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

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Despite the losses, I've liked how Mercer has been playing lately. I think he's slowly improving and adding to his game.

I thought he sucked shit last night

weak on the puck, shots/passes to nowhere, etc

 

[Oneiro]

I thought he sucked shit last night

weak on the puck, shots/passes to nowhere, etc

That was the entire team.

He's finding more soft ice above the red line than before. His hands and playmaking need some work but now he's actually in position to attempt things as opposed to chasing the play or a better linemate the entire shift.

 

[JrFischer54]

Despite the losses, I've liked how Mercer has been playing lately. I think he's slowly improving and adding to his game.

he has been a huge meh

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Is Nico confirmed dead yet?

They are working on it.

 

[JrFischer54]

its a nice accomplishment for sure but dang it just goes to show how offensively starved this franchise has been forever!

 

[Better Call Sal]

Thank you to this video for what will now be my new favorite gif.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Bastian is a nothing-burger. Does nothing well.

don't wish the guy to be injured, but yeah. Time to move on.

Not really a nothing burger in the sense that it’s another hole in the forward depth. Our only options are AHL guys that are probably even worse, or at best are on par with Bastian. Which is bad.

 

[longislanddevil]

The 22/23 team had superior depth to this one with the likes of McLeod, Wood, Boqvist, Rango. Fitz did a great job with offseason acquisitions in Noesen, Kovacevic, Pesce and to a lesser degree Cotter. However, here we are still with significant holes in the lineup. I’m generally an optimist but Fitz has serious work to do because as the team is currently constituted, I just don’t see us making a deep run. We are struggling to score now; just imagine what things will be like in the playoffs with time and space diminished.

I view Jack and Bratt more as super elite playmakers than natural goal scorers. We really lack a sharpshooter (that word is more fun to me than sniper as a Bret Hart fan) and Fitz had the right idea at the time with Toffoli. We really miss not having a player of that ilk. As I’ve said before, I’m bullish on Gritsyuk and eventually can envision Lenni as a really solid third line player. That doesn’t help us now….it will be interesting to see the moves Fitz makes.

Agree with other posters. Bastian stinks. We need an upgrade there but 4th line grinder is the least of our problems.

 

[guitarguyvic]

The 22/23 team had superior depth to this one with the likes of McLeod, Wood, Boqvist, Rango. Fitz did a great job with offseason acquisitions in Noesen, Kovacevic, Pesce and to a lesser degree Cotter. However, here we are still with significant holes in the lineup. I’m generally an optimist but Fitz has serious work to do because as the team is currently constituted, I just don’t see us making a deep run. We are struggling to score now; just imagine what things will be like in the playoffs with time and space diminished.

I view Jack and Bratt more as super elite playmakers than natural goal scorers. We really lack a sharpshooter (that word is more fun to me than sniper as a Bret Hart fan) and Fitz had the right idea at the time with Toffoli. We really miss not having a player of that ilk. As I’ve said before, I’m bullish on Gritsyuk and eventually can envision Lenni as a really solid third line player. That doesn’t help us now….it will be interesting to see the moves Fitz makes.

Agree with other posters. Bastian stinks. We need an upgrade there but 4th line grinder is the least of our problems.

I'm continually perplexed by the folks who dismiss the bolded as not a big deal because our defense is solid.

 

[NJDevs26]

Yeah people can harp on the depth but the main guys gotta pick it up themselves tbh. I get Nico's out now, Jack's a bit banged up but even before then it was just Bratt getting the quietest points imaginable, Timo being streaky at best and Nico/Jack being a bit up and down too. When they pick it up more consistently, then I'll worry about maxing out goals in the back six.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Bastian’s NHL career is probably in jeopardy at this point. He was mediocre but not awful last year. Been injured several times. Has has been bad since returning to the lineup this year, and now has presumably suffered a concussion. I have a hard time seeing how a guy who peaked as a #11/12 forward two years ago returns to that form when since that time he’s barely been cutting it in that role and has been injured repeatedly.

No concussion. Apparently he emerged relatively unscathed

 

[dendazen]

Bastian is a nothing-burger. Does nothing well.

don't wish the guy to be injured, but yeah. Time to move on.

He is the best at dump and chase, he even does it when he is already in the offensive zone.

 

[Mgd31]

Have they not called up Daws yet? Keefe said it would happen after the weekend

 

[Patrik26]

The 22/23 team had superior depth to this one with the likes of McLeod, Wood, Boqvist, Rango. Fitz did a great job with offseason acquisitions in Noesen, Kovacevic, Pesce and to a lesser degree Cotter. However, here we are still with significant holes in the lineup. I’m generally an optimist but Fitz has serious work to do because as the team is currently constituted, I just don’t see us making a deep run. We are struggling to score now; just imagine what things will be like in the playoffs with time and space diminished.

I view Jack and Bratt more as super elite playmakers than natural goal scorers. We really lack a sharpshooter (that word is more fun to me than sniper as a Bret Hart fan) and Fitz had the right idea at the time with Toffoli. We really miss not having a player of that ilk. As I’ve said before, I’m bullish on Gritsyuk and eventually can envision Lenni as a really solid third line player. That doesn’t help us now….it will be interesting to see the moves Fitz makes.

Agree with other posters. Bastian stinks. We need an upgrade there but 4th line grinder is the least of our problems.

I'll be shocked if Bastian ends the season on the active roster, let alone next season and beyond.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I still hold out hope that we can make the 4th line be Cotter-Haula-Lazar

we need to acquire 2 forwards to do that, but still.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'm continually perplexed by the folks who dismiss the bolded as not a big deal because our defense is solid.

Besides Vasy/Bob, the Devils have the best goalie in the East playoffs right now based on resume. That's why there's room for optimism. Also, first the argument was our stars wouldn't get it done like Bratt because of the Carolina series but now the depth is the issue (which I agree with the latter and always have) lol

 

[NjDevsRR]

The scores today helped NJ. No lost ground from yesterday.

Now win tomorrow

 

[HoliksGhost]

I still hold out hope that we can make the 4th line be Cotter-Haula-Lazar

we need to acquire 2 forwards to do that, but still.

I think on a championship team, cotter, haula, lazar and maybe even Mercer wouldn’t sniff the top 6

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Palat: He usually makes the right pass and even wins approximately half the puck battles, the problem is he gets beat chasing the puck almost every time. He just can't generate the needed NHL speed. Seeing him again next season would not be cool. The GM will have to figure this one out, his contract was way too long.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Bastian is a nothing-burger. Does nothing well.

don't wish the guy to be injured, but yeah. Time to move on.

I was so high on Mercer a couple years back, but how much longer is our GM going to wait? I have zero confidence when Mercer has a clear shot. Reminds me of a little kid whacking at a tennis ball in his basement.

Maybe a new team would benefit him and a new player will benefit us, like an straight up trade. There has to be a trade just to change up the chemistry.

Ok just realized this wasn't your Mercer post, but you get the drift.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Watching Dallas v Vegas and how bad the Stars right side is + powerplay is, I think if the Devils want to get off Dougie this summer, Dallas would be a tremendous spot for him which he would wave for.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Yeah I have no attachment to Mercer at this point, he's just a guy with decent physical skills and terrible hockey IQ. He's Andreas Johnsson on steroids and with a worse haircut. If another team sees value in him I would eagerly try to sell high or use him as a sweetener for a bigger deal.

It's not the end of the world if we keep him but an okay 3rd liner is a pretty disappointing product given how much potential he showed in his first two years. His lack of IQ and vision really limits his ceiling. He's a dog chasing cars out there, not a thought going on between the ears.

 

[McDuffz88]

I'd just like to see more of this. Am I asking too much? How can we make this shot a reality more on the PP?

Maybe play Timo in his natural RW spot? He played in that position in SJ and sniped goals all the time. Since his tenure in NJ we moved him to LW and taken him off the PP. Timo should be a mandatory RW, he plays so much better in that spot & even said he feels more comfortable there himself. He never got a true run on the RW with us.

 

[Zippy316]

Overall, I think this would end up as a nothing trade, but with Aube-Kubel clearing waivers, I wonder if there would be any interest from Buffalo for a Bastian swap.

If nothing else, it’s a small jolt to the lineup to wake them up a bit. NAK also has a ton of speed which could be nice to add to the fourth line. Cap hit is slightly more but not going to make a huge difference (1.5 for NAK vs 1.35 for Bastian).

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

no Nico at morning skate, but Bastian is there

woop-de-doo, basil