Running With The Devils - A Two-Fer
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Due to powers beyond my control (i.e. work) I missed my Wednesday column. Thus, I combined it with this one to make one super-column.
A Devil Lurks In Trenton 
In May of this year, the New Jersey Devils officially rebranded their East Coast Hockey League (“ECHL”)minor league affiliate. Gone, the Trenton Titans. Born was the Trenton Devils. The move was significant as it made the Devils the only team to have all the teams in their organization have the same name (and the same logo). Whether you played in Newark, Lowell or Trenton, you would have the same Devils logo on your sweater. The move could certainly be seen as a move to try to increase the Devils brand name throughout New Jersey. The question is will it work? Trenton is awfully close to Philadelphia and its surroundings have also seen a fair share of Philadelphia sports fans. It might have been easier for that fan to go support the Titans than it is to go support the Devils.
Thus far, the young Devils of Trenton have struggled to a 2-4 record. Struggles will probably be the norm this year as the team is comprised on a number of new players, including 12 rookies. Most of these guys are looking to continue their hockey careers for a few years before going out to join the rest of the workforce. A few will have long lasting careers throughout hockey’s minor leagues including the AHL, CHL and some will go to Europe. The likelihood of any of them even getting a cup of coffee in the NHL is unlikely, although not unheard of. Three players in particular have a chance to progress to the next level and maybe eventually fulfill their dreams of suiting up in an NHL game.
Goaltenders in particular have been able to make the transition from the ECHL to the AHL to the NHL. Davis Aebischer, J.S. Aubin, Alex Auld, and Johan Holmqvist all saw time in the ECHL as did DNL , favorite Yutaka Fukufuji. Thus, current Trenton Devil Jason Smith has a shot. Smith, who has played 5 of 6 games this year, was the Devils’ 6 th round pick in 2003. With Marty and Weekes in NJ, and Lowell stocked with Frank Doyle and Jordan Parise, Smith’s path is seriously blocked. However, Smith was dynamite as a Junior and Senior in leading the Sacred Heart Pioneers. If he can continue to develop like he did in College he has a shot.
Joe Rooney comes from good stock, so to speak. His father Steve Rooney played in 154 NHL games, notching 15 goals and 13 assists in parts of 6 NHL seasons. However, Steve’s NHL ticket was punched with his fists. Literally. Matching his 28 career NHL points were his 496 penalty minutes, including 79 in his 25 games with the Devils. Time will tell with the younger Rooney, but his four years on a deep Boston college team suggest he might have more offensive upside than his dad. As a senior, Rooney was named alternate captain, was the 5 th leading scorer, and averaged a point per game. Thus far, he has tried to impress with his scoring touch as opposed to his father’s, well, different kind of touch.
Finally, I mentioned Sean Zimmerman in my article about the Lowell Devils. Zimmerman was unable to crack Lowell’s starting lineup and has found himself in Trenton to start the season. Zimmerman was a 6 th round pick out of Spokane in the WHL in 2005. As a defensive defenseman, Zimmerman probably has the longest to go to reach his goals. He lacks the skating and position skills right now. If Zimmerman can develop better skating and puck handling skills to go with his ideal size, position and work ethic, he can make a name for himself. Zimmerman has the look of a future Ken Daneyko but he really needs to elevate his game before that comparison can be realistically made. Zimmerman shouldn’t lose heart though, current Devil Sheldon Brookbank cut his teeth (probably literally) with 62 games in Mississippi in 2001/2.
The Week That Was
The Devils opened the new Prudential Center with a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. I have not been able to see the new arena, but Cityhockeyfever was there and said he will be doing a review of the stadium. For trivia buffs, the first goal scored at the new Prudential Center was scored 5 minutes and 1 second into the second period by Ottawa’s Andrej Meszaros. The first Devils’ goal was scored by Brian Gionta fourteen minutes into the same frame.
The Devils bounced back, and how, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Coach Brent Sutter moved Danius Zubrus to play along side John Madden and Jay Pandolfo. Furthermore, Sutter attempted to remedy a mistake the first time the teams met by matching the Madden line against Tampa’s dangerous Vinnie Lecavalier. Not only did the line shut down Lecavalier (whose scored Tampa’s loan goal on the PP), but Madden, Zubrus and Pandolfo combined for 10 points in the Devils 6-1 drubbing.
Continuing their strong play, the Devils eked out a 3-2 victory last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Marty Brodeur was strong in goal, seemingly recovered from his early season struggles. After David Clarkson and Alex Steen traded goals, the Devils and Leafs went into the third period tied at 1. However, with the Devils shorthanded, Madden streaked down the wing, picked up a loose puck and blasted it past the Leaf goalie with less than 5 minutes remaining. Less than a minute and half later, Zach Parise banged home his own rebound for an insurance goal that would prove important when Mats Sundin notched a 6-4 goal with 32 seconds left.
The Devils defense has looked much better the last 2 games from Brodeur on out. Noticably, the Devils did make some changes. Out was Karel Rachunek who is out with a groin pull and who no one in New Jersey misses. Back in were Mike Mottau and Sheldon Brookbank who both impressed. However, the biggest surprise was the Devils benching Mike Rupp and dressing a 7 th defenseman, Olli Malmivaara. Some might remember Malmivaara as the guy I said this about in my last article, "A special shout-out has to go to Olli Malmivaara, the [Zdeno Chara] like 6'7 Fin. I saw him last pre-season and he is not a particularly good player. But it is always fun to watch a guy that big try to skate." Well, I gues the Devils saw something I didn't, because he has now played two in a row in NJ. To be honest, he hasn't been half bad. Last year in the preaseason he looked overmatched. However, thus far he has played much better. His skating and outlet passes need work, but he is yet to be on the ice for a goal against and the team has won both games he has played. I don't think he is going to be in NJ long term, but he has shown that he can handle himself in the bigs.
The Week That Will Be
The Devils hop across the river to try to avenge their prior 2-0 loss to the rival Rangers. They return to the better side of the Hudson for games against Pittsburh on Monday the 5th and Philadelphia on Thursday the 8th. ====
