- May 8, 2010
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Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023 offseason part II
- Thread starter NJDevs26
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I think the Devils forward group is extremely deep overall. This just a discussion about deployment.
Nosek - Mikey - Bastian should be an effective, defensively oriented line. I'd hesitate on the repeatability of raw goals% though, it's not that reliable of a metric.
I agree that to my eyes Haula and Palat had some chemistry. I think this is an ideal spot to work Holtz in away from higher leverage and let him produce, while the vets can cover for him. Just that if Ruff wants to use Haula/Palat in more of a defensive role, then Holtz doesn't really fit there anymore.
I like Holtz with Palat-Haula getting easier usage with good 3rd liners to start. Nico's going to get the defensive role and the 4th line will too. As the season rolls on if Holtz is actually good and they want Palat-Haula to take away some defensive matchups from Nico then bump Holtz up to Bratt-Jack, Mercer to Palat-Haula, and Toffoli to Meier-Nico.
Fitz continuing the Devils tradition of having multiple sets of brothers in the organization.
Mgd31
Registered User
I personally would like to free up Nico for more offense.
But the lineup has so much versatility and there will be so much line-blending, they'll end up using a million combos anyway. Just a fun discussion.
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
Jack exudes a ton of "bro energy", I will admit. I think most videos are going to irritate some people because of that, no matter what. He'll always catch flak, I think
I agree with freeing up Nico. To start though I'd prefer Holtz on that 3rd line rather than with Bratt-Jack or Bratt/Meier-Nico to start and you can't free up Nico in that case. If he works then you free up Nico and have the Haula line take those defensive responsibilities
The contrast between Jack and Quinn is hilarious.
FinnishDevil
Registered User
Now we just need to put the best Foote forward.
I'll see you guys on opening night.
My less popular take is that perhaps Holtz doesn't really belong in this Devils' lineup. Obviously on merit he wouldn't displace a true top-six option, and he's not going to be used in a defensive role.
It would allow them to utilize Haula/Palat differently.
I kinda think Clarke would fit the club more naturally right now.
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Hughes-Marino
Bahl-Miller
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Smith
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Hatakka-Foote
Vilen-Nemec
Makes sense to have Foote as a short term injury call up. Since Nemec is a teenager, his ELC will slide if he doesn't appear in 10+ NHL games.
Hughes-Marino
Bahl-Miller
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Smith
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Hatakka-Foote
Vilen-Nemec
Makes sense to have Foote as a short term injury call up. Since Nemec is a teenager, his ELC will slide if he doesn't appear in 10+ NHL games.
Put them against tougher comp and it certainly rolls back. Though I'm not sure how likely that is, thought maybe Nosek played a higher % vs top lines, but he didn't.
Losing Wood hurts are well, even in a down year, for a fourth liner he scored goals at a pretty good rate. As did Bastian. Nosek is likely going to score less then Wood, so McLeod will have to step up in that regard, but I think there is a chance that he can.
But that line will likely be more pure defensive, with less counter punch offense, unless we do see that step up from McLeod.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
I didn't realize the older Foote fell off that hard. I remember when he was considering a very good prospect
FooteBahl
Took a big shitz for Nemec
Give me all of the Footes and all of the Bahls!Now we just need to put the best Foote forward.
I'll see you guys on opening night.
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
Doubt Clarke should be used in a defensive role either. Doesn’t seem to be a strength at all.
I generally don’t think we need to be hard matching anyone. Roll 4 lines, we can have play drivers on each of the top 3 lines if we choose to.
I don't see how Clarke would fit better either. He's bad defensively himself. He's not displacing anyone nor should be he used in a defensive role. Shunning Holtz in favor or Clarke who maybe gets you a marginal increase currently but a potentially massive decrease in the future is the wrong choice.
Filling the AHL squad with brothers and other close relatives. The Devils are back to being contenders!
In all seriousness, organizational depth at D is not a bad thing. He has some experience under his belt if things go bad on the back end injury wise.
In all seriousness, organizational depth at D is not a bad thing. He has some experience under his belt if things go bad on the back end injury wise.
Still my all-time favorite take, it’s got everything in one glorious post:
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F Alexis Lafreniere - Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL (2020 Draft) Part 2
Let's keep this on topic everybody. Back to Lafreniere who I project to be better than Matthews but worse than Laine. Agree or disagree?forums.hfboards.com
LOL...talk about a swing and a miss...
Zippy316
aka Zippo
Also have Wotherspoon who I would imagine would be the veteran callup if need be.
I could’ve sworn Russo was on an NHL deal, but I guess he joined Gambardella in signing an AHL deal after his last NHL deal.
Definitely makes sense to have a somewhat experienced RHD as a buffer between Miller and Nemec. I’d imagine Foote comes up for any short term injury (or injury to Miller) and Nemec comes up for anything long-term.
Giving Holtz top line minutes and PP time is a no go imo.
If he's truly versatile, he will find production or success in the 3rd line. Personally I don't mind Haula seeing some success as well, so Palat-Haula-Mercer would be something I would be ecstatic about.
Holtz is in a really difficult situation overall. If he wont perform, he might be out, if he performs he might still get low minutes. If you give entry contract player a chance to get 40 goals, that's instantly -8M cap hit. He will not get the exception treatment that some 1st round players might get. It's really going to be uphill battle to earn the spot.
Doubt Clarke should be used in a defensive role either. Doesn’t seem to be a strength at all.
I generally don’t think we need to be hard matching anyone. Roll 4 lines, we can have play drivers on each of the top 3 lines if we choose to.
Clarke was one of the top even-strength scorers in the AHL.
I don't think he fits on a defensive line either (but the assumption is that Haula/Palat/Holtz also would not be a defensive line, so I don't see this as a huge negative for him).
From a style-of-play perspective, I think his pace and energy fits in relatively easily on a top-nine line, particularly Haula/Palat, and fits how the Devils' play better than Holtz.
If he's legitimately good then it's definitely not a no go. If he can succeed on that 3rd line then I'm 100% putting him with Jack and giving that a go. You don't shove a guy lower in the lineup because you're scared he might be too good and produce too much. That's nonsense. It shouldn't be much of an uphill to get that 3RW at this point. The competition isn't that big. It's not like he's going to have to battle it out and beat an established NHLer. He's going to be against 2 unproven guys themselves in Clarke and Foote. Maybe they go Foote if they want the bigger guy but he's produced much less than the other 2 at the AHL level. I also think they've talked about wanting more righties which gives Clarke and Holtz an edge. Clarke could beat out Holtz but it's not some insurmountable position for Holtz to be in.
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