For fans and players of the NHL this has been a long and stressful summer up to this point. With the CBA still not signed for the 2012-2013 season it has made everyone tense. And with the decision from Commissioner Gary Bettman last week saying that if there is no deal signed before September 15th there will be a lockout things have gotten worse.

This is a nightmare for both fans and players alike because of what happened in 2004 when the entire league was shut down for an entire season because of the lockout. That year saw a huge loss in money and players, after over 350 of them went to play over in Europe because of this decision. Now with the KHL having many elite teams with elite players (including a lot of former NHL players) it poses an even bigger threat that players will once again leave.

The NHLPA submitted a proposal yesterday afternoon to the NHL in their offices in New York City. After a two hour meeting which included high profile players such as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos the NHL and Gary Bettman decided they were going to need another day to digest everything that happened yesterday. So the wait continues, until around noon this afternoon when they will meet again to go over the current proposal which includes the players taking a hit in terms on revenue aspect of the deal. Everyone just wants to start the season on time and everyone hopes both sides come to an agreement quickly. But for now we wait…

The New Jersey Devils are in the midst of an adjustment and it is not something the fans or owners want to go through. This has been one of the craziest offseasons for the Devils after playing a season not many thought they could do just yet. The 2011-2012 season saw the Los Angeles Kings win their fist Stanley Cup in their 45 year history. But it also saw a strong New Jersey Devils team force a game 6 in the finals after having their backs against the wall being down 0-3. That team proved to everyone that they deserved to be in the finals after beating the Florida Panthers in 7, the Philadelphia Flyers in 5 and the New York Rangers in the Conference Finals in 6. Everything was clicking for a team many wrote off before the playoffs started, but one player put the team on his back and played his heart out to shut everyone up and prove they were a cup contending team for a reason. Zach Parise.

The captain of the Devils was a franchise player, a leader and a homegrown guy, after the Devils drafted him in the first round of the 2003 NHL draft (17th overall). That is until he, along with Nashville Predators forward Ryan Suter, shocked everyone by signing 13 year deals worth $98 million with the Minnesota Wild. Devils fans were shocked, their captain and heart and soul guy for years signed a deal with another team, after making it to the finals a few weeks prior. Everyone knew he was going to test the waters of free agency after not signing a contract extension during the regular season, but Devils fans thought he would just test the waters, not dive in smiling.

But the worst part is Parise isn’t the only guy who left Newark, NJ this summer. Forwards Alexi Ponikarovsky signed with the Winnipeg Jets and Eric Boulton signed with the New York Islanders while defenseman Matt Taormina signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And from the coaching standpoint both of the assistant coaches left. Adam Oates left to become head coach of the Washington Capitals and Larry Robinson is now an associate coach of the San Jose Sharks. Yes the Devils signed some guys (including two new assistant coaches) during the summer but the additions don’t add up to the losses the Devils suffered within the span of about a month. The loss of two assistant coaches, a defenseman, three forwards, one of whom was the captain, and losing the Stanley Cup in 6 games…The Devils will have a lot to prove when the 2012-2013 season starts in October.

Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has looked anything but solid in these playoffs. In the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins the offense and high emotions carried them in a 6 game defeat of the Pens. The fire seems to have vanished from these Flyers and they are on the verge of elimination tonight. After Giroux threw a hissy fit after being frustrated in Game 4 Brendan Shannahan decided to suspend him for tonights game. Giroux will be forced to watch from the press box tonight. The Devils came off a 7 game series with the Florida Panthers and have only seem tired in Game 1. A game they took to overtime. Goalie Martin Brodeur celebrate his 40th birthday in style with a Game 4 defeat. Brodeur became the first goalie to win a playoff game in his teens and in his 40’s. After riding their emotions to the win over the Penguins the Flyers seem lifeless and destined to finish their season tonight in front of their home fans.

If the New Jersey Devils get past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, they will have beaten the defending Stanley Cup champions 10 times.

If the New Jersey Devils get past the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, they will have beaten the defending Stanley Cup champions 10 times.

Whether it translates into postseason success remains to be seen.

“We hope so,” goalie Martin Brodeur said. “If it gives us any edge on them later on, well good.”

New Jersey vaulted into a first-place tie with the Penguins. Both teams have 87 points, but the Devils have played one fewer game. Fans chanted “You can’t beat us!” as the final seconds ticked down.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Brendan Shanahan is retiring from the NHL.

After 21 seasons and an almost certain Hall of Fame career, the 40-year-old forward announced Wednesday that he wouldn’t play again. After going through training camp with the New Jersey Devils, the team he spent his final season with, he and the club mutually parted unexpectedly shortly before opening night of the season.

That move came one day after Shanahan, who scored 656 career goals, was told there was no spot for him on the Devils’ top three lines.

He has not played this season.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com