Every year,the opinions come out and every year "This is the year that the Devils finally fall off" and this season is no exception,but they will be surprised again as the Devils managed to improve themselves with the return of Brian Rolston to Red and Black colors and some other interesting additions as well.
Rolston is not the same player that left the Devils years back-he is better.
Rolston never scored more than 24 goals with the Devils,but he has exceeded that number in each of the last three seasons and in five of the last six with Boston and Minnesota.
Rolston will bring the extra scoring that was missed last season and improve a power play that certainly needed a jolt of electricity.
And the additional bonus with Rolston is that he brings offense and not at the expense of defense!
Bobby Holik returns as well to anchor the checking line.
I am not sure how much Holik has left,but for what his responsibilities will be,I cannot help but think that he can pull his weight and if not,it is just a one year contract.
The other two additions are speedy Petr Vrana from Lowell and Anssi Salmela,a rookie defenseman imported from Finland.
Salmela is reportedly a defenseman that is comfortable attacking offensively,which this team is always in need of and Vrana adds speed and versitilty (can play center or right wing).
The top line will be centered by Rolston with Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta on the wings.
Both Elias and Gionta suffered through off seasons last campaign and need to step up their game.
Gionta will be looking for a new contract in his walk year,while Elias could thrive in his return to left wing.
The second line is led by the Devils most explosive offensive player in left wing
Zach Parise.Parise led the team in goals and points last year and figures to improve further this season.
Captain Jamie Langenbrunner will be on the right side after a season that started late due to injury resulted in a sluggish year.
Travis Zajac will attempt to bounce back from a mild case of sophomore jinx centering this line.
The third and fourth line will likely have a few mainstays with odds and ends filling spots at times.
The third line will be anchored by the tremendous defense and penalty killers in John Madden and Jay Pandolfo,while Bobby Holik and Mike Rupp will be the cement on line four.
Dainius Zubrus,David Clarkson and Petr Vrana will shuttle between the third and fourth lines throughout the season.
Clarkson is with the Madden line and Zubrus is with the Holik group for now...
The Devil Defense Corps will need to improve their play this season after an erratic 07-08.
The top pairing will be the same as last season with Paul Martin teaming with Johnny Oduya.
Oduya was a favorite whipping boy of mine in the past and he still makes far too many boneheaded mistakes for my tastes,but his play was much improved last season.
Martin would probably score more on other teams,but his role here doesn't require that.
Bryce Salvador was re-signed after spending the end of last season here after being acquired from the Blues (for Cam Janssen,I still cannot get over that!).
Colin White struggled with his vision after a eye injury and as a result struggled with his play.
White will need to return to his physical play of the past for this pairing to thrive.
If he can do that-this will be the shutdown defensive duo.
Mike Mottau is injured right now,but will lead the third pair when he returns.
The question is who will be his partner.
Andy Greene was very disappointing last year and Finnish import Anssi Salmela is pushing for this spot.
Veteran bruiser Sheldon Brookbank provides depth.
Marty Brodeur is back guarding the net as the best in the world.
Not much more that I can add to that.
Kevin Weekes is the backup that never plays in the best job one can find.
The Devils will be back fighting for the division title as usual (sorry to disappoint the hockey media) and will comfortably be in the playoffs.
Lets mark them down as second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the conference.
Bullpen Note
It is not hard to see what team that I am rooting for the Hawaii Winter League.
The West Oahu Cane Fires not only have Eric Krebs and the Pirates guys on the roster,but they also have blog favorites Mike Ramlow and Cliff Flagello on the team as well.
The Cane Fires are currently 6-3 on the season.
Photo Credit-New Jersey Devils
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