So I know what you might be thinking.

“Why has it taken E Pass so long to publish another blog post???” Yeah I know. All of you have been refreshing your internet browsers waiting for this moment. And it’s finally here.

I’ll just do what I normally do and ramble on about hockey.

The New Jersey Devils have been struck by the injury bug. The New Jersey Devils have also been struck by the illness bug. Both Adam Larsson and Travis Zajac ended up getting the mumps. Prior to the start of the NHL season, I had no idea the mumps were even still around. Think about it… when was the last time you heard about ONE person getting a case of the mumps, yet alone players on four separate NHL teams?

That’s just ridiculous.

The point I’m trying to make here, though, is that the Devils can’t catch a break. Ryane Clowe presumably has a concussion (yes, again). Mike Cammalleri’s latest issue involved a muscle ailment in his butt (no, I’m not kidding). Patrik Elias has been dealing with a groin issue that he re-aggravated the other day. Who knows what is going with Bryce Salvador (despite the fact that he is awful at the sport of hockey doesn’t mean that I don’t care about another human being’s health)? Martin Havlat has been in-and-out of the lineup with various ailments (as expected when Lou Lamoriello signed him in the offseason). Jon Merrill just returned from an arm/wrist injury. Dainius Zubrus took a skate blade to the leg in a recent game and ended up with lacerations there… And as I mentioned in the paragraph above this, Adam Larsson and Travis Zajac have both been dealing with the mumps. I’m sure I missed something in this quick summary of the Devils’ season, but I hope you get the point now.

Still, though, the Devils have no excuses. No one feels bad for them. Their injury issues don’t even get discussed at great length during game broadcasts, and that’s because they still have to find a way to win hockey games. As of December 11th, the Devils sit in 5th place in the Metropolitan Division with an 11-13-5 record. They are technically only 3 points behind the Washington Capitals for 3rd in the division (and a playoff spot), but their on-ice play of late just isn’t going to cut it.

They’re injured [Did I mention that yet?]. They’re poorly coached [See previous post]. They’re THE oldest team in the NHL.

To be honest, it wasn’t hard to predict that they would end up having to deal with injuries this year given their players’ average age of 30.518 years old. I still thought that they would be higher up in the standings at this point in the season as a result of their top-notch goaltending (Cory Schneider has definitely done his job), experienced coaching staff, experienced player personnel, veteran leadership in the locker room and relatively-young group of defensemen (having a majority of d-men under the age of 25 is the only thing bringing down the team’s average age).

OK, so let’s do this. The Devils have completed roughly 1/3 of their schedule, so let’s look at a player-by-player breakdown of their roster, aka a “Player Report Card:”

#1 Keith Kinkaid

GRADE – A

Key Stat – 37 save performance vs. the Chicago Blackhawks in 1st NHL start

Notes – Kinkaid hasn’t been given much of an opportunity to showcase his talent yet this season. However, holding the Blackhawks to 2 goals on 39 SOG really opened some eyes. The guy has what it takes to be an NHL goaltender.

#2 Marek Zidlicky

GRADE – C

Key Stat – 22 penalty minutes (leads the team)

Notes – Zidlicky has been average. He is actually tied for 4th on the team with 14 points, but always seems to be a liability defensively. If he avoids taking stupid penalties, though, he could be a valuable asset to this team (or via trade bait) down the stretch.

#5 Adam Larsson

GRADE – B+

Key Stat – 17 games played

Notes – After starting the season off serving as a healthy scratch, Larsson found his way into the lineup and became a fixture on the Devils’ penalty kill following the injury to Bryce Salvador. Larsson has proved that he belongs in the top 6 defensemen [when healthy].

#6 Andy Greene

GRADE – A+

Key Stat – +/- rating of +4

Notes – Greene is 2nd on the team in +/- rating and first among defensemen. He has been a rock on the blue line for the Devils AND is one of only 4 Devils to play in every game this season (along with D partner Damon Severson). It’s also kind of shocking that he hasn’t scored a goal yet at this point in the season, but I guess that isn’t the reason the Devils locked him up with a 5-year contract prior to this season. The guy has been a great mentor to the team’s young defensemen, and if I was part of the management group for the Devils, I would’ve put a “C” on the front of his jersey.

#7 Jon Merrill

GRADE – B

Key Stat – shooting % of 10.00%

Notes – Jonny Merrill has only played in 15 games so far due to injury, but I found it surprising to see that he has the highest shooting percentage of any defenseman on the Devils’ roster (excluding Peter Harrold, who has only played in 6 games). The surprising part isn’t necessarily that his is the highest, but that he has ONLY taken 10 shots so far this season… and he is a part of the team’s power play unit. That number needs to go up, ASAP.

#8 Dainius Zubrus

GRADE – C-

Key Stat – 4 points

Notes – It’s unacceptable seeing only 4 points next to Dainus Zubrus’s name on the devils.nhl.com player stat sheet. He has played in 28 games this season… and only has 4 points? That can’t happen. Zubrus has proved one thing, though – he is still an extremely versatile player at age 36, having spent time on each of the team’s 4 forward lines.

#9 Martin Havlat

GRADE – C-

Key Stat – 2 goals

Notes – Havlat has scored only 2 goals so far this season. GM Lou Lamoriello went out and signed Havlat in the offseason to bring offense to this team, and thus far he has failed at finding ways to put the puck in the back of the net. And, of course, he’s had to deal with multiple injuries early on this season.

#10 Peter Harrold

GRADE – D

Key Stat – 6 games played

Notes – Harrold didn’t make the team out of training camp. I wasn’t surprised to see him get the call up from Albany a couple weeks ago, though, as Pete DeBoer has always loved this guy for whatever reason. He brings experience to a youthful group of defensemen, but I don’t think the talent is there for Harrold. I would like to mention that I was at the game when he scored his only goal this season! I guess I can also tell you that my fantasy hockey team name is “Peter Harrold & Kumar.” But that’s another story.

#11 Stephen Gionta

GRADE – C+

Key Stat – +/- rating of +7

Notes – He has played in every game this season, despite suffering bumps and bruises along the way. He has put up the highest +/- rating out of anyone on their team, which is surprising considering he’s a fourth line forward who plays a lot of his minutes late in games (in a defensive role) or out on the PK. I’d love to see him find a way to create more offense, but he’s done a solid job filling his required role.

#12 Damien Brunner

GRADE – D

Key Stat – placed on waivers today, 12/11, for the 2nd time this season

Notes – Brunner and head coach Pete DeBoer just didn’t work well together. Brunner may have been the most offensively-skilled player the Devils had on their roster for the past two seasons, but DeBoer had no idea how to use him. It’s also possible Brunner didn’t understand DeBoer’s system and just wasn’t a fit. Oh well. See yaaa.

#14 Adam Henrique

GRADE – A-

Key Stat – 16 points in 22 games played

Notes – He always finds a way to score in late-game pressure situations. He is averaging .73 points per game, which is easily first on the team. For the Devils to succeed, this guy needs to succeed.

#15 Tuomo Ruutu

GRADE – B

Key Stat – 5 goals in 28 games played

Notes – 5 goals in 28 games played might not seem like a big deal until you know that Ruutu scored 5 goals in 57 GAMES last season with the Hurricanes before being dealt to New Jersey in a trade that sent Andrei Loktionov to Carolina. Tuomo Ruutu isn’t a flashly 1st line player. He brings energy, awareness, and flexibility to this Devils squad.

#16 Jacob Josefson

GRADE – B-

Key Stat – 2 points in 21 games played

Notes – Josefson was originally considered a top prospect in the Devils organization. He has dealt with numerous injuries in his limited NHL career, but has shown flashes of legitimate talent. He has been awesome on the penalty kill for the Devils and brings a ton of speed to an otherwise extremely slow group of forwards. This is a guy you want to have on your team. If he can find a way to mix in some physical play, avoid getting hurt and FINALLY start creating scoring opportunities, that would surely be appreciated by the New Jersey Devils fan base.

#17 Michael Ryder

GRADE – C-

Key Stat – 4 goals on 60 shots

Notes – Goal scorers are supposed to score, and Ryder hasn’t done that [consistently] for the Devils in either of his 2 seasons donning the black and red. He’s got a great wrist shot, but he has to use it to produce goals. It’s that simple.

#18 Steve Bernier

GRADE – C+

Key Stat – +/- rating of +3

Notes – He finished last year as a member of the CBGB line (4th line) with a +/- rating of -15, which was absolutely pathetic. This season, he didn’t make the team out of training camp. Since being called up, to the NHL club, he has actually looked pretty good. He has put up 7 points in 18 games in somewhat limited minutes, so we all have to give the guy some credit.

#19 Travis Zajac

GRADE – D

Key Stat – 8 points in 23 games

Notes – 8 points for a top-line center playing alongside a future hall-of-famer [Jagr] is not acceptable. DeBoer even demoted him to the third line at times before he ended up with mumps. Zajac needs to step up. Big time.

#20 Jordin Tootoo

GRADE – C-

Key Stat – < 9 mins of time on ice

Notes – Lou Lamoriello chose to sign Jordin Tootoo after a tryout with the club during the preseason. He could have held onto Scott Gomez, kept Bernier on the team or could have practically done anything else. Tootoo hasn’t really done much at all. I guess he was brought in to bring some “toughness” and “grit” to a lineup that has been lacking that sort of stuff. Tootoo rarely finds the ice in the 3rd period and has played under 9 minutes in each of the 15 games he has played in so far this season.

#21 Scott Gomez

GRADE – B+

Key Stat – 2 assists in game vs. Carolina

Notes – He was signed so recently that there isn’t much to evaluate him on. He did put up a 2-point game in Carolina against the Hurricanes (both assists) this past week, and he has skated pretty well so far. As of this week, he moved up to center the team’s makeshift “top line” with Havlat and Jagr on his wings.

#22 Eric Gelinas

GRADE – C-

Key Stat – 4 power play points

Notes – He is in the lineup for his size and offensive abilities as a defenseman. His biggest asset is his slapshot that has the potential to be the focal point of the Devils power play. However, he only has 4 points on the power play and has found his way into Pete DeBoer’s doghouse, as he’s been a healthy scratch a bunch of times this season.

#23 Mike Cammalleri

GRADE – A-

Key Stat – 11 goals

Notes – He was brought in to score goals. So far, he has looked like a natural goal scorer in Jersey. Injuries have slowed him down, but when healthy, “Cammy” is an absolute animal.

#24 Bryce Salvador

GRADE – F

Key Stat – 68% PK

Notes – So he’s been injured for a while now, and the team’s group of defensemen has played pretty well. The stat I chose for Bryce actually doesn’t reflect solely him, but the entire team. Before he got hurt, Bryce Salvador was on the ice for all but one goal that the Devils gave up while shorthanded. They sat in last place in the NHL in terms of PK%. As of 12/11, the Devils have improved to 76%, which is much better. Just remember that the improvement came following the traffic cone’s departure from the PK unit (and lineup in general)

#25 Seth Helgeson

GRADE – B-

Key Stat – 26 hits in 11 games

Notes – Helgeson impressed everyone in training game. He didn’t make the team simply because there wasn’t enough room on the roster for him. When Salvador got hurt, the Devils needed another big defenseman, so they called up Helgeson. He has looked a little shaky at times, but has shown that he belongs in the NHL. I’d play him over Salvador even if/when Sal returns from his injury, but we all know DeBoer would never consider doing that.

#26 Patrik Elias

GRADE – D

Key Stat – +/- rating of -12 & 3 goals in 26 games

Notes – Patrik Elias has finally aged. His play has declined significantly this season. He now sits on IR with a groin injury, but even before the injury has has looked awful. He’s not the same anymore. The fact that he’s been on the ice for 12 more goals-against than goals-for at even strength is terrifying.

#28 Damon Severson

GRADE – A-

Key Stat – 70 shots on goal

Notes – No one expected this kid to make the team out of camp, despite the fact that he was impressive in the preseason. However, he found a way to force his way onto the opening day roster because he was just that good. He has played all season alongside Andy Greene against the opposing teams’ best forward lines, and he has not looked out of place at all. He loves to shoot the puck, which is good considering not many other Devils like to do that. He also has 11 points so far, which is surely impressive for a rookie defenseman on a team lacking any sort of consistent offense.

#29 Ryane Clowe

GRADE – D

Key Stat – 13 games played

Notes – He got hurt again. Big surprise. His history with concussions is concerning, especially given the fact that he is only in the second year of a 5-year contract with the Devils. Lamoriello may need to consider buying out the remainder of Clowe’s contract following the season.

#32 Mike Sislo

GRADE – B-

Key Stat – 1 assist in 6 games played

Notes – He was the first member of the Albany Devils to receive a call up to the big club this season, ahead of top scoring prospect Reid Boucher. Sislo has given DeBoer’s squad some quality minutes. He has also shown some flashes of superb speed and passing abilities.

#33 Reid Boucher

GRADE – C

Key Stat – 0 points in 4 games played

Notes – Boucher has been called up a couple times this season to bring a spark to the Devils lineup. He hasn’t really done that. If he’s playing in games, he needs to find ways to create offense. It’s as simple as that.

#35 Cory Schneider

GRADE – A-

Key Stat – 27 games started

Notes – Schneider has been a workhorse for the Devils. He has started 27 out of 29 games this season. Not surprisingly, the Devils have lost both games when he was sitting on the bench. As of 12/11, he has a .918 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average. Given his workload, it looks like he’ll need a bit more rest down the road to improve upon those numbers.

#40 Scott Clemmensen

GRADE – F

Key Stat – 4.71 GAA

Notes – I know. He has only played in 3 games at the NHL level this season (including 2 relief appearances). But, to be completely honest, he has looked awful. The Devils are better off keeping rookie goalie Keith Kinkaid up on the active roster because he has at least shown he can play at this level.

#68 Jaromir Jagr

GRADE – A

Key Stat – 17 points

Notes – Is anyone surprised to see Jagr leading the Devils in points AGAIN this season? This guy is incredible. He does look a bit slower this season, but that’s understandable given that he is 42 years old.

Head Coach Peter DeBoer

GRADE – D

Key Stat – 27 points in 29 games

Notes – I’ve already written a post concerning my thoughts on DeBoer. If he’s going to stick around as head coach for the rest of the season, he has to find ways to get the best out of his players.

And lastly, my overall team grade for this team would be… C-

They’ve shown signs of potential, but until they prove that they’re capable of doing big things (like winning big games), they’ve left a lot to be desired.