Oh how I love Devils fans and how over the top defensive they get when discussing their team/players!
Let's start out with both Todd, homer almost to the Sam Woo level and the rest of these Devil fans who are actually pretending to believe that negotiations haven't even started between Lou and Zach! 
Do you guys actually believe that because it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard...Of course they have had talks and if Lou hasn't had these talks as you guys claim wouldn't he be failing in his duties as a GM trying to get this years most sought after UFA back in the fold?!?!?!
You guys are trying to twist and turn this anyway you can to try and pretend that Zach is most likely gone and that there are numerous facts that support him not wanting to be a Devil any more.
Let's start with you guys pretending that this run to the Finals somehow brings you guys back to being some year in and out contending team of course ignoring the fact that you guys were one OT goal away from getting bounced in round one again by the weakest of all 16 playoff teams in the first round!
You guys went on a nice run to close the season in the last 6 games but no team padded their points more with the gimmick shootout then the Devils with their 12 orr 13 shootout "wins" which was a joke.
This was not some unbelievable playoff run you went on here after almsot getting knocked out in rd 1 by the weakest of the 16 teams and then catching Philly after their wacky Pitt series and then a NYR team that was shot and worn down by rd 3 so while you guys did win each of those I just can't stop laughing how dismissive Devil fans are of other teams as if this is '95-2003 all over again while obviously trying to ignore just how painfully mediocre the team has been since the '03 Cup where you guys crash and burned in spectaular fashion year in and out in round one with a few meager 2nd round appearances sprinkled in but you guys haven't been contenders since Stevens and Nieds were patrolling the blueline!
One run to the Finals doesn't change that and when you look at how old the teams is including Marty who has no replacement anywhere to be found as well as a very middle to bottom of the road prospect pool/depth and it's not hard to see that NJ is FAR from consistent contenders and that's why Zach is bolting for a better situation! 
Without being homers please try and convince the rest of us that NJ has this great future ahead and that he wouldn't be better suited going to a team that actually has great prospect depth, players in their prime NOW, and great fans who's support lead to a stable financial situation...NONE of which the Devils have!
The Kings, Bruins and Rangers all offer all of the above and there are plenty of other teams as well that are in a much better long term situation in regards to those 3 factors then what the Devils are so please...please stop crowing like NJ is some year in and out contender while dismissing teams like Minny, Carolina and other potential suitors!
Watching you guys pretend that you aren't a slightly above middle of the road team since 2003 is almost as comical as watching Devil fans try and convince themselves as well as everybody else that the team isn't in a total financial mess to the point where it's almost as pathetic as watching a 4 yr old covering his ears going "lalalalalala...I can't hear you!" when Devil fans discuss it!
You guys attack the NY Post and any other sorce that reports on it as if there is no foundation but it is such a black and white, undeniable situation that it just shows the levels of homerism among the fanbase!
And you guys have nobody but yourselves to blame because for years we heard that it was the CAA that was the root of the disgusting fan support but now with a beautiful brand spanking new building as well as a easily accessible location by mass transit and fan friednly ticket prices you guys still have thousands upon thousands of empties for almsot every game during the season.
But keep trying to pretend that some white knight is just swooping in to just make that 200 million in debt just magiclly disappear and see how that works out for you! 
The Devils almost decade long run af being a contender died in 2003...almost 10 years ago so please stop acting like NJ is some place to be because Zach is bolting just like you Captain Scott Stevens tried to do 2 separate times, one of which he illeaglly negotiated with the Blues before he was even allowed to do so because he wanted back to St Louis and out of NJ so bad as well as lifer Elias being a NTC away from signing with the Rangers and Kovalchuk only signed there because LA wouldn't give him that assinine contract that Lou did and it wasn't for lack of trying because anyone who followed those noegotiations remembers how many trips Ilya made to LA to try and get them to come close to the Devils EXTREME OVERPAYMENT as LA was obviously where he wanted to play which is why it dragged out so long because AK only took the payoof from the Devils and steeled there when he saw nobody else was going to come close to the magical 100 million dollar mark which was so important to Ilya.
So keep pretending that both realites aren't the case and have fun shopping in the bargain bin again for UFA's after Zach bolts because people with choices and who have multiple suitors NEVER choose to play in NJ! 
- JR9JA11
You're main point, about NJ being on the decline and not being a true contender die to a "fluke" season is ignoring one big thing, which is evidenced by the recent SC Champion LA Kings.
All you have to do is make the dance. And with the exception of last year obviously, we all know NJ's track record as far as making the playoffs. MacLame was an abortion of a HC and once a real one was brought in, they returned to form.
All you have to do is build a playoff team. Once you're in the playoffs anything can happen. You can get production from your 4th liners. You can have a goalie get hot and carry you to the Cup.
That simple. Lou Lam knows what he's doing more than any of us. His 3 rings should e taught you all that but people keep doubting and hating. Pundits have been saying for over a decade how NJ was going to fall off and become a bottom-feeder. With the exception of last year which I already discussed, it's been a while now. Keep it up. We like it when people ignore NJ. They seem to feed off it. They'll be out to prove everyone wrong again next year who said this year was a fluke. I'll enjoy watching them prove everyone wrong. Again. Cheers!
