Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Who Should Take Adam Larsson's Spot On The Top Pairing?

There's no quick fix.. We had to suck for an entire year and win a lottery to get that top-5 pick to land him. We can only hope some of the 2nd round picks pan out like Santini, Jacobs, or Severson. UFA market is dried up.

Santini will play so well that he will earn the roster spot, probably our next Colin White, who I loved.

Still think they're gambling by not signing another body to plug in on defense. I get that we were outbid for Schlemko, but I would've taken a chance on Schenn or maybe Seidenberg.

Still think they're gambling by not signing another body to plug in on defense. I get that we were outbid for Schlemko, but I would've taken a chance on Schenn or maybe Seidenberg.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Schenn, maybe. Seidenberg has been a disaster the last couple years.

From the Comments Shero has made over the last few months, it looks like they plan on easing up on the tough minutes for Greene. The reason given is that they feel he has more to give offensively and that they want to utilize that aspect of his game more. Therefore Severson is the best choice. We saw Severson with Greene last year and it went fantastic. They should go back to that.

I thought Larsson was a 2nd pairing D-man.

Anyway Hall 10x better than Larsson

Btw. Use Lovejoy accordingly and He'll be steady. 4th-6th d-man.

From the Comments Shero has made over the last few months, it looks like they plan on easing up on the tough minutes for Greene. The reason given is that they feel he has more to give offensively and that they want to utilize that aspect of his game more. Therefore Severson is the best choice. We saw Severson with Greene last year and it went fantastic. They should go back to that.
- CaptCrankypants

Mark Fayne for Taylor Hall

Mark Fayne for Taylor Hall
- oilpatch

Lol no takes back

Lovejoy?

"Good luck" - Liam Neeson

Lovejoy with out a doubt He can and will play 25 minutes a night

Anyone can take his place in the lineup, he wasn't very good. I laugh at the Oilers every day.

Sevy is by far their best offensive dman and they are best suited to having him on their second pairing and first PP unit. Utilize Lovejoy and Greene together similar to what they did last year with Larsson and all will be fine.

Now, who to put with Severson? Good question. I would take a hard look at Wiz, myself. Very little to lose in that scenario.

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Who Should Take Adam Larsson's Spot On The Top Pairing?
- Todd.Cordell

Taylor Hall is that fast that he could play Rd and lw at the same time!

Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Who Should Take Adam Larsson's Spot On The Top Pairing?
- Todd.Cordell

Severson

Whoever the next best defenseman is

As much as I love the trade of Adam Larsson for Taylor Hall, I know that Larsson's departure has left void in the Devils' blueline. This is a void that will not be easily filled. Larsson logged 20+ minutes per game, playing against the opposition's best forwards. So what are the options the Devils have, who is pairing up with Greene?

Let's start with newly arrived Lovejoy, a veteran defensive defenseman. I like the addition of Lovejoy, but mostly because with the departures of both Larsson and Schlemko, the Devils can use another veteran presence in the blueline. Lovejoy, fresh from winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins, should also help provide leadership to what is a very young Devils team. However, Lovejoy is not the defenseman Larsson is. Normally, Lovejoy would be better suited to play 2nd or 3rd pairing, so asking Lovejoy to play 1st pairing may be too much to ask.

Second to Greene, Severson is the Devils' best defenseman, and the one with the most offensive upside. In his rookie season, Severson played his best and most productive hockey prior getting injured. Last season, Severson led the Devils with 21 points, but the was also mistake prone. For Severson to play with Greene on the 1st pairing and be effective, he needs to step up his game, big time.

If not Lovejoy or Severson, the Devils a number of other defensemen they will take a look at in preseason. Who is going to play on the 1st pairing with Greene? Will it is Moore, whose game is highly inconsistent? Could it be Santini, if he even makes the NHL roster? Will it be Merrill or Helgeson? Probably not, as they are better suited as the team's 6th and 7th defensemen.

The coaching staff could find the answer in Mozik, who had a good season in the AHL and played a few solid games in the NHL. Could it be Auvitu, who has had success as a pro in Finland? Lastly, it could be Jacobs, who like Santini would have to make the NHL roster on his first year as a pro?

Shattenkirk or Fowler would look great in a Devils' uniform, but at what price? Or, perhaps the answer will a free agent like Wisniewski. Whatever the answer is, the Devils are going to have a very interesting preseason trying to figure out their blueline.

Whoever the next best defenseman is
- TheGame316

Profound

it's gona be such a mess. yes Hall is a star and Larsson is "just" a steady stud muffin, but we're realllly going to miss that muffin. I anticipate defensive disaster.

They want Greene to be more offensive and have less defensive responsibility as he's aging? How's that when he doesn't have Larsson to play defense? Probably a moot point and won't happen anyway, especially if Severson is his partner.

Lovejoy WILL NOT cut it on the 1st pair. Crosby and other stars will skate right around him. He's going to get eaten alive.

We have Greene.. and a hopeful prayer in Severson. lol and that's it!!! our defense is a joke! Moore is OK... a good #5, maybe #4. Lovejoy the same, no more than a #4 (meaning you NEED a legitimate #3 with him). Merrill is a bottom pairing guy, and the rest is who knows lol.. prospects! I view Greene as a very good #3 at this stage in his career, and he's by far the best we've got. scary.

I think Serverson is going to blossom into one of the top offensive defenseman in the entire league over the next couple of seasons. He will ease the pain of losing Larsson, who himself had been developing nicely into a Suter type of defenseman.

Dennis Wideman!!!

Larsson will be a Paul Martin type at best

it's gona be such a mess. yes Hall is a star and Larsson is "just" a steady stud muffin, but we're realllly going to miss that muffin. I anticipate defensive disaster.

They want Greene to be more offensive and have less defensive responsibility as he's aging? How's that when he doesn't have Larsson to play defense? Probably a moot point and won't happen anyway, especially if Severson is his partner.

Lovejoy WILL NOT cut it on the 1st pair. Crosby and other stars will skate right around him. He's going to get eaten alive.

We have Greene.. and a hopeful prayer in Severson. lol and that's it!!! our defense is a joke! Moore is OK... a good #5, maybe #4. Lovejoy the same, no more than a #4 (meaning you NEED a legitimate #3 with him). Merrill is a bottom pairing guy, and the rest is who knows lol.. prospects! I view Greene as a very good #3 at this stage in his career, and he's by far the best we've got. scary.
- MartysBetter88

That muffin Larsson should have his best days as a defensemen ahead of him. Same thing thing with Hall. I think Taylor Hall's best days in the NHL are ahead of him as a Devil. Hall, Henrique, Palmieri, Smith-Pelly, Boucher, Zacha, Severson and maybe even Schneider should be playing their best hockey in the seasons to come, which is great reason to feel excited about the future of the New Jersey Devils.

I think Serverson is going to blossom into one of the top offensive defenseman in the entire league over the next couple of seasons. He will ease the pain of losing Larsson, who himself had been developing nicely into a Suter type of defenseman.
- rangerdanger94

Geez. Thanks.