Devils not so slick in Edmonton loss

The New Jersey Devils looked to get things back where they were last week-as in beating bad teams at home.
Didn't happen last night as a listless Devils squad was defeated by the second worst team in hockey,the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 at the Rock in Newark.
Patrik Elias provided all the Devils offense with a first period goal (8) and the Devils
would score no more.
Cory Schneider finished with 22 saves for New Jersey,who will now be off for three days before back to back games in Chicago and Nashville.
No coverage of those games due to the central time start and me having to work for a living...

Hell Raisers

1) It wasn't all bad-Cory Schneider was OK and the stop shown above late in the game against Teddy Purcell was a shining one that allowed the Devils to at least have a chance to pull Schneider in an attempt to tie the game.
SO we did have that going for us....

2) I generally like Adam Larsson,but it cannot be denied that his stupid delay of game penalty against the Oilers perhaps cost them the game. The penalty led to a Edmonton power-play goal by Nail Yakubov. When you look at those types of plays that is why the Devils are where they are.
It seems like every game has someone making a pivotal boneheaded play that costs a goal.

 3) 14 shots? Really ? Fourteen shots against the second worst team in hockey.And the second worst team in hockey playing at your home arena. Absolutely pathetic.
Look,it's clear this team has offensive problems and those problems are not going to be solved anytime in the near future,but shots on goal are a issue that can sometimes be related to lack of effort or at least lack of any haste at a particular time.

4) Should the Devils try to tank for more tickets in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes?
You could make an argument that they already are with some of the decisions made in the lineup.
Mark Fraser and Peter Harrold are nice guys,but BOTH of them in the lineup consistently?
While Eric Gelinas sits as the power play rots away?
Unless the argument is that these players are being showcased for a trade,which makes no sense (who would want them or pay anything for them?),I barely see an argument to play one,let alone both.

5) I'm not saying that a high draft pick is going to solve problems on this team.
They won't,at least right away,but there is little doubt in my mind that this has a cancer eating away.
I'm not calling out particular players-I'm not in the locker room,but it's clear that effort is becoming an issue and players are not being held accountable.
I realize the mid-season coaching change and spread around power has something to do with the lack of accountability and I'm hopeful that some of that will change for next season,but nonetheless,the last thing that you want to have is veterans teaching your youngsters (as few as there are) that losing is a OK thing and building such a culture.
After all-if I wanted to write about that,I'd write about the Browns.

6) Wrapping up with this- Edmonton is a bad hockey team,but they are a talented one,albeit a someone green one.
I'm sure the Oilers have their putrid nights,but they have some hope in Edmonton that some of these talented players turn out to bring the Oilers back to glory.
I'm not sure that the Devils have that hope.
Sure,the Devils have some young defensive talent,but next to nothing in the form of potential scoring forwards and the team's answer to every free agent cycle to is sign someone that used to be a 30+ goal scorer.
Some of those has worked out well (Mike Cammalleri),some were a mistake to begin with (Ryane Clowe with his head issues) and yet others have been downright invisible (Martin Havlat),but the larger point is this doesn't change until the Devils do and I've seen next to evidence that Lou Lamoriello is capable of such change.
Now,I love Lou and respect all that he has done to build a franchise that was dismal in three cities before he took command of the Devils,but I'm starting to come to the realization that Lou might have lost a little off his fastball.
Unless,there is a plan that I am not privy to,I have concerns that the Devils under Lou Lamoriello may not be willing to rebuild and will continue to try to float an old,dull and sometimes lackluster team along the river.
With the spendthrifty Rangers and the talented rebuilt Islanders both in the same market potentially overshadowing them-the Devils are in danger of being what the Islanders were for so many years- a boring team,with little talent in their prime that few outside the hardcore fan cares about.
Sometimes,you have burn everything down in order for the grass to grow.
Something to think about....