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

[EXTRAS]

What's Mercer contract look like? 2 years x 3m?

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

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

I was just listening a Finnish podcast called Kimanttia. Kimmo Timonen is a co-host there and he said that Fitzgerald asked him a lot about Saros when they were both in Nashville (Captains' Night couple weeks ago). Timonen said to Fitzgerald that Saros is a great guy and the Devils should trade him if it's possible.

Nothing surprising, but I wanted to share this anyway.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I'm almost as nervous about Saros as I am Markstrom. Saros seems to be a prime candidate to fall off a cliff. He's too small to rely on just covering a ton of net so as soon as his extreme athleticism goes, even just a little, I think he's going to struggle.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

I'm almost as nervous about Saros as I am Markstrom. Saros seems to be a prime candidate to fall off a cliff. He's too small to rely on just covering a ton of net so as soon as his extreme athleticism goes, even just a little, I think he's going to struggle.

Yeah, I understand that. But what are the options? You can bet on cheap options but it's much more likely to get another Vitek Vanecek than Adin Hill. Maybe you can try Kähkönen, but otherwise UFA goalies are a crapshoot this year.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm giving Timo the benefit of the doubt for this season. He's been injured twice and who knows how much it's still affecting him. He's never really clicked with Jack, who has also been injured. He's played well with Nico before, but I understand not wanting to break that line up given how good they've been. That pretty much leaves him off the top two lines, and without a legit third line center you're just not likely going to get the best out of him.

The problem with writing Timo’s season off due to injury is that it could be the norm going forward, you never know when playing a physical style catches up with you

 

[MadDevil]

The problem with writing Timo’s season off due to injury is that it could be the norm going forward, you never know when playing a physical style catches up with you

It's definitely possible, but it's not like he has a history of injuries before this season, so I'm not too worried about it yet. Although he is the type of player that if the physical tools start to go away, I'm not sure how effective he's going to be. Let's hope he doesn't go the route of another former Sharks power forward that once played for us.

 

[JimEIV]

Looking at Smith's numbers and I think he's gotten a raw deal. Smith was pretty much fine(might even say good) with any partner other than Luke.

Smith with Luke 178:48 minutes
2 Goals For and 12 against

Smith with Bahl 93:56 minutes
6 Goals For - 3 Against

Smith with Miller 71:04 minutes
8 Goals For - 2 Against

Smith with Nemec 54:14 minutes
8 Goals For - 4 Against

Smith with Marino 50:36
0 Goals For - 4 Against

Smith with Siegenthaler 47:46
3 Goals For - 3 Against

Smith with Hamilton 40 minutes
0 Goals For - 1 Against

 

[devilsblood]

Looking at Smith's numbers and I think he's gotten a raw deal. Smith was pretty much fine with any partner other than Luke.

Smith with Luke 178:48 minutes
2 Goals For and 12 against

Smith with Bahl 93:56 minutes
6 Goals For - 3 Against

Smith with Miller 71:04 minutes
8 Goals For - 2 Against

Smith with Nemec 54:14 minutes
8 Goals For - 4 Against

Smith with Marino 50:36 *probably all PK
0 Goals For - 4 Against

Smith with Siegenthaler 47:46 *probably PK as well
3 Goals For - 3 Against

Smith with Hamilton 40 minutes
0 Goals For - 1 Against

Looks like those are all 5v5, so no PK

But yeah 22-14 GF away from Hughes.

24-26 at 5v5 overall which isn't terrible.

I'm not a Smith hater (very few Devils do I ever hate) he definitely brings a toughness that is lacking on the team, and he is our best PK'r, but one wrinkle here is, he came back and replaced Hatakka who was 10-3 in 5v5 GF, has a better xGF 5v5, and was also very good on the PK.

 

[JimEIV]

Looks like those are all 5v5, so no PK

But yeah 22-14 GF away from Hughes.

24-26 at 5v5 overall which isn't terrible.

I'm not a Smith hater (very few Devils do I ever hate) he definitely brings a toughness that is lacking on the team, and he is our best PK'r, but one wrinkle here is, he came back and replaced Hatakka who was 10-3 in 5v5 GF, has a better xGF 5v5, and was also very good on the PK.

I fixed that...but I'm sure at least some portion of Marino and Siegenthaler minutes with Smith are carryover PK time.

 

[Mgd31]

Looking at Smith's numbers and I think he's gotten a raw deal. Smith was pretty much fine(might even say good) with any partner other than Luke.

Smith with Luke 178:48 minutes
2 Goals For and 12 against

Smith with Bahl 93:56 minutes
6 Goals For - 3 Against

Smith with Miller 71:04 minutes
8 Goals For - 2 Against

Smith with Nemec 54:14 minutes
8 Goals For - 4 Against

Smith with Marino 50:36
0 Goals For - 4 Against

Smith with Siegenthaler 47:46
3 Goals For - 3 Against

Smith with Hamilton 40 minutes
0 Goals For - 1 Against

Yea him and Luke are terrible together. Smith is actually pretty decent with any of the healthy RDs - Nemec, Miler or Marino.

Luke same thing.

 

[devilsblood]

I fixed that...but I'm sure at least some portion of Marino and Siegenthaler minutes with Smith are carryover PK time.

A related point here is.

Bahl's a +1 5v5. While leading the D in defensive zone starts and playing high % against opposing top lines. He's been getting a shit ton of grief too.

 

[devilsblood]

Yea him and Luke are terrible together. Smith is actually pretty decent with any of the healthy RDs - Nemec, Miler or Marino.

Luke same thing.

Luke is 32-25 without Smith.

So yeah, still pretty good.

 

[JimEIV]

A related point here is.

Bahl's a +1 5v5. While leading the D in defensive zone starts and playing high % against opposing top lines. He's been getting a shit ton of grief too.

I just think they gave Bahl too much too fast.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Yea him and Luke are terrible together. Smith is actually pretty decent with any of the healthy RDs - Nemec, Miler or Marino.

Luke same thing.

Jeez I wonder if that’s because Luke is playing his off side when he’s paired with Smith…?

Moronic coaching decisions.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Just my opinion, Toffoli does not fit on this team and just another reason we lose too many games.

The lack of speed is becoming more and more noticeable. He cannot generate enough speed on most puck chases, always spins around when tailed knowing he will be caught, and slows the entire line in order to prevent avoid off sides. Am I the only fan who sees this? Wow.

And he also does not hit. No physicality whatsoever. At least Timo is bulldozing.

 

[devilsblood]

He's certainly been called out for it on this board, but the big issue on D, at least looking at the GF numbers, is Marino. A -17 at 5v5.

The team is a -1 5v5 overall.

Add that to his dreadful PK numbers, on for a team worst 26 GA's(next worst is Bahl at 17, Sieg's at 15, and then Smith all the way down at 7).

Now is that on Marino? I don't think it's all Marino, and I think the 5v5 might be more fudged, whether it be d partner's or goalies behind him, but Smith's far superior numbers across the board on the PK do shine pretty negatively on Marino's defensive game this year.

 

[Clam Jensen]

It’s mind boggling that smith and Luke excel when not with one another, and yet, this brain dead coaching staff can’t stop stepping all over their own dicks by continuing to pair them together.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Luke is 32-25 without Smith.

So yeah, still pretty good.

So naturally the coach keeps trying to pair them together

 

[devilsblood]

I just think they gave Bahl too much too fast.

Maybe, but he's handled it fairly well.

Not so much on the PK though.

What were the D-pairings in practice yesterday?

 

[JimEIV]

He's certainly been called out for it on this board, but the big issue on D, at least looking at the GF numbers, is Marino. A -17 at 5v5.

The team is a -1 5v5 overall.

Add that to his dreadful PK numbers, on for a team worst 26 GA's(next worst is Bahl at 17, Sieg's at 15, and then Smith all the way down at 7).

Now is that on Marino? I don't think it's all Marino, and I think the 5v5 might be more fudged, whether it be d partner's or goalies behind him, but Smith's far superior numbers across the board on the PK do shine pretty negatively on Marino's defensive game this year.

Marino's top 3 partners this season are Bahl 427:04, Luke 315:52, and Nemec 64:32.

Going from nearly exclusively with Graves last season both 5v5 and PK.

Partners are the majority of Marino's defensive drop this season in my opinion.

Maybe, but he's handled it fairly well.

Not so much on the PK though.

What were the D-pairings in practice yesterday?

Don't know what the practice pairings were.

 

[JimEIV]

So naturally the coach keeps trying to pair them together

They've been spreading Luke around to different partners a lot.

Not easy finding quality babysitters these days.

 

[Call Me Al]

I just think they gave Bahl too much too fast.

or just overplayed his part

 

[JimEIV]

or just overplayed his part

Now I want ice cream.

 

[thaman8765678]

I'm almost as nervous about Saros as I am Markstrom. Saros seems to be a prime candidate to fall off a cliff. He's too small to rely on just covering a ton of net so as soon as his extreme athleticism goes, even just a little, I think he's going to struggle.

Flames fan coming in peace.

I think Saros would struggle if traded to the Devils. He has always had a more structured system around him that limits scoring chances. The Preds started playing a bit more of a run and gun system this year with less structure and his numbers are down quite a bit.

Markstrom struggled last year when the Flames had a structured system (who knows why, but he always seemed to struggle if his team lets up no chances). He seemed to thrive again when the team started playing a more loose system and letting up many breakaways and odd man rushes this year.

I know a deal will likely never get done either way because the Flames seem to be asking for a lot more than the Devils are willing to part with. But I do think Markstrom would be a great "fit" with the Devils compared to Saros based on systems. Just my opinion.

 

[njdevil26]

Flames fan coming in peace.

I think Saros would struggle if traded to the Devils. He has always had a more structured system around him that limits scoring chances. The Preds started playing a bit more of a run and gun system this year with less structure and his numbers are down quite a bit.

Markstrom struggled last year when the Flames had a structured system (who knows why, but he always seemed to struggle if his team lets up no chances). He seemed to thrive again when the team started playing a more loose system and letting up many breakaways and odd man rushes this year.

I know a deal will likely never get done either way because the Flames seem to be asking for a lot more than the Devils are willing to part with. But I do think Markstrom would be a great "fit" with the Devils compared to Saros based on systems. Just my opinion.

I agree that Markstrom would be good here.

Do me a favor and tell Yegor we all said hi. Man, what a likeable guy.