Devils 2020-21 team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part XIV

[Devils Army]

Think we're all overreacting here other than Jack Hughes being a future hall of famer

Zacha is probably our best PKer and can be an effective possession player in this league. He's a good 3rd liner who can play up and down the lineup if needed. When he slides down the lineup after Nico comes back he'll be better.

Gusev is a very talented player, has great vision and creativity. I actually think he's a pretty terrible skater but still a great offensive player.

Boqvist has looked really solid to me, has been much stronger on his skates and has been surprisingly strong in the D zone.

 

[glenwo2]

Jack better not cut that mane.

He reminds me of one of the Hanson Brothers in Slapshot with that hairstyle.

 

[bobilly45]

Nothing like wearing the devils facemask into work here in NY the day after a win. Need more of that.

 

[JimEIV]

He reminds me of one of the Hanson Brothers in Slapshot with that hairstyle.

None of the Hanson's we as good looking though.

 

[My3Sons]

Nothing like wearing the devils facemask into work here in NY the day after a win. Need more of that.

Not until you admit that MBW is a good goalie.

 

[glenwo2]

Spiderman memes ALWAYS deliver.

 

[regulahbread]

Trying to figure out what the lines will be once Nico, Bratt, and Vatanen are all ready is more difficult than I thought, which I suppose is a good thing.

I think I'd go:
Sharangovich - Hughes - Palmieri
Bratt - Hischier - Gusev
Johnsson - Zajac - Wood
Boqvist - McLeod - Bastian

Really liked what I've seen out of the Super Buddies on the fourth line, and I think Boqvist would complement them well. The PK would miss Zacha being out of the lineup but I still think we have enough guys who can competently kill penalties once we're at full strenghth.

Defense would be:
Murray - Subban
Kulikov - Severson
Smith - Vatanen

I think we should just trade Butcher at this point. He seems to have fallen out of favor with Ruff and he's making a lot of money for a guy who can't crack the lineup. I wonder what the return might be if we packaged Butcher and Zacha.

 

[glenwo2]

Jack and Nico. The new Marchand and Bergeron

And when Bratt comes back : The new Pastrnak.

 

[Edmonton East]

What exactly will it take to get some folks on here to stop calling Zacha a good 3rd liner?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Jack being good just absolutely dwarfs every other story about this team other than Blackwood’s play. Zacha is just a guy.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Through three games, to have only given up one even strength goal; well I never would have thought this team capable of that. And while a large part is Blackwood, the defense looks, dare I say, competent?

Long way to go, but the difference from last season is night and day. Putting guys in the right position to succeed and giving them a system they are capable of playing. What a novel concept...

 

[Billdo]

Govy-Hughes-Palmieri
Bratt-Hischier-Gusev
Zacha-Zajac-Boqvist
Wood-McLeod-Johnsson

Murray-Subban
Kulikov-Severson
Smith-Vatanen

 

[Comparison Ford]

i actually think a line of Zacha-McLeod-Bastian would be a solid 4th line.

there’s just no way i separate Wood from Zajac right now.

 

[JimEIV]

Govy-Hughes-Palmieri
Bratt-Hischier-Gusev
Zacha-Zajac-Boqvist
Wood-McLeod-Johnsson

Murray-Subban
Kulikov-Severson
Smith-Vatanen

You're dropping Wood to the 4th line...That's some reward for leading the team in Goals.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

You're dropping Wood to the 4th line...That's some reward for leading the team in Goals.

Not to mention that Ruff likes a "north south guy" with 2 skill players. Not sure why the "north south guy" that is producing would be dropping in the lineup.

 

[Zippy316]

The one benefit of having Nico and Bratt out is that it may help us out when it comes to the expansion draft by getting Bastian, Kuokkanen and McLeod into games.

All 3 players came into this season needing to play 27 games in order to qualify as the 2 forwards NJ has to leave unexposed.

If the expansion draft were held today, the Devils would theoretically protect Nico, Bratt, Johnsson, Zacha, Wood, Sharangovich and Palmieri but wouldn't have any forwards with the games played requirements available to expose. If Palmieri gets traded that could open up a spot for McLeod - but we'd still need at least Kuokkanen and Bastian hit the 27 games played mark this season or risk exposing a player they'd rather protect.

Injuries throughout the season should make this easy enough for those players to hit, but will be worth watching if the team stays healthy for a long stretch. Of course there may also be a trade option to get some plug that meets the requirement right before the expansion draft, but may not want to have to rely on that and waste an asset in the process. This is probably why the Rangers signed Kevin Rooney to a 2-year deal. He only needs 5 NHL games this season to qualify as one of their exposed forwards.

If it came down to it, I also wonder if Zajac would sign a one-year extension and be one of the exposed forwards knowing there's little chance he actually gets claimed.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. There's always a middling forward that team won't resign like Rooney that would gladly take a guaranteed contract at the risk of going to Seattle.

Good chance McLeod, Kuokkanen, Merkley, or Bastian hit that mark though as you said. Devils likely just likely resign two of them and re-assess if they're taken by Seattle. I would have to imagine Butcher (or just a depth guy like Seney) ends up being our Seattle pick. Maybe Subban if Seattle wants a marketable player.

 

[JimEIV]

Wood has as many points as Austin Matthews in one less game.

Wood is listed as 4th in the league in goals on NHL .com - I know it is a tiny sample but it is still noteworthy that he has delivered.

NHL Stats

 

[Hisch13r]

You're dropping Wood to the 4th line...That's some reward for leading the team in Goals.

And dropping him so you can play a guy who isn't good ahead of him

 

[HBK27]

I wouldn't worry too much about this. There's always a middling forward that team won't resign like Rooney that would gladly take a guaranteed contract at the risk of going to Seattle.

Good chance McLeod, Kuokkanen, Merkley, or Bastian hit that mark though as you said. Devils likely just likely resign two of them and re-assess if they're taken by Seattle. I would have to imagine Butcher (or just a depth guy like Seney) ends up being our Seattle pick. Maybe Subban if Seattle wants a marketable player.

The expansion draft is held prior to free agency, so signing a player is not really an option - it would have to come via trade.

I'd be surprised if Merkley hit that number, but it's a possibility. Ultimately depends on the amount of injuries as a completely healthy forward group keeps all but one of those guys out of the lineup.

 

[Woncka]

Wood has as many points as Austin Matthews in one less game.

Wood is listed as 4th in the league in goals on NHL .com - I know it is a tiny sample but it is still noteworthy that he has delivered.

NHL Stats

Still cant believe we drafted a sniper when we have Miles of Wood

 

[Blackjack]

The expansion draft is held prior to free agency, so signing a player is not really an option - it would have to come via trade.

I'd be surprised if Merkley hit that number, but it's a possibility. Ultimately depends on the amount of injuries as a completely healthy forward group keeps all but one of those guys out of the lineup.

I suppose you could trade for his rights and then extend him, but that borders on ridiculous.

 

[JimEIV]

Rupp and EJ are talking about Palmieri to Edmonton being a good fit

 

[GeNeXt]

Wood-Hughes-Palmieri = America f*ck yeah line
Sharangovich-Hischier-Bratt
Zacha-Zajac-Gusev
Johnsson/Kuokkanen-McLeod-Boqvist/Bastian

Murray-Vatanen
Smith-Severson
Kulikov-Subban

Willing to interchange Zacha and Sharanovich. Wood has improved a lot, and could use some more run. He's generating shots, and his passing looks milessss better. Zajac gets put back on babysitting Goose duties like last season.

I don't like the idea of Ty and Vatanen together. Too small, and there's a lack of make-up speed there if someone has to get back. This line-up gives the best size balance on the defence. Vatanen and Murray could be a very good first pairing. PK tends to have a lot of mishaps, and feel that Kulikov is a good partner for him as any.

 

[tailfins]

Through three games, to have only given up one even strength goal; well I never would have thought this team capable of that. And while a large part is Blackwood, the defense looks, dare I say, competent?

Long way to go, but the difference from last season is night and day. Putting guys in the right position to succeed and giving them a system they are capable of playing. What a novel concept...

I think it's almost all Blackwood.

1. The Devils PDO is 107.4 right now. Last year was 99.1.
2. The Devils CF% is 47.7. Last year was 46.2. Worse, but not by a ton.

Plus, as others have said, Blackwood's play allows everyone else to play with a bit more confidence.

 

[Hisch13r]

Wood-Hughes-Palmieri = America f*ck yeah line
Sharangovich-Hischier-Bratt
Zacha-Zajac-Gusev
Johnsson/Kuokkanen-McLeod-Boqvist/Bastian

Murray-Vatanen
Smith-Severson
Kulikov-Subban

Willing to interchange Zacha and Sharanovich. Wood has improved a lot, and could use some more run. He's generating shots, and his passing looks milessss better. Zajac gets put back on babysitting Goose duties like last season.

I don't like the idea of Ty and Vatanen together. Too small, and there's a lack of make-up speed there if someone has to get back. This line-up gives the best size balance on the defence. Vatanen and Murray could be a very good first pairing. PK tends to have a lot of mishaps, and feel that Kulikov is a good partner for him as any.

Gusev is not going to get going on that line. I don't think Wood should be separated from Zajac and I also don't think he has the puck skills to be a good fit with Hughes. The Wood-Zajac-Boqvist line has also been the best possession line and I see no reason to split them up