The Record
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:52 pm
The Devils are a different team than the regular defensive minded shell around Brodeur that they used to be. With New managment, new GM Rob Gray, comes a new regime and change. Nobody could conceive Brodeur being dealt, but this team was at a crossroads either compete with everything it has or take some needed time to build up some depth. Well this team took a "Youth Movement" as GM Gray put it, moving Brodeur for a highly skilled winger in Lascek, a solid goalie prospect in Helenius aswell as a solid tandem goalie in smith and defensive specialist prospect Vladimir Mihalek who the the team is really high on and a 1sr rounder from Tampa. Others among the new faces are Devan Dubnyk, Colborne, O'Sullivan, and Staios while losing Elias, Langenbrunner, Shanahan and Vishnevski.
This season so far has been marred by inconsistancy going 4-1 to start with rookie netminder Davan Dubnyk between the pipes. The team followed this up with a 3-7 record with Mike Smith getting a some less then impressive ice time. One of the few bright spots this season for the Devils has been their play on special teams, the powerplay has been one of the only consistant outlets for offense and the PK has preformed adequately. Rookie forward Nicklas Bergfors has also shown top 6 potential already this season putting up 5g 5a, good for 2nd in rookie scoring behind Tavares 6g 7a, while on the 2nd line with Zubrus and O'Sullivan who both have preformed well.
It is definetly more about winning and challenging in the future and consistantly having a playoff team at the time being for the Devils. The depth looks good on the offensive side to with Zajac, Colborne down the middle on the top 6 and a mash of skilled wingers like Parise, Tedenby, Vasyunov, Bergfors, Lascek and O'Sullivan. Dubnyk is the supposed goalie of the Devil's future with Smith or Helenius left to play 2nd fiddle, only time will tell who lasts in Brodeur's huge shadow though. The future of the defense is the only thing in question at the moment as GM Gray put it "It needs some work" while Martin and O'duya have showed lasting power on the current blueline, the team will be looking hard through the draft for quality dmen but would also like to move a DFD to bring in a little more offensive minded D in the short term this season.
This season so far has been marred by inconsistancy going 4-1 to start with rookie netminder Davan Dubnyk between the pipes. The team followed this up with a 3-7 record with Mike Smith getting a some less then impressive ice time. One of the few bright spots this season for the Devils has been their play on special teams, the powerplay has been one of the only consistant outlets for offense and the PK has preformed adequately. Rookie forward Nicklas Bergfors has also shown top 6 potential already this season putting up 5g 5a, good for 2nd in rookie scoring behind Tavares 6g 7a, while on the 2nd line with Zubrus and O'Sullivan who both have preformed well.
It is definetly more about winning and challenging in the future and consistantly having a playoff team at the time being for the Devils. The depth looks good on the offensive side to with Zajac, Colborne down the middle on the top 6 and a mash of skilled wingers like Parise, Tedenby, Vasyunov, Bergfors, Lascek and O'Sullivan. Dubnyk is the supposed goalie of the Devil's future with Smith or Helenius left to play 2nd fiddle, only time will tell who lasts in Brodeur's huge shadow though. The future of the defense is the only thing in question at the moment as GM Gray put it "It needs some work" while Martin and O'duya have showed lasting power on the current blueline, the team will be looking hard through the draft for quality dmen but would also like to move a DFD to bring in a little more offensive minded D in the short term this season.