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

[NjDevsRR]

I only go to around 20 games a year with my season tickets. One rangers game and both bobble head games which are this weekend. At least I get something to take home on both games this weekend

Just say you didn’t watch and go. He he got multiple bad penalties, only scored 4pts and got blitzed. Don’t let your man crush fool you.

Shesterkin prevented Meier from having a pt per game in the playoffs. He was ungodly good. Shesterkin led the playoffs through the conference finals in total expected goals saved. HE PLAYED ONE ROUND. Timo was great that series. We will see that Timo back next season when healthy. Just like Dougie in season one, im not worried.

 

[britdevil]

Not worried about Timo in the slightest.

Horribly disappointing for sure, but you don't just forget how to score goals.

Also, big brain moves to "spread the wealth" or not playing him with either of your PPG centres because "chemistry" is some shit I tell you.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Not worried about Timo in the slightest.

Horribly disappointing for sure, but you don't just forget how to score goals.

Also, big brain moves to "spread the wealth" or not playing him with either of your PPG centres because "chemistry" is some shit I tell you.

Ruff gots to go. New voice, new direction and better line management will do wonders

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Not even a matter of keeping Severson or Graves for me.

More of the fact that we thought going through this season with Marino, Siegenthaler, Hamilton and

Bahl, Luke Smith, Miller and Nemec....was a good idea.

Seems fairly obvious to me that this was a recipe for disaster from the beginning.

Ok, we go in the time machine and bring in JAG #1 and JAG #2 to block Bahl and Nemec from playing at all and relegate Luke to a 3rd pairing role with the minimal cap space we had available. I guess Brendan Smith is waived? Hamilton goes down for the whole year, Siegenthaler misses a lot of time. What’s the difference? How are we better? Because these JAGs give us marginally better options on the PK?

 

[JimEIV]

Dougie missing the rest of the regular season and Siegenthaler breaking his foot aren't exactly something you plan on happening. The margin for error was definitely less without as much depth though.

You have 3 solid stable defenders in Marino Siegenthaler and Hamilton....but if one goes down it wreaks havoc through all the pairs....if It's Marino or Siegenthaler your PK is in shambles and you really have no solution

Our PK was iffy with Siegenthaler and Marino completely healthy...cause Smith and Bahl were going to be relied on...one goes down then what?

Our PK% went from 4th in league last year to currently 20th this year. Holy hell...you could see this coming from a mile away.

 

[BurntToast]

Also, why does keeping Sevs automatically mean crapping on the rookies. We are agree the rookies are mostly fine, but trying to sneak 2/3 into the lineup is tomfoolery. The main issues you have a team up against the cap and only 3 defenseman worth anything.

I have nothing against Timo and Palat, but nether are used correctly, and nether are worth what they are making.

 

[NjDevsRR]

You have 3 solid stable defenders in Marino Siegenthaler and Hamilton....but if one goes down it wreaks havoc through all the pairs

It would lessen the blow if staff played a guy like Hatakka over Smith. Hatakka showed more in his few games than Smith in two seasons. And Smith actively hurts us. Its crazy, Smith was actually embarrassing to watch last night

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The entire point of the defense taking a step back was the idea that the offense would carry them a bit more this year. We added a 35-40 goal scorer after he had a productive playoffs, no one could've imagined what happened with Timo. This is just boredom hindsight arguing

 

[BurntToast]

Timo was wild in playoffs and not in a good way. I know you guys love the guy but group think here is terrible.

NHL playoffs: Devils need more from Timo Meier against Hurricanes' lockdown defense

The Devils traded for star forward Timo Meier hoping he'd be a weapon for them in the playoffs. That hasn't been the case so far.

ca.sports.yahoo.com

 

[NjDevsRR]

Timo was wild in playoffs and not in a good way. I know you guys love the guy but group think here is terrible.

NHL playoffs: Devils need more from Timo Meier against Hurricanes' lockdown defense

The Devils traded for star forward Timo Meier hoping he'd be a weapon for them in the playoffs. That hasn't been the case so far.

ca.sports.yahoo.com

From the very article you linked.



Igor was lights out. Almost 9 goals saved about expected in round 1. He ranked 2nd in the entire postseason.




Best forwards in expected goals forced per 60 in playoffs:


Next closest devil was Nico, ranked at 32. Timo was our best forward in the playoffs and it wasn’t even close.

 

[JimEIV]

It would lessen the blow if staff played a guy like Hatakka over Smith. Hatakka showed more in his few games than Smith in two seasons. And Smith actively hurts us. Its crazy, Smith was actually embarrassing to watch last night

Right. Hatakka. Sure

Then we could go the 0 game experience Nemec, the 2 game experience Luke, the 66 game experience Bahl and the 9 game experience Hatakka as 4 of the top 6. Yup. Good idea.

 

[glenwo2]

....

 

[NjDevsRR]

Right. Hatakka. Sure

Then we could go the 0 game experience Nemec, the 2 game experience Luke, the 66 game experience Bahl and the 9 game experience Hatakka as 4 of the top 6. Yup. Good idea.

Hatakka was impressive in the eye test and the analytics backed it up. Green for sure but he isn’t an anchor like Smith. Staff didn’t play the best D possible with Smith in this past week.

 

[BurntToast]

View attachment 823549View attachment 823547

Next closest devil was Nico, ranked at 32

View attachment 823555

He was our best forward in the playoffs and it wasn’t even close.

and yet it didn’t have the same effect on others. You act like it was Timo vs the Rangers. He was wild in the playoffs. He couldn’t stop taking dumb penalties and didn’t score. He also didn’t play very well before the playoffs.

Yes injuries, but two years in row where he has taken significant injuries. He plays a bit reckless. Many of you like it, but it hasn’t played out well.

 

[Blackjack]

Not worried about Timo in the slightest.

Horribly disappointing for sure, but you don't just forget how to score goals.

Also, big brain moves to "spread the wealth" or not playing him with either of your PPG centres because "chemistry" is some shit I tell you.

Jonathan Cheechoo Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Jonathan Cheechoo, a hockey player from Moose Factory, ONT born Jul 15 1980 who was active from 1996 to 2017.

www.hockeydb.com

It's rare, but it happens

 

[britdevil]

Jonathan Cheechoo Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Jonathan Cheechoo, a hockey player from Moose Factory, ONT born Jul 15 1980 who was active from 1996 to 2017.

www.hockeydb.com

It's rare, but it happens

I could have scored 20 goals with Thornton feeding me in '06 lmao.

 

[Xirik]

Jonathan Cheechoo Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Jonathan Cheechoo, a hockey player from Moose Factory, ONT born Jul 15 1980 who was active from 1996 to 2017.

www.hockeydb.com

It's rare, but it happens

Even as a Canadian I shake my head at these names. Moose Jaw and now I learn there is a place called Moose Factory?

Edit- I went down the Rabbit hole guys, Mooseland, Moosehorn, Moosehide, Moose River, Moose Lake, Moosehorn Bay, Moose Island, Moose Harbor, Moose Creek, Moose Brook.

 

[glenwo2]

Winning the next 3 would be absolutely huge, but I wouldn't bet on it

Excuse me while I do my Jim Mora Sr. impression :

The next 3? The next 3?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

We can't even win 2 in a row.


And I can't even be excited anymore when the Devils win a game 'cause I'm always thinking "When does the other shoe drop?".

Like....they'll beat the Rags but I won't feel any happiness nor sadness...just apathy because I know they will shit the bed against the Habs.

 

[JimEIV]

Hatakka was impressive in the eye test and the analytics backed it up. Green for sure but he isn’t an anchor like Smith. Staff didn’t play the best D possible with Smith in this past week.

I don't disagree that Hatakka had a good showing. And that's good...but you can't have 4 what amount to be rookies on defense in the NHL. That's suicide...or a quest for a lottery pick

 

[NjDevsRR]

I don't disagree that Hatakka had a good showing. And that's good...but you can't have 4 what amount to be rookies on defense in the NHL. That's suicide...or a quest for a lottery pick

I also get that, no doubt. But Smith is bad. Hatakka had a strong showing and I hate seeing players not get a longer leash when they showed that they can contribute, while a horrendous player gets put in.

This is all moot hopefully if Marino can play tomorrow. Smith should be sitting.

 

[mdj12784]

The opposite unfortunately. None in Bob McKenzie's top 60. Highest ranked guys were in the 70s.

There is a potential 1st round goalie for 2025 named Gabriel D'Aigle.

That sucks. We have to score eventually in the goalie department…

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

That sucks. We have to score eventually in the goalie department…

If it helps, Friedman said tonight that he thinks Saros is 50-50 now in returning to Nashville long term. Another goalie on the block for Fitz to get in the summer

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Also, why does keeping Sevs automatically mean crapping on the rookies. We are agree the rookies are mostly fine, but trying to sneak 2/3 into the lineup is tomfoolery. The main issues you have a team up against the cap and only 3 defenseman worth anything.

I have nothing against Timo and Palat, but nether are used correctly, and nether are worth what they are making.

I guess I’m just not understanding how Hamilton-Marino-Miller-Nemec is not enough depth. I don’t remember ever having more right handed depth on the defense. You could argue we could’ve added someone on the left and just flat not given Bahl any chance at all? Not sure why that would’ve been the right move, but we could’ve done that. Don’t think Siegenthaler-Luke-Bahl-Smith is particularly poor depth either.

Siegenthaler took a step back, that’s hurt. This is the kind of play we’ve gotten out of him in the past:

If we had that, things could’ve gone smoother.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Found @Cheddabombs on reddit

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I guess I’m just not understanding how Hamilton-Marino-Miller-Nemec is not enough depth. I don’t remember ever having more right handed depth on the defense. You could argue we could’ve added someone on the left and just flat not given Bahl any chance at all? Not sure why that would’ve been the right move, but we could’ve done that. Don’t think Siegenthaler-Luke-Bahl-Smith is particularly poor depth either.

Siegenthaler took a step back, that’s hurt. This is the kind of play we’ve gotten out of him in the past:

If we had that, things could’ve gone smoother.

Marino, Mercer, Meier, Siegs have all been putrid in some form or another this year. Marino was kinda getting his game back and then decided it was fun to go full hardo and get sick after the Stadium Series, lmao But that's 2 top 6 forwards from last year and 2 top 4 dmen, most teams would struggle in the league. Not to mention, the other bullshit that has happened to us this year.