Kukla's Korner Hockey
Devils Now A Different Team
by Paul on 02/05/10 at 09:20 AM ET
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from Tom Gulitti of Fire & Ice,
There is no question they got a top offensive player in the league, the kind of player they’ve never had. He can create goals for himself without the need for a playmaking center, so that eliminates the Devils’ need to get a playmaking center.
Lemaire had someone similar in Marian Gaborik in Minnesota and, though they sometimes butted heads, it didn’t hurt Gaborik’s production. Lemaire talked earlier this season about there being some players that aren’t as responsible defensively, but that you have to live with it because they are so talented offensively and produce. You just have to get someone else to watch their backs defensively. (He never mentioned Gaborik by name, but someone in Minnesota told me that there was no question he was talking about Gaborik.)
Anyway, Kovalchuk might end up surprising me with his defensive play, but I think Lemaire will probably put someone defensively responsible on his line to be safe. I can see it being Dainius Zubrus as his center. Zubrus did pretty well playing with another left wing who can create offense all by himself in Washington.
Regardless, Kovalchuk changes everything for the Devils.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils | KK Hockey | Permalink
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