The Devils retained coach Peter DeBoer to the dismay of many of the supports of the team and DeBoer has to know that another non-playoff season will result in termination after the season if not during,so the heat is on the man behind the boards...
The Devils were the lowest scoring team in the league last season and attempted to address the issue with the free agent signings of Mike Cammalleri and Martin Havlat.
Both come with injury question marks,but if they play at their peaks,both should help pick up the offense.
They had better because with the exception of Jordan Tootoo (replacing Ryan Carter to Minnesota),this team's roster looks very similar to last years non-playoff winning team.
That is the pressure involved on Cammalleri and Havlat to upgrade the offense.
Color me dubious.
Lines come and go with various combinations throughout the year (Especially the top two lines are often interchangable),so the line that I would write about now could be changed tomorrow so these thoughts are for what I think the lines will look like from the news that I have gotten so far.
The first line appears to Travis Zajac centering the ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr and the aforementioned Mike Cammalleri.
Zajac has been a disappointment since signing an extension,although injuries have played a part,but with luck,this could be a good line.
Zajac should complement Jagr and Cammalleri well.
The biggest worries are can Cammallieri stay healthy and can Jagr continue to shine in his 40's?
The other newcomer of note,Martin Havlat, joins countrymate Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus on the second line.
This could be quite explosive,but more likely is solid.
Zubrus has spent a career doing just enough to keep your hopes up and Havlat could be a scoring upgrade pairing with Elias.
This line I like,but all three are in their middle 30s' and Havlat has always had a history being less than durable.
The third line might be the best with power play standout Michael Ryder with Ryane Clowe and Adam Henrique.
Henrique improved his scoring touch last season and I believe will eventually be the captain and team leader down the road.
Ryder is a power play standout and Clowe is an excellent performer,but you always get the feeling the clock is ticking with his concussion problems.
If Clowe can stay on the ice,this line is more than capable of surprising with offensive numbers..
The checking line was changed despite the success of the Stephen Gionta/Ryan Carter/Steve Bernier trio.
Carter left for Minnesota and Bernier was sent to AHL Albany,although I'd bet he'll be back in Newark sooner or later.
Gionta returns with his characteristic energy and verve and he'll have two new linemates.
Tuomo Ruutu was obtained from Carolina at last years trade deadline and I think he is sitting on a big season.
Jordan Tootoo made the team from a tryout and will hopefully add grit and toughness to a team that needs it.
The other two forwards that made the team were Damien Brunner,who was erratic in his first year as a Devil and doesn't seem to be a Peter DeBoer favorite and Jacob Josefson,who always seems have talent without the results.
The defensemen lost two defense first players in Mark Fayne to free agency and Anton Volchenkov was bought out in order to save some salary cap space.
Fortunately the farm system's strength was defensemen and the younger players will hopefully get a chance to develop.
Andy Greene returns after his best season and with a long term deal,Greene leads the Devils as the number one defenseman.
Bryce Salvador is back as the captain and therefore will see ice time.
I believe Salvador is past his prime and his slow skating will continue to be a liability.
Marek Zidlicky is back (to Rachel's dismay) to provide his offensive abilities and defensive problems.
The younger players should get more ice time,but looking at the numbers,someone will not get the time that they deserve.
Jon Merrill seems to be a DeBoer favorite and looks to have the potential to be a top pairing D-man down the line.
Eric Gelinas has the hardest shot on the team and at worst,should be a power play plus.
Adam Larsson has the most talent of the bunch and still is just 21 despite being woefully mishandled by the organization.\Damon Severson surprisingly made the club over another veteran favorite in Peter Harrold.Severson has never played a full season of pro hockey and was figured to break in at Albany.
Considering that the team has four defenders that sometime in the first month or so,one of them will be headed to Albany and Harrold will return as a better fit as the seventh defender.
Cory Schneider finally get his chance to be the number one goaltender as Martin Brodeur,for now,is no longer player.
Clearly the number one man in net,Schneider will have to produce like one in order for the Devils to become a playoff team.
Scott Clemmensen has arrived for his second term in New Jersey as Schneider's caddy as the number two man after beating out Keith Kincaid for the consolation prize.
I just don't what to think about this team.
The key upgrades in Cammalleri and Havlat bring questions of health and consistency and a club that needs offense badly has to hope those two with a healthy Ryane Clowe can provide it.
The ceiling for this team? Maybe a 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.
The floor? Another non-playoff season and maybe the end of the line for not just Peter DeBoer,but just maybe Lou Lamoriello too...
My call? Split the difference and say the Devils slide into the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed,,,,,
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