Devils coach Brent Sutter seemed to be calling out forward Brian Rolston after Friday's game when he mentioned him by name when talking about the need for other players to step up with captain Jamie Langenbrunner out with a lower-body injury.
Rolston said he did not hear what Sutter said until teammate Bobby Holik told him about it. He said he wasn't taking it as being called out by his coach.
"I don't take it as that," he said. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity.
Was Sutter trying to send him a message?
"Do I think he was trying to send a message?" Rolston asked. "I suppose he was. It doesn't bother me that he did it. The opportunity will be there."
Sutter said that was not his intention.
"No, I was just naming him as one guy that's going to possibly have that opportunity," Sutter said. "I'm not exactly 100 percent sure, yet. I have an idea what I'm going to do with our lines and how that all lays out we'll see.
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Left wing Jay Pandolfo said he felt no aftereffects today from the third period collision with Erik Cole that shook him up briefly on Friday night.
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The players who did not play Friday-- Scott Clemmensen, Rod Pelley, Bobby Holik, Andy Greene, Jay Leach and Pierre-Luc Letourneau- Leblond -- skated Saturday afternoon in Newark before the team flew to Raleigh, N.C.
I've defended you all yr Brian. STEP THE F UP!
Posted by: Scotty K | April 18, 2009 at 06:03 PM
Rolston to fill Langy? Sutter are you kidding? Is this misinformation to Carolina to throw them off??? What can we call the line? ZZSchmuk??? Sutter!!! I'd rather see Clemmensen replace Langy on that line than Rollie...
Posted by: RickyM2 | April 18, 2009 at 06:03 PM
ZZPLUMP
Parise Zajac MB30
Posted by: rob | April 18, 2009 at 06:09 PM
he was calling him out. We paid rollie the big bucks to score goals. He needs to score.
Posted by: Ryan | April 18, 2009 at 06:11 PM
Gee, why does it not surprise me that Holik was the one who told Rolston what the coach said?
Posted by: skeeter | April 18, 2009 at 06:20 PM
I thought the line with Rolston in it could be called ZZ-Flop
Posted by: Scratch16 | April 18, 2009 at 06:21 PM
I don't think it said anywhere that Rolston is going to definitely play with Parise and Zajac. It is a possibility, though.
Posted by: TG | April 18, 2009 at 06:23 PM
If Rollie gets the opportunity, which he may not, I would hope he'd step up his game. If he doesn't get motivated for a game like that, then Lou knows next season he just has to sit him until he waves his no-trade clause and hopefully be able to unload him. That said, I do hope he steps up his game and he lives up to the expectations we all had for him.
Posted by: Scratch16 | April 18, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Just like Holik to stir s%#t up. Would be nice if Rolston got the message, though. What a disappointment.
Posted by: Swab First Class Kip Nicaragua | April 18, 2009 at 06:25 PM
i could see
parise zajac shanahan.
It's a possibility becaus although Shanny doens't have the Jets, hes got the intuition and scoring instict. Similar to Langs. He's also solid Defensively. I'd like to Rolston given a shot there too because Rollie will def step his game up. The real question is who's gonna fill in the roster spot? Most likely Holik.
Posted by: Speedz | April 18, 2009 at 06:26 PM
I don't care if you put Rupp with Parise and Zajac, The Devils need to win regardless of who is in the lineup.
I am calling that the Devils win the next 3 games. You heard it here first.
Posted by: Ryan | April 18, 2009 at 06:32 PM
Their not going to win if Holik is the one filling in. Mark it down, if he's in we lose. In fact keep him out of the locker room too. I'd rather see Pelley in. Id rather see my 8 month old son in than Holik. This series is going to be tight and we can not have some clown taking bad penalties 3-4 times a game. The officiating had been so bad in the NHL latley. The Officials control the outcome of these games now. I think they like to be on TV! All eyes would be on the Bobby H. Sutter is too good of a coach to put him back in
Posted by: futureman | April 18, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Put Rolly with Zubs and Gio and put Elias with Parise and Zajac
Posted by: Devs | April 18, 2009 at 07:21 PM
IDK Devs, that's kinda putting all your eggs in one basket.
Posted by: Scratch16 | April 18, 2009 at 07:29 PM
holik is just what we need right now.. the guy is one of the best in playoffs, he understands he cant take those kind of penalties, and after carolina really roughed us up last night, we need a little more fire and aggression and bobby can bring it
Posted by: markd | April 18, 2009 at 07:32 PM
the only thing the last 2 games proved is that nobody is sweeping the other
Posted by: RickyM2 | April 18, 2009 at 07:33 PM
How about the ZZZ line since Rollie seems to be catching up on his sleep when he's on the ice.
Posted by: JPL | April 18, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Speedz, I'd also be curious to see Shanahan with Parise and Zajac, though like you said, his speed would be an issue. Still, after Parise and Elias (and the injured Langs), I think Shanny has been one of their best forwards this series.
Posted by: crossbar | April 18, 2009 at 08:37 PM
Crossbar/Speedz, as I have said a couple of times already, I don't think Shanny has the stamina to log the amount of time that Parise/Zajak log per game, plus Shanny also contributes on the PP/PK. Might be too much for him to maintain a successful intensity level.
Posted by: Scratch16 | April 18, 2009 at 09:19 PM
*Zajac
Posted by: Scratch16 | April 18, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Msg to Rollie -- Score!
Posted by: Zorin | April 18, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Score? how about showing some hustle actually work out there on the ice!
Posted by: JPL | April 18, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Does anyone think that on Thursday we are gonna be talking about how the Devils can come back from a 3-1 defecit? I doubt they can win one in NC.
Posted by: A Local Fan | April 18, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Either way they got to win in NC.
Posted by: Robbie | April 18, 2009 at 11:37 PM
I'm really trying to believe that Rolston is just having his first bad season. He's always been great and this seasons disappointment has been a surprise.
Posted by: mpf | April 18, 2009 at 11:54 PM