The New Jersey Devils are indeed a team that I look forward to watching year after year. Either you love this team with a passion or you just can't stand them.
The Devils love to grab those free agents every offseason. GM Lou Lamoriello made plenty of moves in the offseason involving free agency, signing Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik, and resigning defenseman Bryce Salvador.
If this team wants to make any run at a Stanley Cup this year, the need to pick up their offense. New Jersey finished the 2007-08 season averaging only 2.42 goals per game (27th in the NHL last year). Upgrading the offensive attack was a major necessity.
The Devils do a fantastic job on relying on their goaltender Martin Brodeur. Brodeur is the main reason why the Devils are always in the hunt for an Atlantic Division crown year after year. At age 36, Brodeur will be the franchise’s most important player.
Martin Brodeur remains the backbone of the New Jersey Devils. However the Devils hope that they can rely on their players not named Brodeur this year, now that they have added a few more scorers.
Goalies
Martin Brodeur won his fourth Vezina Trophy in the last five years. He posted a 44-27-6 record with a 2.17 GAA, along with a .920 save percentage. He recently recorded his third straight and seventh season of 40-plus wins in a year, as well as his record of 11 seasons with at least 35 victories. (No other goalie has more than three straight.)
Kevin Weekes was signed last summer to take a little bit of pressure off Brodeur, even though he only played in nine games. Still, Weekes is a competent veteran capable of playing if Brodeur for some reason tires or is injured.
Defense
Colin White suffered an eye injury during training camp last year which caused a small problem for the New Jersey defense. The team struggled to an 8-10-2 start without White, but won their first eight when he returned in late November.
Johnny Oduya and Paul Martin make up an effective offense element to the team’s blue line. Martin had 32 points and was a plus-20, while Oduya more than doubled his numbers from 2006-07, finishing with six goals, 26 points, and a plus-27 rating.
The Devils made a few moves during the offseason to keep the defensive side of the puck consistent. Bryce Salvador was re-signed as well as Mike Mottauto, and this will add depth to the group. Andy Greene and rookies Matt Corrente and Anssi Salmela will also fight for final spots on the roster.
Forwards
New Jersey could be looking at one of its most dynamic scoring lines in recent years, putting Brian Rolston between Zach Parise and Brian Gionta.
Brian Rolston seems to be getting better as he gets older. He recorded 30 goals in each of the last three seasons with the Minnesota Wild, including last season when he turned 35. Rolston should also be the centerpiece to the power play that needs much improving after finishing 25th in the league last season.
Zach Parise led the team with 32 goals and 65 points. If he plays a full season alongside Rolston, these numbers could be getting bigger by next season’s end. Parise also improved from a combined minus-4 in his first two seasons to a plus-13 in 2007-08, tops among the club’s forwards.
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