Rangers Focus: CLEAN SLATE GRAB IT!

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Derek

One of the notable differences in this year’s training camp is the players approach. Under new coach Alain Vigneault, the Rangers are preaching a new motto. Ryan McDonagh was sporting a shirt with that message. CLEAN SLATE. GRAB IT!

Along with Vigneault openly discussing his goal of winning a Stanley Cup, the team will no longer have to watch their backs. John Tortorella ran a tight ship, not allowing his players to look ahead. Despite success, that couldn’t have been much fun. Already he’s fired shots at Twitter coaching Vancouver. At least the Rangers no longer have to concern themselves with the former coach’s antics.

It’s a chance to start over. With plenty of enthusiasm coming from team leaders, they’ve turned the page. Vigneault wants his players to focus on this year. For Brad Richards, he admitted to losing himself in a recent Daily News article from Pat Leonard.

“Was he talking about last year?” Vigneault said yesterday. “I told him not to.”

“I think with any player, and it’s probably important in Brad’s case, I’ve told  him to turn the page as much as he can, not answer questions about last year,  because it has no significance or importance to now,” Vigneault added. “I think  what he’s got to do is stay in the moment, be here.”

It’s that kind of positive thinking that should make it easier to prepare for 2013-14. Richards has the benefit of a full camp, which can help team chemistry. In the shortened season, the Rangers never really looked in sync. Key subtractions from the ’11-12 team that reached the Conference Final and the big addition of Rick Nash didn’t allow them much time to gel. For Richards, it’s a chance at redemption. Glad to be back, he’s looking forward to the new challenge.

“I think it’s going to be a little different style of hockey (under Vigneault),  which probably will help me,” Richards expressed. “I can’t predict the future. I’ve  played for different coaches and different styles throughout my career, and like  I said, I know I can play the game, so in the end it’s (up to) myself and  getting prepared. I think this staff and talking to Alain, it’s very positive.  He uses the clean slate thing, but especially for me, (to show) that all is  forgotten, and he’s excited to get back to work. I think he’s excited to help me get back on track, but in the end, it’s really all up to me.”

“I knew I was going to be playing hockey somewhere this year, so I just wanted  to get back to the level I wanted to play at. I wanted it to be  here. I’m happy I’m here – thrilled. I did not want to end my New York Ranger  tenure like that.

“So I’m grateful I’m still here and getting a chance to be part of this  organization,” he continued. “That’s what I wanted for a while … Hopefully this  is a (chance) to start new and fresh and get back on track.”

Richards, McDonagh and Henrik Lundqvist have all spoken up about it being a new chance for the team to put it together.

“He comes in with a different approach,” Lundqvist told Leonard in a piece that put the focus on the team and not his contract. “And the way they  (Vigneault and his staff) talk — it’s just different.”

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2013-2014 Buffalo Sabres: Clowns And Lies

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Sambone

Here we are again: Ready to embark on another season of Buffalo Sabres hockey, as training camps are opening.  And the web of deceit and false promises I am sure will follow.

There is a lesson to be learned from decades of being both a Buffalo Bills fan and a Buffalo Sabres fan: Don’t believe hardly anything you read about these franchises. Do not fall for the bait, as you will be burned over and over again.

Don’t believe me Sabres fans: Two words to start: Tyler Myers. Nothing more needs to be said about that.

Take Sabres Owner Terrence Pegula for example. He comes into town blazing, talking Stanley Cups, and gets myself and so many other Sabres fans brimming with excitement. Finally, Buffalo has an owner with the passion AND money to back it up. The possibilities were endless.

Fast forward to today, September 12th, 2013:  The same old General Manager Darcy Regier STILL has a job (I have never seen a GM live off two seasons like Darcy has in any sport), Head Coach Lindy Ruff was fired, the interim coach Ron Rolston was lifted of his interim tag. Coaches like John Tortorella could have been available if the Sabres went about this the right way, meaning allowing Lindy Ruff to finish the season, and then jettison both Ruff and Regier and start anew with an entirely new coach and GM.

What franchise do you know of claims to go through a total rebuild AND keeps the GM that forced the rebuild idea to come into mind based on his poor moves in the first place?

Mr. Pegula, please explain how this is a complete rebuild? I would love to hear the spin on this one.  Let me get my popcorn.

Rebuilding in the NHL is a long and arduous process. Prospects take years to develop, especially when you do not draft the elite prospects such as a Steven Stamkos, Evengi Malkin, Sidney Crosby, just to name a few.  If Regier thinks the Sabres have any prospects close to the caliber of the players I just mentioned, he better get new contacts or glasses, or better yet a stiff drink. And the league knows it. The league is noticing what a joke the Buffalo franchise has suddenly become. GM’s talk. Agents talk. Players talk. Pegula better take note of this, and quick.

Pegula has become loyal to a fault, almost becoming a nice Jerry Jones, without the championships. He is sticking his nose in the business where it does not belong. He can sit back and be the face of the franchise and allow better, more competent hockey people to run the organization. That is how a great owner puts his stamp on a franchise, and not by meddling in the on the ice product.

And now Thomas Vanek has appeared to make it known he wants out. Or maybe he did not. Who really knows, but can you blame him if he did? And then the Sabres announce ‘we will keep some of the salary’ if we do trade him. Way to kill your leverage, I am sure teams will line up to give Regier the best offer (maybe on NHL ’14, but not in the real world). What will the Sabres do with goaltender Ryan Miller? The rumor of trading Miller to Colorado for Paul Stastny is a comical one, as Paul is also on the last year of his contract and is very injury prone. He should fit right into Pegula’s three ring circus. Regardless, Miller has to go. His act has worn thin, and to me is a symbol of Regier and the “Status Quo” feeling that has resonated over this franchise for far too long.

Reading ‘As The Sabres Turn’ really makes you want to run out and buy that NHL Center Ice package? I will, once Regier is fired.

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Devils up-close: Analyzing the defense

Posted on September 12, 2013 by hasan4978

Jon Merrill, one of the many young defensemen hoping for a spot on the Devils (nj.com)

During the preseason most of the intrigue comes from what younger players will step up and earn roster spots with the big club.  For New Jersey, the lion’s share of this intrigue will come on defense given the fact GM Lou Lamoriello all but promised a young defenseman would make the team this year.  What’s interesting about that statement is the fact on paper the Devils’ defense already seems to be set after UFA’s Marek Zidlicky and Peter Harrold both re-upped with the team (Zidlicky for one year at $4 million per, Harrold for two years at $800k per).  Even after the giveaway trade of Henrik Tallinder to Buffalo in the offseason, the Devils still have seven capable defensemen on the roster who were part of a unit that allowed an NHL-low 23.1 shots per game last year.

If room is to be made for a young defenseman, it seems obvious it’ll come one of two ways barring some early camp injury.  Either Lou somehow finds a taker for Anton Volchenkov (another three years at $4.25 million per left on his deal) by hook or by crook – perhaps by eating up to 50% of the cap hit/salary, or by taking a path of lesser resistance and dealing UFA-to be Mark Fayne, who mysteriously fell out of favor last year after a strong 2011-12 campaign.  A former Providence college grad, Fayne found himself a frequent healthy scratch a year after being on the #1 defensive pairing of a Stanley Cup Finals team.  Fayne played just 31 of the team’s 48 games last year, registering six points with a +6 rating.  Despite a slightly off year, I’m sure some defensive-needy team (maybe Carolina although that’s complicated now by their moving to our new Metro division) would be willing to give something of value for a 26-year old d-man who’s only making $1.3 million this year if it came to it.  I doubt any of our other five defensemen will be moved, at least not out of camp.  Andy Greene is our best two-way d-man, Bryce Salvador is the captain, former #4 overall pick Adam Larsson is still a big part of the future at age 20 and you don’t generally move guys you just signed in the offseason before they play a game under their new deals (Zidlicky/Harrold).

If a young defenseman does make the team, who might it be?  Several candidates are in camp, ready to make an impression on the coaching staff.  Perhaps the most NHL-ready is Eric Gelinas, a 22-year old defenseman who spent the last two seasons in Albany, putting up 37 points (including sixteen goals) in 75 games for the baby Devils in ’11-12.  Last season was a down year for Gelinas though, as he put up just six goals and twenty-two points in 57 games.  Gelinas is a former 2nd-round pick (’09) who made his NHL debut late last year in an otherwise ho-hum game against the Penguins after the Devils had been eliminated from playoff contention.  Someone perhaps even more intriguing is Jon Merrill, a 2010 2nd-round pick who has the potential to be a nice two-way defenseman with an edge – but he dropped out of the first round due to off-ice issues.  After spending parts of three seasons at Michigan marred by one suspension and an injury that wiped out part of another season, Merrill finally made his pro debut last April, putting up eight points in twelve games for Albany.  Perhaps some refinement still needs to be done, as the Oklahoma City-born Merrill had a -8 in those twelve games as well.  Not to mention handling an 82-game schedule is going to be an adjustment considering his highest games played total was 42 two years ago as a freshman at Michigan.

Other candidates include a forgotten man who has the most NHL experience of the bunch – one time wunderkid Alexander Urbom.  After impressing coach Jacques Lemaire as an 18-year old in 2009-10 during camp and nearly making the team, Urbom did in fact make the 2010-11 Devils, but lasted just eight games.  He played five games in ’11-12 and one last year, spending most of his time in Albany.  Urbom has size going for him (6’5 and 215 pounds) but is more of a cerebral, stay-at-home player putting up just eight assists in 68 games last year.  Another hopeful for the roster is Damon Severson, who is a right-handed defenseman which gives him that edge over Gelinas, Merrill and Urbom.  After four years in the WHL, Severson had a breakout season in ’12-13 putting up 52 points and a +43 in 74 games for the Kelowna Rockets.  He also made his pro debut for Albany, playing a pair of games late last season but impressing in his brief time with two assists and a +2 rating.  Severson was a second-round pick in the 2012 draft and is just 19 so it’s asking a lot to think he’ll make the NHL over more seasoned candidates, but hey Scott Niedermayer and Scott Gomez were young turks not supposed to be ready for the big team either when they started out as teenagers.

Longshots for a spot on the roster include 2008 second-rounder Brandon Burlon and 2009 fourth-rounder Seth Hegleson.  Burlon played with Merrill for a time at Michigan (also staying in college three years), while Hegleson stayed a full four years at Minnesota.  Both seem to grade out as stay-at-home defensemen, but Hegleson at least has size going for him at 6’5, 215 while Burlon has more pro experience having played 53 games with Albany last year putting up a respectable 17 points and +9 – though with only a single goal.  Reece Scarlett is a longshot with seemingly some offensive skill based off of high point totals in the WHL (and he’s a righty) but is also smallish at 6’1 168 and is a 6th rounder with no pro experience.  Other defensemen in camp include Dan Kelly, Harry Young, Corbin McPherson and Raman Hrabarenka.  Most are in camp just to fill out the numbers and help give the regulars rest during preseason games and competition during scrimmages and practice.  However, all are in camp dreaming of stepping onto the ice in Newark in October.  We’ll see for whom (if anyone) that dream comes true this year.

Next I’ll go up-close looking at the team’s forwards in camp.

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The Buffalo Sabres: A puzzling franchise

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Derek
Is Cody Hodgson worth the gamble?

Is Cody Hodgson worth the gamble?

 

Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Sticking with the theme of the day, the Sabres signed Cody Hodgson to a six-year $25.5 million deal. Under the new terms, he’ll earn an average cap hit of $4.25 million per season. By locking up the 23-year old center, Buffalo has invested in a player they feel is a big part of the future.

Acquired from Vancouver for Zach Kassian on February 27, 2012, Hodgson registered 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 48 games with the Sabres in 2013. The 34 points placed second in team scoring trailing only Thomas Vanek. With Vanek expected to depart following the final year of his contract, Buffalo is committing to a youth movement. It’s still a risky strategy that could strip the team of being competitive for years. Number one goalie Ryan Miller is also playing the last year of his contract and could be jettisoned. Buffalo general manager Darcy Regier did well last deadline selling Jason Pominville high to Minnesota for goalie Matt Hackett, Johan Larsson, a 2013 first round pick (Nikita Zadorov) and a 2014 second round pick. If he can recoup similar assets for Vanek or Miller, Regier can speed up the Sabres’ rebuild. Buffalo prospects had a good tournament at Traverse City finishing second.

It’s interesting to note that Hodgson has totaled 77 points (35-42-77) over 139 games with Vancouver and Buffalo. He’s never posted more than 16 goals or 41 points. That came in 83 combined games between the Canucks and Sabres in ’11-12. While his point production increased, he’s far from a finished product. By comparison, Derek Stepan has nearly double totaling 140 points (56-84-140) in 212 contests over his first three seasons with the Rangers. He remains unsigned. Who would you rather have over the long haul? It’s a poll question above that also includes Devils center Adam Henrique ($4 million), the Leafs’ Nazem Kadri ($2.9 million) and Blues restricted free agent Alex Pietrangelo. Throw in Ryan McDonagh and Travis Hamonic and you got a pretty competitive poll.

The thing about the Sabres is they’ve operated like this in the past. It’s gotten them in trouble. They still owe Ville Leino $18 million over the next four seasons. Drew Stafford makes $4 million this year and next for being an inconsistent player. And what to make of former Calder winner Tyler Myers’ demise? Signed through 2018-19, he’s due $33 million over that span. His cap hit is $5.5 million. Unless Henrik Tallinder can work miracles, they’re stuck. As if that isn’t bad enough, Christian Ehrhoff is signed for another seven years at $28 million. At least the $4 million hit is getting some bang for its buck.

For better or worse, these are the Buffalo Sabres. The most puzzling franchise in the league. What exactly is the plan? I’ll leave the rest to resident Brian Sanborn. 😛

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Hedberg to tryout for Rangers

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Derek

Johan Hedberg, Travis Zajac, Alex Frolov

There’s a Moose alert. The Rangers have invited Johan Hedberg to tryout at training camp. Daily News Rangers beat writer Pat Leonard broke the story this afternoon on Twitter.

With backup Marty Biron tending to a personal matter, the ex-Devil goalie signed a PTO with the Blueshirts. The 40-year old Hedberg spent the past three seasons in Newark splitting time with Martin Brodeur. He put up respectable numbers the first two years before struggling in 2013. What makes the move odd is that Katie Strang later reported that Biron could be back by tomorrow. Unless the Rangers want an extra security blanket for Henrik Lundqvist in an Olympic year, it’s interesting.

When’s the last time a former Devil netminder wound up here? You have to go back to the Dark Ages when Glen Sather traded away Marek Zidlicky to Nashville for Mike Dunham. At the time, Mike Richter went down. Dunham performed admirably in ’02-03 but was a bust the following season. Since the Devils and Rangers never make trades, this is the closest the two Hudson rivals will ever get. At the very least, Hedberg gets one last shot.

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Unsigned Stepan casts shadow at start of Rangers camp

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Derek
Missing D-Step: On the first of day of camp, Derek Stepan remains unsigned.

Missing D-Step: On the first of day of camp, Derek Stepan remains unsigned.

They were back at it today. Rangers training camp officially opened at the practice facility in Greenburg. All the familiar faces showed up except one. Center Derek Stepan remains unsigned. A restricted free agent, the 23-year old former Wisconsin product is still seeking a new contract. He is coming off his best year pacing the club with 44 points and a plus-25 rating.

In many aspects, the former ’08 second round pick is proof that former coach John Tortorella succeeded in development. There is also Ryan McDonagh, who general manager Glen Sather prioritized. He rewarded the team’s best defenseman with a six year $28.2 million deal that pays him an average cap hit of $4.7 million. With the Rangers team president focusing on supplying new coach Alain Vigneault with more depth by adding the likes of Dominic Moore, Benoit Pouliot, Justin Falk and Aaron Johnson, it left little wiggle space for Stepan. Combined with the re-signings of Carl Hagelin and Mats Zucarello, Stepan was going to be a problem.

Here we are on September 11 and the two sides are no closer to reaching agreement. Stepan is holding out for a longer deal that would pay him more. Sather can only offer a bridge deal in the neighborhood of $2.3 million. Fair or unfair, Stepan has no leverage. Even if I think Slats is jerking him around, the only solution is for Stepan to take less. He can then earn a richer contract if he backs up last season’s performance. He took the next step becoming the team’s number one pivot. Without him, the Rangers can’t be taken seriously. Brad Richards and Derick Brassard are the only two proven commodities.  Having Stepan in camp benefits everyone. It allows the team to boast a strong 1-3 down the middle. Considering the lack of established scorers, they need that center strength.

Only Rick Nash is a proven finisher. There are question marks surrounding Hagelin and Ryan Callahan, who each are returning from offseason surgery to repair torn labrums. That puts more emphasis on young pups Chris Kreider and Danny Kristo to excel. Ranger brass will also be looking in closely at Oscar Lindberg, who impressed at Traverse City. If deemed ready, he could allow Sather to get rid of spare parts. Likely candidates are Darroll Powe, Arron Asham and Taylor Pyatt.

That would free up more room for Stepan. Regardless, something will happen the way it did in Toronto with Nazem Kadri. He wound up signing for two years, $5.8 million. Stepan is more proven than Kadri but it doesn’t matter. The Rangers can ill afford this to linger. Neither can Stepan. It’s too important a year. Especially with a new coach in place looking to implement a different system. Until this issue is resolved, it will continue to cast a shadow on 2013-14.

Once it’s settled, Sather then must turn his attention to Henrik Lundqvist. A potential monster headache. Like it or not, Lundqvist could command a max deal for Crosby money. It’s put up or shut up for everyone.

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Captain John Tavares

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Derek
New Islanders captain John Tavares poses for a photo with coach Jack Capuano and GM Garth Snow. nhl.com

New Islanders captain John Tavares poses for a photo with coach Jack Capuano and GM Garth Snow.
nhl.com

The Islanders have a new captain. In a move that had been expected, John Tavares was named captain at a Monday press conference. At 22, he becomes the 14th captain in franchise history.

In 2013, Tavares led the Islanders to their first postseason since ’07. His 28 goals and 47 points paced them along with nine power play goals and five game-winners. Facing the powerful Pens, Tavares and company pushed the East’s top seed before falling in six games. He tallied three goals and two assists totaling five points in the first round. Following the season, he finished third for the Hart Trophy, which was awarded to Alex Ovechkin. Sidney Crosby finished second.

After Mark Streit departed inking a deal with the Flyers, Tavares was in line for team captaincy. Being the headliner as the Islanders prepare for 2013-14, he’ll be asked to assume the mantle. A move he welcomes with open arms.

“It’s obviously one heck of an honor to be named captain of the New York Islanders, to have the respect of your teammates, the organization, our great fans and everyone involved with the club,” an excited Tavares told a group of reporters. “There have been so many great past captains and obviously the last two have meant a lot to me. Hopefully I can carry the team in a way they did and learn from the great friendships that I have with them.”

“He’s a top player in the league, but he has a grinder’s mentality when it comes to work ethic and practicing the right way,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. “He’s a great leader and deserves to be the 14th captain in Islanders history.”

As the Islanders enter the next chapter, they have a solid core in place. Tavares will be asked to lead a group that includes Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen, Michael Grabner, Matt Martin, Travis Hamonic, Andrew MacDonald and Evgeni Nabokov. Can they do it over 82 in a competitive Metro Division?

“I don’t think being named captain is going to change a whole lot, but it’s a great honor,” Tavares added. “We certainly have the opportunity to build on last season’s strong performance. It’s up to us to prove ourselves and it’s not going to get any easier for us this year. What we’ve accomplished so far doesn’t mean anything unless we can take advantage of what’s ahead of us.”

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Metro Preview: Carolina Hurricanes

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Derek
Eric Staal leads the Hurricanes into a competitive Metro.

Eric Staal leads the Hurricanes into a competitive Metro.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

2013 Record: 19-25-4  42 Points

East Rank: 13th

OUTLOOK: No longer in the Southeast, the Hurricanes step up in competition entering a loaded Metro Division. Along with Washington, they join a strong eight team pack that includes the Penguins, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Flyers and newly realigned Blue Jackets. It promises to be a big challenge for Kirk Muller in his first full 82-game season. They still have established stars in Eric Staal and Cam Ward but can a team which struggled compete in a deep Metro?

FORWARDS: Boasting a talented core featuring Staal, younger brother Jordan, Jeff Skinner and Alex Semin, offense shouldn’t be an issue. Jiri Tlusty is coming off a big year that saw him pace the Canes in goals (23) and plus/minus (15).  If Tuomo Ruutu returns healthy, that’s a solid top six. They’ll need better seasons from Jordan Staal and Skinner, who went a combined minus-39. The bottom six is more debatable with spots open after Riley Nash and Patrick Dwyer. Rookies Elias Lindholm and Sergey Tolchinsky are in camp competing against the likes of ex-Sabre Nathan Gerbe, Brett Sutter, Drayson Bowman, Zac Dalpe and Kevin Westgarth. If the injury ninja strikes, someone will have to step up.

DEFENSEMEN: Defense remains a sore spot. Especially with anchor Joni Pitkanen questionable for the season start. Jim Rutherford went out and traded Jamie McBain for vet Andrej Sekera in hopes of shoring up the blueline. He also took a flyer on Mike Komisarek. By subtracting McBain, it looks like they’re giving Ryan Murphy every opportunity to stick. Only 20, he has unlimited offensive potential. It all depends if the rest of his game matures. Justin Faulk enters his third year. He’ll prove crucial to their success. The Canes know what they’ll get from Tim Gleason and Jay Harrison. Other candidates for the back end include Brett Bellemore and Michal Jordan. If only the latter could fly. Not much in terms of depth here.

GOALIES: Goalie remains about one player. Cam Ward. As he goes, so do the Canes. Now 29, the former Conn Smythe winner is the last line of defense. He doesn’t benefit from a great D like other netminders, which makes him more susceptible to injuries. He missed the last 27 games due to an MCL sprain. At last check, he was ahead of schedule. By bringing in Anton Khudobin, at least they have insurance. It’s a lot different being a starter. Justin Peters tries to bounce back.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Hurricanes ranked 27th on the power play clicking at 14.6 percent. Only Columbus, Buffalo and Winnipeg were worse. Skinner led them with five power play goals. Semin and Tlusty each had four and Eric Staal had three. Definitely an area that must improve. The penalty kill was even worse finishing 28th (77.6 percent). Lottery teams Nashville and Florida were the league’s worst. If you’re special teams are crappy, you have no chance. The Canes scored three shorthanded goals with Staal, Faulk and Dwyer sharing the club lead.

COACHING: Kirk Muller has his work cut out in Year 3. An even more challenging task inside an ultra competitive division, that doesn’t even include the addition of Detroit to the East. A double whammy for the rest of a crowded conference that has 16 teams vying for the top eight. How he handles the kids will prove crucial to the Canes’ future.

ANALYSIS: Assuming Lindholm or Tolchinsky makes it, the Canes will be entertaining. If you enjoy skating and odd-man rushes, watch Carolina. With no timetable on Ward and faced with too many question marks, they’re at least a year away.

PREDICTION: 8th (Metro Division)

Posted in NHL Preview | 2 Comments

Traverse City: Lindberg records hat trick

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Derek

Traverse City

After a year without a tournament, Traverse City is back. Once again, the Rangers and Sabres are among eight teams whose prospects are competing in the Tournament. Broken down into two divisions, the Rangers, Sabres, Hurricanes and Blue Jackets compete in the Ted Lindsay playing each other once. The Gordie Howe Division is made up of Detroit, St. Louis, Dallas and Minnesota. The two first place winners face off in the championship September 9. Wherever you finish, that’s who you play.

Right now, the Rangers are 0-2. They dropped their first game Thursday to the Hurricanes 4-3 and lost to the Sabres 6-5 in overtime Friday. The Rangers posted highlights of the loss to Buffalo. Oscar Lindberg recorded a hat trick in defeat. Danny Kristo scored once and had a nice set up for a sweet Lindberg finish. In the first game, Kristo had eight shots. He makes things happen. The line to watch has been Lindberg, Kristo and Jesper Fast. A crop of young forwards who will have an opportunity in camp. Don’t forget no Carl Hagelin or Ryan Callahan to start the year.

Buffalo built a 5-2 lead. Nicholas Baptiste notched his second and Eric Locke followed up 22 seconds later. Nikita Zadorov and Logan Nelson scored earlier to put them in front 3-1. They put together some nice plays taking advantage of shaky D. The Rangers came all the way back when Josh Graves scored on a breakaway, going to the backhand.

In between the goal parade, there were a pair of fights including Payton Leroux mixing it up for a second straight game. In overtime, the Sabres were victorious thanks to Zadorov’s second. His left point blast went through traffic sneaking past Jeff Malcolm for the winner with 23 seconds left. The play was set up by some hard work behind the net, allowing Buffalo to keep the puck in.

Buffalo also posted a 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets. They’ll take their 2-0 record and take on Carolina at 3:30 EST today. The Rangers look to avoid going 0-3 when they face Columbus at 6:30 EST.

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Jersey’s Team camp outlook

Posted on September 7, 2013 by hasan4978

Lou Lamoriello (the Devils’ Godfather) – from nj.com

With Labor Day weekend having come and gone, along with fantasy football drafts and most of the baseball season, hockey finally seems just around the corner…and it actually is just around the corner.  In fact, the Devils’ first preseason game is next Monday as camps open all around the league this week.  New Jersey’s first regular season game is just 26 days away – in Pittsburgh on October 3.  In many ways it’s truly been a long wait considering the Devils’ season ended more than four months ago but in other ways it barely feels like the season ended with all of the twists and turns throughout the offseason.

Whether it was the surprise draft-day trade for goaltender Cory Schnieder (during a draft held in the Devils’ home arena), the free agent signings of Jaromir Jagr, Ryane Clowe and Michael Ryder or the shock departure of Ilya Kovalchuk to the KHL, the Devils’ offseason certainly didn’t lack for drama.  And oh yes, the team was sold – which in many ways was probably the most important occurence for this organization going forward.  Although it’s hard to say how much the finances of owner Jeff Vanderbeek compromised operations the last two years, it certainly feels like a cloud’s been lifted.  Even GM Lou Lamoriello, who usually plays his cards close to the vest said as much:

“It’s been a long few years here,” Lamoriello admitted. “There has been a wall up. What you can and can’t do really isn’t something that you talk about because there is no good that comes out of it. I don’t look back and I don’t look for excuses. Right now I think it’s a very positive situation going forward.”

Certainly, there has been spending this offseason even while the ownership change was still in the works.  Ironically despite shedding Kovalchuk’s enormous salary, the Devils are barely under the $64.3 million cap after re-signing RFA Adam Henrique to a 6 year, $24 million contract a couple of weeks ago.  CapGeek has us at $63.7 million with 15 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies under contract.  At least one forward will have to be shed before the season starts with a 23-man roster limit, which will be one camp story since fourteen of those forwards are on one-way contracts.  Among those on the bubble are former first-round pick Mattias Tedenby, quasi-enforcer Krys Barch and perhaps even Stephen Gionta, who is the only forward on a two-way deal though if we did try to send him down he’d likely be claimed by someone.

Not that merely seeing who makes the team is the only intrigue when it comes to roster composition.  Only twelve of fourteen (assuming we keep fourteen) forwards can play on a given night and the three forwards mentioned above plus former first-round pick Jacob Josefson, new signing Rostislav Olesz and former reclamation project Andrei Loiktionov will be all fighting for icetime as well.  While it’s likely the latter three make the roster for various reasons, they aren’t assured of an active role in a deep lineup where only the top seven forwards plus back-line dynamos Ryan Carter and Steve Bernier seem assured of lineup spots.

Having that kind of depth excites the GM, who also came close to another admission about the Kovalchuk era:

 “I don’t ever look at anything as far as what people think or don’t think. I like our hockey team,” the GM said. “We’ve always built our team from the goaltender out. I like our goaltending situation. Our defense is mature, stable and yet has some outstanding young players that could push for jobs.

“Our forward lines are going to be back to where we were several years ago. It’s going to be a solid lineup. I’ve seen the words ‘interchangeable parts.’ I love those words.”

It’s ironic that Lou refers to the lineup as interchangeable parts, because one-time Ranger coach Colin Campbell was widely pillored for using the tag ‘interchangeable flock’ of forwards when describing the Devils of the late ’90’s.  Instead of taking that as an insult, the organization has worn it as a badge of honor.  If you read between the lines of having our forward lines be what they were several years ago, Lou’s also saying having our forward lines be without a guy that plays 26 minutes a game and runs the entire power play.

Part of me cringes at that quote though…yes, you do need depth, but when crunchtime comes (especially post-lockout) you still need a player or two that can carry the load offensively and demand attention from other teams.  When first-place Devil teams failed in the playoffs during the late ’90’s, it was because Bobby Holik was our first-line center.  After the A-line came into being and the Devils traded for Alexander Mogilny, they won a Cup in 2000 and got to Game 7 in 2001.  Ironically the last team that won the Cup without a dominant forward was the 2003 Devils.  However, that team had two HOF defensemen and a HOF goalie in his prime – not to mention a should-be HOF coach.  This year’s version has none of that, although Martin Brodeur‘s still around and Cory Schnieder has been described as a ‘top five’ goalie by Lou himself.

You can’t quantify the chip on the shoulder this team will have going into this year though, both because they missed the playoffs a year after making a surprise run to the Finals – and because they have something to prove collectively after top forwards Kovalchuk and Zach Parise left in back-to-back offseasons with most ‘experts’ counting us out.  The Hockey News goes so far as to predict us last in an eight-team division.  While the GM says he doesn’t care about such things, coach Pete DeBoer admitted last season is a motivation:

“We’ve got something to prove. … We have to prove that we’re the team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals less than two years ago and not the team that didn’t make the playoffs last year.”

Certainly on an individual basis, players like Henrique and Travis Zajac will be motivated to prove their off years in the lockout-shortened 2013 were just that.  Jagr and Brodeur – two of the three oldest players in the league – want to show they have plenty of good hockey left in them, while fellow goalie Schnieder is out to prove he should be the man in Jersey.  New acquisitions Ryder, Clowe and Olesz (along with Jagr) want to help a forward core still reeling from the losses of Kovalchuk, Parise and David Clarkson over the last fifteen months, while our veteran defensive core wants to hold off a bunch of up-and-comers looking to take their spots.

All of that intrigue should make the Devils a compelling watch over the next several months, if nothing else.

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