For those of you obsessed with those silly Dion Phaneuf rumors being spread by the uninformed, TSN is reporting tonight that he's on the verge of signing an extension with the Calgary Flames. That should put an end of all of the speculation.
By the way, I've been told that a certain blogger has been taking Devils' info off of this site and posting it on his site without attribution. I hope it isn't true because that would be unethical.
Well the devils need to trade for a defense man.
Have you heard any rumors?
Do the devils even admit they need to bring someone in?
Posted by: jdr30 | January 30, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Good! Now we can stop all the idiotic Phaneuf talk. Looking forward to this team being fully healthy and assessing our situation leading up to the deadline. If folks are looking for a blockbuster deal at the deadline, I'd have to say they're going to be sorely disappointed. That's just not Lou's style generally speaking. I could see changes coming but would be really shocked to see something major go down. But I guess one never really knows . . .
P.S. TG, Some wannabe blogger stealing your news? I know a guy. Just get me an IP address and it's taken care of. All kidding aside, thanks for all your great work!
Posted by: Adam | January 30, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Tom, I'm glad that you don't propagate improbable drivel coupled with some arbitrary, alphanumeric label. Lucky for us you don't report anything unless you're reasonably certain that it's true.
And for someone else to take your info and post it without at least giving credit is so lame.
Posted by: jules | January 31, 2008 at 12:02 AM
TG,
Trade deadline is only little more than 3 weeks away, what do you think lou will do to strenghten this team? Clearly this team is not gona be able to get to stanley cup finals unless lou acquire's top dman and a solid centerman. Scoring has been a huge problem along with defensive breakdowns. I think a guy like jason arnott will be a good fit, and on d bryan mcable could be a good fit but he makes too much money, bryan cambell is a real good player and would look great in devils uniform. What do u think TG?
Posted by: js | January 31, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Lou is not the kind of guy to go out and get an all star.
My prediction is he changes NOTHING.
Posted by: jdr30 | January 31, 2008 at 12:14 AM
well said TG....truth!
Posted by: Dan | January 31, 2008 at 12:18 AM
HES ONLY SIGNIN BECAUSE THE DEVILS WANTED A SIGN AND TRADE SO THEY DONT LOSE HIM THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!! He still going to the Devils!!!!!
Haha that should keep things going for awhile.
Posted by: Xander Crews | January 31, 2008 at 12:20 AM
On a serious note that does suck if someone is stealing your info this is the best Devils site ive ever been to. Also to the people saying Lous never signs a big name player, well Lou has never needed a big name player before and now we do.
Posted by: Xander Crews | January 31, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Jules - your last two posts made me laugh out loud.
My prediction is that if Lou does make a move before the deadline it will not be for a big name guy. It will be for a guy like Ken Daneyko (I realize he was a #1 draft pick but hear me out); a D-man who will score maybe 5 G a season but will stop about 50. The bottom line is that we don't have good offensive defensemen (an excuse for them being terrible defensively), yet we are allowing far too many goals. Some of these goals are direct results of bone-headed defenseman, thank you Mr. Oduya.
I think we need to get Douglas Murray. I pulled this from his wikipedia page, "After his contract expired in June 2006, even though he came off a year where his value was lowered due to injury, Doug Murray showed his faith in Sharks GM Doug Wilson and the team by signing a three-year-deal worth US$1.65 million. Part of that deal was a $150,000 signing bonus. Notably, the contract is a one-way deal."
We could pick up that contract, trade them Rachunek, and take Murray out of San Jose. Who wants to live there?! Murray was a 1st-team all american, and is plus-19. He is somewhat injury-prone, but that's mostly due to his physical-style of play. He reminds me of a Daneyko, come to think of it.
My serious thought is that we need to move one or two of our current defensemen, roll the dice, and see what we get. Obviously, when Lou rolls the dice he's working on pretty favorable odds, but Murray looks like a solid contract to pick up and it's only his second year in the NHL.
Is none of that possilble; do I just sound like an idiot? I apologize if I do, but I'm sure you'll all tell me how stupid I am as soon as this gets posted!
(I will then take all of your responses and post them on my personal Devils-based website to gather more AdSense clicks and make another $.02/day, mwahahahahahahaha)!
Posted by: Maxwell | January 31, 2008 at 12:44 AM
I'll keep my eyes open TG!
Posted by: Pat D'Amico | January 31, 2008 at 01:45 AM
i agree that Murray's +/- is good, BUT he seems to be in his first season as a regular defensemen. We don't know how consistant he'll be over the long haul, and what leadership he would bring, but i suppose its our scouts and lou to judge the character of this guy. idk. i'd rather sign some1 whos played at least 5 full seasons
Posted by: matt | January 31, 2008 at 01:47 AM
It's just untrue to say that Lou has never gone after big names. It's rare, but not unheard of. Does anyone remember Doug Gilmour? Claude Lemieux? Phil Housley? Or how about a certain guy by the name of Scotty Stevens?
It's definitely uncommon to see Lou pull out the big guns. But it isn't unheard of.
Posted by: Bill | January 31, 2008 at 03:42 AM
Good work Tom. But now you have to tell us what Lou is looking for. :D
P.S. You should have your own hockey rumors site, I hear there is lots of money to be made in that business. ;)
Posted by: Elias26 | January 31, 2008 at 06:48 AM
Lou does have a record of acquiring big names players at the deadline, though those players are usually past their prime. That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see Sergei Federov wearing a Devils sweater after Feb 26th.
We won't be seeing Arnott, Campbell, Hossa or Sundin though, they'd cost too much for the Devils, especially since the last 3 are all UFA's
Posted by: Mike | January 31, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Lou does have a record of acquiring big names players at the deadline, though those players are usually past their prime. That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see Sergei Federov wearing a Devils sweater after Feb 26th.
We won't be seeing Arnott, Campbell, Hossa or Sundin though, they'd cost too much for the Devils, especially since the last 3 are all UFA's
Posted by: Mike | January 31, 2008 at 08:53 AM
would the offending blogger be Roger Mussa on Eklund's hockeybuzz.com site ? He sure seems to use a lot of quotes from your blog, Tom
anyway, that's the same site that comes up with the ridiculous rumors like the Devils getting Phaneuf, and guarenteed that Souray would be signing with the Deilvs last summer.
Posted by: Mike | January 31, 2008 at 08:56 AM
would the offending blogger be Roger Mussa on Eklund's hockeybuzz.com site ? He sure seems to use a lot of quotes from your blog, Tom
anyway, that's the same site that comes up with the ridiculous rumors like the Devils getting Phaneuf, and guarenteed that Souray would be signing with the Deilvs last summer.
Posted by: Mike | January 31, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Lou Lamoriello has traded for some big-name players in the past: Gilmour, Mogilny, Andreychuk, Claude Lemieux (twice). But the reality of the NHL since the salary cap was installed is that there aren't many blockbuster trades anymore. In fact, there are very few trades at all.
I suspect Lamoriello will do something smaller prior to the trade deadline similar to what he did two years ago when he got Lukowich and Klee (obviously not those two players). Someone who can play the point on the power play a little would be helpful.
Posted by: TG | January 31, 2008 at 09:01 AM
How about a sign and trade? Anyone? Bueller?
Posted by: FTC | January 31, 2008 at 10:17 AM
I agree with mike about Fedorov. I really think we might end up with him. He fits our team being that in this stage of his career he thinks about defense first, and he fits our needs since him on a line with Elias, Gionta, Parise, Zubrus or who ever should help them get some goals not to mention he a real center.
Posted by: Xander Crews | January 31, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Enough with Phaneuf. Great site.
Posted by: Armen McOmber | January 31, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Mike, If I remember correctly, Rich Chere said that the Souray signing was "imminent", there was nothing on HockeyBuzz about it.
Posted by: FTC | January 31, 2008 at 10:20 AM
yeah the fourthperiod.com was CERTAIN that Souray was signing with us. They said he "has done all but sign on the dotted line" lol they even had a picture of him on the front page saying souray a devil.. Yeah, I don't go back there anymore. 'm glad we didnt sign souray. He's been injured all season and has underperformed in a big way. Plus we'd have no cap room at this point.
Posted by: Garrett | January 31, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Lou himself said he was working on Souray, with Marty's help, but that it just didn't work out. Souray even said recently he wanted to come to NJ. If I recall, it was the years that was the sticking point?
Posted by: wkmaier | January 31, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Yes, Souray very vaguely said that NJ was one of the teams he talked to in the offseason when the Devils were in Edmonton this season. As much as I dislike Eklund, he did not post any Souray to NJ rumors.
Posted by: FTC | January 31, 2008 at 11:34 AM