MadDevil

I think Lou wanted to keep Kovy, but I don't think he would have gone to the lengths he did if ownership hadn't pressured him. Lou has publicly said he doesn't like those kind of contracts, but if ownership tells you to get a guy signed, you get a guy signed. But, in true Loophole Lou fashion, he managed to get that contract off the books for a cap recapture penalty of only $250,000 a year, and they get to keep their first rounder this year (even if it is #30 overall).

Well, it almost worked for one year. If Kovy didn't mess up his back in 2012 they might have beaten the Kings. Hell, if they would have just won either of those first two OT games at home they might have won that series. But they didn't, and it's been a nightmare ever since. If you want to add to that list, I think Kovy's contract played a part in Parise leaving. Granted, the Wild gave him a ridiculous contract, but if Kovy wasn't there, I think he might have stayed. It couldn't have sat well with him that they went out and got Kovy, then bent over backwards to keep him. And while Parise did say Lou gave him a competitive offer, I really don't know how they could have afforded to have both him and Kovy on huge contracts. Definitely not one of Lou's better moments.

We have rich owners who are willing to spend. I don't think that will be an issue going forward. Previous ownership on the other hand... Losing Kovalchuk hurts on the ice, but I don't miss that contract at all. It's far better for the organization long term that he "retired" when he did.

I said Brunner or Ryder earlier in this thread. I now change that to just Ryder, who has 1 goal in his last 32 games. The guy is utterly useless when not scoring. He's slow, soft, and worthless defensively.

I would love to get Stastny on the Devils to take some of the pressure off Zajac, and improve our depth up the middle, which is sorely lacking. Moulson would also be a great fit. Unfortunately I think they'll get better offers from teams closer to contending.

I would also say the Devils, but I'm obviously biased there.

I believe you're missing a team in that Eastern race. Somehow the Devils are 1 point back of the Jackets for the last spot as of now. They do have some seemingly easier opponents left with Calgary, Ottawa, the Islanders, and Boston. But given that they've lost to what are basically the Sabres and Islanders AHL teams recently, nothing is easy. I still think it's a long shot, given the way they've played most of the season, but they're still alive. If only they didn't completely suck at shootouts this year...

I don't know if I really have a second favorite team. Usually once the Devils are done I cheer for certain players I like, or go for the best story. And of course cheer for whoever is playing against the Rangers, Flyers, or Pens.

I'm not really surprised by it (he did have similar production back in 2009-10), but I didn't expect it this season. Over the last few years he's been more of a shutdown guy, but this year he (and the defense as a whole) has gotten more involved offensively. Without the production he, Zidlicky, and Gelinas have had this year, the Devils probably aren't even within sniffing distance of the playoffs.

He's been healthy for a while now, but they've kept him in the Albany, where's he played pretty well (19 points in 30 games). The Devils have a logjam on defense and are favoring the veterans over the kids (except Merrill) right now. Larsson was playing the best hockey I've seen from him so far when he was paired with Gelinas before he got injured. Personally I think the Devils rushed Larsson to begin with. He probably should have started out in the AHL, but because of the pitiful state of their blueline at the time they started him with the big team. I think they're trying to make up for it now by leaving him down in the minors.

So Avery is pissed they tried to paint him as the "bad boy" of the show? Isn't his reputation as having been the "bad boy" of the NHL the entire reason he was on the show to begin with?

I do like his speed and his hands, but there are times I wonder what the hell he's thinking. They've tried him on the point on the PP recently and he's turned the puck over at least a couple times leading to odd man rushes. Both he and Ryder are great complimentary pieces, but on a team that doesn't have many goal scorers, it really hurts when they go into the cold streaks they've gone on. Which is part of why they haven't gained or lost ground seemingly all season. They haven't won three games in a row since November. But they haven't had any prolonged losing streaks either. They've just been stuck in neutral.

For the Devils I'd say it's either Michael Ryder or Damien Brunner. Ryder was okay the first half of the season, but has 1 goal in his last 26 games. And Brunner hasn't been much better, with 11 goals in 50 games. It wouldn't be so bad if they were good in other ways, but if they're not scoring they're completely useless.

After the game tonight I hate how the Devils can't hold on to a lead. Up 3-1 on the Florida freaking Panthers, and they end to losing in regulation. I think that's the third or fourth time in the last couple years they've done that against Florida. I also can't stand our broadcasting crew. Cangiolosi is terrible at play-by-play, Chico rambles half the game about nothing, and Deb asks the dumbest questions. They might be the worst TV crew outside of those two morons in Pittsburgh.

I think it has more to do with the league doing a favor for the new owners. They were willing to take on the debt the Devils had, so Gary turned around and did them a solid by reducing the penalty levied against them under the previous owner (who was the main reason they gave Kovy that contract to begin with).

Several teams got away with similarly structured contracts at the time. The initial Kovalchuk contract just pushed it to a point where the league had to put their foot down, and the Devils were made an example of. I'm surprised the league reduced the penalty, but considering it's Lou, I probably shouldn't be. He's a sneaky old bastard.