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

[NJDevs26]

like I said. It might not be as difficult to move Dougie as some think. NHL GMs are morons.

While I agree in principle, the counter is a lot of these GM’s didn’t give a **** all about making Dougie an offer as a FA four years ago.

 

[Devs3cups]

Move Dougie with some retention for a 3C, bring up Nemec, re-sign Kovacevic. Profit.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

While I agree in principle, the counter is a lot of these GM’s didn’t give a **** all about making Dougie an offer as a FA four years ago.

Dougie's hated by NHL GM's as is, Seth Jones somehow isn't which describes this league in a nutshell....lol

 

[imMagnum]

I saw something like he has 15 pts in his last 16 games or something. Even removing the 5 point game, that is still impressive for a 20 year old DMan. It is pretty clear that his shoulder injury that he suffered this summer was hampering him the first few months of the season.

The points have never been the issue. The shoulder isn't the issue. That issue has always been that Nemec has very little presence on the defensive end. I've preached this on the board since his draft year. He puck watches in the DZone and does not move forwards. Offensively if he receives the puck, he immediately launches wristers and hopes it makes it to the net. I get he is still young and I still have a chance to be wrong about this pick, but I still can't believe our franchise saw Nemec's defensive game and thought it was worthy of #2.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

2027 is a long way off but with Vancouver's bullshit going on, it's not to think of Quinn as a Devil if shit truly hits the fan up there in Vancouver or he gives them no indication he'll re-sign next year on 7/1

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Sheldon has every right to be upset with how the team blew that game but he deserves some criticism for playing MacDermid in a game he clearly was not needed in. No Reeves in the lineup either so that doubles down on that.

I'm pissed that Haloenen didn't draw into the lineup. He's having a good season for Utica and yet he has to sit this one out. MacDermid has been on the ice for only 1 goal scored in the 18 games he has played. I dont even care that he averages 5 minutes a game , he is not an NHL caliber player. Halonen is built to be able to play on the 4th line as well with him being 6 feet & 207 lbs. Team could use a bottom 6 goal badly since they are struggling to score more than 3 a game during this slump.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Sheldon has every right to be upset with how the team blew that game but he deserves some criticism for playing MacDermid in a game he clearly was not needed in. No Reeves in the lineup either so that doubles down on that.

I'm pissed that Haloenen didn't draw into the lineup. He's having a good season for Utica and yet he has to sit this one out. MacDermid has been on the ice for only 1 goal scored in the 18 games he has played. I dont even care that he averages 5 minutes a game , he is not an NHL caliber player. Halonen is built to be able to play on the 4th line as well with him being 6 feet & 207 lbs. Team could use a bottom 6 goal badly since they are struggling to score more than 3 a game during this slump.

Agree, Halonen deserved the nod. Especially with the team battling a multitude of illnesses, you can’t dress a guy that plays under 5 minutes instead of someone who actually deserved to play and adds some modicum of skill to the bottom 6.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

As much as it stinks with them losing these OT games, they are becoming OT point merchants. They have 7 points in the last 5 games. Not great, but better than no points.

 

[Devs3cups]

Yeah, I was kinda disappointed about Halonen not playing. With that said, I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t play next game.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Yeah, I was kinda disappointed about Halonen not playing. With that said, I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t play next game.

I’m sure we’ll want to give MacDermid his 4 minutes of ice time against Philly.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Fitz sniffing around center targets according to the Athletic. ROR (insanely good add if he does it), Gourde were some names dropped

 

[TheBeerNerd]

• How the f*** did this team give up 20 or fewer shots in a single game this season, let alone seven in a row? They're giving up shots like it's candy. We'll be extremely lucky to hit that number again.
• Speaking of shots, we can't get them on net on a regular basis. Entire minutes go by where the only "shots" are wide of the net, high of the net, blocked by a player, or not even shot at all. It's pretty stark to see every other team not have this problem.
• Bottom six sucks ass but we know that. But given his track record in Toronto, maybe it's a Keefe problem as well, because he knows nothing in the NHL besides leaning on his top six. Guess we'll see once we get help.
• Another Keefe thing: he should have kept his big mouth shut after the Meier non-knee. The referees have had it out for us ever since. It doesn't matter that he was right. We've lost points because of them since that moment.

 

[jkrdevil]

• How the f*** did this team give up 20 or fewer shots in a single game this season, let alone seven in a row? They're giving up shots like it's candy. We'll be extremely lucky to hit that number again.
• Speaking of shots, we can't get them on net on a regular basis. Entire minutes go by where the only "shots" are wide of the net, high of the net, blocked by a player, or not even shot at all. It's pretty stark to see every other team not have this problem.
• Bottom six sucks ass but we know that. But given his track record in Toronto, maybe it's a Keefe problem as well, because he knows nothing in the NHL besides leaning on his top six. Guess we'll see once we get help.
• Another Keefe thing: he should have kept his big mouth shut after the Meier non-knee. The referees have had it out for us ever since. It doesn't matter that he was right. We've lost points because of them since that moment.

1.) There is a difference in playing at home vs on the road (banged up). I don’t think anyone thought the 20 shot streak was going to hold up during the road stretch.

2.) I’m not overly concerned about this. Most attempted shots for all teams miss the net.

3.) Toronto has bottom 6 issues before Keefe and still have them. It is their cap structure. This will be addressed by the deadline

4.) He didn’t even criticize the refs in the Necas/Meier play, he criticized Necas for faking an injury (putting the refs in a tough spot). The lack of penalties drawn predates that anyways. It is a result of fewer calls overall in the league and probably getting fewer calls overall because they have a good PP and officials want to be sure of a call before making it. They also don’t take a lot of penalties so they don’t get makeup calls.

 

[Triumph]

Last night's game was one of the few since the Blues game + Canes game where I thought the Devils got the benefit of the referees. Nico actually drew 2 penalties, and Toronto never got a make up call after the Devils power play goal.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I really do believe that if the team was at full strength health wise, they could have pulled that one off last night. I know they got the point by the skin of their teeth in regulation, but the fact they were able to find a way to respond after each tying goal with not much gas in the tank is absolutely a positive.

Feel like we don't get the benefit of bounces as much as we'd like, Noesen's OT goal aside. If only Luke was able to bury that post shot at the beginning of OT. It's a shame he had such a blunder to end the game because he looked like he was determined to be the one to end it.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

• How the f*** did this team give up 20 or fewer shots in a single game this season, let alone seven in a row? They're giving up shots like it's candy. We'll be extremely lucky to hit that number again.
• Speaking of shots, we can't get them on net on a regular basis. Entire minutes go by where the only "shots" are wide of the net, high of the net, blocked by a player, or not even shot at all. It's pretty stark to see every other team not have this problem.
• Bottom six sucks ass but we know that. But given his track record in Toronto, maybe it's a Keefe problem as well, because he knows nothing in the NHL besides leaning on his top six. Guess we'll see once we get help.
• Another Keefe thing: he should have kept his big mouth shut after the Meier non-knee. The referees have had it out for us ever since. It doesn't matter that he was right. We've lost points because of them since that moment.

If the refs are doing that then they're legit proving his point, the Siegs "trip" was god f***ing awful. I've seen refs in this league change their mind after calling a penalty like that but the wishy washy nature of referees is why they get so much shit from fans/players/coaches

 

[Zippy316]

Fitz sniffing around center targets according to the Athletic. ROR (insanely good add if he does it), Gourde were some names dropped

Gourde is the perfect fit for this team, but he’s going to be in demand for sure.

Dowling is the perfect call up option that you can trust to give you 12 minutes without hurting you in any way, but it just does not cut it as a third line center. Lazar has basically been in the same boat this season too.

 

[HellOnIce]

3C. Everyone knows it. Tom spoke about it in the Athletic today. Just gotta keep collecting points by any means and rest and get some bounces. No need for MacD, cmon. Halonen should've been in. Deck chair? Maybe but for 4:30, give the kid a shot. He's scoring a little bit down there.

Play Allen both games this weekend.

 

[devsfan8]

Gourde is the perfect fit for this team, but he’s going to be in demand for sure.

Dowling is the perfect call up option that you can trust to give you 12 minutes without hurting you in any way, but it just does not cut it as a third line center. Lazar has basically been in the same boat this season too.

I agree. I think O'Reilly for 3rd line center (with retention) would be nice also. But i think his contract beyond this season would be problematic. Scissons as well i like. There are many names out there that fit the type of player we need.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Play Allen both games this weekend.

I don't know about that he'll certainly get one though. Wonder if we'll see him tomorrow.

 

[HellOnIce]

I don't know about that he'll certainly get one though. Wonder if we'll see him tomorrow.

Hasn't played in a bit - If he's under 25/30 shots Saturday, roll him back out Sunday.

I agree. I think O'Reilly for 3rd libe center (with retention) would be nice also. But i think his contractr beyond this season would be prbolematic. Scissons as well i like. There are many names out there that fit the type of player we need.

I don't think it's that expensive given cap raises and other moves.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I know Haula is the whipping boy for a lot of people around here but the team really is different when he's out. He doesn't have any juice offensively but is a quality 3rd liner that helps keeps everyone else in the lineup playing where they should be and lets us roll 4 lines (well, at least 3) more efficiently.

In addition to the bottom-6 getting more work - Dowling's ice time is up 2 minutes a game in the last 5 games vs the 5 games before Haula was hurt - Jack, Brat, and Nico are all getting more shifts. Nico in particular is getting over 2 mins of ice time more than usual, from 19:38 from Dec 26 - Jan 5 up to 21:52 from Jan 6 - Jan 17.

Haula isn't awesome but the staff trusts him to take defensive zone faceoffs, and when he's out the only guy left who can be trusted to do that is Nico.

Timo's ice time is up almost 5 mins per game! Although I think a lot of that may have to do with Noesen being out the last two.

The point is that when Haula is out we can't roll 4 lines and the team gets real top-heavy real quick. That's not winning hockey and we shouldn't be grinding our top guys into dust during January. Save that for the playoffs.

 

[Lou Bloom]

A retained O’Reilly would cost a ton in assets. Assets that could be used getting a very good player in their prime not a 34 year old that’s declining.

Unless Nashville wanted to do a 1 for 1 trade around Mercer for O’Reilly.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

I don't know about that he'll certainly get one though. Wonder if we'll see him tomorrow.

Play him Sunday. I'm going to that one with the wife and foster kids. The Devils are 2-0 with a combined score of 4-0 when she's in attendance.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I know Haula is the whipping boy for a lot of people around here but the team really is different when he's out. He doesn't have any juice offensively but is a quality 3rd liner that helps keeps everyone else in the lineup playing where they should be and lets us roll 4 lines (well, at least 3) more efficiently.

In addition to the bottom-6 getting more work - Dowling's ice time is up 2 minutes a game in the last 5 games vs the 5 games before Haula was hurt - Jack, Brat, and Nico are all getting more shifts. Nico in particular is getting over 2 mins of ice time more than usual, from 19:38 from Dec 26 - Jan 5 up to 21:52 from Jan 6 - Jan 17.

Haula isn't awesome but the staff trusts him to take defensive zone faceoffs, and when he's out the only guy left who can be trusted to do that is Nico.

Timo's ice time is up almost 5 mins per game! Although I think a lot of that may have to do with Noesen being out the last two.

The point is that when Haula is out we can't roll 4 lines and the team gets real top-heavy real quick. That's not winning hockey and we shouldn't be grinding our top guys into dust during January. Save that for the playoffs.

they aren't any different than the last ~6 weeks or so WITH Haula. Dude was a literal zero for weeks if not longer.