How will the Devils do in 2007-2008?

Question

This should spark some controversy.....They definitely took some major hits this off season but they got some of that back with Zubrus and others. If Elias and Gionta pick it up like 2 years ago, we will be saying "Gomez who?"

Before you answer that they will suck just because you hate them, just keep in mind they still have Marty in net (i dont care what you say he is the best in the game 48 WINS!!! & Vezina-how is that over the hill?). Keep in mind also that the Devils were supposed to suck after they lost Daneyko, Stevens and Neidermyer, but were still damn good....lou has always put out a good team and I wouldnt be surprised if they are still a cup contender....whats your take?

Please dont say they suck cause your a Rangers or Phili etc. fan

Answer 1

im a devs fan and my boys arent slowing down yet!
if elias played like a couple seasons ago when he was third in the league in scoring with 96 points they definelty have a chance and same goes for gionta if he stays healthy and plays like his 48 goal campaign in 05-06 sure zubrus is no gomez but the devils have proven time and time again why there are who they are and that is a cup contender and after rafalski and lukowich left they went out and bought vishnevski and rachunek so just wait

Answer 2

I won't say they suck. I also won't get too excited about them, either. If Zubrus was so good, then the Caps would have been a little more reluctant to let him go, wouldn't they? Perhaps the Sabres, who also took a big hit, would have tried harder to keep him, too. You say IF Elias and Gionta pick it up, but I wouldn't go to Vegas on an "if." And frankly, I think Lou is overrated. He has isolated and lost a score of good players this decade due to his attitude, and has refused to adapt to the new league rules, trying to ice the same clutch and grab defensive team he always has. I think Marty Brodeur, whom I think is the best goalie EVER, has made him and the rest of the team look a lot better than they are. I expect them to do about the same this year as they did last year. Zubrus is not the answer, but some of your younger players look like they are ready to break through and replace Gomez. That will be the biggest positive for you this year, but no one looks like they'll step in for Rafalski. That's a big loss. Of course, Brodeur will keep them in the playoff hunt. But Cup contender? Honestly, I just don't see it. You don't have enough depth on defense OR offense.

Answer 3

Eastern Conference Standings
1 Sabres (they will not be as good, but they won't be bad)
2 Rangers (don't let ur mama call the Rangers)
3 Thranshers (because everyone else in this division sucks)
4 Penguins (this will happen only if Fleury is consitant)
5 Senators (they will stink in the first half and then go crazy again)
6 Flyers (MVP for this team = Marty Biron)
7 Bruins (they finally have depth and a goaltender)
8 Hurricanes (Eric Staal will have an other All-Star year)
-
9 Maple Leafs (the team got better, but so did the division)
10 Lightning (they have one good line but terrible goalies)
11 Devils (opposite of Lightning)
12 Capitals (they will have a better season than usual)
13 Canadiens (worst off-season team this summer)
14 Islanders (Di Pietro will cry himself to sleep every night)
15 Panthers (same as Islanders, just with Vokoun)

Buffalo Sabres VS New York Rangers

Western Conference Standings
1 Red Wings (they are a better team than last year)
2 Sharks (all of the kids have grown up)
3 Canucks (same as Devils, but way better)
4 Ducks (slow season due to expectations)
5 Avalanche (Scott Hannan will save Budaj's career)
6 Oilers (everyone had a bad year last year except for Smyth, lol)
7 Blues (Paul Kariya will have to have a franchise year)
8 Flames (Dion Phaneuf will more than just an intimidating hitter)
-
9 Stars (they will be taken by surprise in the second half)
10 Blackhawks (would've made they playoffs with better goalies)
11 Wild (their young goalies will fall apart early in the season)
12 Kings (a whole bunch of overrated underachievers)
13 Coyotes (tough division, nothing they can do about it)
14 Predators (disappointing)
15 Blue Jackets (they never get anything at drafts)

Detroit Red Wings VS San Jose Sharks


What will be?

The series of the young and the talented?
Buffalo Sabres VS San Jose Sharks

or

The series of the Original Six Rivalry?
Detroit Red Wings VS New York Rangers

or

The series of the 05/06 Art Ross Race?
San Jose Sharks VS New York Rangers

or

The series of Hasek's career?
Detroit Red Wings VS Buffalo Sabres


Whatever it is, you heard it here first. All I am going to say is, my money is on the guy from St.Thomas!




To answer your question...

Your coach went to Boston
Your defense went to Detroit
Your offense went to New York
and
You are just lucky that your goalie stayed put

and no, I am not a Philly fan or a Rangers fan or a Penguin or Islander either. I am a Bruin so you know that I speak the truth.

Answer 4

This is the only problem I have with their offseason...they seem to have lost good offensive players but no one spectacular, but at the same time got mostly defensive upgrades. They lost Rafalski, Gomez, and Lukowich....missed out on Briere, Gomez, and Drury...and picked up Rachunek, Zubrus, and Weekes. They needed an offensive upgrade badly (27th in goals scored last year), and Brodeur managed to get them in as a 2 Seed even with the lack of goals scoring...but can he do it again? I'd like to think yeah because he is Brodeur, but why make him prove it? Why risk the chance that he doesn't? I just think they really whiffed in the offseason with respects to upgrading their offense.

With the Rangers greatly improving and Pit greatly improving, I'd have to say right now...before seeing anything...I'd have to put them at 3rd in the Atlantic.

Answer 5

it really does depend on how much the devils play kevin weekes. he is just awful. i'm glad the rangers got rid of him. if weekes can take twenty or so games from broduer, and still make the playoffs they have a shot, but as evident from the playoffs marty was burned out, he can win them all the games in the regular season but during playoffs he is just to tired and he needs help. the offense will hurt a bit loosing gomez. zubris is good, he can do the job, loosing ralfaski didn't help much either, the defence is the devils prode and joy and it is not what it used to be, the goalies have to step it up, broduer can, i don't know if weekes can pull his own weight though

Answer 6

im a big devils fan but it all depends this year how well the team begins play without gomez or rafalski there

they'll make the playoffs, probably in the 5th or 6th spot

brodeur, elias, and parise are gonna be carrying the team this year without a doubt. and broduer should be better in the long run now that he wont have to play 78 games this year lol

Answer 7

Well don't expect much. They did not replace what they lost but if Gionta stays healthy and Parise continues to grow they may make up for the loss of Gomes. On D the situation is critical. They lost their defensive kingpin and replaced him with a couple of guys who are number 4 Dmen at most. Honest answer is club makes playoffs in 6th to 8th spot but goes out in round one.

Answer 8

6th or 8th in conference... Brodeur will keep them in there as much as he can...

after the first potential line of Elias, Parise and Zubrus... theres not much happening after that... - but then again we say this every year about the Devils and they seem to always pull through to the top 4 of the conference...

Answer 9

The Devils will have a hard time in the beginning of the season. That is only because they are playing in the new NEWARK NJ Prudential Center. 2 or 3 players should get mugged outside prior to every game. It won't be until they figure out how to run the crime gauntlet to the arena, that they begin to get their season together, and start to win games.















;.

Answer 10

4th in their division. IF they make the playoffs, it will be by a close battle for the 8th spot.
Atlantic Division standings

Pittsburgh
NY Rangers
Flyers
Devils
NY Islanders

Let's not kid ourselves, Zubrus is not Gomez. He is a very inconsistent player.