Post by flojo888 (Devils GM) on Aug 16, 2011 20:14:37 GMT -5
When the off-season was winding down, the New Jersey Devils envisioned their future to be filled with two developing defencemen, a 19 year old Adam Larsson and a 21 year old Victor Hedman. However, these two were already by far the best defenders on the team and, much like the Tampa Bay Lightning did when they signed Matthias Ohlund as a mentor for Victor Hedman, the Devils realized they could use a guy who could match their skill and show them the professional ropes.
They sifted through the league, thinking we need someone who can hit like them, someone who can play defense, someone who can slam the puck, and someone who can make crisp passes. The list narrowed with each category. Then the general manager made the last wanted attribute known: they wanted a Swede.
The Devils focus in on Niklas Kronwall, the Swede who had played in a Swede-filled organization (The Detroit Red Wings) and had learned from arguably the best defenceman of all time, Niklas Lidstrom, who also happened to be Swedish.
When the trade to bring Kronwall went down, the team was evaluated for losing top defensive prospect Jared Cowen, good shutdown defender Chris Phillips, as well as trading their first round pick before an un-predicatable season. They managed to bring in Loktionov while trading away Hamill and swapped fourth liners with Pelley moving for Moen.
But make no mistake about it, the Devils have no regrets. Phillips and Cowen may excell elsewhere, but the added benefit to the development of two franchise defencemen seems to be over-looked by many.
Kronwall is a winner who learned from the best. He plays a hardnosed, solid defensive, and effective offensive style which seems to be the type of players that Hedman and Larsson are developing into. As a top pairing defenceman in his own right, the Devils now have a trio of Swedish players who are capable to handle 25 or more minutes a game.
Larsson and Hedman have already begun to absorb from Niklas, and it seems like the Devils will be looking to lock all three up long term. No one is wondering what the base strength of this team is. Having three defencemen of this calibur, two of which may develop into pure franchise defencemen, creates a formidable opponent, and it will be the building point of a contending team for years to come.
With names like Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, and Brian Rafalski in the history books for New Jersey, there's no doubt these three will be extending a legacy of elite defensemen and hopefully bring New Jersey back to Stanley Cup Glory.
They sifted through the league, thinking we need someone who can hit like them, someone who can play defense, someone who can slam the puck, and someone who can make crisp passes. The list narrowed with each category. Then the general manager made the last wanted attribute known: they wanted a Swede.
The Devils focus in on Niklas Kronwall, the Swede who had played in a Swede-filled organization (The Detroit Red Wings) and had learned from arguably the best defenceman of all time, Niklas Lidstrom, who also happened to be Swedish.
When the trade to bring Kronwall went down, the team was evaluated for losing top defensive prospect Jared Cowen, good shutdown defender Chris Phillips, as well as trading their first round pick before an un-predicatable season. They managed to bring in Loktionov while trading away Hamill and swapped fourth liners with Pelley moving for Moen.
But make no mistake about it, the Devils have no regrets. Phillips and Cowen may excell elsewhere, but the added benefit to the development of two franchise defencemen seems to be over-looked by many.
Kronwall is a winner who learned from the best. He plays a hardnosed, solid defensive, and effective offensive style which seems to be the type of players that Hedman and Larsson are developing into. As a top pairing defenceman in his own right, the Devils now have a trio of Swedish players who are capable to handle 25 or more minutes a game.
Larsson and Hedman have already begun to absorb from Niklas, and it seems like the Devils will be looking to lock all three up long term. No one is wondering what the base strength of this team is. Having three defencemen of this calibur, two of which may develop into pure franchise defencemen, creates a formidable opponent, and it will be the building point of a contending team for years to come.
With names like Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Ken Daneyko, and Brian Rafalski in the history books for New Jersey, there's no doubt these three will be extending a legacy of elite defensemen and hopefully bring New Jersey back to Stanley Cup Glory.