Devils off season options

by brodeur30 on Jun 9, 2010 8:49 AM EDT

The devils will either have to go all out to try and win another cup with Brodeur or completely rebuild by letting Kovalchuk and Martin walk. Brodeur has 2 years left on his contract and says he will retire when it is up. If they decide to not rebuild they will have to resign either Kovalchuk or Martin. I prefer we keep Martin because he is a top 2 defensman and we already lost Rafalski, Neidermayer and more in the past few years. They cannot afford to lose Martin. They also will need to get more then just him back if they are going to contend for the cup. Theyll also need to improve the center positions. Tomas Plekanec, Patrick Sharp and Joe Pavelski could be a few options. But Sharp would have to be a trade and Joe Pavelski is a restricted free agent so the sharks can match any offer. Tomas Plekanec or Sharp are more likely because they are better defensively.

There have been rumors that they could deal for Tomas Kaberle. The leafs want a top six scorer or a first round pick for him. Since they do not have a first round pick they could deal a prospect or two and next years first round pick. They might be better off getting somebody else because Kaberle is not a top level shutdown defensman. He would be great for the power play quarterback and he can play a lot. Someone like Henrik Tallinder, Dan Hamhuis or Ian white would be better for defense. They can also go after Pavel Kubina or Kurtis foster or Joe Corvo for some more offense on the blueline and a power play quarterback and a second pair defensman. A couple of guys they could trade for are Robyn Regehr or Brian Campbell. Campbell or Regehr would be better defensive options then Kaberle but not as good offensively. Regehr would also give them the physical shutdown defensman they have lacked since stevens and danyeko left. Campbell would be a good power play quarterback and improve the offense and is also better then Kaberle defensively but he makes over 7 million per year.

They also need to address the checking line which was unable to match up against top lines. They should let Rob neidermayer walk and deal pandalfo. Clarkson is a restricted free agent who should be back. He has a lot of value with his agaitating style of play and two way ability. They could target Manny Malhorta from san jose who is a great defensive center and penalty killer with experience. Mat cooke could be good on the wing but he will be costly for a third line winger. He has excellent defensive ability with and provides good secondary scoring and great penalty killing. He would complement Clarkson well. Other defensive centers who could fit the billing are Scott Nichol who brings a strong defensive game, good faceoff ability and a physical game.

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defense

They need too improve the d a lot. They need martin and another physical shutdown defensman to go with him. Tallinder of Michalek would be good options who can match up with top scorers and can help clear the net with size and toughness which was lacked the last few years. They also need another top four defensman to play with Greene who is a good all around player and a power play quarterback.

by brodeur30 on Jun 9, 2010 9:05 AM EDT reply actions

Was the D really that bad? I mean, Jennings. Maybe Marty was just that good? Or the D was only exposed in the Playoffs by the giant slabs of meat called Flyers? They may be unheralded and unrecognized, but they did a hell of a job for the vast majority of last season.

But totally agree with the need for a crease cleaner. You could see the goals coming 20 seconds before they happened at the end of last season. “Oh look, is standing in the crease again, waiting for that pass.” “Oh man, he’s still standing there. Isn’t someone going to hit him before he defle…nevermind, too late.”

by Murdoc on Jun 9, 2010 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

We’re not going to be looking at many star names in terms of bringing them in. Of course, there’s a chance we sign Kovy and Martin, but at this point, I wouldn’t mind a semi-rebuilding year. You can’t throw in the towel when you have a core including Parise and Zajac, but we need a strong #2 center who wins faceoffs, and a #1 defenseman, and someday, a #1 goaltender. That’s a lot. Maybe, just maybe, if we trade someone on our roster right now, away for a high 1st round pick this year or next year, we can make the process less painful. Just a thought…

Yankees in baseball, Giants in football and Devils in hockey. It's that simple. I have no off-season.

by DownGoesAvery on Jun 9, 2010 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

A couple questions and one comment:

1) Where is/was it said that Brodeur will be retiring after this contract? Other than specualtion on blogs like this one?
2) Why does everybody insist on trading players with No Trade Clauses? Pandolfo ain’t going anywhere. Maybe, and that’s a reallllly BIG maybe, Albany, but I’d doubt that too.
3) Including a first round pick for Kaberle would be overkill. I don’t know what next year’s draft crop looks like, but I’d rather take my chances with the best defenseman available at pick #30 than giving it up for Kaberle for probably one year.

Go Jets
Go Devils

by FrankG929 on Jun 9, 2010 7:44 PM EDT reply actions

what about this guy Niklas Hjalmarsson on chicago hes a big guy and is only 23. i dont know how big the blackhawks are on him so he could be a possibility being hes a RFA

by jonnynovs on Jun 9, 2010 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

Once again RFA…. That would cost probably a 1st round pick we don’t have. Hjalmarsson really hasn’t impressed me in the finals so far.

"Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps."- Tiger Woods

by RolliePollieKovy on Jun 9, 2010 9:17 PM EDT reply actions

Signing an RFA after July 1st would require a 2011 draft pick, which I believe the Devils DO have, since the 2010 draft would have already happened.

Go Jets
Go Devils

by FrankG929 on Jun 9, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Chicago has 0 leverage as they are over the cap, so the Devils could really put the screws to Chicago and make an offer.

Hjalmarsson’s not bad, but if Lou wants to go the offer sheet route, why not target a team he would never trade with, like, the Rangers for Dan Girardi or Marc Staal.

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

by John Fischer on Jun 9, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

While I agree Chicago has little in the way of leverage, but we all have to remember they wont be paying Huet next season, which means $5.625 million off the books. I really dont think they will be trying to or allow Hjarlmarsson to go anywhere. He is in their Top 4 (Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjarlmarsson, then Sopel) and they have no other D-men signed right now. You can bet Hendry will be Number 6 as Johnsson, Boynton and Cullimore will be let go.
Let’s not forget about Souray if we cannot sign Martin. What do you guys think?

by Skuba7 on Jun 10, 2010 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point. Lou hates the Rangers and wants to get back about Gomez. I don’t think he’ll do it though…..

"Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps."- Tiger Woods

by RolliePollieKovy on Jun 10, 2010 7:42 AM EDT reply actions

Mitchell

I say he is the Devils BEST target for acquiring a crease-clearing Defenseman. UFA, similar salary to Martin’s, drafted by NJ, nothing not to like as far as Im concerned.

by Skuba7 on Jun 10, 2010 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

defense

they said they will try to re sign martin and sign others. Hamuhuis,lydman and kaberle who would be a trade are a few of the names mentioned. any of them would be good. I like hamhuis a lot. Hjarlmarsson from chicago is a very good young player with size and workhorse ability. They will likely either sign kovalchuk with i do not think is the way to go or spend a lot of money on the blue line. Theres plenty of options

by brodeur30 on Jun 14, 2010 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

defense

it was that bad. the playoffs were disgraceful vs the flyers. they also have no ovechkin or crosby that dominated them too which is the scary thing. they do have a lot of good players.
Game 3, 4 were the worst. Game 3 would have been 5-2 if not for brodeur’s ridiculous saves. he cannot do that for the whole game without them getting the puck out for more then 10 seconds at a time. Game 4 was as bad. none of the flyers goals are possible to stop for anyone. 1, 2and were also not great defensively.

by brodeur30 on Jun 14, 2010 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

Hjalmarsson

I think if Lou decided to, putting out an offer sheet for $3 over 3 years for Niklas means forfeiting a 2nd Round 2011 pick, assuming Chicago doesnt match. Now, Lou would likely contact Stan Bowman to let him know of the offer, and keep it out of an offer sheet if Bowman was amenable with a 2nd Rd pick.
Either way for me, we truly need an upgrade on the back end even after we re-sign Martin.

by Skuba7 on Jun 14, 2010 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

Hjalmarsson

Skuba7 that is a great idea. he is a very good young defensman with championship experience who can log a lot of minutes in a top four role. He is a very good second pair defensman to maybe go with Greene or another free agent or trade acq.

by brodeur30 on Jun 16, 2010 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

Thanks brodeur30, we need an upgrade whichever avenue we choose. Knowing that Lou will concentrate on Martin now that MacLean is signed, I hope he goes further and finds another FA to be in the Top 4, preferably a Top 2 playing next to Martin, but we may not have the money.

by Skuba7 on Jun 17, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions