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

[devilsblood]

Timo's goalless streak now at 11 games.

26 sog's during that streak, 66 shot's at net, 29 scoring chances, and 15 high danger chances.

He does have 6 assists during this stretch.

I thought he was a beast again last night.

Somewhat related is that while he made the entirety of the Meier Dolwing Mercer line look good the night before, Dowling's numbers are just so bad overall. Last 8 games(which coincide with Meier's 11 games, I didn't refresh the data) 37% corsi. Just 2 sog's in 90+minutes. And this while getting 65% o-zone start. He looks fine to the eye test but his numbers say otherwise.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Jack Hughes is one of those players like Crosby or McDavid who can focus on something in the offseason and get better on it. In due time, he’ll get better at faceoffs.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Jack Hughes is one of those players like Crosby or McDavid who can focus on something in the offseason and get better on it. In due time, he’ll get better at faceoffs.

And honestly if he never does, not a big deal. But I’m sure he’ll work at it.

 

[Omar Little]

I think it's clear that Hughes, Nico, and Timo need to be on their individual lines. It makes us a far more dangerous team offensively.

Palat-Hughes-Palmieri
Bratt-Hischier-Noesen
Meier-Evans-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Lazar
Bastian

 

[Devils Trap]

Think NYR did us a huge dis service yesterday. Will Borgen getting 5 x 4.1 is NOT helping us retain Kovacevic whatsoever

 

[longislanddevil]

Not to beat a dead horse but losing McLeod (putting personal thoughts aside about that dirtbag) was a significant blow to our center depth. He was having his best season and emerging as a legitimate quality 3C. With the injury scares to Jack and Nico, whether minor or not, it really drives home the need to add a quality center. It’s been perplexing how we have not addressed the center position in drafts over the years but I digress. Mercer may have done decent job moving to center last night in the absence of Nico but there’s plenty of sample size to suggest he just doesn’t work in that spot. IMHO- Fitz’ top priority should be acquiring a 3C who is good enough to move up to a top six role if need be.

It pains me me to watch Jack playing with Palat and Cotter. While the former has actually played OK lately, he’s not a top line player. Cotter’s hot start gave us hope and reason to believe he may have more offense in him than any of us thought. The reality is he’s a useful bottom six player, preferably playing on a good fourth line…and there’s nothing wrong with that. He is what he is. With a few additions, these guys can slot back down the lineup where they belong. I am bullish on Gritsyuk and he may work great with Jack but that doesn’t help us this year. Fitz has some work to do. Just some random musings with my morning Starbucks. Thanks for reading.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Not to beat a dead horse but losing McLeod (putting personal thoughts aside about that dirtbag) was a significant blow to our center depth. He was having his best season and emerging as a legitimate quality 3C. With the injury scares to Jack and Nico, whether minor or not, it really drives home the need to add a quality center. It’s been perplexing how we have not addressed the center position in drafts over the years but I digress. Mercer may have done decent job moving to center last night in the absence of Nico but there’s plenty of sample size to suggest he just doesn’t work in that spot. IMHO- Fitz’ top priority should be acquiring a 3C who is good enough to move up to a top six role if need be.

It pains me me to watch Jack playing with Palat and Cotter. While the former has actually played OK lately, he’s not a top line player. Cotter’s hot start gave us hope and reason to believe he may have more offense in him than any of us thought. The reality is he’s a useful bottom six player, preferably playing on a good fourth line…and there’s nothing wrong with that. He is what he is. With a few additions, these guys can slot back down the lineup where they belong. I am bullish on Gritsyuk and he may work great with Jack but that doesn’t help us this year. Fitz has some work to do. Just some random musings with my morning Starbucks. Thanks for reading.

This has been Morning Musings with LID. Now here’s Chet Baker with Look for the Silver Lining on HFNJD Radio…

 

[My3Sons]

Vatrano signed an extension

And Lou is a buyer not a seller

 

[Blender]

Timo's goalless streak now at 11 games.

26 sog's during that streak, 66 shot's at net, 29 scoring chances, and 15 high danger chances.

He does have 6 assists during this stretch.

I thought he was a beast again last night.

Somewhat related is that while he made the entirety of the Meier Dolwing Mercer line look good the night before, Dowling's numbers are just so bad overall. Last 8 games(which coincide with Meier's 11 games, I didn't refresh the data) 37% corsi. Just 2 sog's in 90+minutes. And this while getting 65% o-zone start. He looks fine to the eye test but his numbers say otherwise.

I think Timo is playing well at times, though he's being paid to produce and he's not doing that.

 

[Darkauron]

JT miller is not worth it skip

 

[Blender]

JT miller is not worth it skip

We have a pretty young team overall, we should go no where near players with a reputation for being toxic.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Nemec still doing good in Utica good to see..

 

[HoliksGhost]

We have a pretty young team overall, we should go no where near players with a reputation for being toxic.

We need to push certain players down to the bottom six where they belong. How are we to do that ?

 

[Blender]

We need to push certain players down to the bottom six where they belong. How are we to do that ?

The choice is not between bringing in JT Miller and no one.

 

[Forge]

Think NYR did us a huge dis service yesterday. Will Borgen getting 5 x 4.1 is NOT helping us retain Kovacevic whatsoever

Don't think it was ever all that likely that team was going to retain Kovacevic, tbh.

 

[McDuffz88]

It's become very clear to me that getting a real 3c (who can win faceoffs, and brings a mix of defense/offense is what our priority should be). If God forbid Nico goes down during a playoff seasons we are cooked. We have no centers who can step up at all. I also think we work best rolling 3 solid lines. Losing McLeod is killing us to this day. I think we need to go back to an identity where our top 9 is really more like 2 1st lines and 1 good 2nd line. If we can pull off
Palat-Hughes-Noseon/Bratt
?-Nico-Bratt/Noeson
Meier-?-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Lazar
We would be sitting really pretty. So really we need to get a 3rd line center who can play big minutes and a top 6 winger (hopefully our boy Grits can come in and do this). I would target a guy like Ryan o reiley. That would make us stacked down the middle and we can roll 3 1st lines.

 

[Devils Trap]

Would love Brock Boeser for our top 6 if he becomes available. Playing around with PuckPedia, if we can get rid of one of Macdermid / Bastian / Tatar's contracts and get 50% retained on both we can afford both

Boeser + Gourde / O'Reilly

Palat - Hughes - Boeser
Noeson - Nico - Bratt
Timo - O'Reilly / Gourde / - Mercer
Cotter - Haula - Lazar

Looks like a very formidable forward core and it gives us some more much needed right handed shots.

This is all dependent on how aggressive we want to be. Boeser is a UFA, O'Reilly wouldnt be so not sure how many prospects / picks we would need to give

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

still holding pretty strong, even with the recent slide

 

[devilsfan950003]

Timo's goalless streak now at 11 games.

26 sog's during that streak, 66 shot's at net, 29 scoring chances, and 15 high danger chances.

He does have 6 assists during this stretch.

I thought he was a beast again last night.

Somewhat related is that while he made the entirety of the Meier Dolwing Mercer line look good the night before, Dowling's numbers are just so bad overall. Last 8 games(which coincide with Meier's 11 games, I didn't refresh the data) 37% corsi. Just 2 sog's in 90+minutes. And this while getting 65% o-zone start. He looks fine to the eye test but his numbers say otherwise.

We must find a 3C if we want Timo to excel on that third line. Keep Downling on 4th or Utica.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Timo has played maybe his best hockey of the year the past 2 games, and that is with Dowling as his center.

I agree that you obviously ideally don't want Dowling there, but the point is let Timo be the play-driver for his line and he will get results.

 

[Clam Jensen]

still holding pretty strong, even with the recent slide

This board (and honestly sports fans in general) get way too amped when a team is performing and unnecessarily low when they hit a skid. Good teams find their level over 82, and we have a good team.

 

[MasterofGrond]

We're lucky the Flyers PP is terrible, their PK is not good, and their goaltending is abominable tbh.

I'm surprised how well they've been driving play 5 on 5. I think it's a little bit of a mirage, but way better than I would have predicted.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I believe we need to make a trade now for a center. I like Mercer but he has value. He’s young and has a good contract. If Fitz wants to make a bigger trade for a center and a forward he may have to include one of our young defenseman. Of course the team we trade with will have to take on salary. I’m not talking about a top center or forward, but they must be solid players that can help this team now.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I believe we need to make a trade now for a center. I like Mercer but he has value. He’s young and has a good contract. If Fitz wants to make a bigger trade for a center and a forward he may have to include one of our young defenseman. Of course the team we trade with will have to take on salary. I’m not talking about a top center or forward, but they must be solid players that can help this team now.

they should get a rental 3C by trading non-essential assets (i.e. some of the 2nd round picks or lesser prospects). Then, re-asses this summer.

Unless you can get a bargain on a young-ish center with term (that never happens), that would be my plan.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Not sure I get the logic of trying to improve our forward depth…by trading away one of our middle six forwards.