After missing the playoffs during the 2010-2011 season, the New Jersey Devils proved many skeptics wrong this past season by making it to the Stanley Cup Finals as a 6th seed, taking out the Philadelphia Flyers and the top seeded New York Rangers en route. However, they ran into a wall known as Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe for playoff MVP for the Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. The Kings became the 1st 8th seed to win the Cup in NHL history. So, now there are many questions facing the Devils and here they are:
What is the future of Zach Parise with the Devils?
This will be the most important question of the Summer for the New Jersey Devils. Parise was mum and silent after Monday's series loss against the Kings and would not even discuss or give any hints about his future. The Devils will make every single effort to lock him up long-term, but he will have a very huge market that will attract him during free agency. In fact all 29 other teams will be heavily interested in him. Also, the Devils have an uncertain financial situation, a cloud that was hanging over them all year long, but it seems as if its close to getting resolved and it could be very good news for the teams affordability to keep Parise a Devil. After all, he is the Team Captain and it would not be right for him to leave after one year. I say, if Parise goes unsigned by the time free agency starts, chances of him staying in NJ are slim.
What will happen with Martin Brodeur?
This will be priority #2 for Devils, but he made it known he will return to Devils, but at what cost. That remains to be seen.
What will the Devils do with their own free agents?
The Devils have many key unrestricted free agents other than Parise and Brodeur. Fayne and Taormina are the only restricted ones, so they will likely be back. But, here are some of the key Unrestricted Free Agents:
-Ryan Carter: (Stays)
-Stephen Gionta (Stays)
-Steve Bernier (Stays)
-Cam Janssen (Leaves)
-Peter Harrold (Leaves)
-Alexei Ponikarovsky (Leaves)
-Bryce Salvador (Try and re-sign him, but might be too pricey for Devils)
What will happen to Larry Robinson, Dave Barr and Adam Oates?
The Devils biggest weakness in 2010-2011 became their biggest strength in 2011-2012. Their coaching staff did a great job and my guess is that Larry Robinson will likely step down and Adam Oates will stay, but he will get interviewed by the Washington Capitals for their Head Coaching job, where he once played and was very popular. Dave Barr will obviously stay on to continue to develop and re-develop their strong penalty kill.
Will Adam Larsson and Adam Henrique have success in their sophomore seasons?
Adam Henrique is up for the Calder Trophy or Rookie of the Year. But most players do go through sophomore slumps, I think Henrique will battle some bumps next season, but I think he will be very productive as well. Larsson had a tough rookie campaign, but I think he will be a force with the Devils in his 2nd season.
Who will the Devils back-up or future starter be in goal?
There is no question the Devils have to start grooming and playing the successor to future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur this next season or the next. It seems very unlikely, though its possible that Johan Hedberg returns, but he might play in NHL or maybe Sweden or Russia next season. The two most qualified Devils goaltending prospects to come up are Keith Kinkaid,w ho spent this past year in Albany (AHL) and Scott Wedgewood, who plays for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Maxime Clermont and Jeff Frazee are not ready. The Devils might choose to go outside the organization for someone like Anders Lindback of Nashville or Josh Harding of Minnesota or even a Jonathan Bernier of the Cup Champion Kings, but that will be a late summer question for Devils to answer.
Which young players are ready to make the Jump to the NHL?
Lets start with Mattias Tedenby, who had a rough year, but I think he will be on the team next season, but needs to improve his hockey sense and smarts in order to be effective. On defense it seems likely that Eric Gelinas will be ready to make the jump. Jon Merrill, another top defensive prospect is likely staying at the University of Michigan, but if he were to sign with Devils, he would make a huge case for the opening night line-up.
How will the CBA uncertainty impact the Devils and NHL?
My guess is that it will have a small impact, but not a huge one. Teams have to go about their business fromt he expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as all contracts and personnel decisions will likely be grandfathered into the new CBA.
What is the future of Zach Parise with the Devils?
This will be the most important question of the Summer for the New Jersey Devils. Parise was mum and silent after Monday's series loss against the Kings and would not even discuss or give any hints about his future. The Devils will make every single effort to lock him up long-term, but he will have a very huge market that will attract him during free agency. In fact all 29 other teams will be heavily interested in him. Also, the Devils have an uncertain financial situation, a cloud that was hanging over them all year long, but it seems as if its close to getting resolved and it could be very good news for the teams affordability to keep Parise a Devil. After all, he is the Team Captain and it would not be right for him to leave after one year. I say, if Parise goes unsigned by the time free agency starts, chances of him staying in NJ are slim.
What will happen with Martin Brodeur?
This will be priority #2 for Devils, but he made it known he will return to Devils, but at what cost. That remains to be seen.
What will the Devils do with their own free agents?
The Devils have many key unrestricted free agents other than Parise and Brodeur. Fayne and Taormina are the only restricted ones, so they will likely be back. But, here are some of the key Unrestricted Free Agents:
-Ryan Carter: (Stays)
-Stephen Gionta (Stays)
-Steve Bernier (Stays)
-Cam Janssen (Leaves)
-Peter Harrold (Leaves)
-Alexei Ponikarovsky (Leaves)
-Bryce Salvador (Try and re-sign him, but might be too pricey for Devils)
What will happen to Larry Robinson, Dave Barr and Adam Oates?
The Devils biggest weakness in 2010-2011 became their biggest strength in 2011-2012. Their coaching staff did a great job and my guess is that Larry Robinson will likely step down and Adam Oates will stay, but he will get interviewed by the Washington Capitals for their Head Coaching job, where he once played and was very popular. Dave Barr will obviously stay on to continue to develop and re-develop their strong penalty kill.
Will Adam Larsson and Adam Henrique have success in their sophomore seasons?
Adam Henrique is up for the Calder Trophy or Rookie of the Year. But most players do go through sophomore slumps, I think Henrique will battle some bumps next season, but I think he will be very productive as well. Larsson had a tough rookie campaign, but I think he will be a force with the Devils in his 2nd season.
Who will the Devils back-up or future starter be in goal?
There is no question the Devils have to start grooming and playing the successor to future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur this next season or the next. It seems very unlikely, though its possible that Johan Hedberg returns, but he might play in NHL or maybe Sweden or Russia next season. The two most qualified Devils goaltending prospects to come up are Keith Kinkaid,w ho spent this past year in Albany (AHL) and Scott Wedgewood, who plays for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Maxime Clermont and Jeff Frazee are not ready. The Devils might choose to go outside the organization for someone like Anders Lindback of Nashville or Josh Harding of Minnesota or even a Jonathan Bernier of the Cup Champion Kings, but that will be a late summer question for Devils to answer.
Which young players are ready to make the Jump to the NHL?
Lets start with Mattias Tedenby, who had a rough year, but I think he will be on the team next season, but needs to improve his hockey sense and smarts in order to be effective. On defense it seems likely that Eric Gelinas will be ready to make the jump. Jon Merrill, another top defensive prospect is likely staying at the University of Michigan, but if he were to sign with Devils, he would make a huge case for the opening night line-up.
How will the CBA uncertainty impact the Devils and NHL?
My guess is that it will have a small impact, but not a huge one. Teams have to go about their business fromt he expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as all contracts and personnel decisions will likely be grandfathered into the new CBA.
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