Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023-24 season begins!

[Devs3cups]

 

[Satans Hockey]

I think this post should be ok cause it's a possible traffic warning but an FYI for anyone going tomorrow, there is going to be a protest at city hall(which is only a few blocks away from the arena and on a main road that people drive in and out on for those that don't know) at 1:30pm over the Palestine situation. I have no idea how many people are gonna be there or how long it will last but just a heads for anyone going tomorrow since there could be a possibility it could impact arriving at the game.

 

[Mgd31]

With Hischier out, they need to call a forward up. Or they put Cal Foote in and Smith as forward

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Hate being a Debbie Downer, but I can't help being concerned that he followed up that big hit against the Caps with his least impactful game and is now taking a maintenance day two weeks into the season. I know he scored, but anonymous all night last night. Really hope it's not anything.

 

[Devs3cups]

Hate being a Debbie Downer, but I can't help being concerned that he followed up that big hit against the Caps with his least impactful game and is now taking a maintenance day two weeks into the season. I know he scored, but anonymous all night last night. Really hope it's not anything.

Most likely nothing, but there’s a lot of paranoia on these boards so I can’t blame you hehe. Every single injury or off day is treated like it’s something super serious because of something that happened like 4 years ago. It’s quite annoying, but might as well let people vent lol!

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Most likely nothing, but there’s a lot of paranoia on these boards so I can’t blame you hehe. Every single injury or off day is treated like it’s something super serious because of something that happened like 4 years ago. It’s quite annoying, but might as well let people vent lol!

Hey, at least this one was in the last minute of the game prior! Jack went into the boards so hard, and I don't know, just didn't look like himself last night. Anyway, just speculating/doom-glooming. Hopefully he's flying tomorrow.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

With Hischier out, they need to call a forward up. Or they put Cal Foote in and Smith as forward

Willman impressed in the preseason and has 3 goals 2 assists in 4 games to start the year (I haven’t watched a second of Utica this year). Tyce Thomson with a goose egg. Would be nice to have Foote available right now.

 

[Devs3cups]

Hey, at least this one was in the last minute of the game prior! Jack went into the boards so hard, and I don't know, just didn't look like himself last night. Anyway, just speculating/doom-glooming. Hopefully he's flying tomorrow.

Watching the highlights and some snippets he looked pretty good, but at the same time, right now an off night for Jack is a goal lol. Guy is absolutely killing it. He has a 3 point lead at the leading scorer with 1 game in hand. He’s 22. Insane stuff.

 

[Devs3cups]

Willman impressed in the preseason and has 3 goals 2 assists in 4 games to start the year (I haven’t watched a second of Utica this year). Tyce Thomson with a goose egg. Would be nice to have Foote available right now.

So, what lines are we rocking tomorrow if it’s Willman?

Toffoli - Hughes - Meier
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Holtz - Haula - Lazar
Willman - McLeod - Bastian

???

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

So, what lines are we rocking tomorrow?

Toffoli - Hughes - Meier
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Holtz - Haula - Lazar
Willman - McLeod - Bastian

???

Toffoli-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-McLeod-Holtz
Palat-Haula-Mercer
Hughes/Smith-Lazar-Bastian

Sieg-Doug
Bahl-Marino
Luke-Smith/Foote

 

[R8Devs]

Toffoli-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-McLeod-Holtz
Palat-Haula-Mercer
Hughes/Smith-Lazar-Bastian

Sieg-Doug
Bahl-Marino
Luke-Smith/Foote

I like that top 9 and wouldn't be surprised if that's what they do (reunite Bratt/Hughes and Palat/Haula and continue with Holtz/Mcleod with Nico out) but I rather have Tierney in the 4th line (Tierney-Lazar-Bastian) and play Luke either with Hamilton or Marino bc we know that's whats going to end up happening in the game anyway so might as well start out with lol

 

[Mgd31]

Willman impressed in the preseason and has 3 goals 2 assists in 4 games to start the year (I haven’t watched a second of Utica this year). Tyce Thomson with a goose egg. Would be nice to have Foote available right now.

yea I guess they could keep line 1 and 4 the same, move Mercer up to Bratt and Palat and run a 3rd line of Willman, Haula and Lazar.

Shit I forgot about Tierney

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I like that top 9 and wouldn't be surprised if that's what they do (reunite Bratt/Hughes and Palat/Haula and continue with Holtz/Mcleod with Nico out) but I rather have Tierney in the 4th line (Tierney-Lazar-Bastian) and play Luke either with Hamilton or Marino bc we know that's whats going to end up happening in the game anyway so might as well start out with lol

Actually completely forgot about Tierney. He should get in. He played pretty well in his one game.

 

[Devs3cups]

Actually completely forgot about Tierney. He should get in. He played pretty well in his one game.

True, forgot about him too lol.

Toffoli - Hughes - Meier
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Holtz - Haula - Lazar
Tierney - McLeod - Bastian

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[EXTRAS]

What's Mercers upside?

 

[Mgd31]

What's Mercers upside?

Top 6 winger. I don’t think he is going to put up PPG seasons or even one but consistent 60+

 

[Devs3cups]

Top 6 winger. I don’t think he is going to put up PPG seasons or even one but consistent 60+

Pretty accurate. I think he could be a 70 points guy for a few seasons in his prime. Really like him as a player. He’s struggling right now but he’ll figure it out.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

What I don't like right now is that Ruff is changing the personnel instead of the system.

I do understand it. Progression would be:

1. Teach everyone the system.
2. If they don't execute well, tell everyone to execute system better
3. If that doesn't work, put the people who are doing things correctly with people who aren't in hopes that things will rub off
4. If that doesn't work, bench some people

I tend to think that he should also look at simplifying the system / changing things to match the strengths of his team. Sometimes people aren't executing because they're being selfish or pig headed. In those cases, fair to push them to change. But, other times it's because the system is making them do things they can't or aren't good at. In those cases, simplifying the system or altering it slightly to better match your personnel is important.

Obviously Ruff's system was executed well last year and with great results. But, he does have 3 - 4 new forwards and basically two rookies on D (one who they are insisting on playing on his off-side). This isn't the same team as most of last year, and I hope Ruff realizes that.

You mean..what a good coach does?

I don't think they should completely change the system, but they need to tweak it, ESPEICALLY on defense.

Also, I agree that natural thing to try is to shuffle people around to try to find what works best, but when you're constantly blending lines....prob should get to your head that's not the answer. What's even more hilarious to me is Ruff refuses to change the d-pairings.

 

[devilsblood]

Assuming Nico is out.

Bratt Hughes Taffoli
Meier Haula Mercer
Palat McLeod Holtz
Tierny Lazar Bastian

For those looking to see Meier away from the top 2 centers, this may a bit of a silver lining.

This is what i came up with last night.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I want Tampa to fire Jon Cooper so Fitz can hire him and teach these guys how to play responsibly.

Why would they fire him?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Speaking of Dawson Mercer, guy absolutely boned me by missing that empty net lol

 

[Patrik26]

NHL Buzz: Hischier out for Devils with upper-body injury | NHL.com

Ekblad, Montour to return to practice for Panthers; Comrie out weeks for Sabres; Bruins place Lucic on long-term injured reserve

www.nhl.com

Is this team going to keep putting up with this shit or is someone going to man up and take out the next f***er who hits one of our guys in the head. This is getting out of hand. Enough already.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Hate being a Debbie Downer, but I can't help being concerned that he followed up that big hit against the Caps with his least impactful game and is now taking a maintenance day two weeks into the season. I know he scored, but anonymous all night last night. Really hope it's not anything.

How are we going to survive if this early in the season our guys are getting abused like this? It only gets worse as the season goes. As the one analytic guy on here said ‘ we will make them pay with our power play’. Nice tradeoff losing your captain for god knows how long inexchange for a single pp goal. Give your head a shake. We need a presence on the bench or in the top six to act as a deterrent

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Hate being a Debbie Downer, but I can't help being concerned that he followed up that big hit against the Caps with his least impactful game and is now taking a maintenance day two weeks into the season. I know he scored, but anonymous all night last night. Really hope it's not anything.

As most of the posters on here will tell you, I'm probably more skeptical of Jack Hughes' game than most. But in this instance I'll defend him.

Nobody saw more ice time than he did in the Capitals game and against Buffalo not only did he compete in all three zones but he blocked a shot late in the game (in fact, that shot may have done some damage and contributed to him taking a maintenance day).