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

[guitarguyvic]

I highly doubt vitek is the guy long term either but he’s much better than Blackwood, that’s not even debatable.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Assuming Graves and Marino are out for a bit, Okhotiuk essentially has 4-6 games to show he’s capable of holding down a lineup spot until they’re healthy. Otherwise I’d imagine Nemec gets a shot when he’s back.

Decent first game last night but still has some things to clean up.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I thought Nikita was great. We didn’t give up much yesterday. We needed a save or two on some of the opportunities which we did give to Boston.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The losing needs to be left behind during this break.

Get back on track starting this week

 

[Devilsfan118]

I'm not saying anything novel here that hasn't already been said in all likelihood, but this season cannot be left to Blackwood in the hopes that he figures it out.

Can't afford to give him a 15 game grace period. Couple of the goals last night weren't entirely his fault, but that backbreaker third certainly was.

 

[Bleedred]

I thought Nikita was great. We didn’t give up much yesterday. We needed a save or two on some of the opportunities which we did give to Boston.

Man, I thought you were talking about Gusev at first, because I forgot O's first name was Nikita lol.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Man, I thought you were talking about Gusev at first, because I forgot O's first name was Nikita lol.

 

[Blackjack]

You act like this is how it will always be. The team can play out of funk. The team can be improved in the off-season without a high draft pick.

The only thing I would hate to see is desperation rental spending but Fitz literally to a shit on the idea of rentals, god bless him. Sometimes he’s the anti-Shero in delightful ways.

If you don’t know how much better this team is than 2017-18 then I don’t know what to say. I’m not even bothering to provide the statistics to show the vast differences. That’s borderline trolling, similar to calling Carolina “middling” and acting like it’s shameful to lose them.

Fun Fact: After 34 games Brian Gibbons was the 2017-18 team’s lead gold scorer with 12 goals. He scored zero goals in his final 25 games (he was out with a broken thumb later in the season).

Yes, the team is substantially better than ‘17-‘18. No question. Are they a cup contender? Do you think they have what it takes to beat the best teams in the league? Because it sure looks to me like they don’t.

I don’t want to be like San Jose or Nashville. If we don’t have a legitimate chance to win the cup, I want to improve the quality of the prospect pipeline.

Yes, I was being dismissive when I called the Hurricanes “mid”. Obviously they aren’t. But I was completely serious when I said that I don’t think they’re anything special. They aren’t. They’re a good but beatable team, and if this team had what it took to win in the Spring they would have imposed their will in that game to stop the skid.

The ugly truth is that deep playoff runs mean nothing. Only championships matter. Ask an Ottawa fan. For a third of the season this team looked like it might have had that ability. Now it has shown that it does not beyond a shadow of a doubt and the only thing left to decide is how bad our draft pick is going to be.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Yes, the team is substantially better than ‘17-‘18. No question. Are they a cup contender? Do you think they have what it takes to beat the best teams in the league? Because it sure looks to me like they don’t.

I don’t want to be like San Jose or Nashville. If we don’t have a legitimate chance to win the cup, I want to improve the quality of the prospect pipeline.

Yes, I was being dismissive when I called the Hurricanes “mid”. Obviously they aren’t. But I was completely serious when I said that I don’t think they’re anything special. They aren’t. They’re a good but beatable team, and if this team had what it took to win in the Spring they would have imposed their will in that game to stop the skid.

The ugly truth is that deep playoff runs mean nothing. Only championships matter. Ask an Ottawa fan. For a third of the season this team looked like it might have had that ability. Now it has shown that it does not beyond a shadow of a doubt and the only thing left to decide is how bad our draft pick is going to be.

I don’t expect them to win it all this year, but they just throughly outplayed by far the best team in the league. They can play with anyone, any time, and can beat anyone if the goaltending settles down and when the finishing comes back to where it should be.

There is no reason to even get be invested in a sports team if you have that attitude about playoff runs. That’s a fine attitude if you’re talking about like the Yankees that are great every year but just haven’t gotten over the hump in a decade plus. With where we’re at, you’re damn right I’d be ecstatic with any type of playoff run.

 

[Guttersniped]

Yes, the team is substantially better than ‘17-‘18. No question. Are they a cup contender? Do you think they have what it takes to beat the best teams in the league? Because it sure looks to me like they don’t.

I don’t want to be like San Jose or Nashville. If we don’t have a legitimate chance to win the cup, I want to improve the quality of the prospect pipeline.

Yes, I was being dismissive when I called the Hurricanes “mid”. Obviously they aren’t. But I was completely serious when I said that I don’t think they’re anything special. They aren’t. They’re a good but beatable team, and if this team had what it took to win in the Spring they would have imposed their will in that game to stop the skid.

The ugly truth is that deep playoff runs mean nothing. Only championships matter. Ask an Ottawa fan. For a third of the season this team looked like it might have had that ability. Now it has shown that it does not beyond a shadow of a doubt and the only thing left to decide is how bad our draft pick is going to be.

This team hasn’t been modified for deep playoffs runs yet, that often involves picking up complimentary pieces which are more transitory.

If Fitz had spent assets prepping this team for a deep playoff run this last off-season we would have thought he was crazy so I don’t see any problem with how it went. The window is opening.

He also has been trying to add major scoring winger, going after Gaudreau and Tkachuk. He tried for Saad the season before. So it’s a work in progress and I don’t see a problem there either. It’s good that he’s looking for a long term piece and not some BS rental.

You can’t go to the lottery pick store forever, if Fitz manages assets intelligently even when we’re trying to compete I’ll be a happy camper. Just don’t bleed out assets like Toronto has by immediately spending big on rentals and then do it repeatedly. Colorado is good example of a team that kept it’s powder dry until it was ready to spend.

San Jose was a great team for a long time and got very close, it’s kind of weird they never won a Cup and there’s much worse fates than that.

Carolina is an incredibly well-run team, they’re very cautious and analytical and I’m both of those things so when teams do those things it always pleases me.

They has laden them with value contracts and ton of assets for a team that has been competitive for 5 seasons.

At times they might be a little too cautious, they always trade down, they always low ball their players and stick to their final offer, etc. (Waddell did pull off the big Hamilton trade when he first started there though, that was bold.)

Their clever bargain hunting didn’t work out for them this season so far. They aren’t scoring as much as they should, or specifically, their finishing sucks. Pacioretty at 7m, but for free in terms of assets, was their big move to help fix that and his leg exploded 5 minutes after they traded for him. He’s at their practices in a non-contact jersey now though.

Their other big bargain offensive move, Ondrej Kase for 1.5m, was also pretty much doomed to fail.

The “What if we replaced Trocheck with no one, would that work?” has not worked so far Stastny is a bit cooked and Kotkaniemi is not a 2C.

Was Brent Burns for 3 years/5.28m instead of TDA the right move? Maybe? Probably?

They’re an absolute machine though, if you’re saying we’re a top team based on analytics as well as results then how great theirs are (plus their points) matters just as much.

They have been just about the best team in the NHL in the last month, right up there with the Bruins and Leafs, even with their finishing problem. Like Vegas, scoring by committee has done them in the playoffs lately but that’s the playoffs. They could have really used Eichel too.

They aren’t unbeatable but it makes no sense to say we should have beaten them.

 

[Triumph]

Yes, the team is substantially better than ‘17-‘18. No question. Are they a cup contender? Do you think they have what it takes to beat the best teams in the league? Because it sure looks to me like they don’t.

Yes, and sure.

I don’t want to be like San Jose or Nashville. If we don’t have a legitimate chance to win the cup, I want to improve the quality of the prospect pipeline.

Every chance is legitimate. Who had the Kings winning the Cup in 2012? A team who reached the heights the Devils did already this year can get hot and win a Stanley Cup.

Yes, I was being dismissive when I called the Hurricanes “mid”. Obviously they aren’t. But I was completely serious when I said that I don’t think they’re anything special. They aren’t. They’re a good but beatable team, and if this team had what it took to win in the Spring they would have imposed their will in that game to stop the skid.

Hinging the season on a regular season result against one team is asinine.

The ugly truth is that deep playoff runs mean nothing. Only championships matter. Ask an Ottawa fan. For a third of the season this team looked like it might have had that ability. Now it has shown that it does not beyond a shadow of a doubt and the only thing left to decide is how bad our draft pick is going to be.

Ask an Ottawa fan? Sure, I'll do that - I'll ask them which year they'd rather have, 2007 or 2022? I'm sure they'll say that both were the same since they didn't win a championship. The 'championship or bust' mentality is the dumbest one in sports fandom, and it's especially dumb given what the Devils are doing right now, looking like a team at the start of a potentially long series of playoff qualifiers, with almost all of the players on the team being young and the franchise being in great shape salary cap wise. Evoking San Jose or Nashville at this juncture is beyond histrionic.

Being a sports fan with 'championship or bust' as an ethos is mental illness. Why would I engage in an activity where I am only in any way satisfied if my team hits a 31 to 1 shot? 2012, beat the Flyers and Rangers, come up short? Who cares, same as any other season, a big L. Gimme a break.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Yes, the team is substantially better than ‘17-‘18. No question. Are they a cup contender? Do you think they have what it takes to beat the best teams in the league? Because it sure looks to me like they don’t.

I don’t want to be like San Jose or Nashville. If we don’t have a legitimate chance to win the cup, I want to improve the quality of the prospect pipeline.

Yes, I was being dismissive when I called the Hurricanes “mid”. Obviously they aren’t. But I was completely serious when I said that I don’t think they’re anything special. They aren’t. They’re a good but beatable team, and if this team had what it took to win in the Spring they would have imposed their will in that game to stop the skid.

The ugly truth is that deep playoff runs mean nothing. Only championships matter. Ask an Ottawa fan. For a third of the season this team looked like it might have had that ability. Now it has shown that it does not beyond a shadow of a doubt and the only thing left to decide is how bad our draft pick is going to be.

they just completely dominated play against the best team in the league. If they had any semblance of goaltending they would have blown out Boston.

 

[MartyOwns]

Yes, the team is substantially better than ‘17-‘18. No question. Are they a cup contender? Do you think they have what it takes to beat the best teams in the league? Because it sure looks to me like they don’t.

I don’t want to be like San Jose or Nashville. If we don’t have a legitimate chance to win the cup, I want to improve the quality of the prospect pipeline.

Yes, I was being dismissive when I called the Hurricanes “mid”. Obviously they aren’t. But I was completely serious when I said that I don’t think they’re anything special. They aren’t. They’re a good but beatable team, and if this team had what it took to win in the Spring they would have imposed their will in that game to stop the skid.

The ugly truth is that deep playoff runs mean nothing. Only championships matter. Ask an Ottawa fan. For a third of the season this team looked like it might have had that ability. Now it has shown that it does not beyond a shadow of a doubt and the only thing left to decide is how bad our draft pick is going to be.

i don’t think this team is constructed to go deep in the playoffs…not from what i’ve seen. the playoffs require a certain intangible quality that i don’t think we have at the moment.

but that’s ok, just making the playoffs would be just fine for me. of course i wouldn’t turn down draft picks, but those aren’t that valuable to me anymore. i think/hope we’re beyond that

 

[Devils090]

i don’t think this team is constructed to go deep in the playoffs…not from what i’ve seen. the playoffs require a certain intangible quality that i don’t think we have at the moment.

but that’s ok, just making the playoffs would be just fine for me. of course i wouldn’t turn down draft picks, but those aren’t that valuable to me anymore. i think/hope we’re beyond that

Yeah I think just getting to the playoffs this year is perfectly acceptable, but at this point I think we absolutely must make it.

 

[njdevils1982]

This team hasn’t been modified for deep playoffs runs yet, that often involves picking up complimentary pieces which are more transitory.

If Fitz had spent assets prepping this team for a deep playoff run this last off-season we would have thought he was crazy so I don’t see any problem with how it went. The window is opening.

He also has been trying to add major scoring winger, going after Gaudreau and Tkachuk. He tried for Saad the season before. So it’s a work in progress and I don’t see a problem there either. It’s good that he’s looking for a long term piece and not some BS rental.

You can’t go to the lottery pick store forever, if Fitz manages assets intelligently even when we’re trying to compete I’ll be a happy camper. Just don’t bleed out assets like Toronto has by immediately spending big on rentals and then do it repeatedly. Colorado is good example of a team that kept it’s powder dry until it was ready to spend.

San Jose was a great team for a long time and got very close, it’s kind of weird they never won a Cup and there’s much worse fates than that.

Carolina is an incredibly well-run team, they’re very cautious and analytical and I’m both of those things so when teams do those things it always pleases me.

They has laden them with value contracts and ton of assets for a team that has been competitive for 5 seasons.

At times they might be a little too cautious, they always trade down, they always low ball their players and stick to their final offer, etc. (Waddell did pull off the big Hamilton trade when he first started there though, that was bold.)

Their clever bargain hunting didn’t work out for them this season so far. They aren’t scoring as much as they should, or specifically, their finishing sucks. Pacioretty at 7m, but for free in terms of assets, was their big move to help fix that and his leg exploded 5 minutes after they traded for him. He’s at their practices in a non-contact jersey now though.

Their other big bargain offensive move, Ondrej Kase for 1.5m, was also pretty much doomed to fail.

The “What if we replaced Trocheck with no one, would that work?” has not worked so far Stastny is a bit cooked and Kotkaniemi is not a 2C.

Was Brent Burns for 3 years/5.28m instead of TDA the right move? Maybe? Probably?

They’re an absolute machine though, if you’re saying we’re a top team based on analytics as well as results then how great theirs are (plus their points) matters just as much.

They have been just about the best team in the NHL in the last month, right up there with the Bruins and Leafs, even with their finishing problem. Like Vegas, scoring by committee has done them in the playoffs lately but that’s the playoffs. They could have really used Eichel too.

They aren’t unbeatable but it makes no sense to say we should have beaten them.

waddell also wasted the russian's prime years when he had him in atlanta...i cant take him seriously

 

[Bleedred]

waddell also wasted the russian's prime years when he had him in atlanta...i cant take him seriously

There was a lot of talk when Dundon first bought the Canes that he was arguably the most hands-on owner in the NHL and that Waddell was nothing more than a figurehead GM. Pretty much just a spokesperson/direct representative for Dundon.

 

[Eggtimer]

This team hasn’t been modified for deep playoffs runs yet, that often involves picking up complimentary pieces which are more transitory.

If Fitz had spent assets prepping this team for a deep playoff run this last off-season we would have thought he was crazy so I don’t see any problem with how it went. The window is opening.

He also has been trying to add major scoring winger, going after Gaudreau and Tkachuk. He tried for Saad the season before. So it’s a work in progress and I don’t see a problem there either. It’s good that he’s looking for a long term piece and not some BS rental.

You can’t go to the lottery pick store forever, if Fitz manages assets intelligently even when we’re trying to compete I’ll be a happy camper. Just don’t bleed out assets like Toronto has by immediately spending big on rentals and then do it repeatedly. Colorado is good example of a team that kept it’s powder dry until it was ready to spend.

San Jose was a great team for a long time and got very close, it’s kind of weird they never won a Cup and there’s much worse fates than that.

Carolina is an incredibly well-run team, they’re very cautious and analytical and I’m both of those things so when teams do those things it always pleases me.

They has laden them with value contracts and ton of assets for a team that has been competitive for 5 seasons.

At times they might be a little too cautious, they always trade down, they always low ball their players and stick to their final offer, etc. (Waddell did pull off the big Hamilton trade when he first started there though, that was bold.)

Their clever bargain hunting didn’t work out for them this season so far. They aren’t scoring as much as they should, or specifically, their finishing sucks. Pacioretty at 7m, but for free in terms of assets, was their big move to help fix that and his leg exploded 5 minutes after they traded for him. He’s at their practices in a non-contact jersey now though.

Their other big bargain offensive move, Ondrej Kase for 1.5m, was also pretty much doomed to fail.

The “What if we replaced Trocheck with no one, would that work?” has not worked so far Stastny is a bit cooked and Kotkaniemi is not a 2C.

Was Brent Burns for 3 years/5.28m instead of TDA the right move? Maybe? Probably?

They’re an absolute machine though, if you’re saying we’re a top team based on analytics as well as results then how great theirs are (plus their points) matters just as much.

They have been just about the best team in the NHL in the last month, right up there with the Bruins and Leafs, even with their finishing problem. Like Vegas, scoring by committee has done them in the playoffs lately but that’s the playoffs. They could have really used Eichel too.

They aren’t unbeatable but it makes no sense to say we should have beaten them.

It will be very interesting to see what Fitz does. I think he will add a finisher but then I’m not sure what he thinks about our goaltending. I am sure he knows it needs to improve but him and Brodeur has said that paying UFA prices on a goalie is not the answer. Maybe he can trade for an upgrade? I can see us eventually trwdig for some like a Vladar where the team has depth and will need to move a piece. Flames have Markstrom and a very highly touted Wolf coming . I can’t see them keepig all 3 .
I think / hope the Blackwood experiment is over and the plan is to move on from him. I can see us making a run at Meier if the price is right .
However , one reason I think we might NOT add a piece like Meier - we will lose roster flexibility to tweek the composition of the team if Fitz thinks we need to add an element after seeing a playoff run . I don’t know what the best way to go is? All I know is for now , we are sitting pretty damn good for defencemen (perhaps best in the league once Luke, Nemec , Casey , Mukhamadoulin etc are ready )
My humble opinion is we need a fiesty winger that can finish. Meier is almost perfect for that. He has improved each year with the amount of shots he gets off , and is currently up in the top 2 or 3 for shots in the league. I,think him and Hughes would be dynamic , which would also enable Palat to be with Nico then or maybe even Bratt. A top 6 of Meier Hughes Mercer then Palat Nico Bratt would be deadly. Moves Tatar down a line as well as Haula . Haula Tatar Shara then Bastian McCleod Wood …. That’s a pretty damn good forward group and I forgot about Zetterlund. Not sure who to swap him out with …

 

[njdevils1982]

There was a lot of talk when Dundon first bought the Canes that he was arguably the most hands-on owner in the NHL and that Waddell was nothing more than a figurehead GM. Pretty much just a spokesperson/direct representative for Dundon.

well, i did not know that.... i guess that makes him a bitch company man then

 

[Eggtimer]

Getting Palat back will be a big boost . Imsertig him into the top 6 will be nice. Allows more flexibility to the roster and maybe allows Jack and Nico to habe wingers best suited for them and can create some more offence. I would love to see what Jack could do with a skilled scorer . A true finisher . Him and Bratt seem to have some very good shifts with each other but not sure if Bratt is better off with Nico or what to do. With Palat back , at least Ruff has more options. When we add Meier , it will make for a deadly top 6 !

 

[DerekDevils30]

I believe this Christmas break will be just what the doctor ordered. Reset and get back at it. I expect them to start rattling off some wins heading into the New Year.

 

[Billdo]

Getting Palat back will be a big boost . Imsertig him into the top 6 will be nice. Allows more flexibility to the roster and maybe allows Jack and Nico to habe wingers best suited for them and can create some more offence. I would love to see what Jack could do with a skilled scorer . A true finisher . Him and Bratt seem to have some very good shifts with each other but not sure if Bratt is better off with Nico or what to do. With Palat back , at least Ruff has more options. When we add Meier , it will make for a deadly top 6 !

So when he's back I think we should roll out

Tatar-Hischier-Zetterlund
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Sharangovich-Haula-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Holtz

 

[RSeen]

So when he's back I think we should roll out

Tatar-Hischier-Zetterlund
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Sharangovich-Haula-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Holtz

I agree with this. I think we need to find an improvement over Zetterlund, but you can move up one of the players on the 3rd line up if we are not making an addition at the deadline.

Holtz should be back in the minors IMO.

 

[billingtons ghost]

I don’t expect them to win it all this year, but they just throughly outplayed by far the best team in the league. They can play with anyone, any time, and can beat anyone if the goaltending settles down and when the finishing comes back to where it should be.

There is no reason to even get be invested in a sports team if you have that attitude about playoff runs. That’s a fine attitude if you’re talking about like the Yankees that are great every year but just haven’t gotten over the hump in a decade plus. With where we’re at, you’re damn right I’d be ecstatic with any type of playoff run.

Let's pump the brakes on this. They didn't thoroughly outplay them outside of one period when the game was essentially out of reach and Boston took it's foot off the gas. Erase the bad goal and it's still 2-1 plus a wide open Pasternak in the slot.

We haven't *thoroughly* done anything in the last 7-10 games or so. Blackwood has only been around for two, and one of those was our only win where he stood on his head.

We still aren't finishing, and we are still playing a dicey brand of hockey that has managed to make Vitek and Schmid doubt their confidence too.

Until we get a good goaltending plus a game that isn't filled with breakdowns and odd man rushes or goalie fails, I don't think we should be declaring any moral victories since the truth is that we are paper thin and a couple of injuries have managed to destabilize us.

What we need are for the next row of teeth to step up. Johnsson/Holtz haven't done that. Bahl has to a degree. Best thing that can happen for this team is to struggle until we find our next layer of depth players.

So when he's back I think we should roll out

Tatar-Hischier-Zetterlund
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Sharangovich-Haula-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Holtz

I like Holtz, but that's not the place. I'd rather see thompson or Foote or whatever fourth line NHL vets grinder Fitz can find for a late round pick.

The other lines are perfect.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Do we know if the team will practice at all over the next few days? Or is it just nothing until the next BOS game?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Do we know if the team will practice at all over the next few days? Or is it just nothing until the next BOS game?

They'll probably practice Monday, they're too much athletes of routine to not skate or do anything till Wednesday since the game yesterday.