After reading forums and other news on the New Jersey Devils organization, I wonder if the team is too healthy (other than Jay Pandolfo's recent injury bug).  Lately, head coach Brent Sutter has had to waste time before games deciding on the 20 bench players allotted.

That list included 12 forwards, six defensemen, and two goaltenders against the New York Rangers on Sunday.  Assuming Pandolfo returns to the rotation within a week, the Devils will be completely healthy (excluding Cam Janssen’s dislocated right shoulder).

When this situation occurs, hockey is not like baseball or basketball.  You dress a certain number of skaters and if one falls down, there are no replacements.

If you don’t believe me, ask Colin White and Ken Daneyko who both have lost several teeth to accidental puck or stick-to-the-face incidents.  White was almost blinded in his right eye after this past summer. 

Thankfully, someone created helmets for skaters and goalie masks, well, for goaltenders (duh!) to protect the face and head from potential injury.

Anyway, the Devils currently have had to make a decision between an extra skater on defense or a third forward to complete the fourth line on offense.

Against the Rangers, Sutter went with 12 forwards, 6 blueliners, and two netminders, omitting defensemen Vitaly Vishnevski and Johnny Oduya (as expected because of Oduya’s inefficiencies and poor turnovers.

What confused me is that Vishnevski scored his first goal of the season against the Washington Capitals on Friday night, and finished with a +2 in 11:41 of icetime.

Why then did Sutter bench him in favor of center Mike Rupp, who hasn’t tallied one point this season and last scored on March 30th against Philadelphia?

For starters, Head coach Tom Renney’s Rangers rotate four offensive lines and Sutter probably wanted to matchup with them, incorporating every line accordingly.

With that said, the Devils were playing with an extra defenseman the last couple of games and should have forced the Rangers hand.  Let the Rangers call up an extra d-man and send down the last forward.

I am not one to challenge Mr. Sutter’s decision-making strategies for he has an impressive resume and effective coaching staff, including Hall of Fame nominee Larry Robinson and John MacLean, a Devils franchise record holder in a variety of statistical categories.

But, I just do not understand how a coach expects his players to give it their wherewithal for an 82-game season if he is benching them after solid performances.

Some fans have shared their thoughts on the matter, including Eric’s karma theory.

“There is a better way to look at it,” Eric commented on Tom Gulitti’s Fire and Ice blog.  “We have never lost when dressing 7 d-men. Why mess with karma?”

Rupp hadn’t played since Nov. 14th, a 10-game stretch.  Was he in the minors preparing for a call-up? Nope, merely healthy scratches during the Devils nine-game tear (9-0) while they dressed seven d-men no less.

“Rupp hasn't played in 10 games,” Devilswede said.  “What good will he do tonight? Just keep going with 7 d-men...it's been great. A lot of teams roll 4 lines, not only the Rangers.”

Eric and Devilswede were actually right in their analysis.  In hindsight, sure I would have dressed Vishnevski over Rupp.

But, that’s why I am here writing these ridiculous posts and feature stories.

Maybe, the Devils need a trade to clear up the overload on defense and acquire a solid addition.  A trade? By GM Lou Lamoriello? Who knows.  With the roster freeze slowly approaching (Dec. 19-27), I do not expect anything significant to happen to the first-place Devils, even with their “too many personnel” problem, if you can even call it a dilemma.

After a nine-game unbeaten streak, I certainly cannot blame Sutter for today’s 1-0 defeat to the Rangers.  They have our number this year going 4-0 thus far.  More importantly, who the hell cares.

Let the Rangers celebrate today’s victory like champions and then realize that they are the second-worst scoring team in the Eastern Conference and only have 12 wins in 26 non-Devils games this season.

As for Sutter and his decision to start Rupp today.  I cannot read minds so I don’t have a definite answer.

But, it’s Sutter’s Devils now.  They are nearly completely healthy and if forced to sit one or two players per game, so be it.

The players know their roles.  They should.  They are professionals.

• ‹ previous
• 218 of 431
• next ›