Polemic Hockey

Every now and again during the Stevens-Niedermeyer era I would figuratively pinch myself in the full knowledge that this sort of domination best be enjoyed because it could not go on forever.

The not forever is now. Over the last several seasons the Devils have lost Stevens, Niedermeyer, Rafalski and Gomez. The only true impact player they have gained in that time is Zach Parise. Is it any wonder that, since the lockout, each team has been a little bit weaker than the one before.

The Devils got their share of bounces and calls, but were still thoroughly dominated by the Manhattan Hessians. The Devils have lots of good players, but the Hessians had often great players like Gomez, Drury and Jagr. Brodeur once again peaked between games thirty and seventy of the regular season and played way too much.

The Devils still have the goaltending to be competitive again, but they need an all-star on the blue line and and up front to create enough space so that their good players do not have to be great to win. Oh, and Kevin Weekes is good enough to play 15-20 games a season.