Giving the Devils their Due

February 2, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Can Jamie Langenbrunner and the Devils win another Cup?

It pains me but once again like Michael Myers in Halloween, you can’t kill the New Jersey Devils off. Not even the loss of Martin Brodeur and early injuries can stop Jack Adams frontrunner Brent Sutter’s exciting offensive minded club from stunning the rest of the league.

I think my Dad summed it up best when he stated that the best thing that ever happened to the Devs was the injury to Brodeur because it forced Sutter to alter his coaching style putting the onus on a talented group of forwards led by Zach Parise to step up their play.

Outside of the first place Bruins in the Conference, find me another club with as much offensive talent and depth as this gritty determined bunch from New Jersey. It’s no longer about an unheralded D which bends but doesn’t break or the great story of Scott Clemmensen but rather about the rebirth of Patrik Elias (thanks Larry Brooks) along with Parise rubbing off on linemates Travis Zajac and red hot captain Jamie Langenbrunner.

They can come at you with secondary scorers Brian Gionta, Dainius Zubrus, ageless Brendan Shanahan, Brian Rolston and improving grinder David Clarkson. It doesn’t seem to matter because this team is four lines deep with vets John Madden and Bobby Holik contibuting in many facets. Heck. Sutter’s even gotten good use of physical energizer Mike Rupp who’s supplanted Jay Pandolfo in the lineup.

Who could’ve predicted that? These Devs have reeled off eight in a row and are now five points clear of the Rangers having finally made up the difference in games played with the Flyers six back.

Even without Marty, is there any doubt who the best team in the Atlantic is? This club is constructed to make a deep run and take its best shot at a fourth Stanley Cup.

Maybe the only lingering question is how will Brodeur play when he returns. He’s about a month away with really no reason to rush him given how steady Clemmensen’s been with even Kevin Weekes chipping in on a great road trip.

In case anyone’s noticed, Roberto Luongo hasn’t been the same since he returned for the struggling Canucks who look like they’ll miss a second consecutive year even with Mats Sundin choosing them. This is something that Sutter and his staff should take into consideration before tabbing No.30 back into net to continue his historic pursuit of Patrick Roy’s wins and Terry Sawchuk’s shutouts.

What if Brodeur isn’t his normal self down the stretch? Does Sutter consider opting for Clemmensen over the certain Hall of Famer when the playoffs begin this Spring? Highly unlikely though this was debated with NHL Arena Devil buddy Chris Wassel and close friend Rob “Kraze” Davis on the NY Hockey Report last week with both indicating that if that situation arose, they’d feel comfortable with Clemmensen in net.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see how it plays out. In the mean time, I decided this would be a video feature on the surprising Devils play this season with a couple of solid selections.

How in the world did the Pens lose Langenbrunner on the tying one like that?

 

Nicely put together video by YouTube’s McKay4429061 with a fitting conclusion.

 

Give the Devils their due. They sure have earned it.