Devils got the offensive weapon they needed
N.J. now has a counterpunch to Ovechkin in battle for Eastern supremacy
Bill Kostroun / APNewly-acquired Ilya Kovalchuk, second from the left, gives the Devils and their fans plenty of reason to celebrate.
OPINION
By Ray Slover
updated 11:43 p.m. ET Feb. 5, 2010
Johnny Oduya was a favorite of Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, who saw plenty in the 28-year-old defenseman — enough to give him a three-year, $10.5 million contract last summer as a long-term piece of their defense corps.
But with a crying need for a goal scorer, Lamoriello decided he had go make a pitch for Ilya Kovalchuk. And Oduya became expendable.
"John is an exceptional hockey player. We wouldn't have signed him if we didn't think that," Lamoriello said, as reported by Rich Chere of the Newark Star-Ledger. "We knew Paul Martin would be back right after the (Olympic) break. Anssi (Salmela) is coming back and Andy Greene (has emerged)."
Now the Devils don't have to lean on the defensive-oriented system employed by coach Jacques Lemaire — although you'd be nuts to think Lemaire will turn his team loose to play fire wagon hockey.
Kovalchuk will have to fit the balanced approach Lemaire demands. It's just that Lemaire has a great big hammer in the toolbox and won't need Martin Brodeur to produce shutouts every night.
The Devils now can counter the firepower of the Capitals and Penguins, and have a solid option behind Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Patrik Elias. Often heavily defended as the Devils' main scorer, Parise likely will find himself with more opportunities, especially if Lemaire decides to put him and Kovalchuk on different lines. Don't forget, Parise has 25 goals and 32 assists — and a stellar plus-26. His point total is one less than Kovalchuk.
Speaking Thursday night on NHL on the Fly, NHL analyst Gary Green lauded the deal.
"The Devils have been near the top of Eastern Conference all season, and they are the best team in the league defensively. But when it comes to goal scoring, that's been a different story," green said. "Their goal scoring has been somewhat suspect; they are 21st offensively. That's going to change immensely when you bring in Ilya Kovalchuk. This guy is going to be a consistent goal scorer. It doesn't matter who he plays with, he has the ability to light it up."
There are other factors in Lamoriello's decision to peddle Oduya. A groin injury limited him, taking away some of his potential as an offensive threat. Still, he's a stout defensive defenseman — something the Thrashers can use, especially now that they don't have the Kovalchuk weapon in their arsenal.
"We felt Kovalchuk was a player who could come and fill the need that we felt we had for an explosive scorer," Lamoriello told reporters after the deal.
One had to figure Lamoriello would cut ties with Patrice Cormier, given his malfeasance in the Quebec juniors. Cormier has tremendous upside, but such mischief doesn't sit well with Lamoriello.
The Devils, Chere reports, believe Cormier could be in for a fall because of his suspension for KO-ing Mikael Tam. If he gets his head straight, Cormier is a legitimate top forward prospect with scoring ability and ability to play physical.
Now, he's the Thrashers' problem.
Is Kovalchuk more than a rental player for the Devils? Given his desire to strike it rich with a blockbuster contract, and Lamoriello's tight-fisted ways with team cash, it's doubtful Kovalchuk will be with the Devils after this season.
But the goal in New Jersey is the Stanley Cup. And now, they have a means to that end with a scorer who can put fear into Eastern Conference challengers.
It's good to remember the Devils have struggled against the Capitals all season. They now have a counterpunch to Alex Ovechkin. Kovalchuk has 24 goals and 28 assists in 44 career games against the Capitals. We'll see the first round Friday, when the Devils and Caps meet in Washington.
Bergfors has talent, too, but he had hit the rookie wall and hadn't scored a goal in 16 games. Still, he is third in rookie scoring with 13 goals — eight on the power play.
It's doubtful the Thrashers can remain in playoff contention without Kovalchuk. There's no doubt the Devils took a step toward the Cup by acquiring him.
© 2012 Sporting News
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