Nicklas Bergfors hopes to make most of opportunity in Devils' training camp this year

When rookie right wing Nicklas Bergfors came to the Devils' training camp a year ago, he saw a lineup that was pretty much set with veterans. There was only one spot open for a young forward and that went to Petr Vrana, mostly because Vrana could not be sent down withough clearing waviers.

Bergfors knows that picture has changed, however, after the off-season departure of veterans such as Brian Gionta, Mike Rupp. John Madden and Bobby Holik. Vrana, who was sent down after playing only 16 NHL games last season, is gone too after choosing to sign to play in the Czech Republic this season instead.

"It was kind of a full team last year," he said. "I saw they had 12 forwards from the start. You always go into a camp that you want to make it and play at your best, but I honestly didn't see any spots (available) last year. I know there's a few this year. That's a better feeling going into the camp."

That the Devils didn't sign any significant players to fill the vacancies -- other than 2002 seventhr-round pick Ilkka Pikkarainen -- appears to be a sign that the team has left an opening for Bergfors to make the team.

"That's what I'm hoping for," he said. "There's spots right now in camp. I see that as they want to give the young players a chance and it seems like I'm going to be one of them to take that chance."

There also has been focus on Bergfors entering camp the last two years because of his status as the team's 2005 first-round pick and the progress he has made in the minors. He made the team in camp two years ago, but was suffered a shoulder injury in the season opener in Tampa Bay and didn't play in the NHL again that season. After a minor groin strain and a veteran-laden roster kept him from making the team last season, injuries helped him get in eight NHL games. He had one goal and one assist.

So, this camp is just the latest big one for him.

"I take it year by year, but right now I'm here and it's a big camp for me," he said.

The last two seasons, Brent Sutter was the Devils' head coach. This season, Jacques Lemaire is head coach. Bergfors doesn't think the coaching change changes anything for him.

"Not really," he said. "I haven't really been up here for a long time (in terms of games). Camp is different. I've heard good stuff about Jacques." 

Bergfors, who was unable to attend the team's rookie camp in July because of what he called "personal" reasons, said he's trying not to think about there being pressure on him to make the team.

"I try to get that away from me," he said. "Go out and have fun and focus on what I'm going do and not what other people want me to do."

Bergfors said he is no longer concerned about the shoulder injury he suffered two years ago, "but I know it's there." -- meaning he still has to take care of himself physically. He said the groin injury he had last year was "nothing."

He had a bounceback season in Lowell in 2008-09, putting up a team-high 22 goals and 29 assists in 66 AHL games, after having just 12 goals and 15 assists in the same number of games the previous season.

"I felt better last year," he said. "I had bigger offensive goals and it worked out good. I finally got back to doing stuff that I was drafted to do. I felt it was a modest step in my offensive play." 

Bergfors wouldn't say that Vrana's decision to play in Europe this year was a positive for him.

"We've been good friends," Bergfors said. "After (the way) his season turned out last year, he had bad luck with his injury (a broken leg). You lose a lot of good players all the time, but there are good players coming in. I wish him good luck."

Bergfors wouldn't discuss whether he'd end up going back to Europe some day if things don't pan out for him soon in New Jersey.

"I don't know about that, yet." he said. "Right now, it's all about making the team. I know there are some spots open, so it will be a good test. I've got take that and not think about something else."

I asked Bergfors what he thought about the team drafting Swedish players -- Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson -- with its first-round draft picks in 2008 and 2009.

"We're good people," he joked.

"They're good players," Bergfors said. "Sweden had really good years the last three years with the draft. I've seen (Tedenby) on TV. Josefson I haven't seen, but I know they're good players. It doesn't matter what country they are from." 

***

Bergfors did not want to discuss his "personal" reasons for not attending the rookie camp in July, but did say it was not a death in his family -- as some had speculated.

***

Defenseman Harry Young, the Devils' eighth choice in 2008, will be attending his second camp with the team. Young, who captained Windsor to the Memorial Cup last season, is eligible to return to junior for one more season as an overage player, but is also eligible to play in Lowell or Trenton if he is signed. He said this morning, however, that has he yet to sign a contract.

***

Some of the top players in the NHL were scheduled to be at Prudential Center's practice rink today for a photo shoot for TSN in Canada. The group inlcudes two-time Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin, Chris Pronger, Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara, Patrick Kane, Jeff Carter and former Devil Scott Gomez. 

Comments

[Ben]

I'm excited to see him play. Hopefully he doesn't disappoint. It seems like he's been "almost there" for forever - I'm ready to see him actually get a chance out there.

[Bob Glavine]

Is there anyone out there besides me that is totally bored with the Devils? For the first time I can remember, I really don't care about the team. I guess this started with the move to Newark.

I could care less.

[MoonDragn]

Well, go be a fan of another team then. I am very excited about the Devils this season. We're going to see new faces so there will be a new chemistry to the team. Plus a new coach. Everything will be different.

[kstatik]

"

Is there anyone out there besides me that is totally bored with the Devils? For the first time I can remember, I really don't care about the team. I guess this started with the move to Newark.

I could care less."

... so you came on a Devils blog to ask REAL fans if we're lethargic like you are?

Obviously not. Most of us are here obsessively to read about the Devils...

[Scotty K]

The move to Newark was the best thing this team could do first off. Secondly I don't see how you CANT be excited. Start of the future NJ Devils. Back on topic. Hopefully Nic impresses I have high hopes for the kid. Get um Bergy

[Sharpe Booker]

Bergfors will make us forget about Gionta.
LGD!

[loulam.proboards.com]

The correct phrase is "I couldn't care less." If you could care less, that means that you still care.

[A Dark Knight]

haha OWNED

[Sol Lippman]

I agree with Bob. I can't get excited about the Devils anymore. I dropped my tickets. I hate Newark! The team is boring. The owner is a jerk.

I find myself being more interested in the Bruins.

[Zavior]

I was upset early on when the Devils didn't make any moves to bring in players to upgrade the team after Gionta and Madden left. But I looked at the positives and realized that the Devils are in need of a rebuilding season. We still have a great core of players and hopefully this year we will be able to get some much needed youth into the lineup that will help us in the coming seasons.

Overall I think the Devils did ok this offseason and am looking forward to see how they veterans and youngsters respond to Coach Lemaire. He is a very good coach who gets a bad rap, but in time I think it will pay off big time.

Can't wait for the puck to drop so that I can start cheering for my Devs!

[A Dark Knight]

its pretty obvious to me that Bob Glavine, Sol Lippman, and possibly ALF are all the creation of the same low-life. dude enjoy your time on here now because once the season starts and the Devils start trending up while Gaborik gets hurt within the first 10-15 games and the Rangers season starts to snowball down

[Sol Lippman]

So if you don't agree with me I am a Ranger fan? I hate the Rangers. Because the Devils are so boring and poorly run, I'm losing interest in hockey. I've been a hockey fan since 1966 and I had Devils tickets for the entire 25 years at the Meadowlands.

No more. I'm done.

[slivedmb]

poorly run?? ever since lou lams came to town this has been one of the best, if not THE best organization in the league. name one team besides detroit who continues to have success year after year. Granted the last two cups have been before the lockout but they still have two cups in the last decade, and have won the division almost every season. detroit is even starting to slip with these rediculously long contracts. for the last 3+ years we have lost "big names" only to continue success. i thought we had something special when marty came back last year but we see where that got me. this season though, i feel a long playoff run or even a cup could be in the cards.

[mikeP]

I just hope that Niklas gets every chance to play with Elias. NB seems to have a high skill level, according to scouting reports, but when he plays with lesser players he's basically invisible out there. His talent would be wasted on the 3rd line with Zubrus. If Lou doesn't bring in a 2nd line center, and Elias shows that he can handle the 2nd line center spot, I believe we could see 35-40 pts from Bergfors playing with Elias and Rolston.

[Number6]

The more I think about it, the more I realize Clarkson is really the key to our lines this year. If he happens to fall on the #2 line with Elias and Rolston, it's a pretty serious line. Likewise, a #3 line with Shanny-Zubrus-Clarkson, or Rolston-Zubrus-Clarkson (if we get a #2 center) is quite formidable... I'd put them up against any #3 line in the league.

On the otherhand, Bergfors is still an unknown. Putting him on the #2 line with Rolston-Elias, or with an acquired center and Elias seems fine, but putting him on the #3 line suddenly seems weak (Shanny-Zubrus-Bergfors or Rolston-Zubrus-Bergfors).

I guess what it boils down to in my mind is that he has to play on the #2 line, or not at all.

[AGIV]

What is there not to like about Newark - the arena is beautiful, although anything was an upgrade over IZOD. The city is safe, the people at the arena are nice and it gives us a true HOME, not just a rented spot.

The owner I think is amazing... he treats his ticket holders well, and is looking to grow the Devils bigger and bigger each year.

We may have a lean roster this year, but look at next year - the cap could easily go down 5-6 million dollars if not more, and the majority of those big spending teams will be screwed. Look at the teams that have their cap space devoted to 3-6 players, how do they complete a roster with a cap of $51 million? I think Lou is thinking about the future hear, and not just rushing out and signing people, like he may have done in the past.

If you were ever a TRUE fan, you bleed with them through the good years and the bad... LGD

Drew

[Alz]

Does Bergfors excite me? Not with anything he's shown to date. Then again, the last player I was really hyped up about -- Brian Rolston -- has been pretty much a dud.

I'm watching this season conservatively. If they find a spark on the ice, I'll be right behind them. If they crash and burn, I hope they at least make it interesting.

[gooball420]

let's leave the drama for the Jonas Brothers fan blogs.

Thankfully the preseason is about to begin. I am extremely excited for the beginning of the real season, and can't wait to see how things start to move. the first couple of months are always so exciting, as a few teams just blow straight through and take the league lead, and others are left struggling. mid year always seems to slow down, and then there's feb thro0ugh april, where the devils always seem to march right to the lead in the Atlantic.

let's go Devs! I hope that Bergfors shows his worth, and we prove the doubters wrong yet again.

Let's go Marty! I hope he gets another 30 wins, and better yet, another 40 win season. Let's get him up to 600 wins.

booya!

all you doubters? .....
well, you must be here cause you want to have hope again or else maybe you should go to Facebook and find your old highschool buddies or, as previously mentioned, the Jonas Brothers....

[chessarmy]

I'm excited about this upcoming season, but at the same time, I'm not. The lack of UFA signings but the Devils this year just make me feel like the team is obviously not better than they were at the end of last year. I don't think we can win a Stanley cup with this team unless a trade is made, and I don't mean to sound negative.

I hope that I'm wrong though

[gooball420]

"

I'm excited about this upcoming season, but at the same time, I'm not. The lack of UFA signings but the Devils this year just make me feel like the team is obviously not better than they were at the end of last year. I don't think we can win a Stanley cup with this team unless a trade is made, and I don't mean to sound negative.

I hope that I'm wrong though"

I have to admit, I feel like this almost every year.

We don't generally make a big splash. I do expect something to happen, but not something big. I think that Lou started working with trades and whatnot, and it worked somewhat, but our farm teams suffered. the best years in this franchise have been driven by strong scouting and a solid foundation through the farm teams. let's give the youth a chance.

[Sol Lippman]

The team is in poor financial shape. Vanderbeek is not paying his bills. The attendance was inflated last year. Newark is becoming the murder and crime capital of NJ. Fan interest is waning. Lou didn't spend this year on Gionta, Madden or anyone else because he was told not to.

I'm in Bergen County. Many of us old time Devils fans in Bergen County have become disgusted.

If you're a big fan, enjoy. I'm not telling you not to. There are many of us who don't like Vanderbeek and have lost interest. He sold out his Bergen County base to go to Newark. I went to one game last year, Game 1 against Carolina and I wasn't impressed at all. The ride in was like driving through a war zone. Other than the wider hallways, the arena was a huge disappointment.

If you prefer I won't post here again.

Be well.

[TG]

All posters are welcome. Don't let some scare you away.

But, don't buy into the Devils aren't paying their bills thing. The reason why the team didn't pay the company that installed the chairs is part of a lawsuit because the team felt the job was not done as promised. They felt some seats were not the proper size (ask some fans who had to sit in them).

I'm not saying the Devils are right or wrong in their lawsuit, but withholding payment is just one of the steps involved.

Are there some other bills the Devils aren't paying that I'm unaware of?

I also wouldn't get carried away about Lamoriello not re-signing Madden and Gionta because he was told not to for financial reasons either. They have an eye on the cap for 2010-2011. That is a very real concern.

If the players vote against the cap inflator next season (something that may have been involved in Paul Kelly's dismissal) and the economy doesn't turn around quickly, the cap for 2010-11 could drop to around $49 million.

[gooball420]

anybody has a right to post.

I'm just going to respond with my positive attitude.

I'm a Bergen county guy as well... well, I used to be. My family is still there, but I watch games anyway. I've driven down there, which takes me about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, so traffic at the end of the trip is the least of my concern. I know many people who have benefited from the Path access to games. I've taken my NYC nephews to games at the Rock, and even shelled out an ungodly sum for the $10 tickets to the first game there... a loss against the Sens. totally worth it to see the smiles on their faces and even more so when they collected their favorite souvenirs: the "rangers suck" confetti that rained down upon us. thank goodness I saved them from becoming Rangers fans.

[murph]

uhhh gomez at the rock dont let him in haha...

im from bergen county too its very easy to get to the games i leave at 615 and sit in my seat after getting popcorn and a drink right as the national anthem is over its very simple route 17 to route 3 to route 21 its a simple 15-20 minute drive the meadowlands was 5 minutes away but hey an upgraded arena with more activities is fine with me.. my cousin also got to play for the rockets in the practice arena, vanderbeek owns the team and allows them to play there it was very cool for them to be able to skate on that ice.. theyre trying to clean up newark and im glad the devils are one of the big reasons for cleaning up that area..and having the train option for snowy days or days you dont want to drive is always a plus

[Alan]

wow, one game at the rock and you are disgusted? Do you have a pulse? The way to the arena is no where in a war zone! I go through NJIT and Rutgers and they are both beautiful campuses. Bergen County? And that's a great place because...... (i cant think of anything but swamp) The IZOD stinks, I cant wait til they tear it down! Nothing to do there before a game. At the rock we hang out at the bars, eat at great restaurants in the Ironbound and have never ever had a problem. The ignorance on this board is scarry. Lets Go Devils!