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

[HellOnIce]

Tom has done some really good things. But if we drop out, even without Jack, 1 playoff season in 5 - how many GMs survive that? He has drafted one forward in the NHL since he took over. One. That's really really not good.

 

[Incharge1976]

I went back 20 years because I wanted to head off any silly niggling criticisms like -

A: the team wasn't very good, so that's a bad example

B: the player wasn't very good, so that's a bad example

I found two teams that won a Stanley Cup where their best forward put up horrendous numbers for the better part of two months. Both times. Far worse numbers, even adjusting for era. Did Elias also have 10 games where he scored 11 goals, in 1999-2000? Yes.



We have guys not scoring much. They're not scoring like fourth liners.



You literally never respond when I do any sort of research, it's uncanny. Assertion made, I counter it or at least provide evidence not in favor of what you're saying, blink and move on.



The team's played poorly. They are just not generating enough offense 5v5, it's been an issue for 2 months. I think nonetheless that the team can weather this, especially if they get reinforcements.

My biggest issue is a trade should have been made 2+ weeks ago when it was obvious this team needed help putting the puck in the net. There is a lot of dead weight in the bottom 6. Granted, it takes two to tango, but unfortunately the price has probably gone way up given teams now see how desperate we are.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

 

[Emperoreddy]

Pretty significantly better this year than last year.

Last year on March 3rd we were 11th in the conference 30-27-4. 64 points

Today we are 33-22-6. 72 points - 6th in the conference.

That's pretty significant improvement to me.

You think we were in last talking about lottery odds with how some people talk and act.

They need to play better for sure but the over reactions are ridiculous

 

[Triumph]

My biggest issue is a trade should have been made 2+ weeks ago when it was obvious this team needed help putting the puck in the net. There is a lot of dead weight in the bottom 6. Granted, it takes two to tango, but unfortunately the price has probably gone way up given teams now see how desperate we are.

I see no reason for the price to change, if the Devils were the party that walked away from an offer. I agree it would've been nice for that to happen but the Devils had and still have playoff cushion enough to wait around.

 

[Derps]

My biggest issue is a trade should have been made 2+ weeks ago when it was obvious this team needed help putting the puck in the net. There is a lot of dead weight in the bottom 6. Granted, it takes two to tango, but unfortunately the price has probably gone way up given teams now see how desperate we are.

Maybe the price goes up and maybe it doesn't, but it certainly could lead to the Devils willingness to pay more than they were going to pay previously out of necessity.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Let's be SELLERS!

You all will be happier next year.

 

[Alex NJD]

Center depth is by far the largest issue. Doing a deep dive on the numbers for a big post I'll finish up later but every players goal share PLUMMETS when they play with Haula/Lazar vs Jack/Nico. Obviously numbers with star centers will be better but our bottom 6 centers have nosedived off a cliff to the point that most players produce better with Justin Dowling, a definition JAG 13-14th forward type.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Where is the GM? He has one serious flaw, compulsive patience disorder.

A great example is how Ruff coached 2 seasons longer than he should have.

Mercer should have been traded already. What does he bring to the table? Strength on the puck? Chippy board work? Faceoffs? Goals? Assists?

He already lost his hot rookie value.

 

[Billdo]

Pretty significantly better this year than last year.

Last year on March 3rd we were 11th in the conference 30-27-4. 64 points

Today we are 33-22-6. 72 points - 6th in the conference.

That's pretty significant improvement to me.

When you're the voice of optimism we know something has gone awry.

 

[Billdo]

No single instance. Every interview I've seen with him he just speaks in a monotone and comes across as a 14 year old. I honestly don't think he's the brightest bulb and that leads to poor decisions on the ice like blind passes to nowhere and knowing when it's prudent to back off - you know, like last night down 2-0 late and putting himself in an unnecessary situation. And NO, I wouldn't question his lack of effort in that situation, so there's that.

So the guy who is paid to score goals, was trying to score a goal in the dying minutes of a significant game, and that's a problem? That's asinine. He didn't put "himself in an unnecessary situation", he was injured on a freak play on the EXACT situation you'd want him to be in.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

It just kinda sucks that we have Jack Hughes , Bratt , Hischier , Meier , Hamilton , Luke Hughes and others but this team is struggling to score more than 3 goalsconsistently. If they had a better 3rd and 4th line they probably have a few more wins easily. Maybe not Washington good in the standings but ahead of the Canes somewhat comfortably.

Really it's on guys like Meier , Haula , Mercer, Meier , Tatar , Noesen (aside for his powerplay goals) , Lazar and Bastian why the Devils aren't where they should be. I'd like a little bit of more offense out of Luke as well. Half a point per game pace with a much better defensive game than compared to last year is still a positive. He would probably have more assists if it wasn't for the players listed above not being able to score more frequently...

 

[JimEIV]

When you're the voice of optimism we know something has gone awry.

I'm a simple man... more wins and fewer losses = success

 

[Zacha37]

If we punt the season because of this that’s f***ing ridiculous. If Fitz continues to sit on his hands and not show any set of balls he’s gotta go. Making the playoffs this season will do a lot more for this group in the long run than selling would, with or without Jack.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Tom has done some really good things. But if we drop out, even without Jack, 1 playoff season in 5 - how many GMs survive that? He has drafted one forward in the NHL since he took over. One. That's really really not good.

Tom is on his couch tonight with a Jersey Mike's bacon ranch chicken cheesesteak.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Just finished the game, there goes the playoffs. Fitz will have a grade A excuse as to why he shouldn't be fired now if that happens too.

Great start to the season and bomb out to end it, like clockwork with this organization.

 

[JrFischer54]

If Jack’s injury ends up being minor, that’s a MAJOR relief.

I want it to be minor enough to miss a major part of the season and load up.

 

[NJDevs26]

If Fitz does punt the deadline we’ll also know he feels he has enough job security to risk a potential crash landing

 

[CalamityX23]

Losing that youth n team speed really crippled our goal production

 

[Whaddagoal]

If Jack’s injury ends up being minor, that’s a MAJOR relief.

That would be deemed a grand miracle in the world.

 

[devsfan8]

If Fitz does punt the deadline we’ll also know he feels he has enough job security to risk a potential crash landing

What is considered punt?

Bjugstad for a 3rd and call it a night. Is that a punt? Or is no trade all together a punt? In which, the Devils would be the only team of 16 playoff teams not to make a single trade.

 

[Lou Bloom]

I'm not very interested in rentals, I'm hoping if Fitz makes a move it's for a forward with term.

 

[NJDevilsFan21]

If he didn't try to kick the puck away he prolly wouldn't have lost his balance and crashed into the boards.
I respect his hustle and his obvious talent+skill, but he makes poor decisions, even to those who aren't 100% hockey experts.

His lack of putting weight and strength in any of the past 4 off-seasons is what ultimately led to where we are today.

He was very contact averse all year. His defense mechanism against contact became falling down. Jack may have fallen down more this season than all of the prior seasons combined. It became especially exposed at the 4 Nations tournament. I'm not saying that this specifically led to him getting injured here, but I do think it did play a part. Contact, hit the ice right away = you're either not absorbing the full force of it and if not that then it's a weak lower body/core issue leading to poor balance.

If he doesn't fix this soon his career is just going to end being a what if. I worry that's is already too late and he's going to be mentally finished after all of this. If only he had Bratt's dedication to improving his physical health he'd be in the same tier as McD and MacK. But to me it sort of feels like what I see around where I live in SoCal - people who come from wealth tend not to be the hard working type.

 

[jkrdevil]

He’s had to deal with injuries going into the offseason each of the last 4 seasons (including the upcoming one). Also if you go back to his rookie and sophmore years, he out on muscle and weight that offseason and then basically lost it all because he caught Covid.

I don’t think a commitment to strength training is an issue. He busted his shoulder last year going into the boards the same way Kovalchuk did that ended his tenure here. And Kovalchuk was built like a tank.

And the falling down stuff is because he skates more on his edges than most players. Luke and Quinn fall down a lot too, but as defensemen they probably aren’t making as many quick cuts like Jack.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Islanders will surely be sellers by Friday