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

[Forge]

From NHL edge skating data. I'm amused by the "big gap"

 

[MB3]

When they beat Carolina on December 27th I thought I was watching the best team in hockey.

Since then they've won 5 times in 16 games played. Sure, some loser points, yay. But 5 wins in 16 games. One (!!!) of those wins is against a playoff team.

God, it's depressing.

 

[forceten]

Nico is replaceable? Yes and so is your heart and lungs. See how well that goes

I think we just finally retired the “disgrace” thing…

 

[Saugus]

From NHL edge skating data. I'm amused by the "big gap"

Glad to see the data confirms what we already knew from the eye test: Luke Hughes is a ridiculously good skater.

 

[tailfins]

Just because one guy is a 1C and one guy is a 2C doesn’t mean Nico is ‘replaceable’ lol, that’s like saying peak Jagr was replaceable cause the Pens had Lemieux or Draisaitl is replaceable cause the Oilers have McDavid

man I thought I was a negative nancy but then I read "Nico is replaceable".

His annual disappearing acts bother me but I'm still thrilled he's on my hockey team lol

Nico is replaceable? Yes and so is your heart and lungs. See how well that goes

I think we just finally retired the “disgrace” thing…

Comparing Nico to Draisaitl or Jagr is exactly what I'm talking about. I like Nico and am happy he's on the Devils. But, there are very few times where he's in the same sentence as those other guys.

My point was really that the whole "get another top six winger," or "upgrade 3C" is useless. Those are fine things to do, but Fitz can't spend a lot on those kinds of upgrades. Those trades aren't moving the needle. This team needs another star to go with Jack and Luke. Maybe it's Bratt. If not, Fitz has to look outside to get one. And, in that case, he needs to be ready to part with some very good (but not great) players.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Comparing Nico to Draisaitl or Jagr is exactly what I'm talking about. I like Nico and am happy he's on the Devils. But, there are very few times where he's in the same sentence as those other guys.

He wasn’t comparing Nico to those players. He was implying that simply being a 2c makes you expendable/replaceable is a silly discourse.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

I do think they haven’t quite found the balance between defensive system and leaving the reins completely untethered. I don’t care about xg% and all that, it’s obvious the caliber of chances they’re getting, including rush chances, are less dangerous and fewer in between.

Keefe’s structure has been good, but I think there are ways that grip doesn’t need to be so tight. It doesn’t help that our defense leans heavily on defense/brawn right now without great transition pieces outside of Luke.

 

[NJDevs26]

He wasn’t comparing Nico to those players. He was implying that simply being a 2c makes you expendable/replaceable is a silly discourse.

Yeah it’s not like I was seriously comparing Jack to Lemieux or even McDavid either fgs…point is you can’t use Jack to say well Nico’s replaceable because he’s a 2C

 

[billingtons ghost]

If you cannot see how this team is MILES ahead of last year's team structurally and defensively, then I cant help you man.

Did I ever say they weren't? In fact I've said on multiple occasions that the defense they were playing earlier in the season was better than anything we've seen in 15 plus years.

Everything is an average with you, huh?

Can't be a shit defensive team over select periods?

I've harped again and again that this team is consistently inconsistent and we get games and periods that are complete garbage, with inability to pass, inability to clear the zone, and bad giveaways.

We have followed that up with shutdown 5-0 games where we dominate.

And it's true. Watch the games

 

[billingtons ghost]

It isn’t hard to say, they are good defensively. You keep clinging to a crusade against advanced stats, which I haven’t even posted. Eye test, they’re good. They don’t give up many goals and play a pretty boring style. Argue with a wall.

Wall would have more intelligent answers

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Did I ever say they weren't? In fact I've said on multiple occasions that the defense they were playing earlier in the season was better than anything we've seen in 15 plus years.

Everything is an average with you, huh?

Can't be a shit defensive team over select periods?

I've harped again and again that this team is consistently inconsistent and we get games and periods that are complete garbage, with inability to pass, inability to clear the zone, and bad giveaways.

We have followed that up with shutdown 5-0 games where we dominate.

And it's true. Watch the games

this happens to every team in every season ever. The fact that you just think the Devils are some magical team who are the only ones who do this is crazy. The best teams in the sport have stretches like this all the time.

 

[billingtons ghost]

this happens to every team in every season ever. The fact that you just think the Devils are some magical team who are the only ones who do this is crazy. The best teams in the sport have stretches like this all the time.

Yeah, and then they lose in the playoffs. The bar should be pretty high for us, not an entire dismal January spilling into February.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Yeah, and then they lose in the playoffs. The bar should be pretty high for us, not an entire dismal January spilling into February.

I personally dont really care how they play in January and with a bunch of guys injured

lets see how they look in April when it matters and when they hopefully have brought in some reinforcements.

 

[New Jerseys Devil]

Me and the boys on the phone celebrating the signing, July 1st 2027

 

[Emperoreddy]

Refs are a f***ing joke

 

[Omar Little]

Time to call up Nemec

 

[NjDevsRR]

Jackets lost. Up 7 for Metro 3.

Canes lost. 2 back from Metro 2.


Keep grinding away. Get healthy after the break and regroup.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Time to call up Nemec

We'd have to be comfortable playing someone on their offhand. People have said Pesce did in Carolina at times, but I don't know if that is my preference.

I wonder if Hatakka is ready to go. Thought I read he was hoping to get conditioning games in Utica.