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Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - offseason part II

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JimEIV

JimEIV

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Better Call Sal said:
While I don't agree with his total usage, Dawson had a rough year overall. He went through a lot more valleys than I think he has in his first 3 years with the team with multiple lengthy streaks of minimal production. And that includes kicking off the season with 4 points in his first 18 games, much of which was in the top 6 if I remember correctly.

The only worry I have with him is getting stronger and willingness to shoot more. If he can win more battles, I think he'll be just fine. He has a lot of positive qualities that you want in a middle-6 winger.
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Nah...he was downgraded very early on.

Take a look at the game logs

Game 2 of the season 15:47
Game 4 14:32
Game 5 15:09
Game 6 13:29

That's not good.

This is a player that was averaging over 17 minutes the year before.
 
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Forge

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Better Call Sal

Better Call Sal

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JimEIV said:
Nah...he was downgraded very early on.

Take a look at the game logs

Game 2 of the season 15:47
Game 4 14:32
Game 5 15:09
Game 6 13:29

That's not good.

This is a player that was averaging over 17 minutes the year before.
Click to expand...

What about the next 4 games after that where he averaged 18 and a half minutes and had no production?

In the 18 game stretch I'm referring to, he averaged 17:41 a game and had 4 points to show for it. He had another 16 game stretch where he had 2 points. He finished the final 13 games with 3 points averaging 17:47 per game. That's more than half the season with just 9 points. All this said, doing snippets by game log really doesn't help prove much.

I watched him all season, it's perfectly fine to admit he struggled because he did. He was far from alone. He still somehow managed a 20 goal season, which is why I feel as though if he can round his game out while getting consistent linemates as you mentioned, he'll be fine. I'm not that worried about him because I think he plays with a really high motor, and that's the exact type of style I want to see him continue with. Just get stronger to win more battles and be willing to shoot more.
 
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Its Always Sundstrom

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glenwo2 said:
Well Kessel does love his hot dogs...
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IMG_3342.jpeg

Note: wanted the Blake Coleman gif but nowhere to be found besides FB🙄
 
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Unknown Caller

Unknown Caller

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Forge said:
I may be mistaken, but I swear an exact same interview was given about the #2 pick a couple of years ago lol
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Accurate, but it's much harder to find fair value in a trade for 2nd overall and the team was in a much different position with much less pressure than they are now. I would be surprised if they make the pick.
 
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Its Always Sundstrom

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Devs3cups said:
www.nhl.com

Devils open to trading No. 10 pick in 2024 NHL Draft, looking for goalie | NHL.com

GM hopes to upgrade after New Jersey allowed 3.43 goals per game this season, missed playoffs
www.nhl.com www.nhl.com

Fitz focusing on young players with team control. I like his thinking. See your options.
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"His range of motion is not completely full, but he's doing a lot of things (off-ice)," Fitzgerald said. "He's working out to gain strength, a lot of plyometrics. He's really excited and is looking forward to getting to the gym every day, get stronger, and that's music to my ears. What's this kid going to be like when he puts on another 10 pounds of muscle?"
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IMG_3105.jpeg
 
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JimEIV

JimEIV

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Better Call Sal said:
What about the next 4 games after that where he averaged 18 and a half minutes and had no production?

In the 18 game stretch I'm referring to, he averaged 17:41 a game and had 4 points to show for it. He had another 16 game stretch where he had 2 points. He finished the final 13 games with 3 points averaging 17:47 per game. That's more than half the season with just 9 points. All this said, doing snippets by game log really doesn't help prove much.

I watched him all season, it's perfectly fine to admit he struggled because he did. He was far from alone. He still somehow managed a 20 goal season, which is why I feel as though if he can round his game out while getting consistent linemates as you mentioned, he'll be fine. I'm not that worried about him because I think he plays with a really high motor, and that's the exact type of style I want to see him continue with. Just get stronger to win more battles and be willing to shoot more.
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You want to talk about all the top 6 players that went 4 or 5 games without production? Or 8 or 9 with little production?

Nico didn't have a point in his first 4 games...we can play 4 or 5 game droughts all day long want to look at Meier?
 
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Better Call Sal

Better Call Sal

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JimEIV said:
You want to talk about all the top 6 players that went 4 or 5 games without production? Or 8 or 9 with little production?

Nico didn't have a point in his first 4 games...we can play 4 or 5 game droughts all day long want to look at Meier?
Click to expand...

I'm not going to take your bait if that's where you want to take it lol. You were talking about his ice time getting cut. I simply pointed out that he played the next few games after your sample size around his average ice time but still wasn't producing. So I don't think he got his role cut as early as you believe.

Everyone and their mother talked about Timo's season, much of which he didn't play in the top 6 during the first half because he wasn't healthy and he was dragging his linemates down. Yeah, Nico went the first 4 games without a point and then finished with 67 in 67. That's not the point, we're talking about Dawson.

We both believe in the player. I think he has things to work on this offseason, and I believe he will. And I do believe that Keefe will love him as a player. I prefer he be in the top 6, but I think he can be on the 3rd line with PP2 time and be as productive if it comes to it.
 
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TheUnseenHand

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Zajacs Bowl Cut said:
Nobody is saying Holtz is better than Mercer lol some of ya'll need to relax.

But to bring up Mercer's linemates IMO is hilarious given the Holtz discourse (from some). Mercer disappeared for weeks at a time, and had a super disappointing season. I don't get why that isn't fair to say?
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It's rare that I agree wholeheartedly with a post of yours but yes, you hit the nail on the head here.
 
JimEIV

JimEIV

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Feb 19, 2003
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Better Call Sal said:
What about the next 4 games after that where he averaged 18 and a half minutes and had no production?

In the 18 game stretch I'm referring to, he averaged 17:41 a game and had 4 points to show for it. He had another 16 game stretch where he had 2 points. He finished the final 13 games with 3 points averaging 17:47 per game. That's more than half the season with just 9 points. All this said, doing snippets by game log really doesn't help prove much.

I watched him all season, it's perfectly fine to admit he struggled because he did. He was far from alone. He still somehow managed a 20 goal season, which is why I feel as though if he can round his game out while getting consistent linemates as you mentioned, he'll be fine. I'm not that worried about him because I think he plays with a really high motor, and that's the exact type of style I want to see him continue with. Just get stronger to win more battles and be willing to shoot more.
Click to expand...
Looking at snippets of games coupled with partners tells us a tremendous amount of how erratic he was used...

Mercer played as much time this season with McLeod as he did with Hughes... Haula I believe was his most common partner...

You can look at the game logs and see his production increased with more time...and I think it's safe to assume that bigger minutes was with better players, at least partially.

His best stretch of games was early November to the beginning of December he had 9 points in 10 games.. Mercer was playing with Jack and Toffoli for some of this time. He averaged 18:26 during that time. This exactly coincides with Meier being out

The very next set of games December 5th to December 17th...2 points in 7 games averaging 15:08....this exactly coincides with Meier coming back in.

That shit went on all season. With injuries and back filling. And I don't think anyone was moved around more than Mercer.
 
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Guttersniped

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JimEIV said:
Nah...he was downgraded very early on.

Take a look at the game logs

Game 2 of the season 15:47
Game 4 14:32
Game 5 15:09
Game 6 13:29

That's not good.

This is a player that was averaging over 17 minutes the year before.
Click to expand...

Did you check this?

Rhetorical question because the last only year Mercer averaged 17 minutes was this season.
IMG_7681.jpeg

He played more at every strength than last year.

He actually played slightly more 5v5 and ES as a rookie, but increased his ice time with special teams since.

5v5
IMG_7683.jpeg

EV
IMG_7686.jpeg

PP
IMG_7684.jpeg

PK
IMG_7685.jpeg

And the Palat/Nosek/Mercer lines was one of the more successful ones he was on, he doesn’t have to play with stars. (He was pretty dreadful with Meier but that was probably more related to gimpy Meier sucking.)
 
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