Around the League 45: The Stanley Cup is in God's Waiting Room

[Svechhammer]

Biz vs Bouy

The showdown we didn't know we needed in hockey

 

[Joe McGrath]

Devils also pretty mid suddenly.

When they suddenly aren’t playing Buffalo?

 

[Discipline Daddy]

When they suddenly aren’t playing Buffalo?

Devils could be legit now that their D is getting healthy. Let's see how they look with the full squad and have had some time to gel. For me it's about how they look defensively. We know they have weapons, new coach, new goalies, but can they gap up and clear big boys from the crease? Are they actually more playoff-ready, or do they just look that way on paper? Even as big of a fan of the Canes as I am, it's hard to look at both our roster and theirs and say that our roster looks better.

 

[A Star is Burns]

When they suddenly aren’t playing Buffalo?

I still think they will ultimately have a good season and have a good shot at the playoffs. I was also one of the folks that mentioned that they had a f*** ton of ground to make up from where they finished last year and winning the offseason doesn't always translate to being the best team. I think their goalie tandem was fairly overrated by many people though it will be better if they settle in with Pesce and Hughes back.

 

[Derailed75]

Devils could be legit now that their D is getting healthy. Let's see how they look with the full squad and have had some time to gel. For me it's about how they look defensively. We know they have weapons, new coach, new goalies, but can they gap up and clear big boys from the crease? Are they actually more playoff-ready, or do they just look that way on paper? Even as big of a fan of the Canes as I am, it's hard to look at both our roster and theirs and say that our roster looks better.

Its a team sport, its really hard to judge how good a team is going to be by just the roster. RBA has proven time and again he can coach a group of guys to be a team. Has Keefe ever done that?

 

[Svechhammer]

IMO I think the Devils are going to sink or swim based on how well Pesce fits in to their defense. Their biggest need for years has been a stay at home defenseman who excels at preventing shots on goal and keeping the puck away from the net. Pesce fits their needs perfectly.

If he has them able to ice a defensive line like we had with him and Skjei, it completely changes how NJ is able to play. They would be able to better neutralize the opposing offensive attack, and should have more outlets for their offense to work. On paper, him coming back in should have them looking like one of the best teams in the league, if not the best.

But, he also isn't as quick as he used to be and does tend to get injured fairly frequently. And there is no guarantee he gels with anyone on their defense, and his style might not translate to the speed they want to play, so who knows, it might all be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

IMO I think the Devils are going to sink or swim based on how well Pesce fits in to their defense. Their biggest need for years has been a stay at home defenseman who excels at preventing shots on goal and keeping the puck away from the net. Pesce fits their needs perfectly.

If he has them able to ice a defensive line like we had with him and Skjei, it completely changes how NJ is able to play. They would be able to better neutralize the opposing offensive attack, and should have more outlets for their offense to work. On paper, him coming back in should have them looking like one of the best teams in the league, if not the best.

But, he also isn't as quick as he used to be and does tend to get injured fairly frequently. And there is no guarantee he gels with anyone on their defense, and his style might not translate to the speed they want to play, so who knows, it might all be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Pesce of today ain't the same Pesce of 3-5 years ago for us. Last year he had dropped off considerably in my view and Skjei was doing the heavier lifting on the pairing. The year before he had started to show signs of decline. I don't think he'll be the answer for NJ. He should help them for the next couple years but not as much as they hoped when they signed him. I'm a big fan and while I'm not happy he went to NJ I do still want to see him personally do well and get/stay healthy. I just don't think it'll happen the way they all expect.

 

[MinJaBen]

IMO I think the Devils are going to sink or swim based on how well Pesce fits in to their defense. Their biggest need for years has been a stay at home defenseman who excels at preventing shots on goal and keeping the puck away from the net. Pesce fits their needs perfectly.

If he has them able to ice a defensive line like we had with him and Skjei, it completely changes how NJ is able to play. They would be able to better neutralize the opposing offensive attack, and should have more outlets for their offense to work. On paper, him coming back in should have them looking like one of the best teams in the league, if not the best.

But, he also isn't as quick as he used to be and does tend to get injured fairly frequently. And there is no guarantee he gels with anyone on their defense, and his style might not translate to the speed they want to play, so who knows, it might all be like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

I just don't see Pesce making that big a difference. One guy out of six is not going to change the effectiveness of their D-core. It may given them a little bump up, but it is not a step change.

 

[NotOpie]

Devils could be legit now that their D is getting healthy. Let's see how they look with the full squad and have had some time to gel. For me it's about how they look defensively. We know they have weapons, new coach, new goalies, but can they gap up and clear big boys from the crease? Are they actually more playoff-ready, or do they just look that way on paper? Even as big of a fan of the Canes as I am, it's hard to look at both our roster and theirs and say that our roster looks better.

Our roster is better than theirs.....see, it's not that hard at all.

Personally, I think Luke Hughes is highly overrated. Great skater, but not sure what's between the ears. His defense is, how should I say, shitty.

 

[bleedgreen]

The Devils had one bad year when they got derailed by injuries. They’re highly likely to be just as good as they were a couple of years ago, and probably would’ve been even if they didn’t make the good additions they made. Adding Pesce and Hughes looked pretty huge last night even in a loss.

The whole league is pretty tight right out of the gate this year. It’s going to take some time to see who’s going to be really good and who isn’t. Even SJ looks better than I thought they would, though their demise seems inevitable. Nashville messed up their chemistry and that takes time, but they’re behind the 8 ball early.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Pesce and Hughes a - in their first shift tonight. Not that they did anything wrong. Pesce and another Devil lost a puck battle in the corner but it was 2 on 2 so a 50/50 and nothing done wrong by Pesce. Hughes was tying up Nelson but Nelson got position and made a great tip.

EDIT: and Pesce just made a nice play with a clear on the PK when it would have been a likely goal.

EDIT 2: Then the next shift, 3 straight zone entries he stopped at the blue line.

 

[MinJaBen]

If the Islanders fall flat this year, I hope we target Nelson at the deadline. He’d be a near perfect add to the group.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

If the Islanders fall flat this year, I hope we target Nelson at the deadline. He’d be a near perfect add to the group.

Agree. I've watched the Devils a couple of times. Timo Meier looks great and he would have been a perfect Cane with how he plays and Rod would have loved him.

Oh well. I also don't have confidence we would have extended him if we traded for him either, but who knows.