Summer time with the Devils

With training camp opening up in a few days,I thought that I would use the time to catch up on some various Devil nuggets that I did not have a chance to comment on during autograph season.

Three pieces of news rates beyond all with two affecting the on ice product and the other the off ice,although I might rate that as number one to me for the long journey.

The top on ice issue is the injury to Travis Zajac,which will leave the Devils without their top center for the first month of the season and likely more than that.
Zajac's injured Achilles Tendon happened over the summer,so much of his downtime will have been eaten up before the season starts,but the type of injury that he suffered will take time to get back into playing shape.
Imagine having to push off an area that has just been injured for the need to build up skating speed.
I bet Zajac does not play before late November,considering the injury.
The Devils plan to move Dainius Zubrus from wing to center to replace Zajac,which makes sense to me.
Zubrus is an experienced center and had some of his better years in the pivot,so I do prefer this solution to overpaying for a center for a few months..

The Devils also said goodbye to a tenured member of the defense corps as Colin White was released along with Trent Hunter,who had just been acquired from the Islanders in the deal that sent Brian Rolston to Long Island.
White was vulnerable with his declining play and the chance to save one million dollars under the cap for the next two years was too much for the Devils to pass up,especially considering the hopes for Bryce Salvador to return next season.
I never hated Colin White the way that many did,but there is no doubt that his play suffered since his eye injury.
White was always a physical player and he lost some of that post injury and understandably so.
I imagine the chance of losing ones sight from a punch or check could make one gun shy.
White signed quickly with the San Jose Sharks.
Hunter's release saved the Devils 660,000 dollars over each of the next four years against the cap.
Between the moves and maneuvering minus the one year deal for Zach Parise,the Devils have put themselves with a bit over five million dollars under the cap according to Cap Geek,which we welcome to the link lists to the right.

The Devils also invited five non-roster players to camp,three of the names being of note.
The most recognizable name is former Devils Petr Sykora,who has played the last two seasons in Europe.
Sykora was a key member of the second Devils title team as part of the "A Line" with Jason Arnott and Patrik Elias.
At age 34,I would say Sykora is near the bottom of the tank,but the Devils have always tried to give former stars a final chance to make teams as a thank you for past deeds,so this does not surprise me.
Defenseman Anton Stralman spent some time with Columbus last season and was looking for a shot,but the name that intrigues me most is right wing Steve Bernier,who has been disappointing in various stops,but has shown enough talent to get future chances elsewhere.
I can see Bernier making this team with a solid camp,the talent is there,but consistency is needed.

The bad news is that the Devils no longer have the best play by play man in the game as the travel has gotten to Mike "Doc" Emrick and Emrick has decided to cut back in games and do a game or two a week for Versus.
Emrick was part of the Devils game experience for me and he will be greatly missed.

Doc did an interview with Puck the Media discussing his future and his past with the Devils.
Well worth the time to stop by there.

Sadly,I suspected that Steve Cangelosi would be the replacement for Doc and I was correct.
I am not a fan of his work and look for a lot of watching on the visiting teams feed for next season for TRS.

I think that cleans things up.
Back tomorrow with the Pirates against the Cardinals.....