Core Devils - Who Are They?
by elesias on Oct 20, 2011 3:39 PM EDT
Email
PrintThe subject of core players often sparks heated debate amongst fans as the term "core" is often difficult to agree upon.
I interpret a "core" to be a group of players who are showing or have shown themselves to be worth keeping on the team long-term and building around.
Looking at Capgeek, two things become immediately apparent: Lou is going to have to have a busy couple of summers re-signing guys (Kovalchuk, Greene, Larsson, Volchenkov and Tallinder are the only guys on the current roster signed beyond next season); and there will be, at some point in the very near future, a changing of the guard, so to speak.
As fans we've grown accustomed to names like Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur, but the reality is that despite what they may have left in the tank, they're both on the downslopes of their respective careers and no one could really fault them if they retired when their current contracts expire (this year for Marty, next for Elias). While it's certainly a possibility that one or both could re-sign or even sign elsewhere, I think it's safe to say that neither will be around forever and are pretty much excluded from any conversation about the team's core.
So who is this team's core? Looking forward, who does Lou need to lock up to create the foundation for a hopefully successful future?
Forwards:
Ilya Kovalchuk isn't going anywhere for a while, and has shown more than adequate skill and desire to be considered part of the core.
Zach Parise is arguably the best player on the team and with all doubts about his knee seemingly erased at this point, he's exactly the kind of guy you can build a team around.
Travis Zajac is, for better or for worse, the team's number one Center. That may not always be the case throughout his career as prospects grow and free agents are brought in, but as it stands I think he's absolutely part of the core.
Defensemen:
Adam Larsson is showing that he belongs in the NHL and, at 18, that's frankly more than a little amazing. He's absolutely a building block for the defense. Even if he doesn't hit the ceiling he could, he's good enough early enough that he could have a long, solid career.
Andy Greene was given a vote of confidence by Lou this past off season and, regardless of one's personal feelings about him, he remains pretty consistent while eating big minutes. No one will ever confuse him with Nicklas Lidstrom, but we know what we're going to get with him and what we get is a guy quietly doing what needs to be done.
Mark Fayne has DeBoer's confidence, at least, as he's been getting top 4 minutes and tough assignments and seems to be doing well with it, if one can judge a defenseman's prowess solely by how rarely one hears his name called during a broadcast.
Probables:
Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson are still trying to find their ways in the NHL, but are still very young (21 and 20, respectively) and it's not hard to see their potential while watching them play. Will they ever reach it? Are they part of the core?
As it stands, that leaves the team with two Centers, two Left Wings, one Right Wing(?) and three defensemen. Not a terrible situation as, if it works out, that's five of your top six forwards and half of your defense.
But what do you think? How do you define a "core"? Is Nick Palmieri part of the core? Did I miss someone, or do you disagree with someone(s) on this list?
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.
18 comments
|
2 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Nice article.
I don’t think Palmieri deserves to be considered as “part of the core” yet.
Also your math is a little bit fuzzy at the end, it should read 5 out of the top 9 forwards instead of 8 of 9.
I’m also really hoping for Josefson and Tedenby to further solidify themselves as being in the core. I think Josefson gets more respect from Devils fans on here and F&I, and he seemingly gets more respect from the coaching staff as well.
However I think I’ve seen much more to be excited about so far from Tedenby, who I think can easily excel in this league and on this team as a great playmaker and eventual goalscorer as he grows. Players like Tyler Ennis and Martin St. Louis have shown there is room for the small guys to be great NHL players.
I think the Devils are in this “Changing of the Guard” since the lockout. In 2005-2006, there were 8 players that have played on the Devils for more than 5 season (<=1999-2000). Currently, that number is at 3 (Marty, Elias and Parise are the only players that have played on the Devils since 2005-2006. The following year is when Clarkson, Greene, Zajac started. Throw in last year’s “overhaul” of Volchenkov, Tallinder, Tedenby, Josefson, Palmieri(he did play in 6 games in 2009-2010), and Fayne – and this sounds like a nice core of guys.
Our Stanley Cup core is mostly gone (Madden, Brylin, White, Rafalski, Pandolfo, and Gomez…even throw in Gionta and Langs) and it will be completely gone when Marty and Elias are done soon. I know free agency has much affected this, but I feel Lou is finally at that brink of getting his next great team together.
Rebuilding doesn’t exist in New Jersey and it won’t until Lou is long gone. But I do feel he’s at a crossroads this year (Devils finally have cap) to make some good signings in the next few years – get his young guys re-upped and have a great new core.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Matthew Ventolo on Oct 20, 2011 3:55 PM EDT reply actions
I think the Devils are in this "Changing of the Guard" since the lockout.
This is true, but I think the last two holdovers, Brodeur and Elias, are the most important of the lot and their final games will be more than just a symbolic end to an era.
While some fans of other teams I’ve talked to are convinced that the Devils will tank when Marty retires (while simultaneously arguing that the team’s system is solely responsible for his success—doublethink, anyone?), I personally feel that his retirement will be a bigger deal to the media and in the minds of fans than from a personnel point of view and it’s actually the departure of Elias from the active roster that will have the bigger effect.
I completely agree with you here about Elias, but in my heart of hearts I feel (regardless of his contract) that he has another 2-3 years left in him. Maybe more. If Modano could stick around for so long, I think Elias is certainly capable of the same.
by SatanicStickholders on Oct 20, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
If Modano could stick around for so long, I think Elias is certainly capable of the same
Selanne’s still ou there…
"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"
by Elektrostal_Kid on Oct 20, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
1. Elias could definitely play another 2-3 years. Even though he has lost a step, his game has never been about speed. His creative talent is still their and he can be productive for the next 3 seasons. Last year he was named Team MVP, and rightfully so. He brings it every night, and has a knack for scoring in the clutch. Not having him come playoff time will be a major loss. He has been a consistent contributor since he joined the team, and an underrated NHL talent.
2. Changing subjects…
I think the Devils are in this “Changing of the Guard” since the lockout.
Agreed, 100%.
Personally, I have felt that the losses of Daneyko, Stevens, and Niedermayer marked the end of the “Golden Age” for the Devils. I have felt this way since the departure of Niedermayer and nothing the team has accomplished over the past 6 years has changed that opinion.
Brodeur and Elias leaving may mark the end of the Cup Holdovers, however the Era they built ended years ago.
I am still bothered that Lou did not replace either Niedermayer or Rafalski from 2007-2010. Since the lockout he wasted excellent years of Brodeur’s career by supplying him with Paul Martin, Colin White, Richard Matvichuk, Ken Klee, Sean Brown, Brad Lukowich, Vladimir Malakhov, Dan McGillis, David Hale, Andy Greene, Johnny Oduya, Mike Mottau, Sheldon Brookbank, Vitali Vishnevski, Karel Rachunek(may he R.I.P.), Niklas Havelid, Anssi Salmela, Bryce Salvador(for a limited time), and Jay Leach. Paul Martin is the only player that can even lobby to be listed as a 1st pairing defenseman, and his playoff performance was mediocre at best.
Trading deadline after trading deadline we were entranced by names of star defensemen only to receive the likes of Ken Klee and Niklas Havelid as gifts the fans wish they could have returned to sender.
It was not until before last season that Lou finally acquired an actual shutdown defensive defenseman to match with other teams top lines. Anton Volchenkov, who shut the Devils down in 2006-2007 was added, as was Henrik Tallinder. The defense we have this season is our best since Niedermayer left. Volchenkov, Tallinder, Greene, Salvador, Larsson, and Fayne. That is a hell of a defensive unit that will make the Devils THE team no one wants to play come playoff time(assuming they make the playoffs).
3. However, I cannot help but think it might be a little too late. If Brodeur had a defensive unit this strong in front of him 3-4 years ago, I tend to think the Devils would have suffered a better fate when the playoffs rolled around.
If you do not believe me, take a look at the gaudy statistics Brodeur put up in 2006 and 2007.
With Rafalski in 2006 he played 62 out of the first 63 games(78 in total), posted an NHL record 48 wins, a 2.18 G.A.A, a .922 Save %, 12 shutouts, a league high 2,011 saves, and won the Vezina. They were eliminated in the 2nd round by an Ottawa team that went to the Cup finals and lost to Anaheim.
In 2007 without Rafalski he carried the team on his back. He started 41 out of the last 41 regular season games (77 in total) posted 44 wins, a 2.17 G.A.A, a .920 save %, 4 Shutouts, was 2nd in the league with 1,921 saves, and won the Vezina. His team scored a paltry 206 goals good for 27th in the league, and were shutout 11 times. They were promptly eliminated by the Rangers in 5 games.
by DiffuseTheBob on Oct 20, 2011 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I also agree that Elias and Marty are really the last two “core players” remaining from the championships. However, I do believe that Lou has assembled a new core group, that is composed of those that you mentioned above. I think that the core is almost complete. Only the re-signing Parise, and perhaps the bringing in of another center or right wing that could potentially add some more depth to the group. I believe that Josefson can truly become a great NHL center for the team, but until he fully develops, I have a feeling Lou may bring somebody else in to help out.
Btw, Josefson is 20 and Tedenby is 21, you have it the other way around. ;)
Excellent topic. I agree with most of the decisions, but I would switch out Fayne with Tallinder. Tallinder’s been counted on for tough situations last season and this season. While he’s had his struggles, he really got into a groove and has become one of the team’s top defenders. Given his contract, he will be for a few more years at least. Should Fayne progress like wildfire, then yeah, he’s definitely in. I just think Tallinder’s more important right now.
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
True enough. Tallinder has the history, but I shied away from listing him (and Volchenkov) because of their age.
While not what one might consider old—they most assuredly have at least several good years left in them—they’re both on the wrong side of 30 (well not AV, technically, but close enough). It probably comes down to a slightly different interpretation of what defines “core”, but they’re, in my mind, something between “the old guard” and “the core.” Not “stopgaps” so to speak, but guys that are young enough that one should expect some good years yet, but old enough that one probably doesn’t have them in the plans beyond those next few years.
Even at his advanced age, I think Patrick Elias still has to be considered part of the “core”. There’s no indication that I’ve seen that he’s pondering retirement, and he made it reasonably clear that he wanted to be part of this franchise moving forward last season when he rejected any and all trade overtures at the deadline.
I happen to believe that Elias will take things year-to-year once his current deal retires, similar to Lidstrom in Detroit and Selanne in Anaheim. So long as he remains a productive player, I think he has to be left as part of the core.
Not to jinx things, or to be a negative Nelly…. but isn’t it a little silly to consider Parise part of the core and disqualify other players based on their age/contract status when Parise could walk on July 1st?
It comes down to one’s definition of “core.” Elias is still, and probably could be for several years to come, an essential player to the team, but I think there’s a difference between being essential and being part of the core and that is the long-term viability.
Not to jinx things, or to be a negative Nelly…. but isn’t it a little silly to consider Parise part of the core and disqualify other players based on their age/contract status when Parise could walk on July 1st?
Nah. All of the players on the team short of Kovalchuk have contract issues that will need to be resolved at some point in the next few years. That’s kind of the question: if you were GM for a day, who do you lock up with long-term deals to build the team around?
Bringing it back around to Elias, it’s not disqualifying him because of his age/contract status, but the simple fact that it would probably be extremely foolish to offer him anything more than a year contract at a time due to the 35+ clause, or to expect to honestly build a team around him.
Real good discussion; the only thing I would differentiate would be labeling some players as franchise or cornerstone players which Marty and Elias were but aren’t now. Kovy and Zach are your “franchise” players leaving a core of players that will most likely be around the next 3-5 years of Zajac, Clarkson, Josefson, Tedenby, Larsson, Atrain, Tallinder ,Greene. Guys like Fayne , Palmieri have shown they might be part of the “core” of this team but I wouldn’t grade them that high yet. Every great team needs 3or 4 franchise type players and maybe Larsson gives the Devs that trio but that may be a couple years away and w/ Marty and Elias set to retire soon .maybe the Devs add that additional cornerstone or franchise type player via UFA in near future.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on In Lou We Trust
Related FanShots on In Lou We Trust
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Devils try to even series with Rangers; watch the ‘Sandley Cup’ get built (Playoff Puck Previews)
- Sean Avery: Not in NHL playoffs, getting a handle on semi-nude modeling (PHOTO)
- No lion: KCBS angers Bailey, LA Kings mascot, after confusion with Slamson, Sacramento Kings mascot
- Ratings down for conference finals; Ted Nugent backs David Booth; NHL 13 teaser (Puck Headlines)
- Chris Chelios and Eddie Vedder form karaoke super-band, sing ‘The Weight’ in Chicago bar (VIDEO)
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Frattin scores twice, including winner, as Marlies defeat Barons 5-3 in Game 3
- Buffalo Sabres give defenceman Alexander Sulzer a one-year deal to dodge free agency
- Sabres sign defenseman Sulzer for one year
- Devils make lineup change for Game 4 vs. Rangers; Jacob Jacobson in, Petr Sykora out
- Josefson replaces Sykora in Devils' lineup Monday
