Quote:
Originally Posted by T@T
There also also about 60 million people in that area and a lot of hockey fans. This is one case where size doesn't matter.
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Who cares if they aren't filling an arena. The Devils have been one of the most successful teams in the NHL over the last 25 years. They have missed the playoffs 4 times since 1987 (twice in the last 3 years). They have won the Stanley Cup 3 times since 1995 and have been to the Stanley Cup Finals an additional 2 times.
Between 2000 and 2003 they won 2 Stanley Cups and lost in the Finals against Colorado. That's 11 playoff series wins in 4 years, as many as the Flames have won since 1985. They still struggled to break 15,000 fans on any given night, new arena or not.
Now they look to be entering a very bleak period. Parise left, Kovalchuk's gone, Brodeur's 41, their leading scorer Elias is 37, so is their captain Salvador, along with Jagr, Zubrus and friends they have the oldest team by far. While not void of younger talent (Larsson, Zajac, Schneider) they have one of the worst if not the worst prospect pool in the league and no 1st rounder next year to boot. If they couldn't fill the arena when they were the class of the NHL, I don't see why they will be filling it in the immediate future.
They've got their arena, that's about it. I expect to see a couple more Nordique invasions like they have been doing the last couple years.