Before getting down and dirty, we just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays from everyone at Devils Daily.  Sorry though, no snow in our neck of the woods.  I have been hearing a lot of talk about Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, and Johnny Oduya in the limited hockey airwaves.  I need to clear up the air so everyone can inhale, exhale, relax, and enjoy the holidays with their families.

Is goaltender Martin Brodeur overworked?  Are the Devils not using reserve netminder Kevin Weekes as they had planned in the offseason?

Yes and no.

When the Devils were on a tear, winning nine straight from Nov. through the beginning of Dec., there was no chance of pulling Marty during any of those games.  It was a beautiful streak, one that Bill dedicated to the New Jersey Devils' relationship with high school ice hockey in the Garden State.

On the other hand, Brodeur is historically a slow starter.  In October (since joining the league), he has averaged a 2.45 goals against, clearly his worst month of the season (March ~ 2.26).

With that said, first-year coach Brent Sutter started Weekes four games thus far, two in October when the Devils could not score.  If I recall correctly, Scott Clemmensen made all of four starts last season, which obviously drained the future Hall of Famer.  In terms of records, Weekes stands in at 2-1-1 in four ROAD starts no less.  His numbers are also solid with a .919SV% and 2.31GAA.

He has definitely earned more appearances in the future.  The problem is Brodeur can play every night, even on consecutive days, which limits Weekes' action.

The plan was to utilize him ideally in 15-20 games this season, but that seems to be out of the question.  I realistically expected half of those numbers when they signed him to the two-year, $1.375 million contract back in July.

My suggestion to Sutter is to start Weekes against nonconference lighter opponents such as Washington, Florida, and even against rivals Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders if necessary.  Sit Brodeur on consecutive nights, which are actually nonexistent in January, but return in Feb, March, and April.

Also, as the season progresses and the Atlantic Division begins to separate, the team needs to focus on Brodeur’s health.  Even if he wants to play, GM Lou Lamoriello and Sutter must sit down with Brodeur and convince him to rest, prepare for the postseason.

In all likelihood, I can see Weekes starting maybe an additional seven games, based on the schedule, which includes multiple back-to-back nights and three games-in-four-day stretches.

After the last two games, you can take Patrik Elias' name off the trade rumors list.  And Brian Gionta's for that matter.  If he were ever on it in the first place.

The Devils were down 1-0 against Edmonton and were in need of some serious offense.  They had gone over 105 minutes without scoring until Elias and Gionta burned the Oilers twice in 35 seconds.  Gio and Patty finished with two goals and two assists en route to a 3-1 win that night.

Prior to that game, many fans wanted to trade Elias for anyone, liberate the Devils of the $30 million remaining on his seven-year deal.  He must have been reading headlines that morning.  On the other hand, maybe Elias finally realized that Sutter stripped him of the captaincy, which meant that he was not playing to par.

Then, literally, moments before the Devils’ next game at Calgary, we were informed that Zach Parise would be not playing due to a case of the flu.  With Travis Zajac struggling offensively and now without his natural center, it was time for Gio and Patty to carry the team on their shoulders, which they have done in the past.

After a scoreless 60 minutes, they did just that.  Flames center Craig Conroy carelessly turned the puck over deep in the Devils zone.  Big mistake.  Elias captured the loose puck, tossed it across ice to Gionta, who fed Elias for the perfect 2-on-1 overtime winner.

Even though there are 82 regular season games each year and Elias had been ineffective until that point, we must have confidence in him.  He is a former Devils draft choice back in 1994 and has led this organization to three Stanley Cup Finals, of which they won two.  He is a leader and former captain and he is not going anywhere.  Deal with it.

Finally, second-year defenseman Johnny Oduya joins us on the hotline.  Not exactly, but we will try to read his mind.  We remember his screwing up earlier this season, aka the “falling in the defensive zone” incident that resulted in another Devils’ loss in the month of October (20th).  Do not worry.  He was a “healthy scratch” for seven of the team’s 36 games this year.  Sutter benched his ass for many games and only used him in the other matchups due to Jay Pandolfo, Zach Parise, Colin White, and Jamie Langenbrunner’s various untimely injuries.

The problem was that Oduya made the same mistake twice.

“Evgeni Malkin got the Penguins back in the game, stealing the puck off Johnny Oduya's stick as he was reaching for a pass on an up-ice rush and snapping off a shot for his eighth goal” (AP’s Game Story: November 22, 2007).  Thankfully, the Devils pulled out a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh in that contest.

Here is how I described Oduya’s ineptitude.

“Johnny Oduya’s stupid, stupid own-zone turnover led to the Penguins only goal an unassisted tally by Evgeni Malkin, and prevented Brodeur from earning his first shutout of the year…  Maybe, Oduya would not have played if Paul Martin and Karel Rachunek were in the lineup.”

Since that point, I sensed a turnaround for Johnny O.  He has only committed penalties (two of them) in one of the last eight games in which he played.  In fact, the Devils were 7-1 in those contests.  Oduya deserved credit for his positive (+3) attitude and for permitting Elias, Gionta, and the stars to do their jobs.

Does this mean that Oduya has earned a large responsibility on this team?  No, not yet.  But, with the Devils situation and lack of depth at the D-line, he will be inserted in the lineup whenever someone goes down with injury, whether I like it or not.  I do not see him being traded either, at least not until his value rises.

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