Will/Can Devils turn this season around?

If there are any positives to cling on for the Devils after their 15 games this season is that at least they are slumping at the start of the season, not the end like they have been doing the past three years. Is there nay hope that they will turn this campaign around without their star winger Zach Parise? You cannot really answer these questions right now. Maybe it might be time for the Devils to miss the playoffs, because recent cup winning teams with the exception of the Detroit Red Wings have all struggled prior to the lockout as I mentioned in one of my previous posts.

If you are a Devils fan, you cannot be too disappointed if they miss the playoffs, because eventually it is going to happen. And if you are a Devils fan getting heckled by Ranger Fans, just tell them at least we won the cup three times since you won your last. Sometimes, a team can rediscover their identity by missing the playoffs and the Devils are no exception to that. They have made the playoffs every year since 1997, so Devils fans have to be proud and not be too bitter, but only to continue and support the team. Once the Devils finish game 82 at home in April against Boston, regardless of what happens after that, the Devils fan should applaud their team for all these consecutive years of making the playoffs. There are teams that are in existence much longer than the Devils and no Stanley Cups, so you cannot complain.

Is Ilya Kovalchuk the problem for the Devils? It might seem like that for now, but the Devils have made themselves a target at least for the early part of the season. Kovalchuk in reality does not fit into the Devils philosophy of developing their youth and succeeding through veteran leadership. Lou Lamoriello has never been a fan of signing big time free agents, I mean he would even risk letting some of his own free agents leave elsewhere. Why? Because, he believes in his prospects and scouting system. But, that aside, Kovalchuk is not the problem for the Devils, he gives it his all every night, but every player has his bad nights. Just like an average human being at work, he/she will have her good and bad days. Sure, I myself was upset after the loss to Rangers, but come on let it go, just move on and have a positive spin even though their is nothing to be positive about.

So, now the question is Will/Can the Devils turn things around? My prediction can only be this, If they are in the 6-10 spot in the East by January 1st, I think they can sneak into the playoffs. If they are in 1-5, great! But that is the only prediction I can give you guys. Zach Parise's absence will hurt, but injuries are the worst excuse in hockey. And, Johnny MacLean is not getting fired, because simply put the Devils cannot continue to get new coaches. But, the Devils are getting a much needed time off before their next game, so they could use it to clear their minds, and re-focus and try to win their first home game of the year. I have a feeling that this team can turn things around, but like I said it might not be a bad thing for them to miss the playoffs and get a reality check.