SB Nation - Paul Martin

New Jersey Devils Morning News, Dec 20

TibbsBeastoftheEast — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:04:20 -0000

Devils notebook: Paul Martin stops skating - (The Bergen Record)
Rob Niedermayer fitting in - (The Bergen Record)

Devils change goalies, then beat Thrashers - (The Bergen Record)
Pelley breaks two-year goal drought; Lemaire shuffles lines; Parise has two assists, but no goals - (Fire & Ice)
Danis comes to Devils’ relief in 5-4 win in Atlanta - (Fire & Ice)
Live post: Devils score three in second, lead 5-3 in third; Brodeur pulled - (Fire & Ice)
Lamoriello: Martin "is going to be a little while longer"; Clarkson has begun skating - (Fire & Ice)
Brodeur to start again in Atlanta - (Fire & Ice)
Patrice Cormier named captain of Canadian World Junior Team - (Fire & Ice)
Notebook: NJ Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur didn't fight decision to remove him from 5-4 victory over Atlanta - (The Star Ledger)
Martin Brodeur pulled from NJ Devils' 5-4 victory over Atlanta Thrashers - (The Star Ledger)
Notebook: NJ Devils not getting caught up in impressive record, points total - (The Star Ledger)
Devils-Atlanta Thrashers, as they play - (The Star Ledger)
NJ Devils' Jay Pandolfo getting back into groove after tough 2008-09 season - (The Star Ledger)
NJ Devils pregame report: Martin Brodeur is playing tonight - (The Star Ledger)
Devils rally after Marty gets yanked - (The Star Ledger)
Watch Postgame Reaction - (Msgnetwork)
Maven: Devs Win Without Marty - (Msgnetwork)
Dean gets it done in Devils' 5-4 win in Atlanta - (NewJerseyDevils.com)
Daneyko named honorary captain for 2010 AHL All-Star Classic - (NewJerseyDevils.com)
Stats - (Yahoo NHL)
Standings - (Yahoo NHL)
Devils Team Report - (Yahoo NHL)
Martin Brodeur: Still a Workhorse - (SportsUntapped.com)
Tough finding right words to describe Thrashers loss to Devils - (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Patrice Cormier named captain of Canada's 2010 National Junior Team - (Hockeybuzz.com)

LOWELL DEVILS
Devils Shutout By Monarchs, 2-0 - (LowellDevilsHockey.com)

TRENTON DEVILS
Thrilling Resurgence Ends with Another Shootout Loss - (TrentonDevils.com)

MISCELLANEOUS
Gedig goes big to ground Grizz - (Vernon Morning Star)
Cormier named captain for world juniors - (National Post)

What Do You Think the New Jersey Devils Should Do when Paul Martin Returns?

John Fischer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:21:57 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paul Martin could be coming back later this month wherein he'll be able to congratulate Martin Brodeur further when the team wins. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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An update on Paul Martin's status appeared yesterday on NJ.com's Devils Beat Reporters Blog and in today's Star Ledger: Rich Chere reported that the New Jersey Devils may see Martin back for Christmas. Martin was a very important player last season on defense and was well on his way to continuing his form prior to his left arm being fractured back on October 24. I expected much from Martin prior to this season and outside of his offensive production, I felt he was doing well in his own end on those 9 games he did play.

However, the Devils have thrived in spite of losing Martin (and so many others) to injury. As Rich Chere noted the Devils have put together a 16-5-1 record without their de facto #1 defenseman. While Martin was eventually going to return, who would have guessed that Andy Greene would step up in his spot and take on more minutes? Who would have guessed Mike Mottau would follow behind Greene in minutes? Sure, I said back after the injury that Colin White, Bryce Salvador, Mottau, and Greene would have to take more minutes; but I didn't think it would be to this degree. And I certainly wouldn't have thought the Devils would hold teams to less than 28 shots per game on average (currently at 27.1, third best in the league) without the two-way defensive force that is Paul Martin.

Now that Martin could be coming back in December, some thoughtful questions come to my mind, both with respect to the short term and long term situation. I'm not going to provide my personal opinion, instead I want to know what you think. Feel free to answer as many or as few of these in comments; but I honestly would like to get an idea on what you think about what the New Jersey Devils should do when Paul Martin returns.

Short Term

Assume that when Paul Martin comes back, he's in good shape. Remember when Johnny Oduya came back from injury? He got 21:03 in his first game back from injury on December 5 against Detroit and was tentatively paired with Mark Fraser. However, throughout the game, he was cycled in with the other four regular Devils defenders and got some time on both the power play and penalty kill. Given that he replaced Matthew Corrente, who was getting limited minutes in his place, the positioning was easy to figure out. When Martin comes back, some tough decisions will have to be made. (Well, outside of keeping Mark Fraser as the 7th defenseman. Given that Jay Leach was picked up on waivers, surely Fraser would be if he were sent down to Lowell.)

1. Who do you pair Paul Martin with? The answer to this question in recent seasons has been Johnny Oduya. This gives the team the advantage of keeping their current pairings of Greene-Salvador and White-Mottau. However, this was not the case prior to the injury. The expected pairings for the Pittsburgh game were Martin-Salvador, White-Oduya, Greene-Mottau. Those moves were made back then because Oduya was playing poorly and if Lemaire liked what he saw from those pairings, they could be seen again. Perhaps depending on form, Lemaire could throw out something completely different. This will be immediately answered upon Martin's return.

2. How do you split up the workload? In 2006-07, Paul Martin averaged 25:13 per game, behind Brian Rafalski. In 2007-08, Martin averaged 23:53 per game to lead the defense. In 2008-09, Martin once again led all Devils blueliners in average time on ice with 24:22. And in the 9 games he played this season, Martin has averaged 23:57 per game - a higher average than Greene, despite Greene averaging over 26 minutes per game in November. Martin has regularly played a lot of minutes with his steady of play. However, while he's been gone, the team's defense hasn't suffered (or at least suffered significantly) when Andy Greene and Mike Mottau has taken similar minutes. They've proven themselves able, if not worthy, of playing so often. When Martin returns, everyone's workload will become easier, but how is it handled? Does Martin go back to eventually defending for 23-26 minutes per game? Does Lemaire continue his trust in Greene and Mottau and have everyone play a more modest 20-22 minutes? This will be answered a few games after Martin's return, depending on how everyone adjusts.

3. What about special teams, where will Martin fit in? Lemaire continued Brent Sutter's practice last season of putting 4 forwards on each power play unit - taking it further in a few cases in putting 5 forwards out there. So far this season, Andy Greene has stepped up his play enough to be the lone defenseman on the first power play unit; and a number of defenders have rotated in and out on the second power play unit - currently it's Johnny Oduya. When Martin comes back, the Devils will have 3 defenders who have the passing and puck possession skills to be involved in man advantage situations. Does Lemaire change the nature of the power play units, changing one of the units to a more traditional 3 forward-2 defensemen set-up? If Lemaire keeps the 1 defenseman units, who stays on them: Greene and Martin, Martin and Oduya, Greene and Oduya, someone else with someone else? And does Martin make it back to the first unit to begin with, given that he was never a point machine?

Similarly, where does Martin fit in on the penalty kill? Prior to the injury, Martin averaged 3 shorthanded minutes per game. He was the unquestioned first defender on the PK. He's too good to keep off the PK, so the question is really who gets bumped from the PK? Probably not Mike Mottau or Colin White, who average at least 2 minutes of PK time per game. Without Martin, the fourth defender has been rotated among three players - they'll likely be moved from a regular spot on the units? Should it be Bryce Salvador (1:52 SH ATOI/G)? Johnny Oduya (1:50 SH ATOI/G)? Andy Greene (1:29 ATOI/G)? Like the second question, the answer should become clear a few games after Martin returns.

Long Term

1. Should the Devils make a trade for an offensive/stud defenseman? ILWT user Los Diabolos raises in this FanPost what is an increasing question for the Devils: Should the Devils trade for Scott Niedermayer? Niedermayer is still a top defenseman at age 36 and there's no question to whether he would benefit the Devils. With Anaheim playing poorly so far and his brother Rob Niedermayer doing well for a successful Devils squad, the return of Scott Niedermayer to the blueline could put the Devils over the top. However, the cost for getting Niedermayer may be costly by the time the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around in early March. More importantly, bringing in Scott Niedermayer or any other defenseman would create many of the same questions I'm asking about Martin now.

Let's assume we're in late January and Paul Martin is performing very well along with the rest of the blueline. Assume all of the short term questions are answered. Should the Devils make a move to get a top defenseman if Martin is already doing well at the #1 spot? If not, would a blueline of Martin, Oduya, Greene, Mottau, White, Salvador, and Fraser as the spare defender be good enough for the rest of the season and the post season?

2. What should the Devils do about Paul Martin, the impending free agent? Per CapGeek, the Devils have one major unrestricted free agent for the summer of 2010 and it's Paul Martin. Martin is getting $4.5 million for the 2009-10 season and if he plays as well as he has been in prior years, he'll be looking for that much money or more. If he isn't, well, as a UFA, I imagine many teams will definitely offer him a significant amount of money anyway. However, the Devils have a number of important restricted free agents to tie up in David Clarkson, Niclas Bergfors, Rod Pelley, and Tyler Eckford among others; not to mention Mike Mottau is a UFA and will certainly get a raise. The Devils could very well spend the 2010 summer just keeping those guys and that's it. And that's not even considering 2011 (Langenbrunner UFA, Parise RFA a.k.a. The Summer of Zach Parise Getting Real Paid) The Devils may not be able to keep Martin at any cost anyway, but they'll have the space to give him plenty.

Given that the Devils are 16-5-1 without Martin this season and that Andy Greene has filled his spot on the defense to everyone's delight, is keeping Martin that much of a priority anymore? That very well could depend on the other defensemen's performance? Could the Devils possibly go without Martin in the future, in the hopes Greene is for real and can play as well as he does for a few more seasons? What if Oduya shows he can lead a defense in the next few months?

These are all, I think, valid and thoughtful questions at this juncture and so they require some thoughtful answers. Of course, we may not begin to see the answers until the Feel free to answer them how ever you'd like in the comments.

New Jersey Devils Morning News, Dec 12-14

TibbsBeastoftheEast — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:40:55 -0000

Devils notes: Big night for Niclas Bergfors - (The Bergen Record)
Patrik Elias scores No. 300 in Devils' win - (The Bergen Record)

Reviewing My 2009-10 Expectations for New Jersey Devils Defensemen and Goaltenders

John Fischer — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:14:52 -0000

More photos » by Rich Schultz - AP

Johnny Oduya about to hug the most impressive defenseman on the Devils this season, Andy Greene. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

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Back in August, I wrote a series of posts basically coming up with expectations for each Devil on the roster. Not all of them were statisically based, a lot of them came arbitrarily. Still, I felt it was better to state what I wanted to see out of each player prior to the season. Now that the New Jersey Devils have played a third of the NHL season, it's a good time as any to see how my expectations are bearing out. Today, I will focus on the defensemen and goaltenders. If you're looking for the forwards; that went up earlier this week, you can find it here.

Now, for a lot of defensemen, I will likely state that the player has exceeded my expectations largely because of the injuries to Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya. In their absence, Andy Greene and Mike Mottau have played significantly more minutes than they otherwise would; and Colin White and Bryce Salvador took on additional responsibility as well. In retrospect, I was fortunate in my selection of the six defensemen for those posts as they are regulars. Cory Murphy isn't on the active roster; Matthew Corrente has been scratched upon Oduya's return; Tyler Eckford was only up for a few games; and Mark Fraser remains the only call up to stick around - and he'll likely be a scratch whenever Martin returns. I didn't expect those four to be up in New Jersey.

Lastly, I will say this prior to the jump. Please leave your thoughts on how the Devils defensemen and goaltenders have been playing so far in the comments, as well as any criticism for stupid-in-hindsight expectations or what I say below.

Martin Brodeur, What I Said Then:

I see no reason to believe Martin Brodeur won't be one of the best goaltenders in the league in 2009-10. If Brodeur and the coaching staff feel he can/wants to play 70 games based on workload and such, then by all means, Brodeur should play 70 games. Again, I see no reason to believe that Brodeur will somehow get that much worse at age 37 than he was at 35 or 36. I won't give a stat line prediction, but I do expect Brodeur to set the NHL record for career season shutouts in 2009-10. I also expect him to continue playing at a high level, finishing among NHL leaders in goals against average, save percentage, and - of course - wins. Do I think he can accomplish all that? Of course!

What has he done so far:

	GP	MIN	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Martin Brodeur	28	1681	19	8	61	2.18	751	690	.919	2

Yeah, he's been pretty good. Brodeur's on pace for at least 70 games (76.5 to be precise, but that won't happen); Brodeur is indeed currently among league leaders in wins (#1), GAA (tied for 7th), SV% (11th), and shutouts (tied for 7th and one away from breaking Terry Sawchuk's all time record of 103). Yeah, Brodeur is meeting my expectations. Will critics and foolish people realize that age or games played is not a factor with Brodeur at this point? Sadly, no. Reality is a struggle for them.

Yann Danis, What I Said Then:

Given he could see very little ice time next season, it's almost pointless to come up with any statistical expectations outside of general ones like staying below a 3.00 GAA and above 90% for save percentage (and Danis hit those marks with the Islanders last season). Danis just has to stay prepared throughout the season, don't get discouraged when he realizes it's been a month or two since starts, and perform competantly when he does see ice time in a game. And I think that's all we can really expect from him.

What he has done so far:

	GP	MIN	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Yann Danis	3	140	2	0	5	2.14	65	60	.923	0

Well, he got a few starts, but the last time he was seen, he conceded 3 goals in one period to Dallas and Brodeur came in for him. Granted, those goals weren't his fault. I don't think he's been sitting because of that, despite the number of games, Brodeur hasn't seen a lot of rubber and so he's not as fatigued as a goaltender who faces 30ish shots per game. Therefore, Danis hasn't been given much of a chance even though in the two full starts he did get, he looked good in both games. Which falls perfectly in line with what I said in August, actually. So Danis is currently meeting my expectations so far.

Before I get to the defensemen, I'd like you to check out this chart I made for each of the six defensemen. I compiled the even strength on-ice/off-ice numbers from Behind the Net. Rather than clumsily state each stat for each defender, you can see it all in one place. So if the following reviews of my expectations seem a little flimsy, this chart should provide more meat on this meal of content.

Notice how everyone of the six defensemen have a positive quality of competition and a high quality of team. Since Lemaire has only recently been using his fourth line for 10 minutes or so, that means more defensemen are out there with top forward talent. Also, since Martin and Oduya were injured, that meant Greene, Mottau, White, and Salvador not only took on more minutes but better opposition. Another interesting common thread is that all of the defensemen don't have much of an effect on the Devils scoring goals; but they matter in the other three stats. Back to the players:

Paul Martin, What I Said Then:

Paul Martin is very important to the Devils' blueline and as such I think we can comfortably expect him to remain important and remain a defensive force. I am expecting him to put up more assists, though, at least 30 should be the goal. A cynical person may say that's entirely possible since it's a contract year for him. However, Martin's in the prime of his career and I think he will have the opportunities to achieve at least 35 points. He'll still remain as the Devils #1 defenseman and next June, we'll be hoping he sticks around.

What he has done so far:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Paul Martin	9	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	23:57	9	0.0

Now, this is a bit unfair as Martin has played a whopping 9 games before getting hurt. The low number of games means you should probably take his on-ice/off-ice numbers with a grain of salt. I'd take it anyway because Martin has been excellent in preventing shots from occurring. Yes, the goals against go up but I'd like to attribute that more to his regular partner in those 9 games as well as the possibility that the opposition had to take higher quality shots as the quantity hasn't been there. Defensively, great. Important, you bet - despite how the other defenders stepped up in his place, I think it's fair to say the Devils would want him back. Offensively, eh, not so much. He wasn't shooting much himself prior to injury and now because of it, I doubt he'll hit 30 points unless he gets hot upon return. Overall, I was pleased with Martin prior to the injury and with that small set, I'd say he was meeting my defensive expectations but not my offensive ones.

Johnny Oduya, What I Said Then:

I really do think the best is yet to come from Oduya. Given that he was the only UFA to be retained before July 1 (and to be the second-highest paid defenseman on the team), I would like to think that the Devils would agree. Therefore, I expect Oduya to do quite a bit in 2009-10. I want him to be the a definitive #2 defenseman: score 6-8 goals, put up about 35 points, regularly play 20 minutes or more per night, and get better on-ice/off-ice numbers on even strength. How Lemaire will use him on special teams, I think, will be a big factor as to hitting these offensive goals. If Oduya is a regular on a power play unit as well as being out there for Parise's and Elias' lines, I think he should hit those marks. Overall, I want Oduya to improve - and I really do think he has not hit his ceiling after 3 years of NHL hockey. Even cutting down his mistakes would represent such an improvement.

What he has done so far:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Johnny Oduya	15	1	0	1	-4	16	0	0	0	21:34	13	7.7

Prior to Oduya's injury, he really struggled to start the season. While he started off in that familiar #2 role along side Paul Martin, he was the weaker link in that pairing. He was burnt or made lethal mistakes in his own end for goals and it was pretty obvious. It's why his goals against when he's on the ice is so high and why the shots against when he's on the ice rises. I even wrote this post about Oduya trying to figure out how bad he has been. Not at all the best way to start a season, especially after signing a sweet deal. Then he suffered an injury that kept him out for November. After the injury, Oduya has looked a lot steadier and even potted in his first goal (and point) of the season. While he starts off with Mark Fraser, he's done well enough for Lemaire to give him about 20 minutes or more a night. So I'd like to think he's improving from that poor October he had. However, given his rough start, I have to say that Oduya is not currently meeting my expectations. I hope he continues to improve and turns it around; the talent is truly there.

Colin White, What I Said Then:

Essentially, I expect White to build on this 2008-09 season defensively (as in maintain these numbers or do better) improve his performance on the penalty kill, and continue working on keeping the penalties in minutes total as low as possible. Even if he can continue to cause fewer shots on net when he's out there like he did last season, then I would be very pleased. As far as physical play goes, I wouldn't mind more hits and blocked shots; but not at the cost of getting out of position or allowing more shots. White's not going to score a ton of points or be the team's hit-machine; but he definitely can be one of the better #3 defenseman in the NHL. And so that's what I'm expecting out of the 31 year old defenseman.

What he has done so far:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Colin White	30	1	5	6	3	6	0	0	0	20:10	13	7.7

As one of the top 4 remaining after Martin and Oduya went down to injury, White has showed why he's been a fixture on the Devils' top 4 for years. The shots against fall when the defensive defensemen is out there and he's facing the highest quality of competition behind Martin. It is a bit concerning that the goals against goes up while playing with a relatively high level of teammate quality. However, he's doing what I wanted to see. He leads the team in hits (50), tied for the team lead in blocked shots (44), and currently leads the defense on the penalty kill. On top of that, he's been very good with discipline. The only regular to have fewer penalty minutes is Andy Greene. I know, who would have thought Colin White as a disciplined defenseman when you consider how much of a PIM machine he was earlier in his career? I know some Devils fans don't fancy White, but you have to respect what he's done so far. White is at least meeting my expectations, if not exceeding them by a little bit.

Mike Mottau, What I Said Then:

Other than that, given his salary and his career, I don't know how much more one can really expect or Mike Mottau. It's great that the Devils gave him the opportunity and Mottau broke through to the NHL after all these years. But he is replaceable/can be improved upon. Yet, I don't think Devils will do that unless someone really impresses in training camp or until Mottau is free to leave next July. Until then, I expect Mottau to still remain as a regular defenseman. I think he'll start with White once again, but I fear that he may end up on the third pairing more often than not. I doubt that Mottau can score 20 points or more or improve his defense enough to get on a penalty killing unit or really clamp down on shots from the oposition. If he can provide small reductions in the shot against rate while on the ice in such a position, great.

What he has done so far:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mike Mottau	28	1	1	2	2	17	0	0	0	22:50	29	3.4

Last season, he had significant changes on goals scored in a game when he stepped on the ice. This season, not so much. Like White, the shots against drop when Mottau's out there; but unlike White, the shots for also drop (and significantly so) - the goals don't change much. Despite having the second most shots on net among defensemen, it hasn't translated into points. But that's fine as I didn't expect much offense from him to begin with. Regardless, Mottau's minutes got jacked up after injuries to Martin and Oduya and he's handled the additional workload very well. That's something I didn't expect - just when I thought he was providing fair value for what he's worth as he did last season, he's now providing additional value by being steady overall with increased minutes. For that alone, I'd say Mottau is meeting my expectations. (Though, 17 PIM, Mottau? Watch your stick, please. And for the love of God, stop passing the puck into or across the slot in your own zone. Do those two things and I will have 0 complaints.)

Bryce Salvador, What I Said Then:

As far as what to expect? Well, I want Salvador to cut down on his minor penalties while maintaining his hits and blocked shots. One of his strengths is being physical and I don't want him to taken away from that - just that he should be more composed and intelligent about it. Also, I want him getting in the shooting lanes more often if only to cut down on the number of shots opponents take when he's out there. Lastly, if he's even kept on the penalty killing unit, then he needs to work on all facets of that play. The Devils PK unit wasn't strong last season and he was one of the reasons why. Again, at age 32, can we really expect him to do much more other than refine his game and hope his experience will lead to better decisions on-ice?

I expect him to be more defensively sound, but I know he's not going to turn into a supreme shut-down defenseman every night. Even if Colin White wasn't on the team, is he even a top-4 caliber defenseman? I doubt it based on his first full season with the Devils. And so I expect he will remain as the Devils #5 defenseman. At $2.9 million/year for 2 more seasons after 2009-10.

What he has done so far:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Bryce Salvador	30	0	6	6	6	28	0	0	0	19:34	21	0.0

I was pretty down on Salvador after last season. And in some ways, he hasn't exactly thrilled me with what he has done this season. He currently leads the defensemen with 9 minors, he fought twice (without Martin and Oduya, why is a veteran defenseman taking himself out of the game for 5 minutes, I ask you?), and the shots against actually rises when he's on the ice. All with the lowest quality of competition among these six defensemen. What I do like is his confidence to shoot the puck more, his durability, and he's been good on the PK. Per Behind the Net's PK numbers, the shots against per 60 do drop significantly (40.5 to 31.7) when he's out there; and only Andy Greene can say he's been on the ice for fewer power play goals against (Salvador: 5, Greene: 2). In terms of physical play, Salvador does have 41 hits (second on the team), and 38 blocked shots (tied with Mottau for second most on the team). That all said, I want to see more from Salvador. I want the shots against rate to fall when he's out there, especially if he's not facing strong competition. I want fewer penalties from #24. I can say he's looked like a #4 defenseman, and not just because he is one by default now. Since I set my expectations low, he's met my low expectations and exceeded them a little; but I want more from Salvador.

Andy Greene, What I Said Then:

Therefore, I expect Greene to have a better 2009-10 season. Hopefully, he won't get significantly injured like he did last season, ruining any momentum gained as the season goes on. While I don't think he should be on the power play, I do expect him to contribute a little more on offense - hopefully 10 points or more - and to take more shots. Defensively, I don't want to see the shots against per 60 minutes rise by 5 when he's out there; his positioning and decision making to step up on a forward needs to get better. Greene's not a physical player, he's not big, and he's not going to develop into a stud defenseman. But that's OK, all he has to do on the third pairing is play well enough at both ends such that he and his partner can spell the top 4 and work over the opposition's bottom lines. I think Greene can do it, and he'll pretty much have to perform better to stay as the Devils' #6 defenseman.

What he has done so far:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Andy Greene	27	5	12	17	7	4	4	0	3	23:41	34	14.7

To think, he didn't start the season on the third pairing! After a few games of Cory Murphy not being impressive, Lemaire gave Greene a shot and he never looked back. When Martin and Oduya went down, Lemaire put his trust into Greene and it has paid off significantly. He's already exceeded what I wanted from him on offense in terms of points and shots; and I never would have guessed he could handle an average of 26 minutes for a month. He doesn't succumb to pressure as much as he did last season and that's a big improvement. Instead, he's very calm with the puck either for a clearance, on the breakout, at the point, or when he jumps up on offense. He's the best disciplined defenseman among the regulars, he has 44 blocked shots, and he now creates a lot of questions. Should he be on the USA Olympic team? What do the Devils do when Martin returns? Is he a true top pairing defender after playing like one for the last 18 games? Did Lemaire and/or Lou think he had this in him? The only part of Greene's season that doesn't sparkle is that the shots against rate rises by 4 when he's on the ice; but that's mitigated by the drop in the goals against rate. That suggests that Greene's allowing quantity but not really quality. Greene has exceeded my expectations by almost-ridiculous levels so far this season.

Overall

You really can't complain about the current blueline with how they have played so far this season. Greene has been a relevation; White and Mottau have been good; Martin was good prior to injury; and the only defenders I'd like to see more from is Oduya (who's doing that now) and Salvador (who is meeting my admittedly low expectations). There's no problem in net, as usual. Consider that most of the top forwards have been meeting or exceeding expectations, then is it a surprise that the Devils have started this season at 21-8-1?

Please leave your comments about the defensemen and the goaltenders in the appropriate place called the comments. Thanks for reading.

Pick 'Em: Best Capitals Draft Pick of the Decade

David M. Getz — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:00:27 -0000

by Nick Wass - AP

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Readers who venture outside the friendly internet confines of the the Rink may have noticed that, in anticipation of ~~the end of the decade~~ 2010, Puck Daddy has been compiling the best and worst of the last decade, including the ten biggest goon moments, the best and worst contracts, and NHL's best and worst decisions. Yesterday saw Ryan Lambert of The Two Line Pass take a look at the five best and five worst draft picks of the last ten years.

Being a Capitals blog we figured it would make for some interesting discussion to ~~pilfer the idea~~ alter their framework every so slightly to suit our favorite team and take a look at some of studs and duds of recent Washington draft classes. To make things a little more interesting, we decided to eliminate lottery picks, which in essence means no Alex Ovechkin, no Nicklas Backstrom, and no Karl Alzner.

To start things off, let's take a look at the five worst:

5. Jakub Cutta (Defense, 2nd round, 61st overall, 2000)

Cutta was billed as a guy with an ideal frame, but a project nonetheless. At the time of his draft people knew there were questions about his skating, his ability to move the puck out of the zone at the next level, and whether he would ever use his 6'3'', 214 frame as effectively as possible. The problem was, nothing ever really panned out. The skating never became NHL caliber, there wasn't any offense to speak of as a pro, and while Cutta laid out a big hit every once in a while, he was far from an intimidating physical force. All told Cutta saw action in eight games over the course of three seasons with the Caps, earning himself a minus-5 rating. By 2006 Cutta would be back in his native Czech Republic, and he's been splitting time between his homeland and Russia for the past few years. It's not always fair to look back and evaluate a pick using 20/20 hindsight, but the fact that Paul Martin was taken with the 62nd pick certainly doesn't make this one any easier to swallow.

4. Josh Godfrey (Defense, 2nd round, 34th overall, 2007)

Yeah, it's still early, but thing don't look very good for Godfrey, who's now in his second season with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. Part of us wants to say that the blue line is stacked at Hershey, that Godfrey's still young, and that he was drafted as an offensive defenseman who would have to spend a lot of time working out the kinks in his own end before he had a chance at the NHL. Another part of us says that guys who spend more than one season in the ECHL don't usually do much at the NHL level - and that's not enough for someone picked 34th overall. The fact that, other than Kings prospects Wayne Simmonds and Oscar Moller, no one picked after Godfrey has seen much NHL playing time helps keep him from rising on this list - for now.

3. Keith Seabrook (Defense, 2nd round, 52nd overall, 2006)

Also an offensive defenseman, the Capitals were hoping Seabrook would one day be a powerplay quarterback, or at least an offensive threat from the blue line. However, Seabrook underwhelmed offensively, first by scoring 13 points (two goals) in 37 games at the University of Denver and then by scoring 17 (four goals) in 59 games with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen - all while failing to make marked progress in his own end. In 2008-09 Seabrook finally became the offensive force people thought he was capable of being by registering 55 points (fifteen goals) for the Hitmen, but questions persisted about whether it was because he was growing in to his talent or because he was an overage player. Currently in the Calgary Flames organization, Seabrook still has a chance to become an NHL player, but never came close to getting a contract, let alone a game, with the Caps.

2. Joe Finley (Defense, 1st round, 27th overall, 2005)

The Caps would eventually sign Finley in the summer of 2009, but his future seems to be up in the air. After playing as a forward in camp, Finley's back on the blue line with South Carolina this season. If Finley ever makes it to the NHL, it's almost certainly going to be in a limited role as an enforcer...and you don't aim to draft a part-time enforcer in the first round. 36 of the first 45 players taken in the 2005 draft have played in the NHL, and has four of the five and seven of the ten taken after Finley. The issue at this point wasn't the talent pool. It was the selection.

1. Sasha Pokulok (Defense, 1st round, 14th overall, 2005)

How could it be anyone else? There's no way the Caps should have been picking 14th in 2005, but they sure didn't do themselves any favors in picking Pokulok. Billed as a physical specimen with skating ability and offensive upside, Pokulok was beset by concussion problems each of his three years in the Capitals organization. In the end, Pokulok wasn't able to stick in Hershey, let alone Washington, earning himself the dubious (and unfortunate) title of "Worst Capitals Pick of the Decade".

Honorable Mentions: Steve Eminger, Ted Ruth, Maxime Daigneault, Boyd Gordon

Now that that's over, let's take a look at the five best:

5. John Carlson (Defense, 1st round, 27th overall, 2008)

He's played just three games at the NHL level thus far, but is there any reason to think Carlson won't be a very, very good NHL defender? With size, skill, and smarts he's bested every challenge thrown his way since the draft, finishing second in the OHL in scoring among defensemen and second among rookies last year, and registering 18 points in 24 games for the Bears this year. Carlson may very well be a top pairing guy in the very near future, and in a league that prizes two way defensemen as highly as the NHL does that's a heck of a return on the 27th pick.

4. Johnny Oduya (Defense, 7th round, 221st overall, 2001)

Hey, we said these guys were going to be Capitals draftees, we never said anything about whether the team signed him. With only one point and an minus-1 rating, Oduya's slumping this year but he's nonetheless a legitimate top-four guy defenseman in the NHL, something that can only be said for a handful of the 200 players taken before him.

3. Alexander Semin (Left Wing/Right Wing, 13th overall, 2002)

At September's Capitals Convention members of the team's scouting staff were insistent they'd been lucky with Semin, who has grown three inches and added thirty-five pounds since the time he was drafted. Even if there was some luck involved, Semin is a elite offensive player who may just be the most naturally talented guy in the NHL. Picking thirteenth overall you expect to get an NHL caliber player - but getting a guy with Semin's ability in that spot is a steal. He might not have the career top 2002 pick Rich Nash will, be there's no doubt Semin was the most talented player available at the this spot - and your GM picking that guy is all you can ask for.

2. Semyon Varlamov (Goalie, 23rd overall, 2006)

We'd be lying if we said there wasn't a part of us that was still scared Semyon Varlamov was going to burn out (insert obligatory Jim Carey reference here), but what he's doing at his age, well, that just doesn't happen very often. The Capitals get credit here for being willing to use their first round pick to take a netminder in what was regarded as a weak draft between the pipes. The next time you want to criticize George McPhee for going off the board, remember that sometimes the risk pays off.

1. Mike Green (Defense, 29th overall, 2004)

Twenty-ninth overall isn't exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel, but no one expected this. Fifty-one goals and 159 points in his last 180 games, a historically great season, a Norris Trophy nomination at age 23, and comparisons to Paul Coffey would make Green a great pick just about anywhere, but at the end of the first round it's practically criminal. Thank the Lord the Stars saw something they liked in Mark Fistric.

Honorable Mentions: Mathieu Perreault, Oskar Osala, Braden Holtby

While the issue of the worst draft pick seems pretty cut-and-dry (seriously, if anyone thinks it's someone other than Pokulok, we'd love to hear why), the best pick is up for debate - and we want to know what you think. Vote in the poll, and let us know who you picked in the comments section.

Poll

So, who's the best Capitals draft pick of the decade?

From Chris to Oskars: Meet Your Philadelphia Flyers 2010 Olympic Hopefuls

Travis Hughes — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:40:04 -0000

Chris Pronger skates for Team Canada at the Salt Lake City games in 2002.

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If you ever poke around at the new SBNation.com (and if you don't, then what are you doing with your life?), you've no doubt noticed SBN Hockey's running feature over the last week or so. Each site on the network has taken a look at their respective team, noting which players are locks to make their national teams and which players have outside chances at traveling to Vancouver next month.

While most of the Flyers are Canadian -- seriously, it's absurd the number of Canadians on this roster -- and will have trouble cracking a stacked roster, there are some who will make it. Of course, there are also other players who will make the squad in other countries, and you might be surprised at who has a shot.

After the jump, we'll break down the Flyers roster and see who has a chance at representing their country in Vancouver this February.

Team Canada

The pressure is on for the host country. After a disappointing showing in 2006 at Turin that saw Canada come home without a medal, anything less than the gold will be unacceptable north of the border.

Chris Pronger: There's absolutely no doubt that Pronger will be representing Canada in Vancouver. He's an experienced Olympian, winning the gold with Canada at Salt Lake City in 2002. He also played for his country in the 2006 Turin games and the 1998 Nagano games, as well as in the 1997 World Championships and the 1993 World Junior Championships. Pronger, along with former Anaheim teammate Scott Niedermayer, will be expected to lead the Canadian blueline. Packing His Bags.
Mike Richards: It's hard to see how Canada could keep Richards off the roster. The captain of the Canadian team that won the World Junior Championship in 2005, Richards has played internationally on three different occasions. Packing His Bags.
Jeff Carter: While not as strong a lock as Richards, Carter still has a very strong shot at making the team this year. He's versatile, obviously proven in the NHL, and he's got international experience, winning the WJC gold with Richards in '05. A Solid Bet.
Simon Gagne: It appears that Gagne will be held out by injury. He was probably about as likely to make the team as Carter prior to sustaining his injury during the Flyers season, but considering he won't be playing hockey when Team Canada announces their roster this month, it's hard to imagine Gagne will get another chance to represent his country. It's a shame, too, considering he played for Canada in the 2006 and 2002 Games. Staying Home.
Also staying home: Arron Asham, Blair Betts, Danny Briere, Dan Carcillo, Riley Cote, Claude Giroux, Ray Emery, Scott Hartnell, Ian Laperriere, Jon Kalinski, Darroll Powe, Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent

Team USA

USA is expected to ice a much younger team than they have in recent Olympic games. Only six players over the age of 30 were invited to their summer camp, and there's no guarantee that all of those players will make the team. Guys like Chris Chelios, Keith Tkachuk, and Brian Rolston were left out of camp as general manager Brian Burke tries to create a younger team that can bring USA Hockey back to the summit.

There are only three Americans on the Flyers roster. They'll announce the roster on NBC during the Winter Classic.

James van Riemsdyk: JVR wasn't invited to USA's summer camp and he wasn't even expected to make the Flyers this season. But to say the 19-year-old has been impressive in the early stages of his pro career is an understatement, and there's no doubt he's at least opened some eyes with the USA brass. Will that get him a roster spot, though? It's tough to say. It's true that the youth movement on the team is here to stay, but it might be a little too early for JVR. He's got a lot of other players to beat out, but he deserves consideration and he'll likely get it. 50/50.
Matt Carle: He wasn't invited to the summer orientation camp either, but when you lead NHL defenseman in plus/minus, you'll open some eyes as well. He'd be a dark horse candidate for sure, and he could be dismissed as a player padded by playing with Chris Pronger. But when you look at some of the other players that attended the summer camp -- Tom Gilbert, Ron Hainsey, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, -- you could see Carle getting a spot over some of those guys. A Possibility.
Staying home: Brian Boucher

Team Finland

Led by goaltender Antero Niittymaki, Finland won the silver medal at Turin in 2006, beating Canada in the process. They aren't favorites to medal in Vancouver, but to say they couldn't surprise would be severely underestimating the Fins.

Kimmo Timonen: Kimmo is an absolute lock for Team Finland. He's their best defenseman, no doubt. There's really not much else to say. He's to Finland as he is to the Flyers -- a solid rock of a defenseman that can be counted on to play huge minutes. Packing His Bags.
Mika Pyorala: He made the preliminary roster over the summer, and making the Flyers certainly helps his chances to make the Olympic roster. He's not a lock at this point, but general manager Jari Kurri has been to Philadelphia to watch Pyorala play and has said good things about his play -- "he's a smart player at both ends of the ice," "you know what you are getting with him." Solid endorsements. Wouldn't Be Surprised.
Former Flyers To Watch: Antero Niittymaki, Joni Pitkanen, Ossi Vaananen, Sami Kapanen

Team Latvia

Probably the weakest team in the Olympics, NHL.com didn't even bother to preview them in their series over the summer. It's understandable, though. They have very little NHL talent on their roster, but one of those players does play for Philadelphia.

Oskars Bartulis: Even as an AHL player, Bartulis was one of the best Latvian players in North America. Now that he's in the NHL and playing solidly, it seems as though Bartulis will suit up for his country in February. He's played in pre-tournament games for Latvia, but didn't play in the World Championships. Things have changed now that he's made the jump to the NHL, and you can be sure that the Latvian brass won't let Bartulis go unnoticed. A Strong Bet.

Team Norway

They surprised by qualifying for Olympics, but could they stage an upset or two? There is only one Norwegian in the NHL. He plays in Philadelphia.

Ole-Kristian Tollefsen: Tollefsen has been injured for most of the season, but he is expected to be fine by February, so it would be an utter shock if he wasn't named to Team Norway. Packing His Bags.
Former Flyers To Watch: Patrick Thoresen

Team Sweden

Former Flyers To Watch: Peter Forsberg

The New Jersey Devils: November 2009 in Review

John Fischer — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:15 -0000

by Adrian Wyld - AP

New Jersey Devils left wing Zach Parise scoring one of his 9 November goals. This one came against Pascal Leclaire and the Ottawa Senators from November 7, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Adrian Wyld)

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In recent seasons, the month of November has been very kind to the New Jersey Devils. November 2009 proved to be no different. The New Jersey Devils finished the month with a 9-2-1 record. 9-2-1. Let that sink in for a moment. 19 points in 12 games and finishing only a point behind Pittsburgh with 3 games in hand is nothing to sneeze at. The Devils vastly improved their home record by going 6-0-0 at the Rock, compared with 1-4-0 last month. The road winning streak continued into the middle of the month, before a three game winless road trip, leaving the road record at only 3-2-1. I can't complain, as I felt only 14 points would have been expected back at the beginning of November.

To think, all of this has been done with more Devils seemingly getting injured. Jay Pandolfo, Paul Martin, and Johnny Oduya missed the entire month. During November, the list grew to include Rob Niedermayer, Dainius Zubrus, and most recently David Clarkson. The only Devil to really come back from injury was Patrik Elias, who ended the month showing off why he's still to be seen as an elite winger. Yet, the Devils kept on rolling to win games. It didn't matter if they gave up the first or second goal on most nights, they found a way to defeat (and in two cases, blow out) their opponent. Why? The Devils' top players are playing at a high level, the various called up players and those lower on the depth chart have taken the opportunities available to show off what they can do, and Jacques Lemaire and the coaching staff have done an excellent job of holding the team together.

We can only imagine how good this team will be at full health. A frightening prospect for the rest of the league because November proved that they are a very good team right now.

The Month in Review

The month of November couldn't have started any better for the Devils. Not that every game favored the Devils, but winning the month's first 6 games (an 8 game winning streak overall) was definitely a sign of a team doing something right. The Devils opened up the month by finally getting their then-second win at the Rock in a 3-2 defeat of the Washington Capitals. In every one of these wins, it seemed the Devils got it done in some different way. The Devils tried to crack Martin Biron; but it was long shots from Brian Rolston and Cory Murphy which got past him en route to a 2-1 win. The next night the Devils power play uncharacteristically carried the team to victory with 3 goals to defeat Ottawa 3-2. Against Anaheim, the Devils scored first and then responded to the equalizer with a two-goal lead to win 3-1 and take the home record to 4-4. The Devils looked poor to start in Pittsburgh, but then responded with 4 unanswered goals to win 4-1. The Devils allowed the first two goals against the Washington Capitals on their first two shots, and then dismantled them at the Rock to win 5-2. The Devils were hot and now the home record was finally above .500.

Things were great. Even when it looked bad, you knew that the Devils could pull out a win. Down by 1? Down by 2? Tie game? Someone or some unit will step up to shift momentum back to the Devils and then finish the necessary plays to take the game. Could the Devils make NHL history with 10 straight road wins? Could they extend their winning streak to 9 games or more?

In a word, no. In Philadelphia, the start of a three game road trip, the Flyers had all the answers to New Jersey's plans and generally outplayed them. The final score of 3-2 was close, but the action on the ice showed otherwise. The streaks were over, how would the Devils respond afterward? Not so well. They played an even game in Nashville, but fell to the Predators in their first shootout loss this season, 3-2. In Dallas, the Stars went up 3-1 after the first, Martin Brodeur replaced Yann Danis, and the Devils were able to claw back to 3-3 in the third period. It looked like the same magic seen earlier in the month was back. The Devils would come back from 2 down to win, a concept not at all foreign to the Devils or their fans. Unfortunately, the Stars had other ideas and the Devils gave up their momentum quickly to allow two third period goals. The Devils lost 5-3 to Dallas and were suddenly mired in a 3 game winless streak. Could it be, that after so many wins, the Devils were slumping? Did they come back to reality?

Thankfully, the Devils got it together with, what else, a close win over Ottawa. The Devils' all-time leading scorer tipped the puck off of Andy Greene's shot for the go-ahead goal, leading to a frustrated Senators team by the game's end. The Devils won 3-1 and the slump - short as it was - was snapped. Not that the Devils necessarily slept on it. In Boston, the Devils, somehow, managed to keep the score really close despite being dominated in terms of puck possession and scoring chances by the Bruins. Oh, wait, I know why - Martin Brodeur was massive (and set a new NHL mark for career minutes played). The Devils eventually prevailed in the shootout, winning 2-1. In the last game of the month, on the very next day, the Devils snowballed their way to a huge 6-1 win over the New York Islanders - led by the production of Brian Rolston and Patrik Elias. And so here we stand. A 3 game winning streak in response to a 3 game winless streak in the prior week.

Again, I cannot emphasize enough how the Devils succeeded in spite of losing players to injuries. Players like Dean McAmmond, Mark Fraser, and Tim Sestito have shown to be more than just "filler" players on a roster in the absence of regular Devils. All three can definitely play decent minutes at the NHL level. Young call ups like Tyler Eckford, Matthew Corrente, and most-recently Vladimir Zharkov got a taste of NHL hockey and showed promise in the limited minutes they got.

Of course, I cannot discount the return of Devils legend Patrik Elias. Finally returning from injury, he needed a few games to get back into his groove. It took him 4 games before getting any points and when he did, it was 2 assists against Philadelphia. By the end of the month, New Jersey fans are being delighted by seeing the old Patrik back. Elias now has 3 goals and 5 assists since opening his points account on November 16, most notably blowing up against the Islanders on November 28 for 2 goals and 2 assists. Glad to have you back and healthy, Patrik!

Yet, it was the top players on the team who led the way throughout the month. Where would the Devils be without the fine play of their top forwards, their top 4 defensemen, and Martin Brodeur? A place we really don't want to think about (namely, right next to the Rangers in the standings). When the team has gone 9-2-1 in a single month, lots of players look deserving for player of the month. Or at least some definite praise. Believe it or not, I think Martin Brodeur had a Devil of the Month worthy November. He went 8-2-1, gave up 18 goals in 11 games, and yielded a mind-boggling 93.9% save percentage. The NHL even named him the Second Star of the Week for giving up a mere 3 goals in the last 3 games. Yet, I think two Devils have impressed me more than that in the last month:

Devil of the Month Honorable Mention:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
November 2009 - Andy Greene	12	2	7	9	3	2	2	0	2	26:10	20	10.0

Prior to the season, I set my expectations low for Andy Greene. I figured he was going to have to fight for his spot on the team's #6 defenseman. In fact, he did, as Cory Murphy eventually started in his place. But since Murphy didn't do so well to start, Lemaire gave Greene a shot and rarely has he looked back. What's most impressive is that since the injuries to Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya, Jacques Lemaire has put his trust into Greene.

Greene's been productive while not slowing down with the ridiculous workload he's been getting. Seriously, unless I can't average time on ice, he's averaged 26 minutes a game this month. He's actually leading the blueline in Martin's absence. To think, he didn't even start the season on the team's top 6! Per the even strength numbers at Behind the Net, it's not all good with Greene - the team's shots against per 60 do rise from 24.7 to 29.5 when Greene gets on the ice. On the other hand, the goals against per 60 drop from 1.88 to 1.40 when he's on the ice; and he's the only active defenseman with a positive CORSI (1.1). So he's not shutting anyone down, but it's not But if you want an example of someone stepping up in place of injury to play out of their minds, Greene is a fantastic example. Seriously - 26 minutes on average a night in November, who DOES this?

While Greene has certainly impressed me, one player has not only been great, but consistently great for New Jersey in November. Zach Parise, you are the In Lou We Trust Devil of the Month for November 2009.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
November 2009 - Zach Parise	12	9	7	16	13	0	1	1	1	0	50	18.0

No, Parise didn't have a game where he exploded for 4 points like Elias and Rolston did against the Islanders. No, Parise didn't drop a hat trick on anyone. All Parise did in November was grabbing points. In fact, he had a point and at least 3 shots on net (at least 4 if you throw out the Nashville game) in every game in this past month with one exception - the Devils' 2-1 win on November 6 against the Islanders. That was the only game where Parise was held to very little. In every other game (11 out of 12, in case you forgot), Parise had a hand in the scoring, somehow and in someway.

In total, Parise managed to score 9 goals, 7 assists, put 50 shots on net (A shooting percentage of 18%!!), take exactly 0 penalty minutes (!!!), and played an average of 21:30. When I said the Devils keep on succeeding because their top players are playing at a high level, Parise's November is a good as example as you can find. He's expected to be the team's offensive leader. He's expected to produce on a regular basis. Parise is doing that and taking more minutes and showing no drop off to his game. He's hustling just as well with Travis Zajac as he does when double shifted to the fourth line. He's more than willing to jam pucks in front of the net to score as he is on breakaways like this one against Washington from November 14 (which turned out to be the game winner):

And I didn't even mention that he's got a point streak that's 10 games long and still going strong.

Zach Parise leads the Devils and all Americans in the NHL in the scoring with 15 goals and 15 assists; and it doesn't look like anything is going to stop him. Especially with the roster being in flux due to injuries, Parise's consistent scoring is even more valuable. More so, when you consider he can easily continue to play this well. For that, I feel he is more than deserving to be the In Lou We Trust Devil of the Month.

Zach Parise

#9 / Left Wing / New Jersey Devils

Height: 5-11

Weight: 190

Born: Jul 28, 1984

November 2009 Devil of the Month

Monthly Stats: 12 GP, 9 G, 7 A, +13, 0 PIM, 50 SOG

2010 Olympics Preview: New Jersey Devils

John Fischer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:13 -0000

by Bill Kostroun - AP

Where will you see Martin Brodeur, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Zach Parise in mid-February 2010? In Vancouver, representing their country. Though, they won't be celebrating together. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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As you may or may not be aware, the 2010 Winter Olympics are coming up in less than 3 and a half months. By the end of December, all of the nations will have announced their men's ice hockey rosters. The NHL is taking part in this year's games, so expect all the top nations to be loaded with talent. Therefore, each blog on SB Nation Hockey is listing who on their team is likely to represent their nation in Vancouver. You can find the other team previews in this updated story stream.

The New Jersey Devils have more than a few Olympic hopefuls and so I'm taking a stab at categorizing their chances of representing their nation. Some are definite locks, others are more of a long shot. I'll be using the same template the other SBN-Hockey blogs, which is the same template Yanks Abroad uses for their excellent 23 Tickets feature. Read on to see which Devils I think you'll see in Vancouver and which ones need to play really well to make their case. Feel free to comment on the players listed, yell at me if I missed anyone or put them in the wrong place, or discuss the Olympics in general.

PACK YOUR BAGS, VANCOUVER AWAITS!

Zach Parise, LW, USA

Let's see, top ten NHL scorer, former Gold medal winner for USA from the 2004 World Junior Championships, MVP of the 2004 WJCs, consistently played for USA in the WCs, and the Olympics are being played on a NHL surface. The question shouldn't be whether Parise will be on the team; but how far will he lead the American offense? He's going to be an absolute blast to watch, especially on the smaller ice surface.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Zach Parise	24	15	15	30	19	4	2	1	1	20:30	109	13.8

Martin Brodeur, G, Canada

Age really is just a number, isn't it? He went to Team Canada's evaluation camp and the story became, "Brodeur or Luongo?" Given that Brodeur has superior numbers so far, I think the answer is clear. While I'll be supporting America in this tourney, let me give a pro-tip to the Canadians about their starter. If you want to go with youth, go with Marc-Andre Fleury. If you want to be popular, go with Roberto Luongo. If you want to win the Gold, consider starting the one goaltender who has actually led Canada to win one in the last 50 years.

	GP	MIN	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Martin Brodeur	22	1318	15	6	45	2.05	603	558	.925	1

Patrik Elias, LW, Czech Republic

Elias won the Golden Stick last year for being the best Czech hockey player in the world. Surely, the Czechs wouldn't forget about him in Vancouver? Now that he's healthy, he's showing the NHL why exactly he won it. His playmaking, offensive awareness, backchecking, and a better-than-decent shot make him an important weapon up front.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Patrik Elias	10	3	7	10	3	4	1	0	1	18:47	23	13.0

NEARLY A LOCK, EXPECT TO SEE THEM IN VANCOUVER

Paul Martin, D, USA

Martin has been out with a significant injury for most of the past month, he'll likely not be back to playing until the middle of December. Prior to the injury, Martin has looked good - taking on big minutes (09-10 average: 23:57) and keeping himself (and his positioning) calm in the final minute as well as he does in the first minute. Brian Burke said the injury wouldn't hurt Paul Martin's chances for representing America, per Tom Gulitti. Considering he can handle 24-27 minutes against top opposition regularly, this leads me to believe he'll be in Vancouver.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Paul Martin	9	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	23:57	9	0.0

Jamie Langenbrunner, RW, USA

Believe it or not, but the Devils captain has never represented the U.S. in the Olympics after 1998. Really. Well, if there's any time for him to have one more go at it, it's now. Langenbrunner broke out with his best offensive season last year and he's enjoying another productive year so far. Seriously, would you have expected 22 points in 24 games? I didn't. The man can play the point, join up on the rush, handle cycling down low, and even play primarly as a checking player. Langenbrunner is versatile and experienced, which are invaluable on a potentially young American roster. I think he goes.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jamie Langenbrunner	24	5	17	22	8	6	1	1	1	20:32	68	7.4

IN A BATTLE, THESE GUYS NEED TO HAVE A VERY GOOD DECEMBER

Johnny Oduya, D, Sweden

Oh, how much can change in such a short while. Prior to this season, I would have said he was nearly a lock; but then he spent the beginning of this season getting burned repeatedly. The two-way defenseman hasn't shown much in terms of offense or in defense. Instead of looking poised, he's looked nervous. I had to even raise the point about how bad he was this season. Then he gets injured. So Oduya has to get back into form and play much better than he had been at the beginning of this season. Combine that situation with Sweden potentially having 6 defensemen ready and Oduya has to prove himself all over again. Hopefully, he is able to do just that.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Johnny Oduya	11	0	0	0	-5	16	0	0	0	21:04	9	0.0

WORK TO DO, LONG SHOTS BUT NOT OUT OF CONSIDERATION

Travis Zajac, C, Canada

Nothing against Zajac. His performance in New Jersey so far has been perfectly acceptable. He's productive, he's winning faceoffs (51.9%), he can play big minutes (21:10), and he can play in all situations. However, the problem isn't with Zajac, it's with Canada. Namely, Canada is absolutely stacked at center. We're talking about a team that could have Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby, Brad Richards, and Patrick Marleau down the middle. Guys like Mike Richards, Rich Peverley, Ryan Getzlaf, and Paul Statsny have all made good cases, but even they are on the outside looking in (or will play as wingers). It really is just a numbers game for Zajac unless he has one amazing December. Maybe in 2014?

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Travis Zajac	24	7	15	22	13	10	3	0	0	21:10	58	12.1

Nicklas Bergfors, RW, Sweden

A few days ago, Bergfors mentioned how much he would love to represent Sweden at the Olympics according to this post by Tom Gulitti. Now, I first thought this was just a hope because, hey, Bergfors is a rookie. Surely, Sweden would have many forwards ahead of him on the depth chart. Then, I check NHL.com and find he's currently 9th among Swedish skaters in scoring and 3rd among Swedish right wingers (behind Daniel Alfredsson and Mikael Samulesson). That surprised me and now that hope doesn't seem so far-fetched. Given that Gulitti's post also notes that Sweden's head coach is trying to get Bergfors on the eligibility list, perhaps he's got a more realistic shot than I thought. Even so, I think Bergfors needs to show much more consistency in his game to be considered. Sure, it's understandable that he's not consistent, he's a rookie, after all. He truly is a long shot.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Nicklas Bergfors	24	6	10	16	3	6	3	0	2	15:33	60	10.0

MOVING UP, COULD BE CONSIDERED WITH AN AWESOME DECEMBER

Brian Rolston, LW/RW, USA

He's played for the U.S. in 2002 and 2006, he's currently 20th among American skaters in scoring, he's still got a cannon of a shot, and he's could be catching fire real soon in New Jersey. Brian Rolston, in my opinion, is even more of a long shot to make the American roster than Bergfors making Team Sweden. But if he has an amazing December, then he has to at least be in the discussion - perhaps as an reserve player in case injury strikes. I don't think he'll make Team USA but I can't say never if he's finally going to get it together in New Jersey for the next month. Mind you, that's a pretty massive "if."

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Brian Rolston	23	8	5	13	-1	4	4	0	2	18:33	80	10.0

NOTABLE DEVILS WHO WON'T BE IN VANCOUVER IN FEBRUARY

David Clarkson, RW, Canada

Does Canada really need an agitating winger who can score? Well, on the smaller ice surface and to give the team some more grit, Clarkson could be in a useful role. But Canada doesn't necessarily need to go that route and they may have other players who are just as useful for that role (e.g. Ryan Clowe). The recent injury basically puts him out of the running, however bleak it originally was.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - David Clarkson	23	7	8	15	1	39	3	0	2	15:08	65	10.8

Andy Greene & Mike Mottau, D, USA

Yes, they have both been been playing out of their minds this season. But Greene had to fight to keep his #6 spot on the team multiple times last season and even to the start of this season; and Mottau is a literal "does everything OK, but nothing really well" defenseman. I appreciate what they are doing in New Jersey, but I doubt they crack the USA lineup ahead of Martin, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter, Erik Johnson, James Wisniewski, Matt Carle, Jack Johnson, Ryan Whitney, Alex Goligoski, and even Joe Corvo and Jordan Lepold. I'd be honestly surprised if either makes the roster.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Andy Greene	21	3	9	12	6	4	3	0	2	23:21	25	12.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mike Mottau	23	1	1	2	5	13	0	0	0	22:31	23	4.3

Not Considered: Matt Halischuk (CAN), Mark Fraser (CAN), Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (CAN), Andrew Peters (CAN), Bryce Salvador (CAN), Rod Pelley (CAN), Rob Niedermayer (CAN), Cory Murphy (CAN), Matthew Corrente (CAN), Yann Danis (CAN), Tyler Eckford (USA), Ilkka Pikkarainen (FIN), Jay Pandolfo (USA), Tim Sestito (USA), Dainius Zubrus (LTU), Dean McAmmond (CAN), Vladimir Zharkov (RUS).

The New Jersey Devils All-Decade Second Team

John Fischer — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

Zach Parise has much to be happy about. We think he's worthy to be named on the Devils' All-Decade Second Team. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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This season marks the end of a decade. It was a successful decade for the New Jersey Devils. They opened it up with a Stanley Cup, earned a second one in 2003, and they have put together a combined record of 462-247-62-31-18 for 1035 points not including this short season so far. From the 1999-2000 season through the 2008-0 season, the team has won 56.34% of all their games and taken 63.11% of all potential points. We have seen two numbers retired in Scott Stevens' #4 and Ken Daneyko's #3. We have seen franchise records broken such as Patrik Elias' 96 point season in 2000-01 and has led the franchise in points last season; Brian Gionta's 48 goals in 2005-06; and Martin Brodeur's taking over the NHL career win record in 2009. The team has even changed to a new home. The Devils have got out of the swamps at the Meadowlands and has moved into a fantastic new arena in Newark, the Prudential Center.

It's been a big decade.

While this season will fall under this realm, Steve Lepore, Thibaut "Tibbs" Deshayes, and myself felt it was a good idea to determine who were the best Devils in the 2000s. Steve initially came up with the topic, we agreed it was worth thinking about, and so we all named first and second teams. Eventually, we came up with two teams we could agree upon as who stood out the most in Devils' red. If you've been following the team for much of the last decade, then may not surprise you too much; but figuring out who is worthy and at what level is certainly worth discussing (as well as who didn't make it).

Today, I give you who we named as the New Jersey Devils' All-Decade Second Team. Three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie were named as players who stood out but not necessarily standing out on their own. We didn't just consider the talent of the player, but also what they have accomplished as a Devil - for themselves and the team. Every player on both teams has put in at least four seasons with the Devils. I've written a blurb for each player. I've also included their regular season and playoff stats from this decade; do note that for current players, I've included their current numbers.

Tomorrow, I will post the First Team - the top Devils of the past decade. Read on for the Second Team.

Left Wing - Zach Parise (2005-06 - Current)

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Season (2005-Current) - Zach Parise	347	135	145	280	54	111	37	2	29	1105	12.2
Playoffs (2006-Current) - Zach Parise	32	12	12	24	1	14	4	0	2	115	10.4

You may be asking, John, he's great, but he's only 25 - what is he doing here? I respond with, why not? Drafted in 2003, Parise was one of the most tantalizing prospects the Devils have ever drafted. The Devils traded up in that draft to get him, surprised that he was available after the 16th overall pick. Since being drafted, he was a First Team All-American at North Dakota and was MVP of the 2004 World Juniors Tournament. No other prospect in this decade has accomplished as much as Parise.

While his rookie year in 2005-06 didn't turn the hockey world upside down, you could see his potential in flashes. He exploded onto the NHL scene soon afterwards. In 2006-07, Parise showed off the depths of his offensive talented and doubled his rookie point total - 31 to 62. 2007-08 saw more of the same, but he led the team in scoring. In retrospect, it should be seen as a passing of the torch from Elias to Parise as the Devils' top forward. The 2008-09 season was a revelation as Parise challenged both Elias' team record for most points in a single season and Brian Gionta's team record for most goals in a season. While Parise came up short against both, the 45 goal, 94 point season made everyone in the hockey world stand up and take notice. The Devils have a new ultra-talented left winger, and to think, he's not even in his prime.

Already he's becoming more of a cornerstone for the post-lockout Devils, being named an alternate captain to the team and with hints of being the future captain. The best is yet to come, but Parise has already made his mark within the past decade.

Center - John Madden (1999-2000 - 2008-09)

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Season (2005-Current) - John Madden	708	140	156	296	37	193	6	17	19	1529	9.2
Playoffs (2006-Current) - John Madden	112	20	21	41	3	24	2	4	4	289	10.4

John Madden wasn't drafted. In retrospect, you have to wonder why. He went to Michigan late and developed into a potent scorer. The Devils eventually signed him as an amateur free agent, leaving him to develop in Albany. What a find he became! Madden became a great scorer in 1998-99, putting up 38 goals and 60 assists in 75 games. Yet, when looking to make the Devils, it was advised that he try a checking center role.

That would be some of the best advice Madden ever took.

Madden became a regular center in 1999-2000 on the fourth line, potting 16 goals from a largely defensive role. Madden remained as a bottom six forward, eventually taking over the third line spot once Bobby Holik moved up (and later moved to the Rangers). While Madden would never consistently show offensive talent, he has his moments - namely a 6 goal, 10 assist effort in the 2003 postseason. More consistently and importantly, he was a consistent pain for the opposition. He, along with his usual partner, left winger Jay Pandolfo, would just hound opposition forwards all night long. For example, just look what he did to Mario Lemieux in Game 5 in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001. He made stops, got under Mario's skin, took two slashes, and drew a cross-checking call.

His defensive play was recognized with being awarded the Frank J Selke trophy in 2001 and was a finalist for the best defensive forward award three times afterwards in 2003, 2004, and 2008. His heart, work ethic, and dogged marking of opposing players earned him the nickname "Mad Dog." He signed with Chicago in the past offseason, but he will always be respected and appreciated by the Devils faithful for his contributions to the team.

Right Wing - Brian Gionta (2001-02 - 2008-09)

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Season (2005-Current) - Brian Gionta	473	152	160	312	62	227	48	5	30	1351	11.2
Playoffs (2006-Current) - Brian Gionta	67	19	21	40	4	18	5	2	5	187	10.2

Gionta is small. Exactly listed as 5'7", 170 lbs. small, but he had heart like the late Andre the Giant. He played big. Gionta was shifty, but he was more than willing to go to the front of the crease, take the punishment from bigger defensemen and forwards, and keep coming back for more. He represents yet another example of the Devils organization recognizing talent over a measurable like size.

After an excellent college career at Boston College, it didn't take long for Gionta to break into the NHL. He only spent 37 games with Albany before being called up for 33 games with the Devils in 2001-02. Gionta was decent, showing flashes of his offensive potential in the following two seasons; but he didn't break out. 21 goals in 75 games in 03-04 was good; but the effect is a bit diminished when you consider he only had 29 points that season. His peak came in the season immediately after the lockout. He eventually became the team's top right winger, playing along side Scott Gomez, and looking like he was developing into a good scorer. A bright spot in what was looking like a dismal season. Then Elias came back and when placed with Gomez and Gionta, it was then-perfect match-up. Gionta eventually broke out and took the franchise records for most power play goals in a season (24) and most goals in a single season with 48. He wasn't just on fire, he was an inferno. Many wondered what would Gionta do to follow that up.

Unfortunately, Gionta's production dropped off since then; but he still contributed with at least 20 goals in each of the next 3 seasons, while increasing his assists in those same three seasons (20, 31, 40). Not great, but more than acceptable as a secondary scorer. He was a player that the opposition still had to respect and while the total amount of goals dropped; he developed his playmaking skills and occasionally scored goals like he did in 2005-06. Gionta is no longer a Devil, but his magical 2005-06 season and the way he always played much bigger than his actual size will be remembered for years to come.

Left Defense - Scott Stevens (1999-2000 - 2003-04)

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Season (2005-Current) - Scott Stevens	360	25	84	109	106	281	4	1	7	606	4.1
Playoffs (2006-Current) - Scott Stevens	78	7	21	28	31	61	1	0	1	103	6.8

While Scott Stevens' minutes and production declined in the twilight of his career, Stevens' defensive work, his strength, and leadership never did. While he only played four seasons in the 2000s, he remained an important cornerstone to the team. And his post-hockey life has been filled with honors later in the decade.

He was still top defender in 1999-2000, especially in that post season. In the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Conn Smythe didn't go to Jason Arnott, Patrik Elias, or Martin Brodeur - it went to Stevens. He was all over the place, wrecking forwards, clearing creases, and even put up 3 goals and 8 assists. He followed that up with a strong 2000-01 season. That was his best offensive season since 1993-94 and led the Devils all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. From that season on, the next three saw fewer points; but Stevens was still a strong defensive defenseman, able to punish any forward with a massive hit or close them off from making an offensive play. He led the Devils in 2002-03 to the team's third Stanley Cup before a final injury-shortened swan song in 2003-04.

Since retiring after that season, Scott Stevens has had his #4 retired in 2006, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2007, and is currently being groomed within the organization as a coach. He is still having an impact on the newer defensemen, surely advising, motivating, and inspiring them - if not the whole team. For many, Scott Stevens represents the best of the New Jersey Devils, the best player to ever put on the jersey. That opinion may change in due time; but regardless of that, his accomplishments in this decade deserve inclusion among the best Devils defensemen in this same time frame.

Right Defense - Paul Martin (2003-04 - Current)

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Season (2003-Current) - Paul Martin	387	24	130	154	46	112	10	0	5	472	5.1
Playoffs (2004-Current) - Paul Martin	37	2	14	16	-10	18	2	0	2	43	4.7

Much like Zach Parise is now the current offensive leader of the team, Paul Martin has rose in the ranks in this decade to become the team's top defenseman. He's a two-way defender like Brian Rafalski. He's not as prolific on offense, he's not particularly physical, and he's still getting used to leading breakouts this season. Yet, Martin's defensive awareness and positioning warrants respect. He's certainly getting it throughout the league, as teams get to see him plenty in all situations. Martin's average ice team per season through this season has increased from 20:07 (03-04) to first-pairing minutes right after the lockout with averages of 23:37, 25:14, 23:53, 24:22, 23:57 per game.

At 28, Martin has already established himself as the top defenseman on the Devils and he will only get better on the blueline as a veteran. Sure, Colin White has been a Devil for much longer and has enjoyed more success than Martin. Yet, Martin has been the relied on much more than White on average for a reason. He's just an intelligent defender who has led the Devils' blueline since the departure of Brian Rafalski - something Colin White has not done (which is fine, as he's really a #3). No, he's not a true #1 stud defender like Stevens or Scott Niedermayer, but he can play in all situations and take big minutes against the best opposing forwards night after night. After last season, he is no longer a hidden gem in the NHL and the best is yet to come. Hopefully, he'll continue making an impact in New Jersey.

Goaltender - Scott Clemmensen (2001-2007, 2008-2009)

	GP	W	L	T	OT	SO	GA	SA	SV%	GAA	MIN
Season (2001-2009) - Scott Clemmensen	65	32	19	0	5	4	150	1666	.909	2.54	3547
Playoffs (2006) - Scott Clemmensen	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1.000	0.00	7

Of all the backup goaltenders to Martin Brodeur, the only one who got more than just a few games was Scott Clemmensen. When Martin Brodeur suffered a torn bicep to his left arm in 2008-09, Devils fans were worried. Rightfully concerned of what will happen to the team without Martin Brodeur for 3-4 months. Could Kevin Weekes or Scott Clemmensen step up? Ultimately, Clemmensen proved to be the better candidate and head coach Brent Sutter went with the Iowa-born netminder as the main replacement for Brodeur. Clemmensen played in 40 games, earned a record of 25-13-1 with a G.A.A. of 2.39, a save percentage of 91.7%, and two shutouts. It would be the best performance by a Devils goaltender not named Brodeur in this entire decade while helping the Devils earn the franchise record of wins in a single season. There can be no other choice than Scott Clemmensen for this position.

And there you have it. The New Jersey Devils All-Decade Second Team:

Zach Parise - John Madden - Brian Gionta

Scott Stevens-Paul Martin

Scott Clemmensen

Thank you for reading. Feel free to discuss any of the players in the comments. Perhaps you would have liked to have seen someone else. Maybe you want to add your own thoughts about any one of these players. If you don't feel like waiting until tomorrow, you can even speculate on who we named to the First Team.

The New Jersey Devils' October 2009 in Review

John Fischer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:00:32 -0000

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

New Jersey Devils' October 2009: Success on the Road. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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With a 1-4 home record, with three of those losses ranking at the "very disappointing" level, would you believe the Devils achieved their best October record after some mixed results in the last 5 seasons?

The Devils achieved an 8-4 record based largely on the strength of excellent play on the road. The road record is easy: 7. That's 7 wins. Moreover, they were mostly close games. Only two of them came with margins of victory greater than 1 goal; and three of them came through the shootout.

That is impressive in of itself, but it's an even bigger accomplishment as the team became increasingly shorthanded throughout the month. Going into the season, the Devils are still missing Patrik Elias, who still recovering from surgery that removed scar tissue from his groin. Later in the month, Paul Martin and Jay Pandolfo both suffered significant injuries after a big win in Pittsburgh; and Johnny Oduya was recently added to the list of injured with a "lower body injury" in Boston. With a depleted defense, an offense that has yet to truly reach its potential, an increasingly powerless power play (so what else is new), and such bad performances at home, that the Devils finished the month at 8-4 is amazing.

In my opinion, a lot of the credit for the team's success should go to Jacques Lemaire. Yes, the Devils took far too many too many men on the ice penalties under Lemaire. Yes, he constantly shuffles lines and sometimes resorts to line matching at any cost. Yet, he has instilled a never-say-die attitude among the team that has saw them so much success on the road so far this season. Moreover, he's quite candid on what he expects from the team and has a handle on who good this team could be. As evidence of this as well as proof that he gives far better quotes than Brent Sutter ever did, Lemaire told Tom Gulitti after the Tampa Bay game exactly what he felt about the 7-0-0 road record:

"I’m not impressed because we can’t win at home," Lemaire said. "That’s why we’re lucky that we’re getting these wins here. The way we’re playing at home, we’ve got to play better. It’s that simple. If we would get our share of wins at home and do this, then it’s exciting. Right now, it’s not at all. We need these points because we’re going back home."

Too true. The Devils need to improve themselves in all aspects when at the Rock. At home, they have lost to Philadelphia 5-2 in their home opener, the Rangers 3-2 in the rivalry's first game this season, and gave up four goals in losses to both Atlanta (4-2) and Buffalo (4-1). Even when you consider the team's lone home win, a 2-0 win against Carolina, the offense was stymied over and over again. In the four losses, the defense made far too many critical mistakes.

The results on the road contrast this slightly. Not that the Devils' offense has been world-beaters, they have been able to get the goals they need to - particularly in the third period - get points in each of their games. Here's a list (and links to recaps) of all the road games where the Devils got a game tying or game winning goal in the third period: Tampa Bay in the Devils' first road game, at Florida, at Washington, at MSG where the Devils got some sweet revenge over the Rangers, and at Boston. The most recent exception include last night's shootout win over Tampa Bay, where the Devils only got their goal in the second period. The first exception was when the Devils played their best game all season in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, who then was enjoying a 9 game winning streak.

The key for upcoming month will be continued improvement. With the Devils likely to be without Martin on defense, the rest of the blueline needs to improve their positional play. Martin Brodeur has recovered from a slow start and given the close nature of the game of his 7 wins, I'm sure he'll be fine going forward. But no goalie's numbers will if the defense collapses. Nevertheless, the Devils have only allowed an average 2.33 goals per game and that's not bad at all - it's the sixth best average in the league, actually.

Patrik Elias should return sometime in this month and even before then, the Devils would be wise to be more lethal with their scoring chances. They've improved in getting more opportunities, even on the power play (well sometimes), with an average of 30.7 shots per game. But they need to take it to the next level, if only so Brodeur and the defense doesn't have to manage one-goal leads in game after game. The Devils, even without Elias, can do much better than averaging 2.33 goals for per game in my opinion.

Devil of the Month Honorable Mention:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Zach Parise	12	6	8	14	7	4	1	0	0	0	59	10.2

So it's a bit ironic that my honorable mention and selection for Devil of the Month are both forwards. Parise is a fine candidate to award Devil of the Month. The left winger is a shot machine, as only Alexander Ovechkin has more shots on net than Parise this season (and he has 89, so AO will be in first for a while). Parise also leads the team in assists, points, and plus/minus. Per Behind the Net's even strength on-ice/off-ice numbers, Parise's presence on the ice just leads to goals. When Parise is off the ice, the Devils goals for per 60 is only 1.24, when he's on the ice, it rockets up to 4.08. So, yeah, Parise had a very good month and based on (most) stats, he was the best Devil in October.

But only one Devil impressed me more: Travis Zajac, the In Lou We Trust Devil of the Month for October 2009.

Back in July, as an restricted free agent, Travis Zajac signed a pretty sweet contract for a not-insignificant amount of money. So far this season, Zajac has been clearly earning his money. As Glenn "Chico" Resch said during the television broadcast of the Devils-Capitals game, when Zajac is on the ice, good things seem to happen. He's completely right. He plays with more strength, he's gotten a bit faster, and I've noticed that he's more confident with his passing.

The even-strength numbers at Behind the Net back up Resch's theory. In even strength play, Zajac faces the third highest quality of competition among the whole team (and first among players who average more than 10 minutes a game) and has a remarkably high relative CORSI of 31.8. When Zajac steps on the ice, the Devils' shots for per 60 shoots up from 23.7 to 36.4 and the goals for per 60 rise from 1.84 to 2.75. The offense benefits greatly from Zajac's presence. He's also a big help on defense when he's out there: the shots against per 60 drops from 24.9 to 23.7 and the goals against per 60 falls from 2.61 to (wait for it) 0.69. I know he's largely an offensive player and the focus is usually on the opposition when he's in play, but 0.69 goals against per 60 minutes is simply too low of the number to just say that it's mere happenstance.

Lemaire has noticed Zajac's skills and has been using him in all situations, leading him to play an average of 21:11 per game, the second most among forwards (Jamie Langenbrunner leads with 21:27). Zajac has been the team's best center, leading the team with winning 54.1% of his faceoffs. Zajac is also tied with Parise for the team lead in goals; and he has scored the most important goal of this past month - the last-second equalizer that gave the Devils the chance to win their first game of the season:

Travis Zajac has been enjoying his hockey and we should all certainly hope that he continues playing as well as he had in October.

Travis Zajac

#19 / Center / New Jersey Devils

Height: 6-2

Weight: 200

Born: May 13, 1985

October 2009 Devil of the Month

Monthly Stats: 12 GP, 6 G, 5 A, +6, 6 PIM, 36 SOG