In Lou We Trust: FanPosts

Okay I was never a fan of Seinfeld.....

2010-03-17T21:18:50Z

but who is that guy who dresses up in that devils get up. He's like a super fan and goes nuts, i would love to see those episodes. If anyone knows the history on that or would like to post up a link of where we could see that guy in action that would be great. It'll be a great way to kill time during commercial intermission when were kicking the penguins A$$, thanks!

Martin is Back! New Defensive Pairings?

2010-03-17T17:39:51Z

Paul Martin is back. The entire Devils' community is happy, relieved, perhaps drinking a little, and excited for his return on a very special Devils' night already. It's been a longtime waiting, and finally for the first time this season, the Devils are playing with a full healthy roster.

Martin is our #1 defenseman. Maybe not right this moment, but he will be come playoff time. It still amazes me a little on how much success the team has had this season without him (well actually I shouldn't....look at Marty and last season). Anyway, for the next couple of games, we should all except Martin to play 3rd pair minutes (say 15 minutes). With Salmela and Fraser scratched for tonight's game against Pittsburgh, Martin will likely be paired with Skoula and the usual top 2 pairs will remain. But this will not last. Martin will be in the top 2 pairs in the next week or two. His skating, his handling, and his leadership easily place him in our top 2 or 3 defensemen.

There has been A LOT of talk over the past couple months about the defensemen and their respective play. I think every defender has been criticized at least once for their mistakes, bad positioning, and bad offensive play. Mottau probably the worst, then Fraser, Greene, and Salvador, and then everyone else. The problem was Martin was out, the defense was limited, and all these men had to play and play significant minutes. Well Martin is back, the defense has good depth now, so now what?

The defense has played better the last 3 or 4 games. They are playing solid defense, and getting involved in the offense which is a great sign. They are still making mistakes here and there, but not to the extent they were a month ago. But now that Martin is back, changes are going to be made. Pairings will be broken and rearranged. One player who has played on the top 2 pairs will be brought down the 3rd pairing. There will be 2 defensive scratches a game (unless Lemaire plays 7 D, or Lou sends someone down to Lowell).

So here we go. Let's discuss this. Paul Martin is back...

Where does he go? Who does he get paired with? Who gets "demoted"? Who becomes the other scratch? Does someone get sent down, and if so, who?

So who'll be at the Retro Jersey game?

2010-03-16T19:31:37Z

I just bought a ticket to the game for tomorrow night myself...Up in section 227 or the likes. Nice and high but nice and cheap. I'll be wearing my non-retro (aka black and red) Parise jersey, but I'll be in the spirit nonetheless!

(Sorry if this post looks odd, I've never created a FanPost before, so I'm not accustomed to this format).

I guess I just have the itch to go to some of the more important games of the year. Last year, the second game I went to was the Blackhawks game where Marty made history (and I got tickets to the Wild game three days later just in case).

I wonder if I'll be able to post on the Game thread from my phone during the game! I don't suppose the Rock has open WiFi for my iTouch lol...

Advice (your thoughts) on a Clarkson jersey

2010-03-16T14:26:21Z

OK, so one of my favorite Devils is David Clarkson. To me he is an all around player. Well, maybe not all-around because that sounds like he is skills-based. Maybe he's more of an "everything" player. He doesn't have great skills, (not yet) but he's got good enough skills. He's not a giant, but he's not small. He plays offense, defense, fights, and can spark the Devils at any time. He's certainly not a goon, but is definitely a warrior.

A few months back I posted asking for info on where to buy Devils jerseys (and thank you for your help—my friend bought from one of the sites you suggested). At the time I couldn't afford $170 for one of those jerseys with name sewn on, so I ended up buying an Elias jersey from someone on Craigslist for $40. Yeah it's a knock-off, but to me it's great and it's actually a decent quality knock off. (the guy emails me from time to time and still sells on Craigs and ebay, but only Elias jerseys in size 52XL- if interested I can give you his email or direct you to the sites he's selling on) ... But since buying that jersey I have been saving a few bucks here and there to some day get the real thing and guess who's jersey I would like. Clarkie of course.

My only hesitation is that if I buy a Clarkson jersey, I would hate for him to not re-sign with the Devils. According to capgeek, for 2010/2011 Clarkie will be a restricted free agent (RFA).

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=20

I don't see the Devils passing on him or using him in a trade, but you never know what Lou's master plan can be. Should I jump in now and get the jersey (or rather once I've scraped up the cash) or should I wait for him to be re-signed in the off-season? (yeah I know, a whole post dedicated to one of our third liners, but I think he is worthy of this post)

Poll

To make responses easier, i am including a poll asking... Is buying a Clarkson jersey premature since his contract is up next year and he will be a RFA at the end of this season?

Does Kovalchuk Belong in a Devils Uniform?

2010-03-14T19:18:46Z

Was Kovy the Right Decision?

I have been a Devil's fan for a long time and I have watched them a lot throughout this year and we were rolling before the Olympic break, but now we have just hit a dry spout. Everyone knows Marty has been letting in some "soft" goals lately, but the defense has not been much help, which makes me ask the question "Was trading Oduya a bad decision?"

I mean Kovy is a great player and has a total of 627 points but he is still a -82. He has played on some bad Atlanta teams but it still shows you how he is a one-way hockey player unlike most of our Devils. Besides his plus/minus he does have some other flaws and one of the greatest being the long shifts and the super long shifts on the power play.

Oduya was a great offensive minded defensemen and he could also be put on the ice when there was only a minute left in the game. He was pretty good, plus he had just signed that long term contract meaning stability for both him and the Devils. In my mind Oduya was good enough to be a number 2 or 3 defenseman and a player I would love in my line up and day of the year.

We also gave away Niclas Bergfor. Bergfors wasn't a bad hockey player but currently is on a streak having 8 points (6 G, 2 A) in only 12 games. Not bad for a rookie, but we all know that he was a streaky player and was too tiny to go into the corners.

Kovy is an amazing hockey player on the offensive side of the puck. I have studied him with and without it, but when I see his lack of effort sometimes (diving to stop a breakaway because he is so tired) it makes me wonder if this trade helped or hurt the Devils. I would just love to hear what other people think because I am so up and down and have know idea what to think anymore.

Poll

Do you think we gave up too much?

ATTN: NJ Devils fans in Seattle

2010-03-10T17:32:02Z

Dunno how many Seattlites are here on ILWT.com, but if so, here ya go:

UPDATE: We're going toTeddy's Tavern on Roosevelt for St. Patty's Day to watch the Devs vs Pens and get our drink on. I'll be in the green Devils' t-shirt. Be there by 4pm! Go Devils!

Some hockey buddies and I are meeting up today at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern to watch the Devs-Rags game at 4pm. It's $1 taco night (great for sufferers of constipation). Also, happy hour during the entire game. Hooray cheap beer!

I'll be there in my Brodeur jersey if any of you show up. I hope to see some Devs fans there (long shot, I know...)

- Mike

Kovy & His Style of Play

2010-03-10T04:52:05Z

We all can see the burst in his skating, the vigor he places in his shots on goal and a desire to be good, I mean really good at the NHL. There is just one thing I keep thinking about in regards to Kovy, how to play as one with his teammates.

Chemistry can occur at a spur of a moment and last for days, months, even years. It also can take just as long to be created for whatever reason. Kovy looks like a leader who has not been able to lead since he has joined the Devils. Possibly his linemates are not used to having a player be so dynamic on the ice offensively. In the same token you could try comparing Kovy to Parise, but I think it's hard because they are two very different offensive players. As John Fisher wrote early in the year, Parise gets a ton of goals very close to the net, versus what I can tell so far, Kovy may not fit that scrappy style as well.

When Kovy and the word leader I dont see that as a fit with NJ. I think he lead by default in Atlanta based on there talent and desparation for a player to step up to the plate on ATL team, organization and even the cities representation for hockey. The situation is completly different here in NJ and for upcoming years I dont know if a player who is looking for a max deal would want to play without a C, A, or A listed on the front of his Jersey. O.k. this is getting off the topic but I can't help but wonder...

I would like to see Kovy get more physical with his play, because I think this could spark his offense. The more aggression he get's out there could allow for him to open up his offense skills with more comfort. He is not a small guy by any means and he plays up-tempo but unless Sean Avery is playing every game against him, the aggression looks checked at the door. Possibly the addition of Clarkson could be a pairing which could ignite the fire?

The guy is pretty fresh off a trade, the Olympic festivities (where's the defense Russia?), and even his wife is about to have a child. Too say his world has changed pretty dramatically in the last month is an understatement. The clock is ticking and we have a month for all to get comfortable before the playoffs, I can only think they will figure a way to make it work.

I just hope to God, Baby Jesus, and/or Ricky Bobby we can right the ship and get past the divisional round for starters. I have never felt a darker day as a life long Devils fan then walked out of the Pru after the Canes games 7 and wondering, WTF just happend?

Bottom line, this is the Devils under Lou and Jacques, feels good to have April right around the corner again.

14 of 20 and counting, why has NJ been unable to recover?

2010-03-08T17:52:25Z

As the losses have continued to mount, there have been any number of different reasons put forth as the root cause for the struggles. The play of everyone on the ice has been discussed and dissected every which way, yet we still see the same mistakes, and the same lack of fundamentals on display game after game.

At this point it seems fair to question whether the poor play on the ice is merely a symptom of a deeper problem. I've seen comments starting to head in that direction, suggesting that the team has tuned out Lemaire, or that a coaching change might be necessary. Personally, I think that a coaching change would be a short-term fix at best, and that what we're seeing is the culmination of a problem in the Devils' locker room that's been building for quite a while now. I think what we're looking at is a team that has lost its presence, its identity, and its will to win.

Back in 2000 when they overcame the 3-1 deficit to Philadelphia, Larry Robinson's tirade after game 4 got a lot of the credit, but would it have meant anything without guys like Ken Daneyko, Bobby Holik, Claude Lemieux, and Scott Stevens to set the tone for the players in the lockerroom and on the ice? The Devils were a team that built its identity around defense and toughness, and any one of those three guys could deliver a physical play to put the other team back on its heels. Stevens and Daneyko were there again in 2003, along with Joe Nieuwendyk after giving up the 3-1 series lead to Ottawa, and seeing the Ducks claw their way back into it every time the Devils seemed to have them against the wall in the Finals. Unfortunately for the Devils, Daneyko retired after the 2003 Finals, and Stevens only played a small portion of the following season before exiting the lineup for good.

And when Stevens and Daneyko retired, they took a significant piece of the team's identity with them. Since then, the Devils have lacked a true tone-setter both on the ice and in the room. There hasn't been anyone since Stevens who has brought that kind of presence to the team, the type of leader who could look around the room, tell the team to get on his back, and then go out and deliver a game-changing hit.

Maybe Niedermayer could have been that type of leader. Sure, he'd certainly never hit anyone like Stevens did, but he definitely had the skill to put his stamp on the game with an offensive play or a key defensive stop. Unfortunately, he only had that one partial season as the Captain and focal point, before the Devils lost in the first round of the playoffs. And things have just gotten worse since the lockout. I don't want to knock Elias and Langenbrunner as players, but as Captains, it seems like they were picked mostly because there wasn't a better option at the time.

And since the lockout, the Devils have shown the inability to rise up in the face of adversity and fight their way back into a series (see 5-game second round losses to Carolina in '06 and Ottawa in '07, and the 5-game first round loss to the Rangers in '08). They've also wilted in the face of physical play (see the way Sean Avery was allowed to run wild in that '08 series, and the way Andrew Peters has mostly failed to be an effective enforcer this season). And they've shown an inability to stay focused and a tendency to crumble when things don't go well (see the end of game 7 against the Hurricanes last year, and the innumerable times opponents have scored goals in rapid succession this year).

Who on this year's team can be the one to step up and put the team on his shoulders? Who on this team is standing up in the dressing room, telling the others "We are NOT going to lose," and then going out on the ice and getting it done? You'd think if they had that sort of leader in the room, he'd have done it by now.

What I think this team needs, more than a shutdown defenseman, more than a new coach, and more than a new goalie, is a heart transplant.

Will home games help

2010-03-08T17:19:08Z

OK, so I have been as pessimistic as most regarding what has now gone beyond a slump and to outright, this is not a good team

But I happened to take a quick look a the 20 games again since that great win over the Rangers. Check this out

We know the Devils are 6-12-2 in that 20 game stretch

But here is what I did not realize before looking at it. Of that, road record is 2-10-1. Even in this hideous stretch, they are 4-2-1 at home.

They do play 10 of the last 18 at home.

I am at the game on Wednesday. I am definitely discouraged, and definitely lacking in confidence, but I am going to be screaming my head off against the Rangers. Whether we are frustrated or not, as fans, the only thing we can do at this point is get behind this team and try to help them get their confidence back.

Searching For Answers

2010-03-08T16:52:49Z

As is typically the case when a team officially falls into a slump, the fans are left searching for how the problem can be fixed. Far too often it seems that if Jacques Lemaire were a little less stubborn in his ways, many of the problems we're currently experiencing would not exist. Regardless, I think our coach would do well to at least glance at this list and take some of these suggestions to heart. Could it really be worse than what we're seeing right now?

1. Ilya Kovalchuk should never carry the puck in the zone.

There's no question that nothing compares to watching Kovalchuk race up the ice with the puck, dipping and darting his way past opponents and into the zone. Problem is, the fun stops there. Far too often, he works his way into the zone, only to be hounded by two or three defenders who force him to turn the puck over. By contrast, having Elias or Zubrus carry the puck in while Kovy gets open has paid dividends the few times it was been attempted. Kovalchuk either ended up scoring or creating a prime scoring chance.

2. Get Kovalchuk off the point on the PP and leave it that way.

I don't even mind the fact that Kovalchuk has been playing all 2 minutes of every powerplay recently, because he looks like he has the endurance for it. The trouble is where he's positioned. A player of that skill level should not be so far away from the net. Kovalchuk should be sitting in the slot, waiting to either tip a shot, or pounce on a rebound, or any other of a myriad of things the man can do. Why exactly is he standing all the way back there when between Andy Greene, Anssi Salmela, Brian Rolston, Jamie Langenbrunner, and even occasionally Mike Mottau we have several players capable of shooting from the point. It's such a blatant waste of skill and energy to keep Kovalchuk back there, I find it hard to believe a hall-of-fame player and coach is behind the decision and refuses to budge on it.

3. Danis needs to play more.

I know, I say this in everything I publish now, but because it's going to come back to haunt us if we don't start doing it. If not for the sake of Marty's play, how about for Danis himself? Say Marty goes down with another injury, or needs to be pulled from a game, etc. We're now putting in a cold goalie with very little game experience this year. Marty is not invincible, as we've all recently seen, and Danis won't be able to help the situation when he's played as little as he has. I'm not saying to severely cut Marty's time, but how about a little more balance?

Unfortunately, as much as the players falling flat on many occasions, Lemaire is not free of responsibility for our recent slump either. Perhaps if he was more open minded, maybe it wouldn't seem as if he's lost the players. At least then we would be able to say that this is definitely something that can be worked out of. Alas, Lemaire is not willing to even remotely change the formula, switch things up, break the monotony. And for that reason, it almost appears as if he has lost the players, and by extension, the season. Call it grim, call it overreacting, but until I see signs that point otherwise, it's hard not to at least consider this.

Watching the Devils Online?

2010-03-07T22:49:54Z

Just a quick question for everybody...

I live in an area where we don't get MSG+, but I also can't get NHL Gamecenter or NHL Center Ice because Comcast claims that I do get it, when in reality I cant, so blackout rules apply.

Do any of you fine people know websites to watch Devils games on? Right now, I listen to WFAN and follow the steam on this website, but thats it! Thank you!

Signing Plekanec in July....

2010-03-07T22:16:25Z

One of the key free agents this uppcoming year is Tomas Plekanec. He's a great center that could play with Kovalchuk and Elias next year pending Kovy signs on. But in order to sign him we will have to lose a key player....

And that key player would be Paul Martin. His contract expires this year and is getting paid about 3.8 million. Tomas is getting about 2.7 million. Well starting off with the Devils trade with Kovalchuk the Devils had 6 million in cap space we lost 4 million in Oduya which means we have 10 million in cap now. The Devils have 5 deph players with contracts expired not including Kovalchuk and Clarkson. A combined 3.7 million if we don't sign Mottau, Skoula, Mcammond, Murphy, Pikks, and Nieder. Combine 3.7 million with 3.8 million you got 7.5 million. Add 10 million to that and you have a whopping 17.5 million dollars! Pending you sign Clarkson and Kovalchuk it would go down by 8 or 9 million. So we have money to sign Martin and Plekanec. Sign Martin to 4 million and offer Plek 4 million. That would use up 8 million and we will still have money left over. About 1.5 million. If you offer Plekanec 4 million and a chance to play with either Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner or Kovalchuk and Elias he'll take it in a second. And also a chance to play with the best Goalie in the NHL and a chance to win the cup. Its a lot of math but it is possible to sign Plekanec, Martin, Kovy, and Clarkie. How good would that team look? Hopefully it is not a dream!

Poll

Would you want to sign Tomas Plekanec?

Do we need a goalie change??

2010-03-06T22:48:27Z

Is it just me or does Marty need to sit down? He was sent to the bench during the olympics and team Canada rebounded and won the gold. We can blame the Devils defense all we want but there was a different defense in front of him in the olympics same result. Yann Danis is sitting on the bench rotting with a goals against of under 2. Every time I listen to other analysts on the Nhl Network and commentators on versus or nhl.com they all say Marty is the reason for the losses. Now as Devil fans we all love Marty and respect his past accomplishments but the bottom line is he cannot seem to play a game without letting up at least 3 goals a game lately. If he does that in the playoffs its one and out. Why not sit him down a couple of games and let the backup play a while to see if he can do better? That may show Marty that he is not guaranteed the starting position and that may lift his game. We have 19 games left to right the ship a lower playoff seed will really not hurt all that much. What do you honestly think? ANSWER HOW YOU TRULY FEEL not what we do not want to admit..

Parise w/ Kovy?

2010-03-06T18:45:58Z

So after watching last nights game and basically every game since Kovalchuk arrived in NJ, I've had one question on my mind... Why are Kovalchuk and Parise not playing on the same line? I understand late in the game Lemaire starts shuffling lines and throwing the PP out there (not to mention they scored late in the game last night against Calgary) and who was on the ice together? Exactly. PUT THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYERS ON THE ICE TOGETHER. Hockey is about creating 2 on 1's all over the ice. You watch Parise alone and he is respectively the best forchecker in the NHL. Gritty, harworking, and relentless. Watch Kovalchuk enter the zone and he's like a train with as much speed, yet 3 more inches and 40 more lbs. 1st guy in the zone hard, 2nd guy crash the net. It's simple hockey and think of Kovy coming in the zone with his head of steam, and Parise crashing the net. Simply put the two together and you have two players who can not only keep up with each other, but FINISH!

Don't get me wrong, I love the zz pops line and we all know how well Parise and Langenbrunner did in the olympics together. Also, I understand that Kovalchuk has only played 8 games with the Devils and he may still be finding that chemistry with Zubrus and Elias. Therefore, I do think it would be fitting to let them stay together for anoth 3 or 4 games to see what they can bring. On the contrary, at this point in the season (last 20 games the Devils are 8-12 w/ a couple of overtime wins/losses) you need every surge of scoring you can get. Also, for those of you who think I may be taking credit away from the zzpops line or kovy-zubs-elias I'm not. Both of the two lines have had some really nice playmaking where I thought to myself, "wow, the Devils can have two really dominant scoring lines now." Yet, with Martin STILL out, our defense is just not the same and I hate to say it, but Marty is getting old. Tangent: I'm sick of watching him completely out of position just flopping around. Play as a goalie, not an actor trying to make the most theatrical save. I understand Brodeur's style of play (if you will call it a style), but he's too old and slow to be playing like the Marty 10 years ago.

With all of that said, I'm sure I'll catch some feedback/criticism from all of you, but depending on how the Devils fare in the next 3 games my suggested new offensive lines are such... Hear me out. (Again, this is pending whether or not the Devils can turn this struggle around QUICKLY)

Kovalchuk - Zajac - Parise

Elias - Zubrus - Langenbrunner

Rolston - Niedermayer - Clarkson

Pandolfo - McAmmond - Zharkov

Lack of defensive play (missing Martin sucks) + Weak goaltending = The need for more scoring.

Let's see how these next few games go before I lose my mind.

Please leave your comments. Thanks for reading.

Why the Devils should not go after Hamhuis....

2010-03-03T00:58:02Z

A lot of speculation around the web are saying that Hamhuis will be dealt to the Devils, Flyers, or another team. Nashville apparently wants a young prospect in return for Hamhuis. Here's why I don't want Hamhuis on the Devils this year....

The Devils need an offensive defenseman that won't cost an arm and a leg. The Flyers are supposedly offering Ryan Parent. I really don't see anyone matching Parent, unless you would trade Eckford for a rental player. Hamhuis would cost an Eckford type player and a draft pick. With Hamhuis' numbers this year and playoff numbers it is not worth it. Dan has 4 goals and 12 assists and a +1. Sixteen points are not what the Devils are looking for in an offensive defenseman that will cost Eckford. In the playoffs, Hamhuis has 7 points and a -11.. In the game against the Devils, (remember Ilya's first goal) Hamhuis never shined in that game. He was on the ice for one of the Devils goals in which he stood around. To me Hamhuis seems like an underachiever this year.

One player from the Ducks (not Niedermayer) that I would like to see join the club is James Wisniewski. He seems like the defenseman the Devils would like to add. Eckford wouldn't be bad price taking James is only 26. He has posted up 3 goals, 22 assists, and -1. He wouldn't look bad on a line with Paul Martin or Andy Greene bringing offense in. His contract isn't bad either, 2.7 million for and is a restricted free agent this year. So now I would like to hear your point. But at this point watching Mottau blow games for us, I'd take Hamhuis.

Poll

Which defenseman would you like to see in a Devils uniform after March 3rd?

Dan Hamhuis

2 votes

James Wisniewski

12 votes

No need for a D-man

5 votes

Other

21 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!!! A Game that Unites Us

2010-03-01T09:33:32Z

Today was one of the most incredible moments in my sports-loving life. I've long approached the NHL players playing in the Olympics for years now with a bit of indifference, more interested in seeing how the Devils on each team were performing as opposed to some swelling sense of national pride. I mean, I've had the bad taste in my mouth of the American brats who trashed a hotel room in Nagano, Japan in 1998 for 12 years now. Nothing could ever rival the Eruzione and Miracle team of 1980 and how it would bring the country together in a seminal moment unlike any other sporting event in the history of the United States. Just thinking about that time the baby-faced college kids took down the Big Red Communist Machine still brings me chills.

Nothing will ever top it or even come close. Still, through no fault of my wife's, fate dealt me a cruel card of having to be at a three-year-olds birthday party today in El Monte, California. The party started at 12:30 PST and as you know, the game started at 12:15. For those of you who are not from El Monte, it's about 73 percent Latino with the majority being Mexican. My wife is Mexican and she has a gigantic Mexican family and many of them were there.

I decided that if I was going to be at this party, tivoing the gold medal game just wasn't going to cut it for me, so I called my in-laws and asked them to bring a TV to the party, which was being held at a park (if it was at someone's house, things would've been a lot simpler). Thankfully they also had a digital receiver for the TV so I settled in as soon as I got there.

At first I was by myself, standing in the corner of the banquet room with a 13 inch TV, nervously drinking a beer. Then I quickly had company with a couple of curious onlookers. Soon I found myself surrounded by about 10 other men, all Mexican, all rooting hard for the American team. I was in the middle of a 70-degree day, at a park in a Zach Parise jersey bonding with men who knew little to nothing about hockey, but because our country was in the gold medal game, they were almost as passionate about it as I was. I was too nervous watching the game at that moment to even realize it and it wasn't until later that I thought about how cool that was.

And when Parise scored that tying goal with 25 seconds left, that group of people erupted with cheering, jumping up and down and random high fives. Whereas this group would normally be doing that over a Chivas goooooooool, they were instead embracing a sport about as foreign to them as curling is to most Americans (although given the prominence of curling at these Olympics, I might have to retract that statement).

It was obviously a huge letdown when Crosby scored that overtime winner. I have to imagine it would be something I would've remembered for a long time had the United States been able to pull off the upset (no, definitely not a miracle) and take home that gold. As it is, I will always remember standing in that corner and the ridiculously loud cheer that startled a lot of the other partygoers who were sitting around enjoying their food. I'll remember my love for Parise growing exponentially today for just being Zach and doing what he does. But most of all, I'll remember how the sport on ice brought a bunch of noobs together for a briefing, shining moment of national pride, even if it was overpaid professional athletes who did it.

So when it comes down to thinking about whether or not the NHL should be involved in these Olympics moving forward, I think that if the NHL is truly interested in introducing new people to this sport, especially in the United States in non-traditional markets like El Monte, California, they have to consider continuing the great Olympic experiment, even if it's a world away and several time zones beyond.

Devils Fan Guide: Why We Love the Devils

2010-02-18T01:32:26Z

[Welcome to the fourth edition of the Devils Fan Guide Weekly Section post. Once a week (or so), I'll write a section about the experience at the Rock or about the Devils that's suited for new fans, fans who haven't been to the Rock, and old fans who'd like to see a resource surrounding all this. I'm going to put it in a FanPost, you all can comment on it as you wish. Maybe I missed something. Maybe I got something wrong. Maybe you'd like something added. All criticism is fair game for a week (or so). After a week (or so), I'll close the comments and format the content into a separate page.

In these brackets and italicized words will be my own commentary that won't likely appear in this section. For this section, this is also YOUR time to make your mark. I look forward to what you would suggest to prevent this section coming out like that in the comments.]

Life is about choices. We choose what to wear. We choose what to learn. We choose who we like, we don't like, what we believe, what we think, and what we feel. In this way, sports is the same way. We choose what sports we like for varying reasons and we choose which team to follow and support.

No one is born or destined to be a New Jersey Devils fans. We chose to support the New Jersey Devils.

For this part of the guide, I'd like to highlight some reasons why Devils fans are Devils fans. Perhaps some stories as to how Devils fans became Devils fans. For you, the reader, I hope this provides some insight as why we chose who we chose.

[OK everyone, I'm starting the list - give me more reasons why you support the Devils. Yes, I missed a few obvious ones, but that's for you to add in to at least get your minds going. Keep in mind, this is for someone who doesn't know why they should support Devils.

Any "How I became a fan" stories would be fantastic, I'll put the best ones in a separate section.

UPDATED 2/28 - I'll leave this open for a few more days, I'll add the stories last - keep them coming.]

Team Accomplishments and Traits

Championships: Three Stanley Cups, the most championships by any local team not named the New York Yankees in the last 15 years.
Consistent Success: The Devils have been the second best team cumulatively in the NHL from 1993-94 through the 2008-09 seasons, proving that the team has been consistently successful. When Devils fans (and Lou) say that the goal every year is to win the Stanley Cup, they aren't fooling around.
Rivalry Supremacy: Season to season, the series records may change; yet overall, the Devils have been superior to the Flyers and Rangers over the last decade and a half of the NHL. If you want to support the best local hockey team, the Devils are the team to support.
The "System" of Success: Defensive responsibility, a hard-working attitude, a team-first mentality, a high level of professionalism. These are the cornerstones of the team's philosophy and their system of success since Lou Lamoriello became general manager, president, and CEO of the Devils. It's not only worked out well, but it has drawn fans to embrace the Devils for practicing these values instead of doing whatever is popular in hockey or in sport. (thanks to don_vas for pointing this out first, and Devilssection21fan for pointing out the team-first mentality)

Devils Players and Personnel

Scott Stevens - Crushing hits, as solid as a rock on defense, and a leader like no other. Scott Stevens oversaw and led this team from being an average team to an annual contender. There's a cliche in sports where players are told to "give 110%" but Stevens is one of the few people who did just that. He's my personal favorite Devil of all time and a big reason why I (and many others) follow the Devils.
Martin Brodeur - Consistent, athletic, and as dependable as you can get in net. He's the all-time NHL leader in wins, minutes, shutouts, as well as a 4-time Vezina trophy winner along with an Olympic gold medal. He's been with the team since being drafted in 1990 and has proven his commitment by never straying from the franchise, even deferring money when possible. Brodeur's skills alone are worth the price of admission.
Patrik Elias - World-class vision, more heart than people realize, and just an excellent forward. Like Brodeur, Elias is a Devils-lifer and has been the team's top forward for much of the past decade. His passing and decision-making with the puck are dazzling to watch.
Zach Parise - Quite possibly the next franchise cornerstone for the Devils. He's one of the best American players in the game today and the word to describe him is dynamic. Seemingly in constant motion, always buzzing around the net or along the boards despite his size, and he truly doesn't give up on a play when there's a chance to do something. He has thrilled the young ladies with his looks and every Devils fan with his skills. To think, he's only going to get better.
Lou Lamoriello: As noted earlier, the Devils have been a consistent contender whereas most other teams have risen and fallen throughout the last 15 seasons or so. This speaks highly of the accomplishments of Lou Lamoriello, who was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 as a Builder while still serving as President, CEO, and General Manager of the New Jersey Devils. This blog isn't named after him for no reason - Devils fans seriously trust Lou.

Important Games and Events

1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the Rangers: Yes, the Devils lost this one in seven games to Our Hated Rivals; germinating a ton of hatred of the Rangers for a new generation (myself included). Yet, this was a watershed moment in retrospect as the Devils really blossomed here. They were no longer just a good team, but a team that could contend for a championship. The double OT 4-3 win on May 15, 1994 (Game 1) was a particular highlight; proving that the Devils were no flash-in-the-pan opponent and setting the series to be an epic rivalry. (Thanks to njdNYG'cuse for this note)
The 1995 Stanley Cup: Sweeping the Detroit Red Wings opened up a lot of people's eyes to how effective the Devils were as a team. (Thanks to Devilssection21fan for this)
2000 Eastern Conference Finals Comeback over Philadelphia: Down 3-1 in the series, the Devils battled hard and overcame the massive deficit to win the series in 7 games to go onto the Stanley Cup Finals. Proof of guts, grit, and gargantuan character for the comeback to happen at all. (Thanks again to Devilssection21fan)
The 2000 Stanley Cup: Six bitterly fought games against an equally stingy Dallas Stars game. The Devils picked up the clinching goal from Jason Arnott to celebrate the win in Dallas.
The 2003 Stanley Cup: Against the hype-machine generated by Jean-Sebastian Giguere's brilliant goaltending and the fact it was the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the Devils made a big statement in 7 games, including that momentous Game 7 (June 9, 2003) where Martin Brodeur shutout the Ducks and Mike Rupp of all players was the hero with 2 goals.

Aesthetics/Local Issues

Jersey's Team: The Devils are the local team; one of two professional teams that proudly represent New Jersey (and it's questionable the Nets really wants to represent NJ). They do not call themselves a New York team that plays in New Jersey (e.g. Giants, Jets, Red Bulls); nor are they looking to get into New York at the moment (the Nets). They are local and they aren't ashamed to represent the state. This is not New York, this is not Philadelphia, this is New Jersey; and the Devils know, understand, and embrace this fact. (Thanks to FrankG29, Devil_Hard_Core, Cherno77 for emphasizing the local aspect)
Out of the Spotlight/"Underdog" Mentality: Despite the success, the Devils do not seemingly get the respect they deserve for their accomplishments for a number of reasons: where they play being between two big markets, how they accomplish their goals, how many people go to the games, etc. Some still think it's 1995 and that the Devils are running a neutral zone trap for 60 minutes. All this builds up to a perception that the Devils are the underdogs - and fans appreciate that. (Thanks to elesias,
The Team Name: The Devils are pretty intimidating as far as names go. (Thanks to elesias)
The Logo: It's a pretty boss logo, showing without words who they represent (New Jersey) and what they are (Devils). (Thanks again to elesias, Jago)

[OK, here's where I'm going to leave it off for now. Please add other reasons why people should support the Devils in the comments, including how you became a Devils fan to begin with. Again, I'll add stories later.]

Gameday Rituals and Superstitions

2010-02-24T22:54:56Z

When the Devils struggle I often look at myself as the cause. I change up little things that I do in the build up to the game to try and help the Devils win. I was recently talking to someone who switches jerseys every time the Devils lose a game he goes to. I have one friend that always sits in the last train car because they lost two consecutive games when he didn’t do that.

So I want to hear it, what are your game day rituals and superstitions?

Here are mine:
On all Devil game days, whether I am going or not, begin with checking Fire and Ice to see what is going on in the morning skate. At 10am sharp I am glued to Tom Guiliti’s blog to see who is off the ice early, you know this could be the one game Marty takes off that month? If the morning skate is cancelled and there is no new post I am refreshing my web browser every 15 minutes until there is some sort of update.

When I am going to a game, I rush home from work (cut out at 4:25 every time) and the first thing I do is change into game day gear. I wear basically the same clothes to all games, jeans and a jersey or jersey t-shirt. I also make sure to check Fire and Ice one last time to see who might be scratched for that night’s game. My friend picks me up and we take the same route to the game every time. When we park we use the same entrance and make our way down to section 15 to watch warm ups. When the players begin to exit the ice surface we make our way to our seats upstairs. On the way to my seat I buy a medium Mountain Dew, no ice, every single game from the Boardwalk shop right behind section 231 (where I sit). The only time we don’t do this is for weekends. Before weekend games we always make a trip to Brick City Bar and Grill for pregame drinks.

For games I don’t attend I do 2 things before faceoff. The first is make sure dinner is ready and eaten. The other thing I must do is double check that someone has taken the dogs out for a walk. If I ever hear one of them barking to go outside as the Devils go on the power play or penalty kill I lose it. One time I remember having stand outside my window in the backyard watching TV through the window (Zubrus did score and I did contemplate staying out in the cold the rest of the game). When 7:05 comes and the opening faceoff happens I don’t want any distractions. During the game I am always on twitter (username dsarch) doing my best to make sure that #NJDevils is one of the trends for that day.

I also have two superstitions. The first year the Prudential Center I wore a Devils jersey but the team was on a home losing streak so I switched to a t-shirt jersey. I kept with that tradition until the end of January when the Devils began to slump and went back to my jersey. I’ve also given up on buying any more t-shirt jerseys because I had a Brodeur and he got hurt the next season. At the end of the 08 season I bought an Elias and he sat out the beginning of this year and missed games for a concussion. I will never buy a t-shirt jersey for get an unretired player’s name on a jersey again.

The second superstition is to never switch seats, which I learned the hard way. During one Devils game (I can’t recall the exact one but I think it was verse Phoenix during the 07-08 season) I had gotten to the arena early and purchased $10 seats. After the first we moved downstairs and the game was turned upside down. The Devils just collapsed and I vowed to never make the same mistake. Every game my two friends and me sit in the exact same seats. At the beginning of the year we tried switching it up after consecutive home losses and finally came to a seat combination that pleased the hockey gods.

A List of Bars & Establishments in NJ to Watch Devils Road Games

2010-02-23T04:39:06Z

Where can you combine this with THIS? With a little organization on your part - at the places listed below. As co-organizer of the New Jersey Devils meetup.com group, John assigned me with the task of listing great places to gather with other NJ Devils fans (or at the least places that will have the game on). From Mercer & Ocean County to the North is where you'll find Devils' Nation. So this list includes those counties, although I would like to hear from Devils' fans in South Jersey and then have you guys anoint a place down there. Some of the bars names have changed, so please check on that. Also some do not carry Versus; so if the Devils game is televised nationally, call ahead. If you have any updated news on a place or if you would like to add one, please post!

Editor's Note: Thanks to Steve for putting in the effort in compiling a list. The interest is there and he's filling a void. If you can make any recommendations or would like to add any input or opinion, then by all means, make them in the comments. Keep in mind, spamming is still not allowed - just make a recommendation, or an opinion, and leave it at that.

Of course, ILWT, SBN, or anyone else isn't necessarily endorsing these places; this is just an informative list of bars & establishments where one can go out and watch the Devils when they are on the road.

I have reviews next to the establishment when possible. I usually used Yelp. I cannot endorse the content in the reviews, but hopefully it will give you other peoples' opinions. If you notice the Devils PR are holding more "game watches" for away games all over the state. We hold ours separate and also combined with them at times. The feelings are that it builds community for reasons I mentioned in a recent fan post.

These are just recommendations; please schedule your own meetups through the meetup group, the Devils or via your email. Devils' PR also believes it translates into more seats sold for home games.

See you there - Steve Chernoski, Director, New Jersey: the Movie

PS - Despite the above first sentence link, I cannot verify that all of these establishments will have PBR; the above was just a mere attempt at humor. If you don't think it is humorous, please consider what I was going to put there before I settled on that PBR scene.

Bergen County
The Office - Ridgewood - Yelp Review

Houlihan's - Hasbrouck Heights - Yelp Review

Grasshopper - Carlstadt - Yelp Review

Blarney Station Pub - East Rutherford - Yelp Review

Jimmy's Rock Cafe - Moonachie

Passaic County
Shannon Rose - Clifton - Yelp Review

Jimmy Geez Sports Bar - Haledon - Yelp Review

Hudson County

ONieal's - Hoboken - Our next Devils' meetup is here

4 L's - Hoboken - Yelp Review

Black Bear Bar and Grill - Yelp Review

Zeppelin Hall Biergarten - Jersey City - Yelp Review

Plank Road Inn - Secaucus - Yelp Review

Essex County (not including Newark)
Gaslight - South Orange - Yelp Review

Egan & Son's - Montclair - Yelp Review

The Office - Montclair - Yelp Review

South Park Bar & Grill - Montclair - Yelp Review

O'Reilly's Pub - Maplewood - Yelp Review

Morris County
Famished Frog - Morristown - Yelp Review

The Office - Morristown - Yelp Review

Grasshopper off the Green - Morristown - Yelp Review

Zagurksy's - Whippany - Yelp Review

The Second Half on Main - Denville - Yelp Review

54 Main Bar & Grille - Madison - Yelp Review

Miami Mike's Sports Zone - East Hanover - Yelp Review - should we hold it against him that he wears a Rangers' jersey in one clip?

Union County
Cranford - The Office - Yelp Review

Summit - The Office - Yelp Review

Westfield - The Office - Yahoo Review

Suspenders - Union - Yelp Review

Scotty's Steak House - Springfield - Yelp Review

Sun Tavern - Fanwood & Roselle Park - Yelp Fanwood Review . . . . Roselle Park Review

Warren County
Pinstripes - Alpha - Yelp Review

Belvidere - Gunnars Landing

Sussex County

Hooters of Franklin - Franklin

Hunterdon County
Jake's Restaurant & Bar - Flemington - Yelp Review

Chelseas Restaurant & Pub - Lebanon - Yelp Review

Mercer County
Wildflower's - Pennington - Yelp Review

Tavern on the Lake - Hightstown - Yelp Review

Firkin Tavern - Ewing - Yelp Review

Below is what rolled in so far from my friends for the Central counties . . .

Somerset County
Cryan's Ale House - North Branch - Yelp Review

The Office - Bridgewater - Yelp Review

Middlesex County

Fox and Hound - Edison (Menlo Park Mall) - Yelp Review

Champs - Edison (Menlo Park Mall) - Yelp Review

Monmouth County

The Globe - Red Bank - Yelp Review

Murphy's Grill - Red Bank - Yelp Review

Boston's - Neptune

Rella's Tavern - Brielle - Yelp review

Ocean County

The Office - Toms River (not affiliated with the above chain) Yelp Review

Why our community matters

2010-02-20T00:39:20Z

These blogs, online communities, meetup groups and fan clubs are the arteries to the heart of the New Jersey Devils. In greater numbers and better organized, we're stronger. I'll tell you a little about why I post on here like a madman (besides the fact it's the best Devils stuff out there) and why I also co-organize the Devils' meetup.com group. Here we go to getting personal . . . .

I don't have many Devil fan friends. While I can list my Ranger fan friends on over 2 hands and Flyer fan friends on about that much, all of my hockey fan friends are not Devils' fans. I have one colleague who knows the sport and is knowledgeable. She watches, but she's also got 2 newborns. This unfortunately has been the story for most of my life. And I know many of you have similar stories.

I think because I haven't had that core around me during the Devils' best times, it has really had a deep effect on me as a fan. I never got to celebrate the championships the way a fan should. Cue music

You know that way? It's like how I celebrated when I was in Lucca, Italy during their World Cup victory in 2006. Now I'm not going to compare the Devils Stanley Cups to the World Cup . . . or maybe I am. Because for me, those Stanley Cups were MUCH more important than the World Cup. But even after some of the Devils biggest wins ever, I can't say the atmosphere in North Jersey has been that crazy or overly exhilarating. CAA contributed a lot to that, but we need to make sure that our first playoff victory at the Rock is memorable. Let me break it down.

In 1995, I was graduating high school and this was the time of my life. I did have other Devil fans in HS and I alternated taking friends to games and went with my parents. However, I know I took a Ranger fan to a Boston game and a Flyer fan to one of the Flyer games. After the Game 6 ECF, I enjoyed beeping at Flyer fans once we crossed exit 8A on the turnpike . . . . especially when they thought they were in "safe territory." I was hooked. And unfortunately I was in Chicago for SCF Game 4, but even if at home, I would have been with more apathetic Flyer fans anyway (which don't get me wrong - would have been sweet, but still).

In 2000, having graduated college the year before, I was living near Atlantic City - moved because of the job and didn't know anyone. Also - that's hard core Flyer country down there. I was working on the Ocean City, NJ Boardwalk when I heard all of the Flyer fans yell after Elias's goal. That was the best I could get that year: hearing other fans angry. Mom and me were prepared to celebrate at Game 5, but Mike Modano delayed things. I did have one Devils' fan to relish it all with, but when Arnott scored, he was working. I went to the Irish Pub in AC and hung out with a crowd that didn't care.

In 2003, I scored one ticket (they wouldn't sell me two - I like to think it was the last ticketmaster ticket) to Game 7 and couldn't believe my luck. Afterward, I asked people around where the party was. They said, "The Grasshopper" in Carlstadt, but I couldn't find it and the parking lot at the Meadowlands had no bars around and we all know how awful it is.

So the Internet, in its advanced age, has made it easier for us to meetup, gather, organize, plan, etc. All of this has the potential to make our communities stronger. But even though I've been in North Jersey for a couple years, I don't know a lot of Devil fans. Now you should play this and read the rest. And that's why I'm here and trying to be everywhere.

Look, I'm not getting any younger (neither is Marty). I'm getting married this summer and hopefully planning on having kids a couple years after. My future wife supports me going on to these meetups, doesn't complain about me being on the computer a lot, allows me to play in beer hockey leagues in NYC, and sing karaoke at Hell''s Kitchen after some games. I'm not trying to say life ends with marriage and kids. But my window is limited with the excess time and energy. I'm going full force with getting the PR out there, getting the word out there and most importantly - trying to make the New Jersey Devils fan community stronger. My ultimate goal? When we play the Rangers - to see a wave of Red and little Blue at the Rock.

And you say I'm a dreamer - and I say "What have YOU done lately?"

You can support this blog and buy a t-shirt like I just did. You can comment or come to our next meetup in Hoboken if you want. . . . or you simply look into single game or limited plans now. Or you can do as I suggested before and simply hang a Devils' flag outside your apartment window or house on game days. You can connect with In Lou We Trust on Twitter or Facebook.

I am sure you can write a defense of why watching the game on your living room HDTV is pure heaven. But like Kevin Smith said, to "Being a Devils fan, you just have to try harder." We don't have the allure of MSG or NYC than Ranger fans living in NJ seem to be enamored with. They're merely lemmings in my humble opinion. We have our state and we have Newark. It's harder to like Newark, right? Well, parts of it could look like Hoboken in 10 years. You could also start by giving the city some props to your friends.

And if you don't do any of this, just know: I love the Devils, you love the Devils and everyone else can go to hel . . . um, Detroit.