Teamwork can be defined as "cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause." I feel the New Jersey Devils have taken in this concept and used it towards their success in the National Hockey League.

Mark Everson of the New York Post, spoke about giving the Devils their due.

"They've become something wondrous and strange in this era of signings and mercenaries. Halfway to the playoffs, these Devils also have become something dangerous. They've actually become a team, a cadre of comrades."

Without a star and a league leader in scoring, the Devils have managed to overcome free agency and defy expectations thus far.

They always do.

In the locker room, captain Jamie Langenbrunner brings veteran leadership and playoff experience.  On the ice, the Devils’ nucleus has also remained intact for many years, from goaltender Martin Brodeur to offensemen John Madden and Patrik Elias.  Instead of individual talent, per se, they are part of a bigger goal, to win the Stanley Cup.  Since the season started, the Devils have fortunately been relatively healthy and are once again a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference.  Attribute this to Sutter’s teamwork.

There are fewer distractions this season than in years past, other than moving to the Prudential Center and dealing with a record-tying road trip (nine games spanning three weeks) to start the 2007-08 campaign.  Previously, the Devils were faced with questions surrounding Elias’ health following the 2004-05 lockout and the losses of both Scott Stevens (retirement) and Scott Niedermayer (UFA, signed with Anaheim).  The organization also dealt with Ken Daneyko’s retirement following the Devils third Stanley Cup victory in 2003.  Between 2003 and 2007, four of their defensemen either retired or departed via free agency.

Imagine if the Rangers lost Jaromir Jagr to injury or Detroit’s, who is absolutely dominating the league right now, top player/s contract some illness, God Forbid.  Both teams would suffer considerably.

Even with Gomez’s exodus and consequently his banishment for life from New Jersey, the Devils have maintained first place in their division and second in the conference.

After this season, several Devils will become unrestricted free agents.  The list includes Jay Pandolfo, Karel Rachunek, Mike Mottau, Sheldon Brookbank, Noah Clarke, Arron Asham and Richard Matvichuk, who is no longer with the team.  However, with the recent Devils’ success, both recently (second place in Eastern Conference) and historically (Three Stanley Cups), Pandolfo, who was drafted by the Devils back in 1993 and has remained NJ ever since, and others will likely remain in the red and black of which we accustomed.

The Devils even taught some old dogs new tricks along the way.

To replace Gomez and Rafalski, the Devils signed Buffalo Sabres’ forward Dainius Zubrus (among others), who has found his niche on this squad playing a sound defensive-minded game.  Even though his offensive numbers may have decreased slightly from his days in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Sutter has even entrusted the power play duties to inexperienced defensemen Mike Mottau, Andy Greene, and Johnny Oduya, who have produced sufficiently.  Greene scored the Devils only regulation tally last night, on the power play, nonetheless.

The Devils have also relied on strong goaltending from Martin Brodeur, who has been with the organization since they drafted him in 1990.

“After the lockout canceled the 2004-05 NHL season, Brodeur signed a contract extension with the Devils on January 27, 2006 that will pay him $31.2 million over six years.”

Brodeur’s consistent goaltending this season has led him to another All-Star game.  Fans tallied 220,392 votes to start Brodeur later this month.  It will be his fourth start and 10^th appearance overall.

In addition, Sutter has continuously mixed up the lines to regenerate strong play, which has paid generous dividends.  Since the Devils lack that “Sidney Crosby” or Alexander Ovechkin for scoring, they have relied on a group effort, which has carried them into 10 straight postseasons.

This year has not been any different for Sutter’s Devils, who have conceptualized teamwork like a Princeton student with Nuclear Physics.  Hence, their current lead in the division.

 Exactly what Sutter wants from his team.

Carpe Diem!

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