Devils Summer Reform

The big question this off season is the obvious. “Will they be signing Parise and Kolvachuck?” Is this possible? The devils recently signed their top prospects. I say follow that trend and build the team with youth –same way Chicago did. Kolvachuck and Parise are young, so start there. It hurts to say but to clear cap room, its time for Rolston and Langenbrunner to go.

I do not know what happened with Langenbrunner at the end of the season and the blip that was the playoffs but if it’s about being benched, we have a problem. If the rumors are true, if he didn't care about what the team did at the end of the season, he shouldn't be captain. To be mad at a coach for benching you and then letting it affect your play is childish and immature. The coach holds the right to bench anyone for any reason. That’s part of skating with a club that consistently lives the idea of team above individual. If that’s true, then he’s no longer a good fit to wear the C.

What if the Devils make Parise Captain and start focusing more on offense.
Which reminds me of our defence. Face it my friends, as amazing as Marty still is, I it’s time to find a backup that will get 20 starts. Marty has been the focus of the team for so long we need to think about the team beyond Brodeur.

The Devils should also rethink their PR in the off-season. I've read a few articles about the team and one stands out. The players can pretty much go anywhere in New Jersey and not be recognized. Maybe this is part of the team not wanting to promote individuals over the team itself, but it isolates them from the fans, to a certain extent. The team needs to have more fan access and signings, or player appearances. Make the fans feel they are part of the team. It is a big way to keep fan loyalty and expand their reach. With more appearances you can begin to build a young fan base that will grow with the team. I remember back in 92 or 93, Martin Brodeur did a signing at a Kmart in Parsippany. I barely knew what hockey was, about 7 or 8 I was able to meet this young devils prospect. My father then took me to a game and pointed out that I met the goaltender, I've been a fan ever since.

There is one more thing that I really wish the Devils did. A yearbook.

I want a yearbook with well-written stories about the team, its history and the players. I want large beautiful photography of in-game action. I want to know more about the behind-the-scenes. Tell me about the Devils scouting, their prospects and how they fit into the future of this team. What’s the vision for the Devils going forward?

Instead, the players seem unreachable. They live in New Jersey. They’re our neighbors and part of our community. Let the fans know this. The fans will connect more with the players and, in turn, support the team with a larger fan base and increase attendance at the Rock, and the decibel level of “Let’s GO DEV-ILS!” Clap. Clap. Clapclap –clap.

-Ross
[edited by Scott Brown]