias' numbers are with Zajac, and without Zajac. He was almost never with Lokti. I wonder if Elias-Zajac had higher possession time than Zajac-Kovy, and what their GF/GA are.

Elias is the man. We are beyond doomed if he.. disappears. another disappearing star. leaving nothing but cap space. cap space that we won't effectively use to attempt to replace production lost with said disappearance. and the beat goes on. status quo.

agreed with everything but merrill, i think he should at least start a few games here but i think a season in albany would help him the most at this point
- dmarsden2988

Yea, I was kind of on the fence with him. My thinking was that since he's spent a good amount of time in the NCAA with older players than those who play in juniors, he might be more suited to make the jump to the NHL. I wouldn't be against him staying in Albany at all though.

Yea, I was kind of on the fence with him. My thinking was that since he's spent a good amount of time in the NCAA with older players than those who play in juniors, he might be more suited to make the jump to the NHL. I wouldn't be against him staying in Albany at all though.
- TheJerseyDevil1

i dont see how gelinas or urbom start if we dont use a buy out, unless we can magically get a pick for tallinder or volchenkov (personally id like to see sal go, like what he did when he came back but now he has missed 2 steps since then it seems but its not going to happen)

but i do think lou feels that some young dmen are close and/or could be ready, id like to see gelinas over urbom but i wouldnt mind seeing urbom getting time up here

larsson needs to be in there regularly and getting mins in all situations (PP and PK) but if we dont use a buy out then im scared that he may not be in as much as he should, but less of a concern if we dont bring back zid (lou may want to bring him back )


greene-larsson
sal-fayne
volch-tallinder
harrold

i've been saying this since he went out with injury last season. That's a line I want to see. Zubrus is very solid on both ends, brings stability, Lokti can be dynamic (and hopefully will improve defensively with time in our system and under our coaches), and then you have a sniper on the right. That's a great line.
Elias-Zajac-____ can be more of a 2-way line. I don't want to say checking line because they both possess offensive skills, but they're so good defensively.

Todd- I'd curious what Zajac's numbers are with Elias in comparison to with Kovalchuk, and what Elias' numbers are with Zajac, and without Zajac. He was almost never with Lokti. I wonder if Elias-Zajac had higher possession time than Zajac-Kovy, and what their GF/GA are.

Elias is the man. We are beyond doomed if he.. disappears. another disappearing star. leaving nothing but cap space. cap space that we won't effectively use to attempt to replace production lost with said disappearance. and the beat goes on. status quo.
- MartysBetter88

No man we don't want zubrus on the top line we need a dynamic lw like redalov
The best defence is a great offence that's what we need from our top line

No man we don't want zubrus on the top line we need a dynamic lw like redalov
The best defence is a great offence that's what we need from our top line
- lelo-07

we dont have anyone like that on the roster and we dont have the assets to make a trade for one either

no chance who we draft will be on the first line either (im hoping for shinkaruk, who may not even be ready this season)


larry brooks said next yrs pick that we forfeit will be top 5 possibly/probably top 3

we dont have anyone like that on the roster and we dont have the assets to make a trade for one either

no chance who we draft will be on the first line either (im hoping for shinkaruk, who may not even be ready this season)


larry brooks said next yrs pick that we forfeit will be top 5 possibly/probably top 3
- dmarsden2988

Larry Brookes has the intelligence of a retard.

we dont have anyone like that on the roster and we dont have the assets to make a trade for one either

no chance who we draft will be on the first line either (im hoping for shinkaruk, who may not even be ready this season)


larry brooks said next yrs pick that we forfeit will be top 5 possibly/probably top 3
- dmarsden2988

Lou knows this already. He was actually the first person Brooks contacted before the article was published. That's why at the draft Lou is announcing that we have forfeited the pick this year

i've been saying this since he went out with injury last season. That's a line I want to see. Zubrus is very solid on both ends, brings stability, Lokti can be dynamic (and hopefully will improve defensively with time in our system and under our coaches), and then you have a sniper on the right. That's a great line.
Elias-Zajac-____ can be more of a 2-way line. I don't want to say checking line because they both possess offensive skills, but they're so good defensively.


Elias is the man. We are beyond doomed if he.. disappears. another disappearing star. leaving nothing but cap space. cap space that we won't effectively use to attempt to replace production lost with said disappearance. and the beat goes on. status quo.
- MartysBetter88

Exactly and (frank)ing I know if we lose Elias i don't even think im watching...i'll be disgusted with the franchise.

Don't like Zubrus on the top line. He plays a very chip and chase style and is at his best when doing so. With Kovy and Lokti, he'll be required to play a more skill based game and he usually looks pretty bad when he does that. The times they were together as a line this season Zubrus was a passenger on the line, like pretty much every other LWer we tried.