Bergfors unable to attend development camp for personal reasons

Some tidbits from the Devils' development camp, which continues Tuesday at Prudential Center with two morning sessions of drills and a scrimmage in the afternoon.

**Right wing Nicklas Bergfors is unable to attend for personal reasons.

"There was an extenuating circumstance for why he's not here and we respect," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "He'll be coming here early, though, (before training camp in September)."

Lamoriello said there are no issues with Bergfors' health.

**Right wing Ilkka Pikkarainen is unable to attend the development camp because he does not have his U.S. work visa, yet.

**Restricted free agent forward Patrick Davis has accepted his one-year qualifying offer and will be back in the organization for 2000-10, but also is not attending the development camp.

"He just was't brought here," Lamoriello said. "He wasn't the only player not brought here. (Left wing Brad) Snetsinger is not here either. There's no issue there,"

**Forward David Wohlberg, a sixth-round draft choice in 2008, who had 15 goals and 15 assists in 40 games as a freshman at the University of Michigan last season, is not attending because of an injury.  Wohlberg suffered a left knee injury during the season. Lamoriello would not reveal if it was that injury or a different one.

"He had an injury in college that is not totally recovered, so we didn't want him to skate," Lamoriello said.

**Defenseman Tyler Miller is also coming back from an injury and did not skate today, but Lamoriello said he was cleared by the team doctor today. 

**Forward Doug Clarkson, the younger brother of Devils right wing David Clarkson, is attending camp as an undrafted free agent.

**As I mentioned earlier, former Devil Sergei Brylin was on the ice today as a coach with the forwards. He said he's headed back to Russia next week to get ready for training camp with his team in St. Petersburgh. The KHL season begins in early September.

Brylin, who has been back in New Jersey since March, said Lamoriello asked him to stop by this week. He was surprised when he asked him to go on the ice.

"I guess I'm getting a taste of what it's like to coach," he said.

Brylin has two years left on his contract in Russia, though, so it will be a while before he starts thinking about coaching.

"I told him him why doesn't he come out and get a little coaching under his belt and work with the players," Lamoriello said.  

***

Sorry, no pictures today. I was preoccupied with the coaching announcement. I promise I'll have some on Tuesday.

Comments

[NickyG]

Great work as always TG.

Sarge FTW!!1!

[Steven]

TG, will you post some photos later tonight from Day 1 of the developmental camp.

[Speedz]

Nice reporting TG

[chris]

TG, tell Brylin that the fans were asking for him! We appreciate all he's done for the organization.
Thanks again for the great coverage!

[staney09-10]

wouldnt be surprised if SARGE ends up coaching eventually, he has the personality for it and is really hardworking

[Maxwell]

Great day all around.

[kstatik]

Awesome work today TG! You've been our hero all day. Keep up the good work!

*salute*

[Devilswede]

Any update on how some of the prospects looked today TG? Thanks again!

[Chad]

TG-

Can you let us know some of the uniform numbers? Especially, the lower ones?

Thanks for the details.

[TG]

All of the uniform numbers are high except Rod Pelley, who has No. 10.

I can't really tell you much about the camp today. They were only doing drills and, as I said. I was trying to find out for sure that Lemaire was going to be the head coach, so I was too busy to watch closely or take photos.

[Jim B]

Ok, well since we have a figured out the coach for next season, I think there is one issue that arises.....who would win in a fight, Jacques Lemaire or John Tortorella?

[Sohl]

I really hope Lemaire doesnt pull a Sutter and take the "C" away from Jamie, hes done a great job as the Captain.

[Grey Fox 2]

TG, busy day for the Devil's. Thanks for covering all of the angles. I am curious to hear your take on Lou's decision. Most of us here are concerned that Lemaire will stifle some of our more offensive minded players. I realize its really early yet and hard to predict his style but would appreciate your thoughts.

[TG]

I'll get to my opinion the hiring later. I'm still working on my story for the newspaper.

[IsDevelopementCampOpenToPublic? aka RM2]

I doubt Lou or anyone in the organization would wana stifle our top scorers. Let's see Lamaire finally redeem himself as an "exciting hockey" team...

[LucasS]

I was hoping that halischuk would keep 10

don't like pelley with that number for some reason.

thanks for all the great work TG.

[Philly Devil]

I am ecstatic that Brylin is on the ice as a coach. THAT is loyalty, it was a business decision that Sergie left..that is it. Brylin will be back after his KHL contract is over.

[Jim B]

Parise Zajac Langenbrunner
Elias Sharp Rolston
Bergfors Zubrus Clarkson
Shanahan Pelley LLL

spares: Pikkarainman

Martin Skoula
Oduya Salvador
Greene Corrente

spares: Mottau

Brodeur
Danis

I'm bored at work, so I keep playing around with lineups, I kind of like the makeup of this one because we would have 2 solid Offenisve lines, and then a 3rd and 4th line with a mix of veterans and young players.

trade pando and white , I know Chicago wants a physical d-man and have been shopping Sharp, so I figured White and a 2nd round prospect or two for Sharp, and trade pando for some younger lower end prospects to a team that can use some experience and defensive reliability

I know you guys hate it when people do this, so I figured I would be an pain in the a** and do it anyway, let me know what you think.

[RoShaCla]

No one is taking White at his salary unless someone decides to do what the Sharks did for us a couple years back. Sharp is an incredible player. He is actually one of my favorites in the whole league and I think he would do wonders in a Devils uni. However, to get him from the hawks (who only want to trade him as a salary dump) we would need to send back quite a bit of talent that is both high-end and low cost. Colin White is neither of these things. What they will most likely want is prospects and draft picks. The whole point of a salary dump is to get rid of salary and a player like White doesn't accomplish that goal at all.

Trades in a cap world are about more than just fair value talent wise, it is also about the salary situation. That is why White and Zubrus are literally untradeable: their cap hits are far too great in relation to their production. Neither are bad players at all, but they make high end money with only mid level skills. That is a bad investment no matter how many draft picks come packaged with it.

[devilstown]

I have some unpopular comments to make.
1st, I'll be happy with Zajac arbitration, 2 years, see if he continues to progress or not. Don't get locked in long term, yet.
2nd, Not thrilled with the coaching choice, but I agree, that unless it was going to be a question of giving some new guy a chance (not Lou's style), better to go with tried and true.
3rd - I'd give the "C" to Parise, two reasons, 1 - it shows a commitment to youth and offense, 2 - Langenbrunner has never shown me any great leadership qualities. I watched John Madden demonstrate more leadership in the past two seasons than Jamie.

But hey I'm just a dopey fan, what do I know.

[David B.]

What I would do with the letters....

C: Langenbrunner
A: Elias, Parise, Martin, Rolston

[MoonDragn]

The way the team is going though we'd need a coach that speaks Swedish, not Russian.

[Ben]

TG, is Jon DiSalvatore at this camp? Is he still in the organization? He led Lowell in points last year - wondering if he is getting a look.