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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Should be all in on Quinn this summer btw

 

[devsfan8]

Nobody is discussing scoring issues this season if Haula and Tatar had each five more goals.

Jesper Bratt has established himself as a top 10 forward in the league. Only forward with 80 hits and 80 points. Everyone he plays with he makes better. Meier and Nico stepped up down the stretch and in the playoffs. Jack just needs to stay the heck healthy and we need consistent production from the bottom 6.

This team is good enough as is minus some dead weight. Nobody is complaining about Palat if he made Haula's salary.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

If people hate Bratt's playoffs then LOL @ when they see Ehlers, I like Ehlers too but just saying

He was playing with Mercer at center (lulz) and Haula. What are we really expecting from him with those linemates.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

He was playing with Mercer at center (lulz) and Haula. What are we really expecting from him with those linemates.

I'm not one of those people who hate Bratt but I agree, just saying the group think here on Bratt is insane

 

[Gurglesons]

What would Jersey be willing to part with for a Bryan Rust or Rakell?

 

[NJDevs26]

Save his job? You are assuming his job is in danger. Everyone is so gung ho about firing Fitz yet they never actually give NAMES of someone who can do a better job. We made the playoffs 2 our of 3 years. The goal was to make the playoffs. Going in to the season we were in the playoff lock category. Not a cup contender yet.

It's not 'now', but it surely will be with another underachieving season next year. They barely made the playoffs this season after cruising in the first half of this year. That's why this is a pivotal offseason for Fitz.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Haula, Palat, Noesen, Mercer and Cotter all playing next year in the top 12 is a problem.

 

[NJDevs26]

He was playing with Mercer at center (lulz) and Haula. What are we really expecting from him with those linemates.

How long do we give Bratt excuses for not producing in the postseason? Nine points in 18 games isn't gonna cut it, sorry. And Timo woke up late in the series after that controversial call/non-call but why did it even take that to wake him up?

I'm not just looking to bag on the core, and clearly Nico rose above it this year...I'm sick and tired of pretty much everyone in a Devils uniform that isn't Nico or a few defensemen right now and need a break from all these ****sticks.

 

[devsfan8]

It's not 'now', but it surely will be with another underachieving season next year. They barely made the playoffs this season after cruising in the first half of this year. That's why this is a pivotal offseason for Fitz.

That's a pretty bold prediction less then 24 hours after this season ended. Team was also 23-11 at one point. I hate losing as much as everyone. You think 1 playoff series win in a decade is something a sa fan to be content with?

 

[Edmonton East]

i don’t remember disagreeing with that.

I apparently had a stroke and confused you liking my GDT post with Camille the Eel's disagree comment. Whoops, my bad.

 

[tailfins]

A great reminder at the end of the season

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

How long do we give Bratt excuses for not producing in the postseason? Nine points in 18 games isn't gonna cut it, sorry. And Timo woke up late in the series after that controversial call/non-call but why did it even take that to wake him up?

Bratt . was . playing . with . Haula . and . Mercer . at . center.

I'm not sure what to say at this point. What space would you give Bratt if you see the other two on the ice. I'm not saying Bratt played the best, I'd argue he struggled making plays exiting/entering zones.

 

[NJDevs26]

Haula, Palat, Noesen, Mercer and Cotter all playing next year in the top 12 is a problem.

Realistically you can play two of those guys on the fourth line and two on the third, at least for the start of next season...but you need a third-line center. Not the least of which is so you can have a legit top nine and not just a clear top six with Nico/Jack and then the rest playing with dreck at C.

 

[JrFischer54]

How long do we give Bratt excuses for not producing in the postseason? Nine points in 18 games isn't gonna cut it, sorry. And Timo woke up late in the series after that controversial call/non-call but why did it even take that to wake him up?

I'm not just looking to bag on the core, and clearly Nico rose above it this year...I'm sick and tired of pretty much everyone in a Devils uniform that isn't Nico or a few defensemen right now and need a break from all these ****sticks.

totally agree and timo would've been on the list too but he at least was a force last night bratt i dont even remember anything except the shot at the end of the overtime. fine regular season player but playoffs he hasn't shown up at all and raised his game.

 

[MartyOwns]

What would Jersey be willing to part with for a Bryan Rust or Rakell?

i'd love rakell on this team. what are pittsburgh's needs?

 

[JrFischer54]

Bratt . was . playing . with . Haula . and . Mercer . at . center.

I'm not sure what to say at this point. What space would you give Bratt if you see the other two on the ice. I'm not saying Bratt played the best, I'd argue he struggled making plays exiting/entering zones.

true and ? i'm reading people saying hes a top 10 winger in the game. linemates or not you have to make a play or two when facing elimination if you want to be considered top 10

 

[NJDevs26]

That's a pretty bold prediction less then 24 hours after this season ended. Team was also 23-11 at one point. I hate losing as much as everyone. You think 1 playoff series win in a decade is something a sa fan to be content with?

No but it’s not all on Fitz either, he wasn’t the main guy for the first half of that run and had to do rebuild 2.0 the first couple years of his own tenure. It’s mostly the last three years and what’s next he should be judged on. Clearly the team went backwards two years ago and went backwards again late this season. Not enough to fire him but definitely enough to have him on notice, especially since most of the roster are Fitz guys now.

 

[NJDevs26]

He was playing with Mercer at center (lulz) and Haula. What are we really expecting from him with those linemates.

And where was he on the PP then? Maybe if he’d played well two years ago I’d give him more of a pass this time

 

[thebeernerd]

Should be all in on Quinn this summer btw

Don't disturb your enemy when he's making mistakes.

 

[JimEIV]

Jesper Bratt has 2 career playoff goals.

Meier has 4 playoff goals with us...Dawson Mercer has 5 over the same time.

Nico has 6 going back to 2018.

Jack has 6 from only one playoff year, in only 12 games...he was banged up for some of those games too.



Brady Tkachuk has played 5 total playoff games in his career and has 3 goals.... Jesper has 2 in 18 games

 

[Triumph]

How long do we give Bratt excuses for not producing in the postseason? Nine points in 18 games isn't gonna cut it, sorry. And Timo woke up late in the series after that controversial call/non-call but why did it even take that to wake him up?

I'm not just looking to bag on the core, and clearly Nico rose above it this year...I'm sick and tired of pretty much everyone in a Devils uniform that isn't Nico or a few defensemen right now and need a break from all these ****sticks.

This sort of post is really annoying because Bratt can't go back into the past and change his results. He got ridiculously goalied against the Rangers and he played with two scrubs this year and still dragged them to a nearly 60% xG.

Meier didn't 'wake up late in the series after the call', he was playing well all series and not finishing.

 

[devsfan8]

No but it’s not all on Fitz either, he wasn’t the main guy for the first half of that run and had to do rebuild 2.0 the first couple years of his own tenure. It’s mostly the last three years and what’s next he should be judged on. Clearly the team went backwards two years ago and went backwards again late this season. Not enough to fire him but definitely enough to have him on notice.

This is fair.
But jesper Bratt is not 1/10th of 1 percent to blame this season..

I will say this.. I have defended Dougie
Hamilton enough. Our Power play got us to the post season. He is paid to qb the power play. He either missed the net or didn't shoot the puck. Perhaps he is the odd man out. A month ago I never would have said this.

 

[Edmonton East]

He was playing with Mercer at center (lulz) and Haula. What are we really expecting from him with those linemates.

Look, even if we wanna handwave that away this series, he is an instrumental part of the completely horrid powerplay. Either way, still not great.

He was at his best this series when he drove or at least cut towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't do it nearly enough and forgoes taking dangerous space given to him by defenders respecting his agility.....for example, watch every powerplay this series. Carolina didn't give a shit if Bratt got the puck. Hell, it often looked like they even encouraged it. He was very rarely in a dangerous scoring spot and then when he received the puck, would pivot back towards the point even if he had space. Seriously, if anyone gets bored, watch the powerplays. You can't unsee it. Now, no, of course I'm not saying Bratt is the only issue or the biggest....but concerns are valid. Doesn't need to be a power forward lol, but he's gotta get more comfortable around the net and taking space when the D gives it to him (the very few times he did it this series created goals/chances).

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

If Fitz goes the most likely replacement is Brodeur. He's not a popular alternative here, I think mostly cause his interviews don't make him seem cerebral, but we've really got almost nothing to go on when it comes to assessing GM candidates internally and externally so it's hard to really judge alternatives. Not sure why we have to list a name as a replacement, unless there's a unique vision like to go full analytics driven organization with Matt Cane at the top or something.

I don't really have a belief that Fitz has any special talent and should hold on to the job based on what I've seen, and prefer firing a year early to a year late. I also think he has a mess on his hands and is going to make a move that hurts the team long term to fix it (e.g. trade Nemec). The best thing he's got going for him is he's aggressive about fixing problems, but that's also a potential problem, cause after this season I don't think the Devils are as close to a contender as I thought they were.

 

[Triumph]

Look, even if we wanna handwave that away this series, he is an instrumental part of the completely horrid powerplay. Either way, still not great.

He was at his best this series when he drove or at least cut towards the net. Unfortunately, he didn't do it nearly enough and forgoes taking dangerous space given to him by defenders respecting his agility.....for example, watch every powerplay this series. Carolina didn't give a shit if Bratt got the puck. Hell, it often looked like they even encouraged it. He was very rarely in a dangerous scoring spot and then when he received the puck, would pivot back towards the point even if he had space. Seriously, if anyone gets bored, watch the powerplays. You can't unsee it. Now, no, of course I'm not saying Bratt is the only issue or the biggest....but concerns are valid. Doesn't need to be a power forward lol, but he's gotta get more comfortable around the net and taking space when the D gives it to him (the very few times he did it this series created goals/chances).

Yeah, it was definitely Bratt with the puck on the power play that was the issue - the Canes wanted to have Bratt with the puck there. That's well-observed.