Line changes might stick; Sutter praises Pandolfo

From what Devils coach Brent Sutter said after tonights' game, it sounded as if the line changes he made during the 4-0 victory over the Avalanche might not have been just for tonight.

In search of offense from a line other than the Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner combination, which accounted for three goals and five assists tonight, Sutter again took Dainius Zubrus off the line with Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta. Elias shifted to center and skated between Brian Rolston and Gionta.

Zubrus moved down to center a line between Brendan Shanahan and David Clarkson and John Madden technically was the center on the fourth line between Jay Pandolfo and Bobby Holik. Madden and Holik said they shared the centering duties, though.

"It was just a gut feeling at the time." Sutter said of the line changes. "You try to keep the guys sharp outside of Trav's line. There's little things that we've tried in different games here in the last couple of weeks. With Pando back in the lineup, Pando played well tonight. He worked pretty hard and did a lot of smart things.

"It's just a feel. Whether it stays that way Saturday, we'll see. But, with the way we played, there's no reason to have to change it unless I get a different feel tomorrow."

Pandolfo had been a healthy scratch for 12 of the previous 15 games, but might have earned another game on Saturday. As for Madden and Holik, both have played a lot of center, so they tried to take advantage of that.

"Bobby and I had an agreement," Madden explained. "If he was first man back, he was center and I was right wing and if I was first man back, I was center. Then, I would take faceoffs on my backhand and he would take him on his backhand, so we just worked it out."

Holik said he enjoyed playing with Madden and Pandolfo, who have a long history as checking linemates.

"It's easier because you know what they're going to do," Holik said. "There's something to be said about knowing about chemistry."

Comments

[Stdce]

I love those lines keep themmm .... Zubrus clarky n shanny looked good together.... Maddog holik n rupp or pando is a great defensive line

[Craig in Vancouver]

I liked the lines as well.... Keep it going thats a great checking line with Mad Dog holik and Pando .. or rupp.. and i like Rolston with Patty and Gio ....Patty can set those two up for some great shots...

[modnarm]

I still want Connolly.

[Kip Nicaragua]

Elias is not a center. He's a terrific passer but playing him at center is largely a waste of his other abilities. He's gotta play the wing. I take this as a clear sign that the Zubrus experiement at center is over and the Devils might need to look for one in trade. I cast my vote for Tkachuk a few days ago and nobody verbally reamed me, so maybe I'm on to something here.

Not that guessing solves anything.

[Pat D'Amico]

I thought Zubrus Gio and Elias were playing well when they were together.

[josh]

@ kip

That idea of bringing in Tkachuk isn't terrible if he is strictly going to center that third line with shanny and clarkson, but he would contribute even more to the slowness factor and he will be a UFA this offseason where right now we still have Zubrus under contract for 3 more seasons and everyone knows what they will get with him.

If I had my choice of centers is would be Olli jokinen to play between Elias and Rolston (because going the other way would be (Gionta, Bergfors, and 2nd). it would be a steep price to pay, but that would two incredibly dangerous top lines:

Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
Elias-Jokinen-Rolston
Shannahan-Zubrus-Clarkson
Pando-Madden-Rupp

then grab Derek Moris for (Salmela, 3rd):

Martin-Oduya
Moris-Salvador
Mattau-White

get all that and put the rock in net and you have a winning team in my mind.

[josh]

to add to what i just posted, I know Rolston has mentioned a few times that he prefers the left side to the right, so if that is the case then just move Elias to righwing as (correct me if i'm wrong) he plays rightwing already on the powerplay so we know he's plenty productive over there.

[Kip Nicaragua]

Guess I'm just hot for Tkachuk.

Jokinen centering Elias and Rolston/Gionta, on paper, would be lethal. I just have Yashin-type reservations about Jokinen.

I brought up Tkachuk mostly because he wasn't being discussed here. Zubrus has been invisible lately and isn't cutting it centering Elias and Gionta. That's too much talent to waste on poor centering. Tkachuk can clear space and has good hands. The lack of speed is an issue, however.

Brendan Morrison has been discussed and summarily shut down here. If the asking price for Antropov is a first rounder, forget it. Doug Weight? I'd prefer Tkachuk.

The answer probably is that there's no move worth making. I just don't care for Elias at center. What a waste.

[fan from czech]

I agree that Elias is much better on the wing and we should look for a poor center. I wish we could have J.Stall, but thats just a dream, so Arnott will do

[Falcone]

Pando will play on Saturday, but not against Philly. Rupp will be back in. Against the less physical teams, Pando will be in, Rupp will be in the other times. However Ruppy needs to pick up his physical play...big time. He's been less physical since Shanny showed up and I think that's hurt his game.

In terms of trades, I'd actually like to get Jordan Leopold from the Avs. This kid is good, he just hasn't had a coach that has helped him become the real elite dman he is. Put him on our team, and we'll make him the all star he once was.

[Bing]

Great game for Marty and the rest of the team last night. Clarkson and Gionta really worked hard and although they didn't get the points, they sure deserve some credit for the win. Killing the chemistry this team has would really suck. Although it looks like a good goalie could be traded, either Weekes or Clemmenson, for say an offensive defenceman or scoring centre, not much should be tinkered with. Try the current lines for a few more games, sit back , ponder and go from there. I got faith in Lou.

[pando20rules]

Bring in Morrison and Leopold or Nic Havelid from atlanta.

Leaves you with (assuming no players off current roster)

Zajac-Parise-Langenbrunner
Morrison-Elias-Zubrus (on wing)
Madden-Rolston-Gionta
Holik-Shanahan-Clarkson
Pando and Rupp in reserve

Martin-White
Oduya-Leopold/Havelid
Greene-Salvador
Leach and Mottau in reserve (would need to send Leach down until after the deadline)

Gives four lines that can score and would bring a playmaker (Morrison) to the second pp unit, something they need in my opinion. The unit currently of greene-rolston-Zubrus-Shanahan-Gionta lacks a playmaker. Not that Morrison is all-world, but I think/would hope hed have a good stretch run in him.

[RockaRay]

I can't wait for the deadline, all the mock trades and amatuer GMing is driving me crazy.

[Prokat]

That's not realistic.

[fan from czech]

not poor, I mean pure, sorry about english

[Just Some Guy]

I agree that a pure center is better than a poor one.

[mikeP]

Does Sutter realize that Holik-Madden-Pandolfo was among our lines when we won the cup in 2000? I really like that line as the 4th line.

Zubrus, as either Chico or maybe even TG pointed out, hasn't been the same player since he hurt his wrist or hand awhile back. I'd like Lou to try to trade him in a package for a d-man or a center.

TG, why won't Sutter try Rolston at center again? Elias is poor in the faceoff dot, stick him back at his natural position and put Rolly back at center

As for Brendan Morrison, he has really struggled in Anaheim after being injured most of last season, so much that the Ducks are playing him on the 4th line. I want no part of him here, I doubt he'll magically pick it up after a trade.

Tim Connelly is the man of glass, everyone is just waiting for his next injury. Skip him too. I doubt he's available anyway because he means too much to the Sabres.

I'd love to see Niedermayer return but I don't know if an offer of Corrente + Bergfors (or Greene) + pick will convince the Ducks to trade him. I highly doubt the Ducks will take back Zubrus or Pandolfo, and there is really no one else on the roster who could be traded w/o ruining chemistry

[maddening11]

Can people stop saying that we are going to trade one of our goalies for an offensive defenseman or a playmaking center? IF one of them gets traded we aren't going to get much of anything in return. A backup goalie does not have much value, let alone enough value to net a top 6 forward or a puck-moving D-man. If a move is made it would probably be Lou practically giving the guy away or getting a spare part just so Clemmer/Weekes has an opportunity to place elsewhere.

If we get a top flight player at the deadline we can expect to give up something/someone significant. Look at the history of Lou's trades, he typically makes a fair trade that will benefit both teams and keep a good relationship with the other GM to make deals in the future. He rarely robs anyone in a deal(Janssen for Salvador is the closest to that I can remember and St. Louis wasn't going to resign Sal)

[Matt]

@ D'Amico

Good points, I was actually thinking of that same trade scenario. I haven't seen much of Jokinen since he went to Phx but I defintely remember him in Fla and he was good! A true playmaking center is exactly what we need. Couple problems with your scenario:
Jokinen & Morris combined make 9.2mil. Sending out Gionta, Bergfors & Salmela is a combined 6mil (give or take a couple hundred k). I think we also have close to 2mil in cap space this year, so we come up a bit short. I like the idea but i think a better scenario would be:
Gionta, Zubrus & a d-man (Mottau, Greene, or Leach) for Jokinen & Morris.
I would like to keep Salmela and see what he can do. Lou prob. signed him seeing a junior rafalski.

[JoeDevil]

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again today.
Zack, Trav, James
Gio, Madden, Elias
Shanny, Zubs, Rolston
Pando, Holik, Clarkson (Rupp can sub for anyone of these guys)

No trades necessary up front but how cool would the D look with Neidermeyer.
Martin, Oduya
Neids, White
Salv, Greene or Motts

[Devlin]

I think Pando earned it this time. He was cycling the puck well, had a nice 'give and go' with Madden and made several smart plays under pressure. Best game he has played in a while.

Elias could certainly use a creative, fast-thinking center to work with. Unfortunately, guys like Arnott and Tkachuk are not going to come cheap.

Lou is confident in the team. I doubt he is willing to part with too many players. There are probably no more than three skaters even being considered for a trade. None of them are worth an Arnott or Tkachuk, especially if we're still shopping for a D-man.

Think smaller.

A guy like Steve Sullivan would be a good fit. He's a fast, hard-working character player. He has spent a big chuck of his career at center, some of it with the Devils. His long-term health is questionable, but that should make him easier to get.

With that said, it may be better to just leave things as they are. This is a great team, perhaps the best in the league. Staying sharp should be the primary focus. A trade this late could throw a monkey wrench in the works, but a good center may be worth the gamble.

[JoeDevil]

Just read the Guerin will waive his no trade clause.

So what do you think.. Zubs for Guerin?
Any takers?

[pando20rules]

prokat,

What is not realistic?

[C$]

I do not understand the "Marty's Better" cheer. I heard the crowd chanting that last night and I have heard the crowd use that cheer in past games. Better than who? Lundquist? well of course he is, do we have to say that? Better than, everyone? Sounds like a middle school cheer. I am a relatively new devils fan so If there is something more to the "Marty Better" cheer, perhaps one of the veteran fans can fill me in. Semicolon Pearl Jam? JJ? What is this all about?

[pando20rules]

Joe Devil,

Guerin doesn't fill the need at center, and I don't think that swap would work under the cap