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

[McDuffz88]

I've been very quiet this season. I've been watching & it's obvious what this team needs. We need a bonafide top 6 center, a 3rd line center with speed. While both Nico/Jack are absolute studs, more often than not it's almost a guarantee every single season we're losing them. Let's be real here. Nico gets struck by lightning & Hughes has the shoulder of a 5 year old. Ideally if we can grab someone who meshes good with one of Nico or Jack (unlike Meier) & play as both top 6 center/winger we would be set. We could even go and make a stacked 3rd line. It would also be nice to have a true center for our 2nd PP unit. With these cap jumps all teams are going to use it differently. I think we can all agree the team right now is flawed & it goes beyond just a 3rd/4th liner. If one of Nico or Hughes goes down (especially Hughes) people lose complete faith in the team to win. That right there shows the weakness of our team. Having a Hughes should be a luxury, not a mandatory to win basic regular games.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

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

It's still better than the brain dead take that this fanbase doesn't deserve to be have a good team because they're critical of what's happening lmao

 

[longislanddevil]

Lou: “When time is on your side, you use it.”

Fitzgerald: When time is not on your side…wait….wait….wait some more…..you also use it.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Islanders will surely be sellers by Friday

Palmieri is pointless without Jack, we don't have the assets for Nelson with them probably wanting a first

 

[Eggtimers]

Who is rumoured to be available that would even come close to producing like Jack ? Nelson ? McCann ? We need two C now and not sure who can help us anymore . RoR and Nelson ? Nelson is a rental so I don’t see us going after him unless Jack is on LTIR until playoffs . Even then I can’t see us giving up assets on a rental . Fitz has said he prefers going after players with term . I just can’t see anyone out there that can replace the lost production and turn things around for us unless we add multiple pieces . Before Jack injury we needed at least one C and another forward to replace one of the useless bums - Haula Tatar Dowling Bastian Mercer . Evans Donato Middlestat RoR Nelson . Who else is rumoured ? Tuch would be an awesome get but his availability is pure speculation and not likely . JJ P same thing . Boeser for winger help ? Same thing though, he’s a rental . Rantanen lol ? Canes would never trade with us and he’s a very high priced rental . Rakel ? I wouldn’t mind him either but ??

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

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

The thing is, Jack has looked bad in the past when he has tried to play through injuries.

If something is wrong that requires surgery, i'll like for the team to get it fixed now than force Jack to play hurt and put off surgery until seasons end.

 

[MB3]

I’d do gross things for JT Miller on this team. As far as I’m concerned that’s where Fitz lost me.

 

[longislanddevil]

I’m certainly no doctor but I’ve been researching sports injuries. It seems the best possible outcome may be a separated shoulder. I’ve read an athlete can be out 4-6 weeks. Of course having a history of injury to the same body part can delay recovery time. I believe a break of collarbone or dislocated shoulder would end Jack’s season. Is there a doctor in the house? Can we call Dr. David Chao?

No team is going to be the same after losing a star player but the loss of either Jack or Nico completely cripples this team. That’s a sad indictment.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I’d do gross things for JT Miller on this team. As far as I’m concerned that’s where Fitz lost me.

Feels like Miller was always gonna be a Rag unfortunately

 

[Lou Bloom]

I’d do gross things for JT Miller on this team. As far as I’m concerned that’s where Fitz lost me.

I wouldn't have touched that Miller contract. He's great value right now but that contract has a chance to become an anchor very quickly and giving up a 1st round pick + a quality young (but injury prone) center in Chytil on top of that big risk is not the type of move a team with a still young core of talent should be making. For $8M + prime assets the Devils should be able to get a very good player (or players) without near the same level of risk as acquiring Miller would bring.

 

[NJDevilsFan21]

I'm not even sure what Fitz can do atm. Other GMs are going to try to sell high on him. If there's no chance of Jack coming back in April, then any moves if not being considered for the long term are probably going to end up a waste.

 

[Bleedred]

They actually hired somebody to replace Novo?

I thought it was an AI bot.

 

[Davegarri]

I'm not even sure what Fitz can do atm. Other GMs are going to try to sell high on him. If there's no chance of Jack coming back in April, then any moves if not being considered for the long term are probably going to end up a waste.

Yeah I'm pretty much at the point of just roll the dice and see what we can do with what we currently have. No shot this team does anything and why mortgage more of the future for a rental to get bounced in round 1? For some more playoff experience for the core? Depends on the price.

I'd honestly consider even selling some (scrap) pieces we have and try again next year. Allen, Haula, and Tatar for whatever we can get. I'd also really think hard about if we want to re-sign Kovacevic and if not, sell high on him too.

 

[Bleedred]

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.

I’m not sure you can seriously run it back with him again if we miss the playoffs. What’s he gonna do? Give another couple of long speeches about how we need to keep adding guys that aren’t dickheads and we’re almost there, injuries just decimated us again (that’s false, they didn’t even start until January, after the collapse was long underway) and that’s it’s not an excuse, it’s injuries. And tell us again that it’s a process and Rome wasn’t built in a day?

I could be wrong, maybe he is back even if we miss. I thought for sure Rogalski was going to be gone and he wasn’t. But the biggest difference is that there was just one rando internet message board douchebag screaming to fire Rogalski. There will be 16500 screaming fire Fitz in the season finale if we miss the playoffs. Especially if we’re officially eliminated before or by the end of that game.

I always felt like he was tasked this year with saving the world (making the playoffs) or be the first to perish in the apocalypse.

 

[Bleedred]

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.

I’m at the point where I’d rather see Dowling than Haula’s cremains out there. And I think I even prefer Dowling to whatever pieces of wreckage of Lazar were salvaged after his early season injury.

It’s now almost hard to believe that Dowling is actually older than Haula is.

 

[Edmonton East]

In October, they scored 4, 3, 2, 5, 3, 2, 3, 5, 5, 3, 3, 6, 6. 3.84 GPG.

In November, they scored 0, 3, 5, 4, 0, 4, 6, 0, 4, 3, 5, 0, 5, 5. 3.14 GPG despite getting shutout 4 times.

In December, they scored 5, 3, 0, 1, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 5, 4, 2, 2. 2.92 GPG. This includes 2 losses from after Christmas when their game started to turn. They were at 3.09 GPG before then.

My take on this? They weren't dogshit at finishing earlier in the year. They got shutout at times, yes, but they were actually finishing quite well in October when the defense and goaltending weren't as stout. As it looked like they were figuring that side of the game out, they were still regularly potting goals at a solid clip.

I don't have time to assess the last 2 months, I just know it's much worse.

Powerplay was operating at a crazy high, unsustainable rate in the beginning of the year considering it has no great shooting threat(s). ES scoring and differential was league average and certainly well below serious contender status even during the glory months this season....

 

[onmygameboi]

It's just disappointing. I think that sums it up best. I loved their game at their peak. However, I think it's time for a dramatic shakeup. It's guys' jobs, so you never make these decisions lightly, but this team is directionless right now.

At this point, you could do a few things:

1) Trade for depth.
2) Trade Nemec for a 23-30 year old and hope he meshes with the core.
3) Relieve the Coach or the GM.
4) Do nothing.

It's not #4... #1 seems like a bandaid fix and #2 could be a bit hasty.

 

[Eggtimers]

I’m at the point where I’d rather see Dowling than Haula’s cremains out there. And I think I even prefer Dowling to whatever pieces of wreckage of Lazar were salvaged after his early season injury.

It’s now almost hard to believe that Dowling is actually older than Haula is.

What’s sad is that Dowling is not NHL calibre either yet I agree with you that I’d rather play Dowling than Haula and Lazar and Tatar out there .
Haula is shot . He brings nothing to the table anymore . Zero points since NOVEMBER. Let that sink in. Our 3C ( soon to be possibly be our 2C ) has ZERO points in over 3 months of hockey .

 

[onmygameboi]

What’s sad is that Dowling is not NHL calibre either yet I agree with you that I’d rather play Dowling than Haula and Lazar and Tatar out there .
Haula is shot . He brings nothing to the table anymore . Zero points since NOVEMBER. Let that sink in. Our 3C ( soon to be possibly be our 2C ) has ZERO points in over 3 months of hockey .

Lazar made some hits early and I liked the tone he was setting. Unfortunately, it takes the whole team to play a high tempo game.

Bastain has a goal coming.

Powerplay was operating at a crazy high, unsustainable rate in the beginning of the year considering it has no great shooting threat(s). ES scoring and differential was league average and certainly well below serious contender status even during the glory months this season....

I never looked at it like that. Interesting perspective and probably the truth.

 

[NJ07102]

Yeah I'm pretty much at the point of just roll the dice and see what we can do with what we currently have. No shot this team does anything and why mortgage more of the future for a rental to get bounced in round 1? For some more playoff experience for the core? Depends on the price.

I'd honestly consider even selling some (scrap) pieces we have and try again next year. Allen, Haula, and Tatar for whatever we can get. I'd also really think hard about if we want to re-sign Kovacevic and if not, sell high on him too.

This team hasn't won against a good opponent since they beat Carolina in late December. That is more than two months and that is WITH Jack in the lineup. This team is just not good enough to go anywhere and it makes no sense to waste picks or young players for a lost cause. Sure, if somebody wants, say, Stillman in return, you do it. But to give up anything of value like Casey or Nemec to "save" this season makes no sense. The problem is, for Fitz to keep his job he may have to try it anyway and in the end he will do something really stupid. And that's what I am afraid of more than anything else.