GDT: Devils @ Golden Knights, 10 PM, MSG+: Calm Down, Neddily Diddily Diddily

[Jersey Fan 12]

This mentality is so very lame. Yes, while adding one of the RD prospects would be extremely ideal, I hate the concept of being annoyed with the team pulling off wins. Especially for so many of the young guys that need to learn how to close out games and beat opponents such as the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights who are fighting for their playoff lives.

Also, we've learned that you can still win the lottery even if you aren't one of the two worst teams in the league. We've done it twice.

I would much rather see this group take strides in winning games, I don't care how far gone we're out of the race in the standings. Where we end up in the draft order is where we end up. I've never given much thought or care to it until it's decided considering there's no control over it.

Exactamundo.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

I see people who previously hated Boqvist hoping he'd be cast away are now jumping on the bandwagon as if they've been there all along.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Hopefully Zacha Hischier Bratt have a better game than the last one. They looked a bit off to my eyes even if they contributed.

Though he didn't score, thought Nico was very good in this game.

Interesting that the other two were on the bench for most of the third period; though they brought Jesper back on the ice for the final defensive zone faceoff.

 

[RangerDoggo]

I just don't want to be last in the Metro again. f*** the tank.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Has a team in history ever had a worse colllection of 4 goalies than us at this present time?

Was this reverse psychology? Seems like the effectiveness of the goaltending is proportionately related to certain players being on the ice (or in the lineup).

 

[haak84]

Though he didn't score, thought Nico was very good in this game.

Interesting that the other two were on the bench for most of the third period; though they brought Jesper back on the ice for the final defensive zone faceoff.

Yeah, I don't expect him to score with Zetterlund and Tatar as his linemates.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Yeah, I don't expect him to score with Zetterlund and Tatar as his linemates.

Not sure what that's supposed to mean. Zetterlund has been good since he's been up and Tatar has gotten a few more points in recent weeks.

Overall that line was pretty good tonight.

For that matter only one line consistently got boxed in their own end for long stretches tonight.

 

[haak84]

Not sure what that's supposed to mean. Zetterlund has been good since he's been up and Tatar has gotten a few more points in recent weeks.

Overall that line was pretty good tonight.

For that matter only one line consistently got boxed in their own end for long stretches tonight.

It means I expect there to be games where Zetterlund and Tatar do not contribute to the score sheet more so than more offensively skilled players. Hischier was lighting it up with Rango and/or Bratt. No need to change that,

 

[Buck Dancer]

This mentality is so very lame. Yes, while adding one of the RD prospects would be extremely ideal, I hate the concept of being annoyed with the team pulling off wins. Especially for so many of the young guys that need to learn how to close out games and beat opponents such as the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights who are fighting for their playoff lives.

Also, we've learned that you can still win the lottery even if you aren't one of the two worst teams in the league. We've done it twice.

I would much rather see this group take strides in winning games, I don't care how far gone we're out of the race in the standings. Where we end up in the draft order is where we end up. I've never given much thought or care to it until it's decided considering there's no control over it.

This is the equivalent of being 8th in a 10 man race and finishing the race when you were lapped about 3 times. It's all good for the guys now, because they're in Vegas and it'll make their road trip even better but I'm pretty sure that a meaningless win at the end of the season will have absolutely no barring on the success we'll have next year or the following years.

It's not a question of winning the lottery, because I'm not banking on that at all, but going from 4th or 5th to 7th or 8th will have a much bigger impact for us down the line than a win here or there. If the Wings would've picked 8th instead of 6th, maybe they wouldn't have Seider today.

All I'm saying is that if we're going to miss out on the playoffs come the month of December, winning games in mid April does very little for me or the players.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Utica develops pros well, it seems

As did Binghamton. Can't help thinking the guys getting the time in the AHL have been more complete players as a result.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

We actually have no idea if picking 7th or 8th instead of 4th or 5th will have a negative impact on the team. You can find just as many examples of teams getting a better player by playing the “what if they picked in spot X instead of Y” game over the last few seasons. Not something I’m going to care about, especially before we even know where we’re picking, who won the lotto, etc.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

It means I expect there to be games where Zetterlund and Tatar do not contribute to the score sheet more so than more offensively skilled players. Hischier was lighting it up with Rango and/or Bratt. No need to change that,

Except you can't play Bratt against the Stones, Paciorettys, or Eichels on a consistent basis or the team would never get out of its own zone.

 

[MachoDiablo]

The discussion on "better to win or lose right now?" really gets us nowhere; the games are happening, the players are going out there to give it their best given how they all have something to play for (even the worst teams are playing for next year's contracts or to guarantee themselves a spot on the next year's rosters), so the chips are going to fall where they may. Management or coaching could decide to put a finger on the scales to tilt it towards tanking, but the Devils know full well that would be pretty counterproductive with such a young team filled with so many promising pieces of a potential new core.

I get the conversation in terms of "what should you root for to happen?", but our rooting interest plays no role in the actual outcomes, because again the players themselves aren't going to go out there and throw games away, not when so many of them have their futures staked on good showings in what games they have left. If Philly just flat-out sucks worse than we do, they'll probably get the higher draft pick, so it goes.

 

[NJDevs26]

Continue the draft talk in any other team/draft thread

Anti TANK policy in GDTs

Apparently it's time to remind everyone of the long-standing NO TANK TALK policy we've had in GDT's for quite some time. GDT's are for fans of the team to gather and discuss the game much in the same way you'd be if at the game yourself. We do not tolerate cheering against the team from...

hfboards.mandatory.com

 

[haak84]

Except you can't play Bratt against the Stones, Paciorettys, or Eichels on a consistent basis or the team would never get out of its own zone.

I still don't see the need for the switch of EITHER Sharangovich or Bratt of Hischier's line. Would have really liked Rango or Bratt coming down the wing on the 2 on 1 in the first. I get the matchup shift for the bigger lineup but Rango holds his own. It seems more like a move to feed Zetterlund and Tatar rather than Nico. I just want to see him keep stacking points.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I see people who previously hated Boqvist hoping he'd be cast away are now jumping on the bandwagon as if they've been there all along.

Was thinking the same last night

 

[Better Call Sal]

I see people who previously hated Boqvist hoping he'd be cast away are now jumping on the bandwagon as if they've been there all along.

It's amazing what a consistent role and opportunity can do for a guy, right?

I know you and I have always been on the same page here, I think the team really had done a disservice to him ( as well as COVID timeline, etc.) with respect to his development. He ping ponged around between the NHL and AHL, moved from center to wing. He has definitely shown a lot of positive progress this season and has been one of the most pleasant surprises we've had. I would love to see his role be cemented heading into next year.

I know patience isn't a strong suit of many here, but I never understood the willingness to move on from him.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Good game. McLeod and Johnsson points and a WIN
Thats all Im here for

 

[My3Sons]

Though he didn't score, thought Nico was very good in this game.

Interesting that the other two were on the bench for most of the third period; though they brought Jesper back on the ice for the final defensive zone faceoff.

I know I’m cynical but I really hope Bratt signs a contract soon. I can’t help but feel that his current slight swoon is related to that.

 

[Triumph]

I see people who previously hated Boqvist hoping he'd be cast away are now jumping on the bandwagon as if they've been there all along.

I definitely was not on the Boqvist bandwagon earlier in the season, but he has really broken out. Pre-2022 he was an empty calorie 3rd line center, maybe - he could score a bit, but he was destroyed territorially. Definitely the sort of player you want to upgrade as soon as possible.

He's shown a lot of possibilities here in the last 3 months.

 

[Cheddabombs]

That Boqvist goal was hilarious. What was Lehner doing lmao

 

[Camille the Eel]

The biggest difference was probably poor shooting from Vegas.

Hammond had a solid game but Vegas missed a bunch chances with open net and hit a couple of posts.

They didn’t hit the net at all on what seemed like their best chances in the first and second periods. Out and out breakaways or partial breakaways that didn’t result in a shot, where the forward lost control of the puck, or where he shanked the shot wide, or unleashed a blistering missile over the net. Lots of that.

But give Hammond credit. His rebound control was stellar. His glove too. He stopped everything he saw and we did a good job of letting him see it. He looked confident and his positioning was flawless, right on the angles and there in good time every time.

Vegas can also be criticized, like us sometimes, for playing a largely perimeter game. We were the club who fought most to the net before we got the 2 goal lead.

This is what good goaltending looks like. It also helped that the refs put their whistles away and that it was largely a 5 on 5 and hardly at all a special teams game.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Nice to see Z's defensive game and Boq to see his confidence growing is a real good sign...He played good on the boards as well and on his goal he stuck with it which really shows he's gaining confidence in his skill set....

 

[NjDevsRR]

That Boqvist goal was hilarious. What was Lehner doing lmao

He was doing his best statue impersonation

 

[Buck Dancer]

I see people who previously hated Boqvist hoping he'd be cast away are now jumping on the bandwagon as if they've been there all along.

Boqvist is playing good hockey, I won't say otherwise but there's no way I'm penciling him as our 3C next year because he's on a run at a time that means absolutely nothing for us.

Pavel Zacha had his best runs at the end of several seasons because nothing is on the line and I see the same thing going on with Boqvist. There's nobody else on our roster that can take his spot so he's playing without a care in the world and that's great but let's not act as if he's arrived and he's a shoe in to crack our roster next year.

We saw first hand what we looked like when one of Nico and Jack missed several games. Dawson Mercer saved us from being a bottom #3 team and to not get a veteran 3C who can take some of the added workload we give to Nico and Michael would be borderline suicidal.

I'd flank Boqvist on the wing and let him fly up and down the ice but he shouldn't be a lock at all, if we're actually serious about competing next year, to be our 3C come puck drop in October.