courtesy of ESPN Insider
Devils, Islanders still have missing pieces
The Kevin Constantine era began with a Devils win over the rival Islanders Tuesday night. The matchup pitted two teams with high expectations. New Jersey management just fired the coach who led the team to two consecutive finals, so obviously, the bar is high with the Devils. And on Long Island, the arrival of a new coach and a slew of big-name players has Islanders fans dreaming of postseason victories.
But, as has been pointed out, both teams are flawed.
The Islanders want help on defense, while Sherry Ross of the New York Daily News suggests the Devils lack an unqualified and gritty leader.
Islanders: It's no secret GM Mike Milbury is looking to upgrade on defense. The aforementioned Poti remains an option. According to the Daily News, the Penguins might hang on to Darius Kasparaitis now that the Penguins are winning again. But don't buy that -- Kasparaitis could be had for the right price/player. The Daily News added Robert Svehla (Florida), Pavel Kubina (Tampa) and Lyle Odelein (Columbus) as options. However, the Panthers have expressed interest in giving Svehla a contract extension, and Kubina, 24, might be too young a talent for the developing Lightning to part with. Odelein is an interesting candidate. Columbus GM Doug MacLean has been hesitant to consider dealing Odelein, but with a dire need to infuse talent, Odelein is one of his few legitimate veteran assets.
Devils: ESPN Insider has spent considerable time chronicling New Jersey's weaknesses, so for the time being, we'll stick to Ms. Ross's column, which suggests someone like Claude Lemieux is what's missing in the Swamp. With Lemieux making good coin in the desert (golf over Vince Lombardi rest stop) alongside old pal Wayne Gretzky, it's doubtful he'd be back in New Jersey. But the point is, according to Ross: "They [Devils] are emotionally fragile, and need a fiery, lightning-rod player who isn't afraid to turn up the heat, because he can take it. And it has to be a player who can back up his talk with his play in the pressure spots." Unfortunately, every name she mentions was a player who doesn't seem to be available on the market right now -- but we get the point.
Peep Show
Lightning: Fredrik Modin (bruised wrist) will miss tonight's game against the Hurrcianes. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the team's second-leading scorer with 14 goals is in a cast and will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
Flames: On Monday, Jason Botterill played an NHL game for the first time in nearly two years. According to the Winnipeg Sun, the recent call-up skated 13 shifts and was a plus-1 against Minnesota. He's expected to play Wednesday against the Red Wings. "It's very exciting. It's been a while since I've been able to get some games up here," Botterill said.
Thrashers: Coach Curt Fraser might place rookie sensations Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley on different lines Wednesday night against Toronto. "I might break up the young guys. We have to find a way to get our other guys going," he told the Toronto Sun.
Sharks: Owen Nolan (back) returned to the lineup Tuesday. He had about 20 minutes of ice time and had an assist. "I felt pretty good. My timing was a little bit off, but it was nice to get back out there with the team," Nolan told the Toronto Star.
Capitals: Coach Ron Wilson will give the line of Adam Oates, Jaromir Jagr and Ulf Dahlen another chance to play together. During a pre-Christmas run, the line produced 14 goals and 45 points in 13 games, but injuries and lackluster play forced the break-up of the unit. "I don't know what to say other than we'll give them a shot to find it, and if it doesn't work then we'll start moving pieces around," Wilson told the Washington Post. "We don't have time to wait four, five, six games or anything like that. You're looking for results within a period [of a game], and if there's nothing happening you move people around."
Kings: Mathieu Schneider, a major key to the team's resurgence, might miss up to two weeks with a strained shoulder. "I think it is a good sign that we did not put him on injured reserve," coach Andy Murray told the L.A. Daily News. "He's a tough competitor but pretty banged up. Hopefully, we can get him back soon."
Isles: Assistant coach Kelly Miller has been contacted by Michigan State about its upcoming coaching vacancy when Ron Mason steps down at season's end to become the school's athletic director. "It's definitely something I'd be interested in after we finish out the season," Miller told the New York Daily News. Miller was an All-American at Michigan State.
Devils, Islanders still have missing pieces
The Kevin Constantine era began with a Devils win over the rival Islanders Tuesday night. The matchup pitted two teams with high expectations. New Jersey management just fired the coach who led the team to two consecutive finals, so obviously, the bar is high with the Devils. And on Long Island, the arrival of a new coach and a slew of big-name players has Islanders fans dreaming of postseason victories.
But, as has been pointed out, both teams are flawed.
The Islanders want help on defense, while Sherry Ross of the New York Daily News suggests the Devils lack an unqualified and gritty leader.
Islanders: It's no secret GM Mike Milbury is looking to upgrade on defense. The aforementioned Poti remains an option. According to the Daily News, the Penguins might hang on to Darius Kasparaitis now that the Penguins are winning again. But don't buy that -- Kasparaitis could be had for the right price/player. The Daily News added Robert Svehla (Florida), Pavel Kubina (Tampa) and Lyle Odelein (Columbus) as options. However, the Panthers have expressed interest in giving Svehla a contract extension, and Kubina, 24, might be too young a talent for the developing Lightning to part with. Odelein is an interesting candidate. Columbus GM Doug MacLean has been hesitant to consider dealing Odelein, but with a dire need to infuse talent, Odelein is one of his few legitimate veteran assets.
Devils: ESPN Insider has spent considerable time chronicling New Jersey's weaknesses, so for the time being, we'll stick to Ms. Ross's column, which suggests someone like Claude Lemieux is what's missing in the Swamp. With Lemieux making good coin in the desert (golf over Vince Lombardi rest stop) alongside old pal Wayne Gretzky, it's doubtful he'd be back in New Jersey. But the point is, according to Ross: "They [Devils] are emotionally fragile, and need a fiery, lightning-rod player who isn't afraid to turn up the heat, because he can take it. And it has to be a player who can back up his talk with his play in the pressure spots." Unfortunately, every name she mentions was a player who doesn't seem to be available on the market right now -- but we get the point.
Peep Show
Lightning: Fredrik Modin (bruised wrist) will miss tonight's game against the Hurrcianes. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the team's second-leading scorer with 14 goals is in a cast and will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
Flames: On Monday, Jason Botterill played an NHL game for the first time in nearly two years. According to the Winnipeg Sun, the recent call-up skated 13 shifts and was a plus-1 against Minnesota. He's expected to play Wednesday against the Red Wings. "It's very exciting. It's been a while since I've been able to get some games up here," Botterill said.
Thrashers: Coach Curt Fraser might place rookie sensations Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley on different lines Wednesday night against Toronto. "I might break up the young guys. We have to find a way to get our other guys going," he told the Toronto Sun.
Sharks: Owen Nolan (back) returned to the lineup Tuesday. He had about 20 minutes of ice time and had an assist. "I felt pretty good. My timing was a little bit off, but it was nice to get back out there with the team," Nolan told the Toronto Star.
Capitals: Coach Ron Wilson will give the line of Adam Oates, Jaromir Jagr and Ulf Dahlen another chance to play together. During a pre-Christmas run, the line produced 14 goals and 45 points in 13 games, but injuries and lackluster play forced the break-up of the unit. "I don't know what to say other than we'll give them a shot to find it, and if it doesn't work then we'll start moving pieces around," Wilson told the Washington Post. "We don't have time to wait four, five, six games or anything like that. You're looking for results within a period [of a game], and if there's nothing happening you move people around."
Kings: Mathieu Schneider, a major key to the team's resurgence, might miss up to two weeks with a strained shoulder. "I think it is a good sign that we did not put him on injured reserve," coach Andy Murray told the L.A. Daily News. "He's a tough competitor but pretty banged up. Hopefully, we can get him back soon."
Isles: Assistant coach Kelly Miller has been contacted by Michigan State about its upcoming coaching vacancy when Ron Mason steps down at season's end to become the school's athletic director. "It's definitely something I'd be interested in after we finish out the season," Miller told the New York Daily News. Miller was an All-American at Michigan State.
