YOUR NEW JERSEY DEVILS

[elliejay21]

Since the Rangers thread was started...

No recent news to report, but you can watch the construction on the Newark arena, LIVE...

www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/fanzone/video/newarkarena/camindex.php

[$heriff Tom]

If you look really closely you can see the neighborhood denizens stealing the hubcaps off of the bulldozers.

[9]

That's no bulldozer ... that's my ACCORD!

[$heriff Tom]

I wonder if the Yankees are going to have a cam covering the action over at the new Yankee Stadium.

[elliejay21]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2006

Tom Chorske Named Radio Color Commentator
Former Devils Forward to Join Matt Loughlin in Devils/WFAN Radio Booth



East Rutherford, NJ - (September 8, 2006) –The New Jersey Devils named former forward Tom Chorske to its radio broadcast team as color commentator. He will join Matt Loughlin in the Devils/Sports Radio 66 WFAN booth for the first time on Friday, October 6, when the club opens its 25th Anniversary season at Carolina. The announcement was made by Devils’ CEO/President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello.

“Tom has stayed close to the organization by participating in the alumni association’s charity golf classic in recent years,’’ said Lamoriello. “We expect him to show the same enthusiasm and work ethic in the broadcast booth that he displayed on the ice. We look forward to him joining Matt Loughlin on our radio broadcast team.”

Chorske’s NHL career spanned ten seasons/596 games with Montreal, New Jersey, Ottawa, the NY Islanders, Washington, Calgary, and Pittsburgh from 1989-90 through 1999-00. A member of New Jersey’s 1995 Stanley Cup Championship team, he was acquired from Montreal on September 20, 1991. While with the Devils, Chorske appeared in 244 games over four seasons from 1991-92 through 1994-95. The former winger was selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the 1985 Entry Draft after playing for Minneapolis (MN) Southwest High School.

Chorske, 39, was named the Minnesota high school ice hockey player of the year in 1985, and also played quarterback in 1984 and 1985. He played collegiate hockey with the University of Minnesota (WCHA) between 1985 and 1989; and in 1988-89, was tied for the Golden Gophers’ lead with 49 points, while being named to the league’s First All-Star Team. Chorske left Minnesota after his sophomore year to join Team USA on its 1988 pre-Olympic Tour, but was the last player to be released. He turned pro after his junior season with the Golden Gophers, and was a member of Sherbrooke’s AHL regular-season championship team in 1989-90. Chorske’s international experience also includes four World Championships with Team USA, as well as the 1986 World Junior Championships. He saw his last action as a pro by appearing in 78 games with Houston (IHL) in 2000-01.

Upon retirement as a player, Chorske returned to the U. of Minnesota in 2002 to complete his undergraduate degree in business and management. He most recently served as a senior account executive at the St. Paul, MN, office of Merrill Corp. Chorske served as color commentator for select Iowa Stars (AHL) television/radio/internet simulcasts last season. He has also appeared in Minnesota Wild pre-season programming on FOX Sports North, as well as the 2004 Minnesota Boys’ State High School Tournament. He was born September 18, 1966 in Minneapolis, MN. Tom and his wife, Kristie, have three young children.

[$heriff Tom]

Interesting. I like the old players who sneak back into the booth. No one would call Chorske a hockey legend, but he may be a fresh breath on the air. I am very antsy to see what the Islanders do on the TV side now that MSG has slid Micheletti over to the Rangers.

[Chrissy]

Laura, my firm has season tickets. I can put my name in a pool to get tickets for you, if you want. Just let me know. I'm guessing they are decent seats, I've never been.

[sancho231]

And when you go be sure to buy something off me

[elliejay21]

Free tickets rock, thanks Chrissy!

[Chrissy]

No problem at all. Just give me a few games you would be interested in and I'll put my name in. Nothing is guaranteed, I'm not very lucky. But, I did get Mets tickets for my other friend. (I won't tell you who went with him, he would kill me for outting him as a closet Met fan.)

[elliejay21]

Heard most of the press conference from this afternoon on tonight's pregame... and then he scored the fastest goal to open a season in franchise history.

Patrik Elias is god.

msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/6034062

Elias tabbed as new Devils captain
Associated Press
Posted: 1 day ago


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Patrik Elias became the captain of the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the eve of the team's season-opener against Stanley Cup champion Carolina.

Elias, who rejected more money in the offseason to accept a seven-year $42 million contract to stay in New Jersey, replaces Scott Stevens.
Stevens retired before the 2005-06 season because of problems with concussions. The Devils played without a captain last season.

"There is no question Patrik has demonstrated throughout the years that he is a leader of this team on and off the ice," president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a telephone interview from Raleigh, N.C. "He became the logical choice."

Elias was not immediately available for comment, but Lamoriello said that the 30-year-old felt honored when he was told of the decision hours earlier.

Elias had 16 goals and 29 assists in 38 games last season. He missed the first half of the campaign while recovering from hepatitis, which he contracted while playing in Russia during the lockout season of 2004-05.

Elias is the seventh captain in Devils' history, following Don Lever, Mel Bridgman, Kirk Muller, Bruce Driver, Stevens and Scott Niedermayer.

Niedermayer, who signed as a free agent with Anaheim before the 2005-06 season, replaced Stevens for the second half of the 2003-04 season after Stevens was sidelined by a concussion.



AND IN OTHER NEWS....

bruins.bostonherald.com/otherNHL/view.bg?articleid=160688

What relief: Devils sign Gionta, others
By Herald wire services
Wednesday, October 4, 2006 - Updated: 06:55 AM EST

Devils leading scorer Brian Gionta and four other veterans signed with New Jersey yesterday after the NHL gave the team $3.5 million in salary cap relief by placing veteran forward Alexander Mogilny on the long-term injury exception list.

Defensemen Paul Martin and Dave Hale, backup goaltender Scott Clemmensen and center Erik Rasmussen signed one-year contracts as the Devils finalized their roster without violating the league’s $44 million salary cap.

Just last week it appeared the Devils might have to trade some key players to get under the cap, but general manager Lou Lamoriello removed $7.1 million from the cap in the past three days by trading defenseman Vladimir Malakhov ($3.6 million) to San Jose and getting Mogilny and his $3.5 million salary qualified for the exception because of a hip injury.

Gionta, who set a team record with 48 goals last season, and Martin were the main beneficiaries of the new money.

Gionta, who didn’t play in any of the Devils’ preseason games, signed a three-year contract that will pay him $4 million annually. The right winger and former Boston College star led the team with 89 points last season. He had 24 goals on the power play.

Martin, who had five goals and 32 assists in 80 games, got $2 million for the upcoming season, which opens in Carolina on Friday.

Hale, who split time between the Devils and their Albany farm team, got $550,000. Clemmensen, who played in 13 games as Martin Brodeur’s backup, and Rasmussen, who had five goals and five assists in 67 games, got $450,000 apiece.

The Devils were pushed over the cap limit this summer when they signed forward Patrik Elias to a seven-year, $42 million contract, a $7.5 million hit this season, and right winger Jamie Langenbrunner to a five-year deal paying $2.8 million annually. Center Scott Gomez also was awarded $5 million for this season by an arbitrator.

The Devils were responsible for the salaries owed to Malakhov and Mogilny, free agents signed before last season who fell into disfavor.

[$heriff Tom]

You're quite the cuttin' and pastin' maniac this morning, aren't you?

[sancho231]

anybody wants 4 free tickets to tonights devlis vs blues game email me
[e-mail]

EDIT
tix have been claimed
thank you come again

[$heriff Tom]

Gotta give props to new NBC studio guy Brett Hull, who had this to say when asked about Martin Brodeur's success...

“(It’s) only because the Devils don’t cross the red line any more,” Hull said. “(The Devils are) the most boring team on earth – still.”

[sancho231]

not only that there fans dont buy shit

[thecaptain15]

Sancho if you ever get freebies again give me a ring...I'll even buy something from you...... ;D

[IronHorse4]

Well, this is pathetic. Then again, the support on this thread is proportional to the support the team gets in the metropolitan area.

Brett Hull is a dick. Any of you would be happy to have this "boring" team that just keeps on winning every year. 3 Cups in the last 12 years...booooooring.

And anyone who honestly thinks that the only reason Brodeur is successful is because the Devils don't cross the red line is a fucking moron. He is the best goalie any of you have ever seen.

Thank you.

[$heriff Tom]

Hey, dont toss me in with that lot. I have cried out to the heavens what a privelage it is to see Marty Brodeur tend net. This said, the Devils do play a sleepy style of hockey, but I am not a Devils fan. If I was, they could simply pass the puck back and forth while skating in circles and I would find it exciting.

WINNING is exciting. Hey, I'm with ya there. Hull is just being Hull. Hey, did any of you see his latest tangle? He is whining he is not getting enough time on the NBC telecasts. Well, considering only 300 people are watching them, I am sure his cries will go unnoticed.

[IronHorse4]

I didn't name names. If you aren't in that lot, then it didn't pertain to you. Even Mark Madden, Pens fan extraordinaire and noted Devils hater, can't bring himself to say that the system is the reason why Brodeur is so good. Even though you know he wants to on days like Tuesday when Marty trotted out his 92nd shutout of his career.

And I actually agree with Hull on the broadcasting stuff. More to the point, I agree with his frustration. Not at him not getting camera time; fuck him on that...but the idea in general that hockey coverage is so slim.

Bottom line is this: the NHL fucked up by going with Versus. Short-term, Versus made sense. They were paying, ESPN was not. But like Cohaagen in "Total Recall," ESPN has "turned off the fans" and cut off the oxygen supply to the mutants, leaving us to starve on tidbits from Barry Melrose and any radio hosts that know enough about hockey to talk about it for 20 minutes straight. Thank goodness for the Magic Radio, as XM 204 has kept me fully abreast of the goings on in the National Hockey League. But ESPN will continue to grudgingly acknowledge the red-headed stepchild in the family until they are the provider of coverage once again. And long-term, that is hurting the League.

[grover]

Hey, it's only boring if it's not your team.

People called the 90's Knicks & their heavily defensive games boring also, and I never had a problem with it.

I think I've had the Brodour & his place on the all time greats argument with more Rangers/Isles fans ever than I have with Devil fans.

[$heriff Tom]

Apparently Versus, which is channel 408 on my box (there are no other working channels anywhere near it on the dial run - its all PPV and premium out there in the vinterland) - will have a 30 minute NIGHTLY NHL recap show next year. But, as alluded, they are playing to the proverbial empty house.

Versus, in their own way, are trying. They have all kinds of nifty hockey programming, from random showings of Youngblood to coverage of the draft and hockey award banquets. They did a series on the Stanley Cup, and legends of the game. But losing ESPN, holy crap, that was a savage blow to the NHL. Sad, too, the hockey has been good although I miss the bruising style of play and the random brouhahas that permeated the ice action when I was a wee one taking a gander at the tube.

[9]

I'd rather be "boring" and win than be "exciting" and lose.

[elliejay21]

People who think strong defense is boring are the same people who fall asleep during a no-hitter.

[$heriff Tom]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. Lets not take this too out of hand. There is some merit to all this, especially going on the years the Devils played a sticky sort of trap. Are you going to honestly sit here and say the trap is not boring? Oh, and most teams used the trap cause you did not need to have all too much talent to play it.

[jwmcc]

Make sure to check out the latest issue of The Hockey News, where columnists Mike Brophy "prays" that the Devils not win the Cup as it would be a huge step back for hockey!
Jw

[grover]

There is a ton of merit to it.

I give the Devils all the credit in the world for what they do, because it works, and works well. That said, it's painful AT TIMES. You know why it's painful? Because I'm not a Devils fan.

[thecaptain15]

Please this stuff has been spewed for years.....I have been to many Devil playoff and finals games dating back to the miracle run in 88 and they were exciting games and had me on the edge of my seat....The Rangers brand of hockey has been more exiciting in the last 10 years?? If anything, what was once my favortie sport (watching and participating) has pretty much fallen off my radar since the lockout and I have only watched a handful of games on TV and attended one game live since (Devils-Rangers Game #1 playoff last year.....and exciting game..for Devil fans..lol)....Give me Marty standing on his head anytime and just because the Devils focus on the team concept and have not really had a single offensive dominat force (like a Jagr, Gretzky etc) they have always had a roster of solid quite capable offensive players from top to bottom and distributed throughout the entire lineup. Lets Go Devils!! ;D

[$heriff Tom]

Give me Marty standing on his head anytime

A goalie is generally not having to "stand on his head" when he is facing 18-22 shots a night, like the Devils were in much of their forced-trap tenure.

We are not talking about the Devils winning "2-1" games. We are talking about the Devils FORCING 2-1 games because they are playing the trap. Even a heap of Devils fans were weary of their sleepy style of play, they sure as Hell dont have a record of packing out that arena over there.

[grover]

The Rangers style of play the last couple of years isn't a good comparison because the Rangers have sucked shit for ages.

Comparisons to other successful teams are more suitable.

You also have to factor in that when the Devils became successful with their trap the NHL was coming off a crazy level pf popularity and scoring. They went from one extreme to another, and while the other one wins, it bores the common fan to tears.

[thecaptain15]

they sure as Hell dont have a record of packing out that arena over there.


Style of play has nothing to do with that and I think you know that.........