New Jersey Devils Official 2011-2012 Thread

[NJDevils17]

Eh, might as well get this going just before free agency starts.

I'm very excited about Adam Larsson. Everyone seems to think he's the real deal and he should certainly be a huge help for our blue line. Will he go right to the big club or do you think Lou will make him play in Albany for a bit?

Hopefully Parise gets re-signed soon (and Moose too!). Should be an interesting few days during free agency.

Oh yeah, we need a freakin' coach too!

[NJDevils17]

2011-2012 New Jersey Devils Season Schedule

I have no idea how many games I'll be going to this season, but there's a 95% chance of me going to that December 20th game against the Rangers. I'll probably go to the game against Columbus the day before Thanksgiving too.

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

Eh, might as well get this going just before free agency starts.

I'm very excited about Adam Larsson. Everyone seems to think he's the real deal and he should certainly be a huge help for our blue line. Will he go right to the big club or do you think Lou will make him play in Albany for a bit?

Hopefully Parise gets re-signed soon (and Moose too!). Should be an interesting few days during free agency.

Oh yeah, we need a freakin' coach too!

I don't think it would hurt Larsson to play in Albany. Get used to the rinks and to the style of game, just like Urbom. He likely won't be rushed. I'd really like for them to sign him and have him in training camp this year, but we'll see.

Also, the Devils qualified all their RFAs except Salmela. Lou didn't rule out re-signing him, but I think they felt a 10% raise was a bit much for him. Can't say I disagree.

[Janssen25]

As far as Parise goes, I won't be surprised if they go to arbitration and Parise signs a 1-year deal. He's coming off knee surgery which can be tricky. Lou may want to see how he does this year and then hammer out a long term deal before free agency next year.

I just hope his knee is 100%, he stays healthy and is a Devil for life. He's so valuable and finding a guy who plays 2-way hockey, forechecks like a maniac and can score as much as he does is so rare.

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by Janssen25

As far as Parise goes, I won't be surprised if they go to arbitration and Parise signs a 1-year deal. He's coming off knee surgery which can be tricky. Lou may want to see how he does this year and then hammer out a long term deal before free agency next year.

I just hope his knee is 100%, he stays healthy and is a Devil for life. He's so valuable and finding a guy who plays 2-way hockey, forechecks like a maniac and can score as much as he does is so rare.

I think it'll end up like Zajac and Fraser. They'll get a deal done before the hearing. This really is more so some stupid GM *cough burke cough sather cough* don't try and offer sheet him.

[Janssen25]

Originally Posted by PuckHogs29

I think it'll end up like Zajac and Fraser. They'll get a deal done before the hearing. This really is more so some stupid GM *cough burke cough sather cough* don't try and offer sheet him.

Yeah, it was pretty obvious they were going to file for arbitration as a formality to avoid the offer sheets. If this thing does go to arbitration the Devils are likely going to have to pay him 7+ mil at a minimum. Arbitrators seem to always to give high numbers in favor of the players.

I'm wondering what it will take to get Parise to sign long term. Does a deal say 7 years $45 mil do it? That's around $6.5 a year. Parise seems to be willing to take a hometown discount as he's said numerous times hed like to be a devil for life and loves living in the area.

I hope the Devils and Parise figure out a way to bang out a fair long term deal and just be done with it. I really don't want to worry about Parise possibly wanting to test the market as a UFA next year.

[NJD Oliwa]

might have something to do with not knowing the cap for next year yet, and not having too much room under it for him long term right now.

Rolston will be off the books after this season also White unless he is resigned. That will free up some room to give parise a long term deal.

Hoping to make it to a bunch of games this year, as a new job will give me weekends off every now and then.

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by NJD Oliwa

might have something to do with not knowing the cap for next year yet, and not having too much room under it for him long term right now.

Rolston will be off the books after this season also White unless he is resigned. That will free up some room to give parise a long term deal.

Hoping to make it to a bunch of games this year, as a new job will give me weekends off every now and then.

Next year's cap number came out last week. 64.3 million for next year. It's just how they go when negotiating with guys.

I'm hoping they'll hammer out something good. Parise is easily a deal at a 6 or 6.5 million per year cap hit. That would make me monumentally happy to see two of the best wingers in the game on this team for the rest of their careers.

[Janssen25]

Originally Posted by NJD Oliwa

might have something to do with not knowing the cap for next year yet, and not having too much room under it for him long term right now.

Rolston will be off the books after this season also White unless he is resigned. That will free up some room to give parise a long term deal.

Hoping to make it to a bunch of games this year, as a new job will give me weekends off every now and then.

Originally Posted by PuckHogs29

Next year's cap number came out last week. 64.3 million for next year. It's just how they go when negotiating with guys.

I'm hoping they'll hammer out something good. Parise is easily a deal at a 6 or 6.5 million per year cap hit. That would make me monumentally happy to see two of the best wingers in the game on this team for the rest of their careers.

The Devils do have the room especially with the inflated cap to sign Parise long-term. I agree that if they can get him long term for under $7 a year, I will also be extremely happy.

Rolston, White and Salvador are coming off the books after next year although I could see them re-signing White as a discount.

We may as well bring up the elephant in the room which is whether or not this is Brodeur's last year. I highly doubt it. I guess it all depends on how this year goes but I cant see him retiring already. He will turn 40 this year but I can't see this being it. That could also be me wanting to jump off my balcony thinking about Marty retiring though.

At a benefit Lou wa asked how he would handle Marty's imminent retirement, he jokingly responded, "Suicide."

[PuckHogs29]

I think Salvador may very well be off the books, or at least on LTIR, this year. I don't see him sticking when he's redundant and there are much cheaper options.

I don't know what will happen with Brodeur beyond this year. I'm not really worried though, post lockout it's been proven time and again that you do not need an all world goalie anymore to win the Stanley Cup. Whether Marty decides to go year to year with 1 year contracts, which is all he should do at that age or decides to retire we'll be fine at the position whether we need to sign someone capable via free agency, trade for someone or wait for a prospect to be ready.

Personally it'll be a lot harder to see Marty finally hang them up than it will be for the team going forward.

[Janssen25]

There really isn't a need for Salvador at this point especially at his $3 mil cap hit. I like the grit and toughness Salvador brings but after these concussion issues there's a chance he would just be a shell of his former self.

With Volchenkov, White, Tallinder, Fayne, Greene (most likely), and guys like Urbom, Taormina and Larsson as possibles to make the big club there really isn't room for Salvador.

I get what your saying about not hitting the panic button when Brodeur retires but for me he's gonna be a huge loss. Having a guy between the pipes who you don't even have to think about for 18 seasons has been such a luxury. The guys a proven winner, leader and has been loyal to the Devils. That being said, the Devils will move on when he decides to hang em up. They have plenty of goaltending prospects in the system now and will have the space to sign someone if needed. It'll definitely be an adjustment though not having Brodeur and the presence he brings between the pipes night in and night out.

[PuckHogs29]

I wanna know the financials of Andy Greene's deal before I get excited, I'm a little leery about the 4 years, but at the same time Salvador is about done, White is a UFA next year and with the young players coming in Greene may be a veteran anchor along with Tallinder and Volchenkov on D. But let's see what his cap hit is.

Also, Moose is back. Hell yeah.

[Janssen25]

$3 mil a year.

[knucksup]

Lou's gonna hand Salvador a big sack of unmarked bills during training camp and tell him to lay low? Shame too cause he's one of the few chuckers we got. God we're soft

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by knucksup

Lou's gonna hand Salvador a big sack of unmarked bills during training camp and tell him to lay low? Shame too cause he's one of the few chuckers we got. God we're soft

Even if Salvador came back, I doubt he'd fight much after missing a year from concussion symptoms. I think his time in NJ is done. Hopefully with better cap room Leblond can win a spot on the 4th line.