Pelley wants to take advantage of his opportunity; Corrente more relaxed

When John Madden left the Devils to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, general manager Lou Lamoriello mentioned that Madden's departure created an opening for Rod Pelley.

Those comments did not go unnoticed by Pelley.

"My first reaction is that I have so much respect for John Madden as a person and as a hockey player," said Pelley, who is attending the Devils' development camp this week at Prudential Center. "He's a family man, a great hockey player and a good human being. Mentioning his name in the same sentence as mine, that's pretty humbling for myself. I look at it as I've got to go out there and just be Rod Pelley and work hard and try not to compare myself to John Madden in any type of way."

Pelley admitted "it was a bit of a surprise" to read what Lamoriello had said.

(To right: Pelley, right, on the ice this morning next to 6-6, 230-pound Doug Clarkson, younger brother Devils right wing David Clarkson)

"To come out public like that, there's a lot of confidence," he said. "It's basically telling the player you'd better be ready. This is your opportunity. The door is open and it's in your hands now. That's basically how I interpret that and that's what I'm going to be ready to go in September for to take advantage and run with it."

Pelley spent most of the 2007-08 season with the Devils, but was in Lowell for all of 2008-09, so he is looking forward to getting an opportunity to play in the NHL again. Pelley, who will turn 25 on Sept. 1, had 15 goals and 23 assists in 75 games with Lowell last season.

"It helped me a lot," Pelley said of spending last season in the AHL. "I played a lot of hockey in all different situations. We didn't make the playoffs, which was disappointing, but I thought I worked on little things that I needed to work on to get myself more prepared to play in the NHL."

Pelley was excited to hear the news Monday that Jacques Lemaire had been hired as the team's head coach.

"I don't know him personally, but from everything I've heard from players and everyone, it's going to be a good thing," Pelley said. "It's exciting to know that we're going to have a coach that has won Cups. He's won 11 Cups as a player, a coach and management. Eleven, that's pretty impressive."

***

Pelley is on the ice right now with the second group of skaters. Tommy Albelin. Scott Stevens and Chris Terreri are directing things. The two groups will scrimmage this afternoon.

Former Devils center and assistant coach Bob Carpenter is here this morning. He said Lamoriello asked him to come down and watch the young players, so he drove down from Massachusetts this morning. There apparently is no talk of him returning to the organization in any official capacity at this point.

The defensemen remained on the ice at the end of each session to work with power-skating coaches.

***

I also chatted briefly with defenseman Matt Corrente after this morning's first session.

Here's the transcript of our conversation.

Now that you have a year in the AHL under your belt, is it different being at the development camp this year?

"This camp I feel a little more relaxed, I'm taking every drill as it comes and relaxing instead of thinking about it. I'm trying to have a little fun with it and I feel a lot better actually."

What did you learn in your first full year of pro hockey in Lowell?

"The first month down there I just realized, "This is guy's lives. This is a career for a lot of guys and I want to make it mine. It made me want it that much more and I focused on that a lot."

(To right: Jean-Sebastien Berube moves in to take a shot on Jeff Frazee).

In retrospect, did it help you to play a full season in Lowell and receive quality ice time?

"I feel mentally and physically I have. Hopefully, I get to show that in the main camp."

What do you think went wrong in last season's training camp?

"I felt like I just didn't allow myself to settle down and enjoy it and relax. I got caught up in where I was going to be and I wanted to be here. There was too much anxiety for me. I feel like I've come a long way. I'm more relaxed and it's a different feeling now."

***

Sergei Brylin, who is here helping out as a coach this week before heading back to Russia next week to prepare for the KHL season, is skating on his own right now during the break before the scrimmages with fitness consultant Vladimir Bure putting him through some drills. He is wearing a black Devils' practice jersey and a black Devils' helmet with No. 18 on the back. He must have held on to his old one when he left for Russia.

***

I will be speaking to new Lowell head coach John MacLean in the next half hour about his move to Lowell, coaching future, etc. I'll post those comments shortly after that.

Comments

[Devils19]

Hope Pelley can crack the lineup but in the games I've seen he's been kinda slow. How productive can he be. How many goals do you think he could get?

[Matt]

Clarkson is a beast! He's well over 6 ft.

[FOTC]

TG, if the Devils are unable to acquire a 2nd line center, what are the chances of Patrice Cormier or Adam Henrique making the team? I know the Devils usually play it safe and send players back to juniors until they're eligible to play in the AHL, but considering their lack of natural centers, they should get a chance if they impress in training camp.

[njhillbilly]

Good to hear Bob Carpenter's name again. I guess Lou is really reaching out to get a good read on the kids. I love how all the former Devil's (coaches and players) always seem to pop up again later when lou calls.

[MoonDragn]

Dang! Clarkson's brother is huge! Pelley is 6 foot tall and he looks small next to Doug! If anything I think we got a future enforcer on our hands. Now if he can play hockey anything like his brother we are in even better shape.

[pando20rules]

Correct NJHILLBILLY, when former players get calls from Lou, they usually come running. So, I guess all that talk about how Lou doesn't show the players enough respect is baloney. Sure, there are exceptions, like Scott Gomez, etc, but there are plenty of former coaches and players that show extreme loyalty to Lou. I can't imagine it isn't because they feel that Lou was loyal to them, so Lou must be doing something right.

[titans04]

eh one more time Clarskon has 11 fights combined in the last 5 seasons.

[frankied]

Doug Clarkson is listed as 6'-5", 224 pounds on the OHL website.

[ester]

Pelley is a stiff.

[J-Remy]

Hey TG, sorry if I missed your response if you gave it elsewhere, but since Johnny Mac is the new head coach in Lowell, do you know what becomes of Kurt Kleinendorst?

[maddening11]

J-Remy, TG reported at some point yesterday that Kurt Kl is staying with the organization in some capacity. Don't think he said exactly what yet.

[RickyM2]

Pelley sounds like he's ready to make this opportunity last for a while. His mentality sounds just about right. He's gunna do his thing, and do it as best as he can.

Good Luck ROD!!

[Disgruntled]

Devils Lender CIT Group In Financial Trouble...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/turmoil-at-cit-could-ripple-through-nhl/article1217296/

[RickyM2]

Disgruntled..

CIT has been in trouble for a while now. I'm sure other banks will be available.. Their direct competitor, BB&T, will be first in line, followed by Wells Fargo

[Pat]

How sweet would it be if we pulled this off (not holding my breath). I think too many GM's respect each other to be sneaky like this but all's fair.

Bud Barth reports it's possible the reason Bruins winger Phil Kessel hasn't received an offer sheet yet is because rival teams are concerned about his weak defensive and physical play, plus concerns over the NHL economy and salary cap.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: I think the economic concerns are the more pressing issues. Yes, Kessel's all round game needs work but at only 21 he's got plenty of time to improve and for teams seeking offensive depth Kessel would've been a tempting offer sheet target in previous years when the cap kept rising by an average of $6 million per year. It's been suggested rival clubs might wait until late September to make an offer sheet as most of the Bruins cap space will be committed by that point to the upcoming season. That's a possibility but most teams will also have committed to the 2009-10 season leaving very few with available space and the willingness to spend it at that point.

[Maxwell]

I feel like TG said the schedule comes out today. I want to see when I have to buy my tickets to go to Calgary and boo the $hit out of Brent "The Rat" Sutter.

[Alien Life Form]

Brylin!

[gregdil]

what does everyone think about carpenter taking over for LL as GM down the road?
good to have sarge back in town...and terreri too!

[____amania]

It appears that the blinds on the rink are UP. I thought they usually pulled em down. I'll be there tomorrow with the kids. Do they hit the ice at 9am-ish

[JerryG]

Would have enjoyed seeing a photo of Sarge wearing the Devils logo one more time...

[Craigwell]

really like hearing about Sarge. Thanks TG

[Ben]

When Pelley was in the nhl he was a 4th liner who basically did nothing. Personally I's rather see us acquire someone than put this guy as our third line center. I hope i'm wrong about him, that's all i can say.

[Topshlf]

Pelley at the moment is just a body to fill a position. He's not going to score, he's just going to be sent out there and as long as no one scores when he is one the ice, he will be ok.

Anyone who expects this guy to be the next John Madden or even half as good is fooling themselves.

[brickwall30]

agreed people to often forget that madden was JUST short of having a 100 point season while he was in the AHL setting team records with 60 assists and 98 points.

[Geoff in Calgary]

I feel like TG said the schedule comes out today. I want to see when I have to buy my tickets to go to Calgary and boo the $hit out of Brent "The Rat" Sutter.

Posted by: Maxwell | July 14, 2009 at 01:00 PM

Hey Maxwell,

If you can't make it, don't worry I'll be there to represent the guys on the blog doing exactly that and cheering loudly when we kick the Fume's a**.

2 years ago, we won 1-0 in OT (Devs last trip here) and it was great fun for me as the building suddenly went silent as Elias tipped in Gio's perfect pass.

I can tell you the people of Calgary are quality though and some of my friends are embarrassed by the Flames' actions in this issue.

If the Flames don't win with the Sutters (all 5 of 'em) then they will be "run outta town" at the next Calgary Stampede!

Go Devs!