With the season 3/4s of the way over (where did it all go so fast?), I got to thinking recently.  I got to thinking about where I thought this season would be going early on, and what’s really going on.  And man was I ever off.

I predicted 20 sellouts at the Rock (oops), that Andy Greene would be essential to the Devils success, and that John Madden was losing it.

Confuscious I ain’t.

So while thinking about these things, I started to ponder all the things I’ve said this year that I never thought I’d say of the Devils circa ‘07-’08.  And here they are.  In list form:

Things I Never Thought I’d Say Of The Devils Circa ‘07-’08 (great title, I know)

I love the offensive abilities of our defense.

Oduya and Martin are plus 19s, Martin is seventh on the team in points, and the defense in general is putting up two points a night over the last 20ish games.  What the hell happened here?  Where did this production come from?  I don’t care, as long as it continues.

I’m 100% comfortable with Martin Brodeur playing every night. 

Kevin Weekes seems like a good guy.  He totally deserves playing time and I hope he sees some soon.  At the same time, Brodeur does not help this team on the bench.  Just a month ago I was saying that Marty needed to get rest in on this stretch where the Devils have back to back games seven of eight weekends, but you know what?  Maybe he doesn’t.  Marty’s always played a ridiculous amount of games, and it’s foolish to think that would change this year.  I’m not sure I entirely believe that a well-rested Brodeur will be all that different from a 75-games-played Brodeur come playoff time.  If Weekes gets one or two more starts before the playoffs, I’m perfectly comfortable with Marty between the pipes the rest of the time.

Did you see that awesome Johnny Oduya goal?!

If, at the beginning of the year, you said that you thought the highlight goal of the Devils season so far would have come from Johnny O-friggin-duya, I probably would have smacked you upside the head.  For real.  I am a huge Oduya sympathizer, but no way would I have even considered an end-to-end, through-four-opposing-players five-hole Orr-like goal a possibility for any Devil, least of all Oduya.  And yet, there it was.  It was magic.

Did you see that awesome Johnny Oduya assist on that Patrik Elias goal?!

Then again, after the game in Philly in late January, maybe we should have seen that goal coming.

 I don’t miss Cam Janssen.

That’s hard for me to say, but seriously, I don’t think I miss him.  We have Clarkson, Rupp, Asham, and hell, even Mottau on occasion to throw down.  Clarkson and Vishnevski have the heaving hitting handled, and his awesome offensive contributions have been made up in spades by the afformentioned defensive awesomeness.  I miss you, Cam, but really…I don’t.

I’m sorry I ever doubted you, John Madden.

While I still loathe to see him get a breakaway (has he scored on one yet this year?), the fact that he can create that chance for himself by playing his same style of defensive hockey is a testament to his abilities as one of the top defensive forwards in all the league.  He still shuts down who he needs to shut down, and he scores some goals to boot.  I should have never doubted you Mad Dog, you definately have not crapped out.  Thank you.