January 19, 2013, New Jersey Devils-New York Islanders notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES
Stefan Matteau pulls on the sweater of his father's hated rival at June's draft.
Sports are based in the belief that nothing is given -- even if
you’re a first-round draft pick and your father played in the NHL.
Everything is earned, which is why Stefan Matteau made the Devils’ roster out of training camp.
“Merit,” Devils head coach Pete DeBoer said Saturday morning when asked
why the 28th-overall pick in June’s draft dressed for the season opener
at the Nassau Coliseum against the Islanders. Matteau was scheduled to
skate on the fourth line with Jacob Josefson and Cam Janssen Saturday
night. “He came to camp and earned the right to be in the lineup.
Nothing other than that.”
Initially, the organizational plan was for Matteau to spend the year
with Blainville-Boisbriand of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
following training camp. However, the lockout allowed Matteau to start
the year with the Armada. He had 18 goals and 10 assists with a plus-19
rating and 70 penalty minutes in 35 games.
“The 30 guys we brought to camp were there because they had a chance to
make the team,” DeBoer said. “And he separated himself from some people
over the four or five days.”
Matteau learned of the decision Friday and said he was “excited and
didn’t know what to say.” He was still searching for words following the
Devils early skate.
“I didn’t know what to say. It was obviously a great feeling. I called
my family right away,” Matteau said. “Got to play hockey now.”
He did so in front of his father, Stephane, who made the trip to Long
Island from Quebec. Stephane is an assistant coach with
Blainville-Boisbriand, and is known for scoring the 1994 Eastern
Conference final-clinching goal against Martin Brodeur and the Devils
while a member of the Rangers.
“He didn’t know what to say,” Stefan said of his father. “He was looking
for words, too. He’s obviously very proud of me, telling me he was
going to be here, for sure. My whole family is a big part of why I’m
here.
“I know he’s going to be here, for sure.”
Managing the netminders
DeBoer has a luxury in having two NHL-caliber goaltenders in Brodeur and Johan Hedberg.
But both are nearing the ends of their careers. Brodeur is 40 and
Hedberg is 39. With the season condensed to 48 games in 99 days, does
DeBoer feel like he has to make a special effort to manage the workload?
“I don’t think the age plays a role. We have an advantage, I believe,
because we have two goalies that I think are starting goaltenders. It’s
going to be awful tough to ride one guy through a 48-game condensed
schedule,” DeBoer said. “We’re going to need both guys and it’s a great
luxury for a coach to have both of those guys like that.”
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1160100--devils-notebook-matteau-makes-cut-for-season-roster
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:44 AM
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