Devils in the Details- 1/7/12: Imploding Defensemen Edition

by Kevin Sellathamby on Jan 7, 2012 10:29 AM EST in Devils in the Details

Here's your links for today

Recaps of Last Night's Action [Fire and Ice][NJ.com][Devils][Litter Box Cats]

Previews for Tonight's Game [Fire and Ice]

The Swedes and Russians on the Devils had a bit of fun watching the world juniors [Fire and Ice][NJ.com]

Cam Janssen once challenged Krys Barch to a fight on twitter. They played each other last night. AWKWARD [NJ.com]

Nick Palmieri has been recalled [Fire and Ice]

Jon Merrill has been reinstated in Michigan. Which means he's probably not going to leave for Plymouth [Fire and Ice]

Brian Burke thinks with Enforcers gone, Rats (i.e. Kaleta, Carcillo) will take over the game [SBNation NHL]

NHL realignment has been delayed because the NHLPA doesn't approve [NHL.com]

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So, who sits for Palmieri?

Please please please please please please please be Janssen. Or Boulton. Or Janssen.

by elesias on Jan 7, 2012 10:47 AM EST reply actions

Remember that early season game last year against Pittsburgh where, due to cap constraints and PLLL being an idiot against the Caps, we could only ice 9 forwards?

Kind of preferable to letting Janssen and Boulton suit up.

by Marty 4 Prez on Jan 7, 2012 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

Well, that’s basically the same thing. Janssen and Boulton being on the ice is more or less being shorthanded

Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Everyone has more goals than Scott Gomez

by Kevin Sellathamby on Jan 7, 2012 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

Or Janssen.

by dasru on Jan 7, 2012 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

Or Boulton

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

by KovyisLove on Jan 7, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

Jordan Staal injured in last night’s game with the Rangers on an unintentional knee-on-knee from Mike Rupp. Didn’t look pretty.

by dr(d)evil on Jan 7, 2012 1:16 PM EST reply actions

Glad to hear that Merrill is back at school and will hopefully play soon.
It seemed most likely that after he wasn’t playing for a while, that Michigan would wait until after the WJC to reinstate him.

by NJGuy on Jan 7, 2012 2:35 PM EST reply actions

After this setback it’s sad that the NHL doesn’t make some minor changes to the six division format (for example: Columbus to Southeast, Dallas to Central, Colorado to Pacific, Winnipeg to Northwest) for next season and then fight the realignment battle with the NHLPA.

Instead of making a few minor changes that would at least benefit a few teams, players and fans, the NHL is going to say, fine if we can’t have it our way we are going to do nothing at all.

by NJmetal15 on Jan 7, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions

I believe the League wants to do one re-alignment, instead of a series of incremental steps year-by-year until things are finally settled.

Also, I suspect not doing anything for next year is to prevent the internal battles among ownership over who gets shifted from West to East — Detroit and Nashville would argue their own merits as opposed to Columbus. With an apparantly contentious CBA negotiation coming up, there’s little reason for the Commissioner’s Office to promote a situation that can lead to infighting when there’s already an enemy outside.

by acasser on Jan 7, 2012 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

I can understand that the NHL doesn’t want to do this musical chairs every season. This isn’t the AHL after all. However, the situation in Phoenix and rumors of greedy expansion money from a second team in Toronto and/or Quebec City might make changes inevitable.

I also can see your point about not wanting any infighting and it’s a point I had not considered. I would still hope that teams would be adults about it and understand it would better for some to be helped than no one for a year.

Maybe for the six division format next year they could do 8 vs. their division (32) and home-and-home with every team (50). This could hopefully cut some travel and accomplish the goal of seeing every team.

by NJmetal15 on Jan 7, 2012 6:40 PM EST up reply actions