More from Sutter

I was never able to fit in the rest of my interview with Brent Sutter earlier this week, so I decided to post it here.

Plus, we needed a new post to continue the conversation.

What do you think of the team's defense as it is now?

"We have seven guys back and then we've got some young kids who will be competing for jobs too both on defense and at forward. To me, this is the first year you are going some young kids coming in like (Matt) Halischuk and some other kids coming out of junior."

(Note: The Devils actually have eight defensemen under contract -- Martin, Salvador, White, Oduya, Greene, Brookbank, Mottau, Vishnevski)

Is Halischuk ready to compete for an NHL job in training camp?

"I don't like saying that about young kids until you're able to see them. Sometimes they need another year to gain confidence and develop."

(Note: Sutter said he saw Halischuk play two games in the Memorial Cup)

On Sergei Brylin:      

"You can't say enough about what he meant to his organization. He was part of three Stanley Cups. Sergei, last year he was a trouper in how he handled his situation and how he handled his ice time. He had a good attitude about all of it. You can't say enough about him, but you can't sign everyone."

On whether Lou Lamoriello gave him any imput on the free agent moves:

"Lou and I communicate all of the time. There's strong communication there. Lou understands where I come from a lot of times we're on the same page. You're not always going to agree on everything, but for the most part we agree."

***

Some of you have been asking about Group 2 offer sheets. The following 15 restricted free agents are no longer to eligible to receive offer sheets after filing for arbitration today:

Dennis Wideman, Boston; Chad LaRose, Carolina; Mark Svatos, Colorado; Valtteri Filppula, Detroit; Jay Bouwmeester, Florida; Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Minnesota; Stephane Veilleuz, Minnesota; Ville Koistinen, Nashville; Sean Bergenheim, Islanders; Dan Fritsche, Rangers; Antoine Vermetter, Ottawa; Jay McClement, St. Louis; Marcel Goc, San Jose; Brooks Laich, Washington, Shaone Morrisonn, Washington.

Comments

[Ryan G]

Sarge will be missed. A true class act. Should be interesting to see how some of the young guys do at camp.

[JMH]

Certainly can't blame him, but not exactly a ringing endorsement of the defense at this point. Saying basically that we have enough guys and some kids who may step up. And in saying seven instead of eight maybe it was just a simple mistake. Or perhaps another indication of plans going forward. Along with Lou saying he can't answer whether Vishnevski will be back next season. I know people on here consider him as good as gone. So I guess I'm just feeding into that and probably reading too much into things.

[Morgan Doninger]

TG-

This is waaaay of subject, but to you have any insight to what the heck Kevin Lowe was talking about when he brought up how Brian Burke got Scott Niedermayer? I read on TSN that Lowe "responded" to Burke and made some strange comment about how the Ducks obtained Nieds. What gives?

[Pat D]

Hey TG, thanks for giving us something to read as things cool down a bit. I was wondering what's up with Petr Vrana? Is he still under contract or is he a FA? RFA? Thanks.

[Nick]

PAT D - Petr Vrana is a RFA.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ)]

Morgan i asked the same question in the last thread, and i am definitley curious as to what lowe meant by that.

I will miss Sarge alot, great team player and aways so nice with the fans, he always stopped to sign for fans. i will always wish you the best sarge and i just regret that we devils fans never got to give you the farewell that you deserve

[James]

IS THERE a period where you cannot make a trade? Hypothetical, let's say Halischuk and/or Bergfors have great training camps and click with the regulars, thus allowing Lou to trade a player(Gionta/Greene/Vish?) for say some D help (Ohlund/Mccabe?). Would Lou still be allowed to make a trade after training camp or even a few days after the season has begun, or is there a layoff period?

[James]

IS THERE a period where you cannot make a trade? Hypothetical, let's say Halischuk and/or Bergfors have great training camps and click with the regulars, thus allowing Lou to trade a player(Gionta/Greene/Vish?) for say some D help (Ohlund/Mccabe?). Would Lou still be allowed to make a trade after training camp or even a few days after the season has begun, or is there a layoff period?

[MW]

What happens if Halischuk doesn't make the team out of camp? you said this about a week ago

**Also, I asked Lamoriello about 2007 draft pick Matt Halischuk today and he said that Halischuk would not be eligible to play in Lowell in 2008-09, though he did turn 20 earlier this month. He didn't have time to explain the exact reasons why, but said that Halischuk would still have to go back to junior for another year-- unless he makes the NHL team. If I get the exact explanation from Lamoriello at a later date, I will pass it along. The Devils have yet to sign Halischuk to an entry-level deal.

So what's the deal? are there weird eligibility reqs? or was it b/c he wasn't signed at the time of the post?

[Hoosier]

To Jason: As far as I know, trades are allowed at any time other than the roster freeze (roughly the 22-27th) and after the trade deadline until the postseason is over.

I think that trades are also prohibited in the first year of a player signing a contract from an offer sheet (what Thomas Vanek signed). That wouldn't apply to the Devils players you mentioned.

TG, anything going on with Petr Vrana? He made some comments about a month ago saying that Europe was an option. They weren't especially threatening, but it didn't sound like he really wanted to go back to the AHL. Do you think the Fedorov signing would make Vrana more hesitant to re-sign with the Devils without reassurances that he'd have a good shot a cracking the NHL roster? I know the Devils still control his rights and an offer sheet is unlikely, but good AHL players seem to get decent money in Russia and elsewhere.

[TG]

There is no period in which teams are not allowed the make trades before the season starts.

And the Hoosier is wrong about the trade deadline. You are actually allowed to make trades after the trade deadline. It's just that players acquired after the deadline are not eligible to play in the postseason. I think two seasons ago the Rangers traded for someone after the trade deadline but before the regular season ended. The player can play in regular season games, but not in playoffs.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ)]

I think Vrana might want to be prepared to at least start the season down in Lowell or he might as well sign in europe. For a forward this year, its going to be very difficult to make the team out of training camp, there is no guarantee that Bergfors will even make the team even though he made the team last year

[JR]

Well, so much for the ridiculously long shot of the Devils sign J Bow.

[Mikedeadworks]

This is also off-topic but what are your thoughts, or even maybe if anyone has solid info: What # do you think Holik will be wearing? I think Zubrus should/would give up 16 since he's only worn it here in NJ. Holik's worn that his whole career.

[Jake]

I think it would be pretty silly for Zubrus to give up 16. You have to figure Holik will only play one, at the most 2, years with the team. What happens then? Does Zubrus start wearing it again?

[JMH]

As Mikedeadworks pointed out, Holik has worn 16 for his entire career. Whereas Zubrus was probably just assigned 16 by Lou after having worn 9 with Philly/Wash and 15 with Buffalo. Hence him having no real attachment to it. Plus, if they were to give any consideration to the amount of Devil fans already with Holik 16 jerseys then they should allow him to retain his number. Let's just hope neither is wearing 18 next year. Although I could see it happening. But jersey retirement debate aside, I would like to see at least a one year grace period if Brylin does not return.

[Steve Lepore]

TG, I think it was Jason Strudwick with the Rangers.

[mikeP]

it's curious that Sutter brought up Halischuk when TG's question about the defense. Something tells me that Halischuk is ahead of Bergfors on the depth chart, and depending on what happens between now and the season opener, Sutter intends to look deeply at Halischuk on the wing with Pando and Madden. Sutter is a Western Canadian and will usually favor Canadien boys (which we do lack - Brodeur, Madden, White, Salvador, Zajac), plus his ties to the Canadien National team. Sure Halischuk is projected more as a 3rd line checker but he has scored some big goals in his junior career.

Unless Gio or Langenbrunner get traded, looks like Bergfors is destined for another season in the "A"

If he isn't traded, I could see Zubrus being lined up to play with Holik and Clarkson, which might be the most expensive 4th line in the NHL.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Vrana sign over in Europe rather resign as an RFA, he was the best player in Lowell last year but didn't even get a sniff with the big club last season, he might not be a Sutter-type player.

[mikeP]

I forgot Weekes as another Canadian, but the rest of the team is either American or European

[Xander Crews]

Morgan Doninger - I think what Kevin Lowe meant was that Burke gave Rob an extra large contract (for his skill) in order to keep him knowing that Scott wanted to play wit him and would be a FA soon.

So while Burke runs his mouth about Lowe drving up prices of young players with offer sheets like the Penner and Vanek ones, he was first running up salaries for players that arent even very good (Rob).

[Hoosier]

Thanks for the correction and info TG, and Steve. I thought that was for signings.

[Adam]

In regards to what MikeP said about the Canadian boys, I think that is where this team is now heading.

This recent draft alone, we have drafted one swede (Tedenby),
SEVEN canadians (Burlon, Cormier, Henrique, Delahey, Nagy, Young and Berube) and one american (Wohlberg).

I like the way this team is going. (I'm a Canadian too) :)

[Kyle]

This was just a good draft for Canadians though, second highest pick total in a long time for Canadian born players or some crazy statistic like that.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

i personally don;t care where a player comes from as long as when he pulls on that Devils Uniform he is giving everything he has got EVERY second of EVERY shift of EVERY game then its all good... unless we get any dirty frenchmen! Just kidding!

[MS]

I don't see Holik as a 4th line player. He can help the power play with his big frame in front of the net and is a good face off man. Lou did say he was looking to fix the offense and he always liked the big centers. I think Zubrus, Rupp and Clarkson (with his double blades) will be the 4th. Madden - Pandolfo - Langenbrunner will be line 3. Rolston, Parise, Holik and Elias are on the 2 lines with 2 new addtions. Zajak and Gionta go in a trade.