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

[NjDevsRR]

So rumbling on twitter is we are getting the winter classic? any truth?

Can you post the source. I dumped that app a long time ago

 

[NjDevsRR]

And Rutgers holds like 53,000 people. Would be more attended than most winter classics as a lot of them were at baseball venues. The red sea of devils fans at a red stadium would look amazing


Devils Leafs at Rutgers. Do it Lou

 

[My3Sons]

I was going to say the beach somewhere in Asbury but yeah, dive into the local shore vibe. The arena is old as f*** but it's housed hockey before and you'd have a ton of ppl in town for it.

Just cut to the chase and make Springsteen host it in his back yard. He could be the entertainment between periods.

 

[Billdo]

Just cut to the chase and make Springsteen host it in his back yard. He could be the entertainment between periods.

After party at the Stone Pony, fan fest at Porta.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[NjDevsRR]

Also Posting this here because the GDT is full of folks who can’t handle their emotions.

Frustrating ending but…

I like how they controlled the game against a team that is now 11-4 in their last 15.

Markstrom needs to be better, much better. But I can’t blame that game on a goalie who gave up one in regulation (especially one where Matthews/Marner/Nylander missed many odd man rush situations). 3 v 3 is random ass hockey. More upset we couldn’t get that second goal. Credit to Stolarz but after getting blanked at home, they needed to find a way to break through. Do we want Markstrom to blank them with what he was given? Absolutely, and as I said, he has to be better.

One glaring improvement that is needed is some better forwards who can pump some life into lines. We need an upgrade or two to knock down Palat a few lines and the likes of Haula aren’t just getting it done. That’s why I think we are seeing this team having issues scoring periodically. If its not the top 6 or PP it’s nothing else. An upgrade here or there should be able to spread out the wealth more in the forward group.

This current iteration of the Devils is not the one we will see in April in the playoffs. So I despise people comparing them now to what they will see in the spring. Keefe will continue making adjustments, he is still only two months in with this squad. And Fitz will indeed be making some moves. As of now, I like the special teams. And love how they are playing D as an entire unit. Lots of good to work with here.

They are in a good spot in the standings and are close, just need a few upgrades. Fitz and Keefe will do some work. Lets finish the home stand with two wins and we will all forget this one. Danometer at a 2.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Team's ceiling is shot with the turd in net and no scoring wing next to Jack/Bratt

 

[NjDevsRR]

Team's ceiling is shot with the turd in net and no scoring wing next to Jack/Bratt

Markstrom will go into his hot streaks of good play. And vice versa. Thats always what he has been. Devils can compete with that. They would be able to win regardless of the goalie when they flesh out a better forward group.

Fitz will have to make moves for winger upgrades, and maybe a 3c (don’t you dare @My3Sons). And he will have to look at moving a D piece when he goes that route.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Markstrom will go into his hot streaks of good play. And vice versa. Thats always what he has been. Devils can compete with that. They would be able to win regardless of the goalie when they flesh out a better forward group.

Fitz will have to make moves for winger upgrades, and maybe a 3c (don’t you dare @My3Sons). And he will have to look at moving a D piece when he goes that route.

If Markstrom is a sieve, they're not getting past Carolina with how they play. We saw it in 2023 and they'd absolutely destroy him in round 1 or 2

 

[NjDevsRR]

If Markstrom is a sieve, they're not getting past Carolina with how they play. We saw it in 2023 and they'd absolutely destroy him in round 1 or 2

Eh. Goalies are random as f***. Especially in the playoffs.

I am more focused on improving the forwards so we are less reliant on the goalie.

 

[Emperoreddy]

If Carolina's goalie is a sieve, they don't get past us with how we play.

 

[NjDevsRR]

If Markstrom is a sieve, they're not getting past Carolina with how they play. We saw it in 2023 and they'd absolutely destroy him in round 1 or 2

I do know Markstrom will be better than Vitek in 23 postseason. That was embarrassing

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Eh. Goalies are random as f***. Especially in the playoffs.

I am more focused on improving the forwards so we are less reliant on the goalie.

They're still a top 10 offense in the league, it's borderline nauseating how coddled Markstrom is on this board.

I do know Markstrom will be better than Vitek in 23 postseason. That was embarrassing

Vanecek was never brought here with playoffs in mind, he had atrocious numbers in Washington. He was legit just brought here to be a bridge to the next Devils goalie whoever it was and give them decent 5v5 goaltending. 22-23 Vitek shits on 24-25 Markstrom regular season wise currently

 

[NjDevsRR]

They're still a top 10 offense in the league, it's borderline nauseating how coddled Markstrom is on this board.

I am not coddling him. I literally said multiple times has has to be better.

I am Just being realistic. The goaltending in this league is actual ass, besides five or so tenders. What Markstrom is, is what the majority of the league has in net.

Vanecek was never brought here with playoffs in mind, he had atrocious numbers in Washington. He was legit just brought here to be a bridge to the next Devils goalie whoever it was and give them decent 5v5 goaltending. 22-23 Vitek shits on 24-25 Markstrom regular season wise currently

I said postseason..

Hard to be worse than the weak mental state that Vitek was in the postseason.

Markstrom is .911 career in postseason for what its worth, slightly higher than his career regular season avg

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

wonder what type of winger upgrade we could nab packaging Mercer + someone like Casey

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I am not coddling him. I literally said multiple times has has to be better.

I am Just being realistic. The goaltending in this league is actual ass, besides five or so tenders. What Markstrom is, is what the majority of the league has in net.


I said postseason..

Hard to be worse than the weak mental state that was Vitek in the postseason

I know what you meant but if the guy is worse in the regular season, it's hard to see him being better in the playoffs when teams are better and the Devils are legit going to be on the end of absurd pushes nightly from great teams. He's been dog water in the Caps games and they legit could be our R1 opponent.

wonder what type of winger upgrade we could nab packaging Mercer + someone like Casey

Trading Casey for a rental would be foolish, probably some high end if they're talking about the offseason tho

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I know what you meant but if the guy is worse in the regular season, it's hard to see him being better in the playoffs when teams are better and the Devils are legit going to be on the end of absurd pushes nightly from great teams. He's been dog water in the Caps games and they legit could be our R1 opponent.



Trading Casey for a rental would be foolish

where did I say rental?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

where did I say rental?

I edited the post

 

[NjDevsRR]

I know what you meant but if the guy is worse in the regular season, it's hard to see him being better in the playoffs when teams are better and the Devils are legit going to be on the end of absurd pushes nightly from great teams. He's been dog water in the Caps games and they legit could be our R1 opponent.

Goalies are weird

Goalies in postseason are SUPER weird. Look at the last few postseasons. So many random goalies going on great runs and vice versa.



My point:

Fitz needs to tweak the forwards so we are less reliant on goaltending. That is what separates the best teams from the good teams. Teams that can win despite of goaltending.

 

[My3Sons]

Markstrom will go into his hot streaks of good play. And vice versa. Thats always what he has been. Devils can compete with that. They would be able to win regardless of the goalie when they flesh out a better forward group.

Fitz will have to make moves for winger upgrades, and maybe a 3c (don’t you dare @My3Sons). And he will have to look at moving a D piece when he goes that route.

Why on earth would I ever be against Fitz getting a 3C upgrade?

 

[NjDevsRR]

Why on earth would I ever be against Fitz getting a 3C upgrade?

*Nico intensifies*

 

[NjDevsRR]

Offense is definitely in a three game slump in terms of finishing. PP has been struggling. Even two of the three goals they scored against Seattle were of the fortunate variety. They need a spark. And as I said, its the biggest upgrade that is needed and I hope Fitz is actively looking into it. Mercer/Palat in top 6 is just not doing it.

Also. Put Noesen back on that first line. I agree with @Hisch13r who I think was talking about that recently.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Goalies are weird

Goalies in postseason are SUPER weird. Look at the last few postseasons. So many random goalies going on great runs and vice versa.



My point:

Fitz needs to tweak the forwards so we are less reliant on goaltending. That is what separates the best teams from the good teams. Teams that can win despite of goaltending.

The last 3 goalies who won the Cup all had a .915 or above in the regular season, Markstrom is a .907 right now. And those are guys that people consider bums in Hill, Kuemper and Bob before he had his 1.5 years back to prominence. Also they're winning despite of Markstrom in the first place, so I don't even understand the bolded. I know this fanbase has been destroyed by shitty goaltending but it's ok to have one iota of goalie standards.

 

[NjDevsRR]

The last 3 goalies who won the Cup all had a .915 or above in the regular season, Markstrom is a .907 right now. And those are guys that people consider bums in Hill, Kuemper and Bob before he had his 1.5 years back to prominence. Also they're winning despite of Markstrom in the first place, so I don't even understand the bolded. I know this fanbase has been destroyed by shitty goaltending but it's ok to have one iota of goalie standards.

Panthers made the Stanley Cup in 2023 with a .901 average from Bob in regular season

Oilers with a .905 Skinner last season made the Cup

 

[Devs3cups]

Also Posting this here because the GDT is full of folks who can’t handle their emotions.

Frustrating ending but…

I like how they controlled the game against a team that is now 11-4 in their last 15.

Markstrom needs to be better, much better. But I can’t blame that game on a goalie who gave up one in regulation (especially one where Matthews/Marner/Nylander missed many odd man rush situations). 3 v 3 is random ass hockey. More upset we couldn’t get that second goal. Credit to Stolarz but after getting blanked at home, they needed to find a way to break through. Do we want Markstrom to blank them with what he was given? Absolutely, and as I said, he has to be better.

One glaring improvement that is needed is some better forwards who can pump some life into lines. We need an upgrade or two to knock down Palat a few lines and the likes of Haula aren’t just getting it done. That’s why I think we are seeing this team having issues scoring periodically. If its not the top 6 or PP it’s nothing else. An upgrade here or there should be able to spread out the wealth more in the forward group.

This current iteration of the Devils is not the one we will see in April in the playoffs. So I despise people comparing them now to what they will see in the spring. Keefe will continue making adjustments, he is still only two months in with this squad. And Fitz will indeed be making some moves. As of now, I like the special teams. And love how they are playing D as an entire unit. Lots of good to work with here.

They are in a good spot in the standings and are close, just need a few upgrades. Fitz and Keefe will do some work. Lets finish the home stand with two wins and we will all forget this one. Danometer at a 2.

View attachment 943330

I agree with most of this.

Markstrom not winning this game for the guys when it was put on a silver platter for him can also be concerning and incredibly frustrating.