NEW JERSEY DEVILS: 08-09 Season Preview

07-08 RECORD: 46-29-7 99 points
DIVISION: 2nd
CONFERENCE: 4th
RESULT: Lost in 1st round

OFF-SEASON:
ARRIVALS: C Brian Rolston(MIN), C Bobby Holik(ATL), G Scott Clemmensen(TOR)
DEPARTURES: RW Aaron Asham, LW Sergei Brylin, D Karel Rachunek

With Martin Brodeur and a defense with no real stars(yet they still get the job done), the Devils have been in the top 5 in goals against year after year. Offense like many other teams has been the Devils down fall in recent years so GM Lou Lamoriello who usually hasn't brought in the big free agent, did it this off-season by brining in/back 30 goal man Brian Rolston. Rolston is a bit of a risk at 35 and a contract that will take him till he is 39 but you cant argue with 30 goals and with the market the way it is today the Devils were forced to pay that kind of money for him. Rolston will probably be moved to center where he played earlier in his career to center the top line. Bobby Holik was also brought back to add some size and depth down the center.

CAP HIT: 53.26 million

FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- Z.PARISE-B.ROLSTON-B.GIONTA
2- P.ELIAS-T.ZAJAC-J.LANGENBRUNNER
3- J.PANDALFO-J.MADDEN-D.CLARKSON
4- D.ZUBRUS-B.HOLIK-M.RUPP
E- B.TALLACKSON-R.PELLEY-N.BERGFORS

The Devils finally have 2 lines that will have no problem scoring goals. Lead by the first line with Rolston who will be in between of Zach Parise and Brian Gionta, the Devils have three players that could potentially score 80 points. Parise who lead the Devils in points last season with 65 is only going to get better with time. Gionta will look to get back to his 48 goal form from two years ago but playing on the top line should definitely help. Having Rolston play center also helps Patrick Elias who can now move back to the left side where he is used to. Along with Travis Zajac and Jamie Langenbrunner the Devils will have lots of secondary scoring. The Devils were also able to re-sign LW Jay Pandalfo to keep the lethal penalty kill combo of him and John Madden together. These two have been one of the reasons the Devils have been so good at keeping the puck out of their own net. They should play on the third line together with David Clarkson. The Devils 4th line should be one of the biggest in the league with 6'4 Holik, 6'5 Danius Zubrus and 6'5 Michael Rupp.

DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- J.ODUYA-P.MARTIN
2- C.WHITE-A.GREENE
3- B.SALVADOR-V.VISHNEVSKI
E- M.MOTTAU-S.BROOKBANK

This group is quite remarkable. They dont have a true top defensemen but as a group they are one of the best. They dont do anything flashy but sit back and quietly do their jobs. Paul Martin is probably their top defensemen but hasn't developed into that top defensemen like the Devils had hoped for. Colin White is the leader of the group and when he is healthy he is one of the nastiest and best shutdown guys in the league. Johnny Oduya and Andy Greene are both cast-offs the Devils have brought in and have flourished with the franchise. Bryce Salvador was a nice surprise after coming over from St.Louis at the deadline and Vitaly Vishnevski can dish out the big hit.

GOALIES:
1- M.BRODEUR
2- K.WEEKES
3- S.CLEMMENSEN

What is there to say about Martin Brodeur? He is probably one of the most consistent, if not the most consistent players in the last decade and he gives the Devils a chance to win every night. This year Brodeur should break Patrick Roy's record for most wins by a goalie with 551. Brodeur needs just 14 wins to do it so it wont take long.

OVERALL:

Once again the Devils will be a tough team to beat, even more so with the acquisition of Rolston which solidifies the Devils with two top lines. Lamoriello has done a remarkable job with this team finding gems like Madden and Oduya from no where and turning them into top NHL players. With the added scoring and Brodeur in net the Devils will push for the division championship.

PREDICTION: 3rd Division, 5th Conference