Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - playoff edition

[guitarguyvic]

ok I have to see those tweets. Anyone kind enough to share on here so I don’t have to go searching on that cesspool platform? Lol

 

[Triumph]

They sure did so much accounting during ::checks notes::: lame ass playoff runs in non-existent 1996,97,98,99, and 2002. Not too mention - 2001 had way too many let downs early in that playoff run with extra OT and games they should've flattened Carolina and Toronto and let it go way too long.

I first joined hockey message boards in the summer of 1999, the summer after Scott Stevens was walked by a half-healthy Jaromir Jagr to tie Game 6. 1999 was DEFCON 2 for Devils fans, they had had 4 seasons after the Cup win with 1 playoff series win. There was a lot of talk about Stevens was washed up, how maybe he shouldn't be captain anymore, and so on.

 

[NJDevs26]

They sure did so much accounting during ::checks notes::: lame ass playoff runs in non-existent 1996,97,98,99, and 2002. Not too mention - 2001 had way too many let downs early in that playoff run with extra OT and games they should've flattened Carolina and Toronto and let it go way too long.

This is a perfect example of what I’m talking about…yes having some early playoff exits and getting too full of themselves in 2001 in the middle of three Cups in nine years is totally comparable to walking around like they’re hot **** for the better part of two seasons after winning exactly one playoff series in a decade.

And what the hell was four coaching changes and breaking up the A-line in the peak of their careers during that period if not holding people accountable?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Giving away a goal with a stupid decision is bad yes…I really don’t understand why you and a few others always have to white knight for a team that’s underachieved far more than not the last couple years, you guys complain about other posters posts more than any of you do the team collectively no showing for the first period of a playoff game at home, that kind of stuff is on the core too. It’s not just about goals or other stats.

because the team is more than 3 guys. The depth is non-existent.

Last night's game is squarely on Markstrom, Hamilton, and Noesen. That is why they lost.

 

[guitarguyvic]

That was in a preseason game, the time when the passion really comes to the forefront.

That’s right, there was more fire in that preseason game than this group showed at any point during the regular season. Humorous that you don’t see it as telling.

Health is a skill, I've never argued otherwise.

And yet you’ve never missed an opportunity to immediately dismiss any concerns people had about this in the past. I guess it’s only worthy of discussion when it becomes irrefutable.

 

[HellOnIce]

This is a perfect example of what I’m talking about…yes having some early playoff exits and getting too full of themselves in 2001 in the middle of three Cups in nine years is totally comparable to walking around like they’re hot **** for the better part of two seasons after winning exactly one playoff series in a decade.

And what the hell was five coaching changes and breaking up the A-line in the peak of their careers if not holding people accountable?

"some early playoff exits" - It was pretty much half a decade where if the internet was bigger then/social media - Lou would've been burned alived after 98.

This shit ain't linear. The depth on this team is very weak right now, but if they weren't missing half of the defense right now, and playing with two rushed back defenders, a 21 year old and career AAA player - they're probably winning this series.

 

[Devils731]

That’s right, there was more fire in that preseason game than this group showed at any point during the regular season.

But was it the joyful fire that this team needs or was it the stoic fire that this team currently has?

It’s so hard to parse which type of passion is the needed passion since this team cares enough but not in the correct fashion.

 

[HellOnIce]

because the team is more than 3 guys. The depth is non-existent.

Last night's game is squarely on Markstrom, Hamilton, and Noesen. That is why they lost.

Depth is non-existent. And I do think if the Devils had Jack, Dougie, Siegs at the TDL, when their prognoses were pretty much 'season over' - I think Tom would've been more aggresive and the depth would've been addressed.

 

[guitarguyvic]

But was it the joyful fire that this team needs or was it the stoic fire that this team currently has?

It’s so hard to parse which type of passion is the needed passion since this team cares enough but not in the correct fashion.

Jesus H Christ this isn’t about what anyone wants or needs. It’s an observation. A clue about the mental or emotional state of the team. What makes it noteworthy is that it’s been evident from even before the injuries started.

If you don’t think it’s an interesting observation worth discussing then fine, don’t. But this whole schtick of making it seem like anyone who points these things out is some hysterical hack demanding specific behaviors from the team is ridiculous.

 

[NJDevs26]

ok I have to see those tweets. Anyone kind enough to share on here so I don’t have to go searching on that cesspool platform? Lol

It’s actually not as bad as I assumed, he picked low hanging fruit - just a snarky comment about it feeling like a mid February game at the Prudential Center, and another one how Markstrom has been leaky since three nations, both mostly true (though Markstrom wasn’t leaky in the first three games of the playoffs) but still the day that doofus actually says something complementary about us will be the first.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Just gonna drop this here again

 

[guitarguyvic]

I am addressing you if I wasn't clear enough. You've NEVER said the core isn't good enough? You sure about that?

like @Triumph noted, this seems more like a you problem than a team problem. "They don't look like they're having fun" lol what a weird thing to worry about.

It’s not a weird observation at all. Lack of enthusiasm can and does impact execution/performance. Again, these aren’t robots. I guess in your world having your “head in the game” is not a real thing?

They sure did so much accounting during ::checks notes::: lame ass playoff runs in non-existent 1996,97,98,99, and 2002. Not too mention - 2001 had way too many let downs early in that playoff run with extra OT and games they should've flattened Carolina and Toronto and let it go way too long.

I think this missed the point. Accountability is not about never failing, it’s about the response to failure.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Jesus H Christ this isn’t about what anyone wants or needs. It’s an observation. A clue about the mental or emotional state of the team. What makes it noteworthy is that it’s been evident from even before the injuries started.

If you don’t think it’s an interesting observation worth discussing then fine, don’t. But this whole schtick of making it seem like anyone who points these things out is some hysterical hack demanding specific behaviors from the team is ridiculous.

its not noteworthy and it isn't a clue about anything, sorry to say. You can have your opinion, that doesn't mean it is correct.

at the same point, anyone you need to be able to take people combating your points. You don't do that very well, and get very defensive. If you don't want people combating your points, don't make them.

 

[thebeernerd]

LOL who knows or cares, but his picture is next to unprofessional in the dictionary

Is he hanging dong in it or something?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

It’s not a weird observation at all. Lack of enthusiasm can and does impact execution/performance. Again, these aren’t robots. I guess in your world having your “head in the game” is not a real thing?

I think this missed the point. Accountability is not about never failing, it’s about the response to failure.

no, PERCEIVED "lack of enthusiasm" does not mean anything definitively. Zilch. Nada. Zero.

 

[guitarguyvic]

no, PERCEIVED "lack of enthusiasm" does not mean anything definitively. Zilch. Nada. Zero.

So what you’re really saying is that you don’t agree with my perception, not that the issue itself doesn’t actually matter.

Funny, why not just say, “I don’t agree that they have looked unenthusiastic this season”?

 

[Nocashstyle]

Just gonna drop this here again

Okay?? But if you just ignore that, what else have they done??????

 

[HellOnIce]

It’s not a weird observation at all. Lack of enthusiasm can and does impact execution/performance. Again, these aren’t robots. I guess in your world having your “head in the game” is not a real thing?

I think this missed the point. Accountability is not about never failing, it’s about the response to failure.

I mean Tom fired the coach a year+ ago, invested in a lot of different players coming into the year. Perfect? No. What's your accountability? We going to scratch Nose for a terrible play yesterday? Play Allen?

 

[JrFischer54]

Gets in on Markstrom in comments

 

[Better Call Sal]

Gets in on Markstrom in comments

He's an absolute f***ing loser and always has been. Glad he waited about 6 months and his team to have long ago been eliminated to try and get a shot in on us after his goofy ass Instagram hockey comment made him a meme for a little while.

 

[Devs3cups]

I like Keefe and what he’s brought a lot, but I have to wonder how this roster would look like behind Sullivan.

 

[theoptimist]

I’m good on the ex Penguin DEI hires. Cut it out.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I mean Tom fired the coach a year+ ago, invested in a lot of different players coming into the year. Perfect? No. What's your accountability? We going to scratch Nose for a terrible play yesterday? Play Allen?

I mean they fired the coach a year too late. Fitz is very slow to react and is not at all proactive. Loves to tout himself publicly in the rare times when things are going well but goes into hiding when they aren’t. There’s also too much excuse making. Just a few examples of what may constitute lack of “accountability”.

 

[HellOnIce]

I mean they fired the coach a year too late. Fitz is very slow to react and is not at all proactive. There’s also too much excuse making. Just a few examples of what may constitute lack of “accountability”.

Would've been great accountability to fire the coach after the best regular season in franchise history and a first round win.

 

[NJDevs26]

While I agree you couldn't have fired Lindy off the 110-point season (and the fans were wrong in demanding Brunette it would appear), conversely many of the personnel changes were immediately after that season lol

And yeah Fitz is too happy to take a pass and just blame guys like Holtz and/or Nemec rather than his own player development department for guys not panning out and offer excuses for everything else. He disappears when the team isn't playing well and is all over the place on every podcast known to man when they are, that's the farthest thing from accountability. At least Lou stayed in the bunker during both the good and bad lol