Around the League 46: Sharks Finally Yank A Win Out Of Their Cloaca

[Blueline Bomber]

12 total shots for the rags today

lol

lmao even

Honestly, that’s more of a testament to the Devils. They’ve had 7 consecutive games where they’ve held their opponents to 20 or fewer shots. Which is insane.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Noesen tied for 10th in the NHL with 17 goals. I love it for him as he worked his ass off and changed his game to get where he is, just hate that it is benefitting NJ.

NJ is a force this year. Goaltending and defense has been their pitfall, but with the addition of Markstrom and Pesce, as well as a step forward from Luke Hughes, they are going to be a tough out.

He’s still my favorite player.

 

[Derailed75]

Aren't we 1 and 1 against the Devils? I'm not terribly worried about them being some God tier team. They are good and one if the top teams in the east. As a matter of fact we are 1 and 1 against both them and Washington and we think our team is bad. 5th best in the east and have handled the top 2 teams pretty well. Now the Cats drug us but we were also struggling with net minding.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Aren't we 1 and 1 against the Devils? I'm not terribly worried about them being some God tier team. They are good and one if the top teams in the east. As a matter of fact we are 1 and 1 against both them and Washington and we think our team is bad. 5th best in the east and have handled the top 2 teams pretty well. Now the Cats drug us but we were also struggling with net minding.

Who said anything about them being a "God Tier" Team

I simply said they are a force and have shored up 2 areas that have held them back in the past.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Who said anything about them being a "God Tier" Team

I simply said they are a force and have shored up 2 areas that have held them back in the past.

Yeah. If I compare their roster with ours, the Devils clearly look to be the better team to me. They've got great defensive depth, excellent forwards, and two solid goaltenders. They're also a young team and look to be a force for a decade.

The good thing we have going is we have a lot of veteran depth and our players know how to win playoff games and to win grinding games. It's still not clear how the Devils will do defensively if they play a contending team. Last time we outed them, we eviscerated their whole gameplan and scored at will. This year I could see a Devils-Canes series going either way, and I think their core has probably learned some from their mistakes.

 

[robbieberns]

Can’t ignore the major upgrade of going from Ruff to Keefe behind the bench. What’s even funnier if the consideration that NJ gave Ruff a multi year extension at the beginning of last year.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Yeah. If I compare their roster with ours, the Devils clearly look to be the better team to me. They've got great defensive depth, excellent forwards, and two solid goaltenders. They're also a young team and look to be a force for a decade.

The good thing we have going is we have a lot of veteran depth and our players know how to win playoff games and to win grinding games. It's still not clear how the Devils will do defensively if they play a contending team. Last time we outed them, we eviscerated their whole gameplan and scored at will. This year I could see a Devils-Canes series going either way, and I think their core has probably learned some from their mistakes.

Never know when a young team is going to change from a losing contender (often for years) to the champ.

I watched a NHL Network broadcast this afternoon on Stanley cup winners that started with Canadians in the 70’s, then to the isles and Oilers dynastic early 80’s teams. Each of those teams lost for years until the light bulb went off and then their talent, maturity plus physical determination took them to a Championship(s). Naturally, it helped to have Dryden, Smith and Fuhr manning the pipes too.

Canes have a shot TY and their core sure have endured a bunch of losing but (sadly) right now I don’t see the skill, roster makeup nor the determination that would make them champions this year. A fun team to watch and they will win a bunch but will fall short again unless some significant TDL moves can be made.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

As of now


Teams I think we’d go into a series as clear underdogs against: Panthers

Teams we’d be neck and neck with: Devils, Capitals, Lightning

Teams we’d be favored against: everyone else?

 

[chaz4hockey]

IMO-

Besides Bolts in the East-in a playoff series, both Leafs & Tampa will physically run us out of the building. We have no answer against them physically (Tampa had slugfest game versus Fl tonight and stood up/ handled them..Canes have no shot as their play/mindset is weak). Our best opportunity is against NJ as they are not overly physical but they do have more dynamic game breaking o & D stars and their goalie is better too.

Out West: Oilers and Winnipeg have size and skill to best the Canes and Avs with better goalkeeping is up there too.

If Borg is serious about winning this year they need to:
Get a 2c
Get A BIG skilled winger for top line to play with aho-Jarvis
Get a skilled winger to play with Necas and the new 2C
Move Robinson to 4th line with Jost and Drury when he returns

Trade KK, JR & send Blake to Chicago for more development. He is too slow and small for NHL right now.
Consider moving Walker for a more rugged defenseman to pair with Ghost

 

[sabremike]

 

[BadgerCane58]

IMO-

Besides Bolts in the East-in a playoff series, both Leafs & Tampa will physically run us out of the building. We have no answer against them physically (Tampa had slugfest game versus Fl tonight and stood up/ handled them..Canes have no shot as their play/mindset is weak). Our best opportunity is against NJ as they are not overly physical but they do have more dynamic game breaking o & D stars and their goalie is better too.

Out West: Oilers and Winnipeg have size and skill to best the Canes and Avs with better goalkeeping is up there too.

If Borg is serious about winning this year they need to:
Get a 2c
Get A BIG skilled winger for top line to play with aho-Jarvis
Get a skilled winger to play with Necas and the new 2C
Move Robinson to 4th line with Jost and Drury when he returns

Trade KK, JR & send Blake to Chicago for more development. He is too slow and small for NHL right now.
Consider moving Walker for a more rugged defenseman to pair with Ghost

Perfect!! I couldn’t agree with you more.

 

[chaz4hockey]

AHL team first in North America to install 360-degree LED dasherboards

The Utica Comets of the American Hockey League have become the first professional hockey team in North America to install 360-degree LED rink boards in their home arena. The major investment will allow the New Jersey Devils’ top minor league affiliate, which is also owned by Harris Blitzer...

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

 

[chaz4hockey]

One way to make the aggressive checking big guys pay:

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Existential Crisis Hughes is my favorite Hughes.

 

[Negan4Coach]

This thing going on with the Rangers reminds me of what happened to the Canes around this time in 2009. Yikes.

 

[HisIceness]

This thing going on with the Rangers reminds me of what happened to the Canes around this time in 2009. Yikes.

Wasn't that later on? I remember 09-10 the team had that losing streak they never recovered from but I don't remember a lot of negativity from it. I do recall around the time Muller was hired there was a lot of frustration from behind the scenes.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Can’t ignore the major upgrade of going from Ruff to Keefe behind the bench. What’s even funnier if the consideration that NJ gave Ruff a multi year extension at the beginning of last year.

When I think of tough playoff outs - I think Sheldon Keefe

 

[WreckingCrew]

One way to make the aggressive checking big guys pay:

We'd get penalized for tripping or clipping or interference

 

[sabremike]

"Hello police, I'd like to report a murder..."

 

[Negan4Coach]

Wasn't that later on? I remember 09-10 the team had that losing streak they never recovered from but I don't remember a lot of negativity from it. I do recall around the time Muller was hired there was a lot of frustration from behind the scenes.

So my memory of it was like losing 17 or so games in a row throughout November and December, them stripping the C off Brindamour's chest, and getting rid of Ray Whitney and guys like that, with the same team they went to the ECF with the previous spring.

So see similarities to what the Rags are going thru now