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

[Saugus]

feels like a must-win thursday? or close to it. rangers coming in on a 8-game heater and the devils just got punked by the shitty caps and are probably starting schmido who hasn't played in a week. should be fun

Almost every game from here on out is a must win. We’ve dug a deep hole and only a big winning streak is going to get us out of it.

 

[NJDevs26]

Almost every game from here on out is a must win. We’ve dug a deep hole and only a big winning streak is going to get us out of it.

And we haven't had a big winning streak all year, probably won't have one until the inevitable Devante-Smith Pellyesque junktime surge down the stretch after we're out of it.

 

[britdevil]

They'll get nuked from orbit on Thursday, Rags players and fans will be laughing in our own barn.

Fitz will have no choice but to fire Ruff.

This cannot go on.

It won't be some desperation move to make the playoffs either.

You just have to get rid of the perennial loser at that point.

 

[glenwo2]

And we haven't had a big winning streak all year, probably won't have one until the inevitable Devante-Smith Pellyesque junktime surge down the stretch after we're out of it.

The problem with that scenario is that none of the other teams are really doing any better which keeps us running in place so the inevitable Junktime surge won't happen.

This team is gutless like their Coach and will only come alive when the pressure is off.

There. I said it.

 

[Call Me Al]

a goalie isn’t going fix the problems with this team and if we trade major assets for one i’m gonna be disappointed

 

[Emperoreddy]

Send Mercer to Nashville

 

[glenwo2]

Send Mercer to Nashville

For Saros?

 

[Emperoreddy]

I am hoping Fitz sees what is going on this season and maintains the status quo. Haven’t proven they can perform at a high level consistently.

Punt big moves to the summer / next season.

We can't start next season with no changes. We need a major shake up behind the bench and in net.

If you can fix the net issue for a fair price, you do it.

 

[Bleedred]

Just forget a goalie acquisition this year.

We're in junk time at this point.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Just forget a goalie acquisition this year.

We're in junk time at this point.

Then it's going to be Vitek and Daws next year then.

 

[Bleedred]

Then it's going to be Vitek and Daws next year then.

Why? Get somebody in the offseason.

 

[Lou Bloom]

This team needs to get some players with speed that are tough to play against. What made them successful last season was being fast and aggressive creating turnovers and getting loose pucks.

Nosek and Smith are both too slow and not NHL caliber and between Mercer, Holtz and Toffoli you have three guys that aren't great skaters that don't provide much value when their not scoring. I think bringing back Toffoli would be a terrible idea and it would be better to use the money on a forward that better fits this roster.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Why? Get somebody in the offseason.

Prices going to go up when other teams reenter the market. Canes, Toronto, Kings, Oilers will all be looking for goaltending this offseason.

 

[Bleedred]

Prices going to go up when other teams reenter the market. Canes, Toronto, Kings, Oilers will all be looking for goaltending this offseason.

I honestly think the prices will come down in the offseason.

I think Toronto and Edmonton will probably stay put, but the Canes and Kings may be on the lookout.

 

[Lou Bloom]

Just forget a goalie acquisition this year.

We're in junk time at this point.

If Saros is available for a decent price I'd pay up since he can be a long term solution, but I'm not interested in any other goalie.

 

[Devs3cups]

Man it's gonna get ugly at The Rock Thursday. It's going to be 95% blue in there.

Huge wake up call coming up top to bottom. Can't wait.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

a goalie isn’t going fix the problems with this team and if we trade major assets for one i’m gonna be disappointed

The other team’s goalie is the primary reason they were winning after 2 periods. Goalies fix many many problems. Washington is bad at virtually everything, can’t score, but are just behind us because Lindgren has been awesome (even though he’s struggled lately).

 

[Bleedred]

This team needs to get some players with speed that are tough to play against. What made them successful last season was being fast and aggressive creating turnovers and getting loose pucks.

Nosek and Smith are both too slow and not NHL caliber and between Mercer, Holtz and Toffoli you have three guys that aren't great skaters that don't provide much value when their not scoring. I think bringing back Toffoli would be a terrible idea and it would be better to use the money on a forward that better fits this roster.

Agreed.

I'm not saying Toffoli hasn't been good here, because he has. But he's a guy we'll regret that we signed long term within a year or two.

He's definitely one addition you can point to when you say ''Well we're not as fast as we were last year''. He was a good acquisition, it just sucks that we got him in what will be a junked season.

Smith is likely out of the league after this year. Maybe somebody gives him a PTO, but it's hard enough as it is for guys turning 35 to find work in the league. Especially a defensive defenseman that's 35 years old and hasn't been particularly good in several years now.

Nosek may have been useful here had he not gotten injured so early in the year. And didn't he get injured again in only his second or third game back? But yeah, I see no way he's back. He's a one and done.

 

[Blackjack]

The other team’s goalie is the primary reason they were winning after 2 periods. Goalies fix many many problems. Washington is bad at virtually everything, can’t score, but are just behind us because Lindgren has been awesome (even though he’s struggled lately).

Lindgren is f***ing terrible what are you talking about. He looked amazing because the Devils can't f***ing score.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Lindgren is f***ing terrible what are you talking about. He looked amazing because the Devils can't f***ing score.

I await your evidence to show Lindgren has been terrible this season

 

[Andre Palot]

The wakeup call isn't coming. Just like Hynes overstayed his welcome. Fitz is too much of a chickenshit to fire Lindy. Especially since Jack loves playing under Ruff.

 

[Emperoreddy]

It would not shock me if Ruff is back next year and we are doing all of this again.

Maybe a new crap goalie because I don't think Fitz is going to pay up in the offseason the like the two goalies that might be available that could help.

 

[guitarguyvic]

The idea that the devils were even dominating this game is a mirage. They dominated possession but like so many other times this year the other team was completely on top of them even when they had chances in good areas. Where’s conversely the devils left Caps players all alone in the slot to easily pick up rebounds with all the time in the world to deposit it in the perfect spot to beat the goalie.

 

[Bleedred]

The wakeup call isn't coming. Just like Hynes overstayed his welcome. Fitz is too much of a chickenshit to fire Lindy. Especially since Jack loves playing under Ruff.

Don't bet on it

If he comes back next year then I'll start comparing it to the Shero/Hynes stuff, but let's be honest, the only time Ruff really evaded firing here was after 21-22.

He wasn't getting fired after 20-21 just one season in and he wasn't getting fired after last year.

When was he realistically going to get fired since 21-22 ended? In the middle of this season?

Like I said, maybe some of you are right and he wlll survive this, but I don't really think he will anymore.

I just hope that when he doesn't survive it that is isn't for Travis Green.

 

[Emperoreddy]

If Fitz hasn't seen the issues the past few months and is willing to tank the season for Ruff, he isn't going to magically wake up after game 82.

We are stuck with Ruff until he walks away on his own or Fitz is threatened by ownership