Do the New Jersey Devils Really Want an Effective Fourth Line?
by John Fischer on Nov 17, 2011 11:13 PM EST
in Devils Issues, Views & Analysis
Email
Print
Apologies for the late opinion on this matter, but it's been something that's been rolling around in my head. While it's not a major problem like the power play or figuring out where the wingers should play, I have an issue with the effectiveness of the fourth forward line of the 2011-12 New Jersey Devils. Rather, the lack thereof.
Last night in Buffalo, the team's fourth line of forwards actually played more than 5 minutes of ice time together. They actually got a few shifts in the third period. It would be for the first time in quite a while that either has happened. They weren't that bad, though they were caught on the ice for Buffalo's third goal of the game which essentially ended their night. It remains as an exception to how they have been used this season. And one of those players on that line, Vladimir Zharkov - a player who has been on the fourth line and achieved some small success in the past, was sent down to Albany today, as reported here by Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice. In conjunction with how the fourth line has been sparingly used this season, leads me to ask the title question: do the Devils really want an effective fourth line?
So far this season, the pool of fourth line forwards have been Rod Pelley (6:05 EV ATOI, 2 SOG, usually scratched), Brad Mills (6:32 EV ATOI, 13 SOG), Eric Boulton (5:31 EV ATOI, 1 SOG, currently out with a sore hand), Vladimir Zharkov (4:43 EV ATOI, 0 SOG, sent down to Albany), and Cam Janssen (4:43 EV ATOI, 6 SOG). The limited-at-best ice time is a sign that DeBoer doesn't want to play these guys unless the Devils are cruising in the game or he has to early in the game. Among those five, only Zharkov seems to have any offensive skills like puck possession and awareness. The rest: "energy" guys at best. Those five players have combined for 1 assist this season; which was a secondary tally earned by Mills on a shift where he played on the third line for a few shifts. None of them have received much ice time to have done much on offense, though, that they don't do much on offense helps explain why they get much ice time at all.
Since there have been several changes with the fourth line from game to game, only Janssen and Mills can be called true regulars as the only members of this group to play more than 10 games. That's also not a good sign. On the one hand, Janssen hasn't been a total detriment to the team (namely, not taking boneheaded plays) and Mills is a step up over Tim Sestito (make that from what you will). On the other hand, both players have been black holes when it comes to possession with the little ice time, weak competition, and generous zone starts they have received according to Behind the Net. (Aside: a more visual representation of this will be clearer for Janssen and Mills tomorrow.)
Why are they given so little ice time? The answer is clear: the players aren't good. The two regulars get pounded in possession and they possess little offensive skill to fight back against it. The same can be said for Mills and Boulton. As understandable as that is, it means DeBoer's relying on 9 forwards in most games, particularly in the third period. That may be fine in November, but it's going to lead to concerns of fatigue should it continue through this season. Being overworked only plays into the opposition's hands, unless the Devil forward or line has been fantastic or something like that.
What's frustrating that the one player who had a shot at driving the play in limited minutes and against weak competition - Zharkov - was sent down to Albany today. While he certainly wasn't a panacea, he's a step above Janssen and Mills in terms of skill and offensive ability. I understand the decision to send Zharkov down. With Ilya Kovalchuk back from injury, someone's got to sit. Management prefers to have Zharkov get minutes in the AHL than to sit in the NHL. Plus, it allows Mattias Tedenby to get back in the lineup as well. That's all fine.
My problem is with the bigger picture. Why are the Devils are settling for a fourth line of forwards that DeBoer has not and likely will not play regularly? I expect that waiver rules are forcing the Devils' hand as to who can get sent down; but where's the effort to construct a line that could provide a little something in the game. I'm not so naive as to think the Devils absolutely, positively need a wonderful fourth line to succeed. However, a fourth line that can play 8-10 minutes without hurting the team and can chip in a few goals would be fantastic. I would be satisfied even with a fourth line that can defend decently enough, stay out of the box, and can spell the other three lines without being hurting the team as a whole. Zharkov can help in this regard. Perhaps some other players from Albany can do so as well. Perhaps one of the other four fourth line forwards can be coached up to chip in, like Pelley was in 2009-10.
Instead, the Devils have a fourth line that will have at least 2 forwards who won't do much in terms of going forward on the ice and who knows how many goals they can contribute. Even if the third forward is Zharkov, Tedenby (where may end up now that he's in the lineup, which would be bad for him), Nick Palmieri (a winger who could move down if Tedenby is back on the third line), or even the Ilya Kovalchuk (who was double shifted on the fourth line in October), this is not a line that will threaten the opposition in any way or form. If anything, they'll be looking forward to it since they know they can force them to defend - something else the fourth line hasn't been too good at either.
After 17 games, I'm still left wondering: do the Devils really want an effective fourth line? So far, the answer has been "not really." While it's not as major of a problem like the power play or a more minor problem like discipline at times, it's still a problem and one I hope the team will address at some point in the near future.
Do you agree or disagree with my questioning of the fourth line? Do you think this is a problem worth solving, or do you think it's really more minor than I make it out to be? What would you like to see on the fourth line anyway, what would you want them to do? Please leave your answers and other fourth-line-related thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading.
54 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Not necessarily, but I don’t think it’s time to discount Tedenby or Palmieri, both of whom are a big step up for the 4th line as constituted. When everyone gets healthy, the team will have a decision between Mills and Janssen.
Janssen has played surprisingly well – I thought he’d be atrocious, but he is merely bad.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
I would have liked to keep Zharkov up here. He was OK on the fourth line. It seemed every time he was on the ice, he would dump it – which was good.
I love Janssen. He doesn’t take stupid penalties, as you alluded to, and he just seems like a character guy. Seems like he is the guy everyone loves in the locker room. I know I have no evidence of it, but it’s just my opinion.
I haven’t seen what this team sees in Mills. He’s alright on the PK, and I guess he does a good job at what he’s supposed to do?
When everyone comes back from injury, I could see out bottom six being…Tedenby-Josefson-Clarkson …Janssen/Boulton-Carter-Palmieri.
We’ve gonna have a lot of depth!!
by Marty's Better #30 on Nov 18, 2011 12:49 AM EST reply actions
one reason for optimism
I agree with the general thrust and concern expressed here that the Devils havent made an attempt to solidify a fourth line. I think a playoff bound team needs a fourth line to eat up 10 solid minutes and be effective; over the course of a long season, having a fourth line only play 5 minutes will take its toll. I also disagree with sending zharkov down. he has played his days in the AHL. apparently he is not and probably never will be a top six player, then at least get what you can out of him at the NHL level already, even if its the fourth line.
The one reason for optimism regarding the fourth line in my view is injuries. Assuming we at some point get fully healthy our top three centers are going to be: Zajac, Elias, Henrique (joffeson is a real question mark with constant injuries and ineffective play along the boards). That leaves Carter as a fourth line center along with Zharkov on the wing and one other player. I think an eventual fourth line that includes carter and zharkove may be able to contribute, win face offfs, and skate with the puck without taking penalties.
A fourth line of Jansen and Boulton at 5 minutes a game is not a playoff bound fourth line. mintues need to be taken off the shoulders of our better players in certain games in the second half of the season.
I don’t think that Lou and DeBoer want to have a weak fourth line. From the start of the season the loss of Travis meant that the new coach had to figure out who can do what, and who played best together. Putting together three solid lines was his first concern, an energy line was not a priority. He just took who was left and juggled them around to create the fourth grouping. Then, he lost Kovy for 5 games, and that disrupted the rotation.
When Travis gets back I think you will see a much better squad (look at the scoring when Kovy returned), one where at least the top three lines are all contributing. In addition, the coach is dealing with a lot of rookies in the line-up, guys who are eating a lot of minutes.
One third of the defense is young and inexperienced at this level, but, you can see them grow with each game. By mid-season they will be playing like vets. There are a lot of young guys among the forwards too, and they too are learning on the fly. The team seems to have bought into the coach’s system, and enjoy playing his up-tempo game (I like it too). The defense has settled in (first in the league on the PK at the end of the night) and has recently helped beat each of the top three division leaders.
Henrique and Parise are starting to get some chemistry, and with Kovy on that line they can become a dangerous combo sooner than later. The Elias line is doing just fine. They may be the “old men” of the team, but they play well off each other, a bit of that Eastern European cycling and passing. The third and fourth lines are a bit of work in progress, but the Clarkson, Tedenby, Carter line is starting to pay dividends (I think they have the potential to be a junior version of the Crash Line, though with not as much scoring power). Once the coach has his three lines set and playing the way he wants them to play, then he can work on constructing and instructing a fourth line that can be a force in the games.
The return of Travis will become a game of numbers and guys like Palmieri and Mills can become part of that fourth line. I know Mills hasn’t looked too great, but you also have to take into account who his linemates have been. I love Janssen’s grit, and he hasn’t been taking too many stupid penalties the way he did on his first go round, but the fourth liners so far this season are not matched in skills and skating to allow them to work well with each other.
Give the coach time. He’s only known and worked with this team for 17 games. Bit by bit things are getting better and that should continue. At least we’re seeing a team that plays a full 60 minutes of aggressive offense and shutdown defense (thank the Lord that the goalies have been playing very well recently too).
I think when the team gets healthy the 4th line problems will be solved. Zajac returning will likely mean Carter will be on the 4th line, and Josefson’s return would probably push Palmieri down there as well, effectively improving the 4th line significantly.
Although Janssen’s got to go. He’s really doing nothing, and he doesn’t even fight. Good thing he’s only signed to a 1 year deal.
Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
You have life insurance? Don't they know you're in the DANGAHZONE?
by Kevin Sellathamby on Nov 18, 2011 7:00 AM EST reply actions
You have to look at the roles each line plays… Kovy-Henrique-Parise are dubbed the Scoring line, Sykora-Elias-Zubrus secondary (but most consistant), Palmieri-Carter-Clarkson checking but also putting up goals 9 between the 3 and then Jannsen-Mills-Tendenby as energy guys/grinders. Granted Tendenby should be high in the lines as he has potential nothing has clicked for him this season really. Granted the injury bug hit the devils this year up the middle with Zajac and Jose but at the time Carter wasn’t on the team who by far has been an exceptional pick up off of waivers and Mills is interchangable as a fourth line usually is. When both come back from injury you know Zajac will replace Henrique on the top line (Even though I’d like them to ease him into that maybe) and Josef will be pressed onto a winger position as I dont think he will be needed as a center with Henrique stepping up huge in that role especially on face off’s.
The fourth liner’s are never going to get that much time around the league anyway because you have to factor in PP and PK opportunities in the game. Most teams have been giving PP chances knowing they are struggling. Its hard to watch at times because they seem like they are better 4 on 5 than 5 on 4 most of the time. Jannssen is a true energy guy he knows he isnt going to get many minutes but does make the most out of them and does have fun in doing it. He’s always talking on the bench and smiling when he is going out there when you can see him on the ice. The line combo’s are going to be tough as they are finally started to click but you know the “B” line is going to stay intact as they have been clicking on all cylinders. So what I would offer up interms of line combo’s when everyone comes back and it should help with the 4th line woe’s as you call it would be…
Kovy-Zajac-Parise (although i would think about leaving Henrique here as well for a few games to see if Zajac is 100% and can keep up)
Sykora-Elias-Zubrus
Clarkson-Henrique-Jossefson
Palmieri-Carter-Tendenby
That would probably help with the double shifting unless coming off of a PK but i think that if they dont make a trade at some point this season those will be the lines going into the Playoffs and hopefully will be putting up more than 2 goals a night.
Let me know what you think or would switch around
I don’t think Sykora is going to stick around as the 2nd line winger the entire season. He’s doing a respectable job to keep that line’s flow going, but let’s face it – Zubrus is doing most of the heavy lifting and Elias is providing a lot of the magic for that line. It’s nice having Sykora and his chemistry with Elias around, but Elias doesn’t need him to put up the points.
The obvious lineup for centers is Zajac, Elias, Josefson, Carter. I think the duos you want to preserve are Kovalchuk-Zajac and Elias-Zubrus. I don’t really get why DeBoer has been so hard on Tedenby – I think he’s made a handful of fine defensive plays, has gifted a few goals to Clarkson, and provides a lot more offensive spark than Palmieri. I also wouldn’t want Parise or Kovalchuk to play the RW, so I see the following lines fall naturally into place:
Parise – Elias – Zubrus
Kovalchuk – Zajac – RW
LW – Josefson – Clarkson
Sykora/Boulton – Carter – Mills/Janssen
where that 2nd line RW spot is up for grabs for Henrique or Palmieri and the 3rd line LW spot is between Henrique and Tedenby. We haven’t yet seen Henrique play RW, but I think he will be sticking around and can pretty much get plugged in anywhere from line 1 to line 4 and be effective. I think, if the forwards were completely healthy, or if one were injured and Lou brings in a scoring RWer to bolster the attack at the deadline, it would really come down to a choice between Tedenby and Palmieri whereupon one of those two would get sent down to Albany to amass top-line playing time.
Josefson is a pure center indeed, Lemaire gave him a shot last year as a winger, that didn’t work at all. He’s very young, both his broken collarbone and a torn ligament in his right thumb last year were based on unfortunate actions, it’s not like he already had knee problems, I’m not worried about these injuries personally.
At 20 years old only, Jacob’s still one of our best prospect.
"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"
by Elektrostal_Kid on Nov 18, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
The Sykora-Elias-Zubrus line is a checking line. I would leave that line alone until one of its members gets hurt, but right now it’s doing a great job going up against tough competition. When Zajac returns, I’d put Parise-Zajac-Kovalchuk together until Josefson comes back, then I’d move Kovalchuk back to the left wing.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
Would you really keep Kovalchuk at right wing though?
And Kovalchuk speeds away, great moves, busting through, DID YOU SEE THAT?
yes, but not permanently. i think a kovalchuk-henrique line is a defensive disaster and i don’t want to saddle parise with henrique for the whole season either.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
I don’t think the Devils put much of a priority on constructing an effective fourth line, and frankly I don’t think it’s much of a detriment. Would it be nice to have a great 4th line? Sure. But I wouldn’t want to pay anyone much more than the league minimum to play on the fourth line, and I don’t want to put young players like Tedenby or Palmieri there either. So when you have minimum salary veterans on your fourth line, you’re going to end up with a bunch of energy guys.
As devilkiller and others have pointed out, the team’s depth would look pretty good if Zajac and Josefson were healthy but the whole point of depth is that you can make up for the injuries that are inevitably going to happen. I think Carter was a great pickup that will help the fourth line down the road. I don’t see a need to get someone right now and end up having to assign Pelley, Janssen, or Boulton to Albany when Zajac and Josefson get healthy.
I do expect Lou to make a depth move at the deadline, or to possibly trade some youth for some badly-needed scoring depth on the RW. Either way, I see a future 4th line composed of players like Carter, Sykora, Mills, and Boulton/Janssen with Pelley the likely odd man out unless injuries keep him in NJ. If DeBoer wants to ride the horses and limit the 4th line’s ice time, I think we’ll see guys like Boulton and Janssen more often in the lineup. If he wants to give the top guys some more rest, he’ll have the option to ice an effective fourth line of Carter, Sykora, and Mills down the stretch as well.
Is it only me or it seems we could use pandolfo at this point? I always liked him but others seemed to think he was terrible. He scored last night. We would need that!! And it wasn’t a fluke either!
It really seems to be the general consensus that Jersey does not need both Mills and Janssen. This teems identity for many years has been a disciplined defensive team and a couple of goons taking up 2 spots on the roster for 3 shifts a game is an absolute waste. I don’t even see the need for one of the two, in my opinion they are oxygen thieves in this post lockout offensive league. Surely there is a way to get both of these liabilities off of the roster and hopefully field either some sort of adequate defensively responsible line or at least a younger developmental line with limited ice time.
I completely agree. We should use the 4th line as an incubator, even if it means we double-shift each of the positions to give the other two some experience (e.g. let Kovy, Travis when back, Elias, Zubie all take extra turns with the 4th line to bring them along).
Maybe there should be an under-24 qualification to be on the 4th line!!
I don’t know that I have that much of an issue with the fourth line not seeing a lot of ice at even strength. On the other hand, the fourth line hasn’t really been asked to contribute in other facets of the game all that often, either. DeBoer is riding 9 forwards reasonably hard, in addition to asking them to do almost all of the special teams work as well. On any individual night, it isn’t necessarily that big a deal…. but the accumulation of extra minutes and extra wear-and-tear over the season could be a problem come March or April. (Admittedly, DeBoer has never had to worry about April before…. but he might want to think about it this year.)
My belief in team-building is that a fourth-liner has to be able to offer something else in addition to a handful of minutes at even strength and energy to be a productive and somewhat valuble member of the lineup. That “something else” can be any number of things, be it expertise in the face-off dot, a specialist on the PK or PP (or both), the ability to punch other team’s fourth-liners in the face, etc. (This list is by no means complete.) Right now, I don’t see that on this club. Bradley Mills gets some PK time, but he’s not exactly near the top of that particular rotation…. Cam Janssen and Eric Boulton have had very few fights this year…. and so on.
One of the things I was hoping for Sharky’s call-up was for him to take over some of the PK duty and give players like Elias, Parise, and Zubrus some time away from that extra-strenuous ice time.
I think have Mills and Zharkov or Pelley and Zharkov eating at least 1/3 of the PK time only means a less gassed top-6 forward having more ice time at evens, or a bit more energy on the PP.
by Marty 4 Prez on Nov 18, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
That’s the way I would have used him too, were I in Pete DeBoer’s shoes. I can’t see a good reason why you couldn’t have a Pelley-Mills-Zharkov 4th line right now, and use all three of them (plus Ryan Carter from the 3rd line) consistently on the PK. Sure, you mix in Parise and Elias as well — they are excellent defensively and threaten offense on the counterpunch — but this lets you give the other guys a breather.
In particular, I’d like to get Ilya Kovalchuk off the PK. Mind you, this isn’t an indictment of his play on the PK because he’s trying very hard and his defensive play is much improved from years past. Rather, I want him fresh for the first post-PK shift and his ice time reduced a little bit in general to keep him fresh.
I’m not Pete DeBoer, however. All I can do is throw my ideas out there in threads like this and the previous thread done about the Power Play earlier in the week.
I see a good reason: Pelley and Mills will make terrible penalty killers.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
DeBoer trusts Bradley Mills on the PK this season. Not necessarily with a ton of ice time, but he does average close to a minute per game (actually, 0:55 SHTOI/G). The Devils’ PK has been reasonably good this season.
Rod Pelley was a regular on the PK last season. I only have the sum-total number (1:23 SHTOI/G), and I wouldn’t be entirely too surprised if the number were higher under Johnny Mac…. but Jacques Lemaire wouldn’t have put him out there on at least a semi-regular basis if he didn’t have some faith in Pelley’s ability to do the job.
I don’t expect either to be John Madden or Jay Pandolfo in their primes. Heck, I don’t really expect either to be Parise and Elias — who I view as above-average penalty killers whose offensive abilities make them a dual-threat 4-on-5. All I really want are some of the other forwards to be able to chip in on the PK so that the top handful of forwards can get a breather and not have to log so many minutes. Ilya Kovalchuk may be able to handle 22+ minutes every single night, but I don’t know that the others can…. especially the older veterans such as Patrik Elias.
If the goal of this team is to get back to the playoffs, I’d prefer to have a little something left in the tank come April.
When Zajac comes back, Elias should lose some of his even strength ice time. Elias has killed penalties for the Devils for years and years, that’s not where his ice time should be cut.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
Some combo of this will be the Top 6:
Parise-Henrique-Clarkson
Kovy-Zajac-Palmieri
Maybe Teds or Josefson earns his way in place of Palms……
The old man line will stay put:
Zubrus-Elias-Sykora
The 4th line should be some combo of:
Boulton, Cam, Mills, Pelley, Carter……..
When Josefson and Zajac comes back, the big question is the 4th line. If its a traditional 4th line, a couple of guys who are playing regularly now will be on another team or in Albany.
The more I think about it, the more I’m glad I don’t have to make the call. Tedenby better start scoring if he wants to stay………
At least the D is straightforward.
na-na-na-na HEY! You SUCK!!
When Josefson and Zajac comes back, the big question is the 4th line. If its a traditional 4th line, a couple of guys who are playing regularly now will be on another team or in Albany. The more I think about it, the more I’m glad I don’t have to make the call.
This is the kind of problem coaches love to have.
"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"
by Elektrostal_Kid on Nov 18, 2011 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
Two problems with that: Hitchcock has a job already, but more importantly, DeBoer is doing just fine and no one should be anywhere near talking about replacing him at this time.
Definetly. He was shaky a bit at first, but no where near needing to be replaced. Hes doing a fine job with some serious injuries to his roster.
by Chris Calabrese on Nov 18, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
At the beginning of the season I would agree with you. I wanted Hitchcock all along, despite what other people thought. I still do to some extent, but Deboer has been pretty good. Its kinda moot now.
by Chris Calabrese on Nov 18, 2011 3:55 PM EST up reply actions
it will be pretty awesome when the team is healthy. why would you need an “energy” line when you’ll be able to roll 4 deep with 4 SOLID lines of potentially productive players. henrique is proving he’s a strong center and he should stay there. with zajac and josefson in the line-up i’d like to see:
sykora-elias-zubrus
parise-henrique-clarkson
kovalchuk-zajac-palmieri
carter-josefson-tedenby
solid blend of 2 way and offensive players who even the elite teams would have trouble matching up against. all of those lines have players that have previously shown good chemistry together too.
fayne and clarkson could be the ‘enforcers/energy guys’ if necessary
pretty solid 4 lines actually, though I’d have the Parise line as #1, Kovy’s #2 and Patty’s as #3. you want the whole 4th line to be competing to get on the first 3, and the top kids from Albany competing to get on the 4th, when injuries happen or loss of form.
it’s really based on production at this point. even deboer says the elias line is their top line right now.
one of the best line in the league.
"It's magic, it's tragic, it's a loss, it's a win"
by Elektrostal_Kid on Nov 18, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
Id rather drop Clarkson to play with Teddy and have Carter center that line, just so Josefson can center a better line with Henrique no the right.
And Kovalchuk speeds away, great moves, busting through, DID YOU SEE THAT?
Corsi, adjusted or otherwise, suggests there’s not much positive chemistry there.
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 Nov 18, 2011 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
Well in this case corsi doesn’t matter if they can keep burying their chances.
And Kovalchuk speeds away, great moves, busting through, DID YOU SEE THAT?
which is precisely the point, they can’t. henrique has 3 breakaway goals, i wouldn’t be surprised if he gets 0 breakaway goals the rest of the year.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
Devils only 6 total fights, in the bottom 3rd of the league.
People need to get over the fact that Cam Jannsen is on this team and will remain on this team. If for no other reason then it keeps Clarkson from having to fight to much and from having to face the true heavyweights. It hasn’t come up much yet, but it will.
And have you noticed that Clarkson is having a good season? I noticed that the ‘dump Clarkson’ posts that were prevalant on ILWT over the Summer have dried up.
You know who you are!!!
I think a lot of people (not all) were on the dump Clarkson train for his salary largely. We were trying to shed salary, and it was way more likely to move him than Rolston, or so it seemed at the time. Several masterful salary dumps later, it doesnt make a lot of sense even if he cools off greatly.
by Chris Calabrese on Nov 18, 2011 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
Of course they’ve dried up; he’s started playing like everyone thought he should, hoped he could and was paid as if he would.
Cam Jannsen is on this team and will remain on this team. If for no other reason then it keeps Clarkson from having to fight to much and from having to face the true heavyweights
Two problems with this statement:
- Cam Janssen is not a “true heavyweight”, nor is he really a good match for one. He’s 6’0" and 215 lbs…. which isn’t much bigger than Clarkson (6’1" and 200 lbs) and isn’t much smaller than Eric Boulton (6’1" / 225 lbs). None of the three are a reasonable match size-wise for a “true heavyweight” — many of those guys have several inches and 20-30 lbs on Janssen. Short of needing to respond to a cheap shot, there’s no reason for anyone on the Devils to be trying to fight guys that far out of their weight class.
- Cam Janssen also isn’t fighting much this season. He isn’t getting much ice time to even have the opportunity, and he has one fight this season despite having played nearly every game. Janssen has been in the lineup for the last three Devils’ fights, but it wasn’t him doing the swinging.
This isn’t to say that Clarkson should be fighting…. and one might note that he hasn’t dropped the gloves since Opening Night (and in a situation where the Devils were completely flat and trailing 3-0 on the scoreboard in the middle of the 3rd period). I just don’t see any particular need for Janssen (or Eric Boulton for that matter) to be in the lineup, especially for the express purpose of punching opposing players in the face. There are other guys on the team who are willing and able to drop the gloves if necessary: Brad Mills has done it this season, Rod Pelley and Mark Fraser have both done it in the past, and Ryan Carter has a history of doing so. All four players offer something on the ice beyond their pugilistic skills.
Janssen doesn’t have to remain on the team. When Lou Lamoriello needs a roster spot at some point down the line and Eric Boulton is healthy enough to play if he’s needed, Cam can be passed through waivers and dumped to Albany without issue. If some other team were to claim him on the way, that’s even better.
Cam Janssen is not a "true heavyweight", nor is he really a good match for one. He’s 6’0" and 215 lbs…. which isn’t much bigger than Clarkson (6’1" and 200 lbs) and isn’t much smaller than Eric Boulton (6’1" / 225 lbs). None of the three are a reasonable match size-wise for a "true heavyweight" — many of those guys have several inches and 20-30 lbs on Janssen. Short of needing to respond to a cheap shot, there’s no reason for anyone on the Devils to be trying to fight guys that far out of their weight class.
Janssen is usually willing to fight heavyweights, though. Last year he fought John Scott twice and David Koci twice. Koci is listed at 6’6" 238 and Scott is listed at 6’8" 258.
He isn’t getting much ice time to even have the opportunity
Most pure enforcer/fighter types get the same amount of ice time he’s getting right now. Janssen got the same amount of ice time last year and in 54 games he was in 17 fights.
Whether the Devils (or anyone) need a fighter is up for debate, but expecting Mills, Carter, Fraser, or Pelley to do the kind of job Janssen is doing is asking for those guys to get pounded. Janssen has actually kept himself out of the penalty box and isn’t sending the team too far backwards – if Boulton weren’t on a one-way, I think he’d be the guy to go. As it stands, I’d rather get rid of Pelley if need be.
Driving Play - The Blog with Three First Lines
If the Devils only have 6 total fights, then doesn’t that make Janssen’s role useless because he really isn’t fighting that much either?
Also: Clarkson had 2 of those 6 fights. Janssen’s not keeping him from anything.
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 Nov 18, 2011 9:13 PM EST up reply actions
They don’t have the depth for it if any injuries occur. Once Zajac comes back – things will be different. But what if another injury happens? It will happen. Then this team is back at giving the 4th line 2-6 minutes. As John said, it’s okay to do that now – but not in January, February, etc.. I’m not even counting Josefson coming back – becuase who knows how long it’ll be and how long it will take him to get back into the groove as well.
It’s clear this team does not want Pelley. He’s twice been put on waivers and he’s a waste of a roster spot. They won’t throw him in Albany becuase it’s a waste of money (i.e. budget). So the team is left with limited options. I wish they could trade him for nothing. A 6th rounder, an AHL player; just to get him off the Devils’ hands.
If the Devils will continuously double shift Kovy – I want players on the 4th line than can help him. I mean, what’s the point wasting his energy playing with guys who can’t help him. Bring Zharkov back. He can bring the puck up ice. I feel Mills is getting a little more comfortable with the puck – he’s shown at times that he can puck handle pretty well. But he’s on the out looking in when Zajac returns.
Parise-Zajac-Kovy
Zubrus-Elias-Sykora
Tedenby-Henrique-Clarkson
Kovy-Carter-Zharkov with Mills/Jannsen/Boulton as the 4th liner when Kovy isn’t DS and scratches.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Matthew Ventolo on Nov 19, 2011 11:40 AM EST reply actions
Or in Zharkov’s spot.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Matthew Ventolo on Nov 23, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts 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
- CBC announces ‘While the Men Watch Hockey Night’, sets off backlash over sexism
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 Phoenix Coyotes
- Alain Vigneault signs extension with Vancouver Canucks because he’s excellent
- Dubinsky returns for Game 5; No hearing for Brown; Spacek rips Habs (Puck Headlines)
- Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Tyson Nash, Mike Brophy, Dustin Brown’s hit and Devils/Rangers
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Columbus Blue Jackets sign NHL penalty minutes leader Derek Dorsett to a 3-year contract
- Twins Matt, Ryan Rupert are double agitators for Knights at Memorial Cup
- Blue Jackets sign RW Dorsett to 3-year deal
- LA Kings conquer West, await Cup final opponent
- Tom Renney sad to be leaving midway through Edmonton Oilers rebuild
