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

[devsfan8]

Scoring is this team's biggest problem.
We finished 20th in the league in Goals per Game this season and we were/are 16th out of 16 teams in the playoffs in Goals per game. It's just gross.

We don't get consistent scoring and it's been a problem for a while. It just seems we always have to work extra hard to score on most nights

I do not think this is disputable. I think the difference in opinion is the reason for the scoring issues. Lack of depth/deep lineup vs talented core. I just cannot put any blame on the main core. Aside from Jack being so injury prone.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Honestly shocked at how much stock people are putting into short same size playoff performances from guys like Nemec and Dumo. Am I less inclined to give up on Nemec now? Sure. Does a five game playoff sample make me feel like it’s not worth giving him up for Quinn Hughes? Absolutely not.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I mean this literally isn't debatable. The Devs are undersized down the middle vs 95% of Cup contenders in the last decade+. It isn't purely height....more of a stature/temperament thing. They don't have guys at C comfortable in front of the net or driving the net. They don't have guys that are difficult to move. No versatility. People are constantly surprised when this team underperforms some of their favorite "advanced" stats like expected goals.....THIS IS A LARGE REASON WHY. Many of those metrics don't properly account for actual disruption in front of the net or simply the threat of a player comfortable in front. And tbf, that is very difficult to capture and quantify. The vast majority of teams that consistently underperform in actual vs expected goals are objectively undersized and/or soft down the middle. No, this doesn't mean you go get Noesen as a Center as the answer or some guy that can't skate.

This is the mighty might defense of mainly 5'10" dmen conversation all over again, which the majority here advocated for and defended at the time. Chastising anyone that pointed the importance of having SOME reach and SOME ability to box out and SOME ability to win board battles and SOME ability to block shots as "wanting a team of only grenade handlers."

This team needs versatility more than it needs speed. Idk how folks can watch other playoff teams, serious contenders, year after year and not see it.

As someone pointed out that when it comes to drafting forwards the Devils have been terrible other than Bratt. I thought Mercer would pan out to be a top 6 forward. Unfortunately, he’s trending downwards after is first two seasons. Maybe we need to upgrade our scouting.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Better than average pieces cost money and/or assets that we do not have.

Adding complimentary players to guys that can't get it done on a regular basis is an exercise in futility. We saw that with Toffoli.... there's a different excuse for every year... whether it be goaltending, defense, bottom 6, 3rd line center...all kinds of excuses. But the common denominator through it all has been the core has been lackluster.

So what do you propose Fitz to do about this? How is the core core gonna be upgraded without going into another rebuild?

Might I also point out that the reason we don’t have assets for really good complimentary players is because of Fitz himself. None of the core players save maybe Timo are overpaid, but he turned around and used those savings to pay big money/assets for guys doing absolutely nothing. And hasn’t drafted anybody worth a damn.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Why do we need a true top 6 guy? We have enough of them. We need competent DEPTH guys. We need a 3rd line. Jesper and Jack when healthy provide enough offense. If someone plays well with them put them there.

The only problem is our three best forwards are a bit on the small side and I have no faith that Jack will play a full season.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Moar grit and bulk!

"he feels" = ignore

Although Fitz telegraphed what he wants to add as a 3C at the deadline: Charlie Coyle. I imagine he thinks similarly to Friedman here. I want a guy like that too but I fear he will overpay.

 

[FooteBahl]

The only problem is our three best forwards are a bit on the small side and I have no faith that Jack will play a full season.

Bruh, have you not seen Jacked Hughes’ new physique?

 

[Bleedred]

I'm really not in the mood for fake misinformation about how we lost because we were too soft.

 

[NJDevs26]

Even if you believed we were too small how exactly would a guy with size on a different line help Nico or Jack more than just a random normal sized center who would play 15 minutes a night?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Who the f*** cares what Friedman "thinks"?

 

[AfroThunder396]

I mean, Messier said the same thing about us being small down the middle and unable to handle the size of Carolina's defense.

But look at all the players listed as C for Carolina on NHL.com and how they matched up against our big (>6') defensemen:

Sebastian Aho (6') - 8 points in 5 games
Seth Jarvis (5'10") - 5 points in 5 games
Logan Stankoven (5'8") - 3 points in 5 games

But Carolina's big centers:

Jack Roslovic (6'1") - 1 point in 3 games
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (6'3") - 1 point in 5 games
Jordan Staal (6'4") - 0 points in 5 games

So all their small centers scored points and all their big centers didn't. Hmmmm. Maybe seems like this size fetish doesn't actually accomplish anything?

 

[Billdo]

So what do you propose Fitz to do about this? How is the core core gonna be upgraded without going into another rebuild?

Might I also point out that the reason we don’t have assets for really good complimentary players is because of Fitz himself. None of the core players save maybe Timo are overpaid, but he turned around and used those savings to pay big money/assets for guys doing absolutely nothing. And hasn’t drafted anybody worth a damn.

This is classic Jim. Complains about Nico, Jack, and Bratt but offers no fix

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Nico isn't small, he's built like a brick shithouse

enough with the GRIT, SIZE, JAM nonsense. Get good players. Period. The size/grit thing is what got us into this problem in the first place.

Hamilton is huge and plays smaller than my 6 month old daughters.

 

[devilsblood]

Meanwhile from an actual player that has gone through tons of playoff wars and is matching up against Nico:

Nico definitely played well vs a big, high level defensive center in Staal, but that quote doesn't mean much to me. Akin to coach speak.

With Jack being a center who didn't handle much by way of defensive duties, took very few faceoffs, and will now be coming off yet another shoulder injury, we do need a center who can handle rugged defensive minutes. Does that guy need to be big? No but it doesn't hurt.

 

[devilsblood]

Nico isn't small, he's built like a brick shithouse

enough with the GRIT, SIZE, JAM nonsense. Get good players. Period. The size/grit thing is what got us into this problem in the first place.

Hamilton is huge and plays smaller than my 6 month old daughters.

Hamilton is a good example of not needing "big" guys. But he is the counter example to "grit".

I'd like some size and grit, but these guys need to be able to skate and have skills as well. Speed to me being a significant need.

 

[Marv4Life]

i’d rather just wait 2 seasons until he’s a free agent, when the cap rises and he’ll take a discount to play with his bros. we’re thin on assets as is now, as enticing as it is he’s not the missing piece for us, we have other glaring holes that we would be ignoring to fill with him. of course he’ll help make the team better but still having no depth or prospects is gonna bite them

IDK. Maybe he will, but if the Canucks have a good season or somebody offers him a lot to entice him...
You gotta go for it now. Mercer, Hamilton, a couple of others/combo should do it.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Hamilton, Nemec, Lenni, 1st for Quinn

Mercer, Casey, 1st for Larkin

f*** it, go buckwild

 

[JimEIV]

This is classic Jim. Complains about Nico, Jack, and Bratt but offers no fix

First, I never once complained about Nico or Jack's play this season...I have complained about Jack's injuries.

I have been complaining about Bratt and Meier's lack of 5v5 scoring since late February.

I have also said numerous times I would trade Bratt for Brady in a heart beat.

I would also switch Jack to wing permanently. He's not a center

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

by the way, Nico's weight has finally been updated on NHL.com and the team roster

he is listed at 6'1'' 200 lbs.

 

[devilsblood]

Nico took 164 faceoffs in these playoffs.

Next closest guy was Ek with 126.
Kopitar has taken 121.
Staal took 115.

Of those faceoffs, Nico took 28 shorthanded faceoffs. Playoff leader thus far. He was also 2nd amongst fwd's in short handed minutes played.

This is all grinding stuff. Someone who can take some of that pressure off Nico, which could help open up his offense, would be quite valuable.

 

[devilsblood]

Geez Staal is making $2.9 mil. Can we get him somehow? He'd be perfect.

 

[devilsblood]

Hamilton, Nemec, Lenni, 1st for Quinn

Mercer, Casey, 1st for Larkin

f*** it, go buckwild

Do we think it would really require that much?

 

[Goptor]

People say the Devils need new centers because current group is small.

Why aren't they saying the Devils need new centers because they only had 3 centers all season long?

 

[Emperoreddy]

The issue is Haula has fallen off a cliff and they never properly replaced the rapist.

That has to be addressed in the offseason

 

[JimEIV]

So what do you propose Fitz to do about this? How is the core core gonna be upgraded without going into another rebuild?

Might I also point out that the reason we don’t have assets for really good complimentary players is because of Fitz himself. None of the core players save maybe Timo are overpaid, but he turned around and used those savings to pay big money/assets for guys doing absolutely nothing. And hasn’t drafted anybody worth a damn.

This "core" has made the playoffs twice in the last 7 years. We keep throwing new shit against the wall to see what sticks...and nothing does.

The rebuild really has never ended.