So the boys won tonight over the Islanders by a tidy 3-0 score with goals from Patrik Elias, Zach Parise and defenseman Anssi Samela to improve their preseason record to 3-2.  What does it all mean?  Well, the easy answer is nothing - since after all, the games won’t count starting next Friday (or sooner for the unlucky teams like the Rangers that have to play overseas games this weekend). 

But of course they do mean something for those like Petr Vrana, still trying to make the team.  Or Fedor Federov, who won’t play for the Devils and has been given permission to seek a trade before the Devils expose him to waivers.

For the established players, in most cases it means shaking off the rust and getting back into game shape.  In the case of newcomers (or rather returnees) Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik, it’s also a chance to get acclimated with your new teammates. 

And for someone like Kevin Weekes, now is the time the poor sap actually gets a chance to play before he resumes his normal occupation of benchwarmer.  At least Weekesie’s shown no ill effects from offseason surgery.

As far as the fans, well we complain and moan about having to pay regular season prices for preseason games and of course it’s unfair, but there are certain advantages to going in the preseason that you don’t get during the regular season.  Fewer people in the bathrooms and at the concession lines, and the ability to use vouchers to get seats you wouldn’t dream of paying $100 or more for during the regular season. 

For example, I used a voucher for the Devils-Rangers game last week and got to sit two rows from the ice.  Normally cost - and the fact that you can’t always see the opposite end of the ice very well - precludes me from actually sitting that close, but for once in a while it is a cool experience to be close enough to make eye contact with Martin Brodeur, to see big hits up close like Parise throwing a hard bodycheck on Brandon Dubinsky that caused one dope in front of me to lose the beer he placed along the boards.  Admittedly I never noticed there was a hole in the boards for professional photographers taking pictures until I saw it a couple sections away.

Believe it or not that was the first preseason game I’d ever been to.  It kinda felt like a minor league game (I’ve been to a few of those), which it is in part because prospects and backups do tend to play, especially early on.  And it’s nice not to really care about the end result, I’m not quite pathological enough to care about our wins and losses, or even the Rangers almost losing to some club team overseas.  I can’t even get excited about my boy Elias scoring almost a handful of goals so far - wake me when he does it later this month - though it is nice that our first line of Elias-Rolston-Gionta seems to have instant chemistry. 

Preseason does bring its own set of tensions though, when Bryce Salvador got in a fight I was smiling on one hand and wincing on the other that our first pairing defenseman would get in a scrap in a preseason game.  Overall it probably is a good sign though, that the Devils aren’t going to be pushed around physically this year the way they were last season.

Still, a preseason game is a nice experience and one that everyone should enjoy at least once.  I have another voucher for Friday, this time I plan on getting a lower bowl seat behind the net, to see how the view is through the netting.

Figuring something should be written about the Islanders’ preseason to date, yesterday I couldn’t help but notice a blurb about their schedule.  Tomorrow they play the Devils at Nassau Colliseum for their only true home game of the preseason, and considering they have a seven-game schedule that suggests they’re doing a lot of traveling. 

And they didn’t just play their first three preseason games on the road, they played them in - get this - Moncton (New Britain), London (Ontario, not England) and Summerside (Prince Edward Island)!  What gives, the Islanders can’t sell tickets at home so they think people in Canada will give a darn?  At least it’s a break for the season ticket holders they do have I suppose, only having to pay for one preseason game.  And god knows, any excuse not to play at Nassau Colliseum is generally a good one…but geez.

As far as their results go so far, last Tuesday they opened against the Boston Bruins as the ahem, home team in New Britain and wound up with a 2-1 overtime win on the strength of a second-period goal by Jon Sim and the overtime winner by the immortal Trevor Smith.  Dennis Wideman had the only Bruin goal as Islander goaltenders Joey MacDonald and former Canadien farmhand Yann Denis combined to stop 18 of 19 shots, while the Isles dominated throughout tallying 38 shots against Boston goaltender Tuuka Rask.

Two nights later, the Isles suffered a 4-0 beatdown at the hands of the Flyers in Ontario at the John Labatt Centre (couldn’t resist typing out the name).  Apparently this was a case of the Isles’ B team going up against the Flyers’ A squad, though I suspect one could hardly tell the difference between the Isles’ A and B teams this season - sorry, couldn’t resist!  Mike Richards, Mike Knuble, Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul scored the Flyers’ goals.  On the plus side for the Isles, there were a couple of fights in the game and first-round pick Josh Bailey made his debut, finishing with two shots on goal.

For their second - cough - home contest on Saturday, the Isles were off to Prince Edward Island to take on the Florida Panthers.  I guess wearing the home uniforms helps, as the Isles beat the Panthers 4-2, upping their preseason record to 2-1.  Frans Nielsen and Trent Hunter (pictured above) each starred in the game with two goals.  Nielsen added two assists for a total of four points, while Hunter would finish with three points on the night.  MacDonald stopped 18 shots, still subbing for the recovering Rick DiPietro.  Michal Repik and Drew Larman scored the Panthers’ goals.

And one more Isles note that will amuse Derek: I noticed ex-Ranger Thomas Pock is their latest roster addition.  Well I guess they can use help anywhere they can get it.

It’s late but I was just chatting with my good Devil buddy Rob “Kraze” Davis about adding an annual Tinman Award to each Hard Hits show I do over at blogtalk. And while it can be any sport and there are candidates out there, he mentioned Colin White.

But to me, he’s not the definition of a Tinman as he hits hard and gives all he can every shift even if he can’t always think or <gulp> see straight. At least Devil fans can take solace knowing that he’ll let people know he’s out there.

Which got me to thinking right away who my No.1 candidate for Tinman is:

Have you ever seen a more overpaid Tinman?

Only Glen Sather knows why he paid so much for Wade Redden. Just remember Ranger fans who I’ll be sharing blue seats with. While Marek “Big Bird” Malik isn’t around anymore to boo, we’ll have an even bigger target on the blueline for the next six years. Ugh.

Prediction markets are becoming a useful tool in determining future events, whether they be elections, to geopolitical actions.  Essentially, it allows people to invest according to their individual research, opinions, etc, while developing an overall consensus on market performance.  The more players, the more accurate it becomes.

It’s typically better than a poll because shares can be bought or sold, allowing the market to track team performance and adjust accordingly.

So here it is… invest wisely!

Market Link

While Newark may not be known for it, it is home to many amazing sculptures on its many public properties (including some by Gutzon Borglum, the man behind Mt. Rushmore).  Today, it is being reported in the Star Ledger that well-known sculptor and Devils fan, Jon Krawczyk, will be providing a sculpture for the Prudential Center’s Edison Pl. and Mulberry St. corner (the corner closest to Newark Penn Station).  The sculpture is described as being a “3-story, brushed stainless steel hockey player” that will “reflect light like a diamond in all different colors.”

Krawczyk will be transporting his sculpture across the country from his Malibu, CA studio/workshop to Newark, NJ.  Along the way, he plans to stop by at some NHL arenas as a bit of a road trip.  The statue will be installed before the Devils Home Opener, but may be installed as early as September 6th, as he has a show at the Broadfoot & Broadfoot gallery in Manhattan.

Hopefully I can get a hold of some pictures of the sculpture so we can get a preview of it.

If you would like to see some of Jon Krawczyk’s other works, you can find them here at his site.

But 3 stories??  Wow… that’s gonna be huge.

Hello everyone, my name is Adam and this is my first post here on the Battle of New York.  I would like to thank Kovy274Hart for bringing me aboard to talk about the Devils.

First, a little about me:  I am 22 years old and have been a Devils fan since 1994.  However,  I did not really get into hockey until after the lockout when I realized how much I took the sport for granted.  Since then I have gotten partial plans and watched almost every single game the last 3 seasons.  I really love the game of hockey and have tried my best to learn it through and through.  From reading up on team histories to even learning how to play the game myself.

Anyways, I hope to give you all my insights and thoughts regarding the Devils, from post-game impressions to trade rumors and signings.  I look forward to working with all of you here at the Battle to provide the best blogging in the NHL!

-Adam

Okay. So I usually like jot down a whole bunch of thoughts about what’s going on. But tonight at this hour, I’m all out of ideas but came across a bizarre pic on TSN which I couldn’t stop laughing at. It’s just so freaking comical.

Judge for yourself:

Okay. I know. I reaaaallly shouldn’t be laughing at or making fun of current Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher. The man’s been around FOREVER. I mean look at him! God. He looks like he could’ve been hanging out with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson back in 1776.

Would you want someone who looks like that running your organization’s offseason?!?!?!?!?! I know how it sounds but I just can’t contain myself.

No wonder they’re referred to by Brian as the Maple Laughs. Because they sure are providing plenty of laughs these days!

Here’s our sponsor for this entry:

It’s been a week since the Red Wings lifted the hardware defeating the Penguins in six games. The offseason is here with NHL Awards on deck. So, what’s floating around my unpredictable mind these days? Let’s find out!

1.Alright. I have to just come out and say it. What exactly are the Maple Leafs doing hiring Ron Wilson as coach? Truthfully, he’s not that bad and did a decent job in San Jose but he’s never proved he can get a team over the hump. The Sharks were plenty talented but always seemed to leave their fans wanting more. Isn’t that Toronto in a nutshell without the direction? They still don’t have a GM yet there’s a new coach. Only the Leafs.

2.Hasan had a nice writeup on the awards which take place in the hockey capital Thursday. I understand the Devil blogger’s allegiance to Martin Brodeur as the future Hall of Fame netminder didn’t have a great D and still performed admirably getting the team as far as they could go without Brian Rafalski (Detroit) and Scott Gomez (Rangers). But I’m also one of those few who believes Evgeni Nabokov should win his first Vezina edging Brodeur. Granted. Nabby played on a better team which boasted a better D. But if you looked at their offense after Joe Thornton, the goal output wasn’t much to speak of forcing the Russian goalie to be at his best in plenty of lowscoring games. Like Brodeur, his backup didn’t play much and that was more out of necessity. Nabokov led the league with 46 wins, accounting for 93.8 percent of San Jose’s 49 wins. By comparison, Brodeur won 44 of the Devs’ 46 for 95.6 percent. If he wins a fourth Vezina, I wouldn’t cry as he would be quite deserving. Where would the franchise be without him? I just have some sentiment that it would be nice to see a Russian win the trophy. Nabokov has had stellar seasons before but had never been recognized as one of the NHL’s best. This is his first nomination for the league’s top goalie. We’ll know in a couple of days who prevailed.

3.As for Henrik Lundqvist’s third consecutive nomination, while it’s true he led the league in shutouts (10), the 26 year-old Swede just wasn’t consistent enough to warrant a first Vezina. Sure. The numbers were again there with 37 wins, a 2.23 GAA and a .912 save percentage but I don’t feel he should beat out either aforementioned goalie. King Henrik’s time shall come.

4.Picking Patrick Kane as the Calder winner isn’t hard as he paced all NHL rookies with 72 points (21-51-72). However, it’s this blogger’s opinion that Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom should win it instead. The playmaking Swedish pivot posted four fewer points but was an integral part of the Caps surprising rise to a Southeast Division crown. Backstrom elevated his game after veteran Michael Nylander went down for the season. I’d have no problem if Kane won on the improved Blackhawks but feel what Backstrom did was more valuable in taking a team which once had the worst record all the way to 43 wins and 94 points edging the Hurricanes for the division.

5.So the Kings axed Marc Crawford. How are they getting better?

6.Speaking of coaching changes, the Avs getting rid of Joel Queeneville and replacing him with Tony Granato is another blah move. While Queeneville didn’t guide Colorado far, he did a solid job despite injuries getting them back to the playoffs. And hasn’t Granato coached the Avs before? Heck. They fired him once demoting the ex-King to assistant to coach on Queeneville’s staff. Talk about a land of confusion.

7.Count me as a supporter of Henrik Zetterberg adding a first Selke to his trophy case which includes the Conn Smythe. He flat out dominated his shifts in every detail. The performance during a two-man disadvantage was one of the best I’ve ever seen. His backcheck robbed Sidney Crosby of a certain tying goal in Game Four. Who knows if that changes the series? The effort was unbelievable.

8.Reading a Glen Sather quote on the Sean Avery situation made me conclude one thing. He won’t be back. Slats is just too cost conservative making the Ranger GM a hypocrite. Cause while he’ll shell out a ton of cash overpaying free agents, he won’t do the same for one of his best acquisitions. It’s no secret that the Blueshirts were always more effective with Avery in the lineup than without. So, watch as he gets his money elsewhere and bolts leaving a gaping hole up front. This isn’t about talent but rather intangibles which are the kind Sean brings to the table. Just ask Brodeur.

9.I’ll say it again. Marian Hossa’s impressive performance with the Pens during the postseason was because the Slovak wasn’t asked to be the man. It’s a lot easier to ride shotgun alongside Crosby and Evgeni Malkin than be called upon to carry a team. Hossa’s a quality star but never could get those past Sens teams over the hump. The Rangers would be better off re-upping Jaromir Jagr for a couple of more years than overpaying for Hossa who will command more years and dollars.

10.Great piece by Brian Sanborn on the weird world of Dominik Hasek who finally retired again after playing second fiddle to a reborn Chris Osgood. While his style was very unorthodox, it worked. Luck had zilch to do with it. What if the Dominator had started his career at the very same age as Brodeur? Would he be on the cusp of shattering Terry Sawchuk’s shutout record? Probably. Oddly enough, Hasek played in 233 less games (735) than Marty (968) who will continue his pursuit of the record next Fall. What a brilliant career the Czech had having plenty of impact on European goalies. Congrats!

11.I was happy for Rafalski who returned home and won a third Cup with Detroit playing stellar D alongside the incomparable Nick Lidstrom but the former Devil should’ve taken the high road about the celebration being better than his last couple in New Jersey.

12.So, who thinks John Tortorella could get a few calls if some teams get out of the gate slowly in 2008-09?

Copyright Getty Images 

It’s been a while since I did one of these but there was something on my mind while watching the French Open just now on NBC regarding the Stanley Cup Final. So let’s get to it.

-Could the media lay off how many minutes Sidney Crosby plays? He played over 22 last night yet there you had Pierre McGuire stirring it up during an NBC Sports Break about how the 2006-07 Hart winner could’ve played more. Gee wiz. Michel Therrien played his three best star forwards as much as possible and still is catching flak. That’s the Canadian press for ya. Never satisfied even when one of their teams isn’t even vying for the Stanley Cup.

I get that Sid the Kid is a great superstar who carries the weight of the league around with him but enough’s enough. Evgeni Malkin got 23:24 of ice-time and Marian Hossa saw 24:02. That’s plenty for the Pens’ dynamic trio who have been stifled by an excellent Detroit team defense. There’s a reason they’ve only scored four total goals and it’s got little to do with how much time Crosby and ‘mates are getting but rather how well schooled the Red Wings are. Led by captain Nick Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, they really do a solid job keeping and moving the puck. Of course it helps to have one of the game’s greatest defensemen and two amazing players up front in dynamic duo Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, who receive little accolades despite how special they are. They control the tempo and are so multidimensional that Mike Babcock can put them out there in any situation.

The performance by Zetterberg while down two men with the game and probably the series hanging in the balance late in the third was astronomical. Nobody ever says much about how great a player the Swede is. He might not total as many points as the other Hart candidates or have the cult following of a Crosby but for my money, Zetterberg’s one of the best overall players in the game.

Last Fall, an older buddy of mine who sits in Section 411 at Ranger games and knows the game inside out pointed out that he felt Zetterberg was better than Crosby. Perhaps not in stature but here’s a question for all those Sid backers. How come he doesn’t play shorthanded? If he really was the best player, he’d be out there killing penalties. Zetterberg does it and quite well. So does Jarome Iginla. Datsyuk’s a pretty dangerous skater and is out on the PK too.

Why don’t Zetterberg and Datsyuk get as much attention from the media? Neither has the rockstar persona of an Alexander Ovechkin or the look of a Crosby yet they star for an Original Six franchise who plays in a big market and is on the cusp of capturing its fourth Cup in 11 years. Isn’t about time they got their due?

It’s a day later. A bit early at that as the latest rainstorm gets ready to hit. It should be pretty heavy today. Maybe I find that a bit ironic considering my team’s plight at this collective moment.

After a nice leisurely drive and walk to the historic Conference House out near the water yesterday, I was able to clear my head. Here are some random thoughts which have been flying around:

-The Rangers attempted 31 shots (five more than a perimeter oriented total) which never hit the net yesterday. Nine were missed and 22 were blocked by hustling Pens who sacrificed their bodies at every turn. By contrast, Pittsburgh only had nine shots blocked while another nine were missed. A huge difference. If they’re to get back in this beginning tomorrow, the Blueshirts need to reverse that trend and play with the same intensity. Pitt showed they wanted it more.

-As usual, Sean Avery made a nuisance of himself with the outcome decided drawing the ire of Hal Gill while engaging Marc-Andre Fleury. By that time, I’d already turned it off. Too little. Too late. He was invisible and notably didn’t have a strong Game One. Isn’t about time the agitator stopped living off strong first rounds?

-Christian Backman was again shaky. He was very weak in the first game responsible for the Pens’ second goal. There was also an instance where he should’ve one-timed the puck but waited and got it blocked which drew criticism from Pierre McGuire. Right on point. Tom Renney needs to think long and hard about scratching him and bringing back Marek Malik. Big Bird might get blamed for plenty but if he’s paired with Paul Mara, that’s an upgrade. Unless Backman’s finding offense, he sticks out like a sore thumb.

-Find me one network studio analyst getting paid top dollar who has the balls to tell it like it is instead of kissing Sidney Crosby’s ass. No backbone. I don’t know what’s worse. The ridiculous lengths Canadian backer McGuire and former coach Ed Olczyk (biASSed much?) went to or Brian Engblom waving the No.87 pom poms on Martin Straka’s soft penalty where the baby face dropped like he was shot.

-Watching Henrik Lundqvist before during a postgame interview wasn’t too reassuring. He might’ve said all the right things but body language told a different story.

-I touched on it briefly but it’s time for Tom Renney to grow a pair and demote Brendan Shanahan to the fourth line. He just is too slow and is really hurting Avery and Scott Gomez. Especially if he’s going to play Petr Prucha because less than five minutes just won’t cut it. If they’re not elevating Prucha, then Fredrik Sjostrom is plenty good enough a skater and solid defensively to be moved up. Why not try Prucha and Shanahan with Blair Betts? This would give the team a different look and much better balance to go head to head against a very deep Pens’ team.

-With another great third period last night totally outclassing the Sharks to go up 2-0 on the road, Dallas has done little to make me think otherwise. That they’re the most complete Western team left and certainly look on a collision course with the Red Wings.

-If deadline pickup Brad Richards continues to perform, that’s going to be one hell of a trade for them especially if the former Conn Smythe winner delivers the hardware.

-How about that no-look reverse setup Sergei Zubov made to Mike Modano for the winner? Not bad for the veteran Russian blueliner’s first game back!

-How good is Mike Ribeiro. You don’t think Montreal wants a do over on that one again?!?!?!?!?!

-One other thing on that series. If the Sharks don’t comeback to make it at least interesting, when does Ron Wilson finally take some heat?

-Peter Budaj better be in net for Colorado tonight. Peter Forsberg would help too.

-He’s gotten plenty of criticism for his wretched play in Game Two. Think there’s just a tad of pressure on 20 year-old rookie Carey Price later tonight?

-If Martin Biron keeps this up, who says he can’t backstop the Flyers to a Stanley Cup? He’s been brilliant. They shouldn’t even be playing. That’s how good he was against the Caps with it all on the line in Game Seven last week.

-It’s Evgeni Malkin and not Crosby who’s been the best player for the Pens so far. He just has dominated in all facets. So while everyone’s getting on their knees for Sid the Kid, it’s his better overall teammate who continues to get overlooked.

-I get that he was sticking up for his star player but Michel Therrien was completely out of line ripping Renney before Game Two. At no point did the affable Ranger coach ever complain about Crosby offering essentially no comment. Instead, you heard plenty of teammates defend Straka. The same thing the hypocritical Therrien was doing.

-Color me impressed with Tyler Kennedy. This grinder has been very strong on the boards. Ditto Pascal Dupuis which comes as no surprise that the “other player” in the Marian Hossa deal has performed well as he has had better success (2003 Wild).

-I had it in my preview and so far it’s held true. Rob Scuderi is undervalued.

-Are Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler secondary scorers anymore? Both Franzen (Calgary Game Six OT anybody?) and Filppula were good last year. Hudler finally developed and is playing well. Ditto for defensive stalwart Niklas Kronwall. Amazing how the Winged Wheel continues to find hidden gems in the draft. Their scouting staff is as good as anyone in the league. It’s high time they got more recognition!

-Finally, I love Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg but they shouldn’t be up for the Selke. John Madden was a deserving pick but there are plenty of other worthy candidates. Mike Fisher, Tomas Plekanec and Mike Richards all come to mind.