From Lowell and Abroad, Who Wants to be a New Jersey Devil?
by John Fischer on Jul 8, 2009 12:00 AM EDT
in Prospects - Devils & Otherwise
11 comments
OK, so it's not an attractive title, but let's break this down. From previous comments and given the current roster, there will be many spots open at forward - again, at forward - for Devils' prospects to strive for in the coming 2009-10 season. In fact, given Lou's comments just after free agency began - as reported by Chere - expect those most of those spots to remain open by preseason. He wants players pushing each other for spots and the salary cap is going to fall next season, so it's best to give the kids a chance now.
So let's briefly go over who has the best chances and who may be a long shot. After all, prospect camp is next week. Note #1: No one prospect is a lock to make the Devils, everyone's got to earn it; but I think it's fair to think that some players are in a better spot than others. Of course, if no one impresses, look to Lou making a deal later on. Note #2: I'm not calling out Pierre-Luc Latourneau-Leblond as a prospect here, but he's got to earn his spot as well.
PENCIL THEM IN, THEY ARE IN LOU'S FAVOR
Rod Pelley, C, 24 - Pelley was actually specifically mentioned by Lou as someone he needs to make room for, as reported by Chere:
"It will be status quo to see where our budget is," Lamoriello revealed. "We have to make room for Rod Pelley and a couple of others. And we have to get more ice time for David Clarkson."
When Lou is calling you out specifically, you're definitely favored! Pelley also has the additional advantage of being a center - a position of need on the New Jersey Roster - and having more NHL experience than any of the other prospects, with 67 games. It's worth mentioning that 58 of those games came in 2007-08 where he averaged 9:47 a game. He didn't get a look last season, but he's definitely known within the organization.
Possible role? Checking line center and again, Lou was clear about this on July 1st, as reported by Chere:
"In John's case a change might be good," Lamoriello suggested. "We really have to get a little younger in certain areas. Rod Pelley is ready to take John's role. We had to look at the dollars to sign John."
That's a pretty big role! And if Lou is confident in him, than all Pelley has to do is to keep up his effort.
Ilkka Pikkarainen, RW, 28 - When it became known that Lou was signing a player from Europe, people expected a surprise. Well, when former prospect and HIFK Helsinki forward Pikkarainen was announced, it definitely surprised people when announced! In any case, he's favored because of Lou's initial response to what his role will be, as reported by Gulitti:
"He was signed for here," Lamoriello said.
Lamoriello said that the Pikkarainen, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound right wing, would "help" offset some of the free agent departures of Wednesday, but he wasn't necessarily signed to replace any of the individual players that left -- John Madden, Brian Gionta and Mike Rupp (as well as goaltender Scott Clemmensen).
"He's big and strong and he helps our size factor," Lamoriello said.
Where Pikkarainen fits will be up to the incoming head coach, but Lamoriello said he probably wouldn't be on the first two lines.
"I think he's going to play on the third or fourth line, he said.
There is plenty of room on the bottom two lines, and should no other right wing make it in New Jersey, a right side of Langenbrunner, Rolston, Clarkson, and Pikkarainen should be sufficient. Since Lou plainly stated he was signed for New Jersey, Pikkarainen only has to fit in, really. If he doesn't, well, let's just say I get a Fedor Fedorov feeling. But I would expect him, right now, to make the team.
Let's continue on for other possibilities that don't necessarily have the benefit of Lou talking them up specifically.
TALENTED, BUT ON A BUBBLE OF SORTS
Nicklas Bergfors, RW, 22 - The former first round draft pick is known for being a skilled forward. A potential scoring winger. According to Jared Ramsden's review of the Devils AHL prospects at Hockey's Future, Bergfors' offensive skill and ability to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2007-08 season was lauded despite the not necessarily impressive numbers. Ramsden thinks Bergfors is close to making the NHL and this summer really is his best shot yet.
What I think Bergfors needs to show is that he not only has this skill, but that he can command it at the NHL level. While some argue he would be best suited on the top two lines, there's not a lot of space there. Brian Rolston is already on the team as a natural replacement for Brian Gionta at right wing. Some would like to see Rolston move to center and have Bergfors (or someone else) in that right wing position, but I'm loathe to move a winger to center when there's already a hybrid player who at least knows what he's doing in that role in Dainius Zubrus.
If Bergfors wants a spot on those top two lines, then he needs to work his tail off to earn that right. In my view, the first step for him is just to become a regular New Jersey Devil first. Then he can move up accordingly. I think it'll happen.
PROBABLY NOT YET, BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY CRACK THE LINEUP.
Alexander Vasyunov, LW, 21 - After spending numerous years with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, Vasyunov finally came to the AHL last season and showed off some that offensive potential he was touted as having when drafted. Ramsden's report is as follows:
Vasyunov put on his display of elite offensive skill and speed on a regular basis and he scored some spectacular, breathtaking goals in his first year as pro. New Jersey had been trying for sometime to get his name on a contract and get him to North America with his development sagging in his native Russia, and were finally able to do so, and it looks like they may have found a gem. Players of Vasyunov's ilk don't grow on trees and the Devils have to be excited at what he showed in his first year as a pro, and what he might have in store for 2009-10. He'll likely still need another full season of development in the minors, maybe two, but the blossoming sniper is giving the Devils something to be excited about in the near future.
While Ramsden may ultimately be right, I would not discount the Russian winger immediately. If he can show off that speed and offensive skill, then he could be considered an excellent option for limited minutes should the new coach want that instead of defense. Maybe not as a regular, but in spot duty. Another season in Lowell wouldn't be a bad thing, but I could see him as a long shot of getting some games with New Jersey next season.
Matt Halischuk, RW, 21 - Halischuk did get a game in with the Devils last season and looked all right. Other than that, he spent a shortened season in Lowell. Unfortunately, it was shortened due to a MCL tear. The former Canadian WJC checker is still projected primarily as a defensive player. Here's what Ramsden thinks of the winger:
Halischuk is the epitome of what the Devils crave in their forwards, and he has the added bonus of possessing those intangible qualities that you just can't teach: a tireless work ethic and boundless energy. He has above average hockey sense at both ends of the rink and is a top-notch skater who also has the skills to be an elite penalty killer in time. He has moved very quickly through the system and it would not be surprising to see him in New Jersey to start next season.
Not at all bad traits to have. Yet, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to see how he does with a full, healthy AHL season. What is in Halischuk's favor is that he is a defensive winger and the Devils really don't have too many of those. He could be a good option to have should the Devils not need "toughness" on the fourth line. What isn't in his favor is the sheer number of wingers on both sides - both on the right side as mentioned with Pikkarainen, and on the left with Parise, Elias, Pandolfo, and Leblond.
Anyway, I think Halischuk is a long shot because he basically has to outplay other wingers to get to this spot, and that's going to be more difficult than ususal as they know this is the year to make their mark.
LONG SHOTS
Nick Palmieri, LW, 20 - Palmieri came right out of Belleville to play a few games in Lowell last season. He's projected to be a power forward and while his recent junior season wasn't massive, he definitely sparkled in the OHL playoffs with 14 goals in 17 games. The potential power forward got a good long look at training camp last season and he'll probably get one again. Should Palmieri have an excellent camp, he could sway a few minds among the coaching staff. Especially if he scores goals like he did in the OHL playoffs.
Patrice Cormier, C, 19 - Cormier had an excellent season last season both with the Rimouski Oceanic and for Canada at the 2009 WJCs. So much so that Hockey's Future's QMJHL staff named him the best prospect in the league! Moreover, he's a center, an area of need for New Jersey. I think he would benefit with some time in the AHL before jumping right in, but it's not unheard of for a 19 year old center prospect jumping right to New Jersey.
Mattias Tedenby, LW, 19 - Tedenby's gotten stronger and more experienced in the SEL in this past season. He had a few more games with the senior HV71 team, got further time with Sweden's junior teams, and had a successful loan to Oskarshamn. I don't know what his contract status is with HV71, so he may not be in New Jersey for a little while longer. However, his skating abilities combined with his offensive instincts and those hands of his could concievibly force the Devils to consider him in New Jersey. Highly doubtful, I think, but not totally impossible (contract aside).
Needless to say, a lot of players are going to be looked at closely at both the prospect camp next week and in preseason in September. Best of luck to all involved as the 2009-2010 could be the season for these potential talents to finally make their mark at the Rock.
Feel free to comment on this, as I plan to revisit this topic from time to time in the summer. Let me know if I'm on the mark, off the mark, missed a player, or anything else relevant to this. (Also: Please don't comment about how Lou hasn't signed anybody because this isn't the place for that.)
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Some of these prospects are almost there, Palmieri and Cormier are favorites of mine but they might still be a year way or more. I have been following Palmieri since he was traded from the Erie Otters and his play has picked up and he did have a monster playoffs. Cormier was injured a lot and last year he was finally healthy, he looks like the real deal.
Brandon Burlon and TJ Miller are also solid defense prospects.
It is about time
So let’s start out by naming the forwards that are back from last years team and played regularly: Elias, Rolston, Zubrus, Pandolfo, Langenbrunner, Parise, Zajac (most likely), Clarkson. This leaves 4 more spots in each game and possibly carrying one or two more younger guys as scratches. We can be pretty sure that two of those spots (at least at the beginning of the season) will be taken by Pierre-Luc (and so on) and this new guy Pikkarainen from Finland. The last two spots are still up in the air. It is still possible that Lou signs someone in the free agent market. After all, just because it is July 8th doesn’t mean that all free agents have been signed or that all of the quality free agents are gone really. It would be really difficult to find a player who puts up 30 goals a season, but there are still some good 3rd-4th line players available. Keep in mind that Brendan Shanahan still might return. That being said, I would say that Bergfors will probably make the team, whether as a starter or being carried with the roster. Pandolfo was sat at times during this season and it may happen again. I can also see Bergfors working his way up to replace Brian Rolston, who is terrible in my opinion, not because he was on the fourth line last year under Sutter’s coaching, but because he has become slow in his old age and makes a lot of bad decisions. I also believe that the Zajac-Parise-Langenbrunner line will probably be broken up, maybe before the season starts. I will not attempt to speculate at what the lines will or should be.
I was thinking about the whole Zajac thing and I remember when people started talking about Heatley deals it was said that the Devils would probably have to give up a player like Zajac in the deal. Maybe now is ideal time to pull the trigger on a deal like that? Just a thought.
I think Matt Corrente should be on that list. Hockey’s Future went as far as saying that he could have made the jump to NJ, skipping AHL. Keep in mind that the article was written before he had a season in the AHL. There is certainly room for him on defense and he shoots right which is a need for the team.
I’m fairly confident that Zajac will be back, for how long will be another story. I’d hate to see him go, and priority number one for Lou after the season starts is to keep sending fruit baskets and love notes until he signs a long term deal to keep the boys together for a while.
I haven’t convinced myself that a FA is coming this way. Way things are going, seems that Lou is thinking forward a year or 2 and taking cap space into concideration, building a strong young team, rather than one that will be busted up by cap-space issues created by signing expensive FAs now.
Love the “4 Spots” analysis. And those couple scratch spots are important as well. I’m not a coach, so I’m not going to poke at lines. I don’t like the idea of breaking up Parise’s line, but who knows. Other people are smarter than me in that area.
As far as who to expect, given a very quiet FA approach:
PLLL is going to be back, he looked pretty damn good last year.
Pikkarainen and Bergfors as stated above.
Shannie wants another season.
Corrente is a D, and we do need one, but maybe a cheap FA for 1 year until he gets a bit more experience?
I think Cormier could be the biggest “all-in” type risk. Need another center, and the upside is huge. Give him 4-5min a period anchoring the third line and see what kind of sparks happen. Beats the hell out of a converted winger, even if we have to deal with a few mistakes in the beginning.
Going to be a lot of fun this camp. Can’t wait to see some of these guys finally get to showcase their abilities when there is some real room on the roster. I don’t care what anyone says, the level of play in a camp when you have a real chance at a roster spot is a HUGE motivator. Average guys can look good, and solid starters can look like super-stars. Question is whether or not the intensity sticks around for a whole game, or whole season.
Maybe I’m just tired of watching a bunch of old guys battle their way to a one or two goal lead and then just sit back for 6 minutes left and have the game turn into a one sided shooting gallery because we’re too old to finish anything.
Get the young guys some ice-time! They’re our future. The future is 09-10.
The biggest problem I see is
that in a few years we’re going to have a log jam at LW, like we do right now on the right side. I think if not next year, the year after Tedenby is going to be ready, but where will he play. I don’t think he could play 3rd or 4th line, and unless we ask Elias to play third line minutes in a more defensive role (see Mike Madano the last few years), he won’t crack our top two lines.
Sorry about the multiple posts
Admins were pushing patches and appearantly, 1 click = 3. Feel free to clean it up if possible. I’m really not a tool.
OK, fixed!
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog
These are some fine comments, thank you for that.
I should have been clearer in the beginning in that I wanted to look only at forwards. That’s where the open spots are, after all. Goalie is still up in the air and the choice is either UFA goalie (which I want) or Jeff Frazee (who should have at least a season with Lowell). Moreover, the Devils have all three pairings returning next season so Matt Corrente, Tyler Eckford and Jay Leach are essentially fighting for the #7 spot right now. But hey, if someone has an amazing training camp, then the Devils will be happy to make that choice to give that someone some minutes.
I agree that Brandon Burlon is a good prospect, I’ll have to ask some Michigan guys to see how he’s doing. TJ Miller is another future choice. I believe both are still in college – I may be wrong, just going off the top of my head here – so I don’t think they’ll be coming out unless they do nothing but amazing things. Even then, the Devils don’t tend to rush their prospects.
Next time I’ll do this, I’ll include more minor-leaguers (e.g. DiSalvatore) and prospects (e.g. Zharkov). And yes, even defensemen.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
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