Oh you bet we're going to talk about the New Jersey Devils today

Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek and GM Lou Lamoriello has a sad today. They both believed in Ilya Kovalchuk enough to trade away talent, draft picks (including a #1) to the Atlanta Thrashers now the Winnipeg Jets Redux. They were penalized by the NHL a #1 draft pick for a ham handed attempt to circumvent the salary cap. They inked Kovie to a 15 year $100 million dollar contract of which he was three years into. Yesterday he "retired" from the Devils and the NHL, only be reported to sign a deal Monday to play for SKA St. Petersburg in Russia's KHL.

The great Harry Neale, former NHL head coach and brilliant CBC Hockey Night in Canada analyst, said it best when he said sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Boy is he right.

But Johnny, how did it come to this? Why would Kovalchuk retire from the NHL, leave the Devils devoid of offense and sign to play in Russia? Let us count the ways.

Kovalchuk's mother was asked by Yahoo if he had enjoyed his time playing in the KHL during the lockout last year:

Did he like SKA during the lockout?
“Of course. Otherwise this question about leaving the NHL wouldn’t even be raised. And so it happened… Besides, there were some problems in New Jersey. You know there will likely be a change of ownership there. It’s unclear how everything will turn out.”

Wow, he only liked it because he got to try it. Yes the tax free thing is nice but again he wasn't hurting for money here.

So, what caused the lockout? Let's ask Gary Betteman and better yet Jeff Vanderbeek. Vanderbeek argued  for the lockout and that's when Kovalchuck fell in love with the KHL. In love so much when told by Lamoriello to report to the 'hurry up there's a season training camps', Kovalchuk decided to stay behind in Russia and play in the KHL all-star game. Ruh ro.

Ya know that 100 million dollars you reached deep and found for Kovie, Mr. Vanderbeek? If you'd have spent that better and paid Zach Parise a portion of that in renegotiations he'd still be a Devil. You knew Parise would never bolt in the middle of a contract. HE was a leader. While we're speculating if you'd have taken another portion of the $100 million you'd still probably have David Clarkson.

So now the Devils have nothing. No offense. A huge risk in Ryane Clowe after his concussion issues. Maybe one more year from Marty Brodeur. Ownership is in let's call it, flux. Money is needed. Ticket sales will suffer because of the product on the ice. The new playoff format is even more foreboding and unforgiving. Kovalchuck saw this too and did what Ilya Kovalchuk has done everywhere he's played, soiled his wittle baby diaper and left.

Well well, game 5 at the Prudential Center Saturday night

The Devils would not go quietly in the Angelino night and fought back to score a 3-1 victory over the Kings in Game 4. For once the Devils scored first on a fine rebound tap in by Partik Elias but moments later, after yet another NHL referee seemingly doesn't referee the game but rather the score, David Clarkson was sent off on a HORRID call and the Kings Drew Doughty tied the score on the ill-gotten Kings powerplay. But before anybody could have the life stolen from them, the Devils responded in a big big way with yet ANOTHER massive goal by Adam Henrique. This guy has been amazing. Won the series against Florida in OT, won the series against the Rangers in OT, and last night kept the Devils playing in this series in the third period. Ilya Kovalchuk aded a goal later yet and the Devils are on their way back to Newark with something to play for.

If the Devils can in game 5 anything IS still possible. Go back to LA when all the pressure will be on the Kings (who while they have been spectacular a lot of hockey gurus like Johnny keep waiting to see a sniff of the #8 seed the Kings came into the playoffs with).

Game 5 Saturday night. You know the place, make it LOUD New Jersey.

Devils vs Rangers, Game 1 tonight!

Sure the Rangers have won 4 of the 5 playoff series between the two clubs. This, however, is a different era of Devils and Rangers team from the ones who have played before. Yes guys like Brodeur and Elias and Sykora were around for the wars but this is the Parise/Kovalchuk vs. Callahan and Lundqvist era.

Johnny is on record saying the Devils will win in six games. Here's how he arrived at that number. The only thing saving the Rangers thus far is how tight they pack their defense around Lundqvist and block shots. The question will then become can the Devils get shots to the net that simply aren't perimeter shots and shots from along the wall. In the last series, Alex Ovechkin, who can move his feet and create shots got quite a few through to Lundqvist. With Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk and to a lesser extent Adam Henrique can all work free and create good shots. By no means will the Devils offense look as sharp and tic-tac-toe as the Philly series but they have more than enough offense.

If the Rangers can't forecheck their offense can go missing for loooong stretches. The Devils defense has been unheralded all playoffs long for their abilty to clear the zone with no drama. Having a netminder with immaculate puckhandling skills has helped them. The Fyers tried three ways from Sunday to keep the puck in corners on shoot-ins and away from Brodeur but still the Devils defense were up to the task. Which brings us to the point of WHY this series will be won by New Jersey. No team that has played game 7s in the first two rounds has won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers defense are dog tired. Their top three defensemen Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh all have averaged over 25 minutes a game. They have played more playoff hockey than anyone else. Hard minutes. Crash bang minutes. The Devils have been hanging their hats on hard forechecking, bottling up the opposing team in center ice and letting their speed dictate play. This can and will wear the Rangers defense out slowly but surely. The Rangers defense are good, but they are also human.

One advantage Johnny sees right now for the Blueshirts is scoring from the defense. The Devils will have to stay out of the box (or in this series take someone with them) and the forwards MUST KNOW when guys like Del Zotto are jumping into the play. One goal in these games can make the difference, lose your guy for a second and it could be disastrous.

Netminding, the Living Legend vs The King. Marty Brodeur has had a very quiet yet very solid playoffs. His 2.05 GAA isn't Lundqvist's 1.68 but it's in the ballpark. It's within a one shot total. Right now Johnny would have to concede that yeah, if given the choice he'd take Lundqvist but that's it. It doesn't mean Brodeur can't or won't win the series, he most likely will. As mentioned above Brodeur for his age gives the Devils something Lundqvist can't help on shoot ins and play the role of a third defenseman with the puck. Both have their plusses, but it would stand to reason the longer this series goes the less help Lundqvist will be getting from his defense corp as they chase the Devils around with their speed advantage.

Speed, frontline offense, aggressive forechecking and an underrated defense are going to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in SIX games.

Tonight the Rags may well start out like a house afire, they just got done with another emotional series and it may give them some bounce in the first period. This in fact is a game the Rangers may in fact win. The Devils have been off a few days and the old rule of thumb around hockey is one day away from the rink the players notice, two days away the coaches notice sand three days away the fans notice. In whipping Philadelphia in five games the Devils haven't been playing for their lives. Johnny is confident however the Rangers surge will hit a wall. the Rangers as a team will then slowly hit the wall and in a week and a half the Devils Army can go loot Madison Square Garden for scrap.

Tonight make it a 7 and 7

The Tri-State's remaining two hockey franchises who actually try and compete at the NHL level have their seasons on the line tonight.

First the Devils who are in Homestead Florida (Game 7 in Homestead Florida sounds so bad, Game 7 at Centre Bell or TD Garden or even Joe Louis Arena sounds like it's a BIG 7th game unlike, well, Homestead) tonight hoping to steal a win and advance to the conference semi-final. During the regular season the Devils set an NHL record in success at killing off penalties. During the playoffs the Panthers power play has been nothing short of imposing. They are over 30% on their success rate. So Devils fans, as if you weren't there already let's say the Devils chances tonight grow exponentially if they can keep the Panthers from scoring up a man. We're going to go ahead and call the netminding tonight even. Yes Martin Brodeur is a first ballot hall-of-famer but that does nothing tonight. He's been shaky but for a couple starts in this series. He's no longer the guy you trot out in a huge game and just expect to win. Those days are over. Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore don't exactly fill the crease with the hologram of Terry Sawchuk either so do not despair Devils fans. Johnny thinks the Devils have too much pride and enough of an old guard from days of yore they can sneak past Florida tonight. We'd bet one of the Devils vets like Elias or Sykora could have a huge hand in winning tonight. Of course if Parise or Kovalchuk decide to have a three point night who is to quibble?

Why the Devils will win: The Devils have the guys who have been there before and the Panthers don't.
Why the Devils won't win: Marty Brodeur is shaky.

The #1 seeded New York Rangers play their game 7 vs Ottawa tonight at Madison Square Garden. For all the consternation of NY hockey pundits and radio lackeys, the problem with the Rangers is pretty obvious; scoring. Marian Gaborik isn't going to become the playoffs leading scorer anytime soon. It's really great that the Rangers have built their team and reputation on hard work. Fantastic. Hard work gets you so far then you need guys to put pucks in the onion bag. Lundqvist is a very very good goalie who hasn't gotten the offensive support he's needed. TWO Rangers have showed up to play offense against the Senators. Any guesses? Yes, one is Mike Richards who was paid big cash to score big points. Richards has 5 points in 6 games. Who is the other? Captain Ryan Callahan? Former cup winner Ruslan Fedotenko? Regular season 17 goal shooter Derek Stepan? Nope, the Rags second leading playoff scorer is Anton Stralman with FOUR points. Johnny thinks tonight will truly be won or lost by the goalkeeping. Craig Anderson has been very strong for Ottawa. Lundqvist is fast becoming a hard luck goalie come playoffs.

Why the Rangers will win: It's King Henrik in MSG
Why the Rangers won't win: The road team in these playoffs has been winning at an alarming rate, ie see the Boston vs Washington game last night if you'd like to see the blueprint as to how Ottawa will play tonight.

Devils and Rangers win the Devils will play Philadelphia (Ask the New Jersey State Police Commissioner if you too can get a police escort south to Philly for games 1 & 2) and the Rangers will host Washington. If the Devils win and the Rangers lose it'll be the Devils actually HOSTING the Capitals.

So it's a 7 and 7 night with the Rangers puck drop at 7 pm and the Devils starting at 8:30 pm.

The Devils really have some issues

Not the kind of issues that can be remedied when players come back from being injured and contribute or a player being added via a trade to address a problem position. No, John MacLean, the Devils rookie head coach took it upon himself to bench $100 million dollar winger Ilya Kovalchuk before yesterday's disheartening 6-1 drubbing by the lowly Sabres. The players weren't told nor did they hear Kovalchuk was being benched until they arrived for the game at The Rock. The Devils couldn't even dress a full roster a couple nights because they were right up against the salary cap because they gave Kovalchuk $100 million dollars and now he's sitting out.

There seems to be something less than magical with the Devils makeup this season and makeup is something they'd better learn because at this rate they'll be trying to makeup ground all season just to make the playoffs.

Uneasy is the head that wears the Atlantic Division crown...

Devils drop opener to Dallas Stars 4-3 in OT

The Devils dropped their season opener in overtime to Dallas 4-3 tonight in Newark. In what could best be described as a surprisingly good game for an opener, there was a lot of ebb and flow for both teams. The lack of those annoying holding and hooking and tripping calls often prevalent in the opening games of a season allowed for some open play. The Devils jumped out on top early 2-0 in the first period on goals by Travis Zajac and Zach Parise (Both powerful names on a Scrabble board). Dallas responded to tie it at 2-2 by the end of the first period. Dallas had the jump in the second period outshooting the New Jersey Six 12-5 yet allowed a Jason Arnott goal before scoring seconds later to tie it at 3.

It WAS troubling to see a third of the building empty on opening night. The Devils have some offensive skills people. Those who love offense will enjoy John MacLean's hockey club. Johnny is actually of the mind that adding a true offensive defenseman would benefit the Devils immensely. On the game winning Dallas rush it began with Andy Greene mistiming a jump up into the play which sent Dallas the length of the ice on a 2-1 which Loui Eriksson held onto and snapped past Martin Brodeur. Johnny thinks the Devils need a real whip smart offensive quarterback who knows when to jump in and when to stay back. A guy who can start New Jersey's lightning quick forwards up ice with a sharp first pass. Volchenkov was a brilliant signing in the offseason. A tremendous defensive defenseman who is always at the top of the blocked shots stats and eats major minutes.That aspect is covered. An offensive defenseman will be needed to play MacLean's up tempo style.

We'd love to hear what exactly the brouhaha was in the upper level midway through the second period. SOMETHING big was going on to the point the Dallas bench was fixated on whatever was happening. Their backup goaltender couldn't take his eyes off of it. If you know please pass it along.

NHL calls shenannigans on Devils contract with Kovalchuk, voids deal

The NHL slapped Devils GM Lou Lamoriello's 17 year $102 million dollar contract with Russian winger Ilya Kovalchuk last night saying it was a blatant attempt to circumvent the NHL's salary cap system. According to the Associated Press the reason for the negated deal was this:

The contract was rejected because years of low salary at the end of the contract were added for the sole purpose of lowering the cap hit. The person added that no side believes Kovalchuk will play the final years of the deal at those terms. The star forward was slated to earn only $550,000 in each of the last five seasons of the contract that was to run through the 2026-27 season, when Kovalchuk would be 44.

Now teams like the Detroit Red Wings have offered contracts of a similar nature to stars Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, huge money over at least ten years but the difference in those contracts is that they would expire as those two players are in their late 30's and not mid 40's. Unless your name is Chris Chelios and you can play until your 50's this deal really does smell of circumventing the cap. Anybody wanna guess how long it takes to get reworked?