I’m pretty sure Olli Jokinen is a Sascha Baron Cohen character that has us all fooled.

“… and the Rangers need to make one more deal if they expect to make the playoffs”

I hope we don’t make the playoffs, what’s the point? Make it as an 8th seed and lose in the first round? We do not have a team that can contend. Lest tank and get a nice top 10 draft pick.

Gabby and Kovy are tied at 2nd on the goal per game rank, with both having a .59 goal per game average since the lockout. However, 28% of Gabby’s goals are on the PP. 35% of Kovalchuk’s goals are on the PP. Gabby has 46 GWG in his career and has 1 more goal than assists in his career. Kovalchuk has only 40 GWG and has nearly 40 goals more than assists in his career. Id say Kovalchuk is more of a stickhandler than Gaborik, but obviously Gaborik is the fastest player in the league.

Id rather have Gaborik anyday over Kovalchuk. Gaborik is a more all around player than Kovalchuk, and is just as good a goal scorer. He scores in all situations and types. You name it, Gabby can score it. Kovalchuk is way more one dimensional. Gaborik’s passing is better, and Kovalchuk makes Gaborik look like a Selke winner.

LOLZ @ all the people who said Gaborik was one dimensional last summer. Couldnt be further from the truth.

The Devils will be much better on offense now with Kovalchuk, but I still dont see them winning much.

I think the Devils could go as far as the Conference Finals. I just dont see them beating the Penguins. If Washington had a goalie then id put them over the Devils too.

Theres no way Kovalchuk will re-sign after playing under Lemaire, and I dont think the Devils have the money, or Lamoriello would offer anything near what hes asking.

Kovalchuk goes West in July.

“Lemaire would soon learn Marian Gaborik was a Selke contender compared to Kovalchuk
6:07 AM Feb 4th from TweetDeck”
  
So so true

I know the common theme is that the Devils did well here, but I don’t think they’ll be able to resign him, and having seen a few Devils games this year, I think some might be underrating Oduya’s importance to the defensive structure of the team. I’ll be watching to see if any holes open up, especially with Kovy’s non-existent defense.

Don’t forget – Brodeur turns 39 in May. Although he’s had a great year, he’s shown signs of fatigue recently, and coming off of a 2008-9 season where he played only 31 games, he’s playing almost every night for NJ with their crap backup. He’s also the starting goalie for Canada in the Olympics, who are bound to play a lot of games with a lot of pressure. Look for him to weaken come springtime. (And even with Kovy now a Devil, the Caps still have a better offense.)

i have to disagree with some of you who think the devils will make it to the conference finals or further … for a couple of reasons - Penguins & Capitals …. and one of the most obvious reasons they won’t get past those teams is because those 2 star players Crosb*tch & Ovechkin have the refs in the palms of their hands, while the devils don’t. the only favorable calls the devils get is when someone bumps into Brodouche’s fingernail (yet Lundqvist gets bowled over by a tank game after game and never gets a call). the league wants to see a Pitts/Wash conference final, so you know bettman will be phoning in when to make calls.

I know the Leafs got upended in the last few minutes, but the main thought I had watching Friday night’s game was how important defense is, and I’m really hoping we get Volchenkov or Hamhuis this summer to serve as an anchor for our D. The Leafs REALLY upgraded their team last week with Sjostrom and Phaneuf, and the Devils I thought looked more tentative defensively than usual, and I attribute that to Oduya’s departure. Kovy is just not in Ovechkin’s league, I don’t care how many goals he’s scored – he doesn’t have the same kind of impact on the game. I have a good feeling about Saturday night for the Rangers.