Here are my predictions for the Giants receivers (At least Hixon, Smith, and Boss. I can't really guess what Hakeem Nicks will put up, and I'd love to be optimistic about Mario Manningham or Sinorice Moss, but they're all too big of a question mark in my book. One point I'll make: I think one of them will step up. If I had to guess, though, I'd say Manningham will have a quietly decent year as the # 3 receiver, but towards the end Nicks will start to steal some of his receptions. Let's say that together they put up 65 rec and 750 yds, with 3-4 TDs)

Anyways, here's Domenik Hixon:

Prediction: He puts up Derrick Mason/Reggie Wayne type numbers, so 80 rec and 1,100 rec yds with 5-6 TDs.

Reasoning: He averaged 4 rec. and 62 yds per game when Plax was out. Also, his 2 TDs came when Plax was out. Over a full 16 game season, that's 64 rec and 990 yds. Let's assume that with a full offseason to prepare he can build on that which gives you the numbers above.

Now for Steve Smith:

Prediction: I couldn't really find a similar player to compare what I think his stats will look like next year. Numbers wise, I think he'll be around 70 catches and 800-850 yds with a couple of TDs. Eventually I think he has the potential to be a Eddie Royal/Wes Welker type player, and I think watching Royal and Smith both progress could be very interesting. Both are young, possession type players, but Royal benefits immensely from having Brandon Marshall take the double teams, much like Welker benefits having Moss take the doubles. Smith is missing that, and so I think his numbers will be lower than the 90 catches/980 yds/5 TDs Royal put up last year.  

Now for Kevin Boss:

Prediction: I think he should improve on last season, but probably won't have an amazing year. Once again, they just don't have the primary targets to allow Boss to enjoy the mismatches he needs to have a really good year. I think he's a solid tight-end, and could put up good numbers, but I don't see him topping 40-45 rec and 500 yds, with 5-6 TDs

Not a receiving group that's going to blow you away, but this could be just enough to keep opposing defenses from loading the box with 8 all the time, allowing our running game to do what it needs to do.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic with Hixon, and maybe I'm erring on the side of caution a bit too much with Smith and Boss. Let me know what you think (I promise, I can take the criticism)

I know a lot of people have been saying the Devils have been dropping the ball this free agency period. Yes, they've lost a lot, and gained only a little. They've made a number of small, but meaningful moves, and one or two more moves could turn this offseason into a quiet success. 

But I like the Danis signing-- he did well for the Islanders doing injury relief duty with McDonald,and should be an adequate backup at a major discount over what we would have shilled out to Clemmensen especially and Weekes to a lesser extent.

I also like the Cory Murphy signing-- a lot of upside, in a structured system with such an emphasis on defense, he could do quite well as a 5th-6th d-man who gives us depth and can quarterback the PP (this is all hypothetical-he could also turn out to be a bust or just get injured again, but the great part about this deal is that it's 2-way. Classic no risk-high reward scenario).

And people have been tearing apart the Pikka Ikkarainen deal, while grouping the loss of Mike Rupp in the list of things that have gone wrong. Bottom line, Rupp was a fourth liner who occasionally chipped in a clutch goal here or there, but was primarily an enforcer. Ikkarainen isn't quite as big, but could easily fill the role of tough checking line winger who chips in the occasional goal.

So far, the name of the game has been replacing players like Rupp and Clemmensen with cheaper alternatives, and hoping that players like Bergfors, Murphy, Pelley, etc. can fill the roles of people who left. That's all fine and good, but bottom line is we lost in the first round last year, again. We need to improve, not simply replace pieces we lost. We need a top 6 forward. Either a center or a right wing.  

Now all we need is a top 6 forward. Ideally, we need a second-line center, but I'd much prefer to get a solid right wing and move Rolston to center, than settle for an inferior center. People seem to think he'll be a bust at center, but the truth is he played very well at center for Minnesota for a couple of years, only part of which was on a line with Gaborik. 

A few players intrigue me at the forward position, but none seem to be an ideal fit. For the right contract (i.e. a short 1-2 yr incentive laden contract), players such as Robert Lang, Alex Tanguay could be good replacements. Additionally, players such as Jason Williams (who played better last year, but has a history of injury problems) and Mike Comrie (who had the worst season of his career last year, but is easily capable of 25-25-50) could  be adequate replacements at a decent price.

 Mats Sundin is also an intriguing option- he appeared to still be capable of playing at a high level last year, but questions remain about when he'll make up his mind and how much of the season he'll be available for. 

Then there's always the possibility that someone in-house could fill the role on the second line. Clarkson is developing into a borderline top 6 forward, and given the right opportunity could perform well on a line with Rolston at center and Elias on the other wing. Reports also are that Bergfors could potentially be ready for a permanent move to the show, and a second-line gig at winger would suit him a lot better than a role as a checking winger.

Personally, I would like to see Lang or Comrie at center for Rolston and Elias, Lang played well before he went down with an injury, and if healthy could do very well (20-25 goals wouldn't be a stretch if he could play 70+ games) and I've always been a fan of Comrie's style of play. Plus I wouldn't mind seeing Hillary Duff at games. But the reports on Bergfors make me think that could also be a great move, it's about time he starts making a contribution.

My ideal roster would look like this:

Langenbrunner-Zajac-Parise

Elias-Lang-Rolston

Pandolfo-Pelley-Clarkson

Shanahan-Zubrus-Pikkarainen (assuming we re-sign Shanny)

Martin-Oduya

Mottau-White

Salvador-Murphy (or Greene)

Brodeur

 Danis