Resurrection?
Mottau Over Kovalchuk and Martin?
I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend. I spent mine at the beaches of Wildwood, New Jersey, where I enjoyed the pleasantries of practically receiving sun poisoning, a painful bee sting (one of my biggest fears), almost breaking my nose, and seeing my days start early in the afternoon after spending the mornings recovering from the night before. I was able to catch the first two games of this year’s Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers and have to say they’ve been two of the most exciting games I may have seen all year. Both games had two completely different courses of events with the same outcome, but both games were at the same level of excitement and featured everything an ideal hockey game should have from intense physical play to a stellar display of skill from players on both teams playing all positions. Two games in, you can see why these teams are the final two standing and that they deserve to continue playing at this time of year. Although Chicago is off to a good start, I don’t think this series is close to being over if the first two games are any indication.
As of late, the New Jersey Devils have been one of the more irrelevant teams in the broad spectrum of the hockey world but as a blogger for the team, I’m inclined to focus on an aspect of Devil Land to discuss. As I was making my daily browse through my online news outlets on anything regarding the Devils or that would be of interest in the hockey world, I came across a very unsettling article in the New York Post…it appears the Devils are close to an agreement with one of their pending unrestricted free agents. It isn’t Illya Kovalchuk, it isn’t Paul Martin, but defenseman Mike Mottau…yes…Mike Mottau. To read the article, click here.
In his third season with the Devils, Mottau had two goals, eighteen points, went plus four in seventy-nine games and averaged around eighteen minutes of ice time per game. Mottau, a scapegoat of blame for Devils fans, who many, including myself, felt safe in saying his last time in a Devil’s jersey was game five in which the Philadelphia Flyers handed this team their third consecutive first round playoff exit, sadly finished second in scoring amongst Devil’s defensemen as well. If the reports are accurate and Mottau will return for his fourth season with the Devils, during which he’ll likely continue to be a regular in the lineup and his frustrating partnership with Colin White, a third defensive pairing at best that logs second pairing and sometimes first pairing minutes on a nightly basis, I’m sure the two biggest questions amongst Devils fans are “why?” and “what is Lou thinking?”
Mottau can be described as a general defenseman at best as he doesn’t truly excel in the offensive or defensive aspect of the position. Until he came to New Jersey, who at the time was likely desperate to occupy their roster spots after Lamoriello failed or refused to address his team’s needs and properly replace his summer losses, he spent most of his career as a depth defenseman that made frequent trips to and from the AHL. He made a decent first impression and for some reason stuck with the team three seasons, three first round exits, and two coaches later. If you were to ask Lou, Sutter, or Lemaire to justify why a player such as Mottau has had the role and ice time throughout his time with the Devil’s, they’ll say he’s a depth player that can log heavy minutes…after you finish sighing and rubbing your eyes with your fingers, you should counter that by asking what he specifically does that makes his time on the ice effective and like I just mentioned, why he logs second and first pair minutes when he’s clearly a third pairing defenseman at best. Since the defense has remained stagnant since Rafalski left, I guess Mottau has slipped through the cracks.
The article goes on to explain how Lamoriello and defenseman Paul Martin agreed they won’t initiate contract talks until the Devils hire a coach and if that’s any indication, I won’t expect the Devils to name their next head coach until mid-late July so perhaps Lamoriello is basically implying Martin and the Devils are going their separate ways. What I want to know is why Lou is intent on re-signing an overplayed depth player, while the likes of Paul Martin, Illya Kovalchuk, and David Clarkson remain unsigned. The Devils fans addicted to the kool-aid will excuse this by saying it takes more time and effort to re-sign the more skilled members of the upcoming free agent class or express their alleged disinterest in seeing them return next year at all. What makes me laugh is these same fans will defend Lou’s re-signing of Mottau because of the general fact the move was made…even if they were amongst those that relentlessly bashed him throughout the season and prayed to see him off the team in any way possible.
Mottau returning isn’t the worst thing to happen but I’m more than willing to admit you shouldn’t expect a massive contribution from him that makes a difference. Sure he’s more or less a decent depth player and role players like that win championships but the Devils an unhealthy surplus of those…and just because he’s in Lou’s good graces doesn’t mean you have to automatically discount the countless errors and mishaps he’s made this year let alone throughout his tenure in Jersey. With Mottau likely staying, he occupies a roster spot and possesses a skill level that could easily be replaced with one of the kids in the system or an acquired defenseman via trade or free agency (don’t laugh I’m just being hypothetical) of equal or greater talent. You can counter that by crediting Mottau with having experience but I say if you choose an underachiever over a promising prospect based on NHL experience, it ultimately defeats the purpose of developing the kids because they need NHL experience to prove themselves and adapt to the NHL style of play instead of wasting their youth in the minors, although Lou seems to have made a habit of dealing his prospects away for rental players he won’t re-sign so at least they’re of some remote use to the organization.
If Paul Martin signs elsewhere and Mottau stays, it leaves the Devils with Mike Mottau, Andy Greene, Colin White, and Bryce Salvador as returning defensemen on next year’s squad. Even if Martin returns, there isn’t much room for improvement on a defense that hasn’t been able to get this team out of the first round for three consecutive seasons of which they’ve struggled to finish strongly. I don’t want to hear how well the team played during Martin’s absence because their struggles started in January and Martin returned in mid-March, which didn’t lift the team out of their funk. I’d be very surprised if Lamoriello actually acquires defensemen that improve the blue line; and where does that leave the likes of Mark Fraser and Anssi Salmela, who I thought were solid contributors this year with a lot of potential along with prospects such as Tyler Eckford and Matthew Corrente? We could be in for the same old Devils team that hasn’t gotten past the first round for three years now, which Lamoriello seems content with based on his lack of effort in trying to appropriately improving this team.
To sum everything up, the point of this write up is to figure out why Lamoriello seems quick on keeping players of less quality, effortlessly lets his talented players go when they receive an opportunity to play elsewhere, and does little or nothing to replace the talent voids they leave. Hopefully I’m wrong about my attitude towards the likely re-signing of Mottau. I remember I wasn’t happy when the Devils re-signed Salvador and I think he’s the team’s best defensive defensemen and Andy Greene is turning out alright. The difference with Mottau is three seasons should be a long enough trial to prove how much a player can contribute and how replicable they are. If Lamoriello values a player like Mottau over someone like Kovalchuk or Martin…well it should speak for itself.
March is over…Thank GOD…6 games remain for the Devils!
OUCH….3 out of 4 in the loss column for the NJ Devils, but they still got 4 points in the last 4 games and have clinched a playoff spot for the 14th straight year. The division is still in site for the taking, and only 2 out of the final 6 games are against playoff teams, once again my theory of the Devils playing up or down to level of competition holds true.
The Last 4:
- That team from across the river (3/25/10): Game is well in hand after Captain America snaps a 2-2 tie with 7:23 to go. A late attempt at an empty net results in an icing and BANG, the game is tied and they win in a shootout 4-3. I usually never question Jacques, but why is Mottau and White on the ice in the final minute? I would much rather have had Salvador and Greene on the ice, then again I’m not the coach. The queen made some big saves (if I had couch pillows for pads I would have made the saves too) in the shootout and Christensen scored the loan goal in the shootout. I would have loved to beat those ******, we’ll take the point and move on.
- At Montreal (3/27/10): I didn’t see much of this game because I went to see “Hot Tub Time Machine” (Funny Stuff but not as good as The Hangover) with the wife, but was pleased to come home and catch the most of the 2nd and all of the 3rd. Really solid effort in a 4-2, Kovy hooks up Brian Rolston for an empty net goal and his 700th NHL point, really a great unselfish play by Kovy, he is really starting to fit in with the team nicely….REALLY! Congrats to Rolston, now please hit someone and maybe score when a goalie is in net! Keith the Cop took the journey to Montreal for the game and had a blast. Amazing the guy can drive to Montreal for the game, but can’t make the yearly Clifton PBA beefsteak, two years in a row, its Baskinger’s baby! Just jokes buddy, hope to see you soon with my program from Montreal and a PBA card!
- At Philly (3/28/10): I got a call earlier in the day to go watch Wrestlemania at a buddy of mine’s place, I should have gone! What a debacle, 5-1 pounding by the Flyers! The Flyers showed up the Devils took the night off. 1-5-1 against Philly this year, unreal! It got a little ugly at the end and blood was shed when Carcillo crosschecked Clarkson in the face. Carcillo is a class act goon, justice was served when the NHL gave him two games for his actions.
- Boston (3/30/10): My last game until the last game of the season against Buffalo. Another dreadful performance by NJ, passes in the skates, low percentage shots, and the refs giving us the shaft in OT didn’t help. Boston wasn’t much better, but Patrice Bergeron buried the OT winner with 19 ticks to go in OT. Again take the point and get off the ice. The refs were dreadful, Kovy got absolutely mugged in OT and no call. Patrick Elias voiced his displeasure and broke his stick over the boards after the game. The refs opened their eyes for a second and gave him a Game Misconduct….ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! The random homeless guy on the street was sort of right when he said “Boston is gonna crush the Devils!” and now he has good weather as well. By no means did they get crushed but aaah….hmmm…yea….ok…God Bless “Random Homeless Guy” or RHG.
The Devils finished the month of March 7-5-2. Not terrible, not outstanding, only a point behind the Pens for the division, and a playoff spot has been clinched for the 14th straight season. After the Boston debacle, the team held it’s second closed door meeting in a month and skated on an off day. In April, the Devils have three on the road and three at home. Some pretty good matchups before the playoffs start with the Blackhawks, Thrashers, and Buffalo next Sunday. The game against the Sabres could be for the 2nd seed in the conference. 208 will be rocking for that one regardless if this is the case or not! BEWARE if the Devils are losing going into the 2nd period the men in the top row of 208 will be topless! It is a last game of the season tradition and can be blinding! I will be sitting in 209…
The Maddog is coming home!
Former Devil, John Madden and the Central Division leading Chicago Blackhawks visit the Prudential Center tonight. The last time the Hawks and Devils met on New Years eve in Chi-town the Hawks threw a beating on the Devils 5-1. The Devils were also without Paul Martin (Broken Forearm) and Ilya Kovachuk was still a member of the Thrashers. I expect the Devils to bring their A game tonight and match the intensity of their opponent tonight. The Hawks are no slouch (as we all know) have been up and down of late 6-7-2 in March, but like the Devils have already punched their ticket to the playoffs and have a 5 pt lead over Nashville in the Central.
This one tonight I am going to hate to miss, but I have family obligations and will have the game on my Blackberry, I love when the Hawks come to town. An Original 6 team, real classy organization with good solid young talent. This could be a Finals preview, I am just hoping for a solid effort from the Devils and a full 60 minutes. If I were a gambling man, I would say take the over in this one. On a side note the The Horn of “More” Discontent will be loud tonight with its return to the Rock!
MYSTERY PUCK NIGHT!
Once again its Mystery Puck night at the Rock, $20 get a signed puck from a Devil player or coach. You may be lucky like my wife, who got Elias or Shortguy who got Kovalchuk. Or maybe you’ll be screwed and give them your hard earned $20 bucks and get Andrew Peters. Proceeds to benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I have to figure out a way to have someone get me a puck…maybe I can go with the whole “my birthday is in a week” angle.
Random Thoughts:
Will NY (expletive of your choice here) makes the playoffs?
I sure as hell hope not…everyone who is a real Devils fan hates these guys. But, isn’t it odd that everyone in front of them lost last night. Altanta, Boston, and Philly….hmmm. 4 points out with 6 games to go…I wish them nothing but the worst!
Their schedule is gonna be tough:
- Tampa Bay – Stamkos is gonna light the lamp!
- Florida – Shut out Boston lastnight 1-0…start Clemmenson!
- Buffalo – Who is on fire…these guys scare me a bit.
- Toronto – Who were overlooked last Saturday by NY and it came back to bite them in OT…made for a good Saturday night!
- 2 games with Philly: These games are going to be an absolute war…I hope they just end each others existence and they both miss the playoffs!
Here is a link from NHL.com in case you are living under a rock, yet still have a computer and internet access to see how everything is shaping up for the playoffs.
NHL ICE TIME 2010 APP for the iPhone and iPod touch how cool is this? Finally an app from the NHL for your iPhone and iPod touch. I have a Blackberry use The Hockey News app which is great for what it does, but it looks like this APP is going to be amazing. I will download it when I get home and have a review for you all next week or maybe this weekend?
I think that’s about all I have for you this week. Remember April is Alcohol Awareness Month….so be aware of where your beer is at the game so you don’t spill it! LETS GO DEVILS!

I wish that was me! LETS GO DEVILS!
Sup Everyone – The Devils Last 11? – CAM CAM CAM!
Allow me to introduce myself, for the past 22 years I have been worshiped the Devil….the NJ Devils that is. I grew up on the NJ Devils hockey watching them through the good, bad, and 3 Stanley Cup Championships. I am also a student of the game, have been playing for 23 years, and absolutely love the NHL .
My crew and I have given new meaning to the “Hardcore” fan and we didn’t even always have “full” season tickets. The core of the crew has been together for the last eight years. Sam P Woo seriously has been my brother for the last 12 years on the rink and in the seats. I appreciate him giving me this opportunity to do something different and write about the sport I love. Thanks Sammy…
The DEVILS last 11…(shouldn’t it be the last 10, maybe but this is my BLOG not yours!)
OK on to business, the Devils have been a bit frustrating to watch since play has resumed from an awesome Olympic tournament. 6-4-1 in the last 11 which includes tonight’s win against Columbus.
The wins:
- San Jose – 4-3 game was in the “Dreaded Shark Tank” (Until the playoffs)
- Pittsburgh – Twice (6-0 Vs. the champs this year) the division is in sight, but it will be a fight!
- Boston – Jumped out to 3-0 and hung on to win 3-2
- NY Rangers – (Team trying to get into the playoffs, but will fail): 6-3 drubbing, but it was back and forth for awhile.
- Columbus – 6-3, we let them hang around and then dropped the hammer.
The losses:
- Calgary – Who now is on the cusp of the playoffs, but at that time hadn’t scored a goal since before the Olympics started.
- NY Islanders – hHw long before this organization closes up shop and heads to KC?
- Toronto – Haven’t they been out of it since the season started? It was a shootout loss and Danis was in net so take the point and split town.
- Blues – 1-0 gem by Conklin? No the Devils didn’t show up….Cam Janssen made the night great despite the loss!
Ok, so whats my point? My point is this, I worry more about the games about teams under .500 and out of the playoffs, then when they play playoff bound team. How can you be 9-1 Vs. the Pens and Caps and lay an egg against the bottom of the NHL? That’s today’s NHL….”Any team can win on any given night”.
The Jackets come to town…
Yesterday’s game scared me as well, but the Devils showed up and scored 3 power-play goals, 2 goals for Parise and Zajac, 4 points for Kovalchuk, and they just pounded the Blue Jackets. The Jackets scored 3 goals and I was like “Oh boy, here we go again…” but the Devils were unfazed (somewhat meaningless goals) and played a full 60 minutes.
BTW Chico, its RJ Umberger not JR Umberger! Doc, please feel to slap him at any point of the broadcast!
Are they out of the woods with the random bad play? No, but I think this was a real confidence boost to the team, back in 1st place in the Atlantic with 10 games to go and a message was sent…”We will crush the weak and not play down to your level”. Next up the Rangers on Thursday night…Section 208 will have the nails ready for their playoff coffin!
And wait I didn’t forget…Congrats to Marty on 40 wins for the 8th year in a row! AMAZING!
HEY JANSSEN!
As you all know Cam Janssen came back to NJ on Saturday night and he didn’t disappoint. After returning from his 5 game suspension this was his first game back in the lineup. I brought my wife (2 games in a week…WTF…LOL) because she loves Cam and I promised her that she would get to meet him. We supported the “Wounded Warrior Project” and purchased a couple mystery pucks. I got Andrew Peters and the wife got Patrick Elias. My buddy was the winner with an Ilya Kovalchuk signed puck. Still it was money well spent and put towards a great cause.
Anyway we grabbed a couple of beers and some food and it was off to warm-ups to see our boy Cam! Even in warm-ups you could tell he was happy to be back in NJ. My friends and I yelled to him during warm-ups and he gave us a big smile. 9 times out of 10 when you yell to a player they look right through you, so that was a big deal for us. You could tell the guy still appreciated the fans in NJ.
Cam and PL3 got it on in the first period and 2 min and 40 seconds later, Devils fans witnessed one of the best fights of the year and definitely the longest!
Cam had 5 PIM and 4:56 of ice time…that’s the Cam we know and love and we were all re-leaved he didn’t go to St.Louis and start scoring goals like he throws fists. The Blues won 1-0 like I noted earlier and we took a walk down to where the visiting team exits the Rock and we waited for our boy, Cam. Again the Blues players came out didn’t speak, some signed, and shuffled to the bus. We even got to see John Davidson who as everyone knows is the President of Hockey Operations for the Blues, I greeted/mocked him with with a “Oh Baaby” his favorite line when he provided the color for the enemy that plays across the river for so many years. My buddy took it a step further and asked him if we could get a “**** you Sam Rosen…” ( as many know we have some choice words for Mr.Rosen when we score a PPG). JD didn’t appreciate it to much and gave my buddy the nicest tongue lashing I have ever heard. Absolutely hysterical, “You got scolded by JD!”
Finally the man of the hour Cam Janssen, exited the Rock and he didn’t disappoint. He spoke and signed for everyone and my wife got her wish, a picture with Cam. One of the coolest hockey players I have ever had the privilege to meet. He signed my friend’s jerseys, as well as the Horn of Discontent! I got nothing signed, but I took some great pictures and did get a handshake from Cammer. All the best to him for the rest of the season and comeback soon.
Well I think that’s all I got for now…see ya…don’t spill your beer!
LETS GO DEVILS!
Welcome Everyone!
Welcome to Have Another Doughnut!
This is a New Jersey Devils fan site that will be dedicated to our amazing hockey team, the Devils.
I’ll introduce you to the site team so far:
Andrew Timoni: ME! I’ll be running things around here.
Jamie Quinn: Awesome photographer and contributor.
I’ll be looking for some willing individuals to blog as well on the site. I’m looking for people who go to a good number of games that want to share their experience as a fan in the Prudential Center from a fan’s perspective as well as a commentary on the games themselves.
I’ll also be looking for people who are going to see the Devils in other NHL cities. Go to the game, go around town and have a good time, tell us about it!
I am also going to need your ideas about what you want to see on this site! So far there will be photographs courtesy of myself and Jamie from events and games that we go to. There will also be a schedule of events including games, player signings, away game gatherings (we will all meetup at a bar for some away games), and other events. There may also be a video section,But we need your ideas!
If you are interested in any of the blogging positions or have any suggestions for us, please e-mail us at haveanotherdoughnut@gmail.com .
Let’s Go Devils!


