Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part VI
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
This team is so boring without Jack. Fitz really needs to take a hard look in the mirror and reconsider his approach to building this team.
Hard to reverse mistakes like Palat and Dillon though.
Hard to reverse mistakes like Palat and Dillon though.
theoptimist
Thank you Fitz
- Apr 22, 2014
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Spanked in Winnipeg and everyone is sad this morning. Don’t worry, we have another spanking in Minnesota waiting for us today.
Just curious, anyone still support Tom Fitzgerald? Or want to steelman an argument about why he should stay?
No advanced statistics required only 8th grade math/reading.
Decision is simple - Keep Keefe, Fire Fitz
Just curious, anyone still support Tom Fitzgerald? Or want to steelman an argument about why he should stay?
No advanced statistics required only 8th grade math/reading.
Decision is simple - Keep Keefe, Fire Fitz
JimEIV
Registered User
- Feb 19, 2003
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I don't really have a problem with Palat.
Palat is overpriced. He doesn't belong in the top 6. His contract is just bad.... it's barely better than Ryan Clowe's contract...There are tons of problems with Palat...but from a team build perspective when we got him and needed the veteran leadership it seemed to make perfect sense. If this guy is your #3LW I don't really see a problem other than the contract.
The problem where Palat is concerned in my opinion, is that we "had to" use him in the top 6 with Jack and Bratt because there was nothing else...if he's the guy that plays up in emergency spot duty, from 3LW to 2LW it's not that bad of situation.
The problem is the missing talent in the top 6. I don't see that as s Palat problem.
I think if this team had another legitimate top 6 winger and a more talented 3C it would change the entire complexion of the team.
You can tell that it was a management strategy to stick any piece of junk along with either Jack and Bratt or with Nico and Meier... I'm sure they made the calculation that those pairs were good enough to put any warm body with either of those pairs. The problem is they aren't good enough to stick just anyone with them. That's just the bottom line.
The notion that just tinkering around the bottom 6 is going to make this team better is silly in my opinion. This team still needs key components to be a serious competitor.
Palat is overpriced. He doesn't belong in the top 6. His contract is just bad.... it's barely better than Ryan Clowe's contract...There are tons of problems with Palat...but from a team build perspective when we got him and needed the veteran leadership it seemed to make perfect sense. If this guy is your #3LW I don't really see a problem other than the contract.
The problem where Palat is concerned in my opinion, is that we "had to" use him in the top 6 with Jack and Bratt because there was nothing else...if he's the guy that plays up in emergency spot duty, from 3LW to 2LW it's not that bad of situation.
The problem is the missing talent in the top 6. I don't see that as s Palat problem.
I think if this team had another legitimate top 6 winger and a more talented 3C it would change the entire complexion of the team.
You can tell that it was a management strategy to stick any piece of junk along with either Jack and Bratt or with Nico and Meier... I'm sure they made the calculation that those pairs were good enough to put any warm body with either of those pairs. The problem is they aren't good enough to stick just anyone with them. That's just the bottom line.
The notion that just tinkering around the bottom 6 is going to make this team better is silly in my opinion. This team still needs key components to be a serious competitor.
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JrFischer54
Registered User
- Apr 4, 2017
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this team has more skill then the 2003 team that won the cup offensively speaking that is. yet you wouldn't even think it by watching the game. that team lacked talent out of all the cup winners but it made up for it in dedication pride and leaving it on the ice. these guys just dont care i get the jets are tops in the league but still another shut out come on man play up to your competition rally around the under dog role that everyone wrote you off
Whaddagoal
Win streaks are hard.
Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
To say they don’t care is such an exaggerated trope. They were sloppy out of the gate and paid for it against arguably the best team in the league. Unfortunately, they were down 2-0 2 minutes in, because they actually played the way they needed to for about the next 35 minutes. They gave the Jets very little and worked hard for what they got. But given they were already up 2, I’m sure the Jets were content with that as well.
They can’t afford the defensive breakdowns they had so early last night. Keefe clearly has them thinking they need to play tight to win these games, but the execution is not fully there.
They can’t afford the defensive breakdowns they had so early last night. Keefe clearly has them thinking they need to play tight to win these games, but the execution is not fully there.
Ondrej Palat was signed to be a 'top 6 winger'. His final 3 seasons in Tampa, his top linemates were Point, Kucherov, Cirelli, Stamkos, Johnson, Killorn. He can obviously play (poorly) on a 3rd line at this stage, but ideally he is playing a defense, boardwork, and netfront game with skilled players.
JimEIV
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In theory that sounds great but he couldn't keep up with Jack and Bratt and a lot of nights it was painfully obvious that he was an anchor on that line...
But there is literally nothing else to put in that spot. What LW do we have? Tatar? Cotter? There is nothing.
What do you call playing with our two best offensive players in Bratt and Jack? He literally bobbled the puck constantly and wasted so many possession opportunities.
Palat is awful and needs to be bought out.
I wouldn't mind Tatar in that spot but he is not going to score as many goals and he was needed to shore up the 4th line - even though Palat has improved from his first 15 or so games, he has still been dreadful when away from Bratt - 51% with, 41% without. He unfortunately cannot be on the team next year - either permanent LTIR, if that's possible and he's amenable to it, or a trade where the Devils pick up a lot of the money, is needed.
My post was in response to the idea that Palat can't be in the 'top 6'. I don't think Palat was awful with those two and indeed his numbers away from them are absolutely dreadful, both boxcars and territorially - Palat is not credited with a goal scored 5v5 with any center other than Jack Hughes.
JimEIV
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The LW depth chart is kind of shaky.
Meier
Palat
Cotter
Tatar
Meier
Palat
Cotter
Tatar
I don't think it's that complicated...a depleted middle of the pack team faced one of the best teams in the league...and the expected result happened.
HughesCorporation
in the box
- Jan 27, 2023
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we have 4 top production players (20+ to 30 goals) and we lost one, again.. thats a significant hit. is florida still a cup contender without tkachuk or Barkov? oilers without Mac?
our star is a 60 game player, thats the big issue.. a cloud hanging over us
our star is a 60 game player, thats the big issue.. a cloud hanging over us
Is anyone going to be 'awful' by that definition though with those two? He is still dragging them down relative to where they should be. What should be a great line becomes a good line because the third piece is not NHL caliber. There is still a cost to having him there and on the roster.
JrFischer54
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- Apr 4, 2017
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No I don’t think they would still be cup contenders but Florida and Edmonton would imo be leaving it all on the ice every night. Just don’t get the same vibe at all from these guys.
HoliksGhost
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theoptimist
Thank you Fitz
- Apr 22, 2014
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Those two weren’t as bad.
I was thinking more along the lines of Seth Helgeson.
- May 1, 2011
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Many said the same about Ray Shero in 2019. We all saw what happened next.
I think the Devils certainly have forwards on the roster who would be a worse fit. Cotter, for instance. I agree that the line needs to be stronger and Palat has to go but also that the Devils are going to be hunting for a Palat clone for that position.
JimEIV
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Never liked the Subban trade. Thought he was showing signs of being done his last two years in Nashville. Similar situation for Wayne Simmonds....three years too late on him as well.
And Gusev was another complete waste of a 2nd and 3rd round pick....Shero had a terrible habit of wasting those. I hated all those 2nd and 3rd round picks being tossed around like candy.... specifically that summer.
Getting the #1 overall was a big deal. Jack is/was a franchise changer ...but I find hard to credit a GM for how ping pong balls fall then taking the consensus #1 overall pick. I mean you don't do much to get a #1OA.
Maybe a prime Palat, but the current version of him has to be one of the worst NHLers in the league.
He has floundered free agency...he signed Dillon - who is already absolutely brutal in year 1. Pesce is signed long-term and is going to get risky.
He signed Palat years ago and we all knew how bad it was - and now it has been even worse.
Fitz is old school and has got to go.
JimEIV
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Dillon, Kovacevic and Pesce were not only great addition, they are exactly what this team needed. Then the late 2024 addition of Allen and then going out getting Markstrom....
There's always going to be problems when you are picking up someone else's sloppy seconds. But I think that was absolutely the best solution possible for this team ...
Now considered this:
Last year we were 26th in the league in Goals Against per game.
This year, we are currently 5th best
I mean there are the receipts. Fitz handling of the defense this season has been a smashing success. He addressed the issues and it led to positive results....the offense failed. I don't think anyone expected that?
