[Untamed]

I haven't been on NJFBOA in a while, but coming back I can't help but see this thread and feel the need to defend.

I believe the Devils can make it into the playoffs this year. Despite the problems experienced, and the trades completed, I believe Lemare can treat these players like the overpaid 6 year olds that they are. For any of you who are parents, you know that kids need constant supervision - and if you don't get stern with them, and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to, they won't. The moment you leave the room, they go back to goofing off.

The coaching change prooves the players need to be treated like kids.

Another benefit was returning players to the lineup who were injured. Rolston and Greene are huge on this team. Once they got healthy, and Lemare came back, the team began winning. They are far from the team they used to be however.

Sometimes a violent shakeup is needed. Langenbruner got his come-to-Jesus moment and he was traded. Kovalchuck got his pounding in the media for his lack of performance after the media circus that was his contract signing over the summer. All kinds of things were very uncharacteristic for this winning team.

Now... they are climbing over the bodies to get to within sight of the playoffs. Some of those bodies are their own players and coaches.

This is not a "rebuilding" year, nor are they "playing for pride" at this point. The Devils know they got caught being lazy and need to redouble their efforts.

Now they are winning.