AUTHOR: The Maven TITLE: Dilemmas, dilemmas DATE: 10/25/2006 03:49:00 PM ----- BODY:

Claude Julien faces the first decisive moment in his young Devils coaching career. Prepping for Thursday night’s return home against Florida, Julien has four problems to solve: INVISIBLE ELIAS: Where is New Jersey’s captain? Why hasn’t he been producing as Lou Lamoriello had expected when gifted with a seven year contract? DEFENSIVE DUDS: The prime backline combo of Colin White and Paul Martin have been simply ineffective. In Tuesday’s 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh White’s mistakes were egregious while Martin played as if he had missed training camp exhibitions, which he did. POWERLESS POWERPLAY: Trailing by two late in the second at Pitt, the Devils were gifted with a four-minute PP. A goal – or two – could have turned the game around. Once again, it was inept. MADDENING MADDEN: There used to be a time when the top line on the opposing team would fear facing the Devils’ top checking center. In Pitt Madden -3 for the evening. This issue was apparent when the Penguins’ Sid Crosby was a step ahead of Madden scoring the Penguins second goal. As I noted a week ago the Elias salvation is rooted in his being moved back to the Scott Gomez-Brian Gionta line, his natural habitat. Zach Parise, looking as good as any Devil forward would then be moved back to his natural center position with Jamie Langenbrunner and Sergei Brylin. Rookie Barry Tallackson would take right wing alongside John Madden and Jay Pandolfo. Shoring up the cracking defense is a more difficult assignment with David Hale indefinitely sidelined, Julien is stuck with a pair of inexperienced backliners, Johnny Oduya and Jim Fahey backing Brian Rafalski, Brad Lukowich, White and Martin. Bottom line: White-Martin had better get better pronto! As for the powerless power play, conspicuous by its absence is a dynamic-shooting point man. Without one, the Devs are forced to rely on a passing PP in the hopes they can move the rubber to a free man in front. Too often, New Jersey winds up with wide angle shots that are easily foiled. On the plus side, let’s not forget that at 4-4-1-9 in nine games, the Devs are actually ahead of their (4-5-0-9) mark from last season. Now it’s up to Julien to get them back over the .500 mark. POUNDING THE PANTHERS: I’m saying that tonight’s the night during which Jaromir Jagr bursts out of his merely average play. And I’m certain it will happen on the power play. That said, I’m going to be sharply watching how Jagr and Brendan Shanahan interact on that PP. Ideally, the dynamic duo should compliment each other but, on the minus side, there’s a possibility that the two might negate each other’s offensive virtues. Right now, I’m putting my money on a big break through.

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