whats up with Rupp??

From all the training camp stuff that I read, I was under the impression that Rupp had a spot to lose at camp. Also, from what I read at camp, Rupp didn't have that weak of a camp and seemed to have a roster spot locked up...

So why are we wasting time with using Rasmussen as our 4th line centre over Rupp???

I'll make a case for using Rupp over Rasmussen....

Rasmussen has been a career underacheiver ever since he came into the NHL with Buffalo after being a first round pick. Having got the opportunity to watch him after the trade last year from Buffalo to LA, I thought that he might change for the better with the change of scenery. Wrong!!! I was shocked at how little effort he put forth in the games that I saw of LA. He always seemed to be floating around and not really doing much of anything out there except for blowing scoring chances. Even his defensive game seemed non-existent and he certainly had the time to shine in LA with all their injuries last year....yet he couldn't take the ball and run with it.

Now I'll admit that I'm not the biggest Rasmussen fan out there (obviously). When he was signed by Jersey, it was a move made strictly for depth (Lou even said it himself). So why are we not going with the guy who got us the Cup winning goal in game 7 and wasting our time with Rasmussen.

I'd much rather see how Rupp started the year out on a regular line than to see Rasmussen continue his underacheiving ways. If Rupp sucked it up for the first few games....then put Rasmussen in and send Rupp to the press box or even to Albany if need be.

I'm just not agreeing with the way we are handling Rupp here. Give the kid the chance and then take him out if he fails....right now...he's not even being given the chance despite what he did for us last year in the playoffs. Granted...last year was last year and the season is still very young....but for some reason this is pissing me off......

And for those out there who believe in Rasmussen, I leave you with this.....remember last year when we all got mad at watching Pandolfo out there??? Wastedolfo......Well Rasmussen is worse.....my prediction is that by the end of the year, we'll be calling for this guy's head.

Rupp played 26 regular season games last year as a rookie and Rasmussen plays a solid defensive game. Burns has said Rupp will play, I have faith that he knows how to handle a player's development.

I think Rasmussen and Larionov have been great additions. I'm curious how Brown will work out, since the Devils haven't had a lot of sucess with UFA dmen.

You were frustrated with "Wastedolfo" last year? When he was a major contributor to the NHL's best PK and his teammates voted him the team's 'unsung hero'?

The fact that Pando had scored a combined total of 10 goals in the two previous seasons should have clued you into the fact that he's not a goal scorer. He's a great checking forward and steps up in big games. Geez, I thought his performance in the playoffs had finally put an end to the 'Wastedolfo" bashing... :dunno:

I don't know, I think Raz has looked good between Berglund and Gionta. He makes room for those guys and he knows he's a checking center. Having Rupp as a 4th line center is a waste. He needs to be between Langs and Freeze. He excels there, but with Igor playing so well it makes it tough to fit him in. Maybe all this sitting will light a fire under him, and when he finally gets in he'll stay hungry. Lets hope!

Rupp played 26 regular season games last year as a rookie and Rasmussen plays a solid defensive game. Burns has said Rupp will play, I have faith that he knows how to handle a player's development.

I think Rasmussen and Larionov have been great additions. I'm curious how Brown will work out, since the Devils haven't had a lot of sucess with UFA dmen.

You were frustrated with "Wastedolfo" last year? When he was a major contributor to the NHL's best PK and his teammates voted him the team's 'unsung hero'?

The fact that Pando had scored a combined total of 10 goals in the two previous seasons should have clued you into the fact that he's not a goal scorer. He's a great checking forward and steps up in big games. Geez, I thought his performance in the playoffs had finally put an end to the 'Wastedolfo" bashing... :dunno:


First off....yes Pandolfo had a good playoffs for us and was a big contributor to our penalty killing...I never said he wasn't....I also never said he was a big scorer...

I just remember when we were in a bit of a slump there last year and certain people on here were searching for answers...including me...and the "Wastedolfo" bashing started up again....

basically it seems to me that Pandolfo is our "goat"...when things are going badly..he takes alot of blame..which may or may not be fair...but that seems to be the way it is....

I'm just saying that going back to when all the Wastedolfo bashing took place, I'm thinking that we'll be replacing Pandolfo this year with Rasmussen as the scapegoat...which again may or may not be fair to him. But from what I've seen so far in his stops in both Buffalo and LA...the fans have said the same thing....he's lazy, wastes his scoring opportunities when he gets them and won't really hit anyone despite his size....

all I'm saying is I'd much rather see Rupp than Rasmussen...even if its on the 4th line to start out with. I don't see a problem with giving Rupp 12 minutes a game and maybe some second team powerplay time as well...at least in the beginning to see what he can do....even putting him on the 4th line would help hone his defensive skills at least before developing his offensive talent on a higher line....

I think we have a good situation with Rupp and Rasmussen. These are two guys with good tools that have problems getting up for games. So all we have to do is play one and scratch the other. When the one that's playing starts to fade, just switch em. I was very skeptical when we got Rasmussen, but after watching him in the opener, I have to admit he played well, why take him out now? Rupp isn't in the lineup because he wasn't consistant enough at the end of training camp.

Rupp will get his opportunity with the team soon. The message has been sent to the Devils that past reputations and moments of newfound glory mean little at the start of a new season and that players can't take things for granted expecting things to be definitive. His role is to hit bodies and create scoring opportunities for his linemates crashing and screening the net with repeated traffic and he'll need to stick to this to be a regular player. Berglund is doing all these same things for us right now - they are interchangeable at this point. It's a real shame that Bergs' breakaway was stopped last second by the great skating and hustle of Aaron Ward as it would have been a 3-1 game. Canes announcers were beaming over how Ward was the most improved physically conditioned athlete returning to the Hurricanes lineup this season so it just wasn't meant to be last night.

Rasmussen has turned in two solid games for the Devils so far and continues to quietly impress me. I went back and watched the 3rd period again this afternoon and he made a bunch of smart simple plays clearing the defensive zone when the rest of the team was struggling to combat the re-energized Murray-Francis-O'Neill line after Staal was promptly removed from it. He knocked a few bodies around behind Brodeur last night, was good in transitioning to offense, and created a turnover to the right of Weekes which would have been a great Devils scoring opportunity if he could have held onto it a bit longer then he did. All in all, he's been good. My one criticism right now is that he could be a bit more physical then he's been, but its a minor one. He was one of our more consistent players last night.

I didn't bash him either. The guy gets so little respect around the league despite everything positive he brings to this team.