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

[Bleedred]

By the way, any news on Noesen and a hearing or call from department of player safety?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

By the way, any news on Noesen and a hearing or call from department of player safety?

no suspension

 

[Bleedred]

Your ranking methodology is flawed, see a few posts above

Ahh, I went the wrong way lol. Oops!

In doing that backwards, my 4.5 should probably translate to a 6.5. Regulation loss tomorrow pushes over 7, OT loss to just below 7.

 

[R8Devs]

rakell would be a good get. but I think Casey would have to be reserved for a bigger player trade though -- maybe they could trade Kovacevic and flip his return + something for Rakell. Rakell+ healthy Nemec I think could outweigh Kovacevic's impact.

 

[guitarguyvic]

yeah there are definitely drive by negative posters that are annoying as f*ck.

but i think guitar guy should get a little more credit - when the devils were good he was still here cheering them on and enjoying it as much as anyone. that’s a big difference from the guys who disappear whenever they’re on a streak and just pop in when they lose to bitch that everything sucks. he’s just disillusioned with the overwhelming bad results the team has gotten over the last decade.

im definitely not as negative or pessimistic has him (though i am admittedly pessimistic lately) but i understand where he’s coming from and there is some validity to his attitude even if most people disagree

Well, I appreciate the (rare) defense of my participation here. I am not one of those drive by doomers, thank you for recognizing.

There’s a lot of things that are frustrating about the discourse on here, but one of the biggest ones is the constant arrogance and strawmanning. Like, I don’t think I’ve once ever said I think this team is as bad as they’ve looked for the last month, but a certain someone just can’t help respond in all caps about how I’m saying they are horrible based on one stretch of play.

I have agreed with the reasonable refrain that they are likely somewhere in the middle. The problem is that I don’t think that middle ground is good enough to do a whole lot of damage in the playoffs. And we were sold a bill of goods that this was a cup contender this year. I’m tired of being let down year after year after year. I don’t need to be told I’m less of a fan or spoiled or I don’t know what I’m looking at just because you don’t agree.

I’ve already accepted that this team isn’t as good as expected. I think it’s possible but unlikely they’ll miss the playoffs. The most likely outcome right now seems to be that they will make it and bow out early. I’m completely aware that the outlook can improve depending on how trade deadline deals work out.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Some much needed couples therapy going on here. Bravo I say

 

[billingtons ghost]

Tbh, I'm very optimistic about this team and the growth they've shown. I think the days of average/subpar goaltending are behind us, even though Allen had always been a wild card goalie.
I think the days of ridiculously bad defense BECAUSE OF SYSTEM AND LACK OF BUYIN/UNDERSTANDING are behind us. There's still loads of immaturity and 'IM GOING TO DO IT ALL MYSELF' hockey out there, but when we are scared by an opponent (like the cup champs) or the stakes get raised (as Dillon's hit did in Philly) the team can respond with confident, dominant defensive and offensive performances.

That said, it's still a complete coin toss as to which players show up game to game. Do we get disinterested Meier? Skulking on the perimeter Bratt? Blueline giveaway Jack? Stupid pinch Dougie? Skate in circles Luke? Invisible Mercer and Palat?

Or do we get those players at their best?

If we're going to win anything at all, we've got to be playing simple North South, mistake free hockey BY HABIT come playoff time, bc this team never looks more terrible than when they are trying to flick a switch and make stretch passes and mad individual rushes.

When we play the clean game Keefe wants, I put our chances up there with anyone's.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Perhaps we can coexist after all.

 

[SansaStark]

Tbh, I'm very optimistic about this team and the growth they've shown. I think the days of average/subpar goaltending are behind us, even though Allen had always been a wild card goalie.
I think the days of ridiculously bad defense BECAUSE OF SYSTEM AND LACK OF BUYIN/UNDERSTANDING are behind us. There's still loads of immaturity and 'IM GOING TO DO IT ALL MYSELF' hockey out there, but when we are scared by an opponent (like the cup champs) or the stakes get raised (as Dillon's hit did in Philly) the team can respond with confident, dominant defensive and offensive performances.

That said, it's still a complete coin toss as to which players show up game to game. Do we get disinterested Meier? Skulking on the perimeter Bratt? Blueline giveaway Jack? Stupid pinch Dougie? Skate in circles Luke? Invisible Mercer and Palat?

Or do we get those players at their best?

If we're going to win anything at all, we've got to be playing simple North South, mistake free hockey BY HABIT come playoff time, bc this team never looks more terrible than when they are trying to flick a switch and make stretch passes and mad individual rushes.

When we play the clean game Keefe wants, I put our chances up there with anyone's.

They won’t consistently play this way because they are mentally fragile. One bit of adversity and they’re right back to hero pond hockey. If the difference between this team winning or losing against bottom feeders like Buffalo is Nico then they’re just a mid level purgatory team. I’m glad Fitz hasn’t made any moves yet. This core doesn’t deserve a better bottom 6 or a 3C because they would squander it and get blasted in the first round anyway.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Tbh, I'm very optimistic about this team and the growth they've shown. I think the days of average/subpar goaltending are behind us, even though Allen had always been a wild card goalie.
I think the days of ridiculously bad defense BECAUSE OF SYSTEM AND LACK OF BUYIN/UNDERSTANDING are behind us. There's still loads of immaturity and 'IM GOING TO DO IT ALL MYSELF' hockey out there, but when we are scared by an opponent (like the cup champs) or the stakes get raised (as Dillon's hit did in Philly) the team can respond with confident, dominant defensive and offensive performances.

That said, it's still a complete coin toss as to which players show up game to game. Do we get disinterested Meier? Skulking on the perimeter Bratt? Blueline giveaway Jack? Stupid pinch Dougie? Skate in circles Luke? Invisible Mercer and Palat?

Or do we get those players at their best?

If we're going to win anything at all, we've got to be playing simple North South, mistake free hockey BY HABIT come playoff time, bc this team never looks more terrible than when they are trying to flick a switch and make stretch passes and mad individual rushes.

When we play the clean game Keefe wants, I put our chances up there with anyone's.

I think this is a pretty accurate assessment. This team has absolutely shown that it can play championship hockey, we just need to see it consistently. There are annoying little patches of inconsistency to work out, but all of the pieces are in the right spots.

I think Fitz really doesn't need to do much except add some quality depth to the middle of the forward group.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I think my biggest beef that I have is with those who have already written how this season will end in their minds. There is plenty of hockey to go, and while January has been a difficult month, this last stretch has been more challenging in missing two guys who make a massive difference (along with Haula to a lesser extent, who does bolster our forward depth).

This sport is incredibly fluky in so many ways. The most important thing is to find yourself in the playoff picture at the end. There are enough instances of teams making runs even if they weren't the top team in the conference or even their division. Some will chalk that up as clinging to hope, but it's the reality of the sport. There is a good team here, I laid out all of the statistics that we are in the top third and top quarter of the league in last week ahead of the Buffalo game. One game hasn't changed that. But if the top players do not come to play, such as Jack's line in that last game where they got scored on 3 times, you'll certainly struggle to win more of those games than you'll lose.

I have confidence in Keefe seeing how he has navigated regular seasons in Toronto. He has had enough success that I have faith he can get things tightened up. We need our reinforcements first, and that will come with the 4 Nations break too.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I'm at an 8 on the Dano meter but I agree with the positive sentiments on the team as a whole. The upcoming break can't come soon enough they need the reset.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

They won’t consistently play this way because they are mentally fragile. One bit of adversity and they’re right back to hero pond hockey. If the difference between this team winning or losing against bottom feeders like Buffalo is Nico then they’re just a mid level purgatory team. I’m glad Fitz hasn’t made any moves yet. This core doesn’t deserve a better bottom 6 or a 3C because they would squander it and get blasted in the first round anyway.

When has the hero pond hockey happened? I’ve been under the impression that they’ve been one of the best defensive teams in the NHL this season. You’ve also left out of your diatribe that they’re without their top goalie and only other center that can win a faceoff.

 

[NjDevsRR]

January sucked booty cheeks. But I am now looking at the present. Besides Buffalo gm the D structure is there. They won 3 of their last 5. If they make it 4 of 6 then thats the first “good” stretch in a while (.667 pts %), and that’s with battling the new injuries. They also have been scoring lately which is good. A W tomorrow goes a LONG way before two tougher games to end before the stretch.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Let's just get to the 4 nations break with 3 or 4 points and I will be very happy.

 

[Clam Jensen]

They won’t consistently play this way because they are mentally fragile. One bit of adversity and they’re right back to hero pond hockey. If the difference between this team winning or losing against bottom feeders like Buffalo is Nico then they’re just a mid level purgatory team. I’m glad Fitz hasn’t made any moves yet. This core doesn’t deserve a better bottom 6 or a 3C because they would squander it and get blasted in the first round anyway.

You’re like an energy vampire but you live off of negativity. What makes you happy in life?

 

[Oneiro]

You can't have six regulars combine for barely 100 points in a season. Pretty simple and very correctable.

What Dougie does offensively is great but it's easy to trade those 50+ points for 120-150 points elsewhere.

 

[SKNJD9]

Heard the Donato rumblings about a month ago. I'm sure a 2nd makes it happen immediately but I wouldn't be shocked if Tom is still playing hardball on price. OR keeping him as options C/D

 

[Ripshot 43]

You’re like an energy vampire but you live off of negativity. What makes you happy in life?

 

[njdevils1982]

danometer at 5 but i wish it was at 0.12

"Sober enough to know what I'm doing, but drunk enough to enjoy doing it"

 

[New Jerseys Devil]

Heck, our Captain just turned 26! Weve got tons of time to figure things out and add/remove pieces

This will be a very fun and awesome-looking puzzle when its completed!!

 

[NjDevsRR]

This will be a very fun and awesome-looking puzzle when its completed!!

You’re not wrong partner

 

[forceten]

I mean, we have the Danometer but I'm wondering if we need a Schoeny meter that goes from 1 (Hrudey! Hrudey!) to 10 (Have another donut!!)

 

[JimEIV]

I just overheard the greatest line a few minutes ago...an argument over Nick Lindstrom's place All Time was being had, guy said Lidstrom has 7 Norris trophies...the other person replied yeah and Beyonce has 33 Grammys and the Beatles have 7.

I made two new friends at the pub today.

 

[forceten]

Beyonce and Nick Lidstrom were at the pub?