Lemaire: Don't be misled by today's line combinations

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said not to read anything into the line combinations he had together for today's practices.

He said they were the result of a change in plan this morning to put veterans together on the same lines. The groups that were supposed to be on the ice for the two different sessions had already been split up, so he had to form the combinations from within.

"We had the two teams and they were playing against each other," Lemaire said. "Now we matched them because they were on the ice at 10 a.m. So, we said, 'This is the line that's going to be.' We took the pros that were on these two teams. That's why they ended up like this."

In other words, Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Brendan Shanahan all happened to be in the group that skated at 10 a;m., so that's how they ended up on the same line. And, Jamie Langenbrunner, who played with Parise and Zajac last season, wasn't in that group, so he ended up on a line with fellow veterans Dainius Zubrus and Brian Rolston (left wing).

For similar reasons, Lemaire said there was no intention on putting rookie center Patrice Cormier with two veterans for the second day in a row. Today, Cormier skated with Jay Pandolfo and David Clarkson. On Sunday, he centered Parise and Shanahan.

At least that's Lemaire's story.

"We let them come here and we decided in the morning when they were here," Lemaire said. "That's why it ended up like that, the lines. So you can't think that these guys will play together because of what you saw this morning."

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That said, Lemaire didn't say he would rule out those combinations either.

"No," he said. "If there's a line that goes well together, then you'll see it together."

In general, Lemaire felt today's practices were better than Sunday's, when he said the second group wasn't as good as the first.

"It was good," Lemaire said. "Guys were skating well and they were on the puck. They did a lot of good things. I think they started to understand what we're looking for and they [did] it bettter and better, even the kids."

Lemaire beliefved that putting the pros together on the same lines helped the crispness of the practice, which was the intention behind the change from Sunday when rookies and veterans played on the same lines.

"It was a good change, I thought," Lemaire said.

And not just for the veterans.

"It's funny. A lot of guys today, they went up," Lemaire said. "Their grades were better today than they were yesterday. But, on the other hand, other guys you could see a bigger difference. So, it's good. I really like what they did today. All of the guys that watched, they liked it too. We thought the guys were working hard and skating hard, a lack of finish from certain guys, but they'll get it."

Other subjects Lemaire discussed today.

On Patrice Cormier: "There's a lot of guys that stood out like Cormier did. He played fine. He played fine. He played fine."

On the lineup for Wednesday's preseason opener against the Rangers: "It's decided and [the media] will get it probably tomorrow if Lou [Lamoriello] wants. (Laughing)."

On when the team will make its first cuts: "I haven't sat down and talked about this enough with Lou. Maybe after the first game. I don't know. I'm not sure. But, I'lll try to get some cuts after the first game. Next week, we have six days. For sure, I will give them a day off somewhere. I don't know which day. But I want to start to work with less guys. If you cut it down, the competition will rise. That's how it works."

***

Goaltender Yann Danis, who is continuing to practice with his old Islanders' mask, said he thinks his new Devils' mask will arrive in time for him to wear it in Wednesday's game. The mask was made in Quebec and has been completed, but is in transit through Itech.

***

Goaltender Martin Brodeur said he has already commissioned someone to make him a special mask for the Olympics in case he gets picked for the Canadian team. There would not be enough time to get one made if he waited until the team is selected in December. Brodeur said the Olympic mask will not include his personal MB30 logo.

***

Defenseman Jay Leach downplayed his run-in with left wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond during today's afternoon scrimmage. Leach appeared particularly annoyed when Leblond drove him into the boards well after he moved the puck and yelled at Leblond as the players returned to their respective benches.

"It was just a couple of things back and forth," Leach said. "Nothing big."

***

Rookie right wing Matt Halischuk, Illka Pikkarainen and a few other rookies/minor leaguers were surprised when they emerged from the locker room and saw the morning practice session had already begun without them. It was scheduled for 10 a,m., but started at 9:50.

"It was a bit of a mix up," Halischuk said.

The rookies and minor leaguers are dressing in the visiting game locker room and some auxiliary locker rooms, which are on the opposite side of the building from the practice rink. They must come over to the Devils' practice locker room to stretch and loosen up with the veterans and then go back to their locker rooms to put on their equipment before walking back across the building and cutting through the practice locker room to get to the practice ice. 

Comments

[Stan Fischler's Beard]

I'm calling it now....Cormier will be in the lineup on Oct. 3. With or without Elias in there.

[Devilswede]

I don't think he will.

[big bird]

nostradamus? is that you?

[CHL fan]

Can you please give us some feedback on the prospects at camp??? Some of us follow CHL players and are wondering how they are doing?

[Neil S]

Without Elias Cormier in there makes sense as he can center either of the bottom 2 lines. With Elias in the lineup I hope not, because I don't want to really see Zubrus centering Elias and Rolston, which is about the only way Cormier is likely to be in the lineup. He may play incredibly well, but it's very unlike the Devils to rush a prospect and play them straight out of juniors.

[modnarm]

nah.

[FOTC]

I don't think Cormier will be there. Corrente had a monster camp in 07-08 and he still got sent back to juniors.

[Lucas S]

I wounder how much of an influence Jacque had in rushing some of the wild prospects right to the nhl. If I remember correctly Bouchard and Burns where to of the guys brought right up before they where ready.

[topshlf]

I'd rather see Cormier playing and having an early start on his NHL career than watch Pelley not score night after night.

I could say the same about Pandolfo and the ZuBust. I'd rather see the young kids play and hope that we see some development.

[MoonDragn]

I can see cormier playing too. But you never know. Btw, I think TG meant Patrice, not Pascal Cormier, unless he's got a cousin.

[NJromano]

hahahahhahahaha... gabby injured before even the first pres season game..if gaborik doesnt play cuz of injury an dubinski doesnt get signed .. then they have a first line of higgins/prospal/kotalik hahahahhaha

[NJromano]

im pissed... i been looking forward all day to seeing my first hockey game tonight Canucks vs NYI.... but it isnt on tv unless ur in canada...
im surprised cuz its tavares first game an i would expect to see it televised in the metro area.. preseason or not this is tavares, a kid who i been hearin about since he was 15

[MikeR]

TG

Are there any sleepers so far? Players who stood out more than anticipated?

[ClarksonFan23]

watch him score too

[Falcone]

Totally irrelevant post, but thought some might like to know. I spoke to one of the guys who works with the Devils about broadcasting the preseason games on the Devils website. He basically said they can't due to contractual obligations with MSG Plus.

So if anyone wants to watch the preseason games we need to take it up with MSG.

[RickyM2]

Tonight on MSG PLUS Islanders game... Lets see what that 1st Pick can do against NHL caliber players!!!

[BF]

nj ramano, i thought the game is on the nhl network

[NJromano]

according to nhl.com it wont be on msg... i checked the preview channel an nothing is listed.. dam baseball on msg + no love for hockey... poor islanders fans lookin forward to seein tavares ...

http://www.nhl.com/scores/index.html?navid=NAV|SCR|Main

[NJromano]

click that link to see the channels its on... i dont have any..
but it says its on canucks.com.. i really thought a NY game would be telaVised over old baseballs moments...

[NJromano]

its on NHLN-CA , NHLN-US (HD)

i dont have either

[TG]

For some reason, I have something in my brain that makes me type Pascal instead of Patrice. This is the second time that's happened.

[dannyd]

@ topshelf,

I have to agree, if we are going to have some younger/inexperienced players on the team, at least let them be prospects with some actual offensive upside. Really, I'm not at all excited about the thought of Pelley likely being an every game player this year. Yes, he plays hard, but he has virtually zero offensive upside. Or at least in his previous time with the big club, he has shown next to nothing offensively.

And personally, I think the whole idea of a forward who is a "defensive specialist" is counter intuitive in "today's" NHL. Niether Pitt or Detroit have players who are so one-dimensional. Freakin Jordan Stall is Pitt's version of a defensive center. Obviously, they had to suck for a while to get so many skilled players, but still...And I would rather our skilled forwards play the PK, such as Rolston, Elias, Zajac, Parise, Langs, Shanny. They can all definately handle the responsibility.

Honestly, what would a good shift for Pelley even be considered? He isn't scoring any goals or setting up any out there. And he isn't creating any sort of energy with his physical play. So where is the upside? "Oh, well at least the other team didn't score while he was out there." I don't think that logic wins Stanely Cups. The only upside, for me, to Pelley is his low salary, and that has zero to do with playing hockey.

[Bergfors Fan Club]

I will be dismayed if Bergfors is not in the lineup vs NY on Wednesday night.

[pando20rules]

TG,

Maybe you miss Pascal Rheaume :)

[NJromano]

if i wanna watch tons of hockey, all diffrent games an team.. not just local teams... what do i want?? nhl network?? center ice?? im totally lost.. i wanna order it.. but i need to get the phone number an prices... if somone can help me out i would appriciate it... i believe somone told me about some package where u can watch every an any hockey game...