Blender
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- Dec 2, 2009
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Despite being a "power play merchant" to start the year, Jack Hughes now leads the league in even strength points as well.
Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023-24 season begins!
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Devils731
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- Jun 23, 2008
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Devils right now have a real problem with connecting with each other as a team; they’ve had this problem at times throughout Ruff’s tenure so it’s not new and it usually gets somewhat sorted.
The defense doesn’t help the breakout. The breakout doesn’t help get into the offensive zone. The offensive zone may actually look more composed than last year but the team can’t get there enough.
In fixing or identifying the problems on the breakout, having a few cheat codes for the neutral zone in Hughes and Bratt along with a strong player like Meier is that it masks the poor philosophy because they effectively can just make anything work through their talent.
Just “making things work” does mean going outside the team philosophy at times though. Once you go outside the team philosophy and it works, it encourages you and others to go cowboy and eventually nobody knows what anyone else is going to do at any given moment.
On some level I don’t fault the players from improvising when the structure isn’t working, because I agree with them the structure/philosophy isn’t right, but teams struggle if their success mostly come through individual brilliance and less from structured team play.
The Devils need to get all the players on the same page. Even if it means getting arguably worse; at least then the things not working can be tweaked.
The defense doesn’t help the breakout. The breakout doesn’t help get into the offensive zone. The offensive zone may actually look more composed than last year but the team can’t get there enough.
In fixing or identifying the problems on the breakout, having a few cheat codes for the neutral zone in Hughes and Bratt along with a strong player like Meier is that it masks the poor philosophy because they effectively can just make anything work through their talent.
Just “making things work” does mean going outside the team philosophy at times though. Once you go outside the team philosophy and it works, it encourages you and others to go cowboy and eventually nobody knows what anyone else is going to do at any given moment.
On some level I don’t fault the players from improvising when the structure isn’t working, because I agree with them the structure/philosophy isn’t right, but teams struggle if their success mostly come through individual brilliance and less from structured team play.
The Devils need to get all the players on the same page. Even if it means getting arguably worse; at least then the things not working can be tweaked.
I loved the way Mercer was playing last year, but very little about his game screams "I'm going to carry Haula and Holtz when Haula is also underperforming and Holtz is still figuring it out." If he's playing LW anyway I would prefer he gets some more time with Hischier and Palat gets moved down.
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
He’s been abysmal. Haula has also been noticeably off and when Mercer was playing higher in the lineup, that was when Timo and Nico seemingly forgot how to play. I guess he has been the common denominator in these terrible lines, but I don’t think it’s all been on him.
Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
Even our beat writer be f***ing up, lol.
Not a surprise with no skate with another game on dock tomorrow.
On the bright side, we're averaging 4 goals a game and 3.67 against. So we're coming out ahead still!
- May 8, 2010
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Seems to be Ruff’s motto as well, I like it for this young team.
I don’t mind it, they’re leaving for a pretty long road trip. Could be a nice reset for them.
AfroThunder396
[citation needed]
I mean that's great and everything but his individual ES shots/60 is 9th on the team. His on-ice numbers are considerably better than his individual numbers, but he's still below water in ES xGF%/60 (12th out of 18, not including Nosek or Tierney) and is worst on the team in ES xGA/60.
The bounces will even out, that's not what I'm not worried about. He has not been playing his best at either end of the ice despite.
Zippy316
aka Zippo
Early season is always strategically planned and spaced to avoid conflict with college football and NFL for teams that struggle to draw fans.
It’s not until both are done that the NHL really ramps up it’s scheduling knowing that they have a bunch of new eyes on the game.
It’s why Arizona always goes on world tours early in the year. Devils schedule also avoids many conflicts with Saturday/Sunday until after December.
But last year's Bahl was playing much less, and much easier minutes. Marino had a solid veteran as his partner, this year he has a young guy playing an increased workload.
And truthfully the on ice numbers look OK, especially defensively(at least 5v5).
Now are those numbers deceiving? Probably, last night seemed to be a ton 2-1's against, and the numbers may not do a great job picking that up.
PizzaAndPucks
New Jersey Angels diehard
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Every game is always going to be different , but the trend of slow starts dates back to last season. The team is basically the same as last year with the additions of Toffoli , Nosek , Miller etc. Nosek and Miller combined have only played like 1 or 2 games. Toffoli has been awesome so far too.
I still don't understand how one of the youngest and arguably fastest team in the league comes out the gate slow to start every game. Slow starts cost you games and points. Ruff has to find a way to get them to play a better 60 minutes. I like the fact that the team still battles back and has success even when trailing. It shows they compete and don't get rattled to much. If you don't count the empty net goal , every game so far this season has been a 1 goal game. If we weren't so bad in the shootout the record could be 4-2-0 and would have us at the top of our division. The start to the season just feels a bit worse dude to the high expectations. There is still alot to be pretty happy about.
I still don't understand how one of the youngest and arguably fastest team in the league comes out the gate slow to start every game. Slow starts cost you games and points. Ruff has to find a way to get them to play a better 60 minutes. I like the fact that the team still battles back and has success even when trailing. It shows they compete and don't get rattled to much. If you don't count the empty net goal , every game so far this season has been a 1 goal game. If we weren't so bad in the shootout the record could be 4-2-0 and would have us at the top of our division. The start to the season just feels a bit worse dude to the high expectations. There is still alot to be pretty happy about.
- May 8, 2010
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Absolutely agreed. There are some positives. The boys battle, and they’re never out of it.
Billdo
Registered User
I still would rather move Holtz up for an extended look. Roll Toffoli-Hughes-Bratt with Meier-Hischier-Holtz
The Canes are going through the same thing. We have complicated systems on both teams and we have a lot of new faces. It will take time.
I'm a little surprised by Marino, Siegenthaler's slow starts. Bahl has been fine other than very weak wrist shots that more often than not get blocked and led to Caps 2-on-1s. He's been physical, has made some good plays. Hamilton's fine. Hughes is fantastic - he makes occasional mistakes but we expected that from a young rookie. Smith is slow, gets out of position.
Graves and Severson are being remembered for their gaffes but they tended to be outlier plays on top of mostly solid games (especially Severson). We're forgetting that.
The passing isn't crisp - I suspect that's a lot to do with trying to re-jel the team with new faces and lines. The positioning - same.
The slow starts we had last year, but we need to improve that as a team. They have to be ready to go 120% early in the games and at start of periods.
Goaltending is a problem. We have average goaltending. When they get a lot of high danger chances more of those are going to go in.
I like Holtz's play overall. He's hustled, taken pucks away, made passes. He's done the things but isn't playing with anyone who is lighting it up right now. Sometimes he's been the best on his line. That said, I wish we took Askarov #7 overall instead, because we need goaltending more than we need Holtz.
I'm a little surprised by Marino, Siegenthaler's slow starts. Bahl has been fine other than very weak wrist shots that more often than not get blocked and led to Caps 2-on-1s. He's been physical, has made some good plays. Hamilton's fine. Hughes is fantastic - he makes occasional mistakes but we expected that from a young rookie. Smith is slow, gets out of position.
Graves and Severson are being remembered for their gaffes but they tended to be outlier plays on top of mostly solid games (especially Severson). We're forgetting that.
The passing isn't crisp - I suspect that's a lot to do with trying to re-jel the team with new faces and lines. The positioning - same.
The slow starts we had last year, but we need to improve that as a team. They have to be ready to go 120% early in the games and at start of periods.
Goaltending is a problem. We have average goaltending. When they get a lot of high danger chances more of those are going to go in.
I like Holtz's play overall. He's hustled, taken pucks away, made passes. He's done the things but isn't playing with anyone who is lighting it up right now. Sometimes he's been the best on his line. That said, I wish we took Askarov #7 overall instead, because we need goaltending more than we need Holtz.
R8Devs
1-5-6-12
I like L.Hughes with Hamilton -- hopefully they keep that as a pairing but I somewhat doubt it bc it seems they don't want to put Smith on the right side but that can be remedied with a Nemec call up since he's soon to be healthy and Miller is hurt.
Mercer is fighting through it so maybe putting him back on the right side on a line will help him:
Bratt-Hischier-Holtz/Mercer
Toffoli-Hughes-Meier
Palat-Haula-Holtz/Mercer
4th line
Hughes-Hamilton
Bahl-Marino
Siegenthaler-Smith/Nemec/Miller
Mercer is fighting through it so maybe putting him back on the right side on a line will help him:
Bratt-Hischier-Holtz/Mercer
Toffoli-Hughes-Meier
Palat-Haula-Holtz/Mercer
4th line
Hughes-Hamilton
Bahl-Marino
Siegenthaler-Smith/Nemec/Miller
- May 8, 2010
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Sdevils42
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- Nov 30, 2016
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Slow starts are frustrating. See alot of it being put on Lindy which I suppose is fair but these are pros, I'd say it's 50/50 at best and 70/30 players to blame. I noticed they closed out a lot of periods last year soft and got beat quite a few times on last minute goals.
Very noticeable in the third last night, came out sleepwalking either too high on themselves thinking the 2nd period burst was going to hold up or just flat which is inexcusable. If it's going to happen the best time is within the first 10 games. Something to look out for going forward.
R8Devs
1-5-6-12
yeah thats another way they could do that but yesterday they had siegs with smith so I'm assuming they don't want to break up Bahl-Marino either (although they have struggled a bit as well). I think Siegenthaler-Nemec would be cool if you want Nemec to have a steady partner but we'll see
glenwo2
JESPER BRATWURST
glenwo2
JESPER BRATWURST
I mean...this past game, yeah he did not play well (but did collect another assist getting him to double-digits in Points in just 6 games) but really the entire team (aside from the 2nd period) did not play well.
The other games, he was pretty good and was PRODUCTIVE on the ice so I don't know what games you were watching.
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glenwo2
JESPER BRATWURST
Bratt has 8 PP points and 2 ES points.
He has 10 points in 6 games. The only other player with double-digit points is Jack Hughes and you're on HIS case? REALLY?
How about getting on Nico's case? Or Timo's Case?
Or anyone else's?
This team has so many issues to start the season and THIS is the hill you're choosing to die on?
Bratt is doing his part and is playing way better defense than he's ever played this season.
Just 'cause he didn't play well last night (though he did get an assist to get him to double-digits in Points) along with the team, it doesn't mean "He has not been playing his best at either end of the ice" or such nonsense.
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Yep. It's why I've never been a fan of Ruff and wasn't converted last season. I don't think his systems are good. The team was successful in spite of him, because of all the talent on the roster.
Ruff's set breakout is very often a hard rim or stretch to a forward who has already blown the zone. As you said, it leads to a very disconnected breakout and that kind of play is easily read and broken up by the opposition.
The times they gain the offensive zone are just from Jack or Bratt dancing through the neutral zone (or even Mikey Mcleod wheeling through). If it weren't for Jack's transcendent talent and ability to just make stuff happen on his own, the vibes would be faaaar worse.
I like these pairs, but it really puts a lot of the load on Siegs - Marino. Luke and Dougie will have to be used in a pretty offensive orientation, and any pair with Smith on it will need to be sheltered.
Sounds like Miller is injured? Apparently that's why he hasn't drawn in.
- Dec 20, 2018
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Clam Jensen
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Edit: “He literally missed a 1/4 of his rookie season” The Devils only played 69 games (nice) and Jack played 61. That’s literally 88%, 75% would be 52 GP.
You think Hughes would have been better off playing, at most, 36 games at Michigan in 2019-20 instead of scoring 21 points in 61 GP? That’s a 28 point pace for 82 games.
And then play, at most, 26 games at Michigan in 2020-21 instead of scoring 31 points in 56 GP.
That’s a 45 point pace for 82 games. (He was our second leading scorer that season but he didn’t belong in the NHL lol.)
Guess what? He might not be as good if he went pro in 2021-22. So there’s that.
You need to get over his rookie season. Complaining it about years later was comical.
Saying he had no hockey sense and had no idea what’s happening on the ice was comically wrong. Shitting on Jack even in 2021-22 because he was your shit list player at the time was comical.
2019-20 vs 2020-21:
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