Mattias Tedenby played hero on the February 8 matchup, scoring two goals en route to a 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Photo Credit: Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Throughout the offseason, The Devils’ Den will preview the 2011-2012 schedule, breaking down matchups and providing in-depth analysis of their opponents. Today, we the preview this season’s matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The mention of the Carolina Hurricanes still paints a painful picture in the minds of every New Jersey Devils’ fan. Just two short years ago, the Carolina scored two goals in 80 seconds to knock New Jersey out of the playoffs. Since then, New Jersey hasn’t found success in the playoffs. Their meetings, however, are definitely more heated.

The ‘Canes came up just short of the playoffs last season, missing out by one point. The Devils helped hold them back, winning three of four against them. Carolina lost one of the faces of their franchise, but has another upcoming. Always a playoff contender, the Devils will once again face a tough test against their southern rivals.

The History Behind The Matchup

In 113 meetings, New Jersey is 58-41-2 with 12 ties against Carolina. They’ve averaged 3.19 goals for during the head-to-head matchup (360 total) and only allow 2.96 goals against per meeting (335 total). They’re the only opponent that’s played over 100 games against the Devils and averaged less than three goals per game.

The Devils and Canes squared off four times last season, all between January and February. Carolina took the first meeting, 6-3, on New Year’s Day in Raleigh. Tuomo Ruutu opened the scoring, finding the back of the net on the powerplay just 1:48 into the first period. Jeff Skinner made it 2-0 at 4:28 of the opening frame, and Sergei Samsonov stretched the lead to three with a powerplay tally at the eight minute mark. The goal chased Martin Brodeur, who recorded just four saves. The two teams traded scores later in the period, and Carolina entered the break ahead 4-1.

The scoring wouldn’t end there. Travis Zajac scored 49 seconds into the second period, closing the gap to 4-2. Samsonov would score another powerplay goal, this one at 8:42 of the middle frame, to put the lead back to three. The teams traded goals again in the third, ending the game in a Hurricanes win. Ruutu added insult to injury, recording four points in just that game.

The Devils evened the season series, winning 3-2 in overtime on February 8 at the Prudential Center. Skinner opened the scoring in the second period, converting on a powerplay at 9:22 for a 1-0 lead. It was a short-lived lead. Mattias Tedenby tied the game, 1-1, at 11:31 of the middle frame. Skinner put his team ahead, 2-1, on yet another powerplay goal, this at 8:37 of the third period. Another Devils rookie, Nick Palmieri, tied the game at two at 17:06 of the final frame. It would be a rookie playing hero in overtime for the win:

Johan Hedberg stopped 20 shots for the win. Cam Ward stopped 31 shots in the loss.

Just eight days later, the two teams squared off again at the Prudential Center. The Devils skated away with another 3-2 win. Ilya Kovalchuk broke a scoreless tie at 5:41 of the second period. They extended their lead quickly in the third period, with Brian Rolston and Patrik Elias scoring in the opening two minutes to push the lead to 3-0. Carolina mounted a comeback, with Samsonov ending Hedberg’s shutout at 8:17 of the final period. Ruutu scored at 19:55 to pull the teams within one. That’s as close as they would get. Hedberg stopped 25 shots in the win, and Ward stopped 19 in the loss.

The two teams met again three days later, with the Devils winning their third straight game, 4-1. Dainius Zubrus put New Jersey ahead, 1-0, at 1:14 of the first period. Henrik Tallinder extended the lead to 2-0 at 11:17 of the opening period. Rolston capped the first period outburst with a goal at 16:14 to push the lead to three. Patrick Dwyer broke the shutout at 6:49 of the third period, cutting the lead to 3-1. Zubrus would restore the three-goal lead, tallying his second goal at 11:43 of the final period.

Elias led all Devils skaters with seven points against the Canes - including the game-winning goal on February 16. Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

This Season’s Matchup

Carolina lost one of their most recognizable faces during free agency. Erik Cole walked away from the franchise, signing a four-year, $18 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens. Last season was the first time he played all 82 games. The team also traded defenseman Joe Corvo to the Boston Bruins for a 2012 fourth round draft pick. Corvo found success last season, posting 40 points, the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford took a risk in his marquee offseason acquisition, Tomas Kaberle. He signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract after a mediocre second-half. After collecting 38 points in 58 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he recorded just nine points in 24 games for the Bruins. His playoff performance was a bit better, where he recorded 11 assists en route to a championship. In 49 games with the Bruins, he produced just 20 points. He’ll step in as the team’s best offensive defenseman.

Rutherford also made some smaller signings, inking Alexi Ponikarovsky, Anthony Stewart, Tim Brent and Brian Boucher. Stewart could be a diamond in the rough, as he produced career highs across the board last season.

The teams face off four times next season. They’ll kick off the season series October 10 at the Prudential Center and face off twice more before the end of the 2011. Their last meeting, on March 31, 2012, is a late season meeting that could help determine playoff position in the conference.

Stat Pack

The Hurricanes scored five powerplay goals in the four meetings last season…Skinner scored four goals – on just eight shots – to lead all Carolina scorers in the matchup…Ward’s performance against New Jersey this season submarined his career numbers against the Devils. He’s 6-9-2 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage…Elias led all Devils skaters with seven points against the Canes last season…Hedberg, who beat Carolina three times last season, continued to improve his career record. Entering this season, he’s 12-7-0 with 2 ties in 25 career games against the Hurricanes, with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

Hedberg laid out to stop Niklas Hagman on his shootout attempt. Photo Credit: Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Throughout the offseason, The Devils’ Den will preview the 2011-2012 schedule, breaking down matchups and providing in-depth analysis of their opponents. Today, we the preview this season’s matchup with the Calgary Flames.

The New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames came together to form one of the more interesting games two years ago. Flames’ head coach Brent Sutter, who failed to lead New Jersey past the first round as coach, left the team. He cited the need to be near his family and the Red Deer Rebels. Shortly after that, he signed on to coach Calgary. That led to an interesting meeting at the Prudential Center, but one that went without any real incident.

Since then, the matchup faded back to it’s usual ho-hum nature. As with most of the teams from the Western Conference, there isn’t much hatred between the two teams. The matchup, however, still offers some intrigue. Here’s why you should watch this year’s matchup between the two teams.

The History Behind The Matchup

In 92 games against Calgary, New Jersey is 24-56-1 with 11 ties. Their .326 point percentage is the worst historically among all opponents. The Devils allow 3.89 goals per matchup (358 total) and score just 2.71 goals per matchup (249 total).

The team’s faced off once last season, on November 24 at the Prudential Center. The matchup came during the Devils only hot streak of the first half, and ended in a 2-1 shootout victory for the Devils. David Clarkson opened the scoring, tipping home a Mattias Tedenby shot at 13:06 of the first period. Matt Corrente held the puck at the blueline, skating it toward the center of the zone. His shot hit Tedenby in the slot, but the rookie found the puck and fired it on net. Clarkson deflected it past Henrik Karlsson for the lead.

Calgary wouldn’t go easily, tying the game just 1:18 into the third period. Mark Giordano held the puck near the blueline, shooting the puck toward the net. Rene Bourque came skating across the slot and tipped the puck past Johan Hedberg for the game-tying goal. Both teams remained scoreless until the shootout, where Ilya Kovalchuk would take care of business:

That was the first time the Devils strung together two wins in a row. They wouldn’t find that type of success again until January.

This Season’s Matchup

The Flames didn’t make any big splashes in free agency this offseason. They tried for Brad Richards, but ended up as one of the losers in that sweepstakes. They re-signed Anton Babchuk and Brendan Morrison, and recently added defenseman Scott Hannan.

The Devils and Flames trade some spare parts as well. Calgary acquired Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond from New Jersey for a 2012 fifth-round draft pick.

Both teams face off once this season, on January 10 in Calgary.

Stat Pack

In 15 games against the Flames, Martin Brodeur is just 7-5-0 with three ties. He’s carrying a 2.17 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage…In 16 games against New Jersey, Flames’ captain Jarome Iginla has 12 points. Just one of them, however, is on the powerplay.

Kovalchuk led the Devils to their only win against the Buffalo Sabres this season. Photo Credit: Bill Wippert/Getty Images

Throughout the offseason, The Devils’ Den will preview the 2011-2012 schedule, breaking down matchups and providing in-depth analysis of their opponents. Today, we the preview this season’s matchup with the Buffalo Sabres.

Usually, the Buffalo Sabres stay out of the limelight during the offseason. But since late last year, the only successful team from the Buffalo area made a ton of noise. First, billionaire Terry Pegula purchased the team, brining a wealthy owner to a usually frugal team. They made some noise in the playoffs, but lost to the Philadelphia Flyers. That would be one of their only disappointments.

With Pegula backing the team, Buffalo went on an offseason spending spree. They became, for the first time in recent memory, big spenders. Nobody was surprised; Pegula promised to pay for a quality team. An already good team added some key pieces. It’ll be a different team on the ice taking on New Jersey this season.

The History Behind The Matchup

The Devils have faced the Sabres 132 times, and haven’t fared well against them. New Jersey is 47-65-3 with 17 ties, allowing 448 goals against, or 3.39 goals per game. They’ve only scored 380 goals against Buffalo, good for 2.88 goals per game.

The two teams faced off four times last season, with New Jersey compiling a 1-2-1 record. They first met on October 13 in a game that became a duel between Martin Brodeur and Ryan Miller. Both goalies stood on their heads, matching each other save for save. In overtime, rookie Matt Taormina set up Ilya Kovalchuk for a game-winning one-timer deep in the Sabres zone. The puck rang off the crossbar before finding it’s way to the back of the net. That marked the first win of John MacLean’s coaching career. Too bad he wouldn’t lead the team to many more.

Buffalo evened the series just 10 days later, blowing out the Devils, 6-1, at the Prudential Center. Drew Stafford started the scoring, giving Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 6:57 of the first period. Tyler Myers extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:33 of the opening frame. They poured it on in the second period, scoring three times. Tyler Ennis pushed the Sabres’ lead to 3-0 at 3:10 of the middle period. Patrick Kaleta stretched the lead to four at 8:17 of the period, chasing starter Johan Hedberg.

Brodeur couldn’t stop the bleeding. Thomas Vanek made it 5-0 at 18:12. Vanek scored again in the third period, making it 6-0. Zach Parise broke the shutout, scoring at 11:25 of the period. Miller finished with 26 saves. The game was more known for the infamous benching of Kovalchuk.

The teams played another high scoring game on November 10, with Buffalo winning, 5-4, in a shootout. Jason Arnott opened the scoring, putting the Devils ahead, 1-0, at 10:12 of the first period. That lead wouldn’t last. Jason Pominville tied the game, 1-1, at 5:22 of the second period. Derek Roy wasted no time in giving Buffalo the lead, scoring 13 seconds later to give his team a 2-1 advantage. The Devils answered right back. David Clarkson tied the game, 2-2, at 7:58 of the middle period. Arnott struck again, giving the Devils a 3-2 lead at 12:01.

The see-saw battle would continue. Myers evened the score, 3-3, at 13:50 of the second period. Jamie Langenbrunner responded, putting the Devils ahead, 4-3, at 18:01 of the second period. New Jersey once again failed to hold their lead. Ennis tied the game at four at 8:54 of the third period. Both teams moved to the shootout, where Vanek and Langenbrunner both scored. Roy put his team ahead, and set up one of the worst moments for Kovalchuk this season:

Jhonas Enroth stopped 28 shots for the win. Hedberg stopped 38 in the loss.

The Devils ended their season series against the Sabres with a 2-0 shutout loss on March 26. Nathan Gerbe put his team ahead, 1-0, at 4:17 of the opening period. Vanek, a thorn in the Devils side all season, extended their advantage to 2-0 at 16:17 of the first period. Miller finished with 30 saves, and Brodeur stopped 26 shots.

Buffalo outscored New Jersey, 13-6, in their four games last season. That’s a pretty terrible ratio. Twice they hung four-plus goals on them, which is clearly unusual.

This Season’s Matchup

Pegula’s checkbook reshaped the Buffalo franchise this offseason. They spent $30.6 million in unrestricted free agency, giving a 6-year, $27 million to Ville Leino. Cody McCormick earned himself a raise, inking a three-year, $3.6 million deal. They also locked up Enroth to a two-year, $1.35 million deal. The makeover didn’t stop there.

The Sabres completed two big trades to compliment their offseason spending. They traded a 2012 fourth round draft pick to the New York Islanders to gain the negotiating rights for Christian Erhoff. They inked him to a 10-year, $40 million deal. They weren’t done there. Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik and a 2012 second-round pick came over from Calgary in exchange for Paul Byron and Chris Butler.

The Sabres already have an elite goalie, and they made a good defense even better. Match that with their offensive players, and the Sabres look great on paper. If they can put it all together, they’ll seriously challenge the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins at the top of the division.

The teams will once again square off four times this year, beginning November 16. They end the season series on Valentine’s Day.

Stat Pack

Myers recorded four points against the Devils last season, tied with Vanek for the team lead…Despite two wins against the Devils last season, Miller is just 8-9-4 against New Jersey. He still carries a 2.19 goals-against average and .927 save percentage…Brodeur struggled last year, but has owned the Sabres in his career. In 57 gams (56 starts), he’s 30-16-2 with five ties against Buffalo, with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

Hedberg backstopped the Devils to their only victory over the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Throughout the offseason, The Devils’ Den will preview the 2011-2012 schedule, breaking down matchups and providing in-depth analysis of their opponents. Today, we the preview this season’s matchup with the Stanley-Cup champion Boston Bruins.

The New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins never developed that nasty New York – Boston rivalry. Maybe it’s because of the proximity of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. It just seems like that hatred never carried over to the Bruins. Of course, that could all change this year.

The Bruins enter this season as the defending champions, giving them the target on their backs. Every team, including the Devils, will look to give them a run for their money. But their recent success isn’t great, and they haven’t fared well throughout their history.

The History Behind The Matchup

The Devils and Bruins squared off 133 times during the Devils 35-year history, with Boston dominating the matchup. New Jersey is just 47-64-3 with 19 ties, a winning percentage of just .436. They’ve allowed 448 goals, an average of 3.37 per meeting. They’ve scored 368 times, almost a full hundred goals less. It’s an average of 2.77 goals per matchup.

Boston continued their dominance last season, winning three of four against New Jersey. The two teams first met on October 16, a 4-1 win for Boston. Dainius Zubrus opened the scoring, putting the Devils ahead, 1-0, at 3:45 of the second period. But that wouldn’t last long, as Jordan Caron tied the game at 5:38 of the period. Then, the Bruins took over.

Michael Ryder put Boston ahead, 2-1, at 10:44 of the second period. Shawn Thornton made it 3-1 at 16:43 of the middle frame. Milan Lucic capped the Bruins’ outburst, stretching the lead to 4-1 at the 18:09 mark. Tim Thomas would stop 31 shots in the win, and Martin Brodeur matched that number for the loss.

Things didn’t get much better in the second meeting, a 3-0 shutout win for the Bruins on November 15 in Boston. Ryder continued to plague the Devils, opening the scoring at 15:26 of the first period. Nathan Horton made it 2-0 just 43 seconds into the second period. Not to be outdone, Blake Wheeler scored 43 seconds into the third period to push the lead to 3-0. Thomas stopped 28 shots for the win, and Brodeur stopped 21 in the loss.

Not even a change in coaches could sway the Devils luck. Boston once again beat them, 4-1, on March 22 in Boston. Ilya Kovalchuk struck first, scoring on the powerplay to put New Jersey ahead, 1-0. Thornton tied it at 15:39, and the teams entered the second period deadlocked.

Once again, the Bruins went on a goal scoring spree. Zdeno Chara put Boston ahead, 2-0, with a powerplay tally at 8:17 of the second period. Lucic extended the lead to 3-1 at 16:13 of the third period, and Mark Recchi sealed it with an empty-netter at 19:20 for the 4-1 lead.

The Devils avoided the sweep, ending their season with a 3-2 win over the Bruins. Patrik Elias opened the scoring, putting New Jersey ahead, 1-0, at 1:47 of the first period. Richard Peverley tied the game, 1-1, at 10:04 of the period. It remained tied until the third period. Vladimir Zharkov put the Devils ahead, 2-1, four minutes into the third period. Alexander Urbom scored his first career goal at 9:10 of the period, extending the lead to 3-1. That would prove crucial, as Chris Kelly scored with four seconds in regulation to bring the score to 3-2.

This Season’s Matchup

The Bruins had a quiet offseason, as many expected. Their biggest move came on July 1, when they acquired defenseman Joe Corvo for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick. They also extended Adam McQuaid’s contract for three years, and continue to discuss an extension for Brad Marchand.

Boston didn’t need to make a splash this offseason. They’ve got a Vezina-winning goalie between the pipes and a Norris candidate along the blue line. If Horton can return from the concussion he sustained during the Stanley Cup finals, they’ll have a good group of forwards as well. They have their issues, especially on the powerplay, but still remain the top team in the entire league.

These teams will square off four times this year, with the first meeting on Tuesday, November 15. They face off twice in the span of 15 days during January, and end the season matchup on March 1.

Stat Pack

In 48 career games against the Devils, Chara has 17 points…Elias has 39 points, including nine on the powerplay, against the Bruins…Despite the down year last year, Brodeur is 24-18-1 with 8 ties against the Bruins. He carries a 2.45 goals-against average and .913 save percentage with four shutouts against them.

After being officially bought out by the team yesterday, White signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the San Jose Sharks. He’ll get to wear number 5 with the organization.

“We talked to a couple of teams, but the big thing was San Jose, the opportunity to the ultimate goal of winning,” White told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record.

White spent ten years with the Devils, winning two Stanley Cup championships. He overcame a career-threatening eye injury, suffered in training camp before the start of 2007. He had no hard feelings about the way his time ended in New Jersey.

“I have too many (good) memories,” he told Gulitti. “Obviously, the Cups and getting drafted and just the teammates I played with, the trainers, the coaches, equipment guys. It was a big family there. I think that’s the toughest part. Just having so many friends there, being there so long you get accustomed to going there. But, I’ll keep in touch with all those guys and now it’s just a different experience that I’m looking forward to.”

White will return to the Prudential Center on October 21.

Colin White, a 10-year veteran along the Devils blueline, was placed on waivers and will be bought out. Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

For the past 10 years, Colin White became a staple of the New Jersey Devils’ defense.

For several of those years, he stayed buried under the bigger names on the blue line, with Scott Stevens and others leading the charge. But as players began to retire or leave in free agency, White became an important piece of the defense.

He earned the respect of his teammates, overcoming a gruesome eye injury during training camp in 2007 that almost cost him his career. He became an assistant captain, and at times was asked to act as captain.

But White carried an ugly $3 million cap hit, and the Devils were in a cap crunch. Despite trading Brian Rolston three days ago (and ridding themselves of his $5.2 million contract), Devils’ general manager Lou Lamoriello wanted more wiggle room. With the rise of prospects and the possible return of Bryce Salvador, White became an expendable piece on the blue line.

Lamoriello placed White on waivers today, and intends to buy him out if he clears. The Devils’ general manager admitted it wasn’t an easy decision.

“He’s been a pure Devil,” Lamoriello told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record. “It’s unfortunate, but there comes a point when young players have to get a chance. With long-term contracts in this league, this is not unusual, but it is unfortunate.”

White ended his ten-year run with 20 goals and 105 assists in 743 regular season games. A former second round draft pick in 1996, the defenseman won two Stanley Cup championships in 2000 and 2003.

Lamoriello and White discussed the move during an end of the season meeting.

“Colin and I sat down and the end of the season and after the discussion we decided just to go and get a bit of a change,” Lamoriello told Gulitti.

If the team buys out White, they will need to pay two thirds of his contract over twice the remaining years. He’s due $3 million this year, in the last year of his contract. New Jersey will pay him $1 million over the next two seasons.

White remained the last stalwart of the Devils’ dynasty defenses. He seemed to play better last season, and showed aggressive play we haven’t seen in the past few seasons. He got into a few scrums and generally threw his body around. For the first time in a long time, White played like the younger version of himself.

With the move, Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur are the only remaining Devils with championship rings. The move also places a ton of confidence in Salvador’s recovery. The defenseman missed all of last season battling post-concussion symptoms, and has yet to participate in contact drills. It also opens a spot along the blueline for one of the Devils’ young defensive prospects.

Lamoriello believes the move allows White an opportunity somewhere else.

“This will be good for Colin,” Lamoriello told Gulitti. “Now, as an unrestricted free agent, he can pick where he wants to go.”

**********

The Devils also placed recently acquired Trent Hunter on waivers. Hunter, acquired in the Rolston trade, has two years and $2 million remaining on his contract. If New Jersey buys him out, they’ll owe him $666,667 for the next four seasons.

Patrik Elias scored the game-winning goal in the team's lone game against the Anaheim Ducks last season. Photo Credit: Harry Howe/Getty Images

Throughout the offseason, The Devils’ Den will preview the 2011-2012 schedule, breaking down matchups and providing in-depth analysis of their opponents. Kicking things off is the preview of this season’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Devils and Ducks share a deep history despite playing on opposite coasts. Just eight years ago, New Jersey and Anaheim faced off in an epic seven-game Stanley Cup Finals. Everyone remembers the battles between J.S. Giguere and Martin Brodeur, and the heroics of Mike Rupp.

Since then, they haven’t developed much of a rivalry. They only meet once a year, which doesn’t allow for much hatred to develop. Even Scott Niedermayer wearing their sweater couldn’t tip the scales.

Devils vs. Ducks – The History Behind The Matchup

In 23 games against Anaheim, the Devils are 14-8-0 with 1 tie. New Jersey averages 2.96 goals for against the Ducks (68 total), and allow just 2.26 goals per game (52 total).

Last season, the team’s met once, during a Devils west coast trip. New Jersey beat the Ducks, 2-1, using some late game dramatics. Jason Blake opened the scoring in the second period, tallying on the powerplay. Saku Koivu held the puck along the side boards, then moved the puck to Blake below the goal line. The left-winger drove to the net, and Brodeur made the first save. Blake knocked the rebound home for the goal and the lead.

The lead wouldn’t last long, as Jamie Langenbrunner scored just over two minutes later to tie the game. The right-winger corralled a loose puck behind the net, and skated to the goal line. His shot deflected off of Jonas Hiller and into the net for the tying goal. The teams ended the period tied, 1-1. Then Patrik Elias took over.

The Devils left-winger broke the tie just 1:54 into the third period. Alexander Vasyunov picked off a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone, and New Jersey moved into the offensive zone on a 3-on-1. Vasyunov sent a pass to Elias, who blasted a one-timer from the slot past Hiller for the game-winning goal. For game highlights, check out the video below.

Devils vs. Ducks – This Season’s Matchup

Anaheim underwent some significant roster changes this offseason. The team shipped Andy Sutton to Edmonton, acquiring defenseman Kurtis Foster. They continued dealing with their northern neighbors, acquiring Andrew Cogliano for a second round pick. Other signings include Jeff Deslauries, Mathieu Carle and Andrew Gordon. They lost Todd Marchant to retirement and Andres Lilja on the free-agent market.

Ultimately, Anaheim’s success hinges on the health of Hiller. They’ve got great producers in Bobby Ryan and Blake. If Teemu Selanne decides to return, it’ll be another piece to the puzzle. But  Hiller remains the most important piece. He only played in 49 games last year due to vertigo, creating a carousel of goalies. Anaheim tried out backups (Curtis McIlhenny), Ray Emery and Dan Ellis. Only McIlhenny played more than 15 games, and he recorded a 6-9-1 record. Without Hiller, they sit near the bottom of playoff contenders.

Ultimately, one game will not completely sink the Devils. Anaheim will visit The Rock on February 17, and it’ll be the only meeting of the season. There won’t be too much at stake, just the regular two points.

Stat Pack

In 20 games (19 starts) against the Ducks, Brodeur is 13-6-0 with three ties. He’s carrying a gaudy 1.82 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage…Despite playing hero last season, Elias doesn’t have great numbers against Anaheim. In 16 games, he’s tallied six points, but carries a minus-4 rating…Jersey-native Ryan has two points in three games against the Devils.

Peter DeBoer became the seventh coach for the Devils in the past seven years. Photo Credit: Andy Marlin/Getty Images

The New Jersey Devils finally finished their coaching search two days ago, becoming the last team to fill that spot. The selection is still a bit of a head-scratcher.

Several big names were linked to the team’s open spot. Ken Hitchcock and Michel Therien, two veteran coaches with playoff experience, seemed destined for the job at one time or another. The Montreal Canadiens link still existed, with Guy Carbonneau finding his name attached to the position. Assistants like Mike Haviland were thrown into the discussion. Reports even had the Devils dipping into the college ranks, with Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves possibly taking over. Surprisngly, none of these guys earned the job.

Instead, Devils’ president and general manager Lou Lamoriello decided to hire Peter DeBoer. Does it ring a bell? DeBoer spent the past three seasons as the Florida Panthers coach, compiling a less-than-stellar 103-107-36 record. He never made the playoffs, but came close, losing out to the Canadiens in a tiebreaker during the 2008-09 season. Before coaching in the NHL, he spent seven seasons as the Kitchner Rangers head coach. That team won the Memorial Cup in 2003 and featured right-winger David Clarkson.

Clarkson gave the hire a ringing endorsement.

“I think Pete is going to be a great fit,” Clarkson told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record yesterday. “Wherever he goes, he finds a way to get the best out of the players.”

Lamoriello believes DeBoer can serve a dual purpose. First and foremost, the team needed a coach who could bring them back to the playoffs. The veteran-laden roster is seeing their championship window close rapidly. The organization’s 14-year playoff streak snapped last year, and Lamoriello doesn’t want to make that an every year occurance.

He also needed a coach who could relate to young players. The Devils relied heavily on rookies last season, and their better prospects are knocking on the NHL door. DeBoer spent the past three years coaching young players with Florida. The teams weren’t great, but it gave him the opportunity to learn the ropes. Lamoriello believes that experience served him well.

“He’s young,” Lamoriello said to Gulitti. ”He has excellent experiences in dealing with all types of players. He also served as an assistant where he an opportunity in international play with league players and to (be able to) sit and watch how other people handed them. And I think he’s had three years of outstanding apprenticeship (with Florida), if that’s what you want to call it.”

New Jersey needs stability behind the bench. They’ve burned through seven coaches in seven seasons. Brent Sutter is the only coach to spend longer than one year behind the Devils’ bench. It’s an issue that’s come up time and time again this offseason, and is so important that Zach Parise mentioned it when talking about his desire to re-sign with New Jersey long-term. DeBoer acknowledged the challenges of being a Devils coach and the expectations behind it.

“You look around at our profession and that kind of comes with the territory,” DeBoer told Gulitti. “But I think Lou’s looking for some stability in my conversations in this position and it’s going to be my responsibility to make sure that I don’t give him reason to make a change. That’s on me to make sure we have enough success and play the right way that that’s not an option.”

The stability issue eliminated more qualified candidates. Both Therien and Hitchcock are older and would bring a shorter shelf life. DeBoer can grow with the players on the roster and hopefully set them up for future success. But their taking a huge risk on that potential. Sure, he’s shown potential at the junior level. He also spent three years with a subpar roster in Florida. But MacLean showed potential too, and flamed out.

In the end, DeBoer is a wild-card signing. He could be a huge hit, but his track record isn’t outstanding. It’s a risk, and a possibly dangerous one.

This is the career highlight for PL3 - a marathon fight with former Devil Cam Janssen. Photo Credit: Jim McIssac/Getty Images

The days of Devils enforcer are over for Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond.

Leblond, nicknamed “PL3,” was traded to the Calgary Flames for a 2012 fifth-round pick. The Devils banished Leblond to the minors last season after he earned an automatic one-game suspension for instigating a fight with Washington’s Marcus Johansson in the final five minutes of a 7-2 loss on October 9. He played only two NHL games last season, collecting no points and 21 penalty minutes. He had 13 points and 334 penalty minutes in 64 games with the Albany Devils. The former seventh-round pick finished his Devils career with no goals, three assists and 91 penalty minutes in 37 NHL games.

A change in Leblond’s contract could have necessitated the trade. His contract changed from a two-way to one-way deal this year, carrying a $525,000 cap hit. Earlier in the summer, I wrote that Letourneau-Leblond’s days with New Jersey were probably done. Looks like that came true.

Zharkov, Corrente, Wiseman Re-sign

The Devils retained three of their own, re-signing Vladimir Zharkov, Matt Corrente and Chad Wiseman.

Zharkov accepted his qualifying offer – a one-year, two-way deal. He’ll make $577,500 in the NHL and $62, 500 in the AHL. Zharkov played in 38 NHL games last season, recording four points. In 31 AHL games, he collected 19 points. He seemed to solidify his position in the lineup last year, fitting in the bottom two lines. His overall performance probably earned him a shot at a consistent roster spot next season.

Corrente, like Zharkov, accepted his qualifying offer. His one-year, two-way deal carries an NHL salary of $660,000. Last season, he skated in just 22 NHL games. A shoulder injury ended his season, and he returns looking to hold onto a roster spot. With some young blueliners threating to grab roster spots, this will be a big year for Corrente to prove himself. His willingness to drop the gloves will easily replace Letourneau-Leblond, and his offensive capabilities will hopefully finally develop.

Chad Wiseman re-signed as an unrestricted free agent, inking a two-year, two-way deal. He’ll carry an NHL salary of $525,000 and an AHL salary of $105,000. Wiseman collected 44 points, and matched the team record for most goals in a period with four. He hasn’t found much success in the NHL, but provides quality organization depth.

It’s not the lack of forward Mattias Tedenby, who will miss camp because of visa issues. The Devils have yet to name a head coach, and will not do so this week.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told Tom Gulitti of The Bergen Record that the team will have a coach soon. They just won’t have him installed this week.

“It won’t be long,” Lamoriello told Gulitti. “(But) it won’t be this week.”

The delay in naming a new head coach has stretched longer than any time in recent memory. Several names were tied to the vacancy, but none were named by management as targets. Mike Haviland, a Chicago Blackhawks assistant and a New Jersey native, found his name once again connected to a Devils head coaching vacancy. Former NHL coaches Ken Hitchcock and Michel Therrien both found themselves mentioned as possibilities. Some media members speculated that ex-Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay could fill the position. But after his termination, he joined the Florida Panthers staff.

Media reports even linked the Devils to the collegiate ranks. Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves, rumored to want a NHL head coaching job, found himself mentioned in the pool of possible candidates. He denied any connection to the position in a report two weeks ago.

With no coach in place, Larry Robinson will lead camp. He twice served as head coach, and spent last season as an assistant. He, like many others, is not an option for the coaching vacancy.

It seems the organization views the situation with a laid-back feeling. But the team should be concerned. They need to establish a system, and the rookies should have an opportunity to prove themselves in front of the most important decision makers. Instead, the players skate for people who don’t hold much control over roster decisions. It’s also important for these young players to learn the system of their (possible) future head coach.

At this time next week, the Devils may have a new head coach. But it’s once again another significant offseason event where the Devils lag behind the rest of the league.