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

[Rybo]

Nobody said that the club is full of defensively strong players. Boqvist is one of the better defensive forwards. There's nobody forcing him out of the lineup and he's the least of our problems at forward but by all means, use him as a scapegoat.

I dont have to use him as a scapegoat. Hes made himself one

He has four points in 30 games. Hes almost producing the same as Brendan Smith. Id like to see evidence of this defensive impact that you claim is so strong

 

[devilsblood]

So our entire team is full of defensively strong players?

Idk if I buy that..

It seems like gerrymandering just to keep Boqvist around. He doesnt provide much and we very likely wouldnt skip a beat if he was traded/waived

But why are we trading or waving him? To make room for who?

The last couple years he started fairly slowly then got going in the 2nd half of the year. I think he has gotten the jump in his skates back in the last handful of games. Hopefully he gets going on the score sheet soon.

But there is no rush to move on from him at the moment.

 

[Rybo]

I think you mostly created fictitious issues, but we can disagree, it's fine.

There is nothing fictitious about a locker room of guys and the moves made around them possibly affecting things

Not to sound rude but thats called life... these are humans not AI-driven statues.

I find it more silly that we'd give a 2nd overall nine games on our way to our first playoff appearance since 2018 but not a tenth... so we can have cap space three years from now? I mean... is anyone buying that?

But why are we trading or waving him? To make room for who?

The last couple years he started fairly slowly then got going in the 2nd half of the year. I think he has gotten the jump in his skates back in the last handful of games. Hopefully he gets going on the score sheet soon.

But there is no rush to move on from him at the moment.

Where did I say Im in a rush to trade him?

Boqvist just doesnt provide anything an AHL callup cant give us. Hes just fodder for a roster spot that cant be filled right now until Palat is back

He had some potential for us but now its obvious he wont reach it here. His production has dropped astronomically during our best season in a decade

 

[Forge]

Nobody said that the club is full of defensively strong players. Boqvist is one of the better defensive forwards. There's nobody forcing him out of the lineup and he's the least of our problems at forward but by all means, use him as a scapegoat.

Honestly, I don't know how Boqvist stays in the lineup if both Palat and Bastian return.

They aren't going to scratch Mikey for Boqvist, I think we all feel reasonably sure about that, right? So I'm not sure who the other options would be. Obviously the Holtz lineup spot would be one, but Boqvist would certainly be my favorite to lose his spot.

Tatar - Nico - Bratt
Palat - Jack - Mercer?
Rango - Haula - Zetterlund
Wood - Mikey - Bastian

I suppose that it could be Zetterlund, but I think we need what he brings more than what Boqvist needs.

There is nothing fictitious about a locker room of guys and the moves made around them possibly affecting things

Not to sound rude but thats called life... these are humans not AI-driven statues.

I find it more silly that we'd give a 2nd overall nine games on our way to our first playoff appearance since 2018 and now a tenth... so we can have cap space three years from now? I mean... is anyone buying that?

I mean, it's not that complicated. Marino is out right now. The baseline he'd have to play at to stay up when marino would be healthy would be pretty damn high and if that is the level he's playing at, that's not really a problem.

The locker room isn't going to be pissed if Nemec is playing well but gets replaced by John freaking Marino. I feel like you're way overthinking this.

 

[Billdo]

Honestly, I don't know how Boqvist stays in the lineup if both Palat and Bastian return.

They aren't going to scratch Mikey for Boqvist, I think we all feel reasonably sure about that, right? So I'm not sure who the other options would be. Obviously the Holtz lineup spot would be one, but Boqvist would certainly be my favorite to lose his spot.

Tatar - Nico - Bratt
Palat - Jack - Mercer?
Rango - Haula - Zetterlund
Wood - Mikey - Bastian

I suppose that it could be Zetterlund, but I think we need what he brings more than what Boqvist needs.



I mean, it's not that complicated. Marino is out right now. The baseline he'd have to play at to stay up when marino would be healthy would be pretty damn high and if that is the level he's playing at, that's not really a problem.

The locker room isn't going to be pissed if Nemec is playing well but gets replaced by John freaking Marino

He doesn't and I've acknowledged that when Palat and Bastian are back Boqvist will be the odd man out, but until then nobody has done anything to displace him.

 

[Rybo]

Honestly, I don't know how Boqvist stays in the lineup if both Palat and Bastian return.

They aren't going to scratch Mikey for Boqvist, I think we all feel reasonably sure about that, right? So I'm not sure who the other options would be. Obviously the Holtz lineup spot would be one, but Boqvist would certainly be my favorite to lose his spot.

Tatar - Nico - Bratt
Palat - Jack - Mercer?
Rango - Haula - Zetterlund
Wood - Mikey - Bastian

I suppose that it could be Zetterlund, but I think we need what he brings more than what Boqvist needs.



I mean, it's not that complicated. Marino is out right now. The baseline he'd have to play at to stay up when marino would be healthy would be pretty damn high and if that is the level he's playing at, that's not really a problem.

The locker room isn't going to be pissed if Nemec is playing well but gets replaced by John freaking Marino

The only way what your saying makes sense is if we know when Marino will return and give him the nine games right up to that date

Otherwise were sending him down and putting Ohkotyuk back in until Marino comes back (which really is just silly), or you keep him up for that tenth game and now he isnt even needed anymore

Im all for nine game callups for guys but I just dont think its realistic for a 2nd overall dman whod likely show to be much better than Ohkotyuk in said role

He doesn't and I've acknowledged that when Palat and Bastian are back Boqvist will be the odd man out, but until then nobody has done anything to displace him.

No, see, thats where you have it backwards

Boqvist hasnt done anything to be above anyone. We simply dont have anyone to put in over him. In fact, hes done as poorly a forward can even do this year on this team. If Holtz wasnt so shaky he Boqvist wouldnt be playing

Im sorry but the only people who would defend him are his biggest fans because he hasnt done much of anything for us this season besides take up a roster spot

Im sure he will find his stride elsewhere, hes a good skater with quick hands. But it wont be here and I doubt hia removal would even be noticeable, whether it happens today or two months from now

 

[FooteBahl]

The only way what your saying makes sense is if we know when Marino will return and give him the nine games right up to that date

Otherwise were sending him down and putting Ohkotyuk back in until Marino comes back (which really is just silly), or you keep him up for that tenth game and now he isnt even needed anymore

Im all for nine game callups for guys but I just dont think its realistic for a 2nd overall dman whod likely show to be much better than Ohkotyuk in said role


No, see, thats where you have it backwards

Boqvist hasnt done anything to be above anyone. We simply dont have anyone to put in over him

Im sorry but the only people who would defend him are his biggest fans because he hasnt done much of anything for us this season besides take up a roster spot

Im sure he will find his stride elsewhere, hes a good skater with quick hands. But it wont be here and I doubt hia removal would even be noticeable, whether it happens today or two months from now

Yup, he’s Jacob Josefsson reincarnated

 

[devilsblood]

Where did I say Im in a rush to trade him?

Boqvist just doesnt provide anything an AHL callup cant give us. Hes just fodder for a roster spot that cant be filled right now until Palat is back

He had some potential for us but now its obvious he wont reach it here. His production has dropped astronomically during our best season in a decade

He's most certainly a better skater then any of the AHL guys. Can play center, while the most likely AHL guys would not, and of late has been playing some PK. I'm not pulling him from the lineup to put in an AHL guy.

I'm not sure how it is obvious he won't reach his potential here. He hasn't yet, he may never, but he still could.

 

[Rybo]

He's most certainly a better skater then any of the AHL guys. Can play center, while the most likely AHL guys would not, and of late has been playing some PK. I'm not pulling him from the lineup to put in an AHL guy.

I'm not sure how it is obvious he won't reach his potential here. He hasn't yet, he may never, but he still could.

Again, Ive gotta see some proof of whats being stated around here. Did I accidentally join Boqvist's fan club and not realize?

What proves he can play center, exactly? He wins not even 37% of his faceoffs that he barely takes, and is a minus player on a team up 30 goals on the differential

Why exactly couldnt Sharangovich or Mercer play that third line center spot and the AHLer be put on their wing?

Idk man, does Boqvist have nudes on everyone? Whats the deal why does he have so many supporters for being our worst forward by a mile?

 

[Billdo]

The only way what your saying makes sense is if we know when Marino will return and give him the nine games right up to that date

Otherwise were sending him down and putting Ohkotyuk back in until Marino comes back (which really is just silly), or you keep him up for that tenth game and now he isnt even needed anymore

Im all for nine game callups for guys but I just dont think its realistic for a 2nd overall dman whod likely show to be much better than Ohkotyuk in said role


No, see, thats where you have it backwards

Boqvist hasnt done anything to be above anyone. We simply dont have anyone to put in over him. In fact, hes done as poorly a forward can even do this year on this team. If Holtz wasnt so shaky he Boqvist wouldnt be playing

Im sorry but the only people who would defend him are his biggest fans because he hasnt done much of anything for us this season besides take up a roster spot

Im sure he will find his stride elsewhere, hes a good skater with quick hands. But it wont be here and I doubt hia removal would even be noticeable, whether it happens today or two months from now

I have no dog in this fight tbh. You saying he hasn't done anything to be above anyone is the same thing as me saying nobody's done anything to push him out IMO. Regardless once Bastian and Palat are back he'll be the odd man out and everyone can hopefully be happy that we've got a complete lineup. That is until ppl resume bashing Severson and Haula.

 

[Triumph]

Again, Ive gotta see some proof of whats being stated around here. Did I accidentally join Boqvist's fan club and not realize?

What proves he can play center, exactly? He wins not even 37% of his faceoffs that he barely takes, and is a minus player on a team up 30 goals on the differential

Why exactly couldnt Sharangovich or Mercer play that third line center spot and the AHLer be put on their wing?

Idk man, does Boqvist have nudes on everyone? Whats the deal why does he have so many supporters for being our worst forward by a mile?

God, you are so f***ing annoying, dude. You start thirty different accounts on the site and make the same arguments.

Boqvist has been fine this year. He has been spectacularly unlucky - his linemates are not finishing, and Boqvist is not getting points on the rare goals they do score. He's still skating well out there, and he is way better than anyone we would pull out of the AHL.

 

[Rybo]

I have no dog in this fight tbh. You saying he hasn't done anything to be above anyone is the same thing as me saying nobody's done anything to push him out IMO. Regardless once Bastian and Palat are back he'll be the odd man out and everyone can hopefully be happy that we've got a complete lineup. That is until ppl resume bashing Severson and Haula.

Tbh Im just disappointed in Boqvist because it was his year to steal that 3C/LW spot going forward and hes kinda fallen on his face

I wish him the best the rest of this season but I cant see how he sticks around after.

 

[Rybo]

God, you are so f***ing annoying, dude. You start thirty different accounts on the site and make the same arguments.

Boqvist has been fine this year. He has been spectacularly unlucky - his linemates are not finishing, and Boqvist is not getting points on the rare goals they do score. He's still skating well out there, and he is way better than anyone we would pull out of the AHL.

Woah lets chill out, idk who you think I am but I dont have thirty accounts anywhere let alone this website. Hell I only even have four emails and two are from jobs...

Im just picking on the guy doing the worst right now. Its not personal to you him or anybody else

Maybe he is better than anyone wed bring up but im asking why not try them? How would we know until we find out? And yeah he skates well but idk what that buys him in terms of looking the role.

And idk about unlucky. Yeah its probably unlucky to be at four points but if he wasnt unlucky hed be at what, eight or ten? Thats still less than he produced last year in the exact same role

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Wow I was shocked to see Boqvist has only 4 points in 30 games. That's pretty bad. Him and Zetterlund are from the same draft year. One has gotten better ever year while the other has kind of stagnated. Zetterlund has cooled off but he has actually brings strength to the lineup. Boqvist has skill but je just can't seem to put up enough offense considering he is getting 10 plus minutes most games. Hughes , Hischier , Bratt , Palat , Mercer , Sharangovich , Zetterlund , Wood , Bastian , McLeod , Haula , Tatar should be our 12 forwards if everyone is healthy. Holtz still is young and certainly needs to turn things around but Boqvist seems to be the odd man out as well. Maybe he can thrive with a new opportunity somewhere else. We didn't really develop him too great but maybe another team with a new opportunity could. If we put him on waivers I could see a team like Columbus claiming him. A chance to play with his brother and trying to stick in the NHL might help him out.

 

[glenwo2]

Tbh Im just disappointed in Boqvist because it was his year to steal that 3C/LW spot going forward and hes kinda fallen on his face

I wish him the best the rest of this season but I cant see how he sticks around after.

Funny thing about Boqvist is that the skill is there.

You can see it.

But for whatever reason, it's just not being used to its fullest.

Maybe it's a Coaching issue; Maybe it's a Boqvist issue.

We don't know.

But what some of us do know is that he has not done enough to distinguish himself from the rest of the remaining Non-Core pack.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Boqvist has been elite on the PK, that should and will keep him in the lineup.

Why do you think he has been elite on PK? Because of the team's success?
Boqvist isn't on the first or second PK unit.
Hischier, McLeod, Huala, Sharangovich are stables. Bastian would play ahead of him when back and possibly Mercer too.

He's like a fourth unit PK option who only sees PK time if the team takes too many penalties. If there was only 2-3 penalties taken per game, I doubt Boqvist sees any PK time at all.

 

[Triumph]

Woah lets chill out, idk who you think I am but I dont have thirty accounts anywhere let alone this website. Hell I only even have four emails and two are from jobs...

Im just picking on the guy doing the worst right now. Its not personal to you him or anybody else

Maybe he is better than anyone wed bring up but im asking why not try them? How would we know until we find out? And yeah he skates well but idk what that buys him in terms of looking the role.

And idk about unlucky. Yeah its probably unlucky to be at four points but if he wasnt unlucky hed be at what, eight or ten? Thats still less than he produced last year in the exact same role

Eight points in this many games in the role that Boqvist has is totally fine. He plays 3rd/4th line minutes generally with other forwards of that quality. His linemates aren't scoring. Players will go through stretches like this, but the rest of Boqvist's game has held up, and the points will come for him.

Last season he was lucky. There was no reason to think he could sustain that level of production, and he hasn't.

 

[Rybo]

Eight points in this many games in the role that Boqvist has is totally fine. He plays 3rd/4th line minutes generally with other forwards of that quality. His linemates aren't scoring. Players will go through stretches like this, but the rest of Boqvist's game has held up, and the points will come for him.

Last season he was lucky. There was no reason to think he could sustain that level of production, and he hasn't.

Okay so then maybe when Palat comes back let Graeme Clarke get some games in Boqvist's LW spot. If he does well maybe he sticks, if not go back to Boqvist until Bastian comes back or for the full year.

I dont hate Boqvist but I also dont like keeping guys in roster spots who havent done a ton to earn it, when guys in the A could get a stint or a higher pick like Holtz could get steadier time (even though hes worse today but I digress, thats moreso if we were mediocre this year).

That doesnt mean he has to be off the team the rest of the season. But maybe a break will do him good and let a young gun doing really well in Utica right now see some icetime.

Though I still dont think wed be a much worse team tomorrow if he were to be injured and out the year. He sort of is just taking up a spot and idt the room to break out his game is here with us

 

[Eggtimer]

He shouldn't be playing with Jack. Palat needs to hurry so he can go back to 3C

Yes , Jack should really have someone that can finish a tad better than Haula.. 2 goals so far ? Thats insane. Maybe he helps in other aspects like digging out lose pucks, keepig plays alive along the boards etc, but we have to have someone that can do that PLUS finisher better than Haula….

 

[Triumph]

Okay so then maybe when Palat comes back let Graeme Clarke get some games in Boqvist's LW spot. If he does well maybe he sticks, if not go back to Boqvist until Bastian comes back or for the full year.

I dont hate Boqvist but I also dont like keeping guys in roster spots who havent done a ton to earn it, when guys in the A could get a stint or a higher pick like Holtz could get steadier time (even though hes worse today but I digress, thats moreso if we were mediocre this year).

That doesnt mean he has to be off the team the rest of the season. But maybe a break will do him good and let a young gun doing really well in Utica right now see some icetime.

Though I still dont think wed be a much worse team tomorrow if he were to be injured and out the year. He sort of is just taking up a spot and idt the room to break out his game is here with us

I'm already aware of your opinions on this because you are a long-time poster on these forums. Next time you come back with a different name, try changing your syntax.

Graeme Clarke is getting lucky in Utica. There's no reason to think he can do what Boqvist is doing now. Also Boqvist is playing center a lot of the time and Clarke is a winger.

Holtz has done nothing at all to earn a spot. The Devils have given him every chance to beat out Boqvist and he hasn't been able to do it.

 

[Rybo]

I'm already aware of your opinions on this because you are a long-time poster on these forums. Next time you come back with a different name, try changing your syntax.

Graeme Clarke is getting lucky in Utica. There's no reason to think he can do what Boqvist is doing now. Also Boqvist is playing center a lot of the time and Clarke is a winger.

Holtz has done nothing at all to earn a spot. The Devils have given him every chance to beat out Boqvist and he hasn't been able to do it.

Ill be sure to let that person know...

 

[Oneiro]

Boqvist is a player trying to find his niche in the league. His wheels and habits are such that I think he’ll have a role in the league for a while but not sure it will be on this team. If I’m him, I look to play more of a grind it out game and carve out a reliable defensive role - give coaches what they want - but ultimately I think he’s just in an unfortunate spot to find the minutes needed to elevate his game. CHI and CBJ are probably decent landing spots simply because he can play 5-6 more minutes a night.

If we keep him, I think we’ll eventually be glad we did but I’m not sure they have as much patience as they once did.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I really don't see an issue giving Clarke a chance over Holtz right now as a reward

 

[Bleedred]

I'm really tired of the Holtz experiment at this point. And I don't know if I'm more unhappy with him or the staff/management for not sending him down. I think I'd blame them more. This has gone on too long, it's time to pull the plug on it for now.

Anyway, I'm really feeling at least another point tomorrow afternoon.

Just keep Vanecek in there.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I would also give Tyce a longer look since his game fits the bottom 6 better