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

[Ekiru]

I'm sure I'm not the only one here but I still don't care about any of that stuff besides injuries.

Id say I care, in the sense that Im curious enough to know and compare

But Ive stopped letting the negatives of sports fandom get to me. Has really made my viewing experience go up in quality (though down in quantity, i respect my personal time more now)

 

[Dylan9z9]

It is so unnecessary to play Lazar at this point, please stop.

They are hooked into putting in the guy that just sat like that is some silver bullet recipe for success.

 

[NJDfan86]

They are hooked into putting in the guy that just sat like that is some silver bullet recipe for success.

I don't think think there is much there with Foote, but it feels like malpractice to be in this situation and playing guys like Lazar over him - especially since Foote has played well in the limited time this season.

 

[Guttersniped]

one might say Glass appears to be...made of.....glass

“They call me Mr Glass”

 

[None Shall Pass]

I thought Foote has been fine. Didn't wow me or anything, but fine nonetheless.

 

[JrFischer54]

Is anyone else finding it crazy that in a few weeks we're supposed to be excited and pumped about playoff hockey? I just don't feel it.

its funny you mention that just the other night i looked up the heavnj video on youtube. talk about nostalgia! I was trying to find the 30min video that espn did for the 95 winning team but i couldn't find it anywhere. gary throne did it and it was a lot better imo

 

[JrFischer54]

I think, for me, the injuries have been a real bummer, losing 2 top 4 defenseman and your top offensive forward is basically a death blow to any team. So I’m just grinding out the regular season emotionally.

That’s all going to change game 1 of the playoffs. Anything can happen in a 7 game series. Let’s have some guys get hot, let’s suffocate teams defensively, let’s be PP merchants.

This roster can still win a 7 game series against anyone. I wouldn’t bet on them to win the the series against Carolina but they can and I’m going to be pumped to see them shock the world.

just get a split on the road please dont really want to be down 0-2 lose a heartbreaker and then worry if these guys will mail it in and get swept. get back 1/1 and the place will be rocking

 

[NjDevsRR]

For all their 2025 struggles and ensuing injuries, the team held up in this category.

 

[JimEIV]

its funny you mention that just the other night i looked up the heavnj video on youtube. talk about nostalgia! I was trying to find the 30min video that espn did for the 95 winning team but i couldn't find it anywhere. gary throne did it and it was a lot better imo

When Steve Levy was young and thin

 

[JimEIV]

For all their 2025 struggles and ensuing injuries, the team held up in this category.

Thanks to the defense.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Thanks to the defense.

Allen too. Lots of one goal games they lost in 2025.

 

[JimEIV]

Allen too. Lots of one goal games they lost in 2025.

I don't want to take any credit away from the goaltending...but the difference in Luke last year, Nemec and Smith going full time vs Pesce, Kovacevic and Dillon is largely the difference in my opinion.

Edit: As far as differential is concerned.

Then throw in coaching too.

 

[My3Sons]

When Steve Levy was young and thin

He was just as pompous back then.

 

[dzubrus8]

Kucherov is the second best player in NHL of the modern era. He is playing without Draisaitl(Stamkos wasnt on the level with Draisaitl and now isnt playing for tb at all) and he is the only one who can win art ross against McDavid without McDavid. And should win harts because he is really much more important. He is second best player in pts per game after McDavid after McDavids time starts in NHL(McDavid 1.51 pts\game, Kucherov 1.36, MacKinnon and Draisaitl 1.26). And he is very rare player who achieved two consecutive 30+ play offs(Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Nikita Kucherov) and 100 assists in one season(Gretzky, Kucherov, McDavid, Orr, Lemieux).

There are no "Why some would", objective reality he isnt in "that MacK / Drai / possibly even Matthews pantheon''. He is objectively above. As McDavid who is in his own tier.

Lets hope Jack will be some kind of 0.8+ of Kucherov and we will be very happy.

Always love your takes thanks Guadana. As established I take back what I said about Kucherov. My thought is does Hughes top out at a Panarin / Gaudreau / playmaking winger instead of one of the league’s defining players (Matthews, McD, Drai, Kuch). That’s fine if true but the attention/coverage he gets league wide now feels comparable to those franchise talents

 

[Guadana]

Always love your takes thanks Guadana. As established I take back what I said about Kucherov. My thought is does Hughes top out at a Panarin / Gaudreau / playmaking winger instead of one of the league’s defining players (Matthews, McD, Drai, Kuch). That’s fine if true but the attention/coverage he gets league wide now feels comparable to those franchise talents

Jack is dominant center. I dont think he is in tier with best centers - at least yet.
And I dont know is a some kind of problem or not. Caps won their cup without top tier centers. Yeah, they had top-10 all time player, but he wasnt as young and played on a very good level but it was not drammatical. Blues won their cup without any true top tier player, OReilly was great in his role but I dont see how Nico cant do it in his best.
Yeah we have top heavy teams like Avs or TB or very heavy Florida team with very good depth but again - quite normal performance for winning team.
So I dont think that we TRULLY need in Jack to jump over his head. I think we need in Fitz who will find better third line center and complimentary forwards in right time for the right price. And luck. Luck is a big thing.

 

[My3Sons]

Always love your takes thanks Guadana. As established I take back what I said about Kucherov. My thought is does Hughes top out at a Panarin / Gaudreau / playmaking winger instead of one of the league’s defining players (Matthews, McD, Drai, Kuch). That’s fine if true but the attention/coverage he gets league wide now feels comparable to those franchise talents

I think Hughes is a true center. He definitely gets extra attention as a marketable young American player from a hockey family. It makes sense, some kids down here know who he is and they likely have no idea who Connor McDavid is.

 

[Guadana]

and they likely have no idea who Connor McDavid is.

Tough guy we traded for Bardakov?

 

[Billdo]

Another interesting tidbit

There are 60 players in the league with 15 or more 5v5 goals.

78 with 14 or more...

Timo is currently the 88th player in the league in 5v5 goals with 13

Jesper is currently 96th in 5v5 goals with 12.

And Paul freaking Cotter is our best winger with 14 5v5 goals ranking him 78th.

Now do how many players are above Bratt in total points...

 

[NjDevsRR]

The boys did what they needed to do in terms of positioning themselves in the standings. Against all adversity, they are almost certainly locked into the postseason.

Now, finally. It’s our time to enjoy our best stretch of the schedule. Look at the rest here. The opponents. The lack of travel. Literally could not ask for a better schedule to rest up before the playoffs. Also, Dougie skating. Who knows, we may get a surprise and an early return.

@Devs3cups

I know it will be damn hard for them to beat the Canes. But anything is possible. But if they do, then my goodness. That’s a Canes team with the best odds to win the cup right now.

Anything Can Happen in Jersey! OH MY

 

[JimEIV]

Now do how many players are above Bratt in total points...

The conversation was about goal scoring.

 

[Bleedred]

I actually thought that was a good 3rd period after they tied it the first time.

I don't think they would have tied it if not for that Dillon play or somebody else doing something equally as bad.

 

[JimEIV]

I feel for Dillon in that spot...he should've went up the boards but the perfect bounce to Boldy was just shit luck

 

[Satans Hockey]

Anyone know for sure if we can clinch a playoff sport at home with a win over the Rangers Saturday? Would have to have a lot of teams lose in regulation this week but would be a really fun atmosphere if we can. I only took a brief look and it doesn't seem like we could but I'd have to double check, seems like if everything fell our way it still wouldn't happen until Saturday night if Columbus lost.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Anyone know for sure if we can clinch a playoff sport at home with a win over the Rangers Saturday? Would have to have a lot of teams lose in regulation this week but would be a really fun atmosphere if we can. I only took a brief look and it doesn't seem like we could but I'd have to double check, seems like if everything fell our way it still wouldn't happen until Saturday night if Columbus lost.

Im at the point where I am rooting for Isles Jackets and Habs to stay in front of Rangers

 

[Emperoreddy]

Anyone know for sure if we can clinch a playoff sport at home with a win over the Rangers Saturday? Would have to have a lot of teams lose in regulation this week but would be a really fun atmosphere if we can. I only took a brief look and it doesn't seem like we could but I'd have to double check, seems like if everything fell our way it still wouldn't happen until Saturday night if Columbus lost.

I don't believe we can. Columbus only plays once between then and now and the number to clinch on them is 9 points.

The best we can do by Saturday is cut it down to 3 points assuming they lose to Nashville (not great odds), we win Saturday afternoon, then they lose Saturday night.

I believe the earliest we can clinch by is the 8th. We can go into that game only needing one point assuming everything goes our way between then and now.

More likely to be the weekend of the 13th. OoT this and next week will determine how quickly this all happens