Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023-24 season part III

[Bleedred]

f*** Markstrom right now. Just keep playing Daws dammit!

*breakdown* Time to play the game *breakdown* TIME TO PLAY THE GAAAAAMMMMMEEEE! *breakdown* *laughing* *two snare hits* *heavy guitar riff*

Could it be Vitek King? My god! It’s Vitek Vanecek!

 

[denverdevil]

I know how everybody loveshates this, but Devils went from 19% to 43% yesterday. NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2024 Playoff & Cup Odds

 

[NJDevs26]

I actually don't doubt last night was big in the 'playoff odds' meter...if the Devils had lost in regulation they'd be nine points behind the Flyers and that would have pretty much closed one of the two doors to making the postseason while making the other a bit tougher.

 

[glenwo2]

I actually don't doubt last night was big in the 'playoff odds' meter...if the Devils had lost in regulation they'd be nine points behind the Flyers and that would have pretty much closed one of the two doors to making the postseason while making the other a bit tougher.

Yeah.

Suffice it to say the Devils were on Life Support going into that game.

 

[guitarguyvic]

This team could easily be in a playoff spot if this dumbass coaching staff didn’t wait until game 50 to adjust the system and stop playing Vitek.

 

[theoptimist]

This team could easily be in a playoff spot if this dumbass coaching staff didn’t wait until game 50 to adjust the system and stop playing Vitek.

2 points out. I count the Vesey goal late against Vanecek and surely one of you has another favorite

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

This team could easily be in a playoff spot if this dumbass coaching staff didn’t wait until game 50 to adjust the system and stop playing Vitek.

Easiest fix is getting rid of Ruff in offseason just for what you mentioned

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

There are just 10 players in the whole league with a better xGF% than Palat, 5 of which are on Edmonton. He’s having a super solid season, I’m glad the production is starting to come around. That top line is dominant.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Jack has looked off mentally ever since the first injury. I’m starting to wonder if he’s worried about how easily he gets injured or injuring himself further.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Jack has looked off mentally ever since the first injury. I’m starting to wonder if he’s worried about how easily he gets injured or injuring himself further.

He needs to workout in the off-season, get stronger.... It could be a long term problem if he doesn't get stronger.

Like, take Bratt. Similar size but he bulked up tremendously and seems to be fairly durable now.

 

[Omar Little]

There are just 10 players in the whole league with a better xGF% than Palat, 5 of which are on Edmonton. He’s having a super solid season, I’m glad the production is starting to come around. That top line is dominant.

8 points in his last 9 games. He’s one of the few guys who wins his board battles 60%+ of the time. It did stand out in this game how often we lost board battles

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

He needs to workout in the off-season, get stronger.... It could be a long term problem if he doesn't get stronger.

Like, take Bratt. Similar size but he bulked up tremendously and seems to be fairly durable now.

Bratt’s ability to shield off defenders and keep his balance when cutting to the net has made him a much better player. He did it a couple times last game and drew a penalty because of it. Jack needs to put the work in.

 

[Mgd31]

Jack is the king of losing control of the puck most of the time when he skates into the zone. He’s got no feel of the puck/game right now.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Bratt’s ability to shield off defenders and keep his balance when cutting to the net has made him a much better player. He did it a couple times last game and drew a penalty because of it. Jack needs to put the work in.

Yup, and he is able to take hits well. He knows how to protect himself in corners with proper positioning and strength. Strength probably being key.

Jack needs to pick a thing or two from that.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Easiest fix is getting rid of Ruff in offseason just for what you mentioned

Realistically I think it’s a “promotion” of Ruff into an advisory role that would make the most sense. That only works if he’s done with coaching though. Or he loses the room.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Realistically I think it’s a “promotion” of Ruff into an advisory role that would make the most sense. That only works if he’s done with coaching though. Or he loses the room.

He’s been in the league over 40 years and never won a cup. Might be one of the most accomplished players/coaches to never get one. I don’t think he’s voluntarily hanging them up before he gets there.

 

[Lou is God]

He needs to workout in the off-season, get stronger.... It could be a long term problem if he doesn't get stronger.

Like, take Bratt. Similar size but he bulked up tremendously and seems to be fairly durable now.

I wouldn't be surprised if he got shoulder surgery first thing in the off-season.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I wouldn't be surprised if he got shoulder surgery first thing in the off-season.

I'm always weary about hearing about that. He is so young would want to make sure it goes well....

 

[Devils731]

I'm always weary about hearing about that. He is so young would want to make sure it goes well....

My understanding of the shoulder surgery he would have is that it’s fairly routine and the shoulder ends up basically good as new.

Currently, every time he suffers a shoulder injury it makes his shoulder more likely to suffer a future injury.

So I’m hoping he opts for surgery after the season, assuming the doctors feel that way, of course.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

He needs to workout in the off-season, get stronger.... It could be a long term problem if he doesn't get stronger.

Like, take Bratt. Similar size but he bulked up tremendously and seems to be fairly durable now.

I would gamble he has offseason surgery

 

[Whaddagoal]

My understanding of the shoulder surgery he would have is that it’s fairly routine and the shoulder ends up basically good as new.

Currently, every time he suffers a shoulder injury it makes his shoulder more likely to suffer a future injury.

So I’m hoping he opts for surgery after the season, assuming the doctors feel that way, of course.

I would gamble he has offseason surgery

Hope it would be something routine and easily recoverable.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Hope it would be something routine and easily recoverable.

In the pregame clips from inside the locker room, it looks like Jack has protective padding covering the shoulder inside his base layer. The shirt is actually ripped open for the protective insert.

I think it's the initial shoulder injury he suffered in St. Louis that's hampering him more than the second arm injury he had at home. He hasn't been the same since the shoulder even before the second injury.

 

[Whaddagoal]

In the pregame clips from inside the locker room, it looks like Jack has protective padding covering the shoulder inside his base layer. The shirt is actually ripped open for the protective insert.

I think it's the initial shoulder injury he suffered in St. Louis that's hampering him more than the second arm injury he had at home. He hasn't been the same since the shoulder even before the second injury.

I see. Will have to check, that seems highly plausible from that first big crash into boards.

 

[Triumph]

Jack is definitely avoiding contact whenever possible. He's not going to be as effective until he gets whatever's wrong remedied. He also has 35 shots in the 6 games since he returned.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

There are just 10 players in the whole league with a better xGF% than Palat, 5 of which are on Edmonton. He’s having a super solid season, I’m glad the production is starting to come around. That top line is dominant.

Yeah I'll eat shit on roasting that deal. If we can get to mid year 4 at the least, it was a very good deal.

Jack is definitely avoiding contact whenever possible. He's not going to be as effective until he gets whatever's wrong remedied. He also has 35 shots in the 6 games since he returned.

I think it's more mental than physical at this point when I watch him. He had a play last night where he chipped the puck into the defensive zone and spun around a defender where a more confident Hughes would drive up the wing for it