How did the Devils become so boring?

Question

Back in the mid 90s, they had guys like a young Marty Brodeur, Scottie Stevens, Valeri Zelepukin, Stephane Richer, Scott Niedermayer, Brian Rolston, Randy McKay, and Bobby Holik. These guys scored quite a bit and would not hesitate to drop the gloves.

Around 2001-2002, this team became so defensive-minded it put fans to sleep. I know they got new players, but why the current mindset? Even though I'm a Rangers fan, I used to enjoy watching the Devils. They had excellent players, great chemistry, and the rivalry between the Devils and Rangers was intense.

Answer 1

Valeri Zelepukin, Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik "dropping the gloves" is the biggest joke I have ever heard.  

2000-2002 the Devils scored way more than they did in the mid 90's.  The A-line and the Gomez-Mogilny combination produced.  Check the stats.  Also the addition of Rafalski on the back line improved their offensive output.  

As far as Gretzky saying they are Mickey Mouse, I beleive the Devils 3 cups is more than the amount of playoff appearances his Coyotes have made since he has been at the helm.  What organization is Mickey Mouse I ask?

Answer 2

I think you have your dates switched.  They were boring in the mid-90's too.  Their success has always been based on the shut-down, not on their offensive attack.

Answer 3

lol wow i have to say these are like the worst answers to a stupid question the devils are 1) not boring they are tryin g to figure out what their team is going i mean HELLO we have had 7 different people coaching the team since the time you said we began to become "boring" 2) who ever blamed marty for a game #1 rule if u know anything about hockey its not the goalies fault EVER there is always someone out there that could have helped out better 3) maybe the rivalry between the devils and rangers has gotten "less intense" b/c u havent seen a game in the past few years go to one this year and tell me if it is not "intense" and 4) if you think the devils play the trap WOW ROTFL if we play the trap at least we do it better than EVERYOTHER team in the NHL

Answer 4

because it's in nj...and nobody cares about hockey in nj

Answer 5

Brodeur is the face of the franchise, he was outstanding in his prime and they went with that. They haven't stopped, they are leaving it all up to brodeur and yeah he is getting sick of starting every game. They devils aren't shelling out as much offense as they could be and as they used to do. They're a dead team.

Answer 6

cubs are u an idiot

in 2001 2002 they scored a **** load of goals

more than many other teams could

yeah they were defensive minded but they also scored while doing it

oh and the rangers suck cok, they spend **** loads of money on past their prime players and cant get into the conference finals

what a joke of a franchise

CAUTION: an accident happens every 54 years

if u dont understand the accident is the rangers winning the cup

Answer 7

Lou Lamariello ruined hockey in NJ and the entire NHL with the trap...

Answer 8

I think you answered your question in your first sentence when you said "young Martin Brodeur". He's just been so dominant every year that it's almost like watching a re-run of the year before. When he was younger it was like a fresh breathe of air now it's almost like you want to see him go into a huge slump just to see him in a new and interesting light. The guy has never had a slump. He's amazing and sometimes there's too much of good.

Answer 9

i guess you like a team who seem s****. struggling just as much as the devils in the scoring department,(Rags only have 5 more goals than the devs in regular season) and is developing the trap, which i think the devils used when they became a "boring team" , maybe its those overpriced overaged stars that you like, but it seems to me you are just a homer looking to rip on a rival teams

Answer 10

Their management decided just to ride Brodeur instead of being a team.  They save money and blame their lack of success in the playoffs on Brodeur because the A hole is actually tired after starting almost every game.

Answer 11

Even when they had the big names they still used the TRAP during the mid 90s. They have always been a bit on the boring side as far as offensive production, since they always had the trap set up. They were still a great team, but they still were very defensive or conservative and it made them even better at the trap with the fact they had Brodeur.

Answer 12

One word: TRAP

Answer 13

Like you said, it was all because they ride their defense for every win. It works out for them on the ice but in the front office they're not making nearly as much as they should be with all of the talent that they have on that team

Answer 14

Well dont forget that all the way back through the 90's the devils have been playing the trap and its gotten them three cups.  I find it amazing how people rip on the style of play and reliance we have on Brodeur (not you, but some of the answers).  We have had the best goaltender in the league for the past decade...it would be STUPID to not play a defensive styled game....if you have the best goal tender (and one of the best defenses) why wouldnt you play that style?  Are you really telling me that we need to be a run and gun team and score 5 goals a night to win? NO because we can score 1 or 2 and still win.  

If Martin Brodeur is in between the pipes it would be a mistake to mold the team in any other way.  Franchises are molded to franchise players.  Pittsburgh is molded to offense because of Malkin and Crosby.....but we dont rip on them for any of the defensive issues they have (which arent too many but im just making a point).  Washington and AO is the same way.  When a team gets a franchise player the whole make up of the organization changes and shapes around that franchise player....thats what the entire idea is.....why rip on the Devils for being a boring team when that is what has won them so many cups.....

Granted for some people the Devils are as boring as watching paint dry while watching the grass grow, but the fact remains that our regular season success is only matched by the Detroit Red Wings (no other team is as consistent).  Had the devils played marty less our post season success would be SIMILAIR (not identical).  The devils have taken extra heat lately for their playoff performances as well they should have but it ultimately comes down to tweaks that need to be made in the system......

You are also forgetting the point that it is extremely difficult to stay at the top of the league (or top 5) for even a couple years not to mention the better part of a decade because of a lack of draft picks....we forget that Pittsburgh's offensive success lately was gained through horrible seasons and tremendous draft picks. As is washington and soon Tampa Bay as well.  When a team is at the top of the league every year it becomes extremely difficult to sustain talent and winning because of a low draft pick every year....somehow the Devils have done it still....The players you mentioned were all gained some way or another through draft picks or moves dealing with talent gained through very good draft picks after the mediocre seasons of the early 90's.  Holik, Rolston, Shannahan, Stevens through Sannahan, randy Mckay were all gained some way or another related to draft picks......its no surprise that when a team looses those picks they have to change their style and become a differnet team.

Yes we had exciting years with the A-line and gomez and stevens and neidermyer, but as a true hockey fan I have no problem with a good ol' fashion 1-0 stalemate (some people say the best game of the year last year was the Devils 1-0 victory against the Flames in OT, even flames fans say it).  I guess its the new NHL mentality that is taking over and now people are saying that it is not ok to have low scoring games or low scoring teams.....

The devils arent at the top of the league every year without excellent players and great chemistry.....if they dont have that but can still finish top 5 in the league then whats wrong with everyone else?  The Devils-rangers rivalry is just as intense as it has ever been and you cant say that those games are boring.....In the late 90's and early 00's the Devils owned NY like almsot 20 straight games but they were still the best games of the season as were the 8 losses and 1 win against NY this year.....

Boring for some isnt boring for all....and ultimately can you blame the devils for being defensive with one of the best D's in the game? I dont blame pittsburgh for being too offensive.....

The devils may spell success D-E-F-E-N-S-E and the 3 cup banners hanging in the Rock back it up pretty well....

EDIT: Who is this spark guy? PUBIC HAIR EATER!

EDIT: Thanks J-O....we are used to that by now though arent we....have to say though there are a few good ones out there...one Ranger fan picked my answers as best even though they werent agreeing with him....some rise above the pettiness and act like hockey fans....

Answer 15

Three words: Neutral Zone Trap.

Answer 16

The Devils brand of play couldn't be that bad if the Rangers mimicked it. It's called the trap, last year during the playoffs the Rags coaching said adapting the Devils style of Defense was the best thing they ever did for there game.

Don't be mad case with all that fire power your team still shoots blanks. I can't remember a game when a Devil backed away from a fight. We still have scrappers. Not the cross check you in the face kinda Rangers scrapper but we have some big Knuckled boys.

Way to be the Stereotypical Rangers fan!!!  8P~

edit: Marty is not sick of starting every game he'd rather play them all, but I forgot the NY post and Daily News(NY papers) are personal friends with Broduer and discus these things over dinner.

edit: It's a shame "njdevil" most likley won't get best answer since your a Gaygers fan!!!!!

Answer 17

It's basically what the refs are allowing with the trap, clutching, grabbing, and interfearence. If the NHL allows you to play a boring game like that, then thats what happens.

Answer 18

Not only are the Devils boring, but the NHL in general sucks.  Come on, that North Jersey area is housing the current Super Bowl champs, enjoy that and forget about this clearly unpopular sport in the large scale of the US population

Answer 19

They have become to defensive. They rely to heavily on the Great Martin Brodeur. They are a succesful club, but not an exciting one. They get the job done, but do nothing else. What they lack is superior offense from the blueline, they need a point scoring defenseman, to jazz things up.