NHL Hockey Betting - New Jersey Devils

NHL Betting – 2006-07 New Jersey Devils
Manager: Brent Sutter
Arena: Continental Airlines Arena
Last Season: 49-24-9, 107 pts (1st Atlantic, 2nd Eastern Conference)
2008 Predication: 6th Eastern Conference

Preseason Odds to win Stanley Cup: +1500

The Devils lost two key parts of their offense and made very few improvements. Scott Gomez is now a New York Ranger and Brian Rafalski, their best puck-moving defenseman, is in Detroit. That does not bode well for a team that scored the fewest goals of all playoff teams in the regular season with 216.

Though the steady Devils have brought in Dainius Zubrus and Karel Rachunek to bolster the loss of Gomez and Rafalski, it is obvious that both of those players are significant downgrades. The only saving grace for the Jersey boys lies between the pipes.

Martin Brodeur is the best goaltender in the league. He had the most wins in the league with 48 and played in an astounding 78 tests throughout the year. Nothing more needs to be said about Brodeur, who will resume his pursuit of Patrick Roy’s all-time wins record when the puck drops in October.

The defense protecting Brodeur is stiff and the easily the stingiest in the Eastern Conference. Last year they ranked third overall in goals-against. Paul Martin will bear the load left by the departed Rafalski and he has all the physical tools, and high hockey IQ, to make the blue-line in New Jersey one of the best.

The division is certainly one of the toughest in the league, and experts will be quick to discount the Devils because of their lack of star power. Truth be told, however, the Devils have consistently made the playoffs in spite of this. The long term NHL betting investors should rest easy on the Devils making the playoffs once more. Getting Brodeur there well-rested is a whole other story.

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Official Website: www.newjerseydevils.com