Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023 training camp edition

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Guadana

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Holtz can contribute this season with any luck and shake the earlier struggles.
I'm far from written him off. I wasn't a fan of his pick, but he is our player and talent is there. And its not like we have a lot of nhl ready proven young wingers for top 9. Palat should be healthier but we can't ask something if he can't, Toffolli is here for one year only for now, and the final spot is still open. If Holtz will start to figure it out this season and will play only limited role, it's not a tragedy, he still on ELC next season. And there are no push from the farm/prospect pool for next season. I hope Devils will be patient and Fitz will not trade him even if he will not start this season as 0.4ppg+ player. Some players needs more time and our offensive prospect depth isn't really deep now.
But overall I hope he will start this season competently and "talks" will end. Pp role in second unit should help.
 
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My3Sons

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I'm far from written him off. I wasn't a fan of his pick, but he is our player and talent is there. And its not like we have a lot of nhl ready proven young wingers for top 9. Palat should be healthier but we can't ask something if he can't, Toffolli is here for one year only for now, and the final spot is still open. If Holtz will start to figure it out this season and will play only limited role, it's not a tragedy, he still on ELC next season. And there are no push from the farm/prospect pool for next season. I hope Devils will be patient and Fitz will not trade him even if he will not start this season as 0.4ppg+ player. Some players needs more time and our offensive prospect depth isn't really deep now.
But overall I hope he will start this season competently and "talks" will end. Pp role in second unit should help.

He looks to me like a guy who needs reps and more video study. I think there is a player in there when he isn’t having to think so much which slows him down
 

Guadana

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He looks to me like a guy who needs reps and more video study. I think there is a player in there when he isn’t having to think so much which slows him down
Experience will help. Nhl Experience. I understand that we aren't in situation to waste roster spot for gaining experience for the roockie, but I like potential impact. If he will hit his potential- its a 30+ goal scorer. And if we will find competent third line center for him(something better than future 4th line center Nico Hischier), we can have third line 20-30 goals scoring winger. Or just use him as a regular top 6 player when he will be ready.
Of course he should watch more tape, break down more situation in different circumstances. But overall he should think faster and make faster decisions, even if they are not perfect, they should be safe at least. And fast. If he will start to make faster safer decisions, he can start to work with coaches on breakdown different opportunities. And with time he can grow on himself a lot. He is very good shooter and passer, just need to work on nhl speed through full game. May be better skating will help and/or will cover some of the issues with decision making.
For now he is having good partners potentially. I waited Palat and Haula, who can help with covering him and make the most of dirty work. And play against third pairs. But as I understand Ruff is using him with Nico and Timo. It can boost his amount of opportunities but he will play against much better defensemen and better forwards. May be its too much to ask from a young player. May be if he will be competent enough, this team will burn every opposition we will face.

Overall Holtz as regular and competent enough NHLer is what make this team deadly this season in my eyes. So I want to be patient with him and give him more opportunities with nhl team.
 

Lou is God

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From Fitz's comments it does sound like Luke might have overworked himself in the weight room:

Fitzgerald was mum when asked about specific details of the injury.

“I can but I don’t want to,” he said. “He’s grown a lot. Even from the spring when he played, from here to now, you can see the maturity in his body. Sometimes you grow a little faster in joints or muscles or whatever. But he’s just having some inflammation and I do believe we have a great team to handle him. We just don’t want to overdo it and have a setback.”
 

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JimEIV

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Going with Hughes and Marino -
and Bahl - Miller already.

Pretty much tells you the pairings are locked up.

Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Hughes - Marino
Bahl - Miller/Nemec

I think these pairs were a foregone conclusion since before this camp even started.

Curious to see what the second PK unit is going to be.

PK 1: Siegenthaler - Marino
Pk 2: Bahl - Miller would seem to make sense.

I suppose if Hughes struggles you can move Bahl up? But if Bahl struggles I don't really see a solution other than sheltering the 3rd pair....but with that would come more pressure on the top 4.

It's going to be interesting to watch this dynamic of Luke, Bahl and Miller this season. Half of the defense is brand new essentially.
 

Hisch13r

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Going with Hughes and Marino already.

Pretty much tells you the pairing are locked up.

Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Hughes - Marino
Bahl - Miller/Nemec

I think these pairs were a foregone conclusion since before this camp even started.

Curious to see what the second PK unit is going to be.

PK 1: Siegenthaler - Marino
Pk 2: Bahl - Miller would seem to make sense.

I suppose if Hughes struggles you can move Bahl up? But if Bahl struggles I don't really see a solution other than sheltering the 3rd pair....but with that would come more pressure on the top 4.

It's going to be interesting to watch this dynamic of Luke, Bahl and Miller this season. Half of the defense is brand new essentially.

I think the PK is going to see Siegs, Marino, and Bahl shouldering a heavy load with those 3 rotating and then Miller picking some time here and there. That's kind of how they ran it last year with Siegs and Graves at 2:13 and 2:24 and Marino at 3. Then Sevo down at just a minute. Things were a bit different since Smith was a regular for a lot of the year and he got 95 seconds and he probably won't play as much this year

For the 5v5 lines I'd like Bahl in the top 4 instead of Luke if Bahl can handle it and we have the same dynamics as last year. Marino as the shutdown pair with either Siegs or Bahl depending on if Bahl can handle that and then Luke demolishing weak competition on the 3rd pair like Sevo did last year. I don't really love the idea of not having a shutdown pair.
 

Guadana

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I suppose if Hughes struggles you can move Bahl up? But if Bahl struggles I don't really see a solution other than sheltering the 3rd pair....but with that would come more pressure on the top 4.

It's going to be interesting to watch this dynamic of Luke, Bahl and Miller this season. Half of the defense is brand new essentially.
Smith. We dont have a problem with him as a third pair\7-8 defenseman.
 

Guadana

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I have to be honest, I keep forgetting Smith is a part of the team.
Im making the same for time to time through the offseason. Fitz made everything to protect defensive depth. I wouldnt put money on Nemec even a lock for 4RD position. May be they are okay to use Foote as injury protection and will try Nemec in limited role only to not rush him. As for LD we have Smith to protect Luke and Bahl as 4LD or may be we even see how devils will play in 11f-7d to use Smith in PK. And its not like thats all after him. Misyul didnt play in NHL, but he played 16 min in KHL and had one of the best +\-, I know its not a good stat, but we could see how he actually look in prospects tournameny - not a good transitional player, but very solid without the puck with good skating and physical aspect. Pretty good option for injury cases.

May be devils defense wouldnt be one of the best like they were previous season, but we have good enough depth to play competent.
 
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