Very impressed by Allen and appreciative of his excellent play. With that said (and this isn’t a knock), I think it’s far more likely that Allen reverts back to what his past seasons would indicate he is than him replicating this year’s performance level. I’m sure a team in desperate need of a goaltending upgrade will give him more term and $ than we would/should, rendering him cost prohibitive anyway. Daws has shown me enough to be reasonably confident he can play well for us in the backup role. It’s really going to be now or never for the kid.
Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part V
- Thread starter SoupNazi
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devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
- Mar 10, 2010
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Far more likely? I dunno, Mtl was terrible, and Devils are likely to remain strong defensively. I could see sliding back a little, but I don't think it's likely he completely falls off to Mtl level numbers.
I would be wary of too heavy a workload though.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
I do wish we got to see this team with Jack and Glass in the lineup.
We are probably jockeying with Carolina for 2nd if he came in a month or two earlier
We are probably jockeying with Carolina for 2nd if he came in a month or two earlier
edevils
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2023
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edevils
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Mercer avoids physical contact.
He doesn't have that bull dog mentality that a player in his mold needs to play with. It's like he's trying to play like a skill guy, but he doesn't have the high-end skillset. This kid should be all over the crease and draped over the crossbar every single whistle.
Eternally frustrating to watch.
edevils
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Agreed. Players get that contract year bump in their play too. Time to move on after the season.
Alex NJD
Registered User
I think the big thing about Jack and Bratt is they are both guys who want the puck on their stick in the offensive zone. When they play together it's a bit of a too many cooks in the kitchen type situation sometimes. I think back to Pittsburgh during their back to back cups when Kessel was more effective when he was on the 3rd line making Nick Bonino look like a top 6 center.
I think we could try and do something like that, but it does feel like we would need to add linemates for Jack, because as you mentioned he doesn't seem to elevate his linemates like Bratt does. Could be possible with Grits plus another top 6 addition for Jack. Bratt Glass and one of Noesen/Mercer could be a potent 3rd line and helps us spread offense out.
BurntToast
Registered User
Who knows if Glass will be this good next year, but his speed alone is a fresh air. It’s crazy how slow Fitz made the bottom 6. PC might be the fastest but he isn’t Miles Wood.
You said "Second, they have to be certain that Malek is signed and comes over", so I pointed out that he is already signed to his ELC.
He does not, to my knowledge, have a European Assignment Clause. He goes where the Devils want him to go - this season they wanted him to stay in Finland, next season I very much doubt that's where they want him.
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
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When Wood was here they probably had the fastest 4th line in the league. Wood was allowed to walk which looks like a good move, and of course McLeod.
So it was going to be hard to maintain that level. But Lazar isn't a slow guy, and as you mention Cotter has decent speed, they are just not especially quick/fast either.
I think the real problem with team speed, and it's the problem with the fwds in general, is the likes of Palat, Mercer and Haula. These guys aren't big and physical, they don't bring a ton of skill to the table, and they aren't fast.
The board has discussed this a bunch, but Boqvist with his speed and goal scoring would be one guy we may look back on and wish we had kept. Does look like he's slowed down a bit in terms of goals scoring but still on pace for some solid bottom 6 production. His speed would certainly be welcome, and last I checked it looked like he was actually trying to play a more physical game.
Looking fwd Grits doesn't sound like he is a guy who brings a ton of speed. Neither does Hameenaho. So not much help coming from within the organization.
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
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Turns 23 in a month, so age wise waiting longer doesn't make much sense.
They would have to move on from either Poulter or Daws to squeeze him in. Poulter being UFA makes him the obvious candidate. Conversely Daws would now have to pass through waivers? I guess letting Allen walk and moving Daws up is an option, but that sounds risky.
I do hope they put a little more effort into making Utica competitive. Seems pretty obvious that the team being so lousy is not conducive to prospect development, maybe most especially when it comes to goalies.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
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Their numbers in Utica this year are pretty similar. Poulter's a little better. The splits may tell a more appealing tale for Daws in terms of late season play. Pretty similar age with Poulter being about 9 months younger.
If the idea is Malek in Utica with one of the two, Poulter not requiring waivers(?) is a big weight in his direction.
The flip to that is the team has not been willing to give Poulter NHL playing time while Daws has some pretty extensive NHL experience including some very good numbers in a short stint this season. So on that front the team does seem to like Daws more.
Will be an interesting call.
There can be no plan for Daws in Utica next season. He's waiver-eligible, and while he is not a lock to be claimed by any means, there's too many teams who would give a young minimum-ish salary goalie a chance over what they have now.
Utica is going to be as competitive as the prospects make it and nothing more - they're not going to spend top dollar on AHL All-Star types. Hopefully Hameenaho comes over and they sign a decent center.
Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
I'm with you overall, honestly. I like Daws a lot and would honestly hate to see us ship him elsewhere for his deserved opportunity. I love what Allen has done for us this year, but I lean more towards seeing if Daws has it in him.
I don't think we'll run into a Vanecek/Schmid situation that everyone keeps referring to mostly because Keefe has a much friendlier structure defensively for the goalies from the looks of it. And we have a much deeper defensive group in my opinion. The biggest question is if Markstrom can stay healthy, and if not, will that be too much for Daws to handle. But if not now with him, then when?
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
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You don't need AHL All star types in order to be merely competitive. As you say hopefully they sign a decent center. That sounds like an awfully low bar.
I would think having one of the worst AHL teams in the league 2 years running would have mgmt thinking, maybe we can improve upon this.
edevils
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- Nov 25, 2023
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I didn't know Fitz's son suffered a serious neck injury recently.
www.nhl.com
Devils’ Fitzgerald talks skate cuts with fellow GMs at annual meetings | NHL.com
Shares experience, discusses equipment options ‘as a parent’ following son’s injury scare
www.nhl.com
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
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Been loving the Glass acquisition. ppg. Best 5v5 on ice #'s since his arrival.
But I'm always one to look at usage, and sure enough, lowest d-zone rate since his arrival.
Part of that could be acclimation and not wanting him in tougher scenarios until he gets a better handle on d-zone assignments.
On the flip side, pretty low on the o-zone start rate as well. So again maybe assignments of off faceoff sets?
Bunch of neutral zone starts.
So not getting difficult assignments, but not getting the cherry offensive assignments either.
A pretty ugly 38% faceoff percentage since coming over probably plays into this as well.
But I'm always one to look at usage, and sure enough, lowest d-zone rate since his arrival.
Part of that could be acclimation and not wanting him in tougher scenarios until he gets a better handle on d-zone assignments.
On the flip side, pretty low on the o-zone start rate as well. So again maybe assignments of off faceoff sets?
Bunch of neutral zone starts.
So not getting difficult assignments, but not getting the cherry offensive assignments either.
A pretty ugly 38% faceoff percentage since coming over probably plays into this as well.
Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
Guessing maintenance days for these 3.
You need AHL All-Star types when you don't have top prospects going to and staying in Utica. If Hameenaho is good next year, he'll probably spend a lot of time in the NHL, and if he isn't good, he won't, but either way, I don't expect him to be helping Utica a great deal for that reason. Lachance will probably be there too. I expect Squires and Melovsky to be in the system somewhere but I don't expect them to have much of an impact. I also expect Foote to be going elsewhere after 5 seasons in the Devils' system, and he scores like a fringe top line forward at that level.
I think management wants to improve things but most of what improves an AHL team is having good older players and the Devils don't really have those.
Good older AHL players can likely be signed in the offseason but NJ has obviously been reluctant to invest in that.
theoptimist
Thank you Fitz
JK3
Go Easy-Step Lightly-Stay Free
Palat and Tatar needed a day off after that one shift haha.
