This is a series of posts on the Devils’ pending free agents (restricted and unrestricted). We’ll cover their strengths and weaknesses and end up with a final verdict on whether we think the Devils should re-sign the player. There will also be a poll at the end of each post so you guys can weigh in with your thoughts.
Position: Center Age: 22 2013 statistics: 22 games/1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points/minus-10 rating, 2 PIMs Free-agent status: Restricted 2012-13 salary/cap hit: $900,000 (NHL)/$900,000 (NHL) (via Cap Geek) Team history: Drafted in first round (20th overall) in 2009
What he brings: Josefson is a sound defensive centerman. He’s the kind of player you can toss out on the ice on your third or fourth line and generally assume he’ll keep things in order and help lock down one of the opponent’s top units. He’s developed into a good penalty killer and spent a lot of time on the Devils’ PK units before being sent down to Albany in February. Josefson has good enough size (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) that he won’t get tossed around and can generally hold his own. The Stockholm native also has some nice hands and some undercover playmaking ability that shows itself now and again to be a real weapon.
Even though the New Jersey Devils are no longer playing as team, some Devils are still playing competitive hockey.
The IIHF World Championships are happening abroad– in Finland and Sweden, in fact. There are two Devils apiece on Teams USA and Russia.
Those squads happened to square off Tuesday, with Ilya Kovalchuk gaining a goal and an assist in Russia’s 5-3 win over the Americans at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.
Kovalchuk now has five goals in only three games and leads the entire tournament with seven points. Kovalchuk’s linemate– on the Devils and Team Russia– Andrei Loktionov was a plus-1 in 12:18.
Stephen Gionta and Ryan Carter were each a minus-2 for Team USA.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 7…
1994- Stephane Richer’s goal at 14:19 of the first overtime lifts New Jersey to a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins in game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Boston Garden.
Ben Hankinson, Valeri Zelepukin and Bernie Nicholls each pot goals, and Richer nets two as the Devils even the series at 2.
1995- Martin Brodeur stops all 23 shots, and Claude Lemiuex pots a pair of goals in New Jersey’s 5-0 win over the Bruins in game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Boston Garden.
2001- Petr Sykora scores once and adds an assist, and Brian Rafalski pots the eventual game-winning goal late in the second, as the Devils stave off elimination with a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Air Canada Centre.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 6…
1972- Denis and Mireille Brodeur welcomed a baby boy, Martin, into the world. That boy would grow into the Devils’ — and arguably the NHL’s — greatest goalie of all time.
1988- The Boston Bruins hammer the Devils, 6-1, in game 3 of the Wales Conference Finals at Brendan Byrne Arena, taking a 2-1 edge in the best-of-7 series.
Still, this game is widely remembered for the postgame verbal — and possible physical — assault by Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld on official Don Koharski.
2000- Scott Gomez registers two assists, and John Madden notches the game-winning goal, helping the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Air Canada Centre.
2012- After falling behind 2-0, the Devils storm back for four-unanswered goals, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifnals at Prudential Center.
Dainius Zubrus scores twice, and Petr Sykora registers a goal and an assist, as the Devils take a 3-1 series advantage.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 5…
1994- Tom Chorske scores twice and records an assist, leading New Jersey to a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins in game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Stephane Richer adds two assists as New Jersey cut the Bruins’ series lead to 2-1.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 4…
1988- Pat Verbeek’s overtime goal lifts New Jersey to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins in game 2 of the Prince of Wales Finals at Boston Garden. Aaron Broten and Doug Brown also score goals, evening the series at 1.
The Devils have nominated right wing David Clarkson as their nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
Clarkson, 29, just completed his seventh NHL season, all with the Devils. He led the team with 15 goals while playing in all 48 games. As Clarkson’s contributions on the ice have grown, one thing has remained constant: his outsized passion for charitable endeavors.
This year, Clarkson joined the advisory board for the Hockey in Newark program and helped arrange the donation of 50 sets of hockey equipment through the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams Fund.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is given to the player who demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made exceptional humanitarian contributions in the community.
Pat Pickens
I think the most awesome part about this nomination is that “King Clancy” is named in full. Honestly, how often are you nominated for an award named after a king?!
Seriously though, the award isn’t named after a king. And Clarkson’s charitable endeavors are quantifiable. In the past year, he’s done the following:
• In March, the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent a young fan to visit a Devils practice. Clarkson met with him one-on-one for a very special interview and team experience.
• In December, he took part in the RBC Play Hockey Charity Challenge in Toronto to benefit grassroots hockey causes through the NHLPA’s Goals and Dreams Fund and the RBC Play Hockey Program.
• Also in December, Clarkson participated in the NHLPA’s charity game in Windsor, Ontario, to benefit SPARKLES From Above, which supports childhood cancer patients and their journey through treatment.
• In July 2012, Clarkson teamed up with Indy car driver Graham Rahal at the Honda Indy Toronto to promote their individual foundations.
New Jersey’s never had a Clancy Memorial Trophy winner– Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators was the 2012 winner.
The 2013 winner will be announced at the NHL Awards.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 3…
2001- New Jersey is soundly dismantled in game 4 by the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 at Air Canada Centre, evening the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals at 2 games apiece.
Unfortunately– for both Leafs and Devils fans alike– the game is remembered more for this:
2012- Alexei Ponikarovsky scores at 17:19 of the first overtime, lifting the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The overtime win gives the Devils a 2-1 edge in the series.
