Lou!!! come back!!!

It has been a while since I last wrote about the Devils. My last two posts were about the season preview and the training camp. One month and ten games, a new coach, a new defense, a new arena, a new system later, it is time to get back to basics. There has been much to talk about outside the game matters and now that the Devils are back home and the grand home opening is behind us it is certainly time to do what the Devils used to do: win games!

To be honest, I am sick of the best coach outside the NHL, I am sick of the New Prudential Center, I am sick of hearing about the 9 game road trip to open the season, I am sick of hearing about how we need more offense, I am sick of losing.

A few thoughts about the first ten games of the season.

Marty Brodeur
What is wrong with Marty? From the very little action I have seen he didn't look too good on a lot of the goals he surrendered. If you think I am bashing him, don't get too excited because I know what he is worth and I am not ready to give up on him. I read some comments by so-called hockey specialists saying he was now 35 and was getting old. To me that's a lot of nonsense. He is just coming off one of his best season and over the summer he got old?? Give me a break! He carried us and our poor offense last year and it is time he gets his confidence back with a responsible defense unlike against the Rangers on Thursday. Maybe the fact it has been said he would play less game has gotten to him. He needs some support in order to gain his confidence back.


Injuries
Of course the injuries to Colin White and Jamie Langenbrunner don't help. I believe Jamie is back skating and will probably be back in a little while. I wish the two players the best and especially Colin White. I am not even sure what awaits White in the new system though because our coach seems to favor faster and more offensive defenseman. We all know what Jamie brings to the team. The team is surely better off with him in the lineup. What worries me though is that Jamie, as clutch as he may be, will take some time to get back to form, and to game shape. In my opinion he can only be a long term solution to our offensive problems.

Offense
That brings us to one of the main concern of this team: the offense. Scoring 5 goals again the Pens, 6 against Atlanta, 4 against the Islanders is surely impressive for a Devils team that has been struggling offensively for a very long time. The problem is these three games were decided by a goal. The offense is struggling when we are shut out 3 times in 6 games. The Devils have invented scoring by committee, not committee of players, but committee of games... From what I read, Coach Sutter is constently shuffling the lines. Well I know the purpose of shuffling, it is usually to get some offense going but at some point, I think the constant shuffling is not the best suited thing. How can you build some chemistry if you always change your lines?. Shuffling shows a lack of confidence to your players and they probably are confused by the moves.

Sutter
That brings us to Sutter. I have to say I am getting less and less impressed. I had no problems with his early moves : stripping Elias from the captaincy, breaking up the Checking line. It just showed that he was a NO-nonsense kind of guy. I liked that. It was reminiscent of the God of no-nonsence: Pat Burns. But I feel like Sutter is burying himself with the team. Trying to shake things up with the forwards, challenging players has two sides. If it works, then all hail the coach, if it fails, then wave goodbye to him. I don't think he is in trouble just yet because it is still early in the season and Lou trusts him. But he'd better turn things around quick because he won't have time to settle in Jersey. Right now it looks like the players don't answer to him. It almost make you regret Claude Julien.

The new arena and the road trip
Are we going to be on the road all year? The arena looks good and I can't wait to go there and see what it looks like. We had to spend almost a month on the Eastern road. Thank God we are in the Eastern Conference, at least the players could get back home in between games! Opening at home against a strong Ottawa team was not the easiest thing to do. But losing again makes you wonder if they will ever win a game again!!! They couldn't even win in their brand new building and that says a lot about how the team is right now. No confidence at all and almost no chance to be successful.

The new system
The New New Jersey Devils are in trouble and you know why? People at The Hockey News think the Devils are no longer boring and even exciting to watch. Well two things on that one. If they think the Devils were ever boring, then People at The Hockey News should consider writing about baseball or curling. They only think the Devils are exciting because they no longer win on a regular basis. Well I don't agree with people at The Hockey News and I probably never will. I Like my hockey the Devils way, the defensive, hardworking, winning way. Don't think I am all againt Sutter. I think one of the good thing in his new system is that he is not a line matching freak. He freed Pandolfo and Madden and they both have contributed more offensively. What probably killed Julien, was his over secure style of play that brought wins but killed the offense. The new system is a good thing but obviously it takes time for the players to adapt. The defense should definitely be tighter and mistake free. The forwards should keep forechecking to create offense.

This is not preseason anyore, no more time to be shuffling the lines to take a look at what you have, it is time to get your team working, working hard and winning. Get some confidence and turn things around, not dig yourself into a too big hole to overcome. I still believe this team can do it, I hope it can.