Sorry for the lack of posts; it's been slow Devils-wise

Hello everyone. Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but quite frankly, it's been a very slow cycle for Devils news the last few weeks. At the end of the month, I'll be meeting new Head Coach Peter DeBoer for dinner, and I'm sure I'll have plenty of great stories to share about that. So in the interim, I'll be sure to share anything new that might arise -- including Doc's replacement, whenever that's ultimately announced (can this organization do anything quickly)? Also, Parts 4 to 1 of Doc Emrick's all-time great calls will be coming next week. Enjoy what remains of summer. Training camp is but a month away! Let's Go Devils!

Parise signs 1-year, $6M contract, avoiding arbitration

The Star-Ledger is reporting that Zach Parise has signed a one-year, $6 million contract, avoiding arbitration. This is excellent news -- and a good sign that Parise is likely open to negotiating with Lou Lamoriello on a long-tern deal. Click here for the story.

Wish List Updated: No Goldie or Moller

Goldie

Moller

Thought I'd just give a quick update to my Doc Emrick replacement wish list. Found out, for certain, it won't be any of the Florida Panthers guys. Steve Goldstein and Randy Moller are both happily staying in South Florida for the foreseeable future. Talked to Moller for a while today -- and he's more than content. And a buddy of mine confirmed Goldie is just as happy in Miami. Should be fun to see what happens next.

Some Thoughts on Doc's Replacement

By Kevin Canessa Jr.
NewJerseyDevilsBlog

The departure of Doc Emrick from MSG has, of course, led to speculation as to whom would be best to "replace" him. And while filling Doc's shoes will be a monumental task, there are a few guys who come to mind immediately as consummate professionals who I believe would be great fits in the booth at the Rock.

Goldstein

-- Steve 'Goldie' Goldstein is the current play-by-play voice on TV for the Florida Panthers. In 2010, we were fortunate to hear Goldie teamed up with John Vanbeisbrouck doing USA Olympic hockey games on the radio. Goldie is passionate about hockey, in a market that generally doesn't care about its hockey team. He would be my first choice were I looking to hire someone for Doc's replacement.

Moller

-- Randy Moller is currently also working for the Florida Panthers, on WQAM-560 in Miami, as radio play-by-play announcer. His unique style would bring a new dimension to Devils games. Want proof? Have a listen to some of these classic Moller calls from the radio.

Rose

-- Howie Rose. How about a lateral move from Long Island, where he clearly hates having to call Islanders games to New Jersey, where he'd actually get to call playoff games? Howie is as good as they come. And this wouldn't be a first. Joe Micheletti left the Islanders booth as colour commentator to join the Rangers a few years back, after John Davidson left to become general manager of the St. Louis Blues.

Albert

-- Kenny Albert, son of Marv Albert, has paid his dues on MSG radio calling Rangers games. Perhaps it's time he moves on to TV? His grasp on the NHL is superb, and he'd be yet another Rangers announcer who went on to call games for a rival?

LaGreca

-- Don LaGreca is perhaps the most obvious choice. He's already under contract with MSG (he subs on Rangers broadcasts on the radio) and he's as big a Devils fan as there is. He's also well known for hosting "NHL Live" on Sirius/XM radio and is one of the most noted hockey commentators in the United States.

Loughlin

Cangialosi

-- Steve Cangialosi and/or Matt Loughlin have both been employed by the team for years, and it's possible Lou Lamoriello might just want to move someone up from a lower position. I'd accept this -- but would still prefer some of the otherwise mentioned.

Everett

-- Finally, Seth Everett. I have to be careful with this choice, because I know Seth personally, and I don't want to come across as a so-called "homer." However, like LaGreca, Seth is another passionate Devils fan and is, in my mind, one of the best and  most under-appreciated sports-talk hosts in the country.

Perhaps Seth's biggest challenge would be his new-found work in Philadelphia -- on The Talker 1210 doing Phillies post-games and his added work on 1210, WIP-610 and KYW-1060.

However, his connection to the team, CBS Radio (which has Devils radio-broadcasting rights) and the New Jersey Nets (Seth does the pre- and post-game shows for them on WFAN) could make him a shoe-in, perhaps for the radio gig if Loughlin is moved to the TV side. This wouldn't be Seth's first foray into NHL work either, having spent several years working on Colorado Avalanche Broadcasts.

Doc's Leaving the Devils Is Like Losing a Friend

Mike 'Doc' Emrick,  Ph.D.

Back in 1993, I left New Jersey for Newport, R.I., having transferred from Seton Hall University to Salve Regina University. Mind you, this was well before the days of NHL Ticket -- and the only way to see Devils games in Rhode Island was when they played the Bruins or Whalers -- or in going to Bobby Valentine's sports pub in nearby Middletown, R.I.

So it came as a huge disappointment in October 1993 when I learned Gary Thorne was no longer the Devils' play-by-play announcer, having been replaced by the already-immortal Michael "Doc" Emrick. I couldn't believe it -- my first year away, Doc was back with the Devils, and I'd barely get to hear him.

Regardless, because of breaks and because those years the Devils were often playing late into each post-season, I got my share of Doc. And after graduation from Salve, it was the same. First it was with Peter McNab. Then with Doug Sulliman for a year. And finally Chico Resch.

Yet it didn't matter who he was paired with, Doc was the best at what he did -- and was, to me, the best in all of sports.

His words have stuck with generations of Devils fans. Who could forget 1995.

"The championship to New Jersey. The Devils win the Stanley Cup!"

It was the first of three Cups for the Devs, and sadly, the only time he got to call a Cup winner for them. ABC covered the Finals in 2000 and 2003, and it was Gary Thorne who had the honors.

For nearly 20 years, Doc's voice came into our living rooms -- every October through as late as May. He called a game like no one else could, a true wordsmith.

When I found out he was leaving the Devils to work only with NBC and whatever they call Versus in the coming months, I felt like I lost a dear friend. His voice was a part of some of the greatest memories I've ever had. And now, come October, he won't be there, save for the rare occasion NBC or Versus carries a Devils game.

I'll miss him -- and thousands others will, too.

Yet rather than being upset with the move, it's a time to remember just how fortunate we were to have the best announcer to ever put on a headset. And if you don't get that, simply turn on a hockey game from anywhere else around the country.

Maybe then it'll all make sense as to just how lucky we were.

DeBoer's the Right Choice to Lead the Devils

New Jersey Devils Head Coach
Peter DeBoer was the coach of the
Florida Panthers for three seasons.

By Kevin Canessa Jr.
NewJerseyDevilsBlog

There have been quite a few people -- whether on Facebook or Twitter or on message boards -- who have questioned Lou Lamoriello's decision to hire Peter DeBoer as head coach.

I am far from one of them.

In fact, the day he was fired by the Panthers down in Miami, my first thought was "Damn, if Jacques re-retires, I want DeBoer here." In fact, I remember a few months ago texting Panthers' radio play-by-play genius Randy Moller and asking him if he would come in a package with DeBoer for the 2011-12 season. (Moller's another story for later this week).

DeBoer was a surprise hire by the Panthers a few years ago when Jacques Martin, then GM of the Panthers chose him as his head coach. He had been the coach of the Kitchener Rangers, a minor league program. 

And while he never made the playoffs with the Panthers, he did lead them to a 93-point season a few years ago in a wildly difficult Eastern Conference. They just missed the playoffs.

Unfortunately for Peter, Martin never gave him anything to work with really -- and Dale Talon, the current GM, wanted to mold his own team -- with a new coach.

DeBoer brings what very few NHL coaches can -- experience working with younger kids. And with the addition of Adam Larsson, the fourth-overall pick in this year's draft, there probably isn't a better coach out there to mold him -- just as DeBoer got the best out of David Booth in Miami, injuries notwithstanding.

In addition to his greatness with younger players, DeBoer is an absolutely, downright awesome guy. He was a regular on the Sid Rosenberg Show last season -- and when I was able to ask him a question once, I was pleasantly surprised by his answer. 

If you had to start a team fresh, would you first choose Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or, our guy, Zach Parise. 

Sid was shocked -- but DeBoer agreed with me -- that he'd love to be able to mold a team around Parise, who he said, at that time, may very well be the best all-around NHLer. 

This guy knows the Devils already. He fits into the Devils style. Defense first with offense paramount. This won't be a boring team at all. In fact, think of it this way.

It'll be the first-full season we see Parise play with Ilya Kovalchuk. 

And with DeBoer behind the bench, this season is going to make up for the last one's disappointments.

It's July 19 -- and I hope to look back at this story once again and April. And when I do, I'm really hoping I'll be able to make good on my guarantee that DeBoer's the best man for this job -- and be able to say I told you so.

Will Jacques Lemaire Return Yet Again?

WILL HE OR WONT HE? -- Could
Jacques Lemaire unretire ... again?

So here we are -- it's July 19 already, prospect camp is over, as is the draft -- and there's still no coach in place. Perhaps most remarkably, this goes against the norm of nearly every new coach hire in the National Hockey League. Often, we hear about how a general manager wants his new coach in place before the draft -- and before summer activities. 

So this all has to beg questions: Is Jacques Lemaire playing a game of hardball to get an enormous contract to re-re-re-un-retire ... is Lou Lamoriello delusional in thinking Lemaire might reconsider coaching ... is Lemaire bluffing for fun ... or is this just "Mystery Lou" doing his thing again?

Best-case scenario -- Lemaire decides to return, as highly unlikely as it may seem right now based on all reports. (Though stranger things have happened before). Worst-case scenario -- we wait even longer, and perhaps get word on a new coach by late August/early September.

Therrien Lamoriello's Second Choice for Coach?

Interesting report out of The New York Post. 

Mark Everson reports Michel Therrien is Lou Lamoriello's second choice for head coach in the likely even he's unable to coax Jacques Lemaire to re-re-re-consider retirement. 

Click here to read the report.