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

[JimEIV]

Not trying to stir the pot but....

The ONLY thing Fitz should do is sit on his hands.

Modification aren't going to turn this season around. And even if by some miracle we should make the playoffs we are going to get bitch slapped.

Doing nothing is a much better option than wasting assets now.

 

[glenwo2]

Let's see how serious Mr Fitz is. He seemed to be on every second postcast/interview last season when things were going well. Now the teams barely scraping the bubble and there's some real decisions to be made and we only hear from him when he's signing an extension. Now there's 27 games left and only 1 real injury to 'lean on' , after his off-season upgrades. If this team doesn't start humming at last years rate, let's see if he allocates some responsibility.

This is my main issue with Fitz this year, even above the lack of accountability and sitting on his hands. Dude needs to realize leaders have to take both the praise and the criticism and not just hide in a bunker and take advantage of the media market to avoid having to answer for an underachieving season

It has to be a PR situation. Its pretty wild to have an outdoor game and the GM is a no-show. Brodeur has been doing all the public stuff since Fitz’s resigning. Brodeur tours stadium, Brodeur drops the puck, Brodeur goes down to sign the AHL goalie. I was anti-burn management for the handling of certain situations but Fitz’s actions since have been odd. Any news we get from about management are from a 3rd party source; “Fitz was sooo close to trading for goalie” but it fell through, just like the Devils inability to finish games.

I think the underlying reason he's not making his presence known in Podcasts and other pressers is because of the whole McLeod fiasco and probably doesn't want to be answering any questions regarding that.

That's the one dark cloud hanging over the team this season we are forgetting right now.

Fitz had yet to comment Publically on that and he probably doesn't want the cameras/spotlight on him so he's basically hiding in his office under his desk waiting for the offseason so this can all blow over.

 

[Devs3cups]

Still have a lot of faith in Fitz.

Hopefully some tweaks happen in the summer. Especially the staff. This team needs a new voice.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Not trying to stir the pot but....

The ONLY thing Fitz should do is sit on his hands.

Modification aren't going to turn this season around. And even if by some miracle we should make the playoffs we are going to get bitch slapped.

Doing nothing is a much better option than wasting assets now.

Exactly. Would be an exercise in futility to make any changes now. Just ride the season out and reassess in the offseason.

 

[None Shall Pass]

Jack still hurting, Timo still hurting or having a bad season, Dougie out, need goaltending, need a new coach - not much in-season is going to fix this. Save the assets, fix it this summer. Luckily time will heal the first three issues.

 

[JimEIV]

Blame goes directly to Timo Meier... injured or not.



Short synopsis:

This past summer the decision was to forgo Defense to sign Bratt and Timo to big contracts.. the defense suffered and Timo didn't deliver.



There are the cliff notes.

 

[Triumph]

The Devils were never going to commit big to defense because they had 2 guys who they drafted 2nd and 4th overall who are now both a big part of the lineup. It's just that simple.

 

[Blackjack]

Blame goes directly to Timo Meier... injured or not.



Short synopsis:

This past summer the decision was to forgo Defense to sign Bratt and Timo to big contracts.. the defense suffered and Timo didn't deliver.



There are the cliff notes.

bratt is fine, the timo trade and contract is catastrophic

 

[FinnishDevil]

Said it after the Calgary game that this team needs to go on a run but its unlikely due to inconsistent goaltending. You could see it from a mile away that once someone (Daws) got hot, Ruff was gonna run him to the ground. And now were not even scoring goals anymore.

Someone pointed out that we dont have win streaks lately. Its like win 1, lose 1, win 2, lose 2 kinda stuff. Cant make the playoffs like that when youre already chasing.

Atleast the PP is consistent.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

The LD depth is suddenly looking very weak. Bahl and Siegenthaler having bad/down years and are now question marks, and Luke Hughes although incredible doesn't seem like he'll be a strong in zone defender for a long time if ever.

 

[Blackjack]

The LD depth is suddenly looking very weak. Bahl and Siegenthaler having bad/down years and are now question marks, and Luke Hughes although incredible doesn't seem like he'll be a strong in zone defender for a long time if ever.

they sent their best LD down to the AHL

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

Speaking of the PP...it's time to break up PP1, including the Hughes brothers. It's not working anymore. The entire PP1's goal seems to be to just pass it to Jack. There are no shooters and when Luke does decide to shoot, it's into the shins of the defender. It's way too easy to defend when the only guy skating around is Jack, there is no threat of point shot and everyone else is standing stationary.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Blame goes directly to Timo Meier... injured or not.



Short synopsis:

This past summer the decision was to forgo Defense to sign Bratt and Timo to big contracts.. the defense suffered and Timo didn't deliver.



There are the cliff notes.

That’s not true at all.

Defense when the season started:
-Hamilton
-Marino
-Siegenthaler
-Luke
-Miller
-Bahl
-Smith (7th?)
-Cal Foote (7th?)
-Simon Nemec (knew he was first call up)
-Hatakka (had a great preseason)

Obviously you have Casey coming up soon too.

Where was the room or the reasoning to make a big splash for yet another defenseman? We all knew there would be some growing pains with Luke and Nemec, but not enough reason to pay Graves or Sevs dumb contracts

 

[JimEIV]

That’s not true at all.

Defense when the season started:
-Hamilton
-Marino
-Siegenthaler
-Luke
-Miller
-Bahl
-Smith (7th?)
-Cal Foote (7th?)
-Simon Nemec (knew he was first call up)
-Hatakka (had a great preseason)

Obviously you have Casey coming up soon too.

Where was the room or the reasoning to make a big splash for yet another defenseman? We all knew there would be some growing pains with Luke and Nemec, but not enough reason to pay Graves or Sevs dumb contracts

That's kind of bullshit revisionist history.

Fitz spent all summer telling us Bahl was replacing Graves defensive minutes. Miller was never top 6 and was injured for most of the beginning of to he year.

Nemec was always getting into the lineup at some point

 

[Clam Jensen]

bratt is fine, the timo trade and contract is catastrophic

Catastrophic is hyperbolic. If he’s healthy next year and looks like this? Yea it’ll suck. But they’ll make it work.

 

[Triumph]

Love the concurrent takes of the Meier trade was catastrophic and Hatakka is our best LHD. Keep em coming.

 

[Nocashstyle]

That's kind of bullshit revisionist history.

Fitz spent all summer telling us Bahl was replacing Graves defensive minutes. Miller was never top 6 and was injured for most of the beginning of to he year.

Nemec was always getting into the lineup at some point

How on earth can you claim that’s revisionist history?? lol. That’s literally a list of names

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Not trying to stir the pot but....

The ONLY thing Fitz should do is sit on his hands.

Modification aren't going to turn this season around. And even if by some miracle we should make the playoffs we are going to get bitch slapped.

Doing nothing is a much better option than wasting assets now.

If something makes sense - obviously a non-rental - then you have to consider it, but I agree with the sentiment. I'd rather hang onto futures than make some desperation play that likely won't move the needle.

What the team needs is a new voice and to be fully healthy. Those aren't "deadline moves"

 

[Better Call Sal]

How on earth can you claim that’s revisionist history?? lol. That’s literally a list of names

I'd argue it's more revisionist history to blame Timo for where we currently are on defense.

Like it or not, the move was always going to be going with the younger talent on the blueline. The vets were UFAs, the young guys are on ELCs or their 2nd contracts and were going to get every possible opportunity this year.

It's easy to say injuries always happen, but we had 4 defenders play 78-82 games last year. Marino was the only regular who got injured at any point. You can't predict losing Dougie for almost 6 months and Siegenthaler for over a month. That's your top pairing you've iced regularly for 2 plus seasons, meaning that everyone's responsibility will increase as a result.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Trading Toff and firing Ruff would send a sorely needed message to this team. Specifically Jack who seems to be cruising with no accountability. Time for some tough love.

 

[britdevil]

That's kind of bullshit revisionist history.

Fitz spent all summer telling us Bahl was replacing Graves defensive minutes. Miller was never top 6 and was injured for most of the beginning of to he year.

Nemec was always getting into the lineup at some point

Nemec would still be in Utica if Dougie were healthy.

Graves and Severson suck. Letting them walk and replacing with green as gooseshit rookies was a huge gamble, didn't pay off. I will reiterate here that Graves and Severson both suck and letting them walk for their insane contracts was the correct decision.



The cardinal sin was going into this season with VV as your starter, after getting blown up and humiliated by the rangers.

 

[Blackjack]

Catastrophic is hyperbolic. If he’s healthy next year and looks like this? Yea it’ll suck. But they’ll make it work.

we gave up huge assets and a massive chunk of cap for a guy that has been one of the worst players on the team. He has played 73 games for us and scored 40 points. He‘s -20 at 5v5.

at this point its catastrophic

Trading Toff and firing Ruff would send a sorely needed message to this team. Specifically Jack who seems to be cruising with no accountability. Time for some tough love.

I would love to trade Jack too. I know that will never happen, but he’s right at the top of the list of problems

 

[britdevil]

Trading Toff and firing Ruff would send a sorely needed message to this team. Specifically Jack who seems to be cruising with no accountability. Time for some tough love.

If they aren't in a comfortable play off position by the deadline, then Toff has to go.

His contract will stink and we already have two questionable contracts on the books, even if I do love the players (Dougie and Palat).

 

[Devs3cups]

we gave up huge assets and a massive chunk of cap for a guy that has been one of the worst players on the team. He has played 73 games for us and scored 40 points. He‘s -20 at 5v5.

at this point its catastrophic

The year has definitely sucked for him, especially injury wise.

I’m willing to wait until next season to see him healthy and put in a position to succeed. I haven’t liked how they’re using him.

I remember Dougie’s first year all too well.

 

[Blackjack]

The year has definitely sucked for him, especially injury wise.

I’m willing to wait until next season to see him healthy and put in a position to succeed. I haven’t liked how they’re using him.

I remember Dougie’s first year all too well.

dougie was never one of the worst players on the team. His first year was meh, which was concerning given his contract, but he was never horrible like Meier. We did not give up assets for Hamilton and his contract is up while the core is still in their prime.

Meier is an untradeable contract that will drag the team down for the entire primes of their young core.