Shanahan officially signs with devils

[Killah_punk]

It's official: the New Jersey Devils have made room for the return of unrestricted free agent Brendan Shanahan, signing the veteran on Wednesday.

Shanahan signed an $800,000 dollar contract, meaning he will receive about half of that for playing half of the NHL season. With the move, Shanahan rejoins the club that drafted him in 1987.

Shanahan spent the previous two seasons with the New York Rangers but was not offered a contract to remain with the club.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=2631...=topStory_main

[Cat Smasher]

Good, hope it's not late. If Rolly could get back to form, and with Shanny now, that vet leadership and what he brings to the ice if he still has it will for sure help those young guns.

[Ciccarelli]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

Good, hope it's not late. If Rolly could get back to form, and with Shanny now, that vet leadership and what he brings to the ice if he still has it will for sure help those young guns.

Unfortunally the Devils don't really have that many young guns in the line-up. But maybe he can help Clarkson to develop into more then just a fighter and grinder.

[Janssen25]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

Unfortunally the Devils don't really have that many young guns in the line-up. But maybe he can help Clarkson to develop into more then just a fighter and grinder.

They do have Zajac, Clarkson and Parise who could all benefit from having a guy like Shanahan around.

I'm not sure if you've gotten a chance to see Clarkson that much this year but he is developing into a solid player. He's on pace to be in the 15-20 goal/35-40 point range, obviously plays a very physical game, forechecks extremely well, and has a nack for getting the puck to the net. He's really improved dramatically this year. But you're right, having Shanahan around should definitely help in his development.

Not to mention Clarkson went to Shanahan's hockey school when he was younger in Canada.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Janssen25

They do have Zajac, Clarkson and Parise who could all benefit from having a guy like Shanahan around.

I'm not sure if you've gotten a chance to see Clarkson that much this year but he is developing into a solid player. He's on pace to be in the 15-20 goal/35-40 point range, obviously plays a very physical game, forechecks extremely well, and has a nack for getting the puck to the net. He's really improved dramatically this year. But you're right, having Shanahan around should definitely help in his development.

Not to mention Clarkson went to Shanahan's hockey school when he was younger in Canada.

I think that's the main reason to bring Shanny in is to help develop the young talent , he just may be the head of player development down the road ....

[Janssen25]

Originally Posted by fansince65

I think that's the main reason to bring Shanny in is to help develop the young talent , he just may be the head of player development down the road ....

Thats definitely a reason but the primary reason for signing him, which Lou has publicy stated, is to improve the power play first and foremost. However, he also stated that they didn't bring him in just to be a PP specialist but to be a full-time player.

[Janssen25]

Shanahan has joined the Devils in Columbus on the road trip to practice but there is no word when his actual 1st game will be.

[Ciccarelli]

Originally Posted by Janssen25

They do have Zajac, Clarkson and Parise who could all benefit from having a guy like Shanahan around.

I'm not sure if you've gotten a chance to see Clarkson that much this year but he is developing into a solid player. He's on pace to be in the 15-20 goal/35-40 point range, obviously plays a very physical game, forechecks extremely well, and has a nack for getting the puck to the net. He's really improved dramatically this year. But you're right, having Shanahan around should definitely help in his development.

Not to mention Clarkson went to Shanahan's hockey school when he was younger in Canada.

No I didn't see him playing much, but as I said, I always expected him to be somehow at least a guy like Randy McKay was, scoring 20 goals and 40-50 points. Shanahan will help him to learn when to concentrate on scoring and when to concentrate on being the fighter/grinder he is.

Other then that, you named 3 young guys, compared to most teams right now NJ really is an old veteran team, so there isn't much youth or young guys around that could learn from Shanahan.
I think especially Zajac has to learn a lot, Parise looks pretty fine. But overall I don't like the Devils this season, bringing back Rolston and Holik wasn't a great idea in my eyes. They should have tried to get some younger guys.

[Juha82]

Go go Shanny!!

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

No I didn't see him playing much, but as I said, I always expected him to be somehow at least a guy like Randy McKay was, scoring 20 goals and 40-50 points. Shanahan will help him to learn when to concentrate on scoring and when to concentrate on being the fighter/grinder he is.

Other then that, you named 3 young guys, compared to most teams right now NJ really is an old veteran team, so there isn't much youth or young guys around that could learn from Shanahan.
I think especially Zajac has to learn a lot, Parise looks pretty fine. But overall I don't like the Devils this season, bringing back Rolston and Holik wasn't a great idea in my eyes. They should have tried to get some younger guys.

I wouldn't necessarily call the Devils an "old" veteran team. The average age of their skaters is 28.5.

Signing Holik and Rolston were the right moves for what they needed. What free agents were out there that were younger and could bring what Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik bring to the Devils?

[DUSTER76]

Dont see why the Dev's wanted Shanny . If anything , they have leadership.
A team like the kings or Leafs could use him more.
With that said, I hope Shanny kicks some a$$!

[Janssen25]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

No I didn't see him playing much, but as I said, I always expected him to be somehow at least a guy like Randy McKay was, scoring 20 goals and 40-50 points. Shanahan will help him to learn when to concentrate on scoring and when to concentrate on being the fighter/grinder he is.

Other then that, you named 3 young guys, compared to most teams right now NJ really is an old veteran team, so there isn't much youth or young guys around that could learn from Shanahan.
I think especially Zajac has to learn a lot, Parise looks pretty fine. But overall I don't like the Devils this season, bringing back Rolston and Holik wasn't a great idea in my eyes. They should have tried to get some younger guys.

I definitely agree about Clarkson. This is 2nd year in the league you have to remember so I really think he should develop into a 20 goal 40 point guy.

Rolston was one of the top free agents this off season and signed with the Devils for less money than other teams offered. The Devils were terrible last year on the PP and needed help which he has. He was injured early in the year and hasn't been himself until late and no he's finding the net.

Holik has had a solid year so far. Not sure what 4th line Centers are better than him in the NHL, if there are any.

You are right however that Parise is doing just fine (on pace to score 50 goals) and Zajac is still developing but has improved drastically since last year.

The bottom line that everyone has to realize is that Shanahan hasn't been brought in to just be some old-timer to help out a few young guys. The guy is still fully capable of contributing a lot, specifically on the PP (which lou Lamoriello specifically said was the reason for signing him) which he proved he still can do last year until he was injured. He's not coming in to be some savior.

I can't really complain when the Devils 3rd and 4th lines will most likely be:

Shanahan-Madden-Rolston
Rupp-Holik-Clarkson

[Glovdropov]

I hope I'm wrong but..........YAWN!!!!!!!!

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by Glovdropov

I hope I'm wrong but..........YAWN!!!!!!!!

Nope, your not. ZZZZzzzzz

[Ciccarelli]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

I wouldn't necessarily call the Devils an "old" veteran team. The average age of their skaters is 28.5.

Signing Holik and Rolston were the right moves for what they needed. What free agents were out there that were younger and could bring what Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik bring to the Devils?

Well their age-average up-front is what?
old.
If I'm not wrong Holik is 37 years old, Shanahan is 39, Pandolfo is 36, Madden is 35, Rolston is 35 too, Elias one of the younger guys is turning 33 already, so basically in 1-2 seasons this guys could be retired.
Besides Gionta, Parise, Zajac and Clarkson they have no players that are under 30 years old in their line-up now and it doesn't look like they have a lot of prospects coming up soon.
I'm not critizizing their signings this off-season, I'm just thinking that they will get problems soon if they continue to sign veterans instead of trying to get younger in a hurry. Especially if you add the fact that also Martin Brodeur is turning 37 this year.