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

[Eggtimer]

I think Bahl will be decent but nothing more than a #5/6 . With maybe some PK time eventually .
It will be very interesting to see what Mukhamadoulin , Casey , Okhotiuk etc become and what type of player they prefer . It seems like they want a puck mover / more offensive guy paired with a more defensive guy , with all needing to have to be mobile , big ( long reach) , able to skate and or pass it out of our zone in a hurry.
I love Okhotiuk for his nasty side , but not sure if he makes the team overall better than him in the lineup instead of Bahl .
And maybe Muk will be better than both Bahl and Okhotiuk ??
Or maybe we will be forced to eventually find a spot for Casey if he forces his way into the lineup due to his level of play . That’s a ways away yet but it will be interesting to see what happens .
It’s an awesome “ problem” to have - potentially very good depth at D and not enough roster spots for players that deserve ice time .
At that point , they can potentially trade one to address any weaknesses elsewhere .

 

[MartyOwns]

it’s kind of funny

 

[NJDevs26]

Feels like someone from this forum made that terrible Marino shirt and sent it to the Devils.

Wow....Ham and Swiss

How dare he give Bratt coal

 

[Xirik]

How dare he give Bratt coal

He is a bit of a Bratt though. Naughty boys don't get presents!

 

[njdevils1982]

Feels like someone from this forum made that terrible Marino shirt and sent it to the Devils.

Wow....Ham and Swiss

maybe @Zajacs Bowl Cut ?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

thought you guys needed to see this....

 

[njdevils1982]

1-1....faceoffs dont matter

 

[TF1970]

Soooooo. What’s the move in the off-season to once again try and address the goaltending??

 

[Blackjack]

Honestly hoping we collapse again this year. Solves a lot of problems at once. Lindy is certain to be fired, Severson and Graves can be traded at the deadline. There's a ridiculous amount of elite talent in the draft, we can get another center, which is something we badly need.

 

[FooteBahl]

Soooooo. What’s the move in the off-season to once again try and address the goaltending??

Trade Blackwood for Zach Wilson…that’s an extreme change of scenery lol

 

[RNCDevil]

Group, Merry Christmas. This team was not an unstoppable force, but they are not a 1-8 sad sack team. This is a team that plays with heart, speed and skill and juuust a dash of dumb. They are fun to watch and they care. I hate losing, but don't give up on this team. See you after the break.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Honestly hoping we collapse again this year. Solves a lot of problems at once. Lindy is certain to be fired, Severson and Graves can be traded at the deadline. There's a ridiculous amount of elite talent in the draft, we can get another center, which is something we badly need.

there is not a chance in hades that they are sellers

 

[Blackjack]

there is not a chance in hades that they are sellers

Plenty of time to tumble down the standings, but to be honest I don't think we'd get much for any of our rentals.

In all honesty, I don't think they're missing the playoffs. Even in this frustrating ass game their ability is very obvious. So they will win more than they lose after the break, and they'll make the playoffs.

But they don't have what it takes against the top teams, they don't have the goaltending and they don't have the finishing. So I wish they wouldn't. Because this team needs a high first more than it need a meaningless playoff appearance.

 

[NjDevsRR]

We were the better team against a historically good hockey team tonight. Thats with our crap goalie, with a top 6 winger out, and our entire second D pairing out.

Tonight encouraged me that they will be in the thick of it for the rest of the season. The doom and gloomers waiting for the bottom to fall out will have to wait a long time, IMO.

 

[Blackjack]

We were the better team against a historically good hockey team tonight. Thats with our crap goalie, with a top 6 winger out, and our entire second D pairing out.

Tonight encouraged me that they will be in the thick of it for the rest of the season. The doom and gloomers waiting for the bottom to fall out will have to wait a long time, IMO.

The ability is obvious but none of it matters if they can't finish or get saves.

 

[Devs3cups]

We were the better team against a historically good hockey team tonight. Thats with our crap goalie, with a top 6 winger out, and our entire second D pairing out.

Tonight encouraged me that they will be in the thick of it for the rest of the season. The doom and gloomers waiting for the bottom to fall out will have to wait a long time, IMO.

Amen, my man!

We’re at 22-10-2 at the Christmas break. Who would’ve though? No one. We have a good team here, I’m glad.

Perspective is important. Best start since 2009-2010. This is impressive and clearly progress.

 

[NjDevsRR]

The ability is obvious but none of it matters if they can't finish or get saves.

Well, they put 3 past Boston which is above average. The rest comes down to our D zone play and goaltender. We didn’t give up many high scoring chances tonight. We also blitzed them in shots all night, again, which is rare for Boston.

 

[Eggtimer]

Plenty of time to tumble down the standings, but to be honest I don't think we'd get much for any of our rentals.

In all honesty, I don't think they're missing the playoffs. Even in this frustrating ass game their ability is very obvious. So they will win more than they lose after the break, and they'll make the playoffs.

But they don't have what it takes against the top teams, they don't have the goaltending and they don't have the finishing. So I wish they wouldn't. Because this team needs a high first more than it need a meaningless playoff appearance.

I used to think there was no way we slip out the playoffs but with how the Capitals , Pens , Rangers , Islanders just refuse to lose ( or at least have a moderate losig streak ) , I am starting to get very worried. That and with management thinking Blackwood is still a starter or even a backup … we might be in trouble. Team is still playing good but goaltending and some finishing issues are costing us games. Ya we score a good amount overall , but in certain games , we cannot finish where we could have finished teams off but cannot find a way to score ( even though we generate good chances )
Then we let in shitty goals during crucial times in the game and are forced to alter our game plan .
We need VV and Schmid to play good and NOT start Blackwood anymore.

 

[Blackjack]

Well, they put 3 past Boston which is above average. The rest comes down to our D zone play and goaltender. We didn’t give up many high scoring chances tonight. We also blitzed them in shots all night, again, which is rare for Boston.

They underscored their xGF and got absolutely sodomized on the xGA end.

 

[NjDevsRR]

They underscored their xGF and got absolutely sodomized on the xGA end.

I chalk that up to the Ullmark goal line save, two crossbars, missed breakaway, and missed 2 on 1. 3 of those are straight up bad luck. Bardown crossbar shots that don’t go in are always unlucky as hell. The missed 2 on 1 and breakaway is on the players.

The crap we let in is what pisses me
Off. I cant even remember an odd man rush we gave up. Mac needed to stop #2 or #3.

Shame.

 

[guitarguyvic]

The ability is obvious but none of it matters if they can't finish or get saves.

I’m not sure I understand this…the ability to do what?

They have shown the ability to score goals, even with going cold for a handful of games they are still above average in goals for. Two goalies have shown the ability to be NHL caliber. One hasn’t but management insists on still throwing him out there which if it doesn’t stop will cause losses all by itself.

The fact that they’ve shown they can do these things and win as much as they have so far this season is HUGE progress. They are a playoff team barring specific scenarios that could handicap them - IE continuing to play Blackwood, one of the other two goalies turning into a pumpkin, or more injuries.

The basis for a legit contender is there. Really the main ingredients still missing are a goalie we can trust, a legit sniper, and a bit more size/physical presence in the top 6.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Honestly hoping we collapse again this year. Solves a lot of problems at once. Lindy is certain to be fired, Severson and Graves can be traded at the deadline. There's a ridiculous amount of elite talent in the draft, we can get another center, which is something we badly need.

This is a bad take man. There was a case to be made that Graves should be re-signed to help acclimate Luke Hughes's into the NHL on the left side and he doesn't get rushed. Severson deserves to be a part of a run with this team for all the garbage teams he's been on. Brunette doesn't come here if he knew Lindy was staying for longer. Not to mention, the mental toll it'd take on the core if they choked a W13 at the beginning of the year and missed.

 

[Blackjack]

This is a bad take man. There was a case to be made that Graves should be re-signed to help acclimate Luke Hughes's into the NHL on the left side and he doesn't get rushed. Severson deserves to be a part of a run with this team for all the garbage teams he's been on. Brunette doesn't come here if he knew Lindy was staying for longer. Not to mention, the mental toll it'd take on the core if they choked a W13 at the beginning of the year and missed.

Making the playoffs in '17-'18 did nothing for the team. Far better to get another (badly needed) good forward at the draft and hopefully some more assets at the deadline. Take another swing when you have a goalie that can make a save.

 

[Devs3cups]

Making the playoffs in '17-'18 did nothing for the team. Far better to get another (badly needed) good forward at the draft and hopefully some more assets at the deadline. Take another swing when you have a goalie that can make a save.

This team is WAY better than the ‘17-‘18 team though.

 

[Blackjack]

This team is WAY better than the ‘17-‘18 team though.

Factoring in goaltenders it's probably about the same. Maybe a little bit better. Either way, the best result long term is to miss the playoffs and pick as early as possible.