Saku Koivu Signs with Ducks, Devils Miss Out on Another Good Player

Oh Lou, what's going on?

I know I'm probably not the only person who thinks this, but shouldn't the Devils have added at least one scorer during free agency? I mean, we haven't added anyone yet except for Ilkka Pikkarainen.

Yes, I appreciate the fact that we re-signed two key defensemen in Johnny Oduya and Any Greene, but we havn't even re-signed Travis Zajac. Yes, arbitration will solve that problem but after losing Gionta, Madden, and Rupp, I'm starting to wonder if Lou has lost his free agency touch.

In my eyes it all started with the signing of Dainus Zubrus a few years ago. Yes, he is a big player, but he is not the player he used to be.

I understand he wants to start a youth movement by bringing up Rod Pelley, but I think losing Gionta puts a huge hole in our offense. Especially since Gionta was the fifth best point getter in the regular season and the second best point getter in the playoffs. I have no problem not re-signing him as long as we find someone who can replace him, which we have not done.

As far as I can see, our team is not in the place it should be. I think we had too much cap room to just sit around and sign some of the less talented or more injury-plagued players. But Lou does have a knack for putting together a playoff-worthy team year after year.

The only thing I'm worried about is if he can put together a Stanley Cup caliber team, because most Devils fans that I've talked to are tired of only winning the division and losing in the playoffs.

We will see what Lou does, but I have a feeling it won't be much.

GO DEVILS!