A Bittersweet Ordeal

With the conclusion of yesterday’s exhilarating gold medal outcome between Team Canada and USA, it has drawn a conclusion to the 2010 Olympic games, which will resume four years from now in Sochi, Russia. Having said that, the 2010 Olympics have given us an entertaining and interesting two weeks of events in men’s ice hockey, some of which could potentially affect the team and players on the New Jersey Devils. First, let me extend my congratulations to Team Canada on their 3-2 overtime victory yesterday afternoon. Overall, it was an exciting game that I personally felt neither team deserved to lose. After being dismissed of having any chance to capture a medal going into the 2010 games, Team USA returns home with a respectable silver and may have critics think twice of writing them off in the manner they were this year, in the future.

Overall, the Olympics left me with a bittersweet taste, at least in my eyes. Aside from the momentous run that earned Team USA a silver medal and the emotional game of extremes they partook in yesterday, the events that transpired led to such outcomes that may be of relevance to the Devils. Last Sunday may have been the last time we will see future hall of fame goaltender Martin Brodeur represent his country in net after he and his team came short in a stunning 5-3 loss to Team USA. Brodeur, who has seemingly struggled with his annual workload in the weeks prior to the Olympic break, rode the bench as teammate Roberto Luongo maintained stellar net minding and helped lead Canada to their second gold medal in eight years.

For those that avidly follow the Devils, the fact Brodeur is and will always be the top dog in Jersey is just as true as water is wet. Marty undoubtedly has a sizable ego and tends to show it in unfavorable situations to him or when he’s put into question on any aspects of his game. Having said that, it’s something fans and probably coaches and teammates willingly overlook as his continual elite play in net compensates any of his alleged negatives. After stumbling into the Olympic break, what became of Marty during the tournament has a set of major pros and cons to consider. While he only played in two games and got a weeks worth of rest that he arguably needed more than anything, it’s how this came to be that gives me reason for concern.

Brodeur has had his share of discouraging obstacles throughout his career, unlike any other player and in recent times. When you consider how he was a focus of blame for the Devil’s early exit in last year’s playoffs and how he’s been pulled from games more frequently this year than in season’s past doesn’t appear to have significantly affected his confidence to the point where it’s shown in his play. While I’m sure Marty’s felt discouraged in the past, could this recent occurrence bare a different effect on him? After giving up five goals and playing a reckless game in Team Canada’s 5-3 loss to the United States last Sunday, just as many people pinpointed Brodeur as the culprit behind the stunning upset as there were that tried to make excuses for him or insisted the entire team let themselves down. Along with not making a start the rest of the tournament, it was clear when Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock announced the team was going with Roberto Luongo as their starter, he relinquished the reins from Brodeur that Luongo gracefully inherited.

Physically, Brodeur could have benefited from the week of rest, but I’m wondering how his forceful step aside affected him mentally and emotionally. I’m sure Marty acknowledges the likeliness that this may very much be the last Olympics he’ll participate in and despite capturing another gold medal, how his role rapidly dwindled and losing what may be the last game he’ll ever get to represent his country in net might not have been what Brodeur expected two weeks ago. While the past indicates Marty’s had a strong showing after every Olympics he’s been in, could his treatment in what may be his last Olympics be the ultimate blow to his confidence, or serve as a reality check? It’s clear that by going with Luongo, Team Canada said without words they lost most of the confidence they had in Brodeur being their top goaltender, who is someone that thinks they’re capable of handling any type of situation or game.

In recent years, the formula of Brodeur manning his annual regular season workload, picking up slack for the team’s weaknesses and voids, and spearheading the Devil’s charge into the playoffs has proved ineffective. Despite this unaltered outcome, Marty and the different faces that have coached him in that time appear to have been un-phased by the evident reality Brodeur can’t maintain the title of being a one man show anymore…which doesn’t necessarily mean he still isn’t among the league’s elite goaltenders or can’t play a pivotal role in his team’s playoff efforts. Perhaps that’s what Brodeur, and whoever else is involved in dictating how to handle Brodeur’s role on the team have trouble realizing, perhaps not. Although a well-rested Brodeur’s NHL campaign will resume tomorrow night in San Jose, it remains to be seen if his happenings at the Olympic games have affected him for the better or worse.

The Olympic Break and the Devils

Let’s be real now…the way things have been going for these New Jersey Devils, the Olympic break couldn’t have come any sooner. Since January, the Devils have gone 9-13, losing eleven of those thirteen in regulation, and were shut out four times. Over the course of these twenty-two games, the Devils have barely averaged over two goals a game and save a significantly tighter cushion, the fact their position in the standings remained static over the past two months simply amazes me. With twenty-one games remaining this season, hopes are high the Devils can regroup, recharge, and reconnect with the winning ways that helped them excel throughout the first half of the season.

The Olympic break provides three things the Devils players, coaches, and management can utilize if they’re properly taken advantage of. First, there’s the momentum change that can benefit or kill the pace certain teams have taken throughout the season. As we’ve seen, it’s been win one, lose one, win one, lose two, win one, lose three, etc. for the Devils since the new year commenced. The fact a shakeup, possibly the biggest this team’s seen in almost a decade or franchise history (acquiring Kovalchuk) dented the funk the Devils are in at most is very disheartening. Although Kovy’s had a goal and four points in his first five games, which are solid numbers, he’s yet to reach expectations that came with his arrival (then again, few big name players on new teams ever do). If all goes well, the resumption of the season two weeks from now can serve as a new beginning for the team where the consistency of the team’s offensive production, Marty’s dominance in net, and the defense’s ability to maintain the reputation of its mentality can be replenished.

I guess you can consider these numbers…in the 2005-2006 season, the Devils entered the Olympic break with a 30-22-6 record and finished 46-27-9 for the year, going 16-5-3 upon returning from break. Before the 2006 Olympics, the Devils were on pace to finish 42-32-8, whereas after the break, they were poised for a 54-17-11 record. Before the 2002 Olympics (although this was a different hockey era), the Devils were 25-19-9-4 and finished 41-28-9-4 for the year, going 16-9 after the break. Before the 2002 Olympics, the Devils were poised to finish 35-27-13-7, whereas after the break, the numbers indicate they’d have finished 52-30. While I’m sure these numbers may have changed if the situations presented transpired, I hope you yet the point I’m trying to make…the Devils have benefited from that two week pause that occurs once every four years. The Devil’s current record of 37-21-3 is the best they’ve had going into an Olympic break since 1998. Despite the discouraging stumble that’s raised great concern, if Devils history maintains its consistency every four years, the numbers provide reason for Devils fans to keep their heads raised high once the season resumes.

Getting on back on track, the Olympic break can provide a good amount of time for the players, coaches, and management to evaluate themselves, their team, rights and wrongs, and outcomes that potentially await them. We all know the Devils are a good team that’s capable of better play than what they’ve done since January. Having said that, it’s clear they’re far from perfect. The first three quarters of the season should have given us enough indication on the team’s strengths, weaknesses, and who the over and underachieving players are. As fans, we’ve raved about their strengths such as the team first mentality and continual functioning of “the system”, the team’s ability to win games in multiple situations, and the standout play of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Andy Greene, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Patrik Elias. We may have complained twice as much this year about their flaws such as the inconstancy of the special teams, undeserving ice time and roles of players such as Jay Pandolfo, Mike Mottau, and Colin White, and Lemaire’s frequent line shuffling during games (which we thought was a solitary trait the team was liberated from with the resignation of Brent Sutter).

There are many things I’m sure we all hope we want the likes of Jacques Lemaire, Lou Lamoriello, and players we’ve singled out all season to realize. I’m sure we all want Lemaire to realize he doesn’t have to mix his lines up after one bad period or shift and in order to have an effective offense, he should realize another two things: Put the players he has in the lineup in situations where they can be utilized to be best of their ability, and the offense has more capable pairings other than Parise and Zajac. I recall Brian Rolston (who I think receives the most undeserving criticism of anyone on the team) and Patrik Elias produced quite often when they were on the ice together. If Rolston’s usefulness can’t be extracted any other way, I see no reason why Elias and Rolston shouldn’t be entwined together the way Parise and Zajac are…why not give a Kovalchuk-Elias-Rolston combo a shot (correct me if it’s already been attempted)? I’m also sure we’re pleading for a better-or in this case, lesser handling of the likes of Jay Pandolfo and Mike Mottau. While many Devils fans are likely repulsed by seeing Pandolfo and Mottau respectively on the third line, second defensive pairing, and penalty kill (currently twentieth at 83.7%), it’s possible Lemaire’s simply working with what he has, as he’s yet to work with a fully healthy roster this year.

While acquiring Kovalchuk was a shakeup in itself, will Lou think that wasn’t enough to solidify his team’s anticipating cup run this spring? The Devils still have a chunk of cap space and tradable assets to play with and some analysts, such as the guys on NHL network (I forget who in particular said it so don’t call me on it) don’t believe Lou is done just yet. I doubt we’ll see Lamoriello pursue another star forward, but another role playing wing, top three center, or second pairing defenseman or two shouldn’t be out of the question. I don’t consider myself an insider, but a friend of mine with a source in the Sabres organization said in New Jersey’s last meeting with the Sabres, scouts from the Nashville Predators attended the contest, but weren’t scouting anybody from Buffalo. Defenseman Dan Hamhuis, a pending unrestricted free agent is rumored to be available, and while I doubt Nashville’s parting with any of their essential assets, since they’re involved in the Western Conference’s tight-knit playoff race, how would the potential realism of a deal sending Jason Arnott back to Jersey appeal to Devils fans? Unlikely, but so was the Kovalchuk trade, which reminds us once again how you never know what Lou Lamoriello has up his sleeve.

After the Olympic break concludes, Devils fans should be relieved to know their team will be two weeks closer to having a full, healthy roster for the first time this year. Players such as Patrik Elias (despite playing in the Olympics), Anssi Salmela, and Bryce Salvador, who’ve battled nagging injuries throughout, or at some point this year will have two full weeks to further recuperate, especially if they’ve played with injuries the public and media are oblivious to. Paul Martin and David Clarkson, who’ve been out with injuries since early October and late November, respectively, are projected to be returning, or close to returning between late February and early March and to say their absences haven’t been missed is a bold, ludicrous statement. Clarkson was expected to break the twenty goal plateau this year, while being a potent physical force that makes things happen at both ends of the ice, who’s capable of being used in any situation. Martin, who continues to hold the title as the team’s top defenseman, will add much needed stability on the blue line, a boost on the defense’s ability to be flexible offensively and defensively, not to mention Martin can log more minutes than any player on the Devil’s roster.

Through the eyes of many fans, the return of Paul Martin and David Clarkson better the team outside of the skills both players contribute. With two players returning, guaranteed to be lineup regulars, it leaves the Devils with fourteen forwards and seven defensemen. That means one forward gets demoted to Lowell and one defenseman rides the press box or follows the same fate. With Clarkson and Martin’s skill and capabilities, hopes are high the roles and ice time of players such as Jay Pandolfo and Mike Mottau, who I’m sure is every fan’s choice as the odd man out on defense, will be significantly reduced. Considering the outcome of Ilkka Pikkarainen and limited use of Andrew Peters, there’s surely reason to set high hopes to see the undeserving players get their due when their superiors return to the lineup. On that note, I’ll end this write up by sharing a belief many will deem obvious in what an injustice it will be if the roles and ice time currently endured by the likes of Mike Mottau, Jay Pandolfo, and arguably Colin White and Dean McAmmond (the only reason he’s currently a lineup regular is because of the rash of injuries the team’s fought all year) go unchanged, while their deserving demotions are rubbed off on the team’s unproven or underused players.