BlogsNews and notes, July 3, 2009
by TibbsBeastoftheEast
on Jul 3, 2009 8:58 AM EDT
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Devs embark on youth movement - (The Bergen Record)
Devils cite seat problems at arena - (The Bergen Record)
Slow day for Devils and NHL - (Fire & Ice)
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Why the New Jersey Devils will have a Different Look in 2009-2010 - and what should be done next
by John Fischer
on Jul 2, 2009 10:27 PM EDT
in Devils Issues & Views
16 comments
The New Jersey Devils have not done a whole lot in free agency so far this summer. Here is exactly what they have done (all these links go to Gulitti's posts as confirmation of moves):
Now, I said that Oduya was a must-sign player among all the UFAs and to that end, the Devils succeeded. Credit Lou with that. Moreover, Lou has been able to keep Greene to keep the defense intact and Travis Zajac has been qualified, so he'll return as well.
Of course, I also said that the Devils needed a two-way/offensive defenseman on the blueline as that's the only type of player the defense could use; as well as a back up goaltender, and possible upgrade at center on the second line. With John Madden now in Chicago, the Devils also need a checking center. So to that end, the Devils still need to fill these needs.
I think most of the readers understand why Lou is doing this. thejerseydevil really hit the head on the nail as far as what the plan could be with this FanPost. Though, the reasons are not exactly a secret according to Lou.
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ESPN Ranks Devils as 38th Best Franchise in Major Leagues
ESPN Magazine likes to hold an Ultimate Franchise ranking each year and they rank the New Jersey Devils 38th. The detailed profile on the Devils praises them specifically for Lou's management of the team and the relatively new Prudential Center.
What really holds the Devils down is that their ticket prices have been too high. Fair enough. I have a feeling their ranking will shoot up next season as the Devils lowered their prices for 2009-10. Either way, while 38th doesn't sound impressive, it's better than the Rangers, Flyers, Yankees, Nets, Mets, Giants, Jets, and Islanders!
1 day ago
John Fischer
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OFFICIAL: New Jersey Devils Sign Ilkka Pikkarainen
by John Fischer
on Jul 2, 2009 10:11 AM EDT
in Devils Issues & Views
44 comments
"Ilkka Pikkarainen is a forward who brings size, strength and toughness to our roster," said Devils' President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello. "We welcome him back to our hockey club."
Pikkarainen, 28, re-joins the organizatin after returning to HIFK Helsinki (Fin.) for the past three seasons. In 2008-09, he recorded 24 goals and 13 assists for 37 points, and 149 penalty minutes in 54 games. He led the team in goals and penalty minutes, while tying for third in points.
Well, it's certainly a surprise! Pikkarainen has done fairly well with HIFK Helsinki in the three seasons he's been there. If I recall correctly, and hockeydb confirms this, he's a right winger. Truth be told, I'm expecting much more than this; but hey, he's a player for the bottom two lines that the Devils may find useful. Please don't turn the comments into a bunch of complaints about how this is awful because he's not a bigger name - the Devils can still sign plenty of players. This is just one.
I'll update when there's contract information.
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News and notes, July 2, 2009
by TibbsBeastoftheEast
on Jul 2, 2009 8:38 AM EDT
2 comments
Devils say seats at Prudential Center don't meet standards - (The Bergen Record)
Devils top local finisher in ESPN the Magazine team rankings - (Fire & Ice)
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"I don't think this is a change in direction," Lamoriello said. "It's a change of people pushing other people. The core is still there. But you can't keep everybody. The cap is going down next year."
Chere has what I think is the definitive quote from Lou Lamoriello about today's signings.
I want to put that last sentence in big, bold, flashing lights. Lou's thinking years from now, you know, when Martin and Parise need new deals.
Also, from that link, the Devils are looking at someone abroad from Europe. Hmmm...
1 day ago
John Fischer
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2009 NHL Free Agency Day 1: New Jersey Devils Recap (Updated Twice Now)
by John Fischer
on Jul 1, 2009 8:40 PM EDT
in Devils Issues & Views
23 comments
Today was the first day NHL teams can sign unrestricted and restricted free agents. Normally, there's a lot of action on the first day and while it's Wednesday evening, there are still plenty of talented players available so action continues.
The New Jersey Devils were fairly quiet today, only announcing the re-signing of Andy Greene. As I mentioned as it happened, this - along with the re-signing of Oduya - means the Devils' top 6 from most of last season will return. There are no updates on Travis Zajac.
Two Three Four Devils will definitely not return for next season. As reported by Gulitti (with quotes from Rupp and Clemmensen), Mike Rupp has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins for 2 year deal costing $825,000 to their cap; and Scott Clemmensen has signed a 3 year deal with the Florida Panthers, costing an average of $1.2 million. Both will be missed to some degree. Rupp did score one of the Devils' most important goals in franchise history, the game winner in Game 7 against Anaheim in 2003. Moreover, Rupp's physical play and energy were welcomed. Clemmensen stepped in when Brodeur was injured and emerged as the starting goaltender, playing well above expectations and just very well in general.
However, they are and will be replaceable. I felt Rupp wasn't going to return when the Devils signed Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond about a month ago. While he's not 6'5", 220 lbs., Leblond is 6'2", 220 and can do many of the same things Rupp can on the fourth line: skate, hit, and perhaps fight with energy. As far as Clemmensen goes, I'm glad to see him get a contract elsewhere. He proved that he can definitely be a goalie at the NHL level last season. While Gulitti's report on Clemmensen revealed that most offers were for backup roles, he should be able to see much more time backing up Tomas Vokoun than he would in New Jersey. The Devils can sign one of the many other free agent goaltenders available as a back-up.
I wish both of them well in their new endeavors with their new teams. Of course, not when they are playing against New Jersey.
UPDATE: As I just posted this story, Brian Gionta has signed with Montreal for $25 million over 5 years. Gionta was important in that he proved that smaller players can not only play in the NHL, but play huge. He had no fear of physical play, did his best work in front of the net, and zipped around offensive zone. His best year came in 2005-06 with Scott Gomez at center and Patrik Elias playing a lights-out second half of the season recovering from Hepatitis A, where he set a new Devils' single-season goal scoring record with 48 goals. Gionta blossommed into the Devils' top right winger, but his goal production dipped since that 2005-06 season. His assists grew and he still played the infectious style of hockey Devils fans liked to see - but the goals weren't there. Perhaps reuniting with Gomez in Montreal will re-ignite his goal scoring ways. Hopefully, not against New Jersey, of course. All the same, best of luck to Gionta in Montreal.
UPDATE #2: About an hour later, from Gulitti, John Madden has signed with Chicago for one year, $2.75 million. I and many will miss Madden's fire on the ice. He was a checking center par excellence, not only making stops, but adept at taking that puck and moving it in the opposite direction. A former high scoring player in college and in the AHL, he morphed into a defensive center who turned out to be nearly perfect for the transition game in New Jersey. Truth be told, he's not as good now as he was a few years ago; but he definitely has plenty left in the proverbial tank and should benefit the Blackhawks.
I can sympathize with some of the frustration at the Devils not announcing any other deals. This is the first day of free agency, you see other teams making headlines, and other teams signing "name" players. But I think caution makes sense. The Devils only really need an offensive/two-way defenseman to bolster the top 4 of the blueline, a back-up goalie, and an improvement at the second line center position. Should John Madden not return, then the Devils will also need a checking center (UPDATE: Well, now they do!) Even then, there are players available to fit all these needs.
This is much better than the four moves Montreal made: trading for Scott Gomez and his mammoth contract, signing Jaroslav Spacek for more money than Johnny Oduya (seriously) and Hal Gill over a number of other defenders, and signing Mike Cammalleri for a $30 million deal. Only the last one looks good; but if Cammalleri doesn't perform, these can all be big failures in short order. UPDATE: Make it 4 out of 5 not-so-good looking deals: Brian Gionta signed with Montreal for $25 million over 5 years - at least a $1 million/year too much, in my opinion.
Or as a better example: the Rangers taking that cap space saved from Gomez and spending it on Marian Gaborik. For five years. After extensive back and hip injuries.
Yes, all those moves made headlines - that doesn't make them a good idea. I'm telling you, waiting is looking good at this point. More as it happens.
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OFFICIAL: New Jersey Devils Re-Sign Andy Greene - $1.475 million for 2 Years
by John Fischer
on Jul 1, 2009 1:12 PM EDT
in Devils Issues & Views
16 comments
While he wasn't qualified, the New Jersey Devils official website announced that Andy Greene has been re-signed by the Devils.
Details on the contract have not been released and this post will be updated when it does - probably from Chere or Gulitti.
Greene will probably act as a depth defenseman, filling in on the third pairing. But his spot isn't guaranteed as long as the Devils sign another defenseman or if Matthew Corrente tears it up in training camp. I think it was a good idea to re-sign him as he's serviceable on that third pairing. But that's his ceiling. Again, he's the Devils #6 defenseman right now, in my opinion. With this signing, the Devils have their same top 6 defenseman from last season, so continuity and chemistry will still be a strength of the Devils' blueline.
One RFA remains for New Jersey: Travis Zajac. He has been qualified, so it's only a matter of time until we hear that he has been re-signed.
UPDATE #1: Chere updated his post on the signing by stating it's a two-year deal. No word yet on money though.
UPDATE #2: Gulitti got the details on Greene's contract!
The Devils have re-signed defenseman Andy Greene to a two-year contract for $1.475 million.
He'll earn $725,000 in 2009-10 and $750,000 in 2010-11.
Um, why did Lou not qualify him if Greene was going to get this raise? Qualifying him would guarantee a 10% raise, which was $60,000. Greene got a raise of $125,000 for next season. I don't understand it.
Other than that, I think it's a fair deal. He's a depth defenseman and he's getting paid like one while receiving a raise for at least playing well enough to stay at the NHL level. Unless the Devils go out and sign a big name, $737,500 won't mean much to the salary cap. Still waiting on Zajac.
UPDATE #3: Gulitti has a quote from Greene. He's happy to be here! That's good.
"I knew the process was going to take time with everything else that's going on with the coaching situation and the draft. So, I wasn't worried about it at all. I knew it was going to get done and wasn't really thinking about anything else."
...
"New Jersey is the place where I want to be. I want to play there. It's a great atmosphere to play in and to be in. They do everything they can to take care of us there. You know what you're getting when you're there, so it's the place where I wanted to be and I knew going into it that everything was going to be fine."
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey
|
82 | 51 | 27 | 4 | 106 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
82 | 45 | 28 | 9 | 99 |
|
Philadelphia
|
82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 |
|
New York Rangers
|
82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 |
|
New York Islanders
|
82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 61 |
(updated 4.13.2009 at 12:21 PM EDT)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
