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

really sucks about nemec. it's very early, but if he busts as a 2OA...yikes. that would be a pretty big indictment of fitz.
I'm having a hard time figuring out how much of this year is "bust potential" for Nemec and how much of it is a garden variety sophomore slump. I think it's much more of the latter. He got injured and played through the injury for a couple of months. Then he got up to speed in Utica only to be thrust into a system that he hadn't played in at 100% up to that point. And even then, he's shown flashes of his rookie year.

Next year will be a better indicator of his future.
 
I'm having a hard time figuring out how much of this year is "bust potential" for Nemec and how much of it is a garden variety sophomore slump. I think it's much more of the latter. He got injured and played through the injury for a couple of months. Then he got up to speed in Utica only to be thrust into a system that he hadn't played in at 100% up to that point. And even then, he's shown flashes of his rookie year.

Next year will be a better indicator of his future.
Ehhhh I disagree. Not saying he's 100% cooked, but if he finds his game eventually, I'd bet it won't be with the Devs at this point. A lot of his trash play has been due to him simply looking lethargic out there... inconsistent or garbage effort. I'd be much more okay with a rough season if he was simply forcing plays or didn't look comfortable because of a system change.

Right or wrong (he will be proven wrong shortly imo), Fitz has RD stacked with players that have term and clauses. Nemec was openly pissed before the Kovy extension....hard to see how that situation improves after.

Regarding Pesce, there were reasonable concerns by outsiders and a few of us here that he was a Slavin merchant to a degree. Plus he had some rough miles on him. Not that he's a bad player by any means, but his value was materially inflated by Slavin. I'd say those concerns have been proven correct at this point. He's been okay this season, but certainly not worth that contract imo...which was palatable at the time tbf....just not sure having Kovy and Pesce at RD with NMCs and decent $$$ makes sense going forward.
 
Ehhhh I disagree. Not saying he's 100% cooked, but if he finds his game eventually, I'd bet it won't be with the Devs at this point. A lot of his trash play has been due to him simply looking lethargic out there... inconsistent or garbage effort. I'd be much more okay with a rough season if he was simply forcing plays or didn't look comfortable because of a system change.

Right or wrong (he will be proven wrong shortly imo), Fitz has RD stacked with players that have term and clauses. Nemec was openly pissed before the Kovy extension....hard to see how that situation improves after.

Regarding Pesce, there were reasonable concerns by outsiders and a few of us here that he was a Slavin merchant to a degree. Plus he had some rough miles on him. Not that he's a bad player by any means, but his value was materially inflated by Slavin. I'd say those concerns have been proven correct at this point. He's been okay this season, but certainly not worth that contract imo...which was palatable at the time tbf....just not sure having Kovy and Pesce at RD with NMCs and decent $$$ makes sense going forward.
I don't know how it will age but to my eyes Pesce has been top notch this season and worth his contract so far. Others may see it differently.
 
Greetings, any family friendly places to watch the Saturday Devils game in Morris county?
Maybe not totally family friendly, but the Frog is my go to to watch games and since it’s the afternoon it shouldn’t be too rowdy. Orale is a good Mexican spot, I’ve seen some devils games on there before. Bottle hill tavern in Madison is a good spot too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guttersniped
you know looking back at the older playoff series and the division format why was that ok and i wonder if people were bored of the facing the same teams over and over? to be fair about the 1-8 there were a lot of meh non rival matchups

The Devils have played the vast majority of their playoff series when the NHL was using a 1-8 Seed Conference format. (Because we’ve mostly sucked since the Metropolitan Division started.)

When it was 1-8 we did face our Atlantic Division rivals in the first round. I’ll take occasional odd ball matchups (like we had with Buffalo & Montreal) over potentially facing the same 1st Round opponent 4 years in a row (like the Oilers vs Kings).

Opponents w/ Divisional playoffs (1988-93):
7 Series (2-5)
2x Pittsburgh (0-2): 91, L / 93, L
2x Washington (1-1): 88, W (Div. Final) / 90, L
1x Islanders (1-0): 88, W
1x Boston (0-1): 88, L (ECF)
1x Rangers (0-1): 92, L

Opponents w/ Conference playoffs (1994-12)
36 Series (23-13)
5x NY Rangers (2-3): 94, L (ECF) / 97, L (EC Semis) / 06, W / 08, L / 12, W (ECF)
5x Philadelphia (3-2): 95, W (ECF) / 99, W (ECF) / 04, L / 11, L / 12, W (EC Semis)
4x Carolina (1-3): 00, W / 01, L / 06, L (EC Semis) / 09, L
3x Pittsburgh (2-1): 95, W (EC Semis) / 99, L / 00, W (ECF)
3x Boston (3-0): 94, W (EC Semis) / 95, W / 03, W
3x Ottawa (1-2): 98, L / 03, W (ECF) / 07, L (EC Semis)
2x Florida (2-0): 99, W / 12, W (EC Semis)
2x Toronto (2-0): 99, W (EC Semis) / 00, W (EC Semis)
2x Tampa (2-0): 03, W (EC Semis) / 07, W
1x Buffalo (1-0) 94, W
1x Montreal (1-0): 97, W
1x Detroit: 95, W (SCF)
1x Dallas: 99, W (SCF)
1x Colorado: 00, L (SCF)
1x Anaheim: 03, W (SCF)
1x Los Angeles: 12, L (SCF)

Opponents w/ current Divisional playoffs (2014-24)
3 Series (1-2)
1x Tampa (0-1): 18, L
1x NY Rangers (1-0): 23, W
1x Carolina (0-1): 23, L (2nd Rd)

I don’t want to get into the ever changing pre-Devils playoffs formats too much but my favorite mutation is in 1979-80.

Not only did they not have Divisional series, they didn’t even do it by Conferences.

This format is basically four Divisions winners and 12 wildcards. (16 of 21 teams made the playoffs.)

Buffalo vs Vancouver in the 1st round is legit psychotic.

IMG_3992.jpeg

IMG_3984.jpeg

1981-82: NHL switched to Divisional Playoffs. It stayed this way until 1993-94, the only change before is they lengthened the 1st round from 5 games to 7 games in 1986-87.

1987-88 Playoffs (16/21 teams)
Division Semis: P1 NYI (2) vs P4 NJD (4)
Division Finals: P2 WSH (3) vs P4 NJD (4)
ECF: A2 BOS (4) vs P4 NJD (3)

IMG_3991.jpeg
IMG_4038.jpeg

1989-90 Playoffs (16/21 teams)
Division Semis: P3 WSH (4) vs P2 NJD (2)

IMG_3987.jpeg

1990-91 Playoffs (16/21 teams)
Division Semis: P1 PIT (4) vs P4 NJD (3)

IMG_3988.jpeg

1991-92 Playoffs (16/22 teams)
Division Semis: P1 NYR (4) vs P4 NJD (3)

IMG_3993.jpeg
IMG_3994.jpeg

1992-93 Playoffs (16/24 teams)
Division Semis: P1 PIT (4) vs P4 NJD (1)

IMG_3993.jpeg
IMG_3989.jpeg

1993-94: the NHL changed to 1-8 Seed intraconference format.

1993-94 Playoffs (16/26 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
3 NJD (4) vs 6 BUF (3)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
3 NJD (4) vs 4 BOS (2)
ECF: 1 NYR (4) vs 3 NJD (3)

RIP Patrick Division
IMG_3997.jpeg

IMG_4001.jpeg
IMG_3998.jpeg
IMG_3999.jpeg
IMG_3995.jpeg

1994-95 Playoffs (16/26 teams)
Conference Quarterfinals:
4 BOS (1) vs 5 NJD (4)
Conference Semifinals:
3 PIT (1) vs 5 NJD (4)
ECF: 2 PHI (2) vs 5 NJD (4)
SCF: W1 DET (0) vs E5 NJD (4)

IMG_4003.jpeg

1996-97 (16/26 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
1 NJD (4) vs 8 Montreal (1)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
1 NJD (1) vs NYR (4)

IMG_4005.jpeg

1997-98 Playoffs (16/26 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
1 NJD (2) vs 8 OTT (4)

IMG_4006.jpeg

1998-99 Playoffs (16/27 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
1 NJD (3) vs 8 PIT (4)

IMG_4007.jpeg
IMG_4008.jpeg
IMG_4009.jpeg

1999-00 Playoffs (16/28 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
4 NJD (4) vs 5 FLA (0)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
3 TOR (2) vs 4 NJD (4)
ECF: 1 PHI (3) vs 4 NJD (4)
SCF: W2 DAL (2) vs E4 NJD (4)

IMG_4010.jpeg
IMG_4011.jpeg
IMG_4012.jpeg

2000-01 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
1 NJD (4) vs 8 CAR (2)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
1 NJD (4) vs 7 TOR (3)
ECF: NJD (4) vs 6 PIT (1)
SCF: E1 NJD (3) vs W1 COL (4)

IMG_4014.jpeg
IMG_4015.jpeg
IMG_4016.jpeg

2001-02 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
3 CAR (4) vs 6 NJD (2)

IMG_4039.jpeg

2002-03 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
2 NJD (4) vs 7 BOS (1)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
2 NJD (4) vs 3 TBL (1)
ECF: 1 OTT (3) vs 2 NJD (4)
SCF: E2 NJD (4) vs W7 ANA (3)

IMG_4020.jpeg

2003-04 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
3 PHI (4) vs 6 NJD (1)

IMG_4021.jpeg


2005-06 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
3 NJD (4) vs 6 NYR (0)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
2 CAR (4) vs 3 NJD (1)

IMG_4022.jpeg

2006-07 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
2 NJD (4) vs 7 TBL (2)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
2 NJD (1) vs 4 OTT (4)

IMG_4040.jpeg

2007-08 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
4 NJD (1) vs 5 NYR (4)

IMG_4024.jpeg

2008-09 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
3 NJD (3) vs 6 CAR (4)

IMG_4025.jpeg

2009-10 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
2 NJD (1) vs 7 PHI (4)

IMG_4041.jpeg

2011-12 Playoffs (16/30 teams)
Eastern Conf. Quarterfinals:
3 FLA (3) vs 6 NJD (4)
Eastern Conf. Semifinals:
5 PHI (1) vs 6 NJD (4)
ECF: 1 NYR (2) vs 6 NJD (4)
SCF: E6 NJD (2) vs W8 LAK (4)

IMG_4027.jpeg

2013-14: the NHL created four new larger divisions and changed back to Divisional playoffs.

We’ve sucked for most the Metro Era so haven’t played much under the new format.

IMG_4029.jpeg
IMG_4030.jpeg
IMG_4028.jpeg

2017-18 Playoffs (16/31 teams)
First Round: A1 TBL (4) vs WC NJD (1)

IMG_4032.jpeg
IMG_4033.jpeg
IMG_4031.jpeg


2022-23 Playoffs (16/32 teams)
First Round: M2 NJD (4) vs M3 NYR (3)
Second Round: M1 CAR (4) vs M2 NJD (1)

IMG_4035.jpeg
IMG_4036.jpeg
IMG_4037.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I'm having a hard time figuring out how much of this year is "bust potential" for Nemec and how much of it is a garden variety sophomore slump. I think it's much more of the latter. He got injured and played through the injury for a couple of months. Then he got up to speed in Utica only to be thrust into a system that he hadn't played in at 100% up to that point. And even then, he's shown flashes of his rookie year.

Next year will be a better indicator of his future.
It's not unlike Larsson's second (and third and fourth) season. It takes a while to learn to be an NHL D. It was a weird draft and he's not the typical 2OA pedigree, but it would be foolish for anyone to think this is what he is. The sophomore slump is an oddly universal thing. No one is raving about Mintyukov this year either.
 
Would Grits be eligible for playoffs?

If SKA lets him sign for this season, he would be eligible since he was on our reserve list. And we'll see if the team is willing to burn his ELC year on this season or if they'd rather wait for next year.


SKA let Nikita Gusev sign with Vegas in April 2019 and he joined the Knights for a handful of practices. Vegas was already in the midst of their opening round series against San Jose when Gusev joined. It didn't seem like they considered using Gusev in a game. Maybe he would have been an option had they made it out of the first round and Gusev got a few more practices in.
 
Last edited:
I'm having a hard time figuring out how much of this year is "bust potential" for Nemec and how much of it is a garden variety sophomore slump. I think it's much more of the latter. He got injured and played through the injury for a couple of months. Then he got up to speed in Utica only to be thrust into a system that he hadn't played in at 100% up to that point. And even then, he's shown flashes of his rookie year.

Next year will be a better indicator of his future.
Thanks. Good to read it here.
 
It's not unlike Larsson's second (and third and fourth) season. It takes a while to learn to be an NHL D. It was a weird draft and he's not the typical 2OA pedigree, but it would be foolish for anyone to think this is what he is. The sophomore slump is an oddly universal thing. No one is raving about Mintyukov this year either.
I agree with this. But I am hesitant to call it a "sophomore slump".

Not to get controversial or start a debate, mostly because there is no point, statistics or arguments that would change my mind...but Nemec showed similar issues all throughout 2024.

Regardless of how anyone perceives last year, Nemec has a lot of cleanup to do in his game. He's a little slow, maybe a lot slow in his reads and that seems to be coupled with a lack of intensity...he has a general blaisé approach to his game...from my point of view it looks purely like he hasn't fully adjusted to NHL game speed. Those issues don't show up in the AHL. It has absolutely nothing to do with systems, coaching, injuries or any other thing...lack of intensity and adjustment to this level is the issue...

No doubt it'll get better, it requires reps and learning....but the lack of intensity could be a long term issue. Hope not. Hope it's just an effect of the adjustments to NHL game speed.
 
Last edited:
I agree with this. But I am hesitant to call it a "sophomore slump".

Not to get controversial or start a debate, mostly because there is no point, statistics or arguments that would change my mind...but Nemec showed similar issues all throughout 2024.

Regardless of how anyone perceives last year, Nemec has a lot of cleanup to do in his game. He's a little slow, maybe a lot slow in his reads and that seems to be coupled with a lack of intensity...he has a general blaisé approach to his game...from my point of view it looks purely like he hasn't fully adjusted to NHL game speed. Those issues don't show up in the AHL. It has absolutely nothing to do with systems, coaching, injuries or any other thing...lack of intensity and adjustment to this level is the issue...

No doubt it'll get better, it requires reps and learning....but the lack of intensity could be a long term issue. Hope not. Hope it's just an effect of the adjustments to NHL game speed.
I think this is one of those “what seemed like a strength may be a weakness” issues. In lower levels, Nemec was praised for his poise / lack of panic. Now, that’s turning into “lack of urgency”. If he can speed up his reads, hopefully he can find the sweet spot.
 
I agree with this. But I am hesitant to call it a "sophomore slump".

Not to get controversial or start a debate, mostly because there is no point, statistics or arguments that would change my mind...but Nemec showed similar issues all throughout 2024.

Regardless of how anyone perceives last year, Nemec has a lot of cleanup to do in his game. He's a little slow, maybe a lot slow in his reads and that seems to be coupled with a lack of intensity...he has a general blaisé approach to his game...from my point of view it looks purely like he hasn't fully adjusted to NHL game speed. Those issues don't show up in the AHL. It has absolutely nothing to do with systems, coaching, injuries or any other thing...lack of intensity and adjustment to this level is the issue...

No doubt it'll get better, it requires reps and learning....but the lack of intensity could be a long term issue. Hope not. Hope it's just an effect of the adjustments to NHL game speed.
I think lack of intensity is at the crux of Nemec's issue's.

Which combined with the "I'm a 2nd OA pick, I should be in the NHL" quote, just really puts his mindset into question. Especially to see this "blaise" approach after he made that comment. He should have came up a ball of fire. Instead he came in a cream puff. Then has basically remained a cream puff after some brutal play, the coach calling him out(either directly or indirectly), and a benching.

It seems to be a mindset that is miles away from where it needs to be. And its so far off that I wonder if it's possible to get to where it needs to be.

And oh yeah, he's kind of a cream puff physically too. Not a big time athlete. An average skater.
 
  • Like
Reactions: My3Sons and JimEIV
I think lack of intensity is at the crux of Nemec's issue's.

Which combined with the "I'm a 2nd OA pick, I should be in the NHL" quote, just really puts his mindset into question. Especially to see this "blaise" approach after he made that comment. He should have came up a ball of fire. Instead he came in a cream puff. Then has basically remained a cream puff after some brutal play, the coach calling him out(either directly or indirectly), and a benching.

It seems to be a mindset that is miles away from where it needs to be. And its so far off that I wonder if it's possible to get to where it needs to be.

And oh yeah, he's kind of a cream puff physically too. Not a big time athlete. An average skater.
A little harsh, don't you think?

I didn't say untrue, just harsh... :laugh:
 
The problem with being a professional at Simon's age is that you can't be the immature idiot that people would expect everyone else to be. Gotta grow up quickly.
 
I mean if you're far and away the best junior player in your entire country, get promoted to the men's league when you're 15, then get taken 2nd overall in the NHL draft, I can see how that might go to your head. The problem is determining if its fixable.
Being the best junior player from a country that has only 8 NHL players in the league maybe shouldn't go to anyone's head?
 
The problem with being a professional at Simon's age is that you can't be the immature idiot that people would expect everyone else to be. Gotta grow up quickly.
In all fairness, by league standards, he's not really all that young anymore...at least not from a maturity standpoint...21 years old, 3 years pro, you'd think the maturation process would be pretty deep into the process?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mdj12784

Ad

Ad