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

[Better Call Sal]

Oh and the freaking Hurricanes won't stop calling me for season tickets...

I told them I'm from New Jersey, I came down for a playoff game, stop calling. No exaggeration they have called me at least 8 times in the last two months.

That's unbelievable. I often feel bad for people in that line of work because I know what a grind it is. But you'd figure once you told them where you lived, you'd easily be removed from the database.

 

[Better Call Sal]

If anyone wants to know how I spend my days getting through work, it's often with the sounds of an old game on my personal laptop. I'm forever grateful for others who somehow managed to get full games like these on Youtube for my viewing pleasure.

Here's Game 1 of the ECF in 1995. Hope others enjoy, as well. Boy, I just caught the Niedermayer goal to go up 2-0, what a thing of beauty. And people act like we were boring.

 

[JimEIV]

If anyone wants to know how I spend my days getting through work, it's often with the sounds of an old game on my personal laptop. I'm forever grateful for others who somehow managed to get full games like these on Youtube for my viewing pleasure.

Here's Game 1 of the ECF in 1995. Hope others enjoy, as well. Boy, I just caught the Niedermayer goal to go up 2-0, what a thing of beauty. And people act like we were boring.

I still get goosebumps watching the 1995 playoffs.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Shero did such a great job here he hasn’t gotten a GM job since.

I don't think Shero did a great job (if he did, he'd still be here)

I also think the people that shit on him and think he did nothing right are also ridiculous

 

[JimEIV]

I don't think Shero did a great job (if he did, he'd still be here)

I also think the people that shit on him and think he did nothing right are also ridiculous

He did nothing. Again a monkey could've done the job he did.


What was the highlight of his career here? Winning the lottery twice? Trading for Hall? Trading for Palmieri?

His team building was horrible. I mean absolutely atrocious.

For the sheer number of picks he had, and the high picks he had, his drafting wasn't very good. You remove the lottery picks and you're left with Bratt and a couple of scrub 4th liners. Absolutely gross for 42 picks. 5 years drafting with high picks and that's what we end up with?

He neglected the defense completely and did nothing to address the goaltending issues.

The Subban trade was a real head scratcher...

If his job was to tear down the organization and create separation from the past...then he did that. But on the merits he was a bag of shit.

 

[tailfins]

That's unbelievable. I often feel bad for people in that line of work because I know what a grind it is. But you'd figure once you told them where you lived, you'd easily be removed from the database.

This is likely a bug (feature?) of their CRM. Sounds to me like they're not allowing their reps to make material updates to the underlying data. They don't really care about calling people like Jim who won't buy - he was never buying. Meanwhile, new reps are getting lists they're told to call.

 

[NJDevs26]

He did nothing. Again a monkey could've done the job he did.


What was the highlight of his career here? Winning the lottery twice? Trading for Hall? Trading for Palmieri?

Bringing in Fitz

 

[JimEIV]

Bringing in Fitz

I agree.

 

[Ripshot 43]

If anyone wants to know how I spend my days getting through work, it's often with the sounds of an old game on my personal laptop. I'm forever grateful for others who somehow managed to get full games like these on Youtube for my viewing pleasure.

Here's Game 1 of the ECF in 1995. Hope others enjoy, as well. Boy, I just caught the Niedermayer goal to go up 2-0, what a thing of beauty. And people act like we were boring.

It was amazing to be a kid and live in NJ while that was happening. To think, most kids don’t get to witness that once, let alone twice or three times in a childhood (or lifetime).

 

[Eggtimer]

8 more seasons of this......

Jesus is that insane … opposing D’s ass must pucker up in fear when they see him fkying down the wing toward them. You could see that he was going to be elite , even in his first season as an 18 year old . Ya he struggled but you could see that he has game breaking ability and just needed to get used to the league and make adjustments / gain strength and confidence in his ability .
That’s what is going to make him elite ( already is ) . It’s that he has the drive to be his best . I remember watching video if him practicing one-timers in his first season I think it was . His shot was ….. ummm . Shitty . I have seen a lot of beer league guys shoot better . But look at him now . He was always more of a playmaker before but the kid is going to be a consistent 35-40+ goal guy ….
It will be awesome to see what he improved this off-season. It’s scary that he is only going to get better ! That’s crazy .

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I can not wait for this season.

I think the Devils have the potential to be the highest scoring team the league has seen since the 90s.

The Devils were 5th in the league in goals per game last year averaging 3.52 goals per game. Oilers ranked 1st with 3.96 goals per game. Since the 1996-1997 season, that 3.96 puts the Oilers 2nd behind only the prior seasons Florida Panthers who averaged 4.11 goals per game.

I think the Devils have the potential to be the highest scoring team the NHL has seen since the 1995-96 Pittsburgh Penguins lead by Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, and Petr Nedved scored at a rate of 4.41 goals per game.

 

[njdevils1982]

Oh and the freaking Hurricanes won't stop calling me for season tickets...

I told them I'm from New Jersey, I came down for a playoff game, stop calling. No exaggeration they have called me at least 8 times in the last two months.

f***ing jerks

 

[JimEIV]

Jesus is that insane … opposing D’s ass must pucker up in fear when they see him fkying down the wing toward them. You could see that he was going to be elite , even in his first season as an 18 year old . Ya he struggled but you could see that he has game breaking ability and just needed to get used to the league and make adjustments / gain strength and confidence in his ability .
That’s what is going to make him elite ( already is ) . It’s that he has the drive to be his best . I remember watching video if him practicing one-timers in his first season I think it was . His shot was ….. ummm . Shitty . I have seen a lot of beer league guys shoot better . But look at him now . He was always more of a playmaker before but the kid is going to be a consistent 35-40+ goal guy ….
It will be awesome to see what he improved this off-season. It’s scary that he is only going to get better ! That’s crazy .

My eyes aren't as good as they used to be but that sure looks like #63 on the back of that helmet.

 

[Triumph]

And the funniest thing of this is in 2017 you ALL were saying how vastly improved the system was... while that was happening.

Because it was. And of course your posts on this have fabrications and errors because they always do.

 

[Guadana]

I don't think Shero did an awful job (if he did, we would have Nolan and\or Kakko), just bad.

I also think the people that like him and think he did okay or even good are also ridiculous

 

[Lou is God]

That’s what is going to make him elite ( already is ) . It’s that he has the drive to be his best . I remember watching video if him practicing one-timers in his first season I think it was . His shot was ….. ummm . Shitty . I have seen a lot of beer league guys shoot better . But look at him now . He was always more of a playmaker before but the kid is going to be a consistent 35-40+ goal guy ….
It will be awesome to see what he improved this off-season. It’s scary that he is only going to get better ! That’s crazy .

Are you sure that wasn't Jack?

 

[NJ DevLolz]

He did nothing. Again a monkey could've done the job he did.


What was the highlight of his career here? Winning the lottery twice? Trading for Hall? Trading for Palmieri?

His team building was horrible. I mean absolutely atrocious.

For the sheer number of picks he had, and the high picks he had, his drafting wasn't very good. You remove the lottery picks and you're left with Bratt and a couple of scrub 4th liners. Absolutely gross for 42 picks. 5 years drafting with high picks and that's what we end up with?

He neglected the defense completely and did nothing to address the goaltending issues.

The Subban trade was a real head scratcher...

If his job was to tear down the organization and create separation from the past...then he did that. But on the merits he was a bag of shit.

Ty Smith netted us Marino

Hall netted us Mercer, Bahl, and Siegenthaler

You’re being disingenuous.

And what did the Subban trade prevent us from doing? We gave up no prime assets for a guy who was 12 months removed from a Norris nomination. There was no long term commitment either. Team was going to go for it after winning another lottery and with Hall entering UFA. Gusev and Subban didn’t work out but almost everyone was lauding those moves.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Better Call Sal]

It was amazing to be a kid and live in NJ while that was happening. To think, most kids don’t get to witness that once, let alone twice or three times in a childhood (or lifetime).

I’ve mentioned it before but I was just a wee lad of 6 when the ‘95 run happened and was living in Maine at the time, so getting to watch these full broadcasts is a cool way for me to appreciate that moment more.

I got into hockey around that age by going to Portland Pirate games with my family and buying hockey card packs. Always loved the goalies and in one of my first packs, I got a Marty card thinking his helmet and pads were really cool. The rest was fate I suppose!

 

[Guttersniped]

Ty Smith netted us Marino

Hall netted us Mercer, Bahl, and Siegenthaler

You’re being disingenuous.

And what did the Subban trade prevent us from doing? We gave up no prime assets for a guy who was 12 months removed from a Norris nomination. There was no long term commitment either. Team was going to go for it after winning another lottery and with Hall entering UFA. Gusev and Subban didn’t work out but almost everyone was lauding those moves.

Ok, now you did it.

I don’t think it makes sense to cast this as Team Lou vs Team Shero. That’s not how I see the team’s history.

But this weird over the top defense of Shero is over the top.

If a Flyers or Rangers GM turned a pile of good assets (2019 2nd #34, 2020 2nd #37, 2021 2nd #36, 2022 3rd #68) into nothingess before the last pick was even used, they would get roasted on this board.

When you suck your 2nds are more valuable, we sucked very hard, so our three 2nds were valuable.

Bad teams shouldn’t pretend they aren’t bad and trade multiple 2nds away just because they’re desperate and have nothing else to trade.

This is why we have a thinner prospect pool than Buffalo or Detroit despite sucking forever just like them (or longer in the case of Detroit).

And we would have been in big trouble if “the Summer of Shero” somehow managed to be successful and we didn’t sell in 2019-20. The only reason we’re successful now is the Summer of Shero was an immediate complete bust.

And, no, not everyone was sold on that approach at the time. It all worked out for the best but that “best” part required Shero to 1) take a huge F for Fail in 2019-20 2) get fired for it. It wouldn’t have worked out without a reset with Fitz.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Trading for Hall made this possible, so that's good enough for me

 

[JimEIV]

Ty Smith netted us Marino

Hall netted us Mercer, Bahl, and Siegenthaler

You’re being disingenuous.

And what did the Subban trade prevent us from doing? We gave up no prime assets for a guy who was 12 months removed from a Norris nomination. There was no long term commitment either. Team was going to go for it after winning another lottery and with Hall entering UFA. Gusev and Subban didn’t work out but almost everyone was lauding those moves.

So we are doing what trades returned to make up for poor drafting?

It's funny because not a single person here would accept that argument for draft picks like Nick Palmieri returning Zidlicky or Bergfors and Cormier returning Kovalchuk....or Cam Janssen for Bryce Salvador

Gusev and Subban didn't work out .... Will Butcher didn't really work out, Marcus Johansson really didn't workout...Micro Mueller didn't really work out.... Michael Grabber didn't really work out....Wayne Simmonds didn't really work out...Beau Bennett didn't really workout....

Then the Schlemko's, Kyle Quincy's, Yohann Auvitu, Dalton Prout's, John Moore's didn't really work out either.

 

[Mgd31]

Shero was whatever. He didn't hamstring the team with any crap contracts which was his best work.

But come on, we can't say he acquired Mercer or Siegenthaler or Marino.

 

[glenwo2]

This is a fun group of names to look back on.

How nice of the team to let Cangy center the 4th line at rookie camp.

My first thought was "Poor Nico, Poor Bratt, Don't care about McLeod".

The rest of that lineup..... god help us.

Now fast forward to now and God DID help us. the "god" of luck and people with the last Fitzgerald.

 

[MadDevil]

I'm past giving a shit about how we got where we are now. Why some people seem to enjoy reliving the past when we sucked is weird to me. We're good now. Enjoy it.