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

[Emperoreddy]

I assume it's because they don't want to demote Mercer, but he has been bad enough he deserves a demotion.

 

[theoptimist]

"McLeod will never be 2C"

 

[Hisch13r]

"McLeod will never be 2C"

I mean Jordin Tootoo was a 1RW.

I assume it's because they don't want to demote Mercer, but he has been bad enough he deserves a demotion.

But like you could keep Mercer where he is and promote Holtz. They have f***ing Lazar playing over Holtz. You could temporarily demote him but I also don't expect much offense away from the stars. Hopefully at least the rest of his game will come around but I think if we're going to want him to produce he needs to be in the top 6. With a healthy lineup I think we can keep him down but the void is going to need to be filled with Nico out and a Mercer that is going can help fill that void. He certainly deserves a demotion on merit but it'd better for us to move him up and get him going.

 

[Patrik26]

Bratt busy practicing his Goal celly, I see.

Bratt doing rather well I see.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Unless Nico lied about his symptoms to get back on the ice, which is possible, and if that's the case then he and Fitzgerald need to have a long conversation.

With how reckless he is making himself vulnerable on the ice even for low reward plays, I wouldn’t even be surprised if he did/does lie about his symptoms. Someone needs to get it through to him that he’s not a superhero and staying as heathy as possible is more valuable to the team than winning a race to the puck along the boards in a 2-0 game in October.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Poor Holtz man. Let the kid play.

Wait is he scratched?

 

[NJDevs26]

Also could be a pain management thing if it isn't a concussion.

It's all wild speculation since we don't know what the injury is.

Concussion seems to make the most sense but then I really question letting him return to that game if so.

That’s why I said someone needs to be fired if it is a concussion. Maybe it’s a shoulder issue which would somewhat explain canceling an autograph event weeks in advance

 

[guitarguyvic]

Also someone on the fourth line needs to start cheap shotting opposing players, because the amount of abuse the team and especially Nico take is absurd. I watch a lot of hockey outside of the devils and I don’t see this level of bullying happening to other teams. It’s really absurd.

I’m not into Neanderthal hockey at all, but the league has created this environment because they don’t properly punish players who are clearly attempting to intentionally injure others. Might as well join in on the goonery because it seems that teams know the devils won’t injure any of their guys on purpose and they obviously know won’t get any punishment from the league either.

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[Whaddagoal]

Sucks. Definitely the Nico part. That's a lot of time away.

 

[jkrdevil]

Also could be a pain management thing if it isn't a concussion.

It's all wild speculation since we don't know what the injury is.

Concussion seems to make the most sense but then I really question letting him return to that game if so.

He may have not been exhibiting symptoms after the Clifton hit but then after the second hit when he came back.

 

[Patrik26]

Also someone on the fourth line needs to start cheap shotting opposing players, because the amount of abuse the team and especially Nico take is absurd. I watch a lot of hockey outside of the devils and I don’t see this level of bullying happening to other teams. It’s really absurd.

I’m not into Neanderthal hockey at all, but the league has created this environment because they don’t properly punish players who are clearly attempting to intentionally injure others. Might as well join in on the goonery because it seems that teams know the devils won’t injure any of their guys on purpose and they obviously know won’t get any punishment from the league either.

It's 2-fold IMO. First, it's controversial and that keeps fans engaged (for all the wrong reasons). Second (and someone correct me if this isn't the case), the NHLPA doesn't want lengthy (and warranted) suspensions. Suspensions take money out of the players' pockets and they just cannot have that happen.

 

[R8Devs]

I would just run Bratt back with Hughes until Nico is back. Holtz and Mcleod worked well together and Meier can really drive a line so I think they could be another trio. Reunite Palat and Haula and then hopefully Mercer comes back to his norm with them.

So basically Hughes with Bratt/Toffoli, Mcleod with Meier/Holtz, Haula with Palat/Mercer and then with Lazar/Tierney/Bastian you can essentially run it like a traditional 4th line.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Also someone on the fourth line needs to start cheap shotting opposing players, because the amount of abuse the team and especially Nico take is absurd. I watch a lot of hockey outside of the devils and I don’t see this level of bullying happening to other teams. It’s really absurd.

I’m not into Neanderthal hockey at all, but the league has created this environment because they don’t properly punish players who are clearly attempting to intentionally injure others. Might as well join in on the goonery because it seems that teams know the devils won’t injure any of their guys on purpose and they obviously know won’t get any punishment from the league either.

The only punishment is when Hughes love taps a player that's been sitting on him for 20 seconds. Clown league.

 

[RNCDevil]

The hell happened to Nosek?

Can we unretire Cam to beat Clifton to a bloody pulp. Dirty bastard.

 

[jkrdevil]

I would just run Bratt back with Hughes until Nico is back. Holtz and Mcleod worked well together and Meier can really drive a line so I think they could be another trio. Reunite Palat and Haula and then hopefully Mercer comes back to his norm with them.

So basically Hughes with Bratt/Toffoli, Mcleod with Meier/Holtz, Haula with Palat/Mercer and then with Lazar/Tierney/Bastian you can essentially run it like a traditional 4th line.

Disagree. Keep Jack and Bratt seperate. They are the drivers. Putting them together just makes it easier for other team.

 

[Hisch13r]

Disagree. Keep Jack and Bratt seperate. They are the drivers. Putting them together just makes it easier for other team.

Meier can and should be one too. Unfortunately he hasn’t been one this year. Personally I’d separate Meier and Jack. Put Holtz with Jack and Meier with Bratt. Stops Meier and Jack from eating into each others shots

 

[R8Devs]

Disagree. Keep Jack and Bratt seperate. They are the drivers. Putting them together just makes it easier for other team.

Meier is a driver too, right now it's 3 of them on two lines and what I wrote out is still 3 of them on two lines. I just think Bratt and Jack together can create enough offense to buoy the rest of the lineup a bit and if the other guys round into normal form it should actually a pretty potent lineup

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I like that sweatshirt Cat has on.

 

[Triumph]

It's 2-fold IMO. First, it's controversial and that keeps fans engaged (for all the wrong reasons). Second (and someone correct me if this isn't the case), the NHLPA doesn't want lengthy (and warranted) suspensions. Suspensions take money out of the players' pockets and they just cannot have that happen.

It's been their MO but it's been really dumb because the suspensions are a result of attempted injuries of other NHLPA members. Salary lost due to suspensions and salary lost due to injuries sustained as a result of illegal plays are honestly probably pretty close over my lifetime as a fan, which is a black mark on the league.

 

[Patrik26]

The hell happened to Nosek?

Can we unretire Cam to beat Clifton to a bloody pulp. Dirty bastard.

Clifton, (I would actually prefer Thompson and/or Dahlin) need to be made aware Nico should not have been targeted. Alas, same as when Marchand needed to be dealt with by (was it Kurtis Gabriel?), nothing happened and probably the same will occur now.

 

[Call Me Al]

palat-hughes-toffoli
holtz-mcleod-bratt
haula-mercer-meier
don’t care

these would be my lines to spread out the wealth when nico’s out

 

[RememberTheName]

#FREEHOLTZ

 

[Bleedred]

This is really the time we need Mercer to not be a complete ghost and negative.

 

[Devs3cups]

This is really the time we need Mercer to not be a complete ghost and negative.

Watch him pop the f*** off on this road trip lmao.