Devils training camp report

Training camp has started for the Devils. All the players reported for training camp physicals on Thursday morning and they had their first official practice on Friday morning. According to Tom Gulitti, most of the players attended an informal skate at South Mountain Arena as early as Tuesday. New Jersey Devils.com has details about training camp and presents the new faces in camp. They also have an interview of Brent Sutter with Matt Loughlin. If you want an overview of what to expect this season, John at In Lou We Trust has everything covered. Sam Woo at HockeyBuzz.com also offers various reports.

Captaincy
The big news in today's articles is that we are getting a new arena, a new coach, a new 4th line and we might be getting a new captain. Tom Gulitti and Rich Chere both report the first big news of this year's training camp.

Brent Sutter made the announcement on Friday. It came as a surprise as Patrick Elias was named captain by Lou Lamoriello himself. The new coach certainly made a big splash with this news and I think it is a good thing to shake things this way. Patrick Elias said he had no problems with the decision. It doesn't mean that Patrick won't be our captain next year neither. Brent Sutter will name the captain and assitants going through a process with the assistant coaches (Robinson and McLean) and "of course" Lou.

I have to admit I wasn't crazy about Patrick Elias being our captain. Not that I don't like Patrick but I believe the captaincy shouldn't necessarily go to your best player. In case of a slump (that happens to any forwards), the captaincy can put added pressure on you. Patrick didn't have the best season last year and I wouldn't put all the blame on him being the captain. But I think top forwards like Elias, Gionta and younger guys like Parise and Zajac shouldn't even be considered for the captaincy. Sure they can be leaders all they want on and off the ice but the captaincy responsabilty should ideally go to either a defenseman or a second or third liner. At least that's what I think. So who are my candidates for the captaincy. On defense I would go with Colin White and possibly Richard Matvichuk. They both are considered veterans with a lot of experience, with an edge to White because he has been with the team longer. On offense, my choice would be between Brilyn, Langenbrunner and Madden. I really thought Madden would be named the team's captain last season. I like him and I think he is a natural leader on the ice. His role and his attitude make him my choice for the captaincy.

Number Games
If numbers matters, you should know that Karel Rachunek wore Brian Rafalski's old No. 28 and later on Grant Marshall, who is trying to make the team wore Scott Gomez's old No. 23. Back-up goalie Kevin Weekes will be wearing Scott Clemmensen's old number 40. He divided his old number (80) by two, probably like he will his number of games played.

Langenbrunner
Jamie Langenbrunner didn't practice because of a groin strain that should keep him out for a few days. The New York Post suggests that Langenbrunner might need surgery. This can be a bit alarming since Langenbrunner would be sidelined for a long time should he need surgery. Hopefully he will be fine and the good news is that we have depth this year (unlike last year) even though replacing a guy like Jamie is not the easiest thing.

Brodeur and the rest
Game on has two articles about the Brodeur and Weekes combination. I understand Marty and his will to play but I have to say he needs more rest than he got the past few seasons. I do believe he does because he hasn't been a difference maker in the playoffs the past three seasons. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a tremendous goalie but with the amount of games he played last year and the way he had to carry a team with such a quiet offense, he didn't look fresh. I think a new coach can be a good opportunity to change things and have the back-up (Weekes) goalie start at least 15 games. Hopefully the long trip to start the season won't put us in a hole and force Brodeur to play most of the games early on.

Lines combinations and defense pairings in yesterday's practice
Forwards: Elias-Zubrus-Gionta; Parise-Zajac-Tallackson; Pandolfo-Madden-Asham; Rupp-Brylin-Janssen.
Defense: Vishnevski-Martin; White-Corrente; Matvichuk-Greene; Oduya-Rachunek.
Goalies: Brodeur, Weekes.

Dowd and Rasmussen
Two players who won't return to the Devils this season are Jim Dowd and Erik Rasmussen. With good performances as call-ups last season (Clarkson and Pelley) and new additions, there won't be too many open roster positions for the forwards. Dowd and Rasmussen are the latest victims and will need to find a new team. Dowd has been invited to the Flyers camp and I hope for him he makes the team. It is unfortunate he will be on a rival while he made it clear the only team he wanted to play for was the Devils. Dowd made the team last year, signing a contract after the season started. He provided a reliable performance at a low price when we were still tied to the cap ceiling.

Chorske
For all of us who listen to the games on the radio, Matt Loughlin will need a new color commentator as Tom Chorske left his position. I didn't get to listen to that many game with Chorske and Matt. I liked John Hennessy and Randy Velischek a lot.

Friesen
According to some Calgary paper, Jeff Friesen was rumored to be going to Leksand in Sweden. Jeff was one of the best player of our 2003 Championship team and left the team to make some cap room after a disappointing season. Since he left, he suffered many injuries and has not had the same success.


The Devils play their first preseaon game on Monday night in Trenton against Philadelphia.


"What I know is what I know about the Devils". Brent Sutter when asked what he knew about New Jersey (Source Bergen record)

"Our jersey will still be our jersey". Lou Lamoriello when he announced there wouldn't be a press conference to present the new jerseys.

I am sure that these two no-nonsense characters get on well with each other.

Devils News and notes, August 27, 2007

If it deals with the New Jersey Devils, it is in the News and Notes! The News and notes also appears daily on Devilsrule.com.


The Star Ledger - Devils pages
Around the links (John MacLean)

NewJerseyDevils.com
NJD TV Spotlight: Patrik Elias
Prudential Center Looking Picture Perfect

Sportsline.com
Devils report: Notes, quotes
Devils report: Inside shots

Edmontonsun.com
Sutter wants one last junior championship

Winnipegsun.com
Sutter's last stand

Mytelus.com
One more milestone for Brent Sutter

Sportsnet.ca
From Russia with love (Sutter)

Oursportscentral.com
Lever And Wilson Sign Multi-Year Contracts (First Devils goal scorer Don Lever)

Thesudburystar.com
Retired hockey star supports golf classic for Brain Injury Association (ex Devil Troy Mallette)

In Lou We Trust
Prospects, Super Series, and 2MA

Sam Woo on Hockeybuzz.com
Lou gets it done....Martin signs multi-year deal

Trentontitans.com
Trenton trades Capraro to Charlotte
Trenton and Elmira to battle twice in preseason

The Trenton Times
The Stanley Cup lands at Princeton

Devils News and notes, July 26, 2007

If it deals with the New Jersey Devils, it is in the News and Notes! The News and notes also appears daily on Devilsrule.com.


The Bergen Record
Devils keep it in the family

The Star Ledger
Robinson included on Sutter's staff
Robinson, MacLean, Caron, Albelin named Devils' assistant coaches

The New York Daily News
Sutter adds Robinson to staff

The New York Post
Devils tab assistants

Msgnetwork
Devils' Jackpot General Staff

The New York Times
New Devils Coach Surrounds Himself With Familiar Faces

NewJerseyDevils.com
Sutter Selects Familiar Faces for Devs' Staff
Robinson, MacLean, Albelin Named as Assistants; Caron as Goaltending Coach

NHL.com
Pouring concrete vital to perfect ice

Dailyrecord.com
Robinson back as Devils assistant coach

Montreal Gazette
Robinson back behind Devils bench

Atlanticville
Shoot for the Stars event set for Sunday

Mississauga News
Marshall makes a deal with the Devils

In Lou We Trust
Defending Colin White

The Lowell Sun
Devils sign Acton native Moran, Clarke

New Jersey Devils coaches over the past 10 years

Claude Julien's firing made me look back at the different coaches we had over the past ten years.

Ten years ago, Jacques Lemaire was still the Head Coach. He was hired on June 28, 1993. He was the last coach to spend such a long time at the helm of the New Jersey Devils. He stayed almost five years coaching the Devils. The highlight of his stay was winning the Stanley Cup in 1995. He is forever linked to the Devils because of the style of play he employed and making a team play into a certain system.

He compiled a record of 199-122-57 (.602). The team also collected the Atlantic Division title in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Larry Robinson, Dennis Gendron, Chris Nilan, Robbie Ftorek served as assistant coaches. Keep those names in mind.

Robbie Ftorek took over after Jacques Lemaire resigned in 1998. During his coaching career with the Devils, Ftorek, compiled a 88-49-19 (.625) record. He was fired with just 8 games remaining in the 1999-00 season after a 41-25-8 record.

Larry Robinson took over. He lead the Devils to their second cup and took them to the Stanley Cup Finals the following year. He compiled a 73-49-19 regular season record and a 31-17 record in the playoffs. He got fired on January 28, 2002 when the Lou lamoriello realized the team may miss the playoffs.

Viacheslav Fetisov, Bob Carpenter two former Devils players, Kurt Kleinendorst, Jay Leach served as assistant coaches.

Kevin Constantine replaced Larry Robinson and put the Devils in the Playoffs. They eventually lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the First round and Constantine got fired in june 2002. The Late John Cunniff, a former Devils coach from 1989 to 1991 served as assistant coach for Kevin Constantine just before he died. Larry Robinson returned as assistant coach about a month after he was fired.

Pat Burns was hired as Head Coach on June 13, 2002. He took over after a disappointing season where the Devils lost in the first round of the playoffs. He put on a 46-26-10 record in his first season and was 16-8 in the playoffs when he helped capture the Devils Third Cup in 2003. He had a 43-27-12 record the following season but the team lost in the first round of the playoffs. That's when Pat Burns revealed he was suffering from colon cancer. Lou Lamoriello left the position opened for Pat Burns until he was all recovered. Pat Burns suffered another setback and hasn't resumed coaching yet.

Bob Carpenter, John MacLean two former Devils players, Jacques Laperriere served as assistant coaches.

The year after the lockout and with Burns still sick, Lou Lamoriello turned to Larry Robinson to resume as Head Coach. Larry Robinson looked as a good choice and he had been successful with the team before. The new style of play of the new NHL required major adjustments and he took the Devils some time to get used to it. Larry Robinson took it too personally and got sick from stress. He decided to resign in December 2005 after a 14-13-5 record. Lou Lamoriello decided there was no good replacements available and he decided to take over as coach. He turned things around and went 32-14-4 to put the Devils in the Playoffs. The most remarkable achievement was to overcome a 19 point deficit in January to capture the Division title with an 11 game winning streak to finish the season. He also swept the Rangers in the first round before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina hurricanes.

Lou Lamoriello stepped down after the loss and hired Claude Julien in June 2006. After scoring a 102 points this season, and going 47W-24L-8OTL, Claude Julien was fired today. Lou Lamoriello takes over as Head Coach.

In the last 10 years, the Devils went through 9 coaches, 4 coaches stints in the last two seasons with Lamoriello coaching twice.

Larry Robinson started as an assistant coach and coached the team twice. Dennis 'Red' Gendron was an assistant coach under Lemaire and served as head coach for the Albany River Rats. He was replaced during the 2003-04 AHL season by Robbie Ftorek.

Viacheslav Fetisov, Bob Carpenter two former Devils players served as assistant coaches under Larry Robinson along with Kurt Kleinendorst. Bob Carpenter has also been head coach of the former Devils affiliate, the Albany River Rats.

Kurt Kleinendorst is the current Head Coach of the Lowell Devils, the new Devils farm team.

John MacLean who has been one of the best Devil player has been an assistant coach for a while now and was thought to be the next head coach but Lou Lamoriello thought it was too early for him to step up when Larry Robinson resigned.

This demonstrate the philosophy of the organisation who has heavily relied on people who are brought up within the organisation. Apart from Lemaire, Constantine, Julien and Burns, all the other coach are Made in Lou Lamoriello's mold. The one coach who has unfinished business with the Devils is Pat Burns. If he is completely recovered which appears to be the case, Lou Lamoriello will make a strong push to have Burns back for next year. The two men have a lot of respect for each other and Burns is loyal and owes a lot to Lamoriello. My guess is Burns will be back after this season and to be honest I can't wait to see him again.