Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023 offseason part II

[Camille the Eel]

Chico initially retired from the TV color commentary gig because I think his wife wanted to go back to Minnesota full time to spend time with her sister. I forget if his sister in law was ill at the time or not, but she passed away a couple of years later, and I remember Chico openly saying he would love to come back to do something for the team if he could. It was probably a year later when he was hired to be the radio color commentator.

By the way, did you hear Chico may not be back? I'm kind of out of the loop on that. Not sure if you had heard something or if you were just wondering?

In their last broadcast, as time ran down against Carolina, when the guys were thanking each other and their statistician and engineer and saying goodbye and everything, Chico said (my paraphrase from memory), “. . . And who knows Matty, I haven’t got a contract for next year, so we’ll have to see . . .” with that trailing off kind of rhetorical question tone of his where he leaves the question hanging. Very fond of the rhetorical is Chico.

 

[Maine Fan]

Fitz Hitz

View attachment 724538

Thank you MadDevil. Happy 4th. Stay healthy, along with your family and friends.

 

[Devil made me do it]

No word yet whether Chico will be back next year as the color guy on the radio coverage? I certainly hope he returns. He’s the last link with the glory years and just a great real time commentator and personality.

Matt Loughlin has been doing Devils games tv/radio since the late 90s.

 

[Devil made me do it]

I used to really enjoy listening to Randy Velischek. Would be great if he was brought back to do radio games.

 

[njdevils1982]

I used to really enjoy listening to Randy Velischek. Would be great if he was brought back to do radio games.

nice.

i always enjoyed hennessy - velischek on the radio... it was a solid duo

 

[Nubmer6]

I’ve tried to bring my youngest to shows where there is still a semblance of what the artist had to offer back in the day. With solo acts it’s fairly easy but some groups are more or less what they should be. We saw Roger Waters and the Stones recently. He actually passed on Robert Plant after watching some YouTubes of how he does the Zeppelin sings now. I wish he’d gotten to see Rush. They are up there on his list. He wanted to see Greta Van Fleet and I’m glad we went. It was fun seeing a young rock group. I’ve already told my wife that if David Gilmour tours we are going wherever we have to go so long as it is in the US.

Greta Van Fleet is awesome. Can't believe kids that young are into playing that style of music.

 

[Nubmer6]

I used to really enjoy listening to Randy Velischek. Would be great if he was brought back to do radio games.

Ya, well somehow I don't think that's gonna happen.

In his final broadcast, Velischek said something like "They're not hitting, they're not shooting, to me that's just shitty hockey". Thus, he was gone next game.

A friend of mine was in a beer league with him. Asked if he was still a devils fan. His answer was something like "Hell no. Lou fired me... TWICE".

 

[Andre Palot]

Greta Van Fleet is awesome. Can't believe kids that young are into playing that style of music.

The great thing is there is always gonna be fantastic music out there. You just gotta do some digging. If you like them check out Wolfmother. Their entire debut album is face-melting. 'White Unicorn' has a solo that could have been off of LA Woman.

 

[Nubmer6]

The great thing is there is always gonna be fantastic music out there. You just gotta do some digging. If you like them check out Wolfmother. Their entire debut album is face-melting. 'White Unicorn' has a solo that could have been off of LA Woman.

Ya. I have my own favorites. In fact, over the last couple years my favorite band has become an unsigned band out of Pennsylvania named Small Town Titans. I've become a big enough fan that I actually sponsor them a few hundred a year.

 

[My3Sons]

The great thing is there is always gonna be fantastic music out there. You just gotta do some digging. If you like them check out Wolfmother. Their entire debut album is face-melting. 'White Unicorn' has a solo that could have been off of LA Woman.

Wet Leg has a very late 80s sound and their stuff is accessible and reasonably catchy. I wish rock had not gone on life support in mainstream media.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Best show I’ve been to in like 2 years was a tiny folk punk band playing a byob show in a garage. Ticket cost me 10 bucks and I was the oldest person there by 5 years, prolly.

Best part of great rock and punk and metal music getting less mainstream play is tickets are cheap and venues are small. Never been a better time to be a music lover, truly.

 

[Devil made me do it]

Ya, well somehow I don't think that's gonna happen.

In his final broadcast, Velischek said something like "They're not hitting, they're not shooting, to me that's just shitty hockey". Thus, he was gone next game.

A friend of mine was in a beer league with him. Asked if he was still a devils fan. His answer was something like "Hell no. Lou fired me... TWICE".

That's what was great about Randy. He was honest, very insightful and had a pleasant radio voice.
He loved the Devils and I'm sure he wouldn't turn down an offer today.
Chico is still great but he is better suited for tv.

 

[Nubmer6]

That's what was great about Randy. He was honest, very insightful and had a pleasant radio voice.

I think it was more about the cursing than the criticism that got him fired

 

[Guadana]

Greta Van Fleet is awesome. Can't believe kids that young are into playing that style of music.

Rival sons.
I believe @My3Sons and your sons will like Rival sons.

 

[glenwo2]

 

[Guadana]

I'm taking MacK and Makar to build an NHL roster right now. Hall was MVP in 17-18 and still wasn't the best LW in the sport at the time lol

Matthews was good before and still is. In the moment he is second best and teams will try to cash him, if he will face open market.

btw someone mentioned McD, Devils were in bigger trouble when faced Toronto than Oilers.
May be something wil changed next season, but it’s too early to write him off for bad “40g 85p in 74g” season.

 

[britdevil]

 

[tailfins]

I know it’s still “early” in the off-season, but I’m a little shocked that Jesper Boqvist hasn’t signed anywhere. He seems a no brainer for a rebuilding team. At this point, I’d like him back here.

Anyone heard anything about his plans?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I hear NJ has good schools

Congrats to him and his wife though, lol

Matthews was good before and still is. In the moment he is second best and teams will try to cash him, if he will face open market.

btw someone mentioned McD, Devils were in bigger trouble when faced Toronto than Oilers.
May be something wil changed next season, but it’s too early to write him off for bad “40g 85p in 74g” season.

He’s not the second best player in the sport. MacK + Makar are better. I’d take Matthews 4th though.

 

[forceten]

Rival sons.
I believe @My3Sons and your sons will like Rival sons.

Great band

 

[Unknown Caller]

That's what was great about Randy. He was honest, very insightful and had a pleasant radio voice.
He loved the Devils and I'm sure he wouldn't turn down an offer today.
Chico is still great but he is better suited for tv.

Randy is the best. He was my skills coach back when I was still playing, and is just a genuinely good guy. Tyler Madden was always the next one on the ice with Randy, so he clearly did something right from a coaching/development perspective.

Would love to see Randy back if Chico isn’t though. I think we’ll be seeing (hearing) more of Scotty Gomez too.

 

[Guadana]

I hear NJ has good schools

Congrats to him and his wife though, lol



He’s not the second best player in the sport. MacK + Makar are better. I’d take Matthews 4th though.

Beautiful of MacK and Makar is they are playing together. With Rantanen. Matthews is very productive to way center with scoring touch.
And you can rewatch their last four games. I`m happy for MacK and Makar and their easy road to SCF, but it doesn`t make them better players. Metthews is mo productive and is better as two way center. We can argue about Makar because there are some sort of philosophical questions about defensemen and centers, but MacK is behind him.

 

[Xirik]

Last two pages summarise into a gif.

 

[devilsblood]

Beautiful of MacK and Makar is they are playing together. With Rantanen. Matthews is very productive to way center with scoring touch.
And you can rewatch their last four games. I`m happy for MacK and Makar and their easy road to SCF, but it doesn`t make them better players. Metthews is mo productive and is better as two way center. We can argue about Makar because there are some sort of philosophical questions about defensemen and centers, but MacK is behind him.

Matthews scores more goals, but MacKinnon is a better point producer.

Mac has four 90+ point seasons under his belt. Matthews has one.

Mac's playoff production, including goals, is much better as well.

 

[Guadana]

Matthews scores more goals, but MacKinnon is a better point producer.

Mac has four 90+ point seasons under his belt. Matthews has one.

Mac's playoff production, including goals, is much better as well.

From 2015-2016 season.

meh. Metthews is better. With support of Marner but without support of Makar and Rantanen. Metthews won Hart, MacK could even win Conn Smythe.