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

[Devils731]

What a nice situation to be able to practice with and against some of the most skilled players in the world. Everyone there is going to be pushed by someone on some things.

Then to honestly get to pick their brains and get feedback is also so valuable.

 

[My3Sons]

What a nice situation to be able to practice with and against some of the most skilled players in the world. Everyone there is going to be pushed by someone on some things.

Then to honestly get to pick their brains and get feedback is also so valuable.

Hopefully he includes a sophisticated fitness regimen. I have a sneaking suspicion Jack's somewhat sluggish in game moments at the beginning of last season were a consequence of those good time videos and photos he shared over the course of the summer. I recall there was one with him and maybe Quinn with Subban and Jack's eyes were really red and a bit swollen and his smile was slightly disoriented for some unknown reason. If that persisted when he had free time I'm sure he needed to get his conditioning up a bit. Beyond that, it wouldn't hurt for all of them to work on their strength.

 

[Hisch13r]

Hopefully he includes a sophisticated fitness regimen. I have a sneaking suspicion Jack's somewhat sluggish in game moments at the beginning of last season were a consequence of those good time videos and photos he shared over the course of the summer. I recall there was one with him and maybe Quinn with Subban and Jack's eyes were really red and a bit swollen and his smile was slightly disoriented for some unknown reason. If that persisted when he had free time I'm sure he needed to get his conditioning up a bit. Beyond that, it wouldn't hurt for all of them to work on their strength.

Jim’s a former director of player development. There’s probably no one in the league in a better training situation than the Hughes brothers

 

[My3Sons]

Jim’s a former director of player development. There’s probably no one in the league in a better training situation than the Hughes brothers

On the ice, sure. My question is how much DJing, F1 watching, and beach lecturing is supposed to be included in the offseason program. Jack is a kid and should blow off steam. I'm just curious how often he's blowing off steam. Once or twice a week or five days a week?

 

[Hisch13r]

On the ice, sure. My question is how much DJing, F1 watching, and beach lecturing is supposed to be included in the offseason program. Jack is a kid and should blow off steam. I'm just curious how often he's blowing off steam. Once or twice a week or five days a week?

I'd have an issue with things if his conditioning wasn't good and at the end of the year he falls off but that doesn't seem to be the case. He had a lull last year through much of March but then kicked it back up and into the playoffs. Lots of guys are still shaking off rust to start the year

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Besides 96-97 some of his best years numbers wise also came after the Scotts were gone and some of those also after Rafalski was gone. Martin also gets criminally underrated. He was elite

96-97 was his best year SV% wise and GSAA just every so slightly behind 06-07 despite playing 11 fewer games. Potentially coincidentally that was his only year he played under 70 games from 95-96 to 07-08. Him playing so much probably hurt his numbers.

Martin was a beast

Yup. Paul Martin gets so underrated because he didn’t have a flash of Niedermayer or Rafalski, nor the physically of Stevens. Unfortunately for him, he came into his own after those legends departed. If he was around today, I bet he’s put in the conversation of Slavin or prime Vlasic. A shutdown, smooth-skating 1D who is elite positionally.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I'd have an issue with things if his conditioning wasn't good and at the end of the year he falls off but that doesn't seem to be the case. He had a lull last year through much of March but then kicked it back up and into the playoffs. Lots of guys are still shaking off rust to start the year

He did manage to log an NHL record 6 minute shift last year. I’d say his conditioning is okay. Nico is the guy that looks dead after every shift lol.

 

[Bleedred]

Yup. Paul Martin gets so underrated because he didn’t have a flash of Niedermayer or Rafalski, nor the physically of Stevens. Unfortunately for him, he came into his own after those legends departed. If he was around today, I bet he’s put in the conversation of Slavin or prime Vlasic. A shutdown, smooth-skating 1D who is elite positionally.

He was better than Vlasic.

Even if Vlasic at his best was better, Vlasic has been absolutely SHOT since he was about 29-30 years old. Paul Martin must have been 35-36 by the time he fell off the way Vlasic had by 30, which was actually at the same time, as Martin is 6 years older than Vlasic.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

He was better than Vlasic.

Even if Vlasic at his best was better, Vlasic has been absolutely SHOT since he was about 29-30 years old. Paul Martin must have been 35-36 by the time he fell off the way Vlasic had by 30, which was actually at the same time, as Martin is 6 years older than Vlasic.

I’m just comparing impacts they had in their primes. Obviously Martin had better longevity. Could also add Pelech to that list

 

[My3Sons]

He did manage to log an NHL record 6 minute shift last year. I’d say his conditioning is okay. Nico is the guy that looks dead after every shift lol.

As the season wore on Jack looked great but early on he looked a bit off. Nico looks like he is in agony all the time on the ice.

 

[Guttersniped]

Lots of “Brodeur is overrated” discourse going on lately on Twitter/on here.

There’s one thread on the main board and one conversation starter NHL network tweet.

Maybe there’s more on Twitter, I can’t judge that, but this is nothing on the HFBoards. It was a complete shit show back in the day.

Both the borderline psychotic pro-Luongo crowd and He-Man-Devil’s-Hater’s-Club were both forces and they bitched a ton about Marty’s Vezinas.

Everyone moved on, thank god lol.

 

[Guttersniped]

I can't help it but chime in on the main board thread. Definitely some Bill Simmons-esque takes on there.

"Devils clutched and grabbed!" -- So did everybody else. But if you're implying that they did it to a higher degree than everybody else, that must have meant they were one of the more penalized teams coming out of the lockout when refs were instructed to call every bit of obstruction. Devils were the least penalized team in three of the first five years coming out of the lockout. Brodeur's puckhandling diffused forechecks and helped our D.

"....but it was the system!" -- I went back and listed the primary Ds that Lou fielded post-lockout and boy were there some rough blue lines. Mike Mottau was brought in off the AHL scrap heap and played 20 minutes on his weak side (and that was one of the better ones). I had forgotten about the Sheldon Brookbank experience, almost every game I wondered how on earth he scored 50 points in the AHL the previous season.

The problem I see here is you’re still reading that thread.

We had so little offense from the blue line it was comical at times. (Old man Zidlicky looked like a Norris Trophy finalist in comparison.)

Hopefully he includes a sophisticated fitness regimen. I have a sneaking suspicion Jack's somewhat sluggish in game moments at the beginning of last season were a consequence of those good time videos and photos he shared over the course of the summer. I recall there was one with him and maybe Quinn with Subban and Jack's eyes were really red and a bit swollen and his smile was slightly disoriented for some unknown reason. If that persisted when he had free time I'm sure he needed to get his conditioning up a bit. Beyond that, it wouldn't hurt for all of them to work on their strength.

Ok grandpa.

 

[JrFischer54]

My favorite is always “Brodeur was only good because he had guys like Stevens, Niedermayer, and Rafalski in front of him.”

Then the next day: “Stevens and Niedermayer weren’t that good, they just had Brodeur behind them.”

Broduer def benefited from them in front of him then they did behind him that’s for sure. Broduer for being the “goat” sure wasn’t as clutch as you would think. Def caved in a few big time playoff games.

 

[JrFischer54]

Only a matter of time before he joins the devils.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

 

[Aurinko]

Hopefully he includes a sophisticated fitness regimen. I have a sneaking suspicion Jack's somewhat sluggish in game moments at the beginning of last season were a consequence of those good time videos and photos he shared over the course of the summer. I recall there was one with him and maybe Quinn with Subban and Jack's eyes were really red and a bit swollen and his smile was slightly disoriented for some unknown reason. If that persisted when he had free time I'm sure he needed to get his conditioning up a bit. Beyond that, it wouldn't hurt for all of them to work on their strength.

As a 22 yo it's time to party, if he's feeling it. It should be a great season nevertheless. This team is built the way that the more it shortshifts, the more it wins.

 

[MadDevil]

As the season wore on Jack looked great but early on he looked a bit off. Nico looks like he is in agony all the time on the ice.

I actually worry more if Nico doesn't have that look on his face lol

 

[Jersey Fresh]

I’d be interested to know how much weight Jack has put on. He still seems like +\- 5 lbs from his draft year when you look at him.

 

[My3Sons]

The problem I see here is you’re still reading that thread.

View attachment 738101

We had so little offense from the blue line it was comical at times. (Old man Zidlicky looked like a Norris Trophy finalist in comparison.)



Ok grandpa.

So you agree with me then?

 

[MB3]

On the ice, sure. My question is how much DJing, F1 watching, and beach lecturing is supposed to be included in the offseason program. Jack is a kid and should blow off steam. I'm just curious how often he's blowing off steam. Once or twice a week or five days a week?

out of curiosity are we talking about the guy who had the longest shift in NHL history to close out a game against the Islanders in the first 25% of the season?

It’s the off-season and he’s a good looking 22 year old kid. Go yell at someone else to get off your lawn, lmao.

 

[MVP Zacha]

Tyler Toffoli was on Spittin Chiclets yesterday. He seems like a really likeable guy.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I don't really care what Jack does off the ice as long as it's not [seriously] illegal or physically dangerous.

 

[DevilsHughes86]

Only a matter of time before he joins the devils.

4 more years to go!!! He will be 27

 

[devilsblood]

I don't really care what Jack does off the ice as long as it's not [seriously] illegal or physically dangerous.

That level of swagger goes hand in hand with some rowdy offseason behavior.

 

[RNCDevil]

Brodeur changed the game. Literally. It still disgusts me but that is how much of a unicorn he was.