Here we are in the part of the NHL season where things change. Yes, it's time for Free Agency. Every year there is on star player that is number one on every teams list of players to sign. This year it was the New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise.
As a Devils fan, I really wasn't looking forward to July 1st. Knowing the possibility and very likely hood Zach Parise was gonna be signing somewhere else. July 1st came and went and nothing, Hockey reporters camping outside Parise's agent's office just waiting for the word he had signed somewhere. July 2nd came and word from the "Parise camp" came out that teams have shown great interest and no decision was made. But, in the age of Twitter and Facebook there are no secrets. Speculations on what teams were in the running for Zach Parise was out for everyone to speculate on.
July 3rd comes and rumors are there will be a decision today. I immediately txt one of my close twitter friends and ask if she could txt me if there was a decision while I was at work. At 11:43 am I get a txt message my heart stops, Devils sign Bryce Salvadore 3 years $9.5 million. After a brief sigh of relief, I start pondering the pros and cons of the signing. At 2pm I get home, send a txt msg "I'm home, Thanks for the update." Open up Tweetdeck and browse through TSN reporters tweets, no word on Zach Parise. At 4:45pm, there is word Parise will be making an announcement in 5 mins. I quickly turn on the NHL Network on and they are replaying a playoff game so, I turn to my satellite radio to the NHL station and wait. Minutes after 5pm, word comes from Parise that he hasn't made a decision and he is going home to sleep on it. Once again I go back to weighing the pros and cons of the no-decision announcement.
July 4th comes and rumors of Ryan Suter will be making an announcement on where he'll be playing in the future. Now, it was no secret the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise were close friends and looking to play together. At 11:30am I'm at my desk glued to the computer screen. Noon comes and the news breaks, Ryan Suter has signed to play for the Minnesota Wild. I knew what was coming next and sure enough, Zach Parise has officially signed to play with the Minnesota Wild.
Twitter explodes from mostly New Jersey Devils fans, most of them pissed that their captain has left. A lot of tweets calling Parise "greedy" or "a liar." Which brings me back to July 1st, when the Devils goaltender of 18yrs Martin Brodeur went to "test free agency."
Back on June 11th after losing 6-1 in final game of the Stanley Cup Final, Martin Brodeur stated (I don't have the exact quote) "He wouldn't make a decision till July 1st but he's always been a New Jersey Devil and always would be." Days leading up to July 1st word comes out that Brodeur has hired an agent for the first time in career. July 1st comes and the rumors of teams interested in signing Brodeur comes out. As the day progresses Devils fans speculate on there is a chance that Brodeur will sign elsewhere, then who's gonna be the Devils goaltender for the upcoming season. Scott Clemmensen and Johan Hedberg are the two names that come up the most.
I wake up on July 2nd to find out Brodeur has signed a 2yr $9 million contract. As the day progresses I find out from TSN that the Devils had originally only offered Brodeur a 1yr contract and 3 teams had offered him a 2yr contract.
In my opinion he basically forced the Devils into offering a 2yr contract. Yes, Brodeur deserves to get what he wants but, at what cost.
The same people who were speculating that there was a chance Brodeur could be gone, and days later would call Zach Parise "greedy and a liar" suddenly, were tweeting "I knew he wasn't going anywhere" "Glad Brodeur is back for another 2 yrs"
Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. When a player from your team leaves, fans will turn on them at the drop of a dime. When a player from your team gets what he wants and stays, they can do no wrong.
I've been a sports fan since I was 10 yrs old. I've seen players come and go. I've never thought that someone was being greedy for leaving my favorite team. If someone offered me more money to do the same job that I'm doing, I would probably take it.
In closing, I'd like to thank, Director Kevin Smith for giving me the inspiration to write this
Showing posts with label Martin Brodeur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Brodeur. Show all posts
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Questions will become answers. What's wrong with the NJ Devils?
Three games into the 2010-2011 NHL season, all I hear is what's wrong with the New Jersey Devils. Well let's analyze these three games.
Opening Night against the Dallas Stars.
Devils come out like a ball of fire. Goals from Zajac and Parise seven minutes into the game. Kovalchuk hits the far post minutes later that would have made it 3-0. Then the expected happens Dallas makes it 2-1 going into the second.
Start of the second Devils look flat. 3 minutes in Loui Eriksson ties it up sitting all alone in front of the net, ties it up. Correction Tallinder counts his paycheck as Eriksson ties it up. Devils still look flat but, get a power play at the 9min mark. Jason Arnott scores in the closing secs of the PP making it 3-2 Devils. Only for Brad Richards to tie it up as they are announcing the goal. Devils are out shot 12-4 in the second
Third Period.. Devils seem to show some signs of life, keyword being some. There was no scoring in the third Devils out shoot Stars 13-4.
Overtime.. Loui Eriksson comes down the left boards a puts one past Brodeur 1min into overtime, Devils lose third straight home opener
High points: Brodeur comes up with some big save. Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk line with 5 points
Low points: Devils relied on Brodeur too much. Defense looked shaky
Game 2 vs Washington
I didn't watch this game so, I'm not gonna try to explain a 7-2 lose.
What I saw was Ovechkin had 2 goals including a penalty shot.
Third period turns into a Brawl for all including probably the ugliest fight I've ever seen.
Low points: The second period.. Also Volchenkov leaves the game with a broken nose. Rolston suffers a Lower Body Injury
Game 3 vs Pittsburgh (aka the lets boo Paul Martin game)
With 2 injuries, 1 suspension, and salary cap issues, the New Jersey Devils were forced to dress only 15 skaters. And of course, it has to be against Sidney Crosby
First period. Devils kill off an early penalty on Kovalchuk for "Holding" Sidney Crosby. Devils looks sluggish, I start thinking this is gonna be a long game. Devils take another penalty at the 12 minute mark. Tallinder two minutes for tripping. Devils kill that penalty. In the closing minute Kovalchuk makes a crucial turn over just out side the Devils zone and Alex Goligoski makes it count. At the end of one, it 1-0 Penguins
Beginning of the second, Elias and Crosby battling down the right side boards in the Devils zone, Crosby falls, Elias gets two minutes for tripping. In the closing seconds, of the penalty Penguins score, off the skate of Devils defensemen Tallinder. It's now 2-0 Penguins. Devils end up killing off two more penalties in the second period. End of two 2-0 Penguins
Third period. Devils showing some life. Parise takes a penalty at the 5 minute mark, Devils kill it. Eight minutes in Elias scores off and offensive zone face off win by Jason Arnott. Devils down 2-1, the crowd is finally doing something other then booing Paul Martin ever time he touches the puck. Devils offense looks pretty good for only dressing 15 skaters in the third period. Devils get a power play at the 12 minute mark. It ended up looking like a Penguins power play. Brodeur makes a sliding save and Kovalchuk keeps the puck from going in on a rebound. Devils pull Brodeur with a minute in a half left in the game. It doesn't pay off, Paul Martin adds the empty netter with 10 seconds left. Devils lose 3-1
High points: Devils play strong even only dressing 15 skaters. Brodeur can still keep Devils in games
Low points: once again Devils relying on Brodeur to much. inability to clear the puck out of the defensive zone
So, what's wrong with the Devils? Well salary cap issue has to be address sooner then later. Four new players on defense, including two rookies, is showing weakness. Power Play still looks like last year.
Opening Night against the Dallas Stars.
Devils come out like a ball of fire. Goals from Zajac and Parise seven minutes into the game. Kovalchuk hits the far post minutes later that would have made it 3-0. Then the expected happens Dallas makes it 2-1 going into the second.
Start of the second Devils look flat. 3 minutes in Loui Eriksson ties it up sitting all alone in front of the net, ties it up. Correction Tallinder counts his paycheck as Eriksson ties it up. Devils still look flat but, get a power play at the 9min mark. Jason Arnott scores in the closing secs of the PP making it 3-2 Devils. Only for Brad Richards to tie it up as they are announcing the goal. Devils are out shot 12-4 in the second
Third Period.. Devils seem to show some signs of life, keyword being some. There was no scoring in the third Devils out shoot Stars 13-4.
Overtime.. Loui Eriksson comes down the left boards a puts one past Brodeur 1min into overtime, Devils lose third straight home opener
High points: Brodeur comes up with some big save. Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk line with 5 points
Low points: Devils relied on Brodeur too much. Defense looked shaky
Game 2 vs Washington
I didn't watch this game so, I'm not gonna try to explain a 7-2 lose.
What I saw was Ovechkin had 2 goals including a penalty shot.
Third period turns into a Brawl for all including probably the ugliest fight I've ever seen.
Low points: The second period.. Also Volchenkov leaves the game with a broken nose. Rolston suffers a Lower Body Injury
Game 3 vs Pittsburgh (aka the lets boo Paul Martin game)
With 2 injuries, 1 suspension, and salary cap issues, the New Jersey Devils were forced to dress only 15 skaters. And of course, it has to be against Sidney Crosby
First period. Devils kill off an early penalty on Kovalchuk for "Holding" Sidney Crosby. Devils looks sluggish, I start thinking this is gonna be a long game. Devils take another penalty at the 12 minute mark. Tallinder two minutes for tripping. Devils kill that penalty. In the closing minute Kovalchuk makes a crucial turn over just out side the Devils zone and Alex Goligoski makes it count. At the end of one, it 1-0 Penguins
Beginning of the second, Elias and Crosby battling down the right side boards in the Devils zone, Crosby falls, Elias gets two minutes for tripping. In the closing seconds, of the penalty Penguins score, off the skate of Devils defensemen Tallinder. It's now 2-0 Penguins. Devils end up killing off two more penalties in the second period. End of two 2-0 Penguins
Third period. Devils showing some life. Parise takes a penalty at the 5 minute mark, Devils kill it. Eight minutes in Elias scores off and offensive zone face off win by Jason Arnott. Devils down 2-1, the crowd is finally doing something other then booing Paul Martin ever time he touches the puck. Devils offense looks pretty good for only dressing 15 skaters in the third period. Devils get a power play at the 12 minute mark. It ended up looking like a Penguins power play. Brodeur makes a sliding save and Kovalchuk keeps the puck from going in on a rebound. Devils pull Brodeur with a minute in a half left in the game. It doesn't pay off, Paul Martin adds the empty netter with 10 seconds left. Devils lose 3-1
High points: Devils play strong even only dressing 15 skaters. Brodeur can still keep Devils in games
Low points: once again Devils relying on Brodeur to much. inability to clear the puck out of the defensive zone
So, what's wrong with the Devils? Well salary cap issue has to be address sooner then later. Four new players on defense, including two rookies, is showing weakness. Power Play still looks like last year.
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