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

[Incharge1976]

Agree on almost everything.

But, I think Bratt is making a leap. A lot then depends on Luke. He’s a fine player right now, but doesn’t change the game when he’s on the ice. Maybe that’s starting to change a bit with Jack and Dougie out? Obviously he’s ridiculously young. If he can take a few steps forward, Devils have what it takes.

Lots of “ifs” I know.

Bratt has made a leap every year. If he potted 10 more goals a season he would be considered a top 10 forward in the league. He's a playmaker who isn't afraid to hit someone. Just wish he would score a few more goals.

Luke is fine. He's 21 and just getting started. He has 16 points in 16 games since the 4 Nations break. The game will slow down for him more in the next couple of years and he will be even better. We are starting to see glimpses of his vision getting better now. Love to see him spend a lot of time this summer shooting the biscuit and working on his endurance a bit.

 

[MartyOwns]

It's interesting that he's your favorite because of the throwback factor...

Because he upsets me because he's a throwback for a lot of reasons....first and foremost for 20 years we never had high picks and had a slew of players who did all the things he does...it was the sum is greater than the parts philosophy... I have a hard time celebrating that when we had to tank seasons and win a lottery to get the things Jamie Langenbrunner brought to table in spades.

I thought the whole purpose of the tank and pick philosophy was to get super high end talent? Are we doing the old thing or the new thing?

you can't really compare players from 30 years ago, it's a completely different game. guys would literally clutch and grab their opponents if they didn't have the speed to catch up with them back then. no 2 line passes, the trapezoid...completely different era.

regardless, you make it seem like we tanked to get some top end talent. the reality was, we were the worst (or among the worst) positioned team in the nhl at the time. look at our lineups from back then if you don't believe me. our record was a direct reflection of our roster.

langs never scored 30 goals in a year- although he got 29 at the ripe old age of 33. he was also a whiny little twat of a captain. night and day difference compared to nico, i'm not sure where you got that comparison from.

 

[Nocashstyle]

you can't really compare players from 30 years ago, it's a completely different game. guys would literally clutch and grab their opponents if they didn't have the speed to catch up with them back then. no 2 line passes, the trapezoid...completely different era.

regardless, you make it seem like we tanked to get some top end talent. the reality was, we were the worst (or among the worst) positioned team in the nhl at the time. look at our lineups from back then if you don't believe me. our record was a direct reflection of our roster.

langs never scored 30 goals in a year- although he got 29 at the ripe old age of 33. he was also a whiny little twat of a captain. night and day difference compared to nico, i'm not sure where you got that comparison from.

I know where…it’s where the sun don’t shine

 

[Triumph]

Jim has done this fake bullshit about Nico for almost a decade now, no need to respond to it. If Pettersson's game stays in the sewer and Robertson can't get back to 40+ goals a season consistently, Nico will be the best forward drafted in the 2017 draft.

 

[devilsblood]

Jim has done this fake bullshit about Nico for almost a decade now, no need to respond to it. If Pettersson's game stays in the sewer and Robertson can't get back to 40+ goals a season consistently, Nico will be the best forward drafted in the 2017 draft.

But we could have drafted Makar........

 

[HoliksGhost]

For the Markstrom haters club ==>

 

[devilsblood]

Bratt has made a leap every year. If he potted 10 more goals a season he would be considered a top 10 forward in the league. He's a playmaker who isn't afraid to hit someone. Just wish he would score a few more goals.

Luke is fine. He's 21 and just getting started. He has 16 points in 16 games since the 4 Nations break. The game will slow down for him more in the next couple of years and he will be even better. We are starting to see glimpses of his vision getting better now. Love to see him spend a lot of time this summer shooting the biscuit and working on his endurance a bit.

I feel this story line is a bit overinflated. I know he's the only 80-80 guy or whatever, but I can't remember the last time I saw a big hit from Bratt.

Excellent player, not trying to take anything away, but a hitter? I dunno.

 

[Nocashstyle]

I feel this story line is a bit overinflated. I know he's the only 80-80 guy or whatever, but I can't remember the last time I saw a big hit from Bratt.

Excellent player, not trying to take anything away, but a hitter? I dunno.

He’s actually thrown a few “big” ones this year. One directly resulted in a goal for during the fun and enjoyable stretch of the year

 

[Devs3cups]

I feel this story line is a bit overinflated. I know he's the only 80-80 guy or whatever, but I can't remember the last time I saw a big hit from Bratt.

Excellent player, not trying to take anything away, but a hitter? I dunno.

I don’t think he’s a “hitter” per se, but I rarely notice Bratt not making a hit when he can, and I don’t notice him evading contact often. I also notice him a lot more on the forecheck. He forechecks/hits on the forecheck way more imo.

 

[Devils731]

I feel this story line is a bit overinflated. I know he's the only 80-80 guy or whatever, but I can't remember the last time I saw a big hit from Bratt.

Excellent player, not trying to take anything away, but a hitter? I dunno.

I don’t think his hits are mostly of the “big” variety but he’s been physical along the boards. He’s flinging his body into guys to separate them from the puck and then using his quickness to get out of there before a hugging match starts.

It’s been a good addition to his game this year.

 

[Triumph]

He’s actually thrown a few “big” ones this year. One directly resulted in a goal for during the fun and enjoyable stretch of the year

It was actually against the Blackhawks.

 

[Devs3cups]

That would be so awesome.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I feel this story line is a bit overinflated. I know he's the only 80-80 guy or whatever, but I can't remember the last time I saw a big hit from Bratt.

Excellent player, not trying to take anything away, but a hitter? I dunno.

He threw a massive hit on Vakkahanian(sp) on the 12/23 Rangers gm

The Blackhawks gm was noted with a big hit

He has also had many other hits this season

I believe he is the only player with 80pts and 80 hits

 

[Nocashstyle]

That would be so awesome.

Definitely not an unattainable task for Bratt. That will be difficult though for sure

 

[Devils731]

That would be so awesome.

It would make for great discussion about how 100 point and top 5-10 scoring Bratt actually isn’t that impactful when you really think about it and examine things.

 

[NjDevsRR]

 

[devilsblood]

He’s actually thrown a few “big” ones this year. One directly resulted in a goal for during the fun and enjoyable stretch of the year

True that one was notable.

 

[britdevil]

McDavid and Crosby are generational talents.

Jack is not that. Don't think any one has ever considered him reaching that level.

 

[devilsblood]

That would be so awesome.

It would be awesome.

Conversely if he doesn't do it he sucks.

 

[devilsblood]

McDavid and Crosby are generational talents.

Jack is not that. Don't think any one has ever considered him reaching that level.

Just an aside do you think MacKinnon is in the McDavid discussion?

I put McDavid ahead but I do think he's in the discussion.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Jim has done this fake bullshit about Nico for almost a decade now, no need to respond to it. If Pettersson's game stays in the sewer and Robertson can't get back to 40+ goals a season consistently, Nico will be the best forward drafted in the 2017 draft.

The funny thing is the Devils had their own version of Robertson but he failed in Holtz, Robertson also has own issues. He was pretty bad to start off this year which led to him getting snubbed from 4 Nations and the guy has a tendency to ghost sometimes, I'm sure if he was a Devil the same set of fans that shit on Nico would find a way to shit on Robertson as well.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

McDavid and Crosby are generational talents.

Jack is not that. Don't think any one has ever considered him reaching that level.

I agree, I think that term gets tossed around WAY too much to entice people to care about the draft and hype the fanbase who has it. Jack was probably in the second tier though under Matthews I would say in the last decade. Dahlin had a ton of hype his year, Lafreniere did too because he was the first Canadian 1st since McJesus, etc and so forth. I think Bedard would have a bigger impact too if he wasn't on such a shit show of a team that would help his generational label he got his year too.

 

[My3Sons]

which is still great and I'm very happy to have him on this team and where he goes the team goes etc. etc.

I think he's actually more than 1 tier below them and his ceiling is likely a tier below them, which seems to be what you're saying when you say "I don't see Jack carrying the Devils in the same way as a McDavid or Crosby" that means he doesn't make it to their level, which is what I'm defining as 1 tier below being "his ceiling"

Jack played this season without the benefit of a healthy offseason to improve his fitness and strength. He was coming off shoulder surgery. Apparently, he will be doing so again this offseason. Part of me thinks that once he's rehabilitated his shoulder and healthy he should embark on a weight training and strengthening program for a few months. If that bleeds into next season I'd hold him out. He needs to be healthy and as strong as possible to hold up to NHL play. I think a big reason this season was a mixed bag for him was the injury was a shadow over the season.

 

[britdevil]

Just an aside do you think MacKinnon is in the McDavid discussion?

I put McDavid ahead but I do think he's in the discussion.

Probably, maybe? Now maybe, but certainly not at the time of drafting.

I just feel like Crosby and McDavid were touted as generational from the age of 12. We all knew about them and it was obvious they would become that.

Jack is not that. That's all and it's fine

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Just an aside do you think MacKinnon is in the McDavid discussion?

I put McDavid ahead but I do think he's in the discussion.

MacK is a weird one because I felt like he had the same hype as Jack that draft year but I would lean yes in considering him generational considering what he's done but pre draft I don't think he had that hype. He had very good player hype like a Jack/Matthews/etc.