Well, I mean, what were you expecting? You're not getting the physical terror that was 26 year old Tuomo Ruutu.
- BINGO!

we lacked skill when that deal was made so what did we do trade a skill guy for a player who was supposed to help us be more physical i was against the trade from the beginning as it was a laterial move in that we didnt need what he brought at all and not that loktionov is anything special but he never got a real shot like just about every young player on this team

While you're here, porque no Loktionov? Do you think its just cause of that shoulder injury? Didn't watch many Canes games after the trade but I thought he'd fit in decently.
- TheJerseyDevil1

No idea, actually... He fit in perfectly and our PP was around 100x better after he got here. I was puzzled by it, but I think Francis was given the directive of making the roster cheaper, and Loktionov would have cost more than having Boychuk or Terry fill that spot instead.

we lacked skill when that deal was made so what did we do trade a skill guy for a player who was supposed to help us be more physical i was against the trade from the beginning as it was a laterial move in that we didnt need what he brought at all and not that loktionov is anything special but he never got a real shot like just about every young player on this team
- blizzzard

Fair. I didn't really like the move from the Devils side too. I like Loktionov a lot. It's perplexing that he didn't get more of a shot in either place.

1. Elias was the center when Henrique and Elias were put on a line. I'd expect them to go with that if Deboer decides to put them on the same line, which would be a good idea. Elias has better defensive IQ and is a better playmaker so I hope they keep him at center.
2. I'd stick Ruutu in Zubrus's spot on that 3rd line.
3. I hate the idea of putting Brunner on the 4th. I'd rather go Zubrus- JJ - Gionta. At least you can trust that line defensively.
4. I don't hate the idea of keeping Henrique at center, but I think putting him at wing really plays to his strengths better: shooting and pressuring the puck carrier. If you were to keep him at center, I'd go:
Cammalleri - Zajac - Jagr
Clowe - Elias - Havlat
Ruutu - Henrique - Ryder
Zubrus - Josefson - Brunner ... or if Carter is re-signed and Brunner is traded
Carter - Zubrus - Gionta

I think after the first line PDB will be juggling the other three lines until he finds something that works. Which hopefully won't take most of the season to find out.

There are different strategies that come in to play here. I coached hockey and I had preference to spread out the offense over three lines and have that 4th line in a specific role per game with players without egos and don't get too high or too low.

No matter how you slice it, we will have top 9 paid players on the bottom 3...

1--Camm-Zajac-Jagr: I really want to see Clowe here on LW early on because I thought he played really well there when healthy....what short time that was. But for the sake of trying to have a 1st line that has the best chance to stay together the longest period of time (as Clowe could get hurt going through an EZ Pass...) I want Jagr to get what he wants in a consistent line.

2- Clowe-Henrique-Ryder: They played well together when a unit...again...injuries...but I think it has the nice mix of players.


3--Havlat-Elias-Brunner: Brunner played best when with Elias. Havlat and Elias are only second to Zajac and Jagr in likelihood of a sure thing pairing. Minimize their time versus other top lines and this group could surprise people if they gel and get confidence (Looking at you Mr. Brunner).

4-Zubrus-Josefson-Ruutu: I know this is the line that everyone will shred when it comes to how much money on a single line....but lets look at it this way. Are they all defensively reliable? Can they throw the body? Can Zubrus or Ruutu quickly drop into any other position when an injury occurs? (Maybe not well...but you can't just move Brunner to 3rd line center to avoid blowing up anything in top 2 lines). Also, Josefson is a good faceoff guy and can finally prove he can do something at this level.

To me, this is the least of all evils.

I agree that we didn't see enough Ruutu to give him a fair shake, he was uprooted while his wife was about to have a kid (if you have kids you know that is not an easy thing to do) to a team that has a relatively complex system (even Jagr said it was a lot to learn) at the end of an abysmal season. I won't pass judgement until mid year on him.

And Brunner shows streaks of great speed and good stick handling skills, so its hard not to be a little excited about what he might do, but damn it he never does. I think he was getting hot last year before he injured his knee.

The lines Todd has are pretty much what I would work with if they don't move anyone.

The real question in my mind is what they do when (not if) Havlat and Clowe get injured. I see Boucher in for Havlat and Ruutu moving into Clowe's spot, and possibly Matteau on the 4th line at LW.

I forgot to mention...if Lou is trying to deal Ruutu (Which I would LOVE so as to clear cap and body for next year's roster), him playing on the 4th line may motivate him to allow a trade to anywhere he's top 9...

Fair. I didn't really like the move from the Devils side too. I like Loktionov a lot. It's perplexing that he didn't get more of a shot in either place.
- BINGO!

He sounds like kind of a diva. He refuses to play any position other than center. You don't do that as an unestablished bottom-6 player. Maybe he had other attitude issues that made him not worth his value in Carolina.
Also, I heard the shoulder injury he sustained was very serious. The report on it made it sound like something worse than a separation (my guess as to what Kovy had in his last NJ season), or your average anterior dislocation.

im just glad that there has been good conversation going on today (frank) its been a boring month

There are different strategies that come in to play here. I coached hockey and I had preference to spread out the offense over three lines and have that 4th line in a specific role per game with players without egos and don't get too high or too low.

No matter how you slice it, we will have top 9 paid players on the bottom 3...

1--Camm-Zajac-Jagr: I really want to see Clowe here on LW early on because I thought he played really well there when healthy....what short time that was. But for the sake of trying to have a 1st line that has the best chance to stay together the longest period of time (as Clowe could get hurt going through an EZ Pass...) I want Jagr to get what he wants in a consistent line.

2- Clowe-Henrique-Ryder: They played well together when a unit...again...injuries...but I think it has the nice mix of players.


3--Havlat-Elias-Brunner: Brunner played best when with Elias. Havlat and Elias are only second to Zajac and Jagr in likelihood of a sure thing pairing. Minimize their time versus other top lines and this group could surprise people if they gel and get confidence (Looking at you Mr. Brunner).

4-Zubrus-Josefson-Ruutu: I know this is the line that everyone will shred when it comes to how much money on a single line....but lets look at it this way. Are they all defensively reliable? Can they throw the body? Can Zubrus or Ruutu quickly drop into any other position when an injury occurs? (Maybe not well...but you can't just move Brunner to 3rd line center to avoid blowing up anything in top 2 lines). Also, Josefson is a good faceoff guy and can finally prove he can do something at this level.

To me, this is the least of all evils.
- Mewsik2myears

Actually, Brunner played better away from Elias, somehow. It's not often that you say that about any player, but it was really Rico and Patty that made that line work.

Also I was never a huge fan of the "Newfoundline" but that's just me.

Fair. I didn't really like the move from the Devils side too. I like Loktionov a lot. It's perplexing that he didn't get more of a shot in either place.
- BINGO!

Lou was trying to rid the Devils of the Russians.

He sounds like kind of a diva. He refuses to play any position other than center. You don't do that as an unestablished bottom-6 player. Maybe he had other attitude issues that made him not worth his value in Carolina.
Also, I heard the shoulder injury he sustained was very serious. The report on it made it sound like something worse than a separation (my guess as to what Kovy had in his last NJ season), or your average anterior dislocation.
- CaptCrankypants

Possibly. Of course, heading into this season there's an almost entirely new coaching staff (Brind'amour is the only hold-over) and new management, there's a chance that Francis just wanted to keep as many spots open for youth/his guys as he could starting the new season.

From all accounts, Bill Peters is bringing in a VERY aggressive, defense-oriented attitude. Not really Loktionov's style.

Well, I mean, what were you expecting? You're not getting the physical terror that was 26 year old Tuomo Ruutu.
- BINGO!

Hello

Hello
- shvingter88

hi

hi
- BINGO!

Good to see you around again

Good to see you around again
- shvingter88

ty

I have a desk job now.

I'm just going to agree with Todd's lines. The bottom 6 will b moved around, and mayb we'll c Havlat with Clowe on the 3rd line and the classic zubrus, or back to Brunner or Ryder on Elias' RW

I still have a funny feeling that Ryder or Brunner ,maybe even both, get traded. There is still a lot of talk of bringing back Carter. Honestly I wish we signed him before Bernier. If we resign Carter and keep Ryder and Brunner, we would have 3 extras. Next years draft is suppose to be very good so I would not mind trading a player for a draft pick.

I still have a funny feeling that Ryder or Brunner ,maybe even both, get traded. There is still a lot of talk of bringing back Carter. Honestly I wish we signed him before Bernier. If we resign Carter and keep Ryder and Brunner, we would have 3 extras. Next years draft is suppose to be very good so I would not mind trading a player for a draft pick.
- matty_ice_30

I agree 200%

ty

I have a desk job now.
- BINGO!

Oh my I'm so sorry for you

I wonder what Lou's final offer to Fayne was. It was probably something silly like 250k away from what Fayne's agent demanded.

What I don't like about our D is the age disparity. Fayne and Greene were the only ones in their prime, everyone else is either an old vet or an unproven kid.

I agree with the first line of

Camm- Zajac - Jagr

After that I would try one of the following scenarios

A) Elias & Henrique together

Henrique - Elias - Havlat

Clowe- Josefson - Ryfer

Ruutuu - Zubrus - Gionta/Brunner/Bernier


B)Elias and Henrique Separate

Brunner - Elias - Havlat

Clowe - Henrique - Ryder

Rutuu - Josefson - Zubrus

Bernier Gionta

I agree with the first line of

Camm- Zajac - Jagr

After that I would try one of the following scenarios

A) Elias & Henrique together

Henrique - Elias - Havlat

Clowe- Josefson - Ryfer

Ruutuu - Zubrus - Gionta/Brunner/Bernier


B)Elias and Henrique Separate

Brunner - Elias - Havlat

Clowe - Henrique - Ryder

Rutuu - Josefson - Zubrus

Bernier Gionta
- Devils622

I second this

I still have a funny feeling that Ryder or Brunner ,maybe even both, get traded. There is still a lot of talk of bringing back Carter. Honestly I wish we signed him before Bernier. If we resign Carter and keep Ryder and Brunner, we would have 3 extras. Next years draft is suppose to be very good so I would not mind trading a player for a draft pick.
- matty_ice_30

I think we all feel the same way. Bringing gionta and Bernier back before Carter was not the best move as he is significantly more valuable than them separate or combined.