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

[Moist ReadOnly]

If that top line doesn’t work, it’ll be changed - that isn’t rocket science. They aren’t going to have Hughes, Bratt and Timo do nothing for a month just to lock in the second line

Why are we wasting a month to figure out what weve known for nearly two years now, and what basic logic tells us;

Timo Meier and Jack Hughes cannot be on the same line

They only are because our analytics department most certainly informed Sheldon about their 22-23 season (the Hischier line)

 

[NJDevs26]

Why are we wasting a month to figure out what weve known for nearly two years now, and what basic logic tells us;

Timo Meier and Jack Hughes cannot be on the same line

They only are because our analytics department most certainly informed Sheldon about their 22-23 season (the Hischier line)

Have we seen any of those lines in the Keefe system? No…this year has nothing to do with the last two.

And Timo had plenty of time on the third line under Ruff last year much to this board’s chagrin. You’re ranting about nothing…at some point they’re going to have the ‘wrong’ lines playing whether due to experimentation, injury or both.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

Have we seen any of those lines in the Keefe system? No…this year has nothing to do with the last two.

You know what, Id love to agree with you...

EXCEPT THE HISCHIER LINE IS BASED ON TWO YEARS AGO

 

[NJDevs26]

You know what, Id love to agree with you...

EXCEPT THE HISCHIER LINE IS BASED ON TWO YEARS AGO

Again give them a try, if it doesn’t work it’ll be switched! They aren’t starting the playoffs next week or next month.

And Dawson was crap last year, if having Tatar helps him then get him off to a good start and go from there. Jack has to play with at least one of Bratt or Timo unless you think he can literally make a sixty point player out of any winger.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If youre so obsessed with Tatar being on Nico's line (like as if anyone more skilled wouldnt do even better; Nico does some seriously heavy lifting here) then put Meier on their right wing

But they havent because this is about analytics of the entire line, not just Tatar - weve essentially forced a brand new coach's hand

I don’t think I’m the one obsessed with this stuff

 

[Guttersniped]

Ian Clark is one of the few goalie coaches I've actually heard of and has a stellar reputation / track record. I don't know what is going on in Vancouver and if they are maybe blaming him for Demko's injuries, or not foreseeing he'd fail to recover in the offseason, or what if things have "gone sour." I was under the impression he wanted to take a step back cause he's over 60 but he'd be a great get from everything I've heard.

If this is just a cruel tease…

 

[JrFischer54]

That would be fine, as long as we also put about 14 or 15 other guys (not all of whom are players) also in there.

If Pandolfo is in the ring of honor, then you gotta put MacLean in, you gotta put Madden in, you probably gotta put Colin White in, you probably gotta put Greene and Zajac in at some point. You gotta put Langenbrunner in. You probably gotta put Holik in there. Maybe even Randy McKay. Maybe even Rafalski. Maybe even Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez too. Arguably even a guy like Zubrus, although he played here in non-championship years. All of those guys best years were with the Devils, other than Zubrus. Claude Lemieux is another.

And then all 3 cup winning head coaches, as well as Doc and Chico and Lou.

All of these guys are either more or equally as worthy. I take back Zubrus. Putting him in may be like putting Parise in.

how bout we just put everyone that has won a cup in it? seems to be thats the main criteria a cup win.

 

[Guttersniped]

That''s fine but if they are going to add 1 person a year then he'll get in there eventually and it's deserved, that's why I said I would love to see it one day.

I really don't know who they'll pick, everyone was expecting someone older last year like Lou, Jacques, Doc or Chico and it ended up being Brylin so who knows. I assume it was because he was the only other player that won all 3 Cups here that it made the most sense to put him in first.

Bylin also has been a coach with the organization since 2012-13.

It should be Chico. It looks like they’re waiting for Lou to retire before doing something there.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

I don’t think I’m the one obsessed with this stuff

So no rebuttal toward the actual conversation

Again, just admit you have no where to land on this conversation

Tatar-Hischier-Mercer is only being played again because thats what our analytics department shoved down Sheldon Keefe's throat

The snarky responses Im sure make you feel good, but they just go to show youre out of your depth here because, for once, analytics is making poor decisions for your team and you know it

You know for a fact Timo should be on Nico's wing but cant admit it because youd be agreeing with me lmfao

Again give them a try, if it doesn’t work it’ll be switched! They aren’t starting the playoffs next week or next month.

And Dawson was crap last year, if having Tatar helps him then get him off to a good start and go from there. Jack has to play with at least one of Bratt or Timo unless you think he can literally make a sixty point player out of any winger.

Id run:

Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Tatar-Haula-Noesen

You want to switch it up sometimes throughout the year to get others going, then fine; but that, Id bet a lot of money, will be our best roster lineup of the season

 

[Triumph]

So no rebuttal toward the actual conversation

Again, just admit you have no where to land on this conversation

Tatar-Hischier-Mercer is only being played again because thats what our analytixs department shoved down Sheldon Keefe's throat

The snarky responses Im sure make you feel good, but they just go to show youre out of your depth here because, for once, analytics is making poor decisions for your team and you know it

You know for a fact Timo should be on Nico's wing but cant admit it because youd be agreeing with me lmfao

lol. I do love how there's one side of this sort of thing who thinks that analytics are responsible for the good moves the team makes and then the other side who thinks analytics are responsible for all the bad moves.

One thing I can say with the confidence you have here - I have absolutely no idea what role analytics plays in the Devils' line decisions. None whatsoever. Another thing I do know is that Tatar was really excellent with Hischier and Mercer.

I'm in favor of switching Meier and Palat and rolling with Meier on the 3rd line. There's any number of reasons not to start the season that way, though.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

lol. I do love how there's one side of this sort of thing who thinks that analytics are responsible for the good moves the team makes and then the other side who thinks analytics are responsible for all the bad moves.

One thing I can say with the confidence you have here - I have absolutely no idea what role analytics plays in the Devils' line decisions. None whatsoever. One thing I do know is that Tatar was really excellent with Hischier and Mercer.

Another thing you know is Meier Bratt Hughes cannot coexist on a single line because one or more wont be getting enough shots off

And I stated in the post you quote that 'for once' analytics makes a bad decision for the team (the Hischier line) - and that is why Steve cant possibly agree with me

Everyone wants Tatar with Nico, fine - theres no reason to then slap Mercer there just because of one good season under a different coach in a system that caught the entire league off-guard

Its not only foolhardy to expect two middling wingers to replicate such a thing, but it also worsens our other 1st overall center's line

 

[Guttersniped]

Ian Clark is one of the few goalie coaches I've actually heard of and has a stellar reputation / track record. I don't know what is going on in Vancouver and if they are maybe blaming him for Demko's injuries, or not foreseeing he'd fail to recover in the offseason, or what if things have "gone sour." I was under the impression he wanted to take a step back cause he's over 60 but he'd be a great get from everything I've heard.

I can’t remember if I took to this board to rage about it or not, but I immediately thought “here’s an upgrade! Why is Rogalski still here? Now’s our chance. And we can even use the excuse that he wasn’t available yet and now he is!” But from everything I heard, it seems like he may be doing one of those “Semi-retirement” things that guys like Mitch Korn did and Benoit Allaire just did this very offseason.

I honestly didn’t look into it too much, but it felt like from what I heard that he wasn’t really available.

Ian Clark is listed at 58 on Elite Prospects, with a May birthday. link

Benoit Allaire is 60 and still listed as the NY Rangers Goalie Coach, so I don’t know what “semi-retirement” you heard about with him. link

Mitch Korn is 67 with a Sept birthday, and has been just the Director of Goaltending for a while, but I would still take him. link

Unless he’s ill, I’m assuming Clark still wants to work. These guys hang on forever. The (great) Ducks goalie coach stayed on despite a bout with cancer.

Boston’s Bob Essensa is 59 and he’s arguably the other best goalie coach outside of these guys, Clark’s age isn’t a worry for me.

 

[Bleedred]

Ian Clark is listed at 58 on Elite Prospects, with a May birthday. link

Benoit Allaire is 60 and still listed as the NY Rangers Goalie Coach, so I don’t know what “semi-retirement” you heard about with him. link

Mitch Korn is 67 with a Sept birthday, and has been just the Director of Goaltending for a while, but I would still take him. link

Unless he’s ill, I’m assuming Clark still wants to work. These guys hang on forever. The (great) Ducks goalie coach stayed on despite a bout with cancer.

Boston’s Bob Essensa is 59 and he’s arguably the other best goalie coach outside of these guys, Clark’s age isn’t a worry for me.

I remember either reading or hearing on a podcast this offseason that Benoit Allaire is still with the team, but maybe he's not travelling with the team anymore or part of the daily operation anymore? I actually remember hearing somewhere else last year that he wasn't going on all the road trips.

NYR News > Benoit Allaire will remain Director of Goaltending but not Goalie Coach

Benoit Allaire, who this season had the title of “Head Goaltending Coach and Director of New York Rangers Goaltending, will remain as the team’s Director of Goaltending but will step ba…

nyrangersnews.com

Rangers’ longtime goalie guru Benoit Allaire scaling back coaching duties

The Rangers’ Goaltending Guru is scaling back his workload.

nypost.com

Jeff Malcolm named new Rangers goalie coach

It's the end of an era for the New York Rangers. After 20 years as an assistant/goalie coach, Benoit Allaire is taking a step back. Jeff Malcolm is the new Rang

blueseatblogs.com

I found these. Apparently he's now the director of goaltending (like Korn) but no longer the day to day goalie coach.

 

[HBK27]

Ian Clark is listed at 58 on Elite Prospects, with a May birthday. link

Benoit Allaire is 60 and still listed as the NY Rangers Goalie Coach, so I don’t know what “semi-retirement” you heard about with him. link

Mitch Korn is 67 with a Sept birthday, and has been just the Director of Goaltending for a while, but I would still take him. link

Unless he’s ill, I’m assuming Clark still wants to work. These guys hang on forever. The (great) Ducks goalie coach stayed on despite a bout with cancer.

Boston’s Bob Essensa is 59 and he’s arguably the other best goalie coach outside of these guys, Clark’s age isn’t a worry for me.

Friedman on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (around the 22 minute mark) commented that those that follow the situation closely noted that "after it was decided that Clark could not go on the ice everyday this season for his own health because of injuries he suffered, that maybe this marriage wouldn't continue". Goes on to mention that the relationship between Clark and the Canucks has turned in a bad direction, then notes that he's a really sharp guy that really knows goaltending a played a huge role in getting Demko to where he is.

Also said that he may be on the move with the Canucks' blessing. Notes that the Devils already have a goaltending department, but know Markstrom well.

So my read on this is that there's smoke to him coming to the Devils, but he wouldn't necessarily be a Rogalski replacement as the amount of coaching he could do would be somewhat limited. Still, would seem to be a huge add for the goaltending department if this does come to fruition.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Ian Clark is listed at 58 on Elite Prospects, with a May birthday. link

Looks like I trusted an AI response that he was 61 when I said that he was over 60 that quoted this profile: Ian Clark - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

If anyone cares.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Why can't we see the same line from two years ago, with a new coach?

It's a new coach, with a completely non-Ruff system. I don't want to come to any conclusions until we've gotten through at least 10-12 regular season games seeing this team in flow.

If anything - there is every reason in my mind to try all the same combos we've ever tried with this core all over again because there is a new coach + new system.

We need to see what will work in this new system and coaching style.

Saying it was done 2 years ago don't try again, weighs a lot less when you factor player development and aging and new coach and system

Even after a few preseason games I can see Nico is better in the Keefe PP bumper system than whatever PP system Ruff and crew had used.

 

[HBK27]

Wondering how the rest of the roster shakes out.

Our top 12 most definitely set. Thought Bastian might be iffy with a bad preseason, but seems he & that line is playing well. MacDermid (sigh) gets the 13th F spot, leaving up to one open if they go 14/7.

Coming into the preseason, I thought Foote was the favorite for that 14th forward spot, but he seemingly hasn't stood out and averaged just 11:42 in his 2 preseason games with 4 SOG (one of which was the AHL heavy forward group). Lebanc, Dowling, Bowers & Hardman might also be in the mix, though Hardman has only played 10:17 this preseason in that same game vs. Montreal. Seems like none of these guys have really done much of anything to stand out so far and I'm not sure how it'll work getting them more game action versus bringing a couple of them to Prague. Wouldn't be too surprised to see NJ claim a forward off waivers before the domestic start to the season.

Defense is a mess with all the injuries, which could mean we start the year on LTIR. Assuming we have no Luke, we have no Pesce, we have no Hatakka (our pets heads are falling off!), then we're looking at Hamilton, Dillon, Siegs, Nemec & Kovacevic most definitely in the starting lineup. That gives us 5 with Casey, DeSimone and Zboril fighting for 2-3 spots as I could see them going 13/8 (especially with Casey on the roster as he could slot in at F in a pinch if necessary ala Brendan Smith). Huge night tonight for Zboril to try to earn a contract.

I'm curious to see which players take off for Prague this weekend. Devils can bring a roster of 26 according to Nicholas, but I wonder if they only bring the guys that are 100% making the roster to start and give the borderline players an extra game or two before deciding who else goes?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets fan here…based on some young guys playing well it’s possible someone makes the roster that is a surprise, maybe Casey. My question is who do you predict starts the season in Utica that you wouldn’t have guessed a month ago?

The off season injuries to Luke and Simon combined with the slow rehab of Pesce has disturbed the NJ defense. Prior to this info the Devils D looked to be set.

Siegenthaler/Hamilton
Luke/Pesce
Dillon/Nemec
Kovacevic

The info on Luke determined his absence until maybe as early as the end of October or early November. The thought at that moment was Hatakka would step in.

Nemec injured in the World qualifying tournament led to Casey getting a much longer look than most were anticipating. He has been stellar in 2 GP.

Now all of a sudden Hatakka is also out. It doesn't appear to be a lengthy stay.

Pesce is skating and may be ready in a couple of weeks or at least by November
Nemec appears to be expected to go by game 1.
Hatakka is more than day to day but not expected to be a lengthy disability.

It's a roll of the dice as to what the actual status of these guys will be by opening day, but the only missing link may be Hatakka playing for Luke. Some of the fan base is convinced that Casey should be inserted into the top 6 on his offside. The actual outcome will come from the NJ Head Coach and GM.

As to any Devils' D-man coming down. That won't happen. Hatakka and DeSimone were ticketed to waivers and then Utica. Casey was also most likely a Comet. Now we may still end up with Hatakka and DeSimone either right at the start or as soon as the health status of the NJ injured is A-OK.

I don't believe any new Comet prospect or a player from last season was expected to even vie for a spot once Cotter, Tatar ,and Noesen were signed. The only battle was likely to have been between Bastian and Foote. As it looks right now Foote may be returning to Utica.

Kevin Lebanc (RW/LW) was signed to a PTO and has played well. He also could be waived for assignment to Utica as to be available for recall to the Devils. He could also make the Devils.
That would still mean someone would have to come down for that to happen. They could also thank him for his contribution to the preseason and release him.

Personally, I don't see any real big addition to the Comets as the result of subtraction by the Devils.

We might get Casey back when NJ is healthy because they might want him to get big minutes in all situations as I believe was their original plan. That would be fantastic for the Comets' season, but he would be high on the Devils' list for any D-callup. It will be a nail in the coffin lid for the Comets if he is not assigned here. Many more nails will have to be inserted, but he will be the one of the greatest impact.

The Devils have another PTO D-man on their camp roster, Jakub Zboril. He is a 27-yr-old left shooting D-man. He has spent the better part of the past 7 seasons in the Boston organization before being traded to AHL Cleveland. He is an unrestricted free agent.

The Comets do have room for another veteran on their roster that would not be a problem at game time with the number of vets who can play based upon AHL Veteran rules. Lebanc and Zboril are both Vets and if both come down the comets would have 6 Vets. That would mean one of the Comets' 6 Vets would be ineligible in any given game.

Hope that answers your question. Explaining it in full was better than simply saying, not likely we see anyone besides Foote. We've seen him before and know what he offers, helpful, but won't push this team into a serious contender in the North.

This team will be in a fight all season to make the playoffs.

- The D should be good to very strong depending upon who actually ends up in the top 6.

- The goaltending should also be strong.

- It's the same problem up front that we have had to live with in all 4 seasons affiliated with NJ, they have not provided the team with any top AHL level centers. When the Captain, Ryan Schmelzer, was the team's leading point man and no further additions have been made, the Comets will likely still struggle to score.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Again give them a try, if it doesn’t work it’ll be switched! They aren’t starting the playoffs next week or next month.

And Dawson was crap last year, if having Tatar helps him then get him off to a good start and go from there. Jack has to play with at least one of Bratt or Timo unless you think he can literally make a sixty point player out of any winger.

I think Jack probably could tbh

 

[Devils731]

I think Jack probably could tbh

I’m in agreement that Jack can carry lesser offensive wingers to success.

I’m in the boat that the Devils best lineup may be Timo, Bratt, and Hughes on 3 separate lines. I think this because Hughes doesn’t need anyone else to be offensively dangerous.

Bratt and Nico have good offensive chemistry while still being able to go up against the other teams top players.

Hughes I think creates offense on his own for himself most nights, so I can put random meat and potato guys with him and get good results.

Timo then gets to go up against the other teams lesser talent and defenders and he should do well being “the guy” on a line where he’s the most talented guy on the ice.

 

[NJDevs26]

Except that Timo didn’t do well on the third line last year and everyone including Timo complained about it. It was only after Toffoli got traded and he got put back in the top six that he suddenly got magically healthy enough to produce despite never actually being healthy.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

Except that Timo didn’t do well on the third line last year and everyone including Timo complained about it. It was only after Toffoli got traded and he got put back in the top six that he suddenly got magically healthy enough to produce despite never actually being healthy.

I feel Bratt is best to run a third line - let Timo pot 40+ next to Nico

 

[Triumph]

Except that Timo didn’t do well on the third line last year and everyone including Timo complained about it. It was only after Toffoli got traded and he got put back in the top six that he suddenly got magically healthy enough to produce despite never actually being healthy.

Timo played on the third line when he was at his most injured. He should do very well with Haula and Noesen.

 

[JrFischer54]

I’m not saying it’s serious the jack thing but I will say if he makes it through the entire season without injury it will be the greatest achievement in franchise history

 

[njdevils1982]

my interest in the preseason is done at this point