Sean Clancy
What is there to be said about the New Jersey Devils season
so far? A lot, to be honest, and much of it isn’t very good. First it appears there’s
a new ‘goaltending controversy’ in the NHL, then there’s the goal song uproar,
plus the team’s dismal performance thus-far in the shootout, along with the
never-ending debate over which defenseman sucks the most. It was Henrik Tallinder,
by the way. I wake up every morning with a smile on my face to the tune of
his absence. Peter Harrold is a close second and Anton Volchenkov when he doesn’t
hit is certainly a contender. As age catches up with Bryce Salvador, he’s
starting to creep his way into the conversation too.
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| No amount of resemblance to Dr. House could save Henrik Tallinder from sucking so much. |
But among all of the negatives so far, there’s been one
glaring positive: Eric Gelinas. The 22 year old rookie defenseman was a call-up
a couple games ago when Bryce Salvador returned home on bereavement leave. He made his impact just ten minutes into his
season debut when he wristed a power-play goal by Vancouver goaltender Roberto
Luongo from about 30 feet out, while clocking 16:27 total ice time. Two nights
later in Boston, Gelinas assisted on Adam Henrique’s first period goal that
gave the Devils some life after falling to an early 0-2 hole to the defending
Eastern Conference Champions. That point also came on the powerplay, and Eric
saw his ice-time bumped up to nearly 20 minutes for that game.
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| Eric Gelinas watching the VMAs |
Followers of my podcast will know that I’ve been a strong
advocate for Eric Gelinas since the preseason. He was one of New Jersey’s best
defensemen, especially on the offensive side of the puck. Pairing him with
young defenseman Adam Larsson was a bold move by Pete Deboer last Thursday, but
it worked out in a way that perhaps Pete anticipated, but likely didn’t. Not only
was Gelinas good, but Adam Larsson’s game improved quite a bit too because,
being the more experienced player of the two, he assumed something of a
leadership role and became very vocal with the inexperienced Gelinas. It may be
early to say, but the defensive pair of Gelinas and Larsson might be something
Devils fans will be seeing a lot of in the future.
But now that Larsson looks to be here to stay in the NHL,
and with Gelinas proving that he can not only be one of the team’s best defenseman,
but also help do the same for Larsson, the question is what will the Devils do
when Bryce Salvador returns to the line-up? The team currently has 14 forwards,
7 defensemen and 2 goalies with the big club, filling a total of 23 roster spots,
the most allowed by the league. Of those 14, the only 3 with two-way contracts
are forward Stephen Gionta and defensemen Adam Larsson and Eric Gelinas. With
Salvador and forward Ryane Clowe both aiming to return soon, the Devils are
going to have a problem on their hands. Here are the possibilities for New
Jersey, and these possibilities assume that Adam Larsson isn’t even an option to
be sent down the AHL.
- To open up room for Clowe and Salvador, they send forward Stephen Gionta and defenseman Eric Gelinas down to Albany. I don’t like this option because it sends Eric Gelinas down to Albany.
- In order to keep both Larsson and Gelinas on the NHL roster, they send down forward Stephen Gionta and put defenseman Peter Harrold on waivers to almost certainly be claimed with no return.
- In order to keep both Larsson and Gelinas on the NHL roster, they send forward Stephen Gionta to Albany, and put one of the following forwards with a one-way contract on waivers:
o
Mattias Tedenby, the most likely option. Teddy
has played just three games with no points to show, and he plays left wing,
same as the soon to return Ryane Clowe. He’s a slippery young player with speed
and finesse, but because he hasn’t proven himself in the NHL yet, the Devils
could get away with putting him on waivers and hoping no one else claims him. I
wouldn’t count on it though.
o
Rostislav Olesz, the next likely option. He has
two assists in seven games thus far and hasn’t played bad at all. Being such a
high draft pick in 2004, the Devils have to know that the likelihood of
retaining him through the waiver process isn’t high, but tough decisions still
have to be made.
o
Jacob Josefson, the least likely option to be
put on waivers. Although he’s only played two games and has scored no points, his
time to break into the NHL is slowly passing him by. The Devils want to see him
integrated into the lineup as often as possible this year because he is still a
good, young center. I would hate to see him claimed by another team, which I
fear is a very real possibility should he be placed on waivers.
This option also isn’t ideal because it leaves the team with two extra
defensemen and just one
extra forward.
- To keep Stephen Gionta in the lineup, they make a trade.
Yes, it’s that time of the year to stir up trade rumors again. After that blockbuster robbery Buffalo committed on Long Island, who isn’t speculating about the next big trade to come about? For the Devils, a smaller trade may be on the horizon. Personally, I think it would be a crime for the Devils to send Larsson, Gelinas or Gionta back to the AHL, and an even bigger crime to let any of the three aforementioned forwards go without getting anything in return. Us Devil fans have already dealt with the frustration of losing highly touted defensive prospect Alex Urbom on waivers earlier this season, a loss we’re still trying to get over.
"Trade, did somebody say trade!? I'll give you my
third line for your best player. OH OH BETTER IDEA!
I'll give you my best player for your fourth line!"
Another interesting thought to
consider: The Devils don’t have any positional areas to address at the moment. Up from there isn't much room to add another depth forward, defensively the team is trying to figure out who to give up to better integrate the younger guys, and Lou Lamoriello already addressed the issues in net at the draft. So the Devils aren't exactly looking to add another roster player. What they do need, however, is a draft pick. As a result of circumventing negotiating according to the rules of the
Collective Bargaining Agreement that took the entire 2004-2005 season lockout to perfect, the Devils were asked
unjustly forced to give up a first
round draft pick in either 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014. Because Mr. Lamoriello has
used his pick in each of the prior three years, that means the Devils won’t be
allowed to selected a first-rounder in 2014.
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| "We agree to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement." *Devils sign Ilya Kovalchuk* "Nevermind, you lose a first round draft pick." |
As it stands now, the Devils have picks
in rounds 2, 3, 5, 6, 6 and 7 of the 2014 draft. This is what I propose, friends:
The Devils trade Peter Harrold, Rostislav Olesz, their 2014 2nd round
pick and their 2014 6th round pick to Edmonton for their 2014 1st round pick.
Why it’s good for the Devils:
Quite simply, the Devils need a high draft pick at next year’s draft. They gave it up this year for Cory Schneider and the league stole next year’s. Edmonton, who is looking at potentially another last place finish, will almost certainly have at least a top 5 pick in next year’s draft, so acquiring that pick is huge. Plus New Jersey has excess players who would be better spent on a trade to address the team’s draft holes than lost to waiver claims.
Quite simply, the Devils need a high draft pick at next year’s draft. They gave it up this year for Cory Schneider and the league stole next year’s. Edmonton, who is looking at potentially another last place finish, will almost certainly have at least a top 5 pick in next year’s draft, so acquiring that pick is huge. Plus New Jersey has excess players who would be better spent on a trade to address the team’s draft holes than lost to waiver claims.
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| The Oilers don't need another not-Crosby crowding up their bench. |
Why it’s good for the Oilers:
The Oilers had three first-overall picks in a row, and it hasn’t done much of anything for them yet, as they find themselves staring at the possibility of having another very high draft pick next year. Only this time, you have to believe that they may be willing to trade it away for the simple fact that it hasn’t worked the past several seasons. GM Craig MacTavish could be looking to do something early to turn the team around and potentially salvage the season, and it isn’t a secret that the team lacks offensive and defensive depth. Peter Harrold is a player in his prime who has shown he is a capable NHL defenseman. Rostislav Olesz is a forward who is still looking for the opportunity to put his potential to full use, and I’m sure the Oilers have room for him, especially with their flexible forward roster that has only 10 players under one-way contracts.
The Oilers had three first-overall picks in a row, and it hasn’t done much of anything for them yet, as they find themselves staring at the possibility of having another very high draft pick next year. Only this time, you have to believe that they may be willing to trade it away for the simple fact that it hasn’t worked the past several seasons. GM Craig MacTavish could be looking to do something early to turn the team around and potentially salvage the season, and it isn’t a secret that the team lacks offensive and defensive depth. Peter Harrold is a player in his prime who has shown he is a capable NHL defenseman. Rostislav Olesz is a forward who is still looking for the opportunity to put his potential to full use, and I’m sure the Oilers have room for him, especially with their flexible forward roster that has only 10 players under one-way contracts.
If it seems like the idea of the Devils giving up their two draft picks and two players for a first round draft pick is a bit much, know that Edmonton won't settle for any less. They've already traded away next year's second round pick to St. Louis, and there's no way they'll go into the draft without a pick in either of the first two rounds. I also can't say enough about how significant Edmonton's first round pick next year will be. I truly believe this is a trade that can work out well for both teams.
Photo credits: circlingthewagon.wordpress.com, Neil Davidson/Canadien Press, Kathy Willens/AP, rumormethis.com, PC/Darryl Dyck
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