What do the Devils need to do to be elite again?

by LaserVortex888 on Dec 2, 2011 1:12 PM EST

When I look at the Devils since the lockout, including this season, they feel like a team that has lost its championship caliber identity. Before the lockout, the Devils system worked and the way the game was played back then supported their style. However, since then, the league has evolved and the Devils haven't made enough of a transition to be highly competitive.

So my question to all of you is, what do the Devils need to do to be elite again?

Much more after the jump.

I have to begin with the goaltender because it is undeniably the most important position on the ice. As Devil fans, we have been very lucky to have one of the most consistent and talented goaltenders of all time standing between the pipes for nearly my entire life (I'm 21). However, moving forward, as much as it pains me to think about it, we need to start looking for another elite goaltender if we want to compete for Lord Stanley's Cup. The Brodeur/ Hedberg tandem has played decent, but not good enough to move forward with them between the pipes for much longer.

On defense, I kinda like where the Devils are. Adam Larsson has made mistakes, but remember, he is only 19 years old and has a ton of potential. Think about what you were doing at 19 and then watch him compete with the most talented players in the world and you will appreciate him even more. I want to see the Devils big money D-Men play like big money guys (please give Volchenkov more ice-time) and they have some youth and talent moving up to the big club. I think if the group can play solid defensively and improve on the offensive side, their defense is the least of their issues.

The offense is what pains me to watch the most. I was ecstatic after the Ilya Kovalchuk trade. I thought that finally the Devils were starting to adjust to the new NHL. But when I watch Kovy play on this team I find myself yelling at the TV because he just looks lost. The Devils system doesn't let him use all of his talents effectively and it shows. I think the Devils lack of focus on their offense is evident more then ever now because their depth is just horrific. Even if Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson were in the lineup, the team's offensive depth would still be lacking. David Clarkson is just not that good and should be the 9th forward in the top 9 at best. I don't think Dainius Zubrus or Petr Sykora should be in the top 6 (Sykora has always been my favorite Devil) even though the old man line has been playing well. The rest of the offense seems like a joke and I just don't understand why Mattias Tedenby is playing on the fourth line and averages under 11 minutes a game.

Power play so bad.

Penalty kill very good.

The Devils need to focus more on skill in the future, look at where the talent is currently on their team, and tailor their style around that talent. They frustrate me so much some times that I hope they tank for a couple of seasons, draft Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jordan Staal, and come back and be dominant again.

But enough of my thoughts, so what do you think the Devils need to do to be elite again?

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Comments

what do the Devils need to do to be elite again?

The short answer from me? Depth of talent, and lots of it. The longer answer?

The goaltending is old and no longer elite. Marty and Moose have their moments, but we’re well past the days when they can routinely steal games.

The defense is average at best. Larsson may be that mythical Number One Defenseman someday, but that day isn’t today and isn’t tomorrow…. and it might not ever arrive. Tallinder, Volchenkov, and Greene are second-pairing guys, or the lesser member of a top pairing.

The offense doesn’t have a lot of depth. Kovalchuk and Parise are nice foundation pieces. Elias is still a very, very good player. Zajac is a capable Top 6 forward. Beyond that, there’s a handful of complementary pieces. If this team were fully healthy, there might be enough quality depth for three lines…. but there certainly isn’t enough for four.

The financial situation certainly doesn’t help right now. How much better might this team be if they had Trent Hunter and David Steckel on the fourth line and Colin White on the defense? They’re not elite talent, but they’d give this team a fourth line they could depend upon for ten minutes per night — plus two additional PKing forwards to take some of that load off of Parise, Elias, Zubrus, Kovalchuk, et al — while White would be a steadier hand back on the defense (and a reasonable guy to pair with Larsson).

….

It’s painful to admit, but this is an average team right now. They’re in the middle of the transition to the “next generation” while trying to remain competitive now — that’s a difficult line to walk successfully. Most of the pieces they’ve imported the last few years have been complementary talent — the kind of guys you bring in to help a club but not to carry it. They haven’t gotten a whole lot out of the draft in a while.

Draft and development takes time and is an uncertain science. Building blocks rarely hit the free agent market. Short of another one-sided trade such as the Kovalchuk deal, I don’t see a quick fix for the Devils.

by acasser on Dec 2, 2011 2:28 PM EST reply actions

Goaltenders routinely stealing games isn’t too common anymore, and that is definitely not a must to win. The team healthy, can be an above average team. Say you trade some prospects for Bobby Ryan, and the Defense takes a leap forward, youve got yourself a team. (I know, unicorn comment)

And Kovalchuk speeds away, great moves, busting through, DID YOU SEE THAT?

by KovyisLove on Dec 2, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Have you watched the playoffs

goaltending is number 1

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? ~Jim Bouton

by LaserVortex888 on Dec 2, 2011 10:34 PM EST up reply actions

Many teams do not need goaltending to steal games to be successful. This one does — they don’t have enough offense to consistently win that way, and their defense isn’t good enough to shut down opponents on a regular basis.

Yes, Bobby Ryan is a unicorn trade. If Lou calls the Ducks asking about him, they start by asking for Zach Parise if they believe they can sign him to a contract extension…. and a package led by Adam Larsson (plus either Tedenby or Henrique…. just for starters) if they don’t.

by acasser on Dec 3, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

shorter answer

wins.

Go Devils
Go Jets

by FrankG929 on Dec 2, 2011 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

OK a few things here.. Zubrus has probably been our 2nd best forward this season after Elias he is always driving the play and using his body to say he doesn’t belong in the top 6 is farfetched at best. Lots of people on ILWT love to hate Clarkson but i am not one of them he provides more to this team then you may actually think so to say he is number 9 in the top 9 is also a bit ridiculous, This season he seems to have improved in just about everything from passing not taking dumb penalties and obviously scoring. Just the thought of them “intentionally” tanking for a few years is absurd! No professional sports team looses games on purpose for draft picks IT JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN! The only thing i will agree with is Tedenby and Sykora. In the last game Teddy was the only guy making plays whether it be dekes, breakouts, and even a couple good shots from the little guy. He needs to be moved up and Sykora moved down the the 3rd line. I think Sykora will get better scoring chances against weaker competition and Teddy will have actual good players to pass to.
Now back to your question, personally, the Devils need to find an Identity and stick with it. Pete Deboer needs to take command of this team and demand respect. They very rarely have played a full 60 minutes, that’s the coaches job to keep the players motivated. If he can’t do it find someone who can. I think the players have become to complacent with the assistant coaches as well. Lou needed to clean house after last season not bring Robinson and Oates back. I like Robinson a lot but his days in NJ are over and Oates, well people have been calling for his head for weeks now and we all know why. The last thing i will talk about is team leadership (or lack there of) I really don’t like how Parise has handled the Captain roll so far. Now granted I’m not in the locker or at practice but it doesn’t seem to me like he isn’t ever doing anything to help motivate his team or spark any life into them what so ever. The only time iv seen him get fired up this season was after the disallowed goal against the Islanders but there was only 2 seconds left in the game. If the Devils are in the same position or worse of in the standings by the trade deadline SHIP HIM OUT!!! we could get a huge return for Zach that would help this team for years to come. The captaincy should then go to Kovalchuk who i thought should have got it in the first place(only after Elias said he didn’t want it of course)
In conclusion for the Devils to be elite they need some consistency and some dedication no more of this playing 40 minutes a night and no more of Oates and Robinson. This team needs a legitimate fresh start not a half assed one.

by NJDevils30 on Dec 2, 2011 2:36 PM EST reply actions

Just look at the last 4 stanley cup winners and runner ups

Do you really think zubrus would be a top 6 forward on any of those teams?

Although I was a little harsh on Clarkson, I do not think that he should be in a top 6 role under any circumstances.

As for the captaincy discussion, I don’t think it is fair to judge Zach by what we see. There is a lot more to it behind the scenes than we get to see. And to be honest, the captaincy isn’t making or breaking this team.

Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? ~Jim Bouton

by LaserVortex888 on Dec 2, 2011 10:59 PM EST up reply actions

Captaincy?

Hatin on zach parise? Wow. Zach leads by example. He talked about that whe he was first given the “a” a few years back. He has also mentioned that he is not going to change the way he plays or acts because of it. I have never sat in on the devils locker room have you?

by zachattack997 on Dec 3, 2011 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

Most of the team can’t pass the puck….that kinda hinders the powerplay if passes get picked off and a breakaway goal is scored.

by dandello9 on Dec 3, 2011 12:06 PM EST reply actions

the more i look at it the more i think the answer is

trade zach parise. hes not producing, and if that continues his value is only going to go down. i dont want sign him for a huge contract if this is the zach parise we are getting. trading him to a crappy team that needs an identity can really move along the rebuilding process and give us a chance to restock. again this depends on the return we can get, but i really am leaning towards this being the best move for the team.

עם ישראל חי
סבלנות
נח''ל

by nodisrespect on Dec 9, 2011 7:03 PM EST reply actions