Are We Contenders or Pretenders?

by Zelepukin on Dec 24, 2009 10:41 AM EST

The Christmas break is upon us and we're one of the best teams in the league. I think this year was the year more than any other that the experts decried "This is the year the Devils fail, Two many key players lost and Leamaire can't coach in the new NHL" and well lo and behold, we're on top again. Call me a Homer, but I truly believe that Lou ices up a team every single season that can compete but this year it's different.

So with almost half the season gone where do we stand? Are these Devils for real?

This team really reminds me of the 2000 Devils. The influx of youth coupled with the veterans all of whom are playing well and this is with many an injury to key players to boot! While Parise is Parise, Elias is Elias and Brodeur is Brodeur. The way guys like Greene, Bergfors, Clarckson (pre-injury), Mottau, Salvador, McAmmond, Niedermayer, Zharkov & Fraser have stepped up their game is unbelievable and make me excited for the franchises future even more than ever. And lets not forget Rolston finally back to being Rolston, our Captian, Jamie Langunbrunner who seems to get better with age and the guy who is quickly turning into one the legue's best two-way centers, Travis Zajac.

And while I can shower accolades on the players all day long, I think the teams true MVP is Jacque Lemaire. Oh= I had my doubts like many of you on weather the old dog can learn some new tricks... and while a good chunk of the media like to stick with their old adage that the team still plays boring, trap devils hockey" us fans who watch every game know that this team does not remotely play boring games nor do they trap their way to victory. There have been nights where we clearly were not the best team on the ice, yet we are were still the team to walk away with the W. Why? because despite our talent, the team is ridiculously well coached and manages to make the necessary adjustments for whatever problems they encounter with the sometimes superior opposition. That is the mark of a great coach, and Lemaire is just that.

I look around at our nearest opposition and i think we're able to take them all down if it came down to it.

Penguins: While they are not easy to beat, we seem to really know how to outplay them and i think that is something that will continue all season long

Capitals: another team we're 3-0 against but one win was in a shootout an dthe other 2 were without Ovechkin playing. Still Ws are Ws and I feel teh Capitals have way too many questionmarks in net and on defense to go the distance come the playoffs.

Buffalo: While surprising and have the possibility to play spoiler i don't think they they have the components to make that long of a run. But besides Brodeur, i think Miller is truly the leagues most elite goaltender. Yes ahead of Luongo.

Blackhawks: While we haven't played them yet I look forward to the challenge. Also like the capitals I feel come the playoffs i don't trust their goaltending.

Sharks: Call me naive but i think whoever the Sjarks bring in every seasson to ensure them a cup, it'll still end up being the same old story come the playoffs. They have the talent, but i don't think they have the heart or are that well coached to win those games they should have lost.

So I ask all of you, realistically... knowing we have not fared well the past few years when going into the post-season. How do you like the looks of your Devils now and can and will they continue playing at this level for the rest of the season?

All FanPosts and FanShots are the respective work of the author and not representative of the writers or other users of In Lou We Trust.

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I think Lemaire was brought in precisely because of how the team has performed in the post-season, and will make the difference.

It seems that regardless of player or coach turnover, this team is always able to make the playoffs, but for whatever reason they haven’t been able to make the most of their chances.

His ability to keep them focused (excelling despite injuries and inexperienced kids in the line up while other teams falter through the same; putting together nice win streaks while minimizing losing streaks; pro-actively handling problematic behavior/bad habits, etc.) and game plan and adjust on the fly as well as anyone is a major factor the team has been lacking recently (I believe, anyway). It is those things that get you deeper into the playoffs, because as we all know, once we get there, everything that happened during the year goes right out the window and anything can happen.

So, yeah. I’m a fan and so of course think the team is a contender, but looking at it as objectively as I can, there’s no reason to think the team isn’t as good as its record indicates. I think they can hang with anyone.

by elesias on Dec 24, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions

To answer your question….are we contenders or pretenders? Right now, we are contenders. This has been the best Devil’s start in franchise history. Our team has a ton of depth. We have infused young players (Bergfors, Zharkov, Pelley) learning from older players (Brodeur, Mcammond, Langenbrunner). And we have a great core of players with natural talent.

But I think we are a player or two away from being cup contenders. In 2000, we brought a sharpshooter like Mogilny in to take this team over the top. We definitely could use one more great scorer. And we could use a veteran on the defensive line. If we could bring in two more players, we would have a competitive edge in the playoffs.

"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Tim G on Dec 24, 2009 2:52 PM EST reply actions

I’ve answered this in a roundabout way in a big, sloppy thank you to Jacques Lemaire and the coaching staff post that should be going up tomorrow sometime.

But to be brief, I think the answer is an emphatic yes, the Devils are contenders. They have stood toe to toe with the top teams in the Eastern conference and came out with wins in spite of all the injuries. I mean, considering that they win games that they shouldn’t have, win games decisively over an elite opponent like Pittsburgh, and have avoided long slumps (longest winless streak still stands at 3 games, which lasted all of a week).

By the time April rolls around, I would think (I certainly hope!) the Devils would finally be healthy and be a real force to be reckoned with. Honestly, with each passing win, I’m beginning to think that the “missing piece of the puzzle” is on the IR right now. A lot of credit for this, I think, should go to the coaches for their in-game management and motivation as well as the players’ performance and Lou’s generally great management (what was bigger, signing McAmmond or signing Niedermayer?)

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Dec 24, 2009 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

I would say they are almost equal in value, John. I could not state whether McAmmond or Niedermayer has made a bigger impact with this club. What I could say, however, is that both of them have equally given major contributions by utilizing what they do best: working hard every shift.

Something I have noticed this year that goes along with what John said about winning games they shouldn’t have. I think of the Yankees of last year sometimes when I think about the Devils and winning games they shouldn’t have. There have been multiple games this year when we’ve had to form some kind of comeback. The bottom line is we know how to win regardless of the deficit we might be facing. We are a comeback team. I have not felt once so far this season that we were ever out of a game. That is the difference between this year and last year. We never give up.

"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Tim G on Dec 25, 2009 3:03 AM EST up reply actions

But I think we are a player or two away from being cup contenders. In 2000, we brought a sharpshooter like Mogilny in to take this team over the top- Tim G

imagine if we added somebody like Jeff Carter or Bobby Ryan who i think are on the block

by wolfsonm67 on Dec 26, 2009 8:39 AM EST reply actions

Jeff Carter = Wishful Thinking

Im not sure Id want him but there’s no way the Flyers and Devils are making any trade, let alone one in which the Devils get Jeff Carter. Bobby Ryan could be interesting (he’s from NJ) but I think the Ducks will want too much in return.

by drhgzang on Dec 26, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

The Flyers are not going to give up on Carter unless Carter did something so absolutely dumb within the organization or the Flyers just became so absolutely dumb. Moreover, the Flyers certainly can’t be dumb enough to make a major move within the division….would they?

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Dec 26, 2009 1:16 PM EST up reply actions