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

[Better Call Sal]

While I think most of this does boil down to execution, I do think there needs to be some emphasis by the staff to push play ahead. It's also why I think they emptied the tank in the first period yesterday in a lot of ways, hoping to catch a few goals on Ottawa who also played the day before.

I'm honestly anxious for the game Wednesday. I hope it has a good atmosphere for Lemaire on top of trying to prop the boys up. Would love nothing more than to finally break the dam and annihilate the Bruins.

 

[jkrdevil]

From the 32 Thoughts segment on Miller pertaining to the Devils:

“I know there's been a lot of speculation about the Devils. You know, here's the thing. The Rangers, they can take Miller at full.

They can afford it. They've got cap room. The Devils can't do it without surgery, roster surgery.”

“They are, but I think, overall... They certainly need someone like him. You know, I think the one thing about, from a purely on ice fit, I think Miller's a good fit for the Devils, who aren't, you know, the biggest, toughest team in the league.


But again, you're doing major surgery to your roster if you're bringing him in there. And I think they're good. Like, I do think they're really good.

So I'm not convinced it's the Devils”

From 32 Thoughts: The Podcast: Connor McDavid Has a Mean Streak, Jan 20, 2025

This material may be protected by copyright.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

there’s 33 games left, it’s not a stretch by any means to think that this devils team will lose 3-4 more games than the teams behind them. the playoffs are not guaranteed

there's 33 games left, it's not a stretch by any means to think this Devils team will win more than 3-4 games more than the teams behind them.

See, I can play this game!

 

[billingtons ghost]

…”Tomas Tatar, Erik Haula, Curtis Lazar, Justin Dowling, Kurtis MacDermid and Nate Bastian have a combined 33 points in 185 combined games”….

Jack 55p 9 in last 10. 3g
Bratt 52p 5 in last 10. 1g
Nico 39pts 5 1g
Meier 31 pts 4 1g
Hamilton 29pts 5 1g
Mercer 21pts 2 1g
Palat 19pts 3. 2g
Luke 19 pts 2. 0g

That's 10 total goals in ten games from your top 8 players. Think we need to get two goals from the other six forwards per game to get us to the magic 3 goals? Keep dreaming.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Jack 55p 9 in last 10. 3g
Bratt 52p 5 in last 10. 1g
Nico 39pts 5 1g
Meier 31 pts 4 1g
Hamilton 29pts 5 1g
Mercer 21pts 2 1g
Palat 19pts 3. 2g
Luke 19 pts 2. 0g

That's 10 total goals in ten games from your top 8 players. Think we need to get two goals from the other six forwards per game to get us to the magic 3 goals? Keep dreaming.

the overall point is you cannot just expect the top 3-4 players to consistently bail you out every game. SOmetimes those guys are gonna struggle for a bit and you'd hope that the bottom of your lineup pick those guys up. I think the first time we played Ottawa was one of those games where all 3 goals were not top players. How many other games this year were there like that?

The problem is our bottom 6 has been nowhere near good enough overall this year. I don't even know how that is even debatable? We don't even have a functioning 3rd line right now.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Jack 55p 9 in last 10. 3g
Bratt 52p 5 in last 10. 1g
Nico 39pts 5 1g
Meier 31 pts 4 1g
Hamilton 29pts 5 1g
Mercer 21pts 2 1g
Palat 19pts 3. 2g
Luke 19 pts 2. 0g

That's 10 total goals in ten games from your top 8 players. Think we need to get two goals from the other six forwards per game to get us to the magic 3 goals? Keep dreaming.

A timely goal by the bottom would in fact help us win those tight one goal contests

 

[Zippy316]

I am genuinely curious what Keefe’s solution is to this skid.

Sadly there just really isn’t much on this roster to work with, no matter how you twist the forward group around.

The lack of center depth was harped over and over again this offseason and it’s baffling to me Fitzgerald didn’t manage even a depth player that could potentially play center

 

[Devilsfan118]

From the 32 Thoughts segment on Miller pertaining to the Devils:





From 32 Thoughts: The Podcast: Connor McDavid Has a Mean Streak, Jan 20, 2025

This material may be protected by copyright.

We've finally got a good locker room, why would we want to bring in a known cancer? I don't care how good of a player he is if he's going to chase one of our core players out of town with his attitude.

Seriously hope it's not us. Let him go to the Rangers and become Panarin's enemy.

 

[HoliksGhost]

I am genuinely curious what Keefe’s solution is to this skid.

Sadly there just really isn’t much on this roster to work with, no matter how you twist the forward group around.

The lack of center depth was harped over and over again this offseason and it’s baffling to me Fitzgerald didn’t manage even a depth player that could potentially play center

JT Miller but not Keefes call

 

[Cheddabombs]

Would love to try to pry away McDavid from the Oilers. Think he'd be a good fit here, but would need to shed some salary to make it work.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Would love to try to pry away McDavid from the Oilers. Think he'd be a good fit here, but would need to shed some salary to make it work.

Mercer straight up ?

 

[Billdo]

I am genuinely curious what Keefe’s solution is to this skid.

Sadly there just really isn’t much on this roster to work with, no matter how you twist the forward group around.

The lack of center depth was harped over and over again this offseason and it’s baffling to me Fitzgerald didn’t manage even a depth player that could potentially play center

Nosek would've been a fine 4C. It's frustrating to me that Tatar and giving MacDermid three years were the moves forward wise.

 

[Saugus]

Would love to try to pry away McDavid from the Oilers. Think he'd be a good fit here, but would need to shed some salary to make it work.

See, this is why they should have hired you to be the coach instead of that loser Keefe. That brilliant strategic mind of yours is truly unparalleled.

 

[HersheyBob27]

…”Tomas Tatar, Erik Haula, Curtis Lazar, Justin Dowling, Kurtis MacDermid and Nate Bastian have a combined 33 points in 185 combined games”….

And combined their salaries are about the same as timo makes

 

[Zippy316]

JT Miller but not Keefes call

I don’t think that addresses the current issues with the roster surgery it entails. It still doesn’t address the teams issues of the bottom six forwards.

There’s just a massive gap between Hischier, Hughes, Bratt, and Meier and the rest of the forwards. Palat, Haula, Tatar, Cotter, Bastian, Dowling, and Lazar are all mediocre third liners at best, closer to fourth line. Mercer and Noesen are a step above that group but not enough to carry their own line.

It doesn’t seem like any of that “mediocre third line” group adds a dimension to the top four forwards other than just get carried by two of them into revelance. If you try to find a way to spread the offense, you leave one of the top four (likely Hughes or Hischier) on an island trying to drag two mediocre forwards to good results.

 

[HoliksGhost]

I don’t think that addresses the current issues with the roster surgery it entails. It still doesn’t address the teams issues of the bottom six forwards.

There’s just a massive gap between Hischier, Hughes, Bratt, and Meier and the rest of the forwards. Palat, Haula, Tatar, Cotter, Bastian, Dowling, and Lazar are all mediocre third liners at best, closer to fourth line. Mercer and Noesen are a step above that group but not enough to carry their own line.

It doesn’t seem like any of that “mediocre third line” group adds a dimension to the top four forwards other than just get carried by two of them into revelance. If you try to find a way to spread the offense, you leave one of the top four (likely Hughes or Hischier) on an island trying to drag two mediocre forwards to good results.

It would move people down to more appropriate lines

And combined their salaries are about the same as timo makes

…don’t worry about my cap”… Lou

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Nosek would've been a fine 4C. It's frustrating to me that Tatar and giving MacDermid three years were the moves forward wise.

Boqvist would fit too.

 

[Zippy316]

Nosek would've been a fine 4C. It's frustrating to me that Tatar and giving MacDermid three years were the moves forward wise.

It seems like Fitzgerald went from Marchessault to Noesen/Tatar. I wonder if Noesen would’ve been on the table if Marchessault didn’t choose Nashville, because in theory the Devils need both.

I don’t hate the Tatar signing given what was available it was low risk for a player that fits incredibly well with this group two years ago. The issue is his game has fell off too much to be effective with Hischier or Hughes.

The bigger issue is just the lack of adding another center option, in my opinion. Even guys like Parsinnen and Tomasino that Nashville was trading away, I’d love to take a swing at someone like that at 3C then watch Dowling kill 12-13 minutes of ice time accomplishing nothing.

 

[njdevils1982]

Would love to try to pry away McDavid from the Oilers. Think he'd be a good fit here, but would need to shed some salary to make it work.

salary huh....

dougie hamilton, the trade is one for one

 

[My3Sons]

That's absolutely pathetic. I still cannot believe we have MacDermid for another two years after this.

He can be sent down and his cap hit goes with him. He's here because they want him here and if they don't he won't be. It's not like he's a boat anchor contract that they have to worry about moving.

 

[MadDevil]

Would love to try to pry away McDavid from the Oilers. Think he'd be a good fit here, but would need to shed some salary to make it work.

As long as they don't ask for MacDermid. That would be a non starter.