By: Al

Al — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:02:45 +0000

Now all Devils fans know what we knew for years in Atlanta – a talented sniper that refuses to back check, skates in circle eights, and cherry picks shots does not help the team when help is needed most. Yes we had ownership and management issues, but #17 was the biggest curse on our season this year. You guys in Jersey now know why. Frustrating, isn’t it?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:01:25 +0000

The Devils changed as a team when Scott Stevens hung up his skates. Stevens’ was a once-in-a-lifetime player. You just don’t replace that easily. The team had tried but either draft picks or trades never panned out and that is why this team has been bounced far too many times in first round over the last six seasons.
This team was a tight defensive team and is now a finesse team with guys like Parise, Elias, Kovalchuk, Zajac, etc. Finesse teams usually do not win the Stanley Cup. It was only when the Red Wings got tough and took the fight to the Avalanche that they became champions. It was only when Scott Stevens scared the living daylights out of the opposition did the Devils raise three banners.
Lamoriello trading for Kovalchuk was a great trade. The Devils have never had a guy skate and move like Ilya. But, the core problem was on the blue line. That was painfully obvious last year in Game 7 against Carolina when they could not clear the puck at the most important time in the game.
The main problem is that guys like Mike Mottau, Bryce Salvador, Martin Skoula, and Paul Martin seem to play the puck more than the man and when you do that guys get away from you and are left open in front of the net. While Marty Brodeur has not stood on his head this series, there really is not a goalie who could have won two extra games in this series when the Devils have scored a whopping four goals in the three games they have lost in the series.
There is a reason why the Flyers are winning is that they are taking the play to the Devils and the Devils are not strong enough to fight back and be physical enough to win the battles in the corners that get results on the scoreboard.
[link]http://www.twitter.com/ielpi[/link]

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:50:10 +0000

Being a long time fan, since the early 90′s, the problem is defense. The Defense prevents the puck from being in the defensive zone the entire game (see game 4) as well as setting the stage for offensive attack. The Devils couldn’t clear their zone repeatedly, passing was awful, and the offense players were left to play defense. Kov can score, but he can’t play defense well, so why let him?

Comments on: "Fixing" the New Jersey Devils

By: Al

By: Anonymous

By: Roger