NEW JERSEY DEVILS

2005-06 Recap

Record: 46-27-9, 101 pts (1st Atlantic Div, 3rd Eastern Conf.)

Playoffs:

1st rd defeated NYR 4 games to 0
2nd rd lost to CAR 4 games to 1

Goals For: 233 (22nd overall)
Goals Against: 225 (9th overall)

Power Play: 17.7% (T-17th)
Penalty Killing: 81.9% (16th)


2006-07 Preview

Key Additions: none

Key Losses: D Ken Klee (UFA, Col), RW Victor Kozlov (UFA,NYI), C Eric Rasmussen (UFA, unsigned)

RFA left to sign: RW Brian Gionta, D Paul Martin, D David Hale


Offense: New Jersey’s offence should improve slightly with a full season from LW Patrick Elias and the maturation of sophomore Zach Parise. When Brian Gionta finally re-signs, he will have the expectations to create another career year. Some offensive talent will likely have to be moved for the club to fit under the cap, however.

Defense: Of the six defensemen under contract, Malakhov retired and McGillis spent more time in the minors than the big leagues. Martin and Hale both must sign for the Devils defense corps to live up to the lofty expectations.

Goaltending: Martin Brodeur almost guarantees a playoff spot by himself. He isn’t getting any younger though and he might have to scale back on the number of games he plays. Last year’s backup Scott Clemmenson played in a career high 13 games last year and is unproven at this level, and is still unsigned at the moment. The Devils do not have a legitimate backup in their system if Clemmenson does not re-sign.

THE BIG QUESTION: How does GM Lou Lamarillo sign Brian Gionta, David Hale, Paul Martin and a backup goalie and still shave more than $2 million off the current salary? Despite claims otherwise, he will likely have to part with either Gionta or Scott Gomez to fit under the cap. Even if McGillis and Mogilny are dispatched to the minors again they will still be over the cap when Gionta, Hale, Martin and a backup goalie are re-signed. They may have to part with two or three players such as Madden if they want to keep Gionta, Elias and Gomez.

Synopsis: Brodeur alone is enough to get most teams into the playoffs, New Jersey being no exception, and depending how Lamarillo solves his salary quandry will determine where they finish. Perhaps he needs to bite the bullet, ship off a high priced talent and keep the core together. If he goes the other way and takes 3 or 4 pieces of the puzzle away the depth might not be there to go deep in the playoffs.