Devils 2018-19 team discussion (news and notes) - part IX

[AgentBrodeur]

I despise Zacha and Wood at this point. They can both take a hike for all I care - freeloading passengers on a team that desperately needs them to - hear me out, this is crazy here - DO THEIR JOBS. DO WHAT THIS TEAM PAYS YOU TO DO.

Zacha is particularly infuriating because he looks completely disinterested out there at times. B-B-B-Bust.

totally disinterested, let him play defense, and severson can play center



and can somebody throw a fight, or get angry,? you know it does change momentum

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Wood
Vats
Butcher
Noesen

IMO those are the four biggest disappointments this season.

Zacha was Zacha last season...and he’s continued to be Zacha.

Wouldn't include Vatanen in there. He's still been good. Just not as good as last year

 

[Nocashstyle]

Wouldn't include Vatanen in there. He's still been good. Just not as good as last year

I don’t think he has been particularly good, especially in regards to his play last season - hence: “disappointment”

 

[tr83]

Noesen isnt doing anything well this year.

Even the folks who worship at the alter of Corsi cant hang their hat on that, Noesen has the worst Corsi on the team.

NOTE: The most impressive number on this chart is Zajac at 50.1%, as he's only 36.8% OSZ. That is absolutely phenomenal.

Imagine a line that had Elias, Zajac, and Jagr. They wouldn't have to play defense.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Vats has been ok. He makes those plays where people scratch their head because he does some risky stuff but his overall game isn’t hurting the team. Still a good dman to have for the forseeable future.

 

[None Shall Pass]

Yeah, at the current pace he's on, Zacha would put up between 15 and 16 points over an 82 game season.

I truly don't care how good he is defensively. That's our second-line center, and that is, frankly, abysmal. Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe his season.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Vatanen's play in OT last night was JV level. He should bench himself for that. He looked like a confused 12 year old.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Yeah, at the current pace he's on, Zacha would put up between 15 and 16 points over an 82 game season.

I truly don't care how good he is defensively. That's our second-line center, and that is, frankly, abysmal. Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe his season.

He is a low energy, low compete level forward.

 

[Wingman77]

Yeah, at the current pace he's on, Zacha would put up between 15 and 16 points over an 82 game season.

I truly don't care how good he is defensively. That's our second-line center, and that is, frankly, abysmal. Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe his season.

Zacha has shown far more potential than Josefson ever did, however very similar circumstance. We can't rely on him to be in the roles he is in and keeping him around is just stagnating further. Josefson was kept around too long instead of looking elsewhere for options.

He shows these flashes of being a solid middle to bottom 6 player, but it is far too inconsistent. When he first came back he looked like a different player, but once again as we have seen time and time again, he regresses back a bit once he goes for a learning period be it as a scratch or down to the AHL. At some point you have to move on. Not that it means right in the middle of the season, but his given his RFA status at season's end, it wouldn't be unreasonable to move on.

 

[Davegarri]

Vatanen's play in OT last night was JV level. He should bench himself for that. He looked like a confused 12 year old.

Tough to move the puck anywhere when your forwards are not skating to get open. He was waiting for someone to get open for 30 seconds then said f*** it I'll do it myself, which almost led to a goal against.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Wouldn't include Vatanen in there. He's still been good. Just not as good as last year

I don’t think he has been particularly good, especially in regards to his play last season - hence: “disappointment”

You're both right.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

If I could have one wish in the world it would be that the Devils sign Karlsson.

That would allow Ray to try to package a combination of Severson + Butcher + Mueller + something else for a huge upgrade at 1LHD.

Just imagine for next season:
1LHD - Karlsson
Smith - Vatanen
Greene - Santini

 

[BenedictGomez]

That would allow Ray to try to package a combination of Severson + Butcher + Mueller + something else for a huge upgrade at 1LHD.

Why would any team trade for 3 NHL defensemen in one trade, while simultaneously giving up the best defenseman in that same trade?

 

[Stephen Gionta]

You're both right.

Agreed. But I still wouldn't put him in the 'dissapointment range"

 

[Alex NJD]

I think Zacha has been alright as of late but he was invisible last night. Don't get why he isn't on the PP tho he's looked good there.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I think Zacha has been alright as of late but he was invisible last night. Don't get why he isn't on the PP tho he's looked good there.

If a guy cant score in a monkey wh0rehouse while holding a bag filled with bananas, they're not going to put him out on the power-play.

 

[JK3]

Vatanen's play in OT last night was JV level. He should bench himself for that. He looked like a confused 12 year old.

I watched some OTs from last year, Moores ability to fly out there with open ice really kept the other team on their heels and created a ton of chances. His size and reach helped to muscle guys off the puck and take possession again helped too. We dominated a lot of those OTs, none of our defenders have that ability.

We've probably given up at least 20 shots with us putting up a handful. Last night was 6-1 Ducks.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Why would any team trade for 3 NHL defensemen in one trade, while simultaneously giving up the best defenseman in that same trade?

I said a combination of those guys, but to answer the question for example a team that may not be able to sign their top defenseman to the contract he is seeking, or a team looking for better RHD depth, or other options.

For example:
Tampa trades Sergachev + something else to NJ for Severson. Or Sergachev for Butcher + Mueller + something else. Idk

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I watched some OTs from last year, Moores ability to fly out there with open ice really kept the other team on their heels and created a ton of chances. His size and reach helped to muscle guys off the puck and take possession again helped too. We dominated a lot of those OTs, none of our defenders have that ability.

We've probably given up at least 20 shots with us putting up a handful. Last night was 6-1 Ducks.

Yeah, Moore's absence from the 3 on 3 has been VERY noticeable this season. He is missed this year IMO.

 

[Devils731]

I watched some OTs from last year, Moores ability to fly out there with open ice really kept the other team on their heels and created a ton of chances. His size and reach helped to muscle guys off the puck and take possession again helped too. We dominated a lot of those OTs, none of our defenders have that ability.

We've probably given up at least 20 shots with us putting up a handful. Last night was 6-1 Ducks.

The Devils also appear to have no unifying approach to OT. We got to see Vatanen stand behind the net begging his teammates to do anything to start a breakout and nobody knew how to start it. That has little to do with skating.

If the lack of skating by defenseman is such a huge issue, and I think I agree with you, then they should get creative and roll with Severson, Yakolev(when playing), and 3 forwards instead of slow footed defenseman.

 

[Scooooooooooooot]

the devils cant get shot opportunities 3 on 3 which is insane, John Moore aside I think Hall is struggling to create and looks tentative to really do anything that can result in a high danger chance. I felt better with Bratt and Nico than Hall yesterday. Mojo made some dumb decisions but he was at least trying to make a play to get a grade A chance.

 

[BenedictGomez]

the devils cant get shot opportunities 3 on 3 which is insane, John Moore aside I think Hall is struggling to create and looks tentative to really do anything that can result in a high danger chance. I felt better with Bratt and Nico than Hall yesterday. Mojo made some dumb decisions but he was at least trying to make a play to get a grade A chance.

Hall is a guy who needs to be "the" guy, which doesn't lend itself well in OT, when you genuinely need contributions from all 3 players on every rush. I dont feel Hall, "plays well with others" in OT.

 

[Jets012]

If I could have one wish in the world it would be that the Devils sign Karlsson.

That would allow Ray to try to package a combination of Severson + Butcher + Mueller + something else for a huge upgrade at 1LHD.

Just imagine for next season:
1LHD - Karlsson
Smith - Vatanen
Greene - Santini

Looks like a highly flawed defensive core besides Karlsson.

 

[Jets012]

Vats
Noesen
Wood

That's my top 3 in terms of disappointment. I'm pretty sure Vatanen is bottom 2 on the whole team in terms of WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and GAR (Goals Above Replacement).

Noesen has been so mediocre this year which is a shame because he really did look like a fantastic bottom 6 player that was borderline elite possession wise and defense wise for his role.

Wood looks like he did his rookie year which isn't good.

 

[Jets012]

Even Strength GAR:
Butcher: 6
Mueller: -2.7
Vatanen: -1.2

WAR:
Butcher: 1.2
Mueller: -0.2
Vatanen: -0.2