You could go to jail for walking and texting in NJ in a new proposed bill

I read this today, and I LOVE IT.  This is one of my biggest pet peeves.  Go anywhere in a public place and you're constantly dodging people who are staring at their phones instead of paying attention to where they are walking.  Inconsiderate much? People might as well walk around blindfolded. 

I actually purposely bump into people if they are walking by me and not paying attention because they are looking at their phone.  Teach 'em a little lesson to start paying attention.  Nothing crazy, just a shoulder bump, a little love tap.  Then I stand there with my best WTF face waiting for an apology. After all, they are the one not paying attention.  It's not like I do this all the time.  I usually base it on how much I hate their face.  Always judge a book by it's cover when you're doing this.

It's like hockey.  If you're skating down the ice with the puck with your head down, you're going to get lit up.  Laid out, bro.  And you totally deserve it, just like people walking with their eyes glued to their phone.  Always compare real-life situations to hockey.  Always.

What if I wanted to say hi to a stranger?  Maybe flash a smile at a cute girl walking by? Completely eliminates that possibility. Also, this is totally hypothetical because I literally never talk to strangers and try to avoid eye contact at all costs because I'm awkward, but it makes ya think!

Have we all been guilty of this before?  Of course.  But seriously, put down your damn phone while you're walking around in public.   Your stupid "bae" can wait two minutes for you to send those 27 emojis in a row.  It's all a delusion anyway, people.

Northeastern Wins the Hockey East

Huskies! Northeastern wins it's first Lou Lamoriello trophy since 1988.  Keep it rolling into the NCAA tourney. This is all you need to see, congrats boys.  

Northeastern gets their hands on the Hockey East Championship trophy! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1ODjZ70oxU

— Hockey East (@hockey_east) March 20, 2016

Scott Wedgewood's Seinfeld goalie mask is awesome

Scott Wedgewood played in his first NHL game and got the win tonight.  He also won the award for best goalie mask in the league.  He didn't actually win an award, that's just my opinion. The AHL farmhand's mask features your favorite Devils fan from Seinfeld, the one and only David Puddy.  Anyone who likes Seinfeld is good in my book, well done Wedgewood.

You gotta support the team...

This is all I can really talk about when it comes to the Devils these days.  They are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  They are banged up.  And they are basically putting an AHL team on the ice right now.  It's really all they can do with all the injuries though.  Kinkaid has been a bit all over the place, so giving Wedgewood the start wasn't surprising.  On top of Cammalleri and Schneider being out, Josefson, Tootoo, Schlemko, Moore and Merrill have been hurt.  Let's put it this way, when Tyler Kennedy is playing on your top line, your season is over.  Just keep faith in the long-term plan.

We're the Devilssss, the Devilssssss!

Northeastern playing for it's first Hockey East Title since 1988 tonight

SUCK IT BOSTON COLLEGE!  No better feeling as a Northeastern alumni than beating either BC or BU in hockey, especially in a big game.  The Huskies will now play for it's first Hockey East title since 1988 against UMass Lowell tonight at the Garden.   The stakes couldn't be any bigger, tonight's winner will earn Hockey East's automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Men's Hockey Championship. 

The hottest team in college hockey rolls on with a 12 game winning streak, the longest in school history. The same Northeastern team that started the year 2-12-3 is now 19-1-2 in its last 22 games. They haven't lost since the Beanpot semifinals on February 1st.  That's insane.  

I was pumped for the semifinal game against Boston College all week. When the UMass Lowell vs. Providence game went to 3 overtimes, I wondered how the 2 and a half hour delay to start the game was going to affect both teams. After a goal by BC 15 seconds in, I was worried.  But, the Huskies calmed down after that and really controlled the game, tying it up and then scoring with less than a second left in the 1st period.  That goal was HUGE.  Giving up a goal with less than a second left in the period is always demoralizing for the other team. BC was playing like the period was over, and the Huskies pounced on them.  And that's how Northeastern won, they made BC pay for their mistakes, mainly all the penalties they took.  That's how you win against teams that seemingly have more talent than you.  That's how you beat the # 1 seed.  Boston College choked again and Northeastern took advantage and made them pay.

The big question for the championship will be, does UMass Lowell have any legs left after playing a triple OT game last night?  That's like playing two games in a row. That IS playing two games in a row.  Can the Huskies take advantage?  Northeastern hasn't been in a big game like this since I was in college.  This is their time to shine.

Side note, I had no idea the trophy for the Hockey East tournament was named after Lou Lamoriello.  Just proves again how much of a legend Lou is.

Also, I always liked the Huskies black jerseys, but these throwback reds they are wearing have grown on me.  Flashback to the Chris "Knuckles" Nilan days.

Northeastern playing in the Hockey East championship, the Devils still fighting for playoff life against Columbus tonight AND the NCAA Tourney on all day?  How many TVs can I fit in my living room?! This is why I love sports.

I miss these days...

Are Devils fans seriously booing Zach Parise tonight?

I'm flipping back and forth between the NCAA tournament and the Devils game.  It's hard to really invest a lot of time in the Devils at this point with them virtually out of playoff contention.  They are actually playing really well tonight though, currently up 6-2 on the Wild.  That's surprising given they just got their doors blown off 7-1 in Anaheim the other night.  But, what's more surprising to me is that Devils fans are booing Zach Parise every time he touches the puck.  I can't remember Devils fans booing anyone so hard since Sean Avery played for the Rangers.  Or when Gomez left for the Rangers.  And that booing was completely warranted.

Do Devils fans actually hate Zach Parise?  He left the team almost four years ago.  Stop being butthurt and get over it.  He had every reason to leave New Jersey.  The Devils had plenty of time to lock him up to a long-term deal.  They didn't.  They chose to give all the money that should have gone to Parise to Ilya Kovalchuk instead.  AND, Parise is from Minnesota, so he was going home when he decided to sign with the Wild.  I don't blame him one bit for leaving. 

Of course, I would love to still have him on the Devils.  It really sucked to see him go. He's the ultimate leader and was one of my favorite players to ever suit up for the franchise.  He's everything you want in a player.  Zach Parise is one of the classiest players in the NHL.  So, take note, Devils fans.  Show a little class and respect to a guy who gave it all for New Jersey.  I am all for booing the opposing team, but Parise is different.  That's the definition of ignorant fans.

It's not officially St. Patrick's day until you watch this throwback video

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone.  Enjoy

A 30 for 30 Recommendation: The Duke Lacrosse Case

ESPN aired it's new 30 For 30, "Fantastic Lies" this past Sunday, ten years after the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case made national news. If you aren't familiar with it, read here.  In a nutshell, three Duke lacrosse players were wrongfully accused of rape by a woman.  But, that was not the story portrayed throughout the court case.

After watching this documentary, it really struck a nerve with me regarding the media's ability and tendency to portray any narrative it wants to.  The media spoon-feeds the public whatever bullshit it wants. The public is conditioned to believe that narrative because let's face it, the public is a herd of sheep.  Essentially, if you are in a position of power or influence, i.e., the media or someone in public office, you can pretty much pursue any agenda you want. People believe it, and then take it and run with it before hearing the actual facts.

For example, when the case starting gaining national attention, Newsweek slapped this on the front of their magazine:

Innocent until proven guilty, you say?  Not anymore.  This was printed before ANY facts came out about the case.  At this point, it was guilty until proven innocent.

Even one of the lawyers defending one of the accused players was buying into the media frenzy:



Do you know why these three kids were so quickly presumed guilty?  It was the perfect media storm.



At this point in time, who didn't want to see these rich, white jocks go down for this terrible crime?  Everyone believed it.  Combine the media's leverage on the story coinciding with the local prosecutor, Mike Nifong, seeking reelection and you have a stranglehold on some fantastic lies being portrayed as truth.  Nifong was in a position of power, along with the media, and they fucking milked it.  The agenda was clear, regardless of facts, and it was absolutely distorted.  Why?  Because they were in a position to control it.  The obvious social discrepancies were jammed down the public's throat to drum up ratings for the Nancy Grace's of the world.

Duke University officials bought into the false narrative as well.  They just wanted it to go away.  Did anyone actually care about the truth?  The team's coach was the only person to stand behind his players, and he ended up being the fall guy when Duke forced him to resign.



These guys could very well be in jail for a crime they did not commit if they couldn't afford the great lawyers that they had (Making a Murderer, anyone?)  When they went to present their case to Nifong, he acted like a child.  It blows my mind.  This was the guy that everyone was believing.  




The Duke lacrosse case occurred in 2006.  This was before smart phones, before the 24 hour news cycle was really in full force and at everyone's finger tips at any given time. The scary thing is, nothing has changed 10 years later.  It's unbelievable how knee-jerk reactions are driving our media and our world in general.  It's really gotten worse with all the new platforms for people to gather and irrationally sound off on, regardless of facts.  Now, everyone has a voice with social media. We live in a "protest culture" and I absolutely cannot stand it.  I am not saying that you shouldn't stand up for what you believe in.  I am saying, don't jump to conclusions before the truth comes out.

It seems that truth has become secondary to the media's agenda, plain and simple.  Mike Nifong fucked those kids over, and the media dumped fuel on the fire. He was driving the car, but the press was navigating where it went.  If this happened today, there is no doubt this would have ended up even worse.  Take the University of Virginia fraternity case, for example.  This happened less than two years ago. Think people jumped to conclusions?  For sure.  I mean, it was published in Rolling Stone, right?  So it must have all been true?  America is losing credibility on many levels, and fast.

I am in no way trying to desensitize the issue of sexual assault.  It's an atrocious crime that should be punished as such. It is also a serious societal issue, especially on college campuses.  The people that actually lose out the most from the Duke case are the ones who are actual victims of sexual assault.  Let's not forget that a woman lied and completely made up her story.  She, along with Nifong and the media made it much more difficult for victims today given the way the Duke case was handled.  It just proves how damaging and dangerous people and institutions can be when they have an ax to grind.  

Devils fan stabs Flyers fan to death after an argument over his hat

A rivalry between two ice hockey teams may have been the motive for the stabbing to death of a Philadelphia Flyers fan in the early hours of Sunday morning. Colin McGovern, 24-year-old from Bucks County, was with friends in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square celebrating St. Patrick's Day when a man approached, Action News reported.
The attacker, who was wearing a blue New Jersey Devils hat, asked if the victim was a Flyers fan, which led to an argument. The Devils fan reportedly stabbed McGovern in the stomach before running away. The Flyers fan was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he later died.
"There was a brief verbal altercation, a struggle ensued that lasted a few seconds, and by witness accounts, the offender stabbed the complainant," Philadelphia Police Captain Nicholas Smith said at the scene. "Then the attacker fled the area, going southbound on 19th Street, then eastbound on Manning Street."
Steven E. Simminger, a disabled veteran with a previous record, has been arrested in the incident. The 40-year-old Devils fan was charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Simminger has prior arrests for assault, harassment, corruption of minors, false imprisonment and reckless driving.

People are crazy. No, this isn't an article from The Onion.  This actually happened, and that picture is actually of the guy who did it. Not a good look for Devils fans, and I'm not just referring to the stabbing.  Who the hell buys a blue New Jersey Devils hat?  That's actually the wackiest part of this story to me.  Is that thing custom-made?  People that wear odd color team hats are probably the same people voting for Donald Trump.  Absolute psychopaths.

In all seriousness, not the most logical way for this guy to react after getting chirped about his hat.  If I'm ever in Philly, I am DEFINITELY not wearing any of my Devils/Giants/Yankees gear.  No way in hell, I value my life.  Clearly this Stevie Simminger guy just does not give a shit.  I thought Devils fans were always the rational ones in this rivalry, apparently not.

Speaking of the Devils-Flyers rivalry, it's still there, but it's lost some intensity over the past couple seasons.  I think a big part of it is the realignment of the divisions.  They play less games against each other every year now, which I don't like.  Same with the Rangers, Islanders and Penguins.  I never understood this move by the NHL.  The Capitals, Red Wings and Blue Jackets don't belong in the division, plain and simple.

Another reason this rivalry isn't what it used to be is because both teams just haven't been that good the past few years.  For a long time, it was the Devils and the Flyers battling every year for first place in the Atlantic Division.  Not to mention, some legendary playoff series along the way.  Remember this?

I miss those days.  Not that I want the Flyers to ever be good.  Fuck Philly.


While we are on the topic of the Devils, let's just all agree that this year is officially over.  Yes, they showed flashes by beating both the Sharks and Kings on the road.  Kinkaid even earned third star of the week for the whole league.  But, that 7-1 loss last night to the Ducks was embarrassing and demoralizing.  Only guy showing up to play is Smith-Pelley. There's always next year, right?

MAKE THE DEVILS GREAT AGAIN...PLEASE

Daylight Saving Time should be at 4pm on a Friday

I think that everyone can universally agree that springing ahead an hour at 2AM this Sunday is the dumbest idea ever.  Do you know whose idea this was originally?  Benjamin Franklin.  So blame him. Burn all your $100 bills.  He just lovedddd going to work. C'mon dude. Why the hell would losing an hour of sleep on the weekend be beneficial to anyone?  HELLO.  Some people are trying to get belligerently drunk and celebrate St. Patrick's day this Saturday.  Some people = me even though I barely have any Irish blood in me. But screw it, everyone is Irish on St. Patty's. 

Anyways, Daylight Saving should be at 4PM on a Friday.  (Yes, it's "saving" not "savings", look it up) How great would that be?  Everyone wins.  EVERYONE.

FYI - I have no problem with the falling back thing in November.  Forget electricity, that's probably Ben Franklin's best idea yet.  

Obligatory Office clip...

Donald Trump's hair is so confusing

I do not understand Trump's hair.  It's all I can focus on while watching this GOP debate.  It defies gravity.  Is it real? Is it combed forward or backward?  Or to the side? Where does his hairline start? What fucking color is that?  Whatever it is, it's a yuge mindfuck.

Chris Christie has to be wondering the same thing...

What's the deal with coleslaw and pickles at diners?

I've always wondered this.  Is it a New Jersey thing?  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the pickles. I love pickles. My animosity towards mayo is well-documented, so obviously I don't eat the coleslaw.  But, why is it such a staple at diners?  

Also, how long has this shit been sitting out?  How many people actually eat it?  Do they just recycle the coleslaw after people like myself don't eat it?  Sometimes the pickles look a little limp, like they've been sitting out.  Doesn't stop me from eating them though.

For the record, the best diner in New Jersey is the Pompton Queen in Wayne.  If you disagree I think you need to GROW UP.

How the hell hasn't Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives been there yet?  C'mon Guy Fieri!!!

Victor Cruz will be back with the Giants

Once a Giant always a Giant. See you in September. @ New York, New York https://t.co/Dl95jAsj2G

— Victor Cruz (@TeamVic) March 10, 2016

Victor Cruz will be back in a Giant uniform in 2016.  After the Giants told him that he would either have to take a pay cut or be released, he decided to stay with Big Blue.  It's nice to see that he is self-aware enough to take a pay cut, and a big one at that.  His salary will drop from $7.9 million to $1.3 million.  That's a team player right there.
The question is, what can we expect?  He hasn't played in 26 games, since Week 6 in 2014.  He's coming off major injuries.  He's probably lost a step or two.  Can he even play? How would he fit in now with Odell being the # 1 guy?  A lot of questions, but I am glad to see him back.  He's a Jersey guy and he's done a lot for this franchise.  Hopefully, he can contribute to this team considering how thin we are at wide receiver.

Please just get a new dance dude.

The Giants made it rain on the first day of free agency

Live look at the Giants front office:

The Giants spent A LOT of money yesterday.  $204 million to be exact.  On 4 players. Jerry Reese making it rain on them hoes.  You think he feels the pressure to win now?  I wondered how aggressive the Giants were going to be when free agency opened up.  I certainly didn't expect them to be the most aggressive team in the league on the first day, but I am thrilled that they were.  The Giants usually don't throw around money like this, so I was surprised.  But, with so much cap room, I think it was the right time to do it.  

It started with re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul to a one-year deal.  Smart move.  I was nervous about signing him to anything longer than a year or two.  He proved in limited time last year that he can be disruptive and get to the quarterback, even with one hand.  He turned down more money from the Cardinals to come back to New York citing some "unfinished business."  You can tell he has something to prove, and now he actually will have some help.  

The Giants got back to their bread and butter and beefed up their pass rush.  First, they snagged former Jet defensive tackle Damon "Snacks" Harrison.  Awesome nickname by the way. The 350-pounder should be a nice complement to Hankins in the middle.  Maybe the Giants will actually be able to stop the run now? In a surprising move later in the day, the Giants out-bid the Jaguars to get former Dolphin Olivier Vernon.  They dished out $52 million in guaranteed money, which is the most in Giants' history.  This defensive line is going to be nasty and I love it.

The Giants also went out and got cornerback Janoris Jenkins.  
They are giving him a  lot of money as well, but it was time to move on from injury prone Prince Amukamara. They need consistency in the secondary and they'll get it with Jenkins, who has only missed 4 games in 4 years.  And Jerry Reese isn't done, there is still plenty more money to spend.  Which is good, because there are still plenty of holes to fill.

As Mike Francesca said today, the Giants defense will be back in business.  Yes, this is all on paper at the moment.  None of these guys have played a single snap.  The secondary is still thin. The linebacker core is still the worst in the league. Not to mention, ODB will need an extension at some point. So, will all this spending come back to bite us in the ass? Did we overpay a bit for these guys?  Maybe.  But, that's what you do when you have money.  You swing your dick around.  The Giants swung their dick around on the first day of free agency.

P.S. - How pissed is Tom Coughlin right now?  Poor guy.

The Devils should shut down Cory Schneider for the rest of the season

The Devils are dead.  They aren't going to make the playoffs.  I'm not being pessimistic, I'm being realistic.  We are 2-8 in our last 10 games, and the Cory Schneider injury against Dallas was the nail in the coffin.  I say shut him down for the rest of the season.  It's a grade 1 MCL sprain and he'll be reevaluated in two weeks.  But, he still may even need surgery.  We still don't know.  No reason to rush him back and risk him getting re-injured.  

If he was only going to miss a game or two, it would be a different story.  With only 15 games left and still 6 points out of a wildcard spot, it's just not worth it.  Now, our two best players are hurt, the other being Cammalleri.  We fought hard for most of the season to stay in the playoff race, but it's simply too little, too late at this point.

Henrique and Palmieri are the only two guys consistently producing.  You can't make the playoffs with only two guys who can score.  There has been barely any secondary scoring. Our bottom six forwards are essentially AHL players.  I hope to see most of them gone next year.  Maybe I am being harsh, but this is a business.  You want the Devils to win, right?  Then  dump the dead weight and move on.  Let some young guys have a shot, we have nothing to lose this season.

As I said when Schneider initially got hurt, let Kinkaid play the rest of the year.  He's a good, young goalie.  If he plays well in the last 15 games, he could be a nice trade piece at the draft.  Not that I want to see him go, I like Kinkaid and I think he's the quintessential backup to Schneider.  But, this is a business.  Like any business, you need to protect your most important asset.  Shut it down, Shero.

Peyton Manning retiring from football means his acting career has just begun

Peyton Manning is announcing his retirement tomorrow. His career highlights:

5-time NFL MVP
2 Super Bowl titles in 4 trips
Super Bowl XLI MVP
14-time Pro Bowl selection
7-time first-team All-Pro

One of the greatest football players of all time, no doubt. First ballot hall-of-famer.  I think we were all expecting/hoping he would retire after looking so old this year.  He couldn't throw a pass more than 10 yards and it looked like his body could literally fall apart at any moment.  That's not the point though.  The point is that as the door closes on his football career, another one opens on his acting career.

This is good news for all of us.  Chicken-parm-you taste-so-good. 

P.S.  I wonder if anyone at his retirement press conference will ask him about the whole dragging his balls across a girl's face in college thing...

I'm a little nervous about Cory Schneider's injury

Cory Schneider (lower body; out Sunday vs. Pittsburgh) will be evaluated today in New Jersey. The team will update his status on Sunday.

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 5, 2016

I'm nervous about this being a serious injury for Schneider. It did not look good when it happened.  

I'm assuming it's his groin, obviously the Devils are only saying it's a lower body injury.  We'll know more later today.  If it is anywhere close to being serious, I say sit him down for the rest of the season.  Not worth it this year.  Goalies need healthy groins.  We aren't playing enough consistent hockey to get in the playoffs, plain and simple.  And, I don't think we need to put anymore pressure on Schneider.  His back probably already has been hurting from carrying the team all year.

He's put da team on his back like Greg Jennings in Madden...

We don't need need to risk anything though.  Give Kinkaid the extra time to prove himself. He looks hungry, and he's looked really sharp in his last couple outings, including when he came in to replace Schneider against Dallas.  If he shows some flashes, he may be a trade chip for this summer, similar to what Cam Talbot was for the Rangers last year when he filled in for Lundqvist for an extended period of time.  Just trying to see the glass half full here, guys.

5 points out of a wildcard spot, the Devils play the team they are chasing today, Pittsburgh.  But, there are now two more teams in front of them in the standings vying for the same spot, Philly and Carolina. New Jersey is hanging on for dear life.  Their playoff hopes are like a loose tooth that you let dangle there when you're a kid even though you know you can easily pull it out.  Just hanging on when you really should just yank it out.  The severity of the Schneider injury will most likely determine whether of not they rip that dangling tooth out for good.  

I can't decide if the Devils are dead or alive

Last week, the Devils beat Rangers in pretty convincing fashion.  Then, they got blown out in Columbus and at home against Tampa.This week, they score 1 goal and lose to Carolina at home, then go on the road and come from behind to beat Nashville in OT.  Are the Devils dead or alive?  They are only 5 points out of the wildcard with 17 games left, so yes, they are technically very much alive.  I just don't know if they have the scoring punch to get it done night in and night out.  We traded our top scorer and are still mightily struggling to score 5 on 5.

The guys we needed to step up last night certainly did though.  Henrique and Palmieri proved that they are the go-to guys.  If the Devils want to make the playoffs, each of them will need to stay hot.  Zajac got on the board last night.  So did Devante Smith-Pelly in his first game as a Devil, with a goal and an assist.  I see him very much in a similar role to Wayne Simmonds with Philly.  And I'm not saying that because they are both black, silly. He's a guy who puts himself in front of the net, disrupts the other team's goalie, and cleans up the garbage.

Still, as I've been saying all year, the Devils need consistent secondary scoring if they want to make any sort of run.  In my opinion, the 4th line is an absolute waste, and I really don't expect any production from any of those guys with the way things are going.  I include Kennedy in there too, who was benched last night. Blandisi and Boucher will be key.  They've been a bit recklessly lately, but that is to be expected from young players.  

We know the Devils haven't been able to get it done 5 on 5.  But, you can't help but praise them for taking advantage of the opportunities they get on the power play.  Three more power play goals last night, which doesn't include when they pulled Kinkaid and tied up the game with an extra skater with just a minute left in the 3rd.  They've proved that they can hang in those situations.  But, will it be enough?

Snapping the 3 game losing streak was huge last night.  It was a jolt that they desperately needed to stay in the playoff race.  They were a little shaky defensively, leaving the Predators wide open for three of their goals.  Both were on the powerplay as well. Hopefully they can regroup and hopefully Severson gets back in the lineup.  Jon Merrill did not look good last night. I'm very interested to see which team shows up tonight against Dallas.  

I still know that even if we do sneak in to the playoffs, we probably will get bounced in the first round.  But, I still want to see this team fight down the stretch.  Some people think the Devils should tank to get a better draft pick.  Not me.  This is a rebuilding process, but if they fight hard the rest of this year, it will definitely be something to build on next year.  

Henrik Lundqvist is mad!

You mad bro? pic.twitter.com/SzGIETehB5

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2016

Typical behavior from the Queen.

Kovalchuk return to NHL rumors heating up

I blogged about Kovalchuk last week when it came out that he had been benched and stripped of his captaincy by his KHL team during their playoff series.  He'll be under contract until at least April 30th, and it's looking more and more like he may try and return to the NHL next season. It would be complicated though. He would need approval from all 30 NHL teams since he officially did retire and he would need to clear waivers.  There is a loophole to this for the Devils though.  The collective bargaining agreement says that a player can move from the "Voluntarily Retired List" to the "Reserve List at any time after one year from the date of registration...by filing any currently valid contract, option, or try-out."  If the Devils wanted to make use of this rule, they could sign him without needing the approval from the rest of the league.

Ray Shero was asked about the possibility of Kovalchuk returning earlier in the week.  He deflected the question saying he "hasn't heard anything" and said it would be up to the league if he did try and return.  He certainly didn't say no.  The issue of his contract would be up to the league, but the Devils do hold his rights.  Another question would be, does Kovalchuk have to play under his old contract?  That could be a dealbreaker at a $6.67 million cap hit every year.  The price just may be too high if that is the case.

The more I think about it, the more I could see Shero going for it if Kovalchuk.  Who is Kovalchuk to Ray Shero?  A game-changer, is what he is. Think about it. The Devils were a much different franchise back in 2013 when he left.  Lou was the GM who orchestrated his contract.  There are now different owners, different management, different coaches, and a lot of different players.  The only people who really still feel the sting of Kovalchuk leaving are the fans.  And what do they think?  There was a vote on NJ.com asking whether or not fans would want him back.  60% were saying yes, and 40% were saying no last time I checked.

I'm obviously not a fan of the guy for the way he abruptly left the Devils in 2013.  He's a douche.  Could I get past what happened if he actually did snake his way back in? It's like getting getting back together with an ex-girlfriend who cheated on you, left you for some Russian dude and now wants you back. She's super hot, so you can't help but consider it.  I don't know why, but this is really messing with my head even though it's all speculation right now.  For a team that desperately needs scoring, he might be able to jumpstart the Devils' rebuild.  You would hope.  But, he will be 33 at the beginning of next season.  He's had a down year in the KHL.  Is he over the hill and past his prime?

This will be a very interesting situation to keep an eye on in the coming months.  There is one thing for sure with Ilya Kovalchuk;  wherever he goes, drama seems to follow.  He really is the crazy ex-girlfriend of the Devils.

Northeastern Hockey is on fire

I saw this tweet from ESPN's John Buccigross aka Bucci Mane tonight:

Best record since Dec 19
N'Eastern 14-1-2
Denver 12-1-3
Yale 13-2-2
Michigan 11-2-2
Quinnipiac 10-1-5 pic.twitter.com/V5nouDb4lB

— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 3, 2016

14-1-2 since December 19th, best in college hockey during that time.  I'm pretty sure Northeastern could beat the Devils right now.  I don't follow the Huskies as closely anymore now that I don't live in Boston, but it's great to see them back in the mix, now just outside the top 25.  Good article about them getting back on track before going on this run.

Some one my best memories from college were going to Northeastern hockey games.  Before you turned 21 and could go out to bars, that was the thing to do.  Matthews Arena. Cheap booze in water bottles. The Doghouse. The chants. The rivalries with BC and BU. Incredible atmosphere. I remember watching Cory Schneider play for BC when he was a senior and I was a freshman.  Pretty crazy.  Hopefully they will make some noise in the Hockey East playoffs.

If you ever want to really experience a college hockey game, go watch a Hockey East game at Matthews Arena.  So much history.  Built in 1910, it's the oldest indoor ice hockey arena still being used for hockey.  It's also the oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use in the world.  It was even the original home of the Bruins.  Do yourself a favor, go to Boston for a weekend and catch a game there.  You won't regret it. Man do I miss college.

If Northeastern could only win the freaking Beanpot for once...

Devils Trade Deadline Recap

Recap of Devils moves yesterday:

Traded D Eric Gelinas to Colorado for a 2017 third-round draft pick. 

Recalled F Stefan Matteau from Albany (AHL) and traded him to Montreal for F Devante Smith-Pelly. 

Acquired a 2016 fourth-round draft pick and a 2017 second-round draft pick from Boston for RW Lee Stempniak. 

Claimed D David Warsofsky off waivers from Pittsburgh.

All things considered, I think the Devils made smart moves.  They didn't try to do too much.  Ray Shero has a good idea of who this team is at this point in the season.  Are they still in the playoff race?  Yes.  Is this team going to win the cup this year?  No.  And that's what it comes down to.  On the surface, the lowest scoring team in the league trading their leading scorer doesn't make sense.  But, for these New Jersey Devils, it does.  It's about next year, and the years to come, not this year. Shero has built a Stanley Cup-winning team before, and it's doesn't happen overnight

I was hoping that they could get a 2nd round pick for Stempniak, which they did.  Shero also snagged a 4th rounder.  It's a deal that actually works out well for both teams involved, I think he is going to fit in very well playing in Boston, most likely with Marchand and Bergeron.  For the Devils, they sold high and got assets for the future.  With Stempniak gone and Cammalleri seemingly out for the year at this point, guys like Blandisi and Boucher are going to be asked to step up and fill the scoring void.  Next man up.

I wasn't surprised that Gelinas was dealt, though I suspected it wouldn't happen until the draft.  He hasn't seemed to fit into the Devils plans and couldn't stay in the lineup. A starting spot on D was his to lose, and he lost it to Seth Helgeson. Gelinas simply hasn't developed the way the Devils expected the past two years.  A think a fresh start in Colorado will be good for him.  Getting a 3rd round pick in return was a solid move by Shero.

I did not expect the Matteau trade, but I'm glad we did it.  He has been an absolute bust in my opinion and has not played anywhere near the level of a first round pick.  He's barely been able to crack the lineup.  I don't care what he's done in the AHL because he's proved nothing in the NHL.  Plus, I still hate his father.

The guy we got back for him from Montreal, Devante Smith-Pelly should fit well in John Hynes' system.  The Devils don't really have a power forward like him.  While he's not a top-6 forward, he brings some toughness that we sorely need.

I don't know much about David Warsofsky, who they claimed off waivers, other than he has played for Hynes before. Just another Pittsburgh cast-off now playing for the Devils.

The only thing that really surprised me was that Schlemko wasn't dealt.  I'm sure there were offers, but you can't sell if the price isn't right.

So, this is the team for the rest of the 2016 season.  Can the Devils sneak in the playoffs?  If they do, it will be on the back of Cory Schneider.  Maybe shaking things up a bit will help?  The trade deadline has passed, so that isn't a distraction anymore.  Young guys will have to step up and produce with Stempniak leaving.  Regardless, I think the Devils future looks bright and Ray Shero and John Hynes have this team headed in the right direction.