Offseason Outlook: Defense

Well, here we are again. Two years removed from their first early golfing season since the mid 90's, the New Jersey Devils seem to be a team toeing the line between rebuilding or retooling.   

A year ago, the Devils made a spirited run to the Stanley Cup finals, littered with emotional, spirited victories and even a handful of dominating performances. (See: entire Flyers' series. Yes even the Game 1 OT loss in Philadelphia) Normally, a team would build on that type of performance or suffer only minor setbacks. Missing the playoffs the following season is just downright rare.     

Taking out the anomaly of both 2006 Finals participants (Edmonton and Carolina) missing the big dance the next season, the last team to accomplish such a feat were the 1996 New Jersey Devils who became the FIRST team in NHL history to fail to make the post season the year after winning Lord Stanley's Cup.     

So where does a team which came within 2 games, a bad penalty and a horrendous missed call, go following missing their second playoffs in 3 years?     

First we look towards the blueline, which in all fairness, was the Devils' best aspect of their team. Sure they had a few breakdowns and a few players who underperformed horrendously, but as a cohesive unit, they game in and game out gave the Devils their best chances to win and allowed a considerably low number of shots to reach Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg and the brief time, Keith Kinkaid.     

AMNESTY BUYOUTS (?)     

One of the must-have features of the new CBA as reducing the salary cap by over $7 million starting in the 2013-14 season. To help teams accommodate the reduction of cap space, the NHL & NHLPA agreed to allowing each of the League's 30 franchises two buyouts which would not count saint the cap(amnesty or compliance buyouts).      

Two teams in particular, the New York Rangers and the Monteal Canadiens, helped influence the NHLPA to requesting that the amnesty buyouts could be used before the start of this season when they told two specific players hat they would be paid not to play hockey this season. Under the terms of the amnesty buyouts, players could not be injured in any way when they were to be bought out. To protect themselves from this, the Rangers asked Defender Wade Redden while the Canadiens asked Scott Gomez both not to report to their respective camps and just stay healthy. After the NHLPA and the owners agreed to allow the early buyouts, Redden signed with the St. Louis Blues while Gomez headed to California to play with the San Jose Sharks. Both players are happily in the playoffs (Gomez still with the Sharks, Redden now with the Bruins).     

It will be interesting to see which players will end up hitting free agency much earlier than originally anticipated this summer. Names like Roberto Luongo or Ryan Miller could become big fish in a small free agent pool. Of course, both the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres will seek trade options before even considering letting any NHL team have a crack at their All Star goalies without getting anything in return.     

The Devils, meanwhile, have a few viable options at their disposal but before executing any buyouts, they must decide if any of the players in their system can make an immediate impact at the NHL level.     

ON THEIR WAY OUT?     

Anton Volchenkov leads the list of potential amnesty buyout candidates.  The hard hitting defender was brought in three summers ago to try and add a massive physical threat to the Devils' blueline which had been absent since Scott Stevens retired in 2004. Since coming to NJ, however, Volchenkov has been hurt often (an accepted risk when initially signing him because of his physical play) but also has even suspended twice. Most recently, A-Train was suspended for 4 games this April when he hit Boston's Brad Marchand high and into the boards. His speed has also become an extreme liability, drawing similarities to traffic cones and pylons. Sure, he has not come even close to the disaster of being a concrete barrier in the middle of the Jersey Turnpike disaster that Ken Klee was but he still is a strong candidate to be amnestied.     

Bryce Salvador is very unlikely to be bought out. His contract doesn't exactly hamstring the Devils just yet, but his play and physical health have already shown signs of breaking down just 1 year into an 35+, 3 year deal he signed last summer. Sure, we all would love to remember the Salvador of last post season who pulled the proverbial rabbit out of thin air with his offensive outburst, but the Salvador Devils' fans are becoming used to is one of slow feet and slow reaction times. His defensive awareness, especially when he's inexplicably paired with Volchenkov is dangers for the Devils and not their opponents. This year, it took the former member of the Blues nearly 30 games to look comfortable and reliable on the ice but his season was then cut short after blocking a shot from Boston's Zedeno Chara. While X-rays and his MRI showed no breaks, Salvador did not play any games for the remainder of the season. Being the captain of the team and having a good rapport with coaches and players alike all but guarantees Salvador will be back next season.     

Neither of the two options have any true trade value at this point in their careers, especially Volchenkov who still has another 3 years remaining on his 6-year deal. It is hard to imagine he would be on the active roster next season wi the Devils having a "get out of a bad deal free" card which they can still play.     

Henrik Tallinder is a buyout candidate only if he cannot be traded AND the Devils need to have a roster spot open for the impending youth movement. He is an outstanding mentor for younger players but doesn't necessarily play the type of hockey which would be conducive for top-6 minutes which he could garner elsewhere. Tallinder is not near the end of his playing career so it will definitely be interesting to see where he and the Devils go for the final season of his 4-year deal. While he could e moved for either picks or mid level prospects, having only one year left and there being a shallow crop, it may be more skiable to hang on to Hank and allow him to mentor the youth.      

Peter Harrold is an unrestricted free agent and unless the Devils use both amnesty buyouts AND none of the young upcoming defenders are capable of making the roster, Harrold's tenure with the Devils could be at an end. The utility player was solid for the Devils as a stopgap following the injury of Tallinder last year and did well eating minutes on the 4th line as well, but he is not an everyday NHL player by any stretch of the word as shown as the season came to a close this year. If he is going to remain in the organization, he needs to have a 2-way deal. He should not be guaranteed an NHL roster spot next year.     

PLAYERS WHO SHOULD BE SAFE

Mark Fayne, Andy Greene, Adam Larsson.     

COULD BE BACK IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT     

Marek Zidlicky has a great shot, very accurate especially when pinching from the point and given an open look. His ability to hold the line on the power play has taken a step back as has his defensive awareness. He is an asset on the power play and while he could be replaced in the future by Larsson or Fayne, for next season he could come sick to New Jersey if he doesn't demand much more than the $4 million he earned last year.     

NEXT IN LINE     

Eric Gelinas finally, and deservedly, got his first taste of NHL action late this season making his debut against the Pittsburg Penguins. Gelinas was unexpectedly matched up frequently against the Penguins top line with perennial All-Star Evgeni Malkin and performed admirably. While he was a minus-1 on the night, Gelinas looked clearly as if he belonged on the NHL roster. What's more impressive is that he has played only 1 season with the Albany Devils after aging out of the QMJHL. The 22-year old was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft and could be poised to have a regular role next year in New Jersey.

The same accolades can be said for University of Michigan defender Jon Merrill. Merrill is left the Wolverines following his junior season and signed and Entry Level Contract with the Devils beginning in the 2013-14 season. Merrill, in the meantime, reported to Albany where he played 12 games while amassing 8 points (1g-7a). If the Devils did not see Merrill as being NHL ready, it is hard to imagine he would have foregone his Senior season at Michigan to play for Albany as his competition is marginally better in the AHL. It is not hard to fathom that the former 2010 2nd round pick will be a least starting the season in the NHL next year.     

A curious name making his case to be a regular on the NHL squad is Alex Urbom. The 2009 3rd round pick started the infamous 2010-11 season in the NHL and while he didn't struggle anymore than his defensive unit, the Devils' elected to return him to Albany after 7 games and a bunch of healthy scratches. He returned to the NHL club for the season finale against the Bruins where he scored his first NHL goal. 2011-12 was similar as he spent only the month of December with the Devils before returning to Albany. The lockout didn't help his aspirations of sticking with the big club this year and he only played one, shaky game with the Devils. Could 2013-14 be the year he finally displays his full potential and secures a regular role on the top squad?

Devils Take Two from Tampa

(Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
Going into tonight’s match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Devils knew anything less then getting the full two points would be a major blow to their playoff hopes.

With Carolina winning their game over Pittsburgh last night, the Devils fell back behind by 11 points from playoff contention. Even with two games in hand, failing on chances to gain ground on idle opponents would be devastating.

During the first period, you could tell the Devils were playing a little tighter than they usually would be on home ice. Their defense was very solid and prevented any significantly threatening scoring chances from the opposition, but their offense was just as hesitant to try and take the zone as they were during their Friday night loss in Tampa.

The second period saw a bad bounce which earlier in the season would have crippled this team. Pavel Kubina took a shot from a top the left circle which deflected off of the skate of Dominic Moore and into the back of the Devils’ net. The power play goal gave the Lightning a much needed go-ahead goal, but the game was far from over at this point.

Just before the end of the period, Ilya Kovalchuk danced with the puck deep in the Tampa zone and let go of a shot which created a scramble in front. As players battled for the loose puck, it kicked out to the right point to Henrik Tallinder, who faked two shots and fired a wrister through the chaos in front. The shot deflected off of the stick of Martin St. Louis and found it’s way behind Dwayne Roloson for the equalizer.

The teams played a much faster paced 3rd period, exchanging chance for chance for most of the first 10 minutes. Just past the midway mark, Travis Zajac’s shot on goal kicked into the corner off Roloson’s pad and was controlled by Matt Smaby. Smaby then tried to force a pass between Zajac and the boards, but was picked off by Zajac who quickly fed a streaking Kovalchuk with a crisp tape-to-tape pass. The pass handcuffed Kovalchuk a little, but he still was able to blast a one-timer past Rolson while falling for the Devils’ first lead of the night, and his 22nd of the season.

The Devils would not sit back and defend the lead as they produced numerous chances, including a beautiful wide open, one-timer look from Patrik Elias late in the period that Roloson was able to get just enough of to prevent a back-breaking goal.

Tampa’s best chance to equalize came during the final 5 seconds as St. Louis broke out with Steven Stamkos through the neutral zone, but Stamkos had gone offsides before St. Louis could make it to the blue line and fire a last-ditch effort on net.

With the win, the Devils again pulled to within 9 points of the Hurricanes. Carolina travels to Buffalo tomorrow night for a critical match-up with the Sabres, who if they win in overtime, will take over the 8th position in the Eastern Conference based upon wins.

Devils fans, at least for one night, should be pulling very hard for the Sabres to win in regulation. If the Sabres can grant the Devils’ fans wish, the gap will remain at 9 points.

NOTES: David Steckel, who played his first game with the Devils since being acquired from the Washington Capitals for Jason Arnott, had a solid game defensively. He lost his first five face offs, and ended the night just 4 for 12, far below his seasonal average of roughly 60%...Zach Parise, who has been recovering from a partially torn meniscus since October, was given the okay from doctors today to resume skating on his own. General Manager Lou Lamoriello said he’s at least 2-3 weeks away from skating hard and the team would then take it from there…Dainius Zubrus shook off a hit from behind from Simon Gagne just before the Kovalchuk goal. Gagne was not penalized on the play…Martin Brodeur made a great left arm save on Nate Thompson on a breakaway during the first period.