Defense was supposed to be the Devils’ Achilles’ heel, the position where the losses in the past five years of Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Brian Rafalski would finally hit a team built to prevent goals. And then Martin Brodeur went down.
But disaster hasn’t occurred – quite the opposite. Helped in large part by goalie Scott Clemmensen’s first-shot stopping, they’ve done more than made do. The Devils enter tonight’s game in Newark against the East-leading Bruins (7:00, VERSUS, WFAN 660 AM) ranked second in the conference behind Boston in fewest goals allowed.
Lou Lamoriello’s collection includes a few refugees from the minors, a couple of undrafted players, and no one selected higher than 49th. A no-name defense, indeed.
One of the quandaries in the new NHL is figuring out what makes a good defenseman these days. Teams spend millions on free agents who star for one team and stink for their new one. Skating ability seems a premium until the moment a Fancy Dan flops.
Right now, Johnny Oduya may be one of the biggest bargains in the NHL, making $600K as he approaches unrestricted free agency. Drafted 221st overall by the Caps in 2001, he never joined them and was plucked from the Swedish league as an unsigned unrestricted by New Jersey in 2006.
Then there’s Jay Leach, 29, chosen 115th by Phoenix in 1998, who had played all of four NHL games, two each with Boston and Tampa, while toiling with 11 different minor league teams. He was brought up as a fill-in and seems to be sticking, his toughness and basic style satisfying coach Brent Sutter.
Mike Mottau had despaired ever making good on his 2000 Hobey Baker Award, the NCAA’s hockey Heisman. Taken 182nd by the Rangers, the 30-year-old played only 23 NHL games before joining the Devils last season.
Andy Greene was never drafted, signing with the Devils as another rabbit from Lamoriello’s hat. Sheldon Brookbank, another never-drafted, played only three NHL games while spending seven seasons in the minors. Anssi Salmela, down on the farm, was another undrafted signee.
Paul Martin, who the Devils drafted 62nd in 2000, shouldn’t have been such a surprise, named Mr. Hockey in Minnesota that year as the state’s top high schooler. Colin White, the highest-drafted of the crew (No. 49 in 1996), is returning to solid form, adjusting to last year’s devastating eye injury. Bryce Salvador, drafted 138th in 1994 and acquired for Cam Janssen last February, went minus-24 in 46 games three seasons ago. Salvador may miss his third straight game tonight with an “upper body injury,” but he has been one of the team’s
stalwarts.
Lamoriello will surely be seeking to add a stud defenseman – agile skater, big body, big shot – in the next two-plus months before the trade deadline. But this bunch has made any such quest a luxury hunt, not an emergency necessity. It’s a marvel, and tips of the hat are due the coaching staff for making it work, the brass for picking them out, and this no-name bunch for making names for themselves.
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Patrik Elias was named the NHL’s third star of the week ending Dec.
21, leading the league with eight points (3-5-8) in four games. He brings a 10-game point streak, longest on the team this season, into tonight. … Devils stand 12-2-1 in last 15 games and have won three straight. … Devils went 3-1 vs. Bruins last season, winning once in OT and once by shootout, both at home. The lone loss, 4-3 on Jan. 5 in Boston, was Kevin Weekes’ final start of the season. … Scott Clemmensen, 11-1-1 in his last 13 starts, is 2-1 lifetime vs. Bruins.