Programming Notice

June 30, 2009 by
Guess who’s back?
Back again?
Josh is back!
Tell a friend.

Ahem.  Thank you.  I have returned from the dark depths known as summer classes.  Y’know, when they stuff four months worth of knowledge and work into your brain over the course of four weeks.  Of course, I’m doing it again this month, but I don’t actually have to BE there.

So instead, I can be here!  Huzzah!

First order of bid-ness comes in the form of “OMGLOOKATUSWEREGONNALIVECAPFREEAGENCY!”

Get here early, as the immitible Steve Stirling will be keeping you posted on all the pre-noon FA opening shenanegans and goings-on.

Then, around noonish, there will be a seemless transition of updating power, as Steve takes his leave and I take my seat at the laptop/television screens.  And by seemless transition, I mean one or both of us will likely go missing and the internets will possibly explode.

Seemless.

So join us tomorrow for the third annual 2 Man Advantage Free Agent Signing Day Happy Fun Time & Box Social!

Also, I haven’t forgotten about the ZubbieCounterContest.  I’ll get on that…eventually.  Before the summer’s out.  Probably.  Hey, maybe we’ll get lucky and the contest voting will be a big celebration of the trade to ditch Zubbie’s contract that Lou is surely working on as we speak.

…He’s not working on it as we speak?

Drats.

Filed Under: Notes Notes Notes!, Site News!, Summertime! Tagged With: , , , ,

Oduya wanna be a Devil?

June 30, 2009 by

Johnny sure does.

The Swede re-upped with Black ‘n Red for a multi-year deal worth $3-million a season.

Not bad, Mr. Lamoriello, not bad.

Oduya was sure going to be a hot commodity on the open market this July, so this Devils fan right here is definitely happy that there is some semblance of awesomeness on the blue line in the coming seasons.

Okay, okay, maybe we razzed the poor fella quite a bit in years past, but forgive and forget…right?

RIGHT?

Whatever. I still hate the Pittsburgh Crosbys.

NOTES: The Devils swapped centers with the New York Islanders, acquiring prospect Ben Walter and a conditional 2012 draft pick in exchange for Tony Romano.

In 65 games last season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Walter posted 20 goals and 30 assists. He also appeared in four games with the Isles.

Filed Under: Sign This!, Summertime! Tagged With: , , , , ,

Aaaand the Devils pick…

June 26, 2009 by


Center Jacob Josefson!!!!
Center Jacob Josefson!!!!
Center Jacob Josefson!!!!
Center Jacob Josefson!!!!
Center Jacob Josefson!!!!
Center Jacob Josefson!!!!

Filed Under: Summertime!

I will not congratulate the Pittsburgh Penguins.

June 26, 2009 by

Is it drafty in here?

Oh, it’s almost July. Never mind. Just a weak Entry Draft joke huh. My apologies.

So, it’s that time of year again. The future of the NHL will be determined by the calls of crusty general managers, granting the dreams and wishes of  scrawny framed, baby faced boys far and wide.

How I love the Draft.

Nothing too spectacular going on right now. Mr. John Tavares ended up going first overall to the New York Islanders, while picks two and three saw Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene go to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche, respectively.

Tavares, I’m sorry.

In other news, Chris Pronger was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for the Flyers’ entire roster plus seven hundred draft picks. Fancy.

Okay, okay, so I’m a little weak in the knees merely thinking about Pronger in the same division as Black ‘n Red, but come on — two firsts, a (conditional) third, Luca Sbisa, AND Joffrey Lupul? Highway robbery I say!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes, I did just use an obscene amount of exclamation points.

So maybe I’m trying to defer my sheer fear in the solidity of Philadelphia’s 09-10 defense by mocking the deal, but WHATEVER. That’s a lot for a defender that will only play, what, a couple more seasons?

Yeah, I know. The Flyers are going to be a good team next year, ‘specially with Pronger’s elbows flying at Devils forwards left and right. Sigh.

Alas, we have a little way before pick number twenty-three greets us. Barring any last minute moves, Lou Lamoriello is expected to pick a skilled center to usher in a new era of awesomeness in Newark.

Check back for any late breaking news involving the 2009 Draft here at 2MA!

EDIT 8:02 PM: The Islanders are serious. Snow ‘n co just traded, like, 8393 of their picks for Columbus’s #16 pick. Wow. Serious, serious stuff here. Serious.

EDIT 8:52 PM: Long Island just got even more serious. Pick #12 goes to the Isles while Minnesota gets, uh, a bunch of picks. They won’t have any picks left at this rate!

EDIT 9:36 PM: Quebec native Louiiiiiiis Leblanc to the Montreal Canadiens. How fitting. Who the heck goes to Harvard for an education anyway? …not that I’m jealous or anything. Whatever. Leave me alone!

EDIT 9:48 PM: Calgary up to pick at 20 but there is word of a trade. Likely a giveaway to the Devils for the whole Brent Sutter debacle. Let’s see.

EDIT 9:50 PM: Yup! Calgary gives pick #20 to New Jersey in exchange for picks 23 and 84.

EDIT 9:58 PM: Another trade to report: Anaheim sends pick 21 to Columbus for picks 26 and 37.

Filed Under: Summertime! Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Lou Lamoriello is awesome.

June 24, 2009 by

Brent Sutter is not.

Filed Under: Summertime! Tagged With: ,

Hey, It’s the Off-Season.

June 5, 2009 by

I don’t now if global warming has anything to do with it, but the summer seems to be getting a little longer. Well, at least for us Devils fans it is.

The summertime is always a fun time to go through old hockey video clips and just talk puck with your buddies in anticipation of the new season.

Well, how about a little reminiscing, eh?

Oh, Mr. Richer. To this day you are still my favorite Devil of all-time, hands down. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a team like I did the boys in Black ‘n Red all the way back in 1995.

Not a bad pass by Broten, either. ;)

Filed Under: Summertime! Tagged With: , , , ,

And another one bites the dust!

May 23, 2009 by

Reports out of New York indicate that the New Jersey Devils will take at least two less penalties a game next season.

That’s right, ladies ‘n gents, Bobby Holik is no longer with Black ‘n Red.

After 18 seasons, 11 with the Devils, the 38-year-old bruiser has decided to hang ‘em up.

His reason? He wants to be a family man.

Best of luck, Bobby. Just don’t take any cross-checking penalties with your kids. I heard those could be pretty lethal with children.

In all seriousness, thanks for a great career in New Jersey. I’ll let the whole “EFF YOU GUYZ I’M GOING TO THE RANGERS LOL!!!” thing slide. Just this once. Don’t Brett Farve this shizz and come out of retirement, like, seven times and go play with, I dunno, the Flyers or something.

Actually, you kind of really sucked this year. That might not be such a bad thing…

Filed Under: Jibber-Jabber, Summertime! Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Thoughts from Section 209…. Devils/Islanders, 2/11/2009

February 12, 2009 by

Well it wasn’t pretty and the game itself was not so fun… but this is why you sit in Section 209… something ALWAYS happens and it makes even the dullest of Islander stompings into a fun. one-of-a-kind night! So much storytelling to do I just wanna get to it!!!!

the Good:
– It’s ok to go just a LITTLE gay guys…. when it comes to Zach Parise… really… let it go….. one big AAAHHHHHHHHH, HE’S DREAMY… you’ll see!!
– Weekes was good… not special… but damn good to see the brotha get a game in net in his freaking month!! (and no matter how many times I made the joke tonight the girl next to me was NOT getting it… if I made a Jew joke, she’d been on it like white on rice mofo!!)
– how many times do the Devils put up a 50-burger in the shot column and WIN?? Damn!!!!
– Shoot-comment at standard Rangers fans at game when they celebrated the Islanders goal:
“Hey they did in ONE shot and 3 minutes what you couldn’t do in a FULL GAME… stop cheering!!”
– Andy Greene made some nifty-ass plays tonight!
– Paul Martin had a subtle 3-assist game… kinda the way I like my defenders to be.. on the scoresheet and not too noticed!
– MV-PARISE!!!! Get on the damn bandwagon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
– and hell they won one that very much had classic letdown on it looking the games played last week and the ones coming this weekend, so I’d call that one helluva win!!!
– I kept telling the Islander fan tonight… “two points closer to Tavares sir!!”

the Bad:
– Good Lord, the Islanders…. but I’ll say this… if Bettman wants this team to stay in Long Island (and you can BET he doesn’t).. when this team bottoms out and has the worst record in the league… if they get Tavares it could be the player to save and turn that franchise around… players will want to come there to play with him…. fans will show up again… this is the ray of hope the Islanders NEED (and I want them to stay) and get them back and maybe even get the arena on track again… you rigged a lottery for Crosby… CMON BETTMAN!!!
– Gionta had one of his “you must be THIS tall to score” nights and we know he’s not tall, but this was a night to get away with it!
– Come to think of it… that whole first period was enough to make you want some coffee!!!
– Come to think more of it.. I’ve never seen what felt like such an uninspired effort get 50 shots (bless you oh top line!)
– Jay Pandolfo… nice to see the hands didn’t soften in your exile!

the funny:
– OK, so anyone who knows me and where I sit and all my stupid quirks and how I’ll let the dumbest thing send me off the handle and on a federal witch-hunt to seek and destroy any random assholes who get in my way… you KNEW this was coming:
on my way up to my seat in 209… you know the SAME one I had since day one, the same one I will have when this place is torn down…. I get asked to show my ticket…..
Problem #1: I sit in the SECOND CHEAPEST SEATS IN THE ARENA.. who’s gonna move up there?? (ok everyone does :p)….and it’s not like you REALLY LOOK… it’s a bullshit gesture that simply annoys me… I have work, life and the US Govt to do that… I don’t need it at games, so I don’t acknowledge it
Problem #2: As ushers… you have two jobs… get people to their seats fast… and MAKE THEM WAIT FOR THE FUCKING WHISTLE… and really you do NEITHER… so until you do the part of the job I ACTUALLY care about… I am not helping you on your bullshit annoyances…..

So you can imagine when the lil lady asked for my ticket and I told her I’ll do it when you make people wait for the dam whistle during play and kept going… THAT went over well (and I have WITNESSES up the wazoo that I did this and this is not some bullshit fan boy fiction!)

So I keep going… and uh-oh.. here comes mister supervisor… I think 5 or 6 people knew where this was GOING!!!
He makes the mistake of asking me what my issue is… I told him and I was not too peachy about it either mister, about my issues with the ushers and how I am sick and tired of clueless dopes standing in the aisle during power plays when the ushers should be making them wait till play stops!!
“they’re people sir”
“no they’re dopes”
“people”
“I’ll tell ya what… come on my side of the fence as an attendee… you’ll see… they ARE DOPES!!”
He promises to make them stop people before the whistle and he’s like…. you feel better… want me to let you rant more… at that point I let him off and tell him he could retire sitting there letting me air all my bitches at him!!! (the funniest part was I was trying like hell to not laugh but people thought I was really pissed… it’s kinda like watching me at a Football Sunday (and GOD I MISS THOSE)… it seems angry but damn it’s in fun!)… and I even turned to Xavier and told him damn that felt good!!
– Moral of the story… 6:00 into the period… people randomly walking all over the section *eyeroll*
– Best Sammy Woo line of the night…..
Gimme a … P…..A……R….. I…..S……E!!
Nah that don’t work…. too long….
Gimme a…… Z……A…….K
(everyone) IT’S C!!!
…. AND ANOTHER K !!!!
IT’S AN H!!!!!!
…. we tried!!!!

(Good God.. I do it again on Friday… bring the rage!!!)

Filed Under: Game Recaps, Jibber-Jabber, Summertime! Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are We There Yet?

September 8, 2008 by

After a weekend of driving through the mountains of Cobleskill, you can imagine I had more than a fair amount of time to think about…well, absolutely anything.  Aside from the usual day dreams about Chinese takeout and when my next Dunkin’ Donuts rest-stop will be, my mind inevitably ended up on the ice.

Typically, I wouldn’t have a problem with that, but with the off-season still flaunting its ugly style it can tend to get a little frustrating.  Well, I’d like to announce that I’m tired of waiting for something news-worthy to write about.  That being the case, I’ve decided I’d like to spill whatever has been on my mind as of late.

Sound good?  Too bad, here goes…

IS IT WORTH IT TO GET EXCITED?

Part of me says YES, and the other part of me thinks its counterpart has an addiction to sniffing glue.  You see, it’s easy as a fan to get wound up over signing a player of Brian Rolston’s caliber, but it’s not so easy (or enjoyable) to know that realistically Lou Lamoriello hasn’t done much to improve his squad other than sign Rolston & Holik.  Granted, some weeding was also done in the Black & Red garden, but the current selection of crops leaves me with a sinking feeling that the team still isn’t ready to compete.  Why do I feel that, you ask?  Look no further than the blue line.

With Paul Martin as your reigning #1, and Johnny Oduya as our token puck-mover, I just have a hard time feeling confident about our defensive corps.  Even guys like Halischuk and Corrente competing for a spot out of training camp, it’s going to take a lot more to keep the Devils from becoming a part of a few embarrassing highlight reels this season.

WILL LOU MAKE ANOTHER MOVE?

If I knew the answer to this question, I wouldn’t be typing to you from my ground level living room/bedroom.  Then again, when it comes to Lou, the highest of the hockey insiders still probably wouldn’t have a clue.  Would I like to see another move made?  Absolutely.  One involving a defen

seman?  You bet!  Again, reality donkey-punches me in the face and I’m forced back down to earth, knowing that another roster tweak isn’t likely.  Barring a few minor additions out of training camp,

it looks like the current Devils roster will be the one that takes the ice October 10th at The Rock.

HOW MUCH DOES MARTY HAVE LEFT?

It just wouldn’t be a legitimate pre-season breakdown without asking this question.  It seems th

at year in and year out, it rears its ugly head.  The funny thing is that every single year, the answer remains the same.  Marty is Marty. He will bring his usual lights-out game with him no matter what the situation is.  Kevin Weekes will play sparingly or when necessary, unless the team happens to be 39-1-1 at the All Star Break.

WILL THE OFFENSIVES WOES CONTINUE?

It depends.  Obviously, Brian Rolston could boost even the weakest offense.  Which is good, because I think the Devils are the proud(?) owners of that title.  The real question is: what kind of year will his support have?  Rolston has already proven what he can bring to the table, it’s the veteran Devils that worry me.  If anything, they’ve been consistantly inconsistant. 

Let’s take Patrik Elias for example.  Dude is either lights-out or a dud christmas light.  Gionta is no better, and Travis Zajac left much to be desired in his Sophomore campaign.  Perhaps the only reliable forward the Devils currently boast is Zach Parise.  Likewise with returning captain Jamie Langenbrunner.  John Maddens surprising 2007-2008 season was likely a one-shot-deal (that went high and wide…BA-ZING!!), and Dainius Zubrus will need to step it up in order to be effective in ’08-’09.

In all, Rolston is a great addition and I’m beyond excited to see how many times he will make my jaw drop.  The downside is that he won’t be able to do it by himself, and that’s where I start to worry.  The boys are going to have to either shape up or ship out in order for the team to be successful.

CAN BRENT SUTTER REALLY LEAD THIS TEAM?

I say yes.  Brent Sutter was under fire for a lot of the choices and decisions he made last season and although I was often the one tearing him a new one, I feel confident with him behind the bench.  I feel he, like his team, will have to change some things about his game to be successful but in the end is still a leader the Devils can feed off of and will learn much from.  If they’re not too stubborn to listen, that is.

*****

That’s all I got for now.  I’m sure there are tons more questions that fans like myself ask themselves every day about the team.  Got one?  Feel like sharing?  I’d love to hear them and voice my own opinion about whatever it is us Devils fans like to shoot the breeze about until the puck drops.

Keep it bookmarked at 2MA, the season is nearing and we’re just getting started!!

Filed Under: Jibber-Jabber, Summertime! Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The home stretch

September 4, 2008 by

Why oh why cant there me more Michael Ramos’ out there for us to torment? Would like to issue our sincerest apologies for the lack of action on 2ma recently, but there just hasn’t been anything to report on.

Nonetheless, things should certainly rev up by the end of the month as the youngins will report to training camp September 15.  Not a lot of room on the big boy team, but Matthew Corrente, Niklas Bergfors, Fedor Fedorov, Matt Halischuk et al. should make a strong case for wiggling themselves in there.

That should be enough excitement to rip 2ma out of the doldrums and rev us up for the coming season, so keep checking back in the coming weeks as we try to whip ourselves into form for another year.

Filed Under: Summertime! Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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