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

[TheUnseenHand]

It was always a trade they made because of how bad they got dumpstered by Carolina. They missed a Toffoli type in that series and even in the NYR series with guys like Nico/Bratt/Timo going goalless for the series. He was always a playoff add and we assumed we'd walk into them this year.

I believe if you go back on my preseason posts I said something very similar. That I thought, oddly, that we were better set up for the playoffs but was concerned about us actually getting there. That was written off as doomerism pretty quick. Probably rightfully so. But the injuries really highlighted my concerns.

 

[jkrdevil]

He's literally useless without Jack. Given Jack's injury history, that is a problem.

Outside of that first month he has been pretty useless with Jack. Jack’s 5 on 5 play hasn’t been good this year. Part of that is probably playing injured, but I can see Toffoli dragging him down. I wish they would separate the two when in the lineup. It is the only thing that has stayed the same.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Outside of that first month he has been pretty useless with Jack. Jack’s 5 on 5 play hasn’t been good this year. Part of that is probably playing injured, but I can see Toffoli dragging him down. I wish they would separate the two when in the lineup. It is the only thing that has stayed the same.

Remember, Lindy pleaded with us to please consider the situations he was putting Toffoli in when trying the gauge his performance. You know, the most stable position playing most consistently with our best player and getting 1 PP time. Must be tough.

 

[Triumph]

Outside of that first month he has been pretty useless with Jack. Jack’s 5 on 5 play hasn’t been good this year. Part of that is probably playing injured, but I can see Toffoli dragging him down. I wish they would separate the two when in the lineup. It is the only thing that has stayed the same.

I don't know where else you can put Toffoli in this lineup. If you can't put Meier or Toffoli next to Hughes, who is playing with him?

 

[BahlDeep]

is he fired yet?

 

[britdevil]

I don't know where else you can put Toffoli in this lineup. If you can't put Meier or Toffoli next to Hughes, who is playing with him?

Lindy is f***ing terrible with wingers. Meier, Toffoli, Mercer, to an extent Bratt, have all looked terrible at times under him.

 

[BostonDevil]

I remember being called out by a couple particular posters for questioning Toffs fit on this team...

May have been me. I thought it was exactly what we needed to ride with Jack. A shoot first guy who could find space in the offensive zone and let it rip. Kinda like a established version of where Holtz would trend.

Knew he was slow, but not this slow.

Also think that if Toffoli was the biggest problem we'd be 15 points over of the playoff line.

It's 1 or 2 things legitmately killing the team. Everything else (like Toffoli, or even Timo) is a factor in why we'd lose in the ECF.

I long for a day when Toffoli is the reason this team is underperforming.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

May have been me. I thought it was exactly what we needed to ride with Jack. A shoot first guy who could find space in the offensive zone and let it rip. Kinda like a established version of where Holtz would trend.

Knew he was slow, but not this slow.

Also think that if Toffoli was the biggest problem we'd be 15 points over of the playoff line.

It's 1 or 2 things legitmately killing the team. Everything else (like Toffoli, or even Timo) is a factor in why we'd lose in the ECF.

I long for a day when Toffoli is the reason this team is underperforming.

I hear you. But he is definitely a contributing factor.

As is injuries, which I think we are overlooking a bit. Yes they struggled early when healthy, but with so many players going down for extended time, they haven't even had a chance to get into a groove. And I think that is the biggest reason Lindy still has a job, and will through the end of the season.

 

[Devils Trap]

May have been me. I thought it was exactly what we needed to ride with Jack. A shoot first guy who could find space in the offensive zone and let it rip. Kinda like a established version of where Holtz would trend.

Knew he was slow, but not this slow.

Also think that if Toffoli was the biggest problem we'd be 15 points over of the playoff line.

It's 1 or 2 things legitmately killing the team. Everything else (like Toffoli, or even Timo) is a factor in why we'd lose in the ECF.

I long for a day when Toffoli is the reason this team is underperforming.

He just isnt a fit for the team. Id argue that if you are glued to Jack most wingers could score 25 goals.

His footspeed is horrendous, I dont see him being any good defensively and yet Ruff refuses to ever bench him

 

[jkrdevil]

 

[Devils731]

Gotta have the every other week pep talk

“Guys you gotta play harder”

“Guys you gotta make better reads”

“Guys you can’t turn the puck over but I also expect you to create plays from nothing”

 

[Call Me Al]

Gotta have the every other week pep talk

“Guys you gotta play harder”

“Guys you gotta make better reads”

“Guys you can’t turn the puck over but I also expect you to create plays from nothing”

it’s definitely this but i want to live in the alternative reality where it’s “here’s your new coach let’s talk about the new system before we practice”

 

[TheUnseenHand]

it’s definitely this but i want to live in the alternative reality where it’s “here’s your new coach let’s talk about the new system before we practice”

Yeah, that's definitely an alternate reality

 

[Devils Army]

Officially done with Vitek and Toffoli. Toffoli is gonna score 30 but isn't a player you win a cup with. Provides absolutely nothing if he isn't scoring.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Gotta have the every other week pep talk

“Guys you gotta play harder”

“Guys you gotta make better reads”

“Guys you can’t turn the puck over but I also expect you to create plays from nothing”

And our goaltending gets a pass? They’re the primary reason we won’t make the playoffs. They suck!

 

[Devils Trap]

If we could get a 1st or 2nd + prospect for Toffoli id deal him tomorrow.

I genuinely would want to pickup Duclair for like a 3rd/ 4th to replace him. I doubt we miss out on much. He is VERY fast and showed he can score on that FLA team putting up 31 goals when he had good line mates.

Cheaper contract, better team fit and we get a + in assets from this.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

If we could get a 1st or 2nd + prospect for Toffoli id deal him tomorrow.

I genuinely would want to pickup Duclair for like a 3rd/ 4th to replace him. I doubt we miss out on much. He is VERY fast and showed he can score on that FLA team putting up 31 goals when he had good line mates.

Cheaper contract, better team fit and we get a + in assets from this.

I'd be down for this.

 

[Devils Trap]

I'd be down for this.

Bet you the team would perform better with this move as well lol

 

[Blackjack]

Great, let’s trade a whole bunch of assets to squeak into the playoffs, do nothing to address the persistent issues this team has, and save Lindy’s job in the process

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Fitz is a moron if he does that

 

[Devils Trap]

 

[NJDevs26]

I love how the excuse for not playing Daws last night was that he was rusty, so a rusty Daws would have been a worse option than shooter tutor Vitek?!

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I don't know how many times I have to say it, you can give Lindy an absurdly stacked roster and he's still not beating Brindamour, Cooper, Montgomery or any coach worth anything in the playoffs with how mind numbing bad he is as an adjuster/coach. He's the biggest weakness on this roster/team/franchise.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I get not wanting to send the message that you are giving up on the team, but the team and coaching staff might actually benefit from that wake up call. Again, my biggest gripe with Fitz is his extreme loyalty to his people. Sometimes you do have to ruffle feathers. It might be the toughest part of the job for a relatively inexperienced GM.

 

[Devils Trap]

Fitz is a moron if he does that

Honestly, he is going to. If you saw the STH renewal email, they made the main selling point priority access and information about the 2024 PLayoffs. Its the only thing in bold and italics lol.

Ownership wants the team to make it, for more then just team success lol.



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