Todd Cordell: NHL Gameday Preview: New Jersey Devils @ San Jose Sharks - Game 23

I'd say start Cory, he was lights out the other night and if the Devils could get another win for him tonight against SJ it'd be a HUGE confidence boost and would probably put an end to the whole "we can't win when Cory's in net" thing that's been going on all season.

Todd Cordell: NHL Gameday Preview: New Jersey Devils @ San Jose Sharks - Game 23
- Todd.Cordell

Not only are they one of the most skilled and balanced teams they are a pretty damn big team with almost all of their skill guys having good size and speed to them. Has there been any updates on Salvador and Clowe? I get the feeling they are maybe unofficially retiring these guys but don't want to say it.

I'd say start Cory, he was lights out the other night and if the Devils could get another win for him tonight against SJ it'd be a HUGE confidence boost and would probably put an end to the whole "we can't win when Cory's in net" thing that's been going on all season.
- MannySilvers

Not only are they one of the most skilled and balanced teams they are a pretty damn big team with almost all of their skill guys having good size and speed to them. Has there been any updates on Salvador and Clowe? I get the feeling they are maybe unofficially retiring these guys but don't want to say it.
- blizzzard

As douchey as this sounds: I wouldn't really mind that...

As douchey as this sounds: I wouldn't really mind that...
- MannySilvers

They don't want to not play Larsson or Gelinas anymore but don't want to look bad by sitting their Captain so they saw he is still injured. I mean I could just be high but It really seems that way I mean Salvadors injury was kind of weird and wasn't even announced till after he came back from a family leave ? was it not something suspicious has been going on I think anyways.

The road trip has already been a success maybe the pressure is off and they play a good game tonight. That said the sharks are very good and whoever gets the start will have to win the game for us more than likely. I'm in favor of going with Cory want to try and get him in a groove plus we have another game on Monday so Marty won't be held out too long either. Not going to complain either way to me it's a toss up both are playing great.

The road trip has already been a success maybe the pressure is off and they play a good game tonight. That said the sharks are very good and whoever gets the start will have to win the game for us more than likely. I'm in favor of going with Cory want to try and get him in a groove plus we have another game on Monday so Marty won't be held out too long either. Not going to complain either way to me it's a toss up both are playing great.
- NickA

For sure only reason Cory would get it is to just give him a little extra boost in confidence and also add to the fact that the Devils as a Franchise believe in him and that's why we gave up a top 10 pick for him when we maybe shouldn't have traded that pick as it wasn't a normal circumstance because we have to forfeit a first for a player who (frank)ed off on us. I am sure he knows we want him to stay but it never hurts to really let him know that we want him to be our goalie for the next 6-8 years!

They don't want to not play Larsson or Gelinas anymore but don't want to look bad by sitting their Captain so they saw he is still injured. I mean I could just be high but It really seems that way I mean Salvadors injury was kind of weird and wasn't even announced till after he came back from a family leave ? was it not something suspicious has been going on I think anyways.
- blizzzard

I like and respect Bryce a lot but I see no reason to not take the C from him or trade him. Patrick Elias had his C taken away no reason it shouldn't happen to this guy. Langenbrunner was traded away another guy who helped us win cups. Something suspicious could be going on or he could really be that hurt. I think it was a fracture in his foot or something. Seems like something you could ignore and try play through without knowing how bad it is.

I like and respect Bryce a lot but I see no reason to not take the C from him or trade him. Patrick Elias had his C taken away no reason it shouldn't happen to this guy. Langenbrunner was traded away another guy who helped us win cups. Something suspicious could be going on or he could really be that hurt. I think it was a fracture in his foot or something. Seems like something you could ignore and try play through without knowing how bad it is.
- NickA

That could be but they way it came about and was handled it makes me think. Same with the way they have been handling every injury this year. Merril cleared all concussion test and doesn't have a concussion but yet they come out afterwards and says yea he did have a concussion. The lack of anything on Clowe. It is just suspicious .

Salvador has still proved NOTHING as far as being the leader of this team. Our team is playing it's best hockey of the season after he's been out for awhile. I don't mind him as a d-man but I still don't get why he's captain. How can you be the legitimate captain of a team when none of the fans even miss you when you're out?

As of right now when healthy the D could be:

Greene-Zidlicky
Larsson-Gelinas
Volchenkov-Fayne/Harrold

I guess you could argue Salvador is an upgrade over Fayne or Harrold, but still, the captain is a bottom pairing D-man, maybe? Not to even mention if Merrill gets a serious look later in the season which I'd like.

If Ryan Clowe ends up on LTIR and his cap hit goes away I honestly see it as a win for NJ, call it a mulligan for Lou. Maybe none of us have given him a chance with him playing like 2 games this year but EVERYONE saw that contract as being terrible partially because of the injury history and what do you know, the guy barely exists.

Salvador has still proved NOTHING as far as being the leader of this team. Our team is playing it's best hockey of the season after he's been out for awhile. I don't mind him as a d-man but I still don't get why he's captain. How can you be the legitimate captain of a team when none of the fans even miss you when you're out?

As of right now when healthy the D could be:

Greene-Zidlicky
Larsson-Gelinas
Volchenkov-Fayne/Harrold

I guess you could argue Salvador is an upgrade over Fayne or Harrold, but still, the captain is a bottom pairing D-man, maybe? Not to even mention if Merrill gets a serious look later in the season which I'd like.

If Ryan Clowe ends up on LTIR and his cap hit goes away I honestly see it as a win for NJ, call it a mulligan for Lou. Maybe none of us have given him a chance with him playing like 2 games this year but EVERYONE saw that contract as being terrible partially because of the injury history and what do you know, the guy barely exists.
- MannySilvers

I think Clowe actually played like 6 games but I agree. On Salvador I thought he was a stop gap Captain till Henrique was ready for it or someone else emerged. I think we have gone with no captain to often lately that they wanted to have one for whatever reason.

I think Clowe actually played like 6 games but I agree. On Salvador I thought he was a stop gap Captain till Henrique was ready for it or someone else emerged. I think we have gone with no captain to often lately that they wanted to have one for whatever reason.
- blizzzard

I hate the idea of a stop-gap captain. If there's no one on the team right now you think deserves it, just hand out a few A's and wait a couple years, it's really not a big deal if no one has the C, in my opinion much better than someone who doesn't deserve it.

Who knows, maybe if they gave Kovy the C he would have stuck around

I hate the idea of a stop-gap captain. If there's no one on the team right now you think deserves it, just hand out a few A's and wait a couple years, it's really not a big deal if no one has the C, in my opinion much better than someone who doesn't deserve it.

Who knows, maybe if they gave Kovy the C he would have stuck around
- MannySilvers

I am willing to bet had our Billionaire owners showed up and bought the team months prior to when they did he would of stayed. He really didn't like not getting his money on time and I think the uncertainty of the financial stability of the team going forward scared him so He went home which I am sure he wanted to do either way and get more money that is guaranteed and not taxed. I also think having a player on you're team with the letter C stitched on his jersey has little to no affect on the game at all so I would of been ok with 3 A's or whatever it is.

I mean in all honesty and fairness Stevens should have a C stitched on to his suit!

I am willing to bet had our Billionaire owners showed up and bought the team months prior to when they did he would of stayed. He really didn't like not getting his money on time and I think the uncertainty of the financial stability of the team going forward scared him so He went home which I am sure he wanted to do either way and get more money that is guaranteed and not taxed. I also think having a player on you're team with the letter C stitched on his jersey has little to no affect on the game at all so I would of been ok with 3 A's or whatever it is.
- blizzzard

Can you imagine how legitimately good we'd be if we had Kovy right now? I guess we probably wouldn't have Jagr in that case, but still. That whole situation is still very fishy, I still feel like no one really understands what happened. And by no one I mean no one but Lou.

Can you imagine how legitimately good we'd be if we had Kovy right now? I guess we probably wouldn't have Jagr in that case, but still. That whole situation is still very fishy, I still feel like no one really understands what happened. And by no one I mean no one but Lou.
- MannySilvers

Lou will take all his great behind the scenes stories to the grave never telling a soul.

Can you imagine how legitimately good we'd be if we had Kovy right now? I guess we probably wouldn't have Jagr in that case, but still. That whole situation is still very fishy, I still feel like no one really understands what happened. And by no one I mean no one but Lou.
- MannySilvers

Oh for sure. You don't replace a Kovalchuk. He was in an elite level. I would put him above the Perry's, Kessel's, Kane's, and when at his best arguably a top 5 player maybe even 3 in the league. He had a shot that was in another league and tremendous skating.

Oh for sure. You don't replace a Kovalchuk. He was in an elite level. I would put him above the Perry's, Kessel's, Kane's, and when at his best arguably a top 5 player maybe even 3 in the league. He had a shot that was in another league and tremendous skating.
- blizzzard

Well ya know he's no Jaromir Jagr.

Well ya know he's no Jaromir Jagr.
- NickA

He could of been a 1500-1600 player had he stayed in the NHL he might not be on the level as Jagr career wise but that was a different NHL to.

We managed to beat 2 strong teams in Anaheim and LA, 2 games we probably should've lost. San Jose is deeper than both, with more high end talent. They WILL bury those goals, despite our strong forecheck. They're as big as LA but with better scoring ability. We're gona get torched 5-1. But then again, we have a Jagr.

Wow I didn't see the new till today that Olesz is no longer a Devil and his contract has been terminated. He singed in SC Bern of the National Swiss league.

We managed to beat 2 strong teams in Anaheim and LA, 2 games we probably should've lost. San Jose is deeper than both, with more high end talent. They WILL bury those goals, despite our strong forecheck. They're as big as LA but with better scoring ability. We're gona get torched 5-1. But then again, we have a Jagr.
- MartysBetter88

I don't know if it's fair to say we didn't deserve the win in Anaheim, yeah the OT goal was pure luck but we legitimately outplayed them the entire third period and generally skated with them the rest of the game.

The LA game on the other hand...

San Jose is stacked on offense. Going to needthe D to play good to win. Gotto bang in some goals.

I don't know if it's fair to say we didn't deserve the win in Anaheim, yeah the OT goal was pure luck but we legitimately outplayed them the entire third period and generally skated with them the rest of the game.

The LA game on the other hand...
- MannySilvers

And the thing is, some nights the goaltending is going to be the difference maker. Against LA I only watched the first period but you could see how sharp Schneider was. And Marty has generally been quite sharp too. That's NJ's advantage over most other teams. It's just now that we are starting to score some and the goaltending is maintaining consistency that we are seeing it over extended stretches.