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

[guitarguyvic]

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

Why wouldn’t it be? Plenty of regular joes on here recognized that the team needed a different bench boss to continue their success in spite of what they did in that one season with Lindy. Lou fired the coach of a first place team with ten games left in the season lol.

Even when Fitz finally got around to it, he made it pretty clear that he didn’t even want to do it and his hand was basically forced because of how bad it got. He didn’t do it because he was proactively trying to right the ship, he did it because the pressure became too great for him not to. And he was still crying about it. That’s some weak sauce accountability.

 

[Mgd31]

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

More offense and less defense probably.

 

[guitarguyvic]

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

I just don’t get how people ignore this stuff, and claim it’s not indicative of anything

 

[Dylan9z9]

More offense and less defense probably.

Isn't that what we had under Ruff? Not comparing Ruff to Sullivan

 

[guitarguyvic]

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

I mean, the trio leading the team in scoring is not clearing a high bar when everyone else has zero goals. They are still towards the bottom in production amongst all top players in the playoffs.

 

[Mgd31]

Isn't that what we had under Ruff? Not comparing Ruff to Sullivan

Yea the Pens created a lot 5 on 5 this year, but also gave it away on the defensive side. Finishing issues and bad goaltending didn't help.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

man if you think I like Fitz or don't call him out for shit (he should be fired for having a press conference for himself the day after the Team Canada stuff leaked, which I have said many times before), you're just reading what you want to read. If Fitz were fired tomorrow, I wouldn't bat an eye.

 

[Devs3cups]

More offense and less defense probably.

As I said, I like Keefe a lot, but that doesn’t seem bad too me lol. Not Ruff level Offense vs. defense, but maybe Keefe is TOO defensively oriented, or maybe they just don’t have depth yet. I don’t remember TOR being defensively oriented.

 

[Clam Jensen]

If they fire Fitz I am 100% okay with that, but they better not touch Keefe. I don’t think they will.

 

[Nocashstyle]

I mean, the trio leading the team in scoring is not clearing a high bar when everyone else has zero goals. They are still towards the bottom in production amongst all top players in the playoffs.

“So what if they’re the only ones on the whole team contributing any offense, they’re still the problem!!!!!!”

 

[Mgd31]

As I said, I like Keefe a lot, but that doesn’t seem bad too me lol. Not Ruff level Offense vs. defense, but maybe Keefe is TOO defensively oriented, or maybe they just don’t have depth yet. I don’t remember TOR being defensively oriented.

They were not. I think Keefe leaned too much to the defensive side of things once he realized the defense/goaltending was the strength of this team and the forwards were not.

 

[Devs3cups]

They were not. I think Keefe leaned too much to the defensive side of things once he realized the defense/goaltending was the strength of this team and the forwards were not.

That’s what I think too. Hopefully once we have more depth this will balance out a bit. I’m all for good D structure and being responsible, and I think we’ve achieved that. But the 5v5 offense has dropped significantly.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Dumo Crew represent.

The vibes in the Tatar Bazaar are low. I think I'll have to sadly close that shop up.

 

[AfroThunder396]

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

How did he pass blame the season on Holtz? He was asked directly about Holtz, said he needs to be better, and HE WAS 100% RIGHT ABOUT IT! Holtz had 4 goals and 12 points this year and Vegas sent him to the AHL for two months. It was a bad pick and Fitzgerald has owned it - he cut his losses by trading him for a useful player, and I think everyone on this board is generally happy with Cotter.

So the team doesn't have enough accountability, but when Fitzgerald publicly criticizes Nemec for being horrible all season it's a bad thing and Fitz is now the one that needs to be accountable?

What GM gives press conferences every week? What GM addresses the media during every losing streak? Can you name one? I swear to God some of you guys like in a different multiverse.

It's one thing to be critical of Fitzgerald, I certainly am, but you're inventing things to be mad at and contradicting yourself. Makes it make sense.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Dumo Crew represent.

The vibes in the Tatar Bazaar are low. I think I'll have to sadly close that shop up.

Have a sneaking suspicion so will he. Doubt Tatar gets another NHL contract, even if he wanted one.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Have a sneaking suspicion so will he. Doubt Tatar gets another NHL contract, even if he wanted one.

Will always love the guy, but I wanted to throw my beer stick at the TV yesterday when he missed the net on that PP chance that could have tied the game. Wide open in front, forget who ended up finding him (Bratt probably?) and he shanked the redirection completely.

His hands have completely disappeared.

 

[Mgd31]

I think Tatar is fine as a 13th forward next year if he wants to come back.

 

[NJDevs26]

How did he pass blame the season on Holtz? He was asked directly about Holtz, said he needs to be better, and HE WAS 100% RIGHT ABOUT IT! Holtz had 4 goals and 12 points this year and Vegas sent him to the AHL for two months. It was a bad pick and Fitzgerald has owned it - he cut his losses by trading him for a useful player, and I think everyone on this board is generally happy with Cotter.

So the team doesn't have enough accountability, but when Fitzgerald publicly criticizes Nemec for being horrible all season it's a bad thing and Fitz is now the one that needs to be accountable?

What GM gives press conferences every week? What GM addresses the media during every losing streak? Can you name one? I swear to God some of you guys like in a different multiverse.

It's one thing to be critical of Fitzgerald, I certainly am, but you're inventing things to be mad at and contradicting yourself. Makes it make sense.

I don’t care if Fitz ever meets with Morreale and whatever other beat guys the Devils have outside of the trade deadline and the end of the season, but then don’t go on Spitting Chicklets, the NHLN and all sorts of other stuff two years ago and early last year when there were flowers to receive and then only show up late last season when you’re announcing your own extension and you have that hostage video of a presser after Lindy was let go…can’t only take the praise when the team’s doing well without getting in the firing line when they aren’t

And specifically with the Holtz thing yeah he was asked a question and had an emotional answer that didn’t help anyone including Fitz, but he was still visibly upset over firing Lindy and Holtz was a convenient scapegoat to rag on. Doesn’t matter if he was right or not, it’s unprofessional and counterproductive for a GM to publicly take one of your players to task while he’s still there and especially while you’re looking to trade him lol

Publicly criticizing guys who are like the 25th player on the roster is also selective accountability at best.

 

[Oneiro]

Thing about firing Fitz is be careful what you wish for.

I don't mind the thought of him being gone but, as we know, it can be much much worse.

Really, I just want the analytics crew to have more say at the draft and in terms of UFA. Aging curves matter, probabilities in the later rounds matter. "Character" depth guys are almost always veterans anyway.

 

[NJDevs26]

Thing about firing Fitz is be careful what you wish for.

I don't mind the thought of him being gone but, as we know, it can be much much worse.

Really, I just want the analytics crew to have more say at the draft and in terms of UFA. Aging curves matter, probabilities in the later rounds matter. "Character" depth guys are almost always veterans anyway.

Yeah I’m not calling for firing him yet because making the playoffs more or less ruled that out as a realistic possibility but he’s certainly under a microscope this offseason

 

[NJDfan86]

Yea the Pens created a lot 5 on 5 this year, but also gave it away on the defensive side. Finishing issues and bad goaltending didn't help.

The construction of that defense group also played a huge part in how much was going the other way - the top 3 minutes played by defenseman were Karlsson, Letang, and Gryezlcyk.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Has Fitz called out Nemec publicly? This season has been such a blur that I don't even remember seeing that. Regardless, Nemo has been the best D besides Dumo this series since being put in after game 1. He's making it easier to trade Dougie this offseason without question. I also don't want to have 18-19M on the right side of the defense locked into older guys. We need some infusion of youth there.

 

[Better Call Sal]

To the surprise of no one.

Might as well give Casey a shot tomorrow. Anyone is better than giving Cholowski 8 minutes.

 

[Devils Trap]

Saying the "core" is the problem is f***ing insane. They are showing a ton of heart, and fire.

The entire CAR game plan is to shut down our Top 6 and give our bottom 6 the easiest matchups yet they still get caved.

Timo, Jesper and Nico have been incredible - they are NOT the problem. If we had Jack this is a 2-2 series most likely.

 

[thebeernerd]

Thing about firing Fitz is be careful what you wish for.

I don't mind the thought of him being gone but, as we know, it can be much much worse.

Really, I just want the analytics crew to have more say at the draft and in terms of UFA. Aging curves matter, probabilities in the later rounds matter. "Character" depth guys are almost always veterans anyway.

I was under the impression that analytics had a healthy voice in the room. And at one point, that seemed obvious. I think Rempe (and, indirectly, Tom Wilson) scuttled all of that. Now it seems like Fitz has more say over personnel decisions and it's mostly not been great. I'd say the best acquisitions were the depth pieces he got at the trade deadline, particularly Dumo. Glass has had some good moments as well and should excel as a bottom six center.

I do agree with "be careful what you wish for" as a mantra to live by here. Don't do it as long as we have Chuck Fletcher as an advisor. Even though it doesn't seem like he'd be a top name within the organization to begin with, I'm not taking that chance. But this is make-or-break for Fitz as GM. I went from "this guy is doing the right things to get us to the Cup" to "I'm not so sure if he's getting us a Cup" over the course of the season. His problem is the opposite of Shero's: he has an eye for blue line talent, but his forward adds have been mostly underwhelming.

My easy solution is to exhume Shero, put his brain on a circuitboard, and install it on a computer to make it a second GM.