Quite vibe around Devils as Free Agency Approaches

With the Free Agent Market set to open at noon on Friday, many teams are trying to acquire the negotiating rights to the top potential unrestricted free agents and then if successful, are trying to sign them to a contract. It already worked for Ilya Bryzgalov in Philadelphia and Tomas Kopecky in Florida and some teams are still trying to do the same like Christian Ehrhoff with the Islanders and James Wisniewski with the Blue Jackets. Both had their rights traded away.

However, the Devils have not made a play for some impending unrestricted free agents negotiating rights. One reason is that they need as many draft picks as possible. This might not mean much and that Lou Lamoriello will still try to improve his club. Andy Greene and Johan Hedberg are the Devils top 2 unrestricted free agents, but both are likely to go on the market on Friday. Hedberg is more likely to return than Greene based on the vibes and the fact that Atlanta is already in Winnipeg. Teams are mainly looking for starting goaltenders and Hedberg's options might be limited.

Even though Zach Parise, who is a restricted free agent is the top priority this off-season along with hiring a new coach, the Devils still need some puck movement on defense and another power forward, who can stand in front of the net on the power play and imply an aggressive fore-check. Expect Lou to accomplish one of the latter 2 things. But as usual, Lou prefers things to be very quiet and not leak out to the media.

Its very unlikely the Devils will hire a new coach by the start of free agency this Friday. There is a very small window from now on, but tomorrow will likely be his day to gear up for July 1. The Devils prospects camp starts the week of July 11, so it is safe to assume that a new coach would be in place by then. There are no leaks on any possible new surprise candidates other than the ones I have mentioned numerous times.

When will Lou finally hire a coach?

The start of NHL Free Agency is this Friday July 1st at noon Eastern Time and the Devils are the lone NHL team yet to hire a new coach. Remember back in December when John MacLean was fired, I said the Devils next coaching search might be a very lengthy one. I probably was right. Which only means one thing, there really is no pressure for them to rush their decision. If the Devils want to name a coach by Free Agency, tomorrow would be the last possible logical day to do so since Thursday will likely be Lou Lamoriello's planning for free agency day and trying to sign his free agents.

Lamoriello did say last week the Devils would not hire a coach prior to the draft. But with free agency less than 72 hours away, it seems that Lou is more focused on resigning star winger Zach Parise to a long term deal before hiring a coach. Who knows, Lamoriello might have yet to start the process or has only interviewed a very limited amount of candidates. There is still a huge list of very qualified candidates left out there with many teams going with first year coaches who spent last year coaching AHL teams.

However, it seems Lou Lamoriello will pull a surprise name out of the hat with many favorable candidates like Ken Hitchcock and Mike Eaves denying any contact with Lou Lamoriello. Other candidates could include Craig Ramsay, Mike Haviland, Craig MacTavish, and Michel Therrien. But as of now, there really have been no hints or leaks to who Lou might hire. Therrien is said to have interviewed with Lou once, but if he were his choice, a decision would likely have been made by now. He was also rumored to be the runner up to John MacLean last summer. Mike Eaves is the head coach of the University of Wisconsin hockey team and there are reports he might leave the school for another job, which was rumored to be the Devils. Parise played for Eaves at the 2004 World Juniors for the US. However, Eaves denied interest. But maybe a candidate denying interest might be the one most interested in the job. We shall see what happens.

Devils get their man in Adam Larsson with #4 pick.

Well, the Devils were patient at the draft and it paid off. Knowing that if the Oilers selected Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with the first overall pick and Colorado drafting a forward, that Larsson would fall to #4. There was talk that the Devils almost traded the 4th pick to Minnesota for their star defenseman Brent Burns, who ended up being dealt to Colorado.

Larsson will fight for a spot on the Devils this season and definitely gives them options to move a few of their minor league defensemen for more forward depth. He could be their next franchise defenseman since Scott Niedermayer, who was chosen 3rd overall in 1991.

NHL Draft Trade Tracker 2011: (Flyers open with a blockbuster bang)

Instead of writing a novel post here is the trade tracker for 2011 NHL Entry Draft:

Columbus: Jeff Carter
Philadelphia: Jakub Voracek, 1st round pick (8th overall), 3rd Round Pick

Analysis: Good trade for Blue Jackets, but a good financial move for Philadelphia who does have cap problems. Not a good hockey/on ice move by Philly.

Los Angeles: Mike Richards
Philadelphia: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, 2nd round pick.

Analysis: In two summers, the Flyers have gotten rid of their core front line in Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter and now their captain Mike Richards. But, they do get good value and a franchise goalie in Ilya Bryzgalov, a 9 year $51 million dollar deal.

Toronto: John-Michael Liles
Colorado: 2nd rd pick 2012

Edmonton: Ryan Smyth
Los Angeles: Gilbert Brule

Minnesota: Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, 1st rounder 2011 (Zack Phillips)
San Jose: Brent Burns, 2nd round pick 2012

Florida: Brian Campbell
Chicago: Rostislav Olesz

Lamoriello confirms Devils will not hire a coach prior to Draft

Devils fans hoping to know who the coach is will now have to wait until at least next Monday at the earliest June 27th. GM Lou Lamoriello told reporters that the team will not have a coach in place prior to this Friday's NHL Entry Draft, which concludes late afternoon Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota. Its unlikely the Devils will conduct any business operations on Sunday, the day after the draft, so a new coach on Sunday is 99.9% out of question.

It seems safe to say that they are close to naming a coach, but the field of candidates remains wide-open from NHL Experienced coaches and possible first time coaches. Lamoriello did not guarantee hiring a coach before the free agent period starts on July 1st at noon, though the window is much larger to hire one in between the draft and free agency than other years. So, there really should be little excuse for the Devils not to have a coach by early next week just to get this headache out of the way.

Here is a potential list of possible candidates in no order:

Ken Hitchcock
Michel Therrien
Craig MacTavish
Craig Ramsay
Peter DeBoer
Cory Clouston
Kurt Kleinendorst
Mike Haviland
Bob Boughner
John Stevens
Kirk Muller
Guy Carbonneau
Dave Cameron
John Torchetti
Mike Eaves
Mike Sullivan
Jim Schoenfeld
Mike Kitchen
Trent Yawney
Jay Woodroft
Matt Shaw
Rick Bowness
Larry Robinson

Notes: If I had to pick my top 5 or 6, it would be Hitchcock, Haviland, DeBoer, MacTavish, Therrien, Ramsay.

NHL Mock Draft Picks 1-10 (will not do complete 1st round)

With the draft coming up next Friday in Minnesota here is my Mock Draft Pick 1-10:

1. Edmonton Oilers: C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (WHL-Red Deer)

2. Colorado Avalanche: C/LW Jonathan Huberdeau (QMJHL-Saint John)

3. Florida Panthers: LW Gabriel Landeskog (OHL-Kitchener)

4. New Jersey Devils: D Adam Larsson (Swedish Elite League)

5. NY Islanders: D Dougie Hamilton (OHL-Niagara)

6. Ottawa Senators: C Sean Couturier (QMJHL- Drummondville )

7. Winnipeg: C Ryan Strome (OHL-Niagara)

8. Columbus Blue Jackets: D Ryan Murphy (OHL-Kitchener)

9. Boston Bruins: D Nathan Beaulieu (QMJHL-Saint John)

10. Minnesota Wild: C Mika Zibanejad (Swedish Elite League)

Devils coaching search likely to depend on Winnipeg's coaching search

Many Devils Fans are expecting Lou to either announce the signing of star winger Zach Parise to an extension or the hiring of a coach. However, none have taken place this far and both will likely drag into July or maybe August. But, back to the coaching search. The Devils are currently preparing for the NHL Entry Draft, which begins next Friday in Minnesota and still do not have a coach in place and are unlikely to have one by then, but the 6 day break between the Draft and beginning of Free Agency could give Lou Lamoriello time to announce a coach.

How will it be affected by what Winnipeg does? As it turns out the current coach in Winnipeg is Craig Ramsay, who finished his first season as the coach of the currently relocated Thrashers. Winnipeg GM Kevin Chevaldayoff is not sold on keeping Ramsay as coach and is conducting interviews for the position and Ramsay would have to interview as well and he is on their list. Should Ramsay not return, he is expected to be very high on the Devils wish list.

With Minnesota's hiring of Mike Yeo as coach, the front runner for the Winnipeg position is former Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, who is also likely to be a strong candidate for the Devils job. Ramsay would fit the mold as the fiery guy the Devils could be looking for. He was Tortorella's right hand man when the Lightning won the cup in 2004 and came up with the phrase "Safe is Death." He is unafraid of singling players out and would fit well with the Devils. However, Manitoba Moose coach Claude Noel is the #1 front runner for the job if Ramsay is not retained and its likely going to come down to MacTavish, Ramsay and Noel. So, once Winnipeg makes its move, expect the Devils to follow shortly.

Bruins embarrass Canucks at Vancouver in Game 7 to win Stanley Cup

Patrice Bergeron and new Canuck killer Brad Marchand each had 2 goals in a decisive 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Its the Bruins first Stanley Cup since 1972 and there was no question on who won MVP, it was Tim Thomas, who was the star of the playoffs for the Boston Bruins.

Thomas made 37 saves in the effort, but the Canucks barely had any quality chances. The Bruins had 20 shots, but Luongo looked shaky on even shots fired from the Red Line. It was safe to say that the Bruins wanted it more. Daniel Sedin who guaranteed a win for the Canucks in Game 7 was a -4, meaning he was on the ice for all 4 goals against.

Now it is on to the off-season for both teams, one off-season that has become much longer for the Canuck fans to swallow as the road to returning to the Stanley Cup Finals will be much tougher next season.

Devils could be last team to name a coach, unlikely before the Draft

Assuming Craig Ramsay is retained in Winnipeg, the Devils will be the last team to hire a coach as expected they would be. Multiple Sources are reporting that the Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, and Minnesota Wild are all expected to fill their coaching vacancy by the end of this week or early next week. The Senators have scheduled a news conference for tomorrow to introduce Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean as their new coach. MacLean and Sens GM Bryan Murray worked together in Anaheim.

Dallas will name their AHL coach Glen Gulatzen as their new coach and Minnesota has reportedly settled on former Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, though Mike Yeo, their AHL coach could also be in on it. With all these vacancies being filled so fast and before the draft, many people think there is no excuse for the Devils to not have one, well not so fast. Lou Lamoriello has been quiet this off-season on both the coaching and Parise front. Now that does not mean that he is not being aggressive on those fronts, so things could suddenly change and he randomly announces a coach.

Ken Hitchcock, who is the favorite has told the media he has not heard from the Devils. Now that does not mean anything until the Devils make that final decision. Now Winnipeg has yet to secure a coach, but they will try to do so prior to the draft but the Devils are unlikely to have one based on the quietness, but once again that could all change. Other candidates in no order for Devils are Blackhawks assistant Mike Haviland, Sens AHL coach Kurt Kleinendorst, who was once Devils AHL coach and assistant coach, Former Habs and Penguins coach Michel Therrien and Habs assistant Kirk Muller. Therrien is reportedly the only person to have interviewed for the job and was rumored to be a finalist before John MacLean took the job. Therrien would fit the bill as the fiery guy the Devils might need.

Its official: We will have a Game 7 in the Cup Final

The Bruins wasted no time tonight by pouring it on Robert Luongo scoring 3 goals in a less than 3 minutes and chasing him to the bench. Brad Marchand, Milan Lucic, Andrew Ference, Michael Ryder, and David Krejci had the Bruins goals and Tim Thomas proved why he might win the Conn Smythe trophy even if the Canucks in the cup by making 36 saves on 38 shots. Max Lapierre and Henrik Sedin had the Canucks goals. Luongo and Schneider combined for 35 saves on 40 Bruin shots.

So, now it is on to Game 7 on Wednesday night in Vancouver, yes the series will go the distance and end 10 days before the Draft in Minnesota. Roberto Luongo will have to give a Gold Medal type effort he gave in the 2010 Olympics maybe even bigger to win the cup at home. One thing is certain, the Canucks will have to use their will and skill and re-establish their physical game they lacked again in their house of horrors "TD Garden."

My Prediction 3-1 Canucks in Game 7, because I think Luongo will bounce back and Tim Thomas will take home the Conn Smythe. Canucks just have to wanted more than Boston. Luongo is very happy to leave Boston and probably will not even start in Boston as a visitor in any regular season games the Canucks play in Boston.

Canucks now one win away from Stanley Cup after resilient 1-0 Game 5 win, Luongo rebounds in huge way

Nobody on the Vancouver Canucks had a worst 48 hours than Roberto Luongo. After getting outscored 12-1 in Games 3 & 4 in Boston it was a much different Canuck team on their home ice. Luongo made 31 saves for the shutout including a huge 1st period killing off 3 straight Boston power plays. Maxim Lapierre scored with about 15:30 left in the game to give the Canucks the 1-0 edge. Tim Thomas continued his stellar play stopping 24 out of 25 Vancouver shots.

As mentioned above, the Canucks were outscored 12-1 in Boston, and it looked like Luongo would be chased out of Vancouver. Many media personnel thought it was Cory Schneider's turn to shine. Schneider started Game 6 in Round 1 vs Chicago for Vancouver after Luongo struggled in Games 4 and 5 in that series. But, his resiliency paid off in a big way tonight.

The Canucks will now finally get more than 72 hours to rest including a flight into enemy territory at TD Garden. Game 6 is Monday night and the Canucks are now one win away from Hockey's holy grail, Lord Stanley's Cup.

Canucks implode in 2nd, lose 8-1 to Bruins, still lead series 2-1, Horton hurt

The Bruins needed to make a statement at home and they did that by pounding Vancouver 8-1. Mark Recchi had two goals, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Andrew Ference, Daniel Paille, Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder had the Bruins goals. Jannik Hansen had the lone Canuck goal. Shots were 41-38 Canucks, so Tim Thomas was once again outstanding compared to Roberto Luongo. Special Teams was the difference in this series scoring 2 power play goals and 2 shorthanded goals.

With all the pounding by the Bruins on the Canucks in this game, the big story was the hit on Nathan Horton by Aaron Rome. Horton was carried of on a stretcher and is likely gone for the series. Rome will likely face a suspension of 2 games at most. The Canucks were 1 defenseman short after that and it really affected their game plan. Right now they better bank that Dan Hamhuis returns for Game 4. This was a humiliating loss by the Canucks and an even more humiliating one for Roberto Luongo. However, I expect a much sharper Canuck team in Game 4 and believe they can win it in 5 games.

Burrows avoids suspension, comes back to bite Bruins in OT, Canucks up 2-0

What would have happened in Game 2 had Alexandre Burrows been suspended for supposedly biting Patrice Bergeron in Game 1. My guess a Bruins victory by the score of 2-1. Instead Burrows scored two goals including the game winner 11 seconds into overtime to give the Vancouver Canucks a 2-0 lead in the series against the Boston Bruins. Daniel Sedin had the other Canucks goal. Milan Lucic and Mark Recchi had the Bruins goals.

Shots were 33-30 for Vancouver. Roberto Luongo had an OK game, but made 28 saves. Thomas made great saves and probably had another save of the playoffs. The Bruins had a 2-1 lead until midway thru the 3rd period when Sedin tied it up. Any case, great win for Vancouver in a very sloppy effort by the Canucks. Monday the series shifts to Boston.

Canucks edge Bruins in Game 1 of Final on late goal from Torres

Game 1 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals ended up being similar to a pitchers duel in baseball, except replace pitchers with goaltending. Shots were 36-34 Boston, but both goalies were sharp. It was with 18.5 seconds left that Canucks grinder and 3rd line forward Raffi Torres broke the ice and finally solved Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins and scored the games lone goal. Luongo made 36 saves in the shutout and Thomas could not stop the 34th shot on goal by Vancouver.

Boston did have its chances though. In the 1st period they had a 4 minute power play and it looked good, but could not convert. In the 2nd they had close to a full 2 minute 5 on 3, but failed to generate much. If their is one thing that will be the demise of the Bruins this playoff, it could be their special teams. Zdeno Chara was chosen to play in front of Luongo on the power play, but it seems that it did not work very effectively.

Canucks forward Alex Burrows is expected to face a hearing with the NHL for the end of the 1st period scrum with Patrice Bergeron in which he supposedly bit his finger. It seems talks of a possible suspension died down today. Once again, Canucks forward Manny Malhotra did not play in Game 1, because he was not cleared to play yet, even though this past Saturday reports indicated he was, but GM Mike Gillis said that he was still day-to-day. If he practices today and tomorrow very hard, I expect him to play in Game 2 and we will see him in the series for sure since he is practicing. He will wear a full face shield to avoid any serious facial injury. Malhotra's left eye was seriously injured in March and needed two very complex surgeries to save it. It is a miraculous recovery considering the injury was career threatening.

Devils unlikely to name coach prior to draft or free agency

Take this for what you want, but with the draft three weeks away from this Friday and Free Agency 4 weeks away, it seems unlikely to think that the Devils will have a coach in place by then. This Friday and Saturday is the NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto for all NHL Draft Prospects and the Devils will spend a lot of time focusing on it. After that they will likely start negotiations with Zach Parise on a contract extension that will keep him a Devil long-term. Parise is the Devils top priority this offseason and potential future captain. He is eligible to be taken to arbitration by the Devils, but that avenue usually leads to a messy relationship between player, GM and agent.

After Parise is taken care of, the Devils will likely shift to Free Agency and a coach. Yesterday, Ken Hitchcock, the favorite for the NJ job told Tom Gulitti of the Record that he has not spoken to Lou Lamoriello about the Devils coaching job, but he is heavily interested in it. Now, you can read into it multiple ways. One, is that Lou has not started his coaching search just yet. Two, Lou could be going in a different direction. Three, Hitchcock actually spoke to Lou, but was told to reveal nothing to the media. Back in 2009, Lemaire also did not tell anything to the media about whether he spoke to the Devils. But with the Panthers hiring of Kevin Dineen as coach today, you would think that Blackhawks assistant Mike Haviland is a viable option for the Devils, but that would mean that Lou would hire another first year coach.

So, right now I would think that a coach would not be named until mid-July at the earliest. We shall see, anything could still change since we still have a long way to go to the Draft and Free Agency. Last year MacLean was hired before the Draft, but we know how well that worked out. So, this year Lou could take a different and very careful approach.