New Jersey Devils

Avery’s Antics Are His Undoing

September 26, 2010

Something bad is going to happen to Sean Avery. It might not be the next time the New Jersey Devils play the New York Rangers, it might not be later in the season. Heck, it might not even happen this season. But one day, something bad is going to happen to Sean Avery. This is not groundbreaking; I think every hockey fan with knowledge about Sean Avery can see it coming. Last night's game just reinforced to me that Avery will eventually have something bad done to him. His game is simple: Antagonize opponents and get them to take stupid penalties. He plays his ‘game’ well. He was in mid-season form last night in the final pre-season meeting between the Devils and Rangers. In case yo...

Kovalchuk Snipes, Wipes Out; Devils Fall In Overtime

September 24, 2010

Greg Balloch

3 Comments

It’s often debated how star players should be used in the pre-season, if at all. It can be devastating to lose a star player due to injury, but it’s even more devastating if that injury occurs during a (somewhat) meaningless exhibition game. When New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk fell into the boards late in the third period of Thursday night’s pre-season loss to the Rangers, Devils fans were left collectively holding their breath. Then he got up. And we could breathe again. But of course the debate rages on. Should we even use star players during the pre-season? If a player already knows he is on the team, what does he have to prove by playing in the pre-season? Can you get into “gam...

New Jersey Devils get Iced in Philly

September 22, 2010

Stacy Podelski

5 Comments

New York, NY - Philly fans know the good news about the Flyers 4-3 shootout win over the Devils in the preseason opener on Tuesday, but what about the Devils fans? Well, I will break down the good, the bad and the ugly in last night's tight loss. The Good: New Jersey bounced back from a 2-0 Flyer lead thanks to goals from Dainius Zubrus and Jamie Langenbrunner. It puts general manager Lou Lamoriello in a difficult situation as each were mentioned in the rumor winds to be on their way out should the Devils backs be put against the wall in order to become cap compliant. More good news: The play of defenseman Henrik Tallinder, who was a +1 and a team-high 24:03 of ice time, showed signs o...

Devils Feeling the Cap Crunch (Again)

September 21, 2010

Greg Balloch

2 Comments

The closer we get to the opening of the regular season, the tougher the decisions become for all 30 NHL general managers. It’s never a fun time when the GMs have to make cuts to their roster. At any level of hockey, it’s always sad to see the faces of players who are told they won’t be playing hockey for the club they were trying out for. Some of the rookies may use it as motivation to improve during the year, and hopefully make a stronger impression at next year’s camp. But for some of the veterans at camp, getting cut means the end of the line. Players that already have contracts aren’t even excluded; such is the case for New Jersey’s Brian Rolston. As it stands right now,...

Devils Putting All Their Eggs in One Basket

September 20, 2010

Greg Balloch

4 Comments

Ah yes, training camp time. It’s a time for giddiness, excitement, but more importantly, it’s a time for speculation. There was plenty of that as the New Jersey Devils opened camp this week, especially after the offseason debacle that was the Ilya Kovalchuk contract situation. That’s all in the past now (to the delight of every single hockey fan in the world), so the attention now turns to the important stuff. You know, the actual on-ice stuff. Rookie head coach John Maclean has already made a few headlines in the first day of camp by moving Kovalchuk from his natural left wing position to right wing, in order to fit him on a line with Zach Parise and Travis Zajac. That’s righ...

Brian Gionta-The One that got away?

September 16, 2010

Stacy Podelski

3 Comments

New York, NY - It was announced by the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday that right winger Brian Gionta will be captain for the 2010-11 season. Gionta, who is an American born hockey player from Rochester, NY, is taking upon his shoulders an honor that very little gain from one of the elite NHL teams. The Canadiens, an Original Six team, are so rich in history. They have won 24 Stanley Cup championships. Names such as Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Ken Dryden and even Patrick Roy are among some of the great players to wear the ‘Habs’ uniform. Gionta has a wealth of championship playing experience, as the winger has not only participated in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals but was also ...

Is One Man Really Worth It

September 3, 2010

Stacy Podelski

5 Comments

New York - Well there is good news and bad news over in the Land of the New Jersey Devils. The good news is that it seems as if Ilya Kovalchuk will be back and playing for the Devils in the 2010-11 season. The bad is that general manager Lou Lamoriello will have to make moves so that he can get under the $59.4 million salary cap before the start of regular season. Which leads me to the question-was giving Kovalchuk this type of deal really worth it? With forward Patrik Elias making six million through 2013 and Brian Rolston owed 5,062 through 2010, along with Jamie Langenbrunner owed 2.8 million, who do the Devils move? Langenbrunner, who is the current face of the franchise and the ca...