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

[McDuffz88]

Making a trade just to make a trade is plain stupid. Show me a trade that makes us better for this season, that hopefully helps build for next year or that at least doesn’t hurt us in the future.

I’m certainly not unhappy we didn’t unload the equivalent of Nejus (i.e., Jack or Luke Hughes) to rent a Mika Rantanen; or that we didn’t send a prospect like Simon Nemec to get JT Miller. I just don’t understand your ungodly haste to make a deal, apparently any deal.

Might be a pipe dream but Miller for Hamilton straight up would've been ideal. We add a big deal center and bring up Nemec. We would've been stacked with Miller.

 

[Triumph]

Of course they haven’t been blown out in games, they’ve been losing to mostly bad teams and had goaltending in quite a few of those games that prevented it!

'Of course'? I don't think that's an 'of course' statement but sure thing.

I’m not presupposing they stay in this slump, I’m saying it’s pretty damn important they get out of this before concern over missing the playoffs or this team not being as good as it’s first half goes out of the level of ‘doomerism’

When will they be considered 'out of it'? I think unless they have a 5 game winning streak, I don't think the usual suspects will ever consider them out of it. Nor do I think it's that likely that they 'get out of it' minus their top goalie and top center.

 

[None Shall Pass]

The trade market is muddled for us because the last few playoff spots in the East are still wide open. The West is less so, but still a couple teams fighting there. Not that many "sellers" yet. Miller was something that needed to happen for Vancouver. Rantanen was a hockey/business trade and Carolina gave up some good assets too.

Fitz hasn't been banking as much cap space as he can to NOT use it. A move will happen, just need to be patient and weather the storm as much as possible until then.

 

[SKNJD9]

Tom saw his shadow, 6 more weeks of trade negotiations

 

[MadDevil]

God dammit Fitz, why didn't you trade a 1st and 3rd for Granlund and Ceci!

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

The problem with Meier is not just that he misses too many good chances, he is also supposed to be driving his own line now. All I see is a pretty bad and sloppy puck handler who skates around one guy and then skates into a couple more and loses the puck. Shot selection is another thing, it's as poor as his vision. He had all the chances in the world to play together with Jack or Nico and he is not a good fit for neither. I'd say it's because he doesn't have the hockey IQ to play with guys like that. He could be a physically dominating power forward, but he uses his strength way too rarely. All in all, that trade was simply a giant mistake.

Honest question- did you watch ANY of the games the last two weeks?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

God dammit Fitz, why didn't you trade a 1st and 3rd for Granlund and Ceci!

No, I think trading a 2nd round pick for Ryan Donato (0 goals 2 assists in 19 playoff games) will dramatically alter our cup odds.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

If Fitz does not make any moves of substances before the trade deadline passes, sure we can get on his ass. They absolutely need to be bringing in at minimum one forward, probably two.

But they are just trying to get to this break here and then re-assess. They are trying to bank as much cap space as possible.

 

[theoptimist]

No, I think trading a 2nd round pick for Ryan Donato (0 goals 2 assists in 19 playoff games) will dramatically alter our cup odds.

I’d take a 2nd for Erik Haula too

 

[MB3]

All of you posting the 'playoff odds' drive me nuts, as if limping into the playoffs with a poor second half and limping out 2010 style would be some grand achievement. Not to mention those odds only get worse if they keep losing going into the break. Then the excuse after the break's gonna be Markstrom was rusty, or whatever - it's always something with this group.

It's been five weeks, when do we start caring about them consistently sucking? Why should we assume they'll just bounce out of it when it's been one thing after another since Christmas losing to bad team after bad team? I'm just tired of the underachieving and excuses, making the playoffs is the bare freaking minimum they should get out of this year.

when you cradle your legs and whisper to yourself "ahhh, bad luck" after every loss, the last 5 weeks don't seem so scary.

team being thoroughly outplayed? unlucky. team getting outchanced at every single turn? damn, bad luck. team loses 4 games in two weeks to lottery teams while looking totally noncompetitive? bro check out this chart, we're totally fine.

it's orwellian in here lately. this team had top-4 cup odds in the sport going into the season. Who f***ing cares that they have a 96% chance to make the playoffs? they can't f***ing score, their depth is so pathetic that an injury to Eric Haula and his (checks notes) 5 goals in 42 games played is some international crisis. Jesper Bratt has taken the last month off, Nico had his annual disappearing act, Jack has more primary assists to the wrong team than his own, and Timo Meier only looks good on a chart with 'x' on it.

People shouldn't be 'proud' that they're "happy with where the team is". That's the most loser-fanbase behavior I've ever seen.

 

[Mgd31]

Noesen won't be suspended per Jeff Marek,

Huge break there. Thought he was getting 1 or maybe 2 there.

 

[Better Call Sal]

No discipline for Noesen.

 

[MB3]

Love how this just presupposes they are going to keep losing.

As if all of the other posts don't presuppose they are just going to start winning?

If Fitz does not make any moves of substances before the trade deadline passes, sure we can get on his ass. They absolutely need to be bringing in at minimum one forward, probably two.

But they are just trying to get to this break here and then re-assess. They are trying to bank as much cap space as possible.

Do I wait for a text from you before I'm allowed to get upset at Fitz, or will you issue some sort of a PSA for all of us? Thanks for the heads up, I'll circle back when you let me.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

We stink

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

when you cradle your legs and whisper to yourself "ahhh, bad luck" after every loss, the last 5 weeks don't seem so scary.

team being thoroughly outplayed? unlucky. team getting outchanced at every single turn? damn, bad luck. team loses 4 games in two weeks to lottery teams while looking totally noncompetitive? bro check out this chart, we're totally fine.

it's orwellian in here lately. this team had top-4 cup odds in the sport going into the season. Who f***ing cares that they have a 96% chance to make the playoffs? they can't f***ing score, their depth is so pathetic that an injury to Eric Haula and his (checks notes) 5 goals in 42 games played is some international crisis. Jesper Bratt has taken the last month off, Nico had his annual disappearing act, Jack has more primary assists to the wrong team than his own, and Timo Meier only looks good on a chart with 'x' on it.

People shouldn't be 'proud' that they're "happy with where the team is". That's the most loser-fanbase behavior I've ever seen.

*whispers*

they still have the 5th best Cup odds even right now

Probably should have looked into that before posting huh?

As if all of the other posts don't presuppose they are just going to start winning?


Do I wait for a text from you before I'm allowed to get upset at Fitz, or will you issue some sort of a PSA for all of us? Thanks for the heads up, I'll circle back when you let me.

not a problem, if you don't like being responded to on a message board, feel free to scream into your pillow!

 

[Better Call Sal]

Looks like I'm checking out of here again until the next game. The consistency of what I'm reading here after every loss leads me to believe AI bots are actually taking over.

 

[Call Me Al]

when you cradle your legs and whisper to yourself "ahhh, bad luck" after every loss, the last 5 weeks don't seem so scary.

team being thoroughly outplayed? unlucky. team getting outchanced at every single turn? damn, bad luck. team loses 4 games in two weeks to lottery teams while looking totally noncompetitive? bro check out this chart, we're totally fine.

it's orwellian in here lately. this team had top-4 cup odds in the sport going into the season. Who f***ing cares that they have a 96% chance to make the playoffs? they can't f***ing score, their depth is so pathetic that an injury to Eric Haula and his (checks notes) 5 goals in 42 games played is some international crisis. Jesper Bratt has taken the last month off, Nico had his annual disappearing act, Jack has more primary assists to the wrong team than his own, and Timo Meier only looks good on a chart with 'x' on it.

People shouldn't be 'proud' that they're "happy with where the team is". That's the most loser-fanbase behavior I've ever seen.

agreed. there’s a contingent of doomers who are so obnoxious and over the top that a lot of posters feel compelled to argue with them at every turn and therefore take the stance that any negativity is illegitimate

they’ve been playing a really shitty brand of hockey over the last month, it’s totally reasonable to have doubts about the team. they looked incredible for a stretch of time and they’ve looked absolutely abysmal for a stretch of time. even healthy they gave away points to terrible teams, and have looked terrible doing it.

having no depth is a real problem. even healthy this team gets shut out at a ridiculous clip. i was really excited about this team a month ago but now i have no expectations of competing for the cup until they actually string together a couple of well played games

 

[Mgd31]

We stink

I don't think we do, but not a great look when the 11th and 13th ranked teams are breathing down your neck. I know the shooting luck, record in 1 goal games, etc.

But all the more reason why getting passed by these teams would be pathetic.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Looks like I'm checking out of here again until the next game. The consistency of what I'm reading here after every loss leads me to believe AI bots are actually taking over.

 

[MB3]

*whispers*

they still have the 5th best Cup odds even right now

Probably should have looked into that before posting huh?

lmfao point taken on the vegas odds, legitimately shocked that the devils are currently better odds than Vegas and Washington.

the rest of my point stays the same. I don’t care about moneypuck’s playoff odds when the team has looked like liquid shit since the calendar turned.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I really like the player, but woof. no shot I am giving Casey for any 31+ year old. Not to mention Rakell's brains are one hit away from maybe being permanently scrambled.

 

[Mgd31]

I really like the player, but woof. no shot I am giving Casey for any 31+ year old. Not to mention Rakell's brains are one hit away from maybe being permanently scrambled.

The only way I would do that if Pittsburgh retains a decent amount, but not sure they would do that for 3 years. And maybe try and expand it (2026 first instead of 2025 second) and they would take Palat off of our hands.

 

[NjDevsRR]

As far as playoffs go. We exhausted our big buffer but still have a buffer. And we really focused on Metro 3. So that leaves:

CBJ
NYR
NYI

CBJ can’t continue their current pace, especially without Marchenko. Rangers are too inconsistent. Islanders can’t continue their pace.

Devils simply need to refind their game and get their centers and goalie back. That should be more than enough.

Try to get 3-4 pts in these next 3 games and then regroup.

 

[Triumph]

As if all of the other posts don't presuppose they are just going to start winning?

I don't think they are going to 'just start winning'. They're probably going to lose a lot more games this season! But they're going to win more of the games than they lose. I expect them to basically play at the pace they've played at this season, maybe a little better because their luck in one-goal games has been pretty bad, but maybe that's offset by the fact that the Devils spent most of the season without significant injuries and I doubt they ever get fully healthy.

agreed. there’s a contingent of doomers who are so obnoxious and over the top that a lot of posters feel compelled to argue with them at every turn and therefore take the stance that any negativity is illegitimate

they’ve been playing a really shitty brand of hockey over the last month, it’s totally reasonable to have doubts about the team. they looked incredible for a stretch of time and they’ve looked absolutely abysmal for a stretch of time. even healthy they gave away points to terrible teams, and have looked terrible doing it.

having no depth is a real problem. even healthy this team gets shut out at a ridiculous clip. i was really excited about this team a month ago but now i have no expectations of competing for the cup until they actually string together a couple of well played games

I don't think they have played that shitty this month. Since December 26th, they are basically break-even in xG and actual 5v5 goals. They're still putting up fantastic xG numbers on the power play but it's cooled off in terms of results, they're middle of the pack. They're middling in xGA numbers on the PK but have better results than that, and their xGF is top 10 in the league (and I think the eye test will bear that out, they're a dangerous PK). They have played like an average team and gotten bad luck vis a vis goal distribution. Yeah, that's not Cup winning hockey, but most Cup winners will have a stretch like this, especially if there are significant injuries.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]