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

[None Shall Pass]

Little known fact about Joe Pesci, he was actually a singer and performed in bands way back in the day. That wasn't his first album, he actually released one 30 years earlier in 1968



It's okay. His voice is a little gravelly, both for my liking and probably for this style of music to have really became big and made him rich. Sweet bass line though.

The whole album is on there in a playlist.

My mom's ex-husband from way back's father is from Newark and was friends with Joe Pesci, as well as Tony Lip and I think maybe even Frank Vincent and a lot of those guys, from before they were stars. He's still alive and is about 93 years old, but I haven't spoken to the man or seen him in about 30 years.

He did have pictures with Joe Pesci, several of them, that he would show us.

I know Joe lived on that little island in Lavallette for years and I was told he would ride his bicycle around regularly, but I think he's since moved.

This reminds me of a good Joe Pesci story.

I worked at a decently high end (for the area) restaurant on the shore when I was a teenager, so around 2005 or so. Joe Pesci came in and we were all star struck. We had a few famous and semi-famous randos who would come in, but he was the first where we all were like, "Okay this rules".

Anyway, we're all strategizing how to talk to him without being annoying, and one of the other waiters said that he knew one of Joe's nieces in high school, so he'd go ask Joe how she was doing. I don't remember her actual name, so we'll call her Sally. So he goes up to Joe and is like, "Hey Joe, I went to high school with your niece Sally, how is she doing these days?"

Joe Pesci looks him up and down, and goes, "Oh she's great. You wanna know how her f***ing husband is doing too?". Dude just clams up immediately, says No, and walks away embarrassed as all hell. We spent months afterwards asking him "how her f***ing husband is" to bust his balls. Hilarious.

 

[My3Sons]

Now that Bratt has signed his extension and you don’t need Bratt pack for news do you really want to give him the attention he seems to crave?

 

[NJDevs26]

Now that Bratt has signed his extension and you don’t need Bratt pack for news do you really want to give him the attention he seems to crave?

When did he ever have any 'news'?

 

[Darkauron]

When did he ever have any 'news'?

Never

 

[Ripshot 43]

Ban Bratt pack posts

 

[My3Sons]

When did he ever have any 'news'?

I’m trying to be nice. @glenwo2 needs a hand getting past the drama of thr past couple of seasons and it’s not a referendum on the Bratt pack guy it’s just some perspective for Glen to mull over. It’s not what you say it’s how you say it.

 

[Saugus]

I'm in favor of leaving most replies to Twitter posts on Twitter. I think tweets posted here should mostly be breaking transaction news, providing player updates, or conveying some interesting analysis.

If we want to see the snarky reply you posted on Twitter in response to some rando's crazy take, we'll go to Twitter.

 

[mdj12784]

the post was deleted

It was a Caps fan saying that the Devils will likely be bullied and pushed around by Trouba or some shit, as if we didn't just beat that team 3 months ago in the playoffs.

I wish we’d pickup some no name goon, just to call him up, and cheap shot Captain Elbow. So sick of reading about the hit on Timo…

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I don't get why people have a problem with Nico on PP1. He's going to be one of the last shooting options to begin with between Jack, Timo, Dougie and Toffoli. Having a guy who can win the draw in the zone, dig the puck out and facilitate in the middle, and clean up pucks down low is not a bad thing with all the additional skill the other players will bring.

Because this is like the weakest skill to have on the pp, and frankly a waste of time. You have 1 extra man, you shouldn't need someone good at winning puck battles on the pp. Obviously, the faceoffs, he's good at that but...nothing else really.

Nico's ability to keep puck possession and win puck battles is superb 5v5, but it's useless for pp.

I also don't really get the logic of "additional skill other players bring". If you have 4 skilled guys and 1 useless guy, that would just make it a 4 on 4, not a 5 on 4. I am exaggerating a bit but yea.

 

[Hisch13r]

Because this is like the weakest skill to have on the pp, and frankly a waste of time. You have 1 extra man, you shouldn't need someone good at winning puck battles on the pp. Obviously, the faceoffs, he's good at that but...nothing else really.

Nico's ability to keep puck possession and win puck battles is superb 5v5, but it's useless for pp.

I also don't really get the logic of "additional skill other players bring". If you have 4 skilled guys and 1 useless guy, that would just make it a 4 on 4, not a 5 on 4. I am exaggerating a bit but yea.

Even if Nico’s just great at faceoffs and not standout at anything else. Nobody you’d be replacing him with would be standout at the role and you’re losing the faceoffs. Nico’s not bad and he’s the best option.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Even if Nico’s just great at faceoffs and not standout at anything else. Nobody you’d be replacing him with would be standout at the role and you’re losing the faceoffs. Nico’s not bad and he’s the best option.

And that is why he's on the pp (because no better options).

 

[devilsblood]

Id like to see Nico off the PK. Even play less of a d-role 5v5. Let him focus more on the offensive side of the game including the pp.

We have capable defensive fwds in the bottom 6 let them handle more of the duties.

But could Mercer be a better bumper option? I could see it. Seems to have better shooting skills in and around that area of the ice.

 

[RSeen]

Id like to see Nico off the PK. Even play less of a d-role 5v5. Let him focus more on the offensive side of the game including the pp.

We have capable defensive fwds in the bottom 6 let them handle more of the duties.

But could Mercer be a better bumper option? I could see it. Seems to have better shooting skills in and around that area of the ice.

Nico is one of the better defensive forwards in the league - I don't think we need to take him off the PK. Jack is getting the first shift after the PK so I think you are fine with Nico playing the PK.

Mercer if he can develop that part of his game, could be a good bumper option. We really don't use that option enough on the PP.

 

[Billdo]

Id like to see Nico off the PK. Even play less of a d-role 5v5. Let him focus more on the offensive side of the game including the pp.

We have capable defensive fwds in the bottom 6 let them handle more of the duties.

But could Mercer be a better bumper option? I could see it. Seems to have better shooting skills in and around that area of the ice.

So you want to take one of the best defensive forwards in the game, who also puts up a respectable amount of points while playing a superb defensive game, and have him focus on offense?

 

[Hisch13r]

So you want to take one of the best defensive forwards in the game, who also puts up a respectable amount of points while playing a superb defensive game, and have him focus on offense?

Taking him off the PK is dumb. I do get the idea of using say Palat-Haula-Mercer as the matchup line if Holtz can work out in the top 6 and lightening Nico’s defensive load.

 

[devilsblood]

So you want to take one of the best defensive forwards in the game, who also puts up a respectable amount of points while playing a superb defensive game, and have him focus on offense?

Focus more on offense yes. Especially with Nosek in the fold

And just look at Boston last year. Nosek was on the top pk unit. Not Bergeron. Bergeron also had a 60% offensive zone start percentage 5v5. Nico was sub 50%

And I should have said take Nico off that top pk unit. Not take him off it entirely.

I mean it’s admirable that Nico wants to play those minutes, and he’s certainly capable, but its grinding, both mentally and physically. Id like to keep him fresher in both regards.

 

[Billdo]

Focus more on offense yes. Especially with Nosek in the fold

And just look at Boston last year. Nosek was on the top pk unit. Not Bergeron. Bergeron also had a 60% offensive zone start percentage 5v5. Nico was sub 50%

And I should have said take Nico off that top pk unit. Not take him off it entirely.

I mean it’s admirable that Nico wants to play those minutes, and he’s certainly capable, but it's grinding, both mentally and physically. Id like to keep him fresher in both regards.

It makes sense to lighten the load.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Nico is a great defensive player, but his two way game is so strong I’d rather maximize his time at ES rather than have him eat PK minutes if possible.

PK is a different skillset, and while he’s good at that too, there are players on the team that can do what he does there. Nobody on the roster can do what he can at ES.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I actually wouldn't hate that, I always been in the mindset your elite players shouldn't be eating PK minutes unless they're just that good or in our case we have an elite 1/2C combo but this team could easily try taking Nico off the PK and seeing how it goes for him at ES and the team a man down. They could theoretically do that with no hiccups.

 

[devilsblood]

I actually wouldn't hate that, I always been in the mindset your elite players shouldn't be eating PK minutes unless they're just that good or in our case we have an elite 1/2C combo but this team could easily try taking Nico off the PK and seeing how it goes for him at ES and the team a man down. They could theoretically do that with no hiccups.

And i did revise my initial comment. Being as a team is going to rotate through 6 guys typically on a PK I wouldn’t look to take him off it entirely. But i would take him off the top unit and ease his minutes back a bit.

 

[glenwo2]

Now that Bratt has signed his extension and you don’t need Bratt pack for news do you really want to give him the attention he seems to crave?

It's called a Joke, man.

I saw him say that and I wanted to make a joke.

Jesus f'n Jiminy Crickets with everyone flying off the handle.

(tbh, that makes me want to post more of his crap here out of spite with that response....but I won't because my aim was for a one-off JOKE post. Comprende, senor? )

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Glen calm down man lol it aint that serious

 

[glenwo2]

I’m trying to be nice. @glenwo2 needs a hand getting past the drama of thr past couple of seasons and it’s not a referendum on the Bratt pack guy it’s just some perspective for Glen to mull over. It’s not what you say it’s how you say it.

What in the actual hell are you talking about?

It's a joke.

nothing more, nothing less.

Work it out, man!

 

[My3Sons]

It's called a Joke, man.

I saw him say that and I wanted to make a joke.

Jesus f'n Jiminy Crickets with everyone flying off the handle.

(tbh, that makes me want to post more of his crap here out of spite with that response....but I won't because my aim was for a one-off JOKE post. Comprende, senor? )

It didn’t come across that way? It’s tough to divine intent out of text at times.

 

[devilsblood]

It didn’t come across that way? It’s tough to divine intent out of text at times.

You truly do lack a sense of humor.