I am a clever motherpucker. If you have to ask why you haven't been reading this blog very long. Well that, or you don't find me funny at all. If that's the case, that's not very nice. Jerks. Anyway, the topic of discussion tonight is about the NJ Devils, if you couldn't figure it out. It'll be my last comments on them for the year, providing nothing ridiculous happens between now and 2011.
To spare everyone (especially the Devils fans that read this), I won't rehash all the shortcomings of the season. We all know what's been going on, so I'm simply going to offer up my thoughts on what the devils need to do. Although a brief quote from Patrick Elias (courtesy of the Fire and Ice Blog): I don't know if it can get any worse.
Coaching Change
In all fairness to John MacLean, this isn't his fault. He was brought aboard a team amidst one of the most controversial free agent signings ever, and thus dealing with many roster issues as a result of salary cap restraints. When coupled with the numerous injuries (most notably the absence of Zach Parise), there's not much you can do with a club. Honestly, I was of the belief that he should've had the job last year. I understand sending him to the AHL to get a season of head coaching experience under his belt, but he was practically coaching the team under Brent Sutter anyway, so what's the big deal. The players on the squad would've had more time to acclimate to his system and potentially be a more cohesive unit at this point.
As it stands he is really in a no win situation. The Devils are all but eliminated from the playoffs already. They are 18 points out of a playoff spot, and 13 games below .500. Barring the most ridiculous run ever, this team is looking at a lottery pick at the 2011 draft...and that may not be a bad thing. I think the Devils could possibly stand to benefit from a coach like Ken Hitchcock or "Iron" Mike Keenan. I'm not insinuating that the Devils need a taskmasker, but a firm hand might be what this team needs to shake things up.
Roster Shakeup
I am all for loyalty in hockey. Most other professional sports it seems all about the money for players, and "what have you done for me lately" with front offices. Hockey has always seemed to be different in that respect. Players are demanding exorbitant amounts of money, and you even see them wanting to stay with clubs, despite the possibility of a bigger payday or better chance at winning (ex: Shane Doan, Rick Nash). Uncle Lou has always been loyal to long time talent, but at this point it has been one of the teams many albatrosses this season. Unfortunately, a few front office favorites were given contracts that are too expensive and at this point seemingly unmovable, forcing the Devils to have to ride out 35+ contracts because they cannot bury players or trade bloated contracts.
Recently, Brian Rolston was waived in a strictly fiancial move, but has not been placed on re-entry waivers. No one would claim Rolston's 5 million dollar contract, but at 2.5 and closer to the deadline he can be a decent addition to a team. However, the Devils would still be stuck with a 2.5 million cap hit for next season. Still, that is 2.5 they can use to sign younger players. What further handicaps this team is that the older talent who could help a team on the playoff bubble make a run all have NTC's. Langenbrunner, Elias, Arnott and Rolston all have clauses that makes trades very difficult. I cannot imagine Lamoriello willingly asking these players to waive their clauses, but at this point there's little other option. Players like Travis Zajac and Parise are the future of this club, and although they would fetch the most on the open market, they need these young yet experienced players on their team. If they trade either of these players, New Jersey will be the elephant burial ground of the NHL, with Kovalchuk wasting away with his 100 million dollars.
Patrick Elias has long been a fan favorite and has set numerous Devils records. I'm sure no one would want to see him leave, but his veteran leadership could seriously benefit a young club who is ready to turn the corner and become a contender. There have been rumors of him going to Edmonton, and honestly that's not a bad idea. Edmonton is loaded with young talent, some of which they might be willing to part with for the expirienced and still useful Elias. his number #26 will join 3 and 4 in the rafters not long after his playing days are over, but I think it's time for Lou and Patrick to do what's right for the club. Give them a chance to load up on young talent and rebuild, not waste away.
Langenbrunner is another option that will fetch a nice return, but as a pending UFA after this season, look for him to be shopped closer to the deadline as a rental. Zubrus has also been thrown around the rumor mill this season, but in all fairness he has been one of the few bright spots on the team this year. He won't put up gaudy numbers but he works hard and competes which is the kind of player you'll need when rebuilding.
Thankfully there have been some other pleasant surprises this season, notably the play of Mattias Tedenby. The 20 year old Swede is currently 8th on the roster in scoring, despite playing in only 18 games. Another bright young player for the Devils is Alexander Vasyunov, who although currently sent back down to the AHL team, is the only player on the team aside from Mark Fraser (who is on IR) that is not a minus player on the season. The Devils will need more players like this on the team in order to start turning this thing around.
Goaltending
Ahh, the proverbial 800-pound gorilla in the room. No one wants to talk about this, but it is certainly something that needs to be addressed, and soon. no matter how you look at it Martin Brodeur is not getting any younger. He is literally the best goaltender the league has ever seen, owning every major goaltending record except for career playoffs wins, which is a ridiculous number held by Patrick Roy. He is a first ballot hall of famer, and nothing anyone can say will change what he has done in the game. With that said, he is starting to act his age. he has missed portions of the last two seasons with injuries, and is currently on pace for his worst professional season ever. With only one more year left on his contract, the writing is on the wall. No one is suggesting that the Devils run him out of town, as he as earned the right to compete for the starting job from now until the end of his contract, but certainly a younger backup to be groomed for a starting role is a must have for this team. The Devils have always managed to get buy with backup goaltenders who were adequate, but I wouldn't trust to carry a team full time, and it has never been an issue. Given Brodeur's durabilty issues the past few seasons, and his decline in play, something needs to change.
Options are trading some of the aforementioned players above for a younger goaltender, the free agency market, although that doesn't always pan out. Drafting is also an option, but I have not heard of any promising goalie prospects in the Devils system and traditionally goalies take longer to develop than the skaters in front of them. Unfortunately the devils do not have that kind of time. I can't see Brodeur getting moved seeing how he has a NTC, but with rumblings of Lou Lamoriello potentially leaving the devils sooner rather than later (I will touch on that in a second), the idea of Martin waiving his NTC is not a huge stretch.
I think trading forward talent for a goalie is a much better option because there are some young guys who are currently trapped under other talented goalies and might not get a chance until later in their careers. Mainly I'm thinking of Jonathan Bernier in LA who was picked to challenge Quick for the starting job, but Quick has been dominant between the pipes in LA. Also Anders Lindback from Nashville has garnered some attention lately with his excellent play in Pekka Rinne's absence, creating somewhat of a goalie controversy as Rinne is being activated from IR and the question is who to start? Cory Schneider up in Vancouver is also an option and honestly a bit more realistic. He is playing behind Roberto Luongo, who is signed through 2021. Barring a freak accident or catastrophic injury, Bobby Lu will be the starter for the vast majority of that time. I'm sure a depth move for Vancouver, and maybe a draft pick would be somewhat attractive.
Front Office
There is definitely tension in the Devils front office. For as long as most of us can remember, this has been the Uncle Lou show. He is the President, General Manager and CEO of the New Jersey Devils, and has usually run the team the way he wants with little interference from the owners and it yielded 3 Stanley Cups in 10 years as well as numerous playoff appearances and division titles. Not a bad run. However, there is a new owner in town who has different ideas for the club. While it's refreshing to see an owner in NJ willing to open the wallet to get marquee talent on board, is was done with a crippling effect on the rest of the team. Lou is definitely not happy.
While Lou is notoriously secretive, there have been suspicions that he is unhappy with the direction ownership wants to go. Given that it took him quite a while to sign his contract extension a while back, as well as rumors that he was going to jump ship and GM the *gulp* Rangers, it is entirely possible that he will not be back next season, if he doesn't leave sooner. Personally, I don't think that Lou is the type to simply turn and run when it gets bad, but I don't think he will stay around when it is obvious his talent and input isn't as appreciated as it once was. There is also a widespread belief that as goes Lou, so goes Brodeur. It is possible that Brodeur could play longer than his current contract, one has to think that if the previous belief is true, then Brodeur will leave if Lou is gone.
When all is said and done, the Devils have far more questions than answers at this point, and while this season is all but lost, I do think the devils have the time to start the rebuilding process and show signs of the future before the season is through. It's just going to take a lot of tough decisions from a GM who may or may not be halfway out the door. In Lou We Trust, and with good reason, but for how much longer?
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