MadDevil

He's had multiple concussions over the last few years and has a lot of hard miles on his body. Those kind of players usually don't age gracefully.

I've always been a Clowe fan. I just think the Devils were three years too late in getting him. He's one hit away from never playing again.

Sadly Havlat probably has more chance of staying healthy than Clowe.

I think Zajac is still pretty underrated around the league. People look at his offensive stats and go "Meh", but he's an incredibly important player for the Devils. Is he a #1 center on a Cup team? No. But he's one of the best defensive centers in the league (he doesn't put up the points of Kopitar, Toews, or Bergeron to get Selke consideration). His offensive game has always been dependant on his linemates. The 60 point seasons he had were playing with Parise, who practically shared a brain with him on the ice, and Langenbrunner. That line was ridiculously good together. This year he struggled early but once he found chemistry with Jagr he was fantastic. Your point about Henrique is spot on though. I think he could score 30 goals this year, especially if they keep him with Elias. He reminds me in a lot of ways of Parise. He doesn't have the Energizer bunny motor like Parise does, but he has a nose for the net, he can play in any situation, and he's just a very mature player. He's got future captain written all over him.

Line combos are going to be interesting. Elias, Henrique, Zubrus, Carter, and Josefson have all played center and wing at various times over the last couple years. I expect there to be a lot if mixing and matching. I'd go with something like... Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr Elias-Henrique-Havlat Ruutu-Josefson-Ryder Zubrus-Carter-Brunner Clowe-Gionta-Bernier I realize that's 15 forwards, but I really don't know how much Clowe and/or Havlat are going to play. I kind of get the feeling that somebody might be traded. I'm also assuming both Josefson and Carter will be back. Josefson is a RFA yet. Carter might not be back. If he isn't slot Gionta in on the fourth. On defense I'd go with... Greene-Larsson Merrill-Zidlicky Salvador-Gelinas Harrold

With the first day of free agency over, I have to say I think Lou had a pretty decent day. The Devils desperately need offense, and Cammalleri and Havlat both should help. I really like the addition of Cammalleri, although I would have preferred a 2-3 year contract instead of 5 years, but it's free agency. You usually have to overspend either in salary or contract length to get the player you really want. Havlat is a cheap, low risk move that could pay off huge if he can stay healthy and finds some chemistry with either one of his fellow countrymen Elias or Jagr. He's really close friends with Elias, so that should help. As for the rest of the moves up front, I wasn't thrilled with the re-signings of Bernier or Gionta. Bernier was pretty much useless last year, and Gionta was overused by the coaching staff (DeBoer loves the guy). Supposedly they're still interested in bringing Carter back, and Josefson was qualified but hasn't signed a contract yet. They've already got too many forwards, so I'm not sure how that's all going to work out. C Zajac Henrique Elias Gionta LW Cammalleri Clowe Ruutu Zubrus RW Jagr Ryder Havlat Brunner Bernier That's 13 forwards, not counting Carter or Josefson. Clowe is questionable because he's one hit away from retirement. In fact I wonder if Lou knows something about him with all the forwards he's signed. Havlat is a question as well given his injury history. And with several older forwards one of them is bound to get injured eventually. Bernier I think is basically on a tryout contract. He was abysmal last year. I guess they're hoping he bounces back and earns a spot. If not I could see them dumping him before the season. As for the defense, losing Fayne hurts, but it was probably a necessary move to clear the logjam they had on defense. Buying Volchenkov out was the first step. Then letting Fayne walk basically cleared it all up. Greene Zidlicky Larsson Merrill Gelinas Salvador Harrold The kids will definitely be given a chance to play regularly this year. Merrill looked pretty solid for a rookie last year. Gelinas has some really good offensive tools, but his defensive game was pretty horrific at times. Hopefully he can clean that up a bit. This season is a huge year for Larsson. He's been in and out of the lineup because of some poor play, injuries, and the team just having too many defensemen. His lack of progress so far is concerning, but he did show some signs of being a really solid player when he was paired with Gelinas last year, before he got injured and sent to the AHL. It took Hedman a few years as well to really shine, so hopefully he's on the same trajectory. As for the goaltending, it's Cory Schneider's show. He was fantastic for much of the season last year. He did have a couple down stretches, but I honestly think had he started 60+ games like he should this year, the Devils probably make the playoffs last year. I love Marty to death, but he (and DeBoer) really didn't do the team any good by playing as much as he did. Re-signing Cory has to be Lou's biggest priority going forward. I'm hoping to hear something about a contract extension in the new few weeks. It would be an absolute disaster to lose him after next season for nothing. If they can't work out a deal, I hope Lou is smart and trades him. It's getting pretty damn old seeing quality talent leave the team for absolutely nothing in return. As for his backup, I think Kinkaid will be given every chance to be the backup, but if he doesn't work out, they did sign Clemmensen, who has been the backup in New Jersey before. I'm really not sure what Lou has up his sleeve this summer. With all the forwards they have signed, it makes me think somebody is getting traded before the season, or Clowe might really be done. It'll be interesting to see what happens the rest of the summer and into training camp.

Schmaltz at #30, given the Devils connections to UND. I'll take it. Then we can pick up Lemieux's kid at #41 and call it a day.

In that era if you were stupid enough to skate through the middle with your head down when Stevens was on the ice it usually didn't end well.

About damn time Pat Burns got into the HHOF. It's a shame it took this long.

Clearly Drew Remenda was the problem.

So they would basically be doing what Lou did with Malakhov years ago, sending him and a first round pick to the Sharks for Koryluk and I think a later pick (my memory of the exact trade is a bit hazy).

Thank you Kings for knocking the Rangers out. Now the Rangers lose two first round picks for MSL, and have nothing to show for it. And while I do respect him, I have to admit I took a little pleasure in Lundqvist's misery. I think he knew that might be his best shot at the Cup for awhile. I don't see the stars aligning again like they did this year for the Rangers. As for the Kings, nothing but respect towards that organization. It sucked losing to them back in 2012, but over the last few years they've been the best team in the league. They remind me a lot of the Devils in their glory years, so I can't help but respect them. The scary thing is they're not done. I could easily see them back in the Final again next year.

This Final is eerily similar to 2012 so far. The Kings won the first two games in OT (the post Kovalchuk hit late in regulation, and Fayne fanning on an open net will haunt me for a long time). Then they had a shutout in Game 3. I don't know if the Rangers have it in them to extend this much longer. If they win Wednesday I just don't see the Kings losing at home in Game 5.

And the Academy Award goes to... Although I think Nash's was probably better. But I couldn't find a gif of it anywhere.

The thing I don't understand is Rutherford saying he's probably only going to be there 2-3 years. Is he just a stopgap until somebody else in the front office is ready to take over?

Glad Zids will be back for another season, although I do wonder how Lou is going to clear the logjam they have on defense. Greene, Zidlicky, Volchenkov, Salvador, and Harrold are all signed for next year. Fayne, who is UFA, should get signed. And then you've got the kids. Larsson and Gelinas won't be exempt from waivers next year, and really have nothing left to prove in the AHL. Merrill is the one who could be sent down, but the coaching staff really likes him. So that's 9 bodies to fill out 6 roster spots. I hope the plan isn't to just let Fayne walk to clear a spot, while keeping the inept pylon that is Salvador, and the overpaid Volchenkov (I do still like him, but his contract is hideous).

I'll say Kings in 6. I think they're the better team, but they don't seem to want to do anything the easy way these playoffs. And you never know which version of Quick you're going to get. He's given up some pretty bad goals this year, but has also been really good at times. Ultimately I think the Kings depth and experience end up being the difference. I will say this though, if the Rangers do win, they'll definitely have my respect. And as a Devils fan, that's hard for me to say.

If it was 2010 I'd love to have Richards on the Devils, but like others have said he's got a lot of mileage on him and looks like he's on the decline. Still, if he was bought out I might take a shot at him with a 2-3 year affordable deal. He did play for DeBoer in the OHL, so maybe there's a connection there.

So he likes playing with Jagr? He can go east and play with him and the ever growing collection of Czechs on the Devils. On a more serious note, would you be interested at all in a deal around Nieto for Gelinas? The Devils have several really good young defensemen, but are sorely lacking in young forwards. Gelinas is still pretty raw defensively, but if anybody can teach him how to play defense it's Larry Robinson (I really miss that man). He's got really good mobility for a guy his size and has a cannon of a shot. The Devils PP was ridiculously better with him in the lineup this year. And Nieto I think would fit in really well with the Devils. I'll admit I don't really know what Nieto's value is to the Sharks, as I don't really follow them all that closely. Just throwing it out there.

If they start suspending linesmen for grabbing players, that's a pretty slippery slope. Which isn't to say the linesmen in this case was innocent, but I don't think that's a road they want to go down. Personally I'd have given Carcillo 2-3 games. I don't think what he did deserves 10 games, but whatever. The thing that still annoys the hell out of me is the inconsistency, and often times the severity of certain actions. For instance, Lucic can take his stick to a guys crotch and gets a $5,000 fine, the same punishment Lundqvist gets for squirting water at Crosby. And then they fine Quenneville $25,000 for gesturing at his crotch. I know the CBA only allows for a certain amount (nothing more than a slap on the wrist), but it seems some of the "punishments" don't always fit the crimes. But, that will probably never change.

My issue with the handshake line is that I don't think it's really that genuine. Half the players look like they just want to get it over with and leave. Sure you get some genuine exchanges between friends, former teammates, etc., but I think they're less than the players who are just going through the motions. Plus we play up the whole "rivalry" thing and how there's bad blood between teams and yet at the end of the series we want them to just switch it off in some artificial show of respect? I understand it's tradition, but I wouldn't be upset if they did away with the handshake line.

At times? I think you're being generous.

As a Devils fan, I think I would rather just see Brodeur retire than either be a backup for the Devils, or play somewhere else. It was clear after the Stadium Series disaster that he just doesn't have it anymore. He can still be okay at times, but the consistency is gone. You just never know if he's going to keep the team in the game, or give up a backbreaking softie. I love the guy to death (he's a big part of why I became a Devils fan), but it's just time to move on.

I don't think they need to blow it all up and start over, but they definitely need an infusion of speed and skill up front. Their possession stats were some of the best in the league, but they just could not find a way to turn that into goals consistently. That, combined with their complete ineptitude in shootouts points to their need for more skill. They've got plenty of hard working grinder types, but need more players who can put the puck in the net. If they can add some scoring help, and dump some of the older slower guys on defense I think they could battle for a wild card spot next year. Especially if Schneider plays like he did this year. It's almost criminal that he put up the numbers he did and only won 16 games in 43 starts. As for Marty, I think it's time for the Devils to move on. I love the guy to death, but he's just not a very good goalie anymore. His consistency is all over the map. He can be really good one game, and then let in some awful goals the next. You just never know which version of him you're going to get.

Yeah I think Clarktard's contract could end up being just as bad. I still love the guy, but he should have stayed in New Jersey.