Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2022-23 season thread part III

[DEVILS130]

My optimistic take of the day - there’s a wide gap between 9 and 10 in the East. So effectively we just need to beat out one team to make the playoffs. We also have three games in hand on the Caps and two on Rangers/Islanders

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

No shit...

A little delayed on his part and if he told his teammates then next time we meet them our guys should go after MT and Ekblad all game

 

[glenwo2]

A little delayed on his part and if he told his teammates then next time we meet them our guys should go after MT and Ekblad all game

I wonder if he delayed purposely until, like someone else stated, everyone got their cheap-shots in on Nico....

If so (and it looks like it's the case), they should most certainly go after Tkachuk and Ekblad next time and really give them something to b*tch about.

 

[Clam Jensen]

A little delayed on his part and if he told his teammates then next time we meet them our guys should go after MT and Ekblad all game

No need to go after Ekblad, he’ll inevitably find a way to get injured on his own.

 

[MauDevils]

While I absolutely think this team can turn it around, we're also inevitably going to lose a handful more games solely because of Blackwood.

If Fitz and Ruff keep trotting him out there it's going to be an uphill battle.

 

[FooteBahl]

I never knew Lindy’s brother was killed in a bus crash

 

[BurntToast]

My fellow fanatics.

This team is missing half of it’s top 4. A top 6 player and the team MVP, Bastain! Plus, the perceived starting goalie was for out for a while.

McLeod is a classic center. I can’t complain, he has setup so many chances that his team can’t score.

The main issue has been Boqvist/Holtz. The third line is just a black-whole!

I think there is one tragic flaw with Holtz that may keep him from being useful (not skating). He is too focus on his slapper and his release on his shots are super slow. It’s the one thing Z and Sharan have over him.

One positive of the bad stretch, the Devils games won’t be get picked up by TNT, and I can watch more games.

 

[Lou is God]

I never knew Lindy’s brother was killed in a bus crash

RUFF'S WELL OF COMPASSION RUNS DEEP MEMORY OF LATE BROTHER IMPRINTED ON COACH'S LEADERSHIP STYLE

Lindy Ruff recalls every detail of that night. He was bowling with his best friend, Mike Ramsey, at Parkside Lanes in North Tonawanda. It was Dec. 30, 1986, the Christmas

buffalonews.com

 

[FooteBahl]

My fellow fanatics.

This team is missing half of it’s top 4. A top 6 player and the team MVP, Bastain! Plus, the perceived starting goalie was for out for a while.

McLeod is a classic center. I can’t complain, he has setup so many chances that his team can’t score.

The main issue has been Boqvist/Holtz. The third line is just a black-whole!

I think there is one tragic flaw with Holtz that may keep him from being useful (not skating). He is too focus on his slapper and his release on his shots are super slow. It’s the one thing Z and Sharan have over him.

One positive of the bad stretch, the Devils games won’t be get picked up by TNT, and I can watch more games.

It’s was probably because of the Bruins, but the ratings the other night were very very good for TNT allegedly

 

[glenwo2]

where's John Hayden's old man? (still bitter after all these years)

 

[Better Call Sal]

I never knew Lindy’s brother was killed in a bus crash

Wow, me neither. Unbelievably tragic.

I read the article @Lou is God shared as well, shows a lot about how Lindy is as a coach and mentor. I was really moved with the story of him speaking to the team and Stu Barnes in particular given Barnes and his brother competed against each other. A worthwhile read, appreciate it being shared.

I have a lot of respect for Lindy.

 

[njdevil26]

I'm going to say something... and I think several of you will tell me to calm down.

The Devils have to win one or both of the games tonight and Sunday. But if they lose both, they won't make the playoffs. They went from having a 10 pt lead on the division... to now being behind Carolina 6 pts and being only 2 pts above the playoff line. This is BAD.

 

[Devs3cups]

I'm going to say something... and I think several of you will tell me to calm down.

The Devils have to win one or both of the games tonight and Sunday. But if they lose both, they won't make the playoffs. They went from having a 10 pt lead on the division... to now being behind Carolina 6 pts and being only 2 pts above the playoff line. This is BAD.

These aren't the last 2 games of the season. We're not even halfway.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I'm going to say something... and I think several of you will tell me to calm down.

The Devils have to win one or both of the games tonight and Sunday. But if they lose both, they won't make the playoffs. They went from having a 10 pt lead on the division... to now being behind Carolina 6 pts and being only 2 pts above the playoff line. This is BAD.

Not even halfway through the season. You really do need to calm down.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I'm going to say something... and I think several of you will tell me to calm down.

The Devils have to win one or both of the games tonight and Sunday. But if they lose both, they won't make the playoffs. They went from having a 10 pt lead on the division... to now being behind Carolina 6 pts and being only 2 pts above the playoff line. This is BAD.

I certainly think tonight is a big one that could impact a lot going forward. If we can get this one against Pitt who is right on our tail, it puts a small gap back in place on them and with the other teams who we have those games in hand on. It hopefully helps create momentum as well.

I don't think it will dictate us making the playoffs or not, there's far too much time remaining for that. But this is one I really, really want.

 

[Devs3cups]

We're not even halfway.

Not even halfway through the season.

 

[njdevil26]

These aren't the last 2 games of the season. We're not even halfway.

Not even halfway through the season. You really do need to calm down.

You guys are probably right. The issue I see is if the Devils lose the next few games and officially get jumped over in the standings by the teams right behind us, then the issue goes from "The Devils need to snap out of this funk" to "The Devils need to snap out of this funk AND several teams need to lose" which is a way worse position to be in.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

What I’d like to see next game.

Tatar Hischier Mercer/Bratt
Sharangovich Hughes Bratt/Mercer
Boqvist Haula Zetterlund
Wood McLeod Thompson

Haula and Zetterlund haven’t done enough in the top 6. Get them out and get Mercer and Sharangovich in there.

Siegenthaler Hamilton
Okhotiuk Severson
Bahl Smith

Vanacek
Schmid (sadly not gonna happen)


Thompson didn’t look nearly good enough last game. Didn’t look fast or strong enough unfortunately. Give him another game or 2 and if he doesn’t show well give Clarke a shot if Palat and/or Bastian aren’t back yet.

Put Okhotiuk with Severson because he’s looked good and been better than Bahl.

When Nemec is done at the world juniors call him up and try this

Siegenthaler Hamilton
Okhotiuk (or Bahl) Severson
Smith Nemec

Boqvist line was very good and both Sharangovich and Mercer had arguably their best games of the year.

Why would you break them up?

I'd like it better with Hughes between it. Rango has the shot he needs, and Mercer is going to the dirty places and is > Haula.

I like Dawson but at this stage in his career he is not a better player than Erik Haula.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

When did Islanders fans get so uppity? I never really noticed them on HF but this year it feels like they are mad at us for kicking their dog.

A minority opinion on here I'd imagine (shocking I know) but I still see the Islanders finishing ahead of the Rangers.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Ultimately you have to ask yourself if they’re doing the right things on the ice. You can’t completely side step the lack of wins but I just don’t think they’re playing that badly.

If anything, just more pucks to the dirty areas, less selectivity with shots and sticking with simple plays to defuse tension in your own zone. None of those things are even close to as bad as they used to be.

Thought even during the win streak there were a few clunkers (Chicago, second Flyers game).

Conversely, thought Wednesday's game might have been one of their best of the season; particularly without Marino and Graves.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Boqvist line was very good and both Sharangovich and Mercer had arguably their best games of the year.

Why would you break them up?

Because they’re not necessarily gonna play that good again, there only gonna be able to give us so much, and we need to get our top 6 going.

We need to get our top 6 and top guys going again. Haven’t changed the personnel up in a while. If our top 6 isn’t going I don’t think we can reasonably expect that line even if they’re playing well to be the offensive provider and we’re gonna struggle offensively.
Haula and Zetterlund haven’t been good enough in the top 6. Switch them out for Sharangovich and Mercer while they’re feeling good and see if that can do it.

 

[bossram]

I'm pretty confident they'll turn it around. Since we're in DEFCON 4, I'm predicting a win tonight.

 

[njdevil26]

Maybe they will be motivated to win in front of their dads tonight? haha.

Also regarding Sunday... why do we suck at home so much?!

 

[Guttersniped]

The drama here is really hilarious to me, if I'm honest.

We came into this season expecting to be a bubble team with some warts but more competitive as younger players develop.

We, evidently, are a bubble team with some warts but more competitive as younger players develop.

We've played 35 of 82 games. Not even half of the season yet. We're still on pace for over 94 points this year (108 points if my math is right, but I am bad at math).

Literally every team has ups and downs. We're in our downs portion right now.

Enjoy the ride. This season is already infinitely better than the past few.

“Enjoy the ride. This season is already infinitely better than the past few.”

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Maybe they will be motivated to win in front of their dads tonight? haha.

Also regarding Sunday... why do we suck at home so much?!

the dads were at the game against Boston lol