Bleacher Report - Articles by JYOUNG

What's Next For "Kovie"?: Devils Radar

JYOUNG — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:28:50 -0500

As things continue to go downhill for the Atlanta Thrashers, you have to wonder if anyone would want to stay, especially a player of Ilya Kovalchuk's caliber. The Russian born superstar has single handily run the offense in Atlanta long enough, and it seems to be time for a change. He has made comments in the past that he does not WANT to leave, but his stats this season say otherwise.

The 6'1, 230 lbs left winger has averaged 42 goals over his first six seasons. Twenty-five games into this season, he is currently on pace for 24 goals and 75 points. While this is still considered a fairly productive season, it is an underachievement for Kovalchuk. He has not even generated an average of three shots per game this season, and has been demoted to the checking line twice now.

Season after season of disappointment, an early exit in their most recent playoff stint, and a current 8-14-3 record, the Thrashers are failing and need to rebuild. Kovalchuk has been there for six seasons now. If he was to be the player around which they build, they should have had more success by now.

It is time to trade him and bring in a young core that they can begin to build around. But the question is, where do they send him, should they choose to unload his large contract and rebuild? The Montreal Canadiens have been waiting for their chance at Ilya, but another team has crossed my mind: the New Jersey Devils. Yes, as a Devils fan, I am a writer who is hoping for this to happen, but when you think about it, it does make some sense. Here is why I think this would be a win-win situation for both the Devils and Kovalchuk.

Offense- The Devils have been searching for some flare to liven up their offense for some time now. Zach Parise has been running the show so far for the Devils but he cannot do it alone. Kovalchuk needs play-makers around him, and he is just the guy to revitalize a play making and somewhat underachieving offense that includes names like Parise, Elias, Rolston, and even Madden who was known to be a scorer in his junior hockey career. The Devils have only one big shot to quarterback their power play unit in Brian Rolston, but that will not suffice. Kovalchuk is known for his big slap shot, and physical play which are two things the Devils' offense desperately needs.

Young Talent- What I would expect Atlanta's demand for Kovalchuk would be mainly young talent, and perhaps a veteran player. The Devils have an excess of young talent that they could deal to the Thrashers in this trade. Halischuk, Bergfors, and Vrana are just a few of the young Devils that could appeal to the Thrashers. Young Travis Zajac is also a possibility. Described as a possible up and coming "Joe Nieuwendyk", Zajac has had a decent start in New Jersey and could serve as trade bait as a young up and coming center for a struggling Atlanta team.

Cap Space- is not a huge issue in New Jersey because Lamoriello has never been one to stack the roster with large salaries, unlike the Rangers. There are many teams who could simply not afford Kovalchuk. Brian Gionta and Bobby Holik are both unrestricted free agents after this season, and between the two, that would open up $5.5 million in cap space. Kovalchuk's large $7.5 million would be a burden on most teams, but just might fit into the Devils lineup.

Fan Attendance - Everyone knows that one problem for the Devils organization has always been getting fans to come out to see games. Their rivals across the river sell out games all season, and the Devils players often have to play in their own arena in crowds dominated by blue shirts, or often packed with a surprising number of opposing fans. Kovalchuk's flare and exciting play would certainly help the Devils pack the seats and bring more money in to the organization.

All in all, Kovalchuk is a top player playing for one of the worst teams in the league, and needs to be shipped out. The Devils fit for many reasons, and I hope they will pursue him, should Atlanta decide to trade him. I would not be surprised if this happens, especially since Kovalchuk has only one more year left on his contract after this season. Teams may give up more if they can get him for another year after the 2008-2009 season rather than get him next year at the trade deadline and have him for only a few months.

I am not saying the Devils are a top candidate to get Kovalchuk, nor am I saying that Atlanta will definitely trade him. I am just saying should it happen, the trade seems to make sense. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

LETS GO DEVILS!!!

Fact or Fiction: Devils Shopping for Gaborik, Bouwmeester?

JYOUNG — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:16:50 -0500

As injuries have seemingly plagued almost every team in the NHL, trade rumors have been floating around even more than usual. Be it injured stars, underachievers, or disgruntled players, there are some big names that teams are looking to send packing.

However a few have been given some attention by the Devils, and I'm interested in hearing what everyone has to say about it.

The three latest rumors I have heard lately that the New Jersey Devils have expressed interest in are injured Minnesota star Marian Gaborik, disgruntled Jay Bouwmeester in Florida, and veteran free agent Brendan Shanahan.

As a Devils fan, I know that Lou Lamoriello has always been pretty hesitant to make a trade. In fact, the last serious trade I can remember was to the Stars. The Devs shipped out Jason Arnott and Randy McKay and received now-captain Jamie Langenbrunner and faceoff-star Joe Nieuwendyk. Let's see what would make sense for the Devils.

Marian Gaborik, RW

The 26-year-old star in Minnesota is injured yet again with a "lower body injury," which more than likely refers to another groin injury, which kept him out last season, as well. The young star has had some rough seasons.

He puts points up on the board, and few can forget his five-goal game against the New York Rangers, but it is a fact that the Wild organization is becoming frustrated with "Gabby." His continuous injuries don't help the situation.

A rumor has been floating around that Lamoriello has put the Devils in the running for the young lefty, as Minnesota has begun shopping Gabby around. It is more likely that he will not be dealt until right before the trade deadline to peak interests and get the most value for him, but whom could the Devils possibly trade?

I heard rumors of the Devils attempting to deal Patrik Elias; however, his contract prevents a trade unless he is willing to leave the Devils, which I do not believe is the case.

Rumors have also mentioned that a trade with Minnesota (if it were to happen) would likely include Devils star Zach Parise. I do not think Lamoriello would be willing to part with him.

Parise has yet to incur a serious injury and is having a fantastic start to the 2008-09 season, so there is little reason to deal him. Not to mention Gabby's large contract. The Devils have little room in their books for such a big time player, and would likely not be able to afford him. We'll see what happens.

Jay Bouwmeester, D

The young, strong defenseman from Florida is looking to leave but the situation seems to be pretty complicated. Florida has yet to get serious about trading Bouwmeester, who has made it pretty clear that he wants out.

Bouwmeester is a UFA after this season, but can the Devils afford his $4.875 million contract? It's doubtful. Regardless, how does this impact the Devils?

The New Jersey Devils do not really have a solid offensive defenseman that can quarterback their power play unit. Their first power-play unit has Anssi Salmela on the blueline as of now, a young and inexperienced defenseman who has struggled a bit. Johnny Oduya is known for his ability to rush the puck up ice but doesn't do it enough

Bouwmeester would provide the Devils with a solid QB for their power play, as well as some size on the blue-line which they greatly lack. Their largest defenseman, Colin White, seems to hit the least out of any of the Devils D-men, which is frustrating to watch.

Brendan Shanahan, RW

The soon-to-be 40-year-old former Blueshirt is looking to stay in the game but has yet to find a team that will work for him. He is looking to stay near New York, in an attempt to avoid taking his children out of their current schools. This means the teams in the area have the best chance at signing the veteran winger.

Teams formerly known to be in the hunt were the Devils and Flyers, with Pittsburgh and the Rangers as outside possibilities.

It appears negotiations with the Flyers have fallen through, leaving Pitt and the Devils in the east. Lamoriello has expressed interest in getting Shanahan into the franchise for future management positions, but is that worth signing him?

Shanahan's agent has said they were willing to accept a fairly small contract. His cap hit would be far less to the Devils than any other star looking to be signed.

While I remain doubtful that the Devils would sign him, it still remains a possibility. I don't see what he has to offer the Devils. They have experience in Bobby Holik, Brian Rolston, Patrik Elias, and Jamie Langenbrunner. Shanahan's speed would be an issue in the fast-paced game.

However it is undeniable that he had an impact in New York, and was a solid player on the power play. We'll see what Lamoriello decides, but I don't expect to see Shanahan in a Devils jersey.

Those are the three main rumors I've been hearing, but I know there are others.

I've heard talks of waiting on the Oilers to decide which two of their three goalies they want to keep (if they decide to trim down their goalie list). I've also heard rumors of Maxim Afinogenov, but not much.

I am hoping Lamoriello does something. If they Devils want to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot, they will need some help until Marty Broduer returns. The offense has been hot lately, so I am not concerned with that. But it wouldn't hurt to get players like Bouwmeester and Gaborik and also get first crack at re-signing them for next season.

Then again, I would never be willing to let Parise go, so it all depends on whom the Devils would give up. Don't be surprised if we see no change in the Devils roster. If we see any change this season, I'd expect it to be the removal of Brent Sutter and Lamoriello getting behind the bench for the playoffs.

LETS GO DEVILS!!!

New Jersey Devils on a Tear: What Changed?

JYOUNG — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:11:46 -0500

Without their All-Star goalie, Martin Brodeur, the New Jersey Devils had been struggling to stay afloat. Losing five of their first six games without him, the Devils were frantically searching for a way to save their season before it got too far away from them; and if possible, remain in playoff contention until the return of their number one goaltender.

Four consecutive wins later, it seems the Devils have found the answer.

Scoring 21 goals in their last four games, the Devils are back on track. While they've given up an average of three goals per game since Brodeur's exit during the Thrashers game, their offense has come alive to grab four straight wins.

So what's changed? Just look at the stats.

Dainius Zubrus—Four goals against Tampa Bay—anytime a player is hot like that, the team is in for a treat. Zubrus powered the Devils to a 7-3 win over Tampa with four of the team's seven goals.

It's nice to see that Zubrus can still play at the level he used to in Washington. It would be fantastic for the Devils if he can continue this level of production.

Mike Rupp—One goal against Tampa Bay—the first goal is always an important one, and Mike Rupp finally got his. Deflecting a shot from Anssi Salmela through the legs of Tampa Bay goaltender Olaf Kolzig, Rupp scored the early goal against the Lightning.

Helping to fill in for an injured John Madden, Rupp is plus-1 in the last five games. Not bad for someone who normally plays on the fourth line. His physical presence and ability to control pucks down low, along with Zubrus, is very important to the small Devils offense.

Patrik Elias—Three assists against Tampa Bay—arguably the most unappreciated Devil these days, Elias has been said to be having a slow start (I being one of the people who has said it).

However, he is proving all the non-believers wrong these days. Elias is on pace for a mid-30 goal season. He has 20 points so far this season, 11 of which have come in the past five games. Elias seems to be doing just fine, and hopefully will do even better once Brian Rolston returns to the lineup.

Brian Gionta—One goal against Tampa Bay—after losing Gomez and Rafalski, Gionta's niche in the Devil's offense seemed to have disappeared. However, the 5'7" forward is now on a four-game goal streak, and has eight of his 17 points this season in the last five games. It's good to see "Gio" contributing again. It'll be huge if he can continue, and maybe even improve when Rolston returns.

Jamie Langenbrunner—Many slow games and bad penalties later, the captain seems to finally have his game back.

His presence has been felt much more on the ice and the scoreboard, recently, than in the penalty box. With 11 points this season, 5 coming in the last 5 games, Langenbrunner seems to be back on track. As a leader and representative of this team, it is important that he continues to stay out of the box and put points on the board.

Travis Zajac—Although Zajac seemed to have a slow start, and often struggled to put the puck in the net, he's actually doing quite well.

With three goals and 11 assists, he is on pace for a 50 point season, not to mention that he has had four points in the last five games. Yes, he's failed to find the back of the net, and we all know he's had his share of chances, but he's getting the job done in other ways.

Scott Clemmensen—With a .909 save percentage and a 2.60 goals against average, Clemmensen seems to have found his game. Not bad for a back-up.

When interviewed, he says he is playing differently now, not trying to play perfect, but trying to play more like a starter. Well he's doing just that. Now on a three-game winning streak, Clemmensen has been outplaying Weekes for the top spot in New Jersey. However as a back-up, his test will be his consistency. Hopefully he can maintain or even raise his level of play as the season progresses.

5-on-5 Play—With a 1.64 goals for/goals against ratio, the New Jersey Devils rank No. 1 in the NHL in 5-on-5 play. Not bad for a team without their top goaltender and what seemed to be a drowning offense.

Don't get too excited. The best part of the Devils success is that everyone seems to be chipping in. It's no longer the Zach Parise show in New Jersey. However, we can't overlook the issues with the Devils, because they are far from a perfect team at the moment. While they may be on a hot streak at the moment, the Devils could burn out if they don't address the following issues.

Kevin Weekes—With a .903 save percentage and a 2.87 goals against average, Weekes is being outplayed for the top spot in New Jersey. What is even worse is that Weekes was once a starter. New Jersey needs Weekes to start playing like a starting goaltender again, if the Devils are to continue their success down the road.

Power Play—With a 14.1% success rate, the Devils rank 28th in the league on the power play. Yes, it is more difficult without the shot of Brian Rolston quarterbacking the PP on the blue line, but that is no excuse. The Devils have to start cashing in on man-advantages if they want to continue to win games.

Penalty Kill—With a 75.6% success rate, the Devils rank 27th in the league on the penalty kill. Is it harder without Brodeur in goal, absolutely, but the Weekes/Clemmensen tandem is getting little help as they're bombarded with shot after shot from the point on the penalty kill. The Devils have to stay out of the box and start helping out more on the penalty kill if they want to be in the position to win games.

In the end, the Devil's goal for the next few months is simple: win games and get healthy.

If they want any shot of making the playoffs, they will have to win enough games to keep the team in contention for Brodeur's return in the hope that Brodeur will be able to play at his usual level quickly.

They also need to get some names off their injured list. With a seemingly ever growing list, John Madden being the last victim, the Devils need their players to return and contribute; Rolston in particular. Hopefully their offensive streak will continue and Weekes/Clemmensen can help them steal some games.

Profile Of The Underrated: Paul Kariya

JYOUNG — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:16:02 -0500

Before I begin, do not misunderstand this article. I am not saying that Paul Kariya is the most underrated and unappreciated player in the league. I am simply stating that he is a forgotten talent to most.

Born in Vancouver, Paul Kariya was drafted 4th overall in 1993 by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (Now the Ducks). Kariya made his name early. Listed at 5'10", 180 lbs, the young lefty posted 50 goals and 58 assists for a 108 point season in just his second year in the National Hockey League. Granted the NHL was a different animal back then, but talent is talent.

Let me take you back to 2002-2003, when Paul Kariya was practically knocked out by big time New Jersey defense-man Scott Stevens. Not only did he continue to play, but he went on to score the game-winning goal.

Yes, he has been slowing down over the years, as all players do, but he is still good for 70 points per season, which in these times is quite the accomplishment. He brings experience to a young St. Louis Blues team (average age 26.6). His skating and knowledge for the game is beautiful to watch, not to mention that he had 15 points in 11 games to begin the 2008-2009 season before his injury. Not too shabby for a 34 year old on a struggling team.

He has also won his share of awards including:

COLLEGE: East Rookie of the Year (1993), East Player of the Year (1993), Hobey Baker Memorial Award (top collegiate player, 1993), as well as others.

NHL: NHL-All Rookie Team (1995), Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1996,1997), NHL First-All-Star Team (1996, 1997, 1999), NHL Second All-Star Team (2000, 2003), Played in NHL All-Star Game (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)

Posting 382 goals and 549 assists for 931 points in 903 games, it is safe to say Paul Kariya has made a mark on the league, as well as every team he has played on.

1994 - 2003 - Anaheim

2003 - 2004 - Colorado

2005 - 2007 - Nashville

2007 - Present ST. LOUIS (signed for $6million per year through the 2009-2010 season)

GOOD LUCK PAUL KARIYA!!! YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!!!

New Jersey Devils' '08-'09 Season Proves To Be Preview of Post-Brodeur Era

JYOUNG — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:15:14 -0500

With All-Star goalie Martin Brodeur out for three to four months, among other injuries, the New Jersey Devils have been struggling to compensate. Brodeur has been the franchise player for over a decade, with three Stanley Cups in 10 years and four Vezinas in five years to prove it.

However, now that he is gone, who will step up to prevent the Devils' season from slipping away. Several weeks later, the Devils are still waiting for the answer. The issue: injuries and underachievers.

Injuries: This is simple. With players like Salvador, Greene, Rolston, and Holik all out, the Devils are playing with mixed lines and little chemistry. Until some of the injured return, they will have a hard time putting out even three solid lines. Rolston was hoped to be the catalyst for a struggling offense, and he better prove to be so when he returns if the Devils have a shot at making the playoffs down the road.

Underachievers: With injuries keeping out some of the best defensemen, as well as their all-star goaltender, the Devils need scoring. However, their biggest role players have yet to prove themselves this season.

1. Jamie Langenbrunner- The captain of the Devils is having one of his worst starts ever and couldn't have had worse timing. Not only has he had trouble finding the back of the net, the best part of his game has completely turned around.

Once known as a clutch player, Langenbrunner has taken some game-killing penalties this season in key situations (i.e. late in the third period of the Devils' 2-1 loss to Edmonton).

If he wants to continue wearing the "C," he needs to be a role model on the ice and start producing offensively. There are young players in our lineup watching his poor performances be rewarded with lots of ice time. Not the right message you want to send, Sutter.

2. Patrick Elias - The biggest disappointment by far in the past several seasons has been Patrick Elias. He hasn't been the same every since he got Hep C, and frankly, the Devils fans have waited long enough to see him produce. He has yet to return to his full potential, and although his good hands are still there, he has yet to find the back of the net as much as he should.

Hopefully Rolston's return will spark some production, or else Elias' increasing contract stretching on for the next four years or so will become a burden on the Devils and watch for him to get some trade deadline action.

3. Colin White- Our biggest defenseman has yet to recover fully from his eye injury and fit the role he is meant to play; the gritty defense-men. As one of their biggest blue-liners, the Devils' veteran defenseman hasn't thrown the body as much this season, and his team has paid the price.

He needs to get back into that physical role he once played so well if his value on the team is to continue. White is another possibility for trade-deadline action now that the Devils have big Bryce Salvador, who has had an excellent start to the season before his injury.

Those are just three players that are underachieving this season, but there are more who no longer seem to fit the Devils' system including Brian Gionta and Dianus Zubrus. Perhaps it is time for some trades and cash thrown around to reorganize the Devils roster to better fit their system.

Future Watch: Just some interesting speculation that I have heard and thought about for the Devils' future. With the trade deadline approaching, and the season slipping away, perhaps it is time for the Devils to look for that big spark in their offensive that they've lacked for the past several seasons.

Elias' contract is going up to about $7 million, and he has yet to prove his worth. Gionta's contract isn't small either and his contract is soon coming to an end. Perhaps it is time to deal them and make some room for some big offense.

Ideas: Gaborik and Kovalchuk (one, not both). Minnesota is getting impatient with the young star and may be looking to get something for him as his contract ends and they look to rebuff their roster.

The Thrashers have yet to have a strong season, and with their roster changing all the time, Kovalchuk's ending contract next season could mean the loss of their franchise player should he want to move on. Perhaps it is time to deal him now and get some young talent and cash to begin rebuilding.

LET'S GO DEVILS!!!