GDT: Devils @ Islanders - 7 P.M. - MSG/MSGSN/Devils TV

[Emperoreddy]

Raise the preseason champs banner

 

[Forge]

Did Lindy ever address the deal with Foote?

Got pushed back. Nichols said maybe Sunday

 

[None Shall Pass]

Got pushed back. Nichols said maybe Sunday

Athankyou

 

[Triumph]

He’s been the same player. He needs to get the puck in those scoring areas and release his shot. I think we all see this. I agree he’s not a Hughes Bratt or Meier where he can drive the play. It’s a big reason why so many argue he needs to be in the top 6 because he needs to play with guys like that.

There's no room in the NHL for guys who just shoot the puck. I'm not sure there ever was, but there definitely isn't now - even a guy like Laine, who I think is kind of a disaster everywhere but shooting, can at least do some things on the puck but most importantly, his shot is absolutely world-class.

Holtz doesn't have to be perfect. You are right that he isn't ever going to drive play himself, but he can't just be a shot - he has to be able to make decent plays in the defensive and neutral zones.

Not all guys need to be burners to be good in the NHL. Toffoli is someone whom Holtz could learn a ton from. I can see their games being a lot a like.

I’m by no means arguing that this kid will be successful but he’s had success is at other levels and I get the Devils want him to be more defensively responsible but it feels like it’s adding so much more pressure that he worried about being in the wrong place and then can’t get to the right offensive position.

I guess I’m just in the mindset to let the kid play and see where it goes and what happens. As mentioned Boqvist had like 30 games and 4 points so it should hurt us to much.

You're summing it up for me - if he can't get to the right place both defensively and offensively he won't make it in the NHL.

A guy like Kovalchuk - even when the Devils supposedly made him defensively responsible, and at some level they did, he was still awful off the puck as the first forechecker. It didn't matter all that much because he was still Kovalchuk on the puck. Holtz doesn't have that.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We might have something in Hatakka. Don’t think he’ll be a stud or anything, but he made a solid case for being a potential call up. Dude had the game of his life tonight.

Makes our D depth that much better. This team looks built to be able to survive some injury bumps

 

[Devil X]

There's no room in the NHL for guys who just shoot the puck. I'm not sure there ever was, but there definitely isn't now - even a guy like Laine, who I think is kind of a disaster everywhere but shooting, can at least do some things on the puck but most importantly, his shot is absolutely world-class.

Holtz doesn't have to be perfect. You are right that he isn't ever going to drive play himself, but he can't just be a shot - he has to be able to make decent plays in the defensive and neutral zones.



You're summing it up for me - if he can't get to the right place both defensively and offensively he won't make it in the NHL.

A guy like Kovalchuk - even when the Devils supposedly made him defensively responsible, and at some level they did, he was still awful off the puck as the first forechecker. It didn't matter all that much because he was still Kovalchuk on the puck. Holtz doesn't have that.

I do believe give last history he is capable of making players with the puck. I just think he’s playing tight and worried about not getting back so it’s messing with his offensive ability. I’m just suggesting free him up and let him do his thing. The thing that got him drafted. Get him some confidence and see how it goes.

But we will see how it all shakes out. I’m pulling for the kid hopefully he gets figured out.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Got pushed back. Nichols said maybe Sunday

No one’s really asking but Halonen hasn’t played a game since the first one and still hasn’t been sent down.

Did I miss something?

 

[Classic Devil]

No one’s really asking but Halonen hasn’t played a game since the first one and still hasn’t been sent down.

Did I miss something?

He’s hurt.

 

[OmNomNom]

It's going to be a long 6 days on these boards. So here are proposed topics

10/7: Pizza

10/8 Beer

10/9 mixed drinks

10/10 History and the exploits of Columbus and his introduction of the pig to the Americas. BBQ

10/11Best burger in NJ

10/12 Game Day Tacos

me and my avatar are ready for 10/12

 

[Guadana]

What about Wade Allison on waivers? 6-2 205, 9 goals 190 hits ~12:55 ATOI in 60 games last year. Pretty solid defensively.

I don't no nothing about him and how he will/cN play with our players. Would prefer mini giraffe, may be he will turn the corner. Sometimes he looked like a beta version of Mercer.

 

[Guadana]

Yeah those aren't really ever that accurate for finnish, since different letters and letter combinations are pronounced differently in english, but a good guideline I suppose.

You can hear the Hatakka pronounciation in this video at 2:12


Finns themselves butcher plenty of American names, so it's always funny when they complain about finnish names being butchered

You appropriate culture of butchering names. Typical American.

 

[Xirik]

Here’s a hot take. Holtz needs to play his game. He’s focusing so hard on making sure he’s doing the little things I feel like it’s taking away is offensive ability.

The Devils need to let him go. He might be a player that you just need to live with the defensive warts and let him hunt goals.

They also need to give the kid a long look because just sending him down or sitting him will severely hurt his confidence.

Someone said it before give him the first 10 games. No matter how he plays give him is minutes and then decide if you want to give him 10 more.

Hughes =Allstar
Hischier =200ft player
Bratt= 200ft player and wants to PK
Mercer=200ft is becoming part of his game
Palat =200ft player
Toffoli = Proven goal scorer who can get away with disapearing



It seems to me that the Devils organization and Ruff want well rounded responsible players and obviously not everyone fits that. When we drafted Holtz I don't think anyone thought he would be a 200ft forechecking forward. We knew there were flaws in his game and he'd probably need someone to cover for him and accepted that because his SHOT was deadly.

I really doubt Holtz will be able to adapt to that type of game while also keeping the skills he was known for.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

You appropriate culture of butchering names. Typical American.

Pronouncing both K's is something uncommon for English speakers.

Hockey-wise, think the Devils may have found something in his game for a guy that was seemingly a "throw in" part of the Meier deal.

Could see an astute team putting in a claim if he requires waivers.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

i didnt really expect nemo to come in and win a spot (i thought hed be up later) but honestly, i do kinda view him as one of our 6 best D at this point

physicality and 1 on 1 play continue to show improvement, hes much more involved around the net, his defensive stick work, which was already great, is reaching an even better level, i mean hes basically a magnet for loose pucks in his own zone now. hes also way better with his decision making in terms of trying to skate it out of trouble vs trying to tee up a breakout pass vs just trying to chip it out to safety. i trust his offensive involvement, both in terms of frequency and aggressiveness, significantly more as well

now i do get the arguments against it, it would be a really young blue line, wed lack a reliable PK option, its a little unfair to miller since hes still acclimating to the team, and theres nothing necessarily wrong with nemo going back and getting monster all situation minutes in utica. i do get it. but with the games ive seen i do actually think his addition gives us the best chance to win relative to the alternatives

I'd sign up for Bahl-Nemec for the next 10 years; starting now.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I shut the game off after the first period. I didn’t know half the players on the Devils. Then I find out they shut out the Islanders top squad. Wow, either we’re great or they stink. There will be some tough choices with Nemec and Holtz. I would give Holtz half a season in Utica and give Nemec several games before deciding if he goes down. I’m not that worried about having two rookie defensemen in the lineup until they prove me wrong.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

If Holtz will not pan out and will be send to AHL for restucture his confidence, Im not against to take Zetterlund from waivers if he is still available. I believe he will perform well on the wing with Haula and Palat or even with Nico and Meier. If not - we can waive him again.

Why not give Thompson a shot on the 3rd line?

 

[Clam Jensen]

I shut the game off after the first period. I didn’t know half the players on the Devils. Then I find out they shut out the Islanders top squad. Wow, either we’re great or they stink. There will be some tough choices with Nemec and Holtz. I would give Holtz half a season in Utica and give Nemec several games before deciding if he goes down. I’m not that worried about having two rookie defensemen in the lineup until they prove me wrong.

¿Por que no los dos?

 

[glenwo2]

Nemec has had a great pre season. Eye opening. Definitely justifying the 2d guy taken and if there’s a redraft he maybe even goes before Slafkosky. He’s a natural, and a graceful and entertaining player. In the end, he will lift this club. You can argue he’s had a better camp than Luke, been more visible. What we do with him ? He’s waiver exempt, that may play into it.

Holtz to me has looked good. We were looking for a complete game from him away from the puck and I think we’ve gotten it.

I’m actually a little afraid of being unbeaten here. Would rather have had the streak after the season starts. But I am confident we will have it then too.

Tyce Thompson has impressed. His brother was a late bloomer too and Tyce has also had the injuries to deal with. I think he’s an NHL player who will have a respectable middle 6 career somewhere.

Didn't we have only one loss last season in the Preseason?

And then we went I think 19-3 or something to start the season?

 

[Guadana]

Why not give Thompson a shot on the 3rd line?

Its an option too. Mote realistic and still good on my taste.

Would prefer mini giraffe, may be he will turn the corner. Sometimes he looked like a beta version of Mercer.

Overall as I said before or in the beggining of preseason , I don't see real problem in sending Holtz to AHL. He mostly didn't play one year, and he was ill.

 

[Devil X]

Hughes =Allstar
Hischier =200ft player
Bratt= 200ft player and wants to PK
Mercer=200ft is becoming part of his game
Palat =200ft player
Toffoli = Proven goal scorer who can get away with disapearing



It seems to me that the Devils organization and Ruff want well rounded responsible players and obviously not everyone fits that. When we drafted Holtz I don't think anyone thought he would be a 200ft forechecking forward. We knew there were flaws in his game and he'd probably need someone to cover for him and accepted that because his SHOT was deadly.

I really doubt Holtz will be able to adapt to that type of game while also keeping the skills he was known for.

And because of that and all the responsible forwards on the team my suggestion is don’t make him. He will pick up some things as he plays more in the NHL but let him do what he did to get drafted.

A Major League Baseball franchise a 5 or 6 seasons ago changed the way the developed their pitchers. They used to make them all come in and learn a change-up and pitch how the franchise wanted them to pitch. It didn’t always go well development was stagnate. So a new coaching staff came in and changed that. He focused on have the players get better at what they were already good at. If you have a above average off speed pitch make it great. If you have an average fastball build and make it better. Let’s make the skills that go you here better because that’s what you’re used to doing. The pitching in the whole organization changed and players started to be more successful.

I understand that pitching is individual and it’s not a direct correlation with a hockey player. But that’s all I’m suggesting here let Holtz play his game see what happens.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

IMO, what Holtz is gonna need to do in the short term is make himself indispensable on the powerplay. If he can manage that, and there were some signs last night that he can, he’ll have enough value to justify keeping him around while he hopefully rounds out his game.

I just hope, if he struggles again, Fitz sucks it up and sends him down early. We know he’s got a strong work ethic, and with the right coaching, 20+ minutes a night in the AHL could do wonders for him. Last year is proof that spending all year in the press box isn’t gonna acclimate him to the pace of the NHL.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Didn't we have only one loss last season in the Preseason?

And then we went I think 19-3 or something to start the season?

That hot start last year was so important in locking us in. With the increased parity this year and the improvement of several clubs around us, it will be good to get out of the gate fast again. It’s always hard to know how much weight to give to preseason games.
As someone mentioned above, our pre season competition has appeared relatively weak. Now maybe they looked that way because we are really that dominant?

 

[Devs3cups]

He played good defensively last night while providing some offense. Good stuff, he’s already so slick.

 

[Darkauron]

Man Luke is something else. His speed, iq, and skill really helps improve his defense than it otherwise would be.

 

[njdevil26]

The most dangerous thing about this Devils team is the speed in transition from D to O and Luke only makes that better.