Todd Cordell: On Andy Greene's Long-Term Extension With New Jersey

Let's go devils !

I love how all of the comments on Todd's Metro predictions blog have NJ at the bottom of the barrel.

Most of them read:

1. Pens
2. posters team
3.- 6. blah blah blah
7 or 8. Devils

This all based on the fact the Devils made NO improvements in the off-season, none.



I can't wait for October so they can go back to complaining we are only winning because of the "trap".

I know there are a lot of things that have to go right, but I have a good feeling about this season.

I love how all of the comments on Todd's Metro predictions blog have NJ at the bottom of the barrel.

Most of them read:

1. Pens
2. posters team
3.- 6. blah blah blah
7 or 8. Devils

This all based on the fact the Devils made NO improvements in the off-season, none.



I can't wait for October so they can go back to complaining we are only winning because of the "trap".

I know there are a lot of things that have to go right, but I have a good feeling about this season.

- TRDevil

I love how all of the comments on Todd's Metro predictions blog have NJ at the bottom of the barrel.

Most of them read:

1. Pens
2. posters team
3.- 6. blah blah blah
7 or 8. Devils

This all based on the fact the Devils made NO improvements in the off-season, none.



I can't wait for October so they can go back to complaining we are only winning because of the "trap".

I know there are a lot of things that have to go right, but I have a good feeling about this season.

- TRDevil

Guys who have played less then 82 NHL games make teams deeper not guys with legit NHL resumes duh

- eichiefs9

- TRDevil

From the Jackets blog:

1. Rangers
2. Penguins
3. Blue Jackets
4. Flyers
5. Washington
6. Islanders
7. Devils
8. Hurricanes
- Streit2ThePoint

I love how all of the comments on Todd's Metro predictions blog have NJ at the bottom of the barrel.

Most of them read:

1. Pens
2. posters team
3.- 6. blah blah blah
7 or 8. Devils

This all based on the fact the Devils made NO improvements in the off-season, none.



I can't wait for October so they can go back to complaining we are only winning because of the "trap".

I know there are a lot of things that have to go right, but I have a good feeling about this season.

- TRDevil

Still can't get over how bananas the Rags commenters are. They lost Stralman, Boyle, and Pouliot. St. Louis is a year older, and Girardi is slowing down at a staggering pace... But enter Lombardi, Glass, and Stempniak!

I know none of them will believe me, but I'm not saying all this to troll them. If I thought they were good, like I did in 2011, I'd be the first one to cry doom from the rooftops. I just honestly don't think that team will be a division leader this year.

I'm actually surprised Georges got moved I would of loved to have him on the devils. Yea it would of pushed a guy back but I also would of bought out Salvador so it wouldn't of really stopped anyone from playing other then Georges would get a lot more minutes then sal is going to get

The Rangers had a hot goalie for their playoff run. That was a big part of their success against a stronger Pittsburgh team. They'll be a good team again this year because they'll be able to roll 3 lines. But, I'm not convinced that Dan Boyle, at this stage, is even equivalent to how steady Stralman was. Also not sure he is a good fit with Marc Staal....but we'll see.

As far as the Devils, I think it's far to put them somewhere in the middle of the pack. Lots of question marks. However, anyone putting them near the bottom with Carolina, the Islanders, and Washington just does not appreciate how good Schneider really is. I think Washington could be in for a rough season particularly. It often takes teams 30 games or so to adjust to a new coaching style, and im not sure Ovechkin and Green will adjust at all. They also spent a LOT of money on Orpik and Niskanen, so they better be right.

Still can't get over how bananas the Rags commenters are. They lost Stralman, Boyle, and Pouliot. St. Louis is a year older, and Girardi is slowing down at a staggering pace... But enter Lombardi, Glass, and Stempniak!

I know none of them will believe me, but I'm not saying all this to troll them. If I thought they were good, like I did in 2011, I'd be the first one to cry doom from the rooftops. I just honestly don't think that team will be a division leader this year.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Bonkers?

What you aren't considering either are some of their younger players taking another step in their NHL careers.

Players like Kreider, Stepan and McDonagh will likely be better than last season. That alone will help the team not to mention the fact what they lost is really being overstated by so many people.

That same Stralman, that seemingly everyone thinks is bound for a Norris Trophy, is the same guy that the Devils cut in training camp three years ago. He is a good player, no question, but he also played with a very good defenseman and in front of arguably the best goaltender in the league.

Brian Boyle had a good playoff but he was almost as corsi bad as Tanner Glass. Difference is that Boyle actually played with NHL quality linemates last season and Glass played with Craig Adams.

Benoit Pouliot will be missed somewhat but he also got way too much money than what his numbers, and NHL history, warranted.

Brad Richards is a quality leader and a decent player but just isn't worth the price tag anymore.

Simply put, yes the Rangers lost several players but the players they got in return, some roster players stepping up and the emergence of youngsters like Miller, should stem the tide a little bit.

The Rangers had a hot goalie for their playoff run. That was a big part of their success against a stronger Pittsburgh team. They'll be a good team again this year because they'll be able to roll 3 lines. But, I'm not convinced that Dan Boyle, at this stage, is even equivalent to how steady Stralman was. Also not sure he is a good fit with Marc Staal....but we'll see.

As far as the Devils, I think it's far to put them somewhere in the middle of the pack. Lots of question marks. However, anyone putting them near the bottom with Carolina, the Islanders, and Washington just does not appreciate how good Schneider really is. I think Washington could be in for a rough season particularly. It often takes teams 30 games or so to adjust to a new coaching style, and im not sure Ovechkin and Green will adjust at all. They also spent a LOT of money on Orpik and Niskanen, so they better be right.
- njdevils350

As Todd pointed out last year with his article about PDB's high possession system that the Devils can compete with the more elite teams by smothering their ability to put up a lot of shots against, no matter who is on the ice for the Devils as long as they stick to the system. Which is IMO why they weren't so high on Gelly last year - he was not conforming to the system and sticking to his role, therefore making costly mistakes.

The Devils basically can hold the other teams heads under water until their legs stop kicking long enough to pot a few goals and win the game. They just need more goal support to do so, and hopefully we will have it with the new additions and more accurate shooting from our returning players.

For me Schneider is just the icing on the cake, and compliments this system greatly watching some re-plays over the summer here, he really has great positioning and very quick reflexes. His puck handling did get better throughout the year also, but there is still some room for improvement there. It would have been nice to have Marty as true hands down back-up this year to help him with that a little, as Marty is one of the best at puck handling, but whatever.

Also after such a humiliating shootout performance last year I can't imagine that the boys aren't practicing shooting this summer, they better be.

Two months and 9 days.

stuff
- TRDevil

man, you just needed to bring the standings debate over here too.

Rags fans are seeing the optimism in their off-season just as NJ fans think Havlat, Cammalleri, Clowe, and Elias don't have an injury history and will suddenly play a full season & contribute at or above career averages.

I see people writing Havlat in the top 6.

Rags fans are seeing the optimism in their off-season just as NJ fans think Havlat, Cammalleri, Clowe, and Elias don't have an injury history and will suddenly play a full season & contribute at or above career averages.

I see people writing Havlat in the top 6.

- FLdevilsFAN

I think Havlat makes top 6 only to play with Elias. I think the hope is Havlat this year is similar to Sykora back in 2011-12, who actually put up very solid numbers playing with Elias. Either way it's a super low risk signing.

Rags fans are seeing the optimism in their off-season just as NJ fans think Havlat, Cammalleri, Clowe, and Elias don't have an injury history and will suddenly play a full season & contribute at or above career averages.

I see people writing Havlat in the top 6.

- FLdevilsFAN

1. Well, Elias doesn't have much of an injury history. He's had 2 seasons where he's missed more than 10 games due to an injury (I'm not counting his illness from the lockout).
2. As was said already, Patty and Havlat have played together a lot internationally and during the lockout, like playing together, and have had good chemistry. Putting them together makes sense, and not putting Patty in the top 6 doesn't make sense.
3. No one expects Clowe to be healthy. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he started the season on IR.
4. Cammalleri has averaged around 65 games in the last 4 full seasons. We can probably expect that.

The Rangers had a hot goalie for their playoff run. That was a big part of their success against a stronger Pittsburgh team. They'll be a good team again this year because they'll be able to roll 3 lines. But, I'm not convinced that Dan Boyle, at this stage, is even equivalent to how steady Stralman was. Also not sure he is a good fit with Marc Staal....but we'll see.

As far as the Devils, I think it's far to put them somewhere in the middle of the pack. Lots of question marks. However, anyone putting them near the bottom with Carolina, the Islanders, and Washington just does not appreciate how good Schneider really is. I think Washington could be in for a rough season particularly. It often takes teams 30 games or so to adjust to a new coaching style, and im not sure Ovechkin and Green will adjust at all. They also spent a LOT of money on Orpik and Niskanen, so they better be right.
- njdevils350

we have the best goalie in the NHL, he should never be dismissed as just some goalie that got hot for a playoff run

Still can't get over how bananas the Rags commenters are. They lost Stralman, Boyle, and Pouliot. St. Louis is a year older, and Girardi is slowing down at a staggering pace... But enter Lombardi, Glass, and Stempniak!

I know none of them will believe me, but I'm not saying all this to troll them. If I thought they were good, like I did in 2011, I'd be the first one to cry doom from the rooftops. I just honestly don't think that team will be a division leader this year.
- TheJerseyDevil1

this blog is about a new 5 million a year deal the Devils gave to a defenseman who is 2 years older than Dan Girardi

this blog is about a new 5 million a year deal the Devils gave to a defenseman who is 2 years older than Dan Girardi
- jimbro83

It's because they play a completely different style of game... If you follow hockey, you'd know the reason Rags fans were concerned with Girardi's contract when he resigned was because his style of play takes a lot out of his body each year.

It's why Volchenkov digressed at a relatively young age. Andy Greene is a puck moving Dman, take a look at some footage of him playing if you're not familiar with who he is! Hope this helps.

this blog is about a new 5 million a year deal the Devils gave to a defenseman who is 2 years older than Dan Girardi
- jimbro83

keep up the good fight

ignorance must be abolished

It's because they play a completely different style of game... If you follow hockey, you'd know the reason Rags fans were concerned with Girardi's contract when he resigned was because his style of play takes a lot out of his body each year.

It's why Volchenkov digressed at a relatively young age. Andy Greene is a puck moving Dman, take a look at some footage of him playing if you're not familiar with who he is! Hope this helps.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Dan Girardi is literally the most durable player in the NHL. I am sorry he looked a little tired to you in game 25 of the playoffs. Not everyone was enjoying getting a tan wearing a collared shirt on a golf course 3 out of the last 4 playoff years.

Dan Girardi is literally the most durable player in the NHL. I am sorry he looked a little tired to you in game 25 of the playoffs. Not everyone was enjoying getting a tan wearing a collared shirt on a golf course 3 out of the last 4 playoff years.
- jimbro83

#grit

Dan Girardi is literally the most durable player in the NHL. I am sorry he looked a little tired to you in game 25 of the playoffs. Not everyone was enjoying getting a tan wearing a collared shirt on a golf course 3 out of the last 4 playoff years.
- jimbro83

Everything NYR must be the best, they have the most durable player in the NHL, the best goalie (without having to actually win himself a cup). Didnt you forget to make a Norris reference or something else in there. please enlighten me to other outstanding facts I did not know about the rangers. Wait only Ranger young players will step up and turn into solid NHL players probably even super stars while other teams young guns will regress.

this blog is about a new 5 million a year deal the Devils gave to a defenseman who is 2 years older than Dan Girardi
- jimbro83

Hey you're sharp as a razor.



There was an article about this yesterday also. We pretty much covered all of the excitement on that blog, but thanks for monitoring the contents of the comments on a Devils blog there jimbro.

Dan Girardi is literally the most durable player in the NHL. I am sorry he looked a little tired to you in game 25 of the playoffs. Not everyone was enjoying getting a tan wearing a collared shirt on a golf course 3 out of the last 4 playoff years.
- jimbro83

lol u mad