Is there room for both Sestito and Pelley on the Devils' opening night roster?

Friday's signing of veteran center/wing Rob Niedermayer meant there was one less spot for a young player on the Devils' opening night roster.

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said this morning, however, that this is no time for the young players to get discouraged. He says those tha believe in their ability will not let it affect them.

"It could be hard for certain kids that their confidence is not high," Lemaire said. "The other kid that feels that I can make and I'll make it, he's really self-driven, it doesn't bother him."

Niedermayer, who is scheduled to arrive in time for Monday's practice, will probably play center, so the two players most directly affected are Rod Pelley and Tim Sestito, who were battling for the third and fourth-line center spots and are both slated to play tonight against the Flyers. Lemaire said it doesn't necessarily mean that Pelley and Sestito are in competition against each other for a job now, though.

"We don't know," Lemaire said. "It depends on how they're going to play, how they'll play til the end. They could be, but there's always one thing. When you're good, we find a place. Usually we find a place. Very rarely when you're good that you have to go down. On an experienced team, an older team, maybe that would happen, but very rarely when you're good and you're showing that you're better that some of the other guys."

So, it's still in Pelley and Sestito's hands?

"Definitely," Lemaire said. 

That's the approach Sestito is taking. He recognizes what the addition of Niedermayer means to the roster, but is determined not to let it afffect how he plays tonight.

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"I don't want it to come out wrong, but it's just one less spot for me," he said. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to make it hard on them to send me down. I want to make their decision as tough as I can. That's all I can really control. There may be some other spots. I try not to worry about the lineups or anything like that. I need to have a good game tonight and so forth."

It would have been understandable if Sestito was disappoiinted when he heard that the team had signed Niedermayer, but he said that was not the case.

'I can't really say I'm disappointed because up until this point I've never been this far in [training] camp, especially centering the third line," he said. "I've been thrilled with the amount of work I've gotten in games and practices. I'm taking everything I can in. I'm just going to work as hard as I can on the ice and let the chips fall as they may."

Tonight, Sestito will be centering a line with Brendan Shanahan on his left and Niclas Bergfors on his right.

Shanahan, the 40-year-old future Hall of Famer, had some advice for Sestito this morning after the skate. "Just remember, tonight, I'll be open in the slot," Shanahan joked.

Sestito appreciates the opportunity he has in playing with the NHL's active leader with 656 career regular season goals.

"It's pretty cool," Sestito said of playing with Shanahan. "He's a great guy, first off. He makes me feel comfortable out there. I was talking to my parents that with the NHL speed, you don't have time to think about who's on your line. You need to make plays and get those guys the puck. Maybe when it's all said and done I'll look back a little bit and say that I played with a Hall of Famer, but, as of right now, I'm just trying to be one of the guys on the line, try to get these guys the puck and try to make everyone else play better."

Pelley, who played 58 NHL games two seasons ago, but spent all of 2008-09 in Lowell, is trying to take a similar positive approach after the Niedermayer signing.

"My dad had called me after lunch and he mentioned it to me and my first reaction was, 'Wow, it's another big centerman down the middle' -- kind of what Lou [Lamoriello] had said to [the media] yesterday," Pelley said. "It's just added depth that it brings to this team. That was my first original thought. Any guy coming in with over a 1,000 NHL games experience is going to be invaluable to the young guys like myself and help us along the way and benefit the team."

Pelley realizes, of course, that Niedermayer takes up a roster spot that might have gone to a younger player. And, even if Pelley is fortunate enough to make the team, there might be less ice time for him because of Niedermayer's presence.

"You definitely think about that too," he said. "That comes into question, but really when it comes down to it if you worry about that stuff too much and get into that, you'll drive yourself crazy and that's just not a way to have fun and enjoy the game if you keep worrying about things like that. I'm just going to earn whatever I get and show that I want it more and want more minutes every night. I've just got to work." 

Pelley said he has felt "pretty good" in the three preseason games he has played so far.

"There's always room for improvement," he said. "Faceoffs, my first couple of games were good, but they can always improve. For the most part, I've felt pretty good."

Pelley wasn't ready to say he's accomplished what he hoped to in camp, though.

"There's still a couple of exhibition games left, so I'm just focusing on the one tonight and maybe at the end of the next couple of games I'll get back to you on that," he said.

***

Sestito said his younger brother, Tom, was cleared medically after suffer a head injury a week ago in a fight with Nashville's Jordan Tootoo and is supposed to play tonight for Columbus in Boston.

Comments

[Par99]

I say Sestito...

[BrickCityDevil]

I've liked what i've seen from Sestito, and he has a great attitude. Would love for this guy to make the team.

[njdevsfn95]

and that quote is the reason Shanahan is worth having for 1 more season. of course, we all expected more home-grown, young guys on the roster, but he can be a positive influence on those we will have.

[Craigwell]

Yes, I'm curious about Sestito.

[Lykus]

I have a feeling that Pelley still makes this team. what is really interesting is the line combinations JL will use for an opening night...who would be on the second line, Nieds or Zubrus? where does Bergfors fit in, is there a place on this team for Zharkov, who really stood out to me from all our young players. Another thing is Pikkarainen better show that he belongs on this team fast, I know he was out for a few days with illness, but before that he didn't really impress. Overall I'm really liking the team that we will see this season, I think it would take a few weeks for JL to see who he will go with. And one more thing. If Zharkov and Halischuk do well in a regular season games, that means Devils could give Shanny and Pando as much time off as they need to stay healthy an fresh for the playoffs, basically it seems like we'll have a team with some very good depth.

[mikeP]

Zharkov & Halishuk have looked good in camp, but the thing working against both of them is they they don't require waivers to go back and from to/from Lowell. That's the reason they'll probably start there.

Bergfors is almost definite to make the team, considering his offensive output this preseason, and Lemaire has commented on how much he's improved.

[95-00-03]

Lykus.........Well said.

I couldn't agree more.

I think they will have Nieds on the 3rd line as a checking center but that's just a guess.

I still think we should give Zubs this year to either prove he can be what we all expect.

He seems to be skating with more energy this year so I am hopefull.

GO DEVILS!

[TG]

I don't think Niedermayer will center the second line. Zubrus will start out there until Elias is ready to play.

[Scott731]

I don't mean to be the downer on Sestito but the guy is 25 and hasn't scored much at any level of hockey. So maybe he can help the team on the 4th line but I would think it'd be tough for him to really help the team when he's probably looking at between 5-10 points over a whole season. Sestito has also taken a lot of penalties in a few series, and it's only partly explained by fighting majors, since he had a lot more PIMs than just those would account for.

In some sort of comparison, Rod Pelley and Sestito put up similar numbers in their best pro season, the difference being Pelley's was in the AHL and Sestito's was in the ECHL.

[Zorin]

TG:

I wanted to say hi to you at the practice today. I was sitting somewhat near you and figured I would do it after you got settled. Soon though, the ushers instructed us to move. Didn't realize you were such a celebrity, LOL.

Once we moved, I did notice you tweeting and blogging. I noticed Matt, Sherry, Chere, all close by...who were some of the other 'media ppl' -- any Philly writers?

[SA77]

I can see that Lemair may play Niedermayer at 2 if Elias is out only for a few games. It would give a third line chance to develop some chemistry playing together

[JJ]

As TG posted earlier both Zubrus & Niedermeyer can play wing or center so there's options all over the place once Elias comes back.

I could easily see lines 2-4 looking like:

Rolston-Elias-Bergfors
Shanahan-Zubrus-Clarkson
Pandolfo-Niedermeyer-Pikkarainen/Peters/Pelley or Sestito

That gives us a good top 3 lines and we'd still have over $5 million in cap space to play with.

Lemaire has always liked to move people around throughout the season anyway so that if you get a key injury in the playoffs guys aren't foisted into an unfamiliar situation so we will probably see all kinds of combinations.

[modnarm]

I still don't think Bergfors will be on the 2nd line.

Clarkson and Zubrus HAVE shown some chemistry- IMO more chemistry than Bergfors has with anyone... Clarkson is the better player right now... so that line with Rolston is perfect in my mind.

Bergfors and Shanny should do just fine. It'll be interesting how Sestito does as well as that 4th line.

Maybe if this Rolston-Zubrus-Clarkson line really gels we'll keep it and just put Elias in Sestito's spot?? Talk about balance. I bet Shanny and Elias would enjoy playing with each other.

OR maybe by then Bergfors gets more confident and is ready for 2nd line responsibilities and we'll have
Rolston-Elias-Bergfors
Shanahan-Zubrus-Clarkson

That 3rd line is SO solid and the players compliment each other so well. It was great in that one game against the Rags.. AND ITS GREAT ON NHL 2010 haha. I hope it gets another look if Bergfors can step it up to the 2nd line. But right now Clarkson is the man for that job.

[Futureman]

Zharkov needs to get a long look. Im no pro scout but ive been playing/watching the game for 25 years. He looks very good at times. Lemaire will be good for him.

[patiently waiting]

Zharkov is making the team this year..dont think otherwise...he and MAGNAN are young hungry players, and with ROB N being a legit 4th/third line center...we cant afford to have ELIAS play wing...he will be our 2nd line Center with Rolston and Shanny/ Berfors/ Clarkson..
and Zubrus will center Clarkson and Zharkov..which leaves Rob N to center Peters, and PL3 or PANDO

now thats depth..and dont forget Shanny cannot play 82 games, so He, PL3, Peters, and pando, will be constantly rolled in and out...which will always bring fresh players to the ice for every game...and also, all our lines are reverseable and exchangeable, so there can always be new chemistry if we are struggling during times...

Everyone plays well with everyone

[95-00-03]

Center ice has the boston/ottowa game on. After that they are playing a boston/oilers game from 1988 while the Devils/Flyers are playing live.

You mean to tell me they think the ratings will be better for a 1988 game over the Devils/Flyers huh?

Stuff like this really burns me.

The Devils get no respect and I am soo glad I didn't pay for Center Ice!

[Scott731]

Well Center Ice can't air a game that nobody is filming. As far as I know they don't do any of their own production.

[JJ]

modnarm - Like I said, Lemaire likes to shake things up so we'll probably see him interchange Clarkson & Bergfors and also move Shanahan around too. I put Bergfors on the 2nd line because I want to see him to play with more creative offensive guys and I think he & Elias will fit better together than Clarkson & Elias. Any way you slice it they'll put numbers up.

I agree Futureman, Zharkov looks like he's going to be an NHL'er but there's no place for him to play right now. Playing on a scoring line in Lowell and getting special teams work is so much better for his development than getting 10 minutes a night on the 4th line in the NHL that I doubt it'll be right now unless a trade is made. Halischuk is in the same boat.

[JJ]

patiently waiting - Zharkov isn't a center. He's going to Lowell.

[Maxwell]

'There may be some...' not 'They're may be some...'

TG you need a proofreader, bud. I'm available for $400/hour haha - you can afford that, right?

[Futureman]

JJ, I guess you're right. I was just shocked and excited to see the way he played. I had never heard of him until this pre season. It seemed like Clarkson was really trying to help him out too. They were talking alot on the bench. I think he shows alot of promise

[Noam N. Kogen]

Pelley likely centers the fourth line while Zubrus starts off centering the second line and Niedermayer likely starts off centering the third line.

Zharkov and Zestito likely go to Lowell to start the season.

The Devils will go with either 13 forwards, 8 defensemen, and two goaltenders or 14 forwards, 7 defensemen, and two goaltenders. The 6 remaining defensemen from the end of last season plus Murphy likely make the team, perhaps an 8th defenseman (hopefully NOT Fraser). Pelley makes the team up front.

[Pat D]

TG, any word on what number Rob will wear?

[Rusty]

Last season, Clarkson had some nice synergy with Shanahan. Also, I've heard that Elias plays great with Bergfors, so once he gets back from his injury Bergfors should be playing even better. That's all, of course, if Lemaire has them both on the same line.

[gambi99]

I believe Rob would probably wear his old number 44 unless Richer calls Lou and wants to come back and play again. I'm just wondering what number Peters is wearing, is it his old #76? I know Lou doesn't like high jersey numbers.