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

[Guttersniped]

The guy in high slot is completely open.

Mercer is open for the one timer and he’s opened his body and wound up for it. Severson tried to feather a soft pass to him, and it’s tipped softly by the Flyer reaching out for it.

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If the pass hadn’t been tipped the shot already would have happened and Mecer still has an open lane to shoot at this still.

Not all turnovers are the same.

Severson should have seen all the Flyers around and known the chances of a turnover were very good. And he should have also known that catching any Flyer with the puck would have been impossible due to how all the players are facing.

The pass being tipped is on him too, if a Flyer is right on you do something safer. It looks like Damon passed the puck to the first Devil he saw and didn’t think it through.

Teaching him to think about the safer move isn’t bad. Obviously Ruff is angrier about this because we blew a very winnable game and he’s a veteran player who contributed a lot to blowing it with that play. I don’t see what’s wrong with making a teachable moment.

They aren’t trading him over this lol, so Severson haters are still stuck with him for now. (I don’t know why they’re so cranky he’s dead man walking.)

It makes more sense than Bahl playing well after sitting endlessly and then immediately getting banished back to the press box after that game.

 

[Blackjack]

You know what...I am gonna blame Hamilton...he should have known he was on the ice with an idiot who likes to make the most irresponsible decision with the puck possible during game-defining moments. Why on Earth would he assume his D-partner wouldn't do this minutes after the coach reminded the entire team?

Jesus Christ

 

[MadDevil]

I kinda get this but at the same time it sends a bad message to the actual core where they'll be punished harder than guys who come in for a year or two or expiring UFA's.

I'm honestly rather indifferent towards Severson and whether he gets scratched or not. This is who he is. He's been making boneheaded decisions his entire career. It's just that usually he does enough other good to make up for it in the long run. One could argue he's no longer doing that and with a healthy Hamilton and the addition of Marino it's probably easier to sit him without forcing somebody into a role they're not suited for. Although if they do sit him, is it actually going to make him stop making the dumb decisions he's always made? Is it just to send a message to other players?

 

[billingtons ghost]

I don’t think this move increases our chances of beating Florida. Not a fan. Severson has been our best defenseman over our last 10.

That's like saying this is the best dog food I've ever eaten.

 

[glenwo2]

No, it’s stupid to lay all the blame for this loss at Severson’s feet.

If I were Severson I’d tell Lindy that I’m happy cashing checks from the press box and to enjoy watching Bahl or Smith struggle to play their off hand.

If Sevs did that, other teams will be watching how Sevs acts and think to themselves "do we really want THAT type of player on this team? Someone with no accountability?"

Although, I suppose if he did what you suggested, Sevs will indeed be happy cashing checks for the Yotes or whatever going-nowhere team he ends up with then.

 

[guitarguyvic]

They aren’t trading him over this lol, so Severson haters are still stuck with him for now. (I don’t know why they’re so cranky he’s dead man walking.)

I can tell you why. Because 1) he basically single handedly cost us a point last night and he has a reputation for that. 2) There are people still defending him despite lots of good evidence that he's not as good as they've insisted for years now. 3) He's a continued reminder of everything that sucked about this team over the last decade.

 

[glenwo2]

Maybe Sevs just really doesn't give a s--t anymore and just wants to get paid, then get out of the sport.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

That's like saying this is the best dog food I've ever eaten.

Is it? He’s been fairly good all year and excellent over the last 10. How is being out for 9 goals for and 4 against hurting us?

I can tell you why. Because 1) he basically single handedly cost us a point last night and he has a reputation for that. 2) There are people still defending him despite lots of good evidence that he's not as good as they've insisted for years now. 3) He's a continued reminder of everything that sucked about this team over the last decade.

I have to say, endlessly complaining about a single player is at least better than complaining about the entire organization and rebuild.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

That's like saying this is the best dog food I've ever eaten.

I mean he has been our best defenseman until that turnover but that's Damon Severson's career in a microcosm: play your best hockey and the Devils are on an L4. Dude's the bad luck Brian meme for Devils hockey the past decade.

 

[billingtons ghost]

This Severson stuff is just a ridiculous overreaction.

I wish someone with more time and dedication than me would make a montage of all the bad turnovers that players make in the course of a game that we just forget about because they don’t turn into goals.

Right.
It's the fact that Severson's bozo antics always turn into goals that makes the difference. I want my nine years of post game threads spent arguing over this asshat back.

Is it? He’s been fairly good all year and excellent over the last 10. How is being out for 9 goals for and 4 against hurting us?

He has been excellent this year as a third pairing guy. He has actually played three 2-on-1s better than I've ever seen him play one. I don't want him traded bc we are thin at RHD

BUT to whip out 'best' in regards to anything over the past ten years is an appeal to ignorance. We've seen nothing but garbage and he was some of the better trash.

Next year he'll be someone else's problem and that's the best thing for this team. He'll be a wonderful $5m mistake on a terrible team or a good #5dman getting 16 minutes on a good team for less.

 

[guitarguyvic]

What makes Severson a real lightning rod is that it doesn't seem to be an issue of physical talent. It seems like a combination of what's between his ears and effort/desire. Like he could absolutely improve his decision making if he just applied himself and gave enough of a shit.

Like Zacha, this team needs him to be gone to move on to the next level of progress.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I have to say, endlessly complaining about a single player is at least better than complaining about the entire organization and rebuild.

Unlike the organization, Damon has zero chance of ever proving that my complaints are without merit.

 

[Blackjack]

Teaching him to think about the safer move isn’t bad. Obviously Ruff is angrier about this because we blew a very winnable game and he’s a veteran player who contributed a lot to blowing it with that play. I don’t see what’s wrong with making a teachable moment.

Great, when is Lindy going to make a big stink in his press conference about Dougie boarding someone, Wood’s high stick, or Haula’s boneheaded stick toss?

I don’t think Severson’s decision was that bad, but I can accept that some people do. My real issue is with holding up that play and pinning the game on it. Did Scott Laughton’s goal also count? Does Ryan Graves need a teachable moment?

If Sevs did that, other teams will be watching how Sevs acts and think to themselves "do we really want THAT type of player on this team? Someone with no accountability?"

Although, I suppose if he did what you suggested, Sevs will indeed be happy cashing checks for the Yotes or whatever going-nowhere team he ends up with then.

That’s fine, better than playing for Lindy.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Unlike the organization, Damon has zero chance of ever proving that my complaints are without merit.

If Nemec isn’t ready and he’s replaced by some turd next year, we’ll see what a shitty third pairing looks like. The one we have now has performed as well as any 3rd pairing in the league.

 

[Guttersniped]

Let's just say that it was a terrifically I'll advised pass at the blueline. There was a clear choice to be made and it was down the boards.

He was only or defacto #1 bc our defense was trash the last five years. He has always been polarizing on these boards bc of his game wrecking brain farts.

He's right where he belongs on a good defensive team, as a good #5 defenseman with offensive upside and limited defensive liabilities..the likes we'd trade for when we won cups (chambers, malakov, etc..)

What do you want to pay your #5 defenseman? The RHD part makes it tougher.

I've liked his improved D play the last ten games or so, but I'm more than fine with a mediocre $3.5m replacement who doesn't have the fatal flaw decision making until Nemec claims a spot.

I like your post, but to say Severson is underrated is absurd. The guy is, and always has been a Jake Gardiner style liability, classically.

The fact that he could skate and make a pretty pass now and again does not make up for the what? Fifty? Sixty? 100 games that we've dissected the profound depths of his disasterous play in a post game thread.

A stupid midwinter game against Philly doesn't matter a whit. BUT

I stand by my assertion that the day Severson vacates his spot on our blueline is the day we become contenders for a cup.

I don't want to be going into a game7 someday and just hear nothing but the ticking time bomb that is Damon Severson. You know it's coming. Admit it, damnit.

Now that we have capable guys, it's just all the more obvious.

I doubt many cup contenders have better lower pair defenders than Severson. I don’t think we’re better without him just by subtraction, I just wouldn’t keep him with any size raise.

I do think he has value as PMD and he drives offense even if it doesn’t show up in points.

Fitz did say in his end of the season presser that he wanted players who were “strong on the puck” and that’s Damon’s big flaw for me.

He actually has good size and strength but he lacks attention to detail when he’s around the net at times. He gets mushy around there in a way that I am tired of at this point, that I will admit.

He does a lot of things well though and as much as Smith playing over Bahl frustrates me they do compliment each other in a lot of ways.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I remain open to trading for a replacement

 

[guitarguyvic]

I don't want to be going into a game7 someday and just hear nothing but the ticking time bomb that is Damon Severson. You know it's coming. Admit it, damnit.

Oh my Jesus, that's the stuff of nightmares. Thankfully it's not going to be something to worry about after this year.

That's like saying this is the best dog food I've ever eaten.

Damon being our best d-man over the last x games tells me more about how mediocre the rest of them have been more than it tells me about how good he's been.

 

[guitarguyvic]

If Nemec isn’t ready and he’s replaced by some turd next year, we’ll see what a shitty third pairing looks like. The one we have now has performed as well as any 3rd pairing in the league.

They may very well not perform as well.

I never said Damon isn't an NHL caliber player, or that literally any other player in his spot would be a better option.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I would love to know what Severson's stats and analytics look like in 1-goal games. When things are tight and there's more pressure to manage the game more responsibly, that's when it seems he does the majority of these incredibly stupid things. Which would partially explain why his overall play over a large sample size might look fine, but so many of us anecdotally feel like he's a liability when it matters most.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The bigger issue was how flip he was about it. His post game attitude wasn't good

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

The Severson play may have ultimately lost the game, but what had me and the people next to me saying “Yeah, they’re gonna lose this one” was failing on the 5 on 3.

 

[Blackjack]

Sad, I hope he’s gone soon.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I have a feeling Fitz is working the lines for a move soon.

 

[Guttersniped]

Great, when is Lindy going to make a big stink in his press conference about Dougie boarding someone, Wood’s high stick, or Haula’s boneheaded stick toss?

I don’t think Severson’s decision was that bad, but I can accept that some people do. My real issue is with holding up that play and pinning the game on it. Did Scott Laughton’s goal also count? Does Ryan Graves need a teachable moment?



That’s fine, better than playing for Lindy.

You’re comparing puck management at the blue line at key moments with taking penalties?

A coach can’t make any point without a whataboutism dealing with a completely unrelated thing being thrown at him? Penalties happen and Severson actually takes a lot more than Graves.

That was Graves 4th minor of the year and Severson has 7. If you add up both seasons it’s 34 vs 16 and the Minors/60 is Severson 0.82 and Graves 0.45.

I would be the last to complain if Ruff wants to get pissy about Smith’s 13 minors or whatever but he isn’t required to do that first in order to have the moral standing needed to criticize another player.