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

[Davegarri]

I'd rather fire Ruff and the whole staff and start fresh. Doesn't really make sense to keep Ruff with how bad this team has been. Pull out all the excuses you want to defend him, I don't really care. The team needs a fresh start.

 

[Bleedred]

I'd rather fire Ruff and the whole staff and start fresh. Doesn't really make sense to keep Ruff with how bad this team has been. Pull out all the excuses you want to defend him, I don't really care. The team needs a fresh start.

I mostly agree, but it depends on who is being hired to replace him.

We can't just hire anybody and there's a few people here who are way too impressed with Kevin Dineen.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Guttersniped]

The argument is that Recchi and Ruff both should be fired; not that Recchi shouldn’t be fired.

When did anyone defend Recchi? It’s an indictment on the entire coaching staff that the PP was this bad all season. The other people arguing are saying Ruff didn’t run the PP so he bears no responsibility.

You keep seemingly denying Recchi’s specific job exists though and that teams can judge these coaches separately. Wanting Ruff fired is a separate issue, I doubt few people here think Ruff will survive past next year.

I realize a lot of people have been discussing this before I posted so I don’t have much more to add to what they and I already said.

 

[captainscott]

So what does a head coach actually do then? Take the team out for pizza and ice cream after the game?

I guess he gets credit for our number one overalls pick being decent players? Wow how dooooooes he do it?

i kinda agree here

 

[Devils731]

You keep seemingly denying Recchi’s specific job exists though and that teams can judge these coaches separately. Wanting Ruff fired is a separate issue, I doubt few people here think Ruff will survive past next year.

I realize a lot of people have been discussing this before I posted so I don’t have much more to add to what they and I already said.

No, I’m not denying Recchi was the PP guy. I’m saying Recchi was doing it so badly he needed help and either the head coach couldn’t help him or was in approval of what was being done. Or the head coach decided not to help him while the PP was arguably the worst in the league.

None of those 3 scenarios are good looks for Ruff.

For the people arguing, Ruff seemingly takes no responsibility for the PP since an assistant coach was assigned to it; which doesn’t make sense when you read Ruff’s own quotes and know how the Devils want their organization to work.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

No, I’m not denying Recchi was the PP guy. I’m saying Recchi was doing it so badly he needed help and either the head coach couldn’t help him or was in approval of what was being done. Or the head coach decided not to help him while the PP was arguably the worst in the league.

None of those 3 scenarios are good looks for Ruff.

For the people arguing, Ruff seemingly takes no responsibility for the PP since an assistant coach was assigned to it; which doesn’t make sense when you read Ruff’s own quotes and know how the Devils want their organization to work.

It absolutely makes sense. Ruff can help Recchi. But at the end of the day Recchi was the one hired and being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to run the pp and there is only so much Ruff can do. Recchi wasn’t assigned to that. He was literally hired to do that. The head coach can offer suggestions and help him but the head coach can’t run the pp for him. There is so much that goes into it and that is why they hire a coach to run it. The head coach can’t just offer some advice and suggestions on work on it with him a bit and expect it to turn around. And he has far too much on his own plate to be expected to spend all the time and effort required to do Recchi’s job and run the pp.

i kinda agree here

Then I’ll give you the exact same answer:


5v5 systems (most if not all)
Lineup decisions
Run the forwards during games
Make decisions on the bench (eg. Timeout, challenges, pull the goalie)
Manage players (very important)
Manage practices (also important, likely with help though)
And probably more I’ve forgotten

Pretty much the only things they certainly don’t do are the things another coach is hired to do. For example Recchi was hired to run the powerplay (others: penalty kill, goalie coach, skills coach, video coach too although I’m sure most head coaches are fairly involved in this as well).

Head coach is definitely the most important but teams hire guys to run other aspects because the head coach can’t do it all.

 

[OmNomNom]

They're one coaching staff, not 3 distinct coaches

I just can't see it being so siloed

 

[Captain3rdLine]

They're one coaching staff, not 3 distinct coaches

I just can't see it being so siloed

Well they are actually 3 distinct people and coaches. Ruff is the head coach and handles most things. He can’t do everything so they hire other coaches to handle other stuff. For example, Mark Recchi was hired to coach the powerplay and be a mentor to our young forwards. The powerplay we had all season was Mark Recchi’s powerplay.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Smith almost singlehandedly lost several games with a litany of huge defensive blunders. He was almost an automatic win in one-on-one battles and down low. He was unable to cover opposing forwards in front of the net. Opposing coaches were falling all over themselves trying to get their top scorers out against him. He was, quite simply, a liability this year.

I'm not trying to dump on Smith, but the facts are clear. After a very impressive rookie year -- and I can't pretend to know why -- he showed up this year slower both physically and mentally. I think he's a good kid, and I hope he can get his career back on track next year. Just hopefully, it's for some other team, because the Devils cannot afford such a liability on their blueline.

Agree we can't at this time rely on him but you cannot also give up on a player who could be just in a sophomore slump....Best case he commits himself over the summer to getting stronger as Fitz said and rebuilds his value then you can always trade him due to our depth at LHD....

 

[Eggtimer]

Agree we can't at this time rely on him but you cannot also give up on a player who could be just in a sophomore slump....Best case he commits himself over the summer to getting stronger as Fitz said and rebuilds his value then you can always trade him due to our depth at LHD....

But how / why should you play him if there are others that have shown that they are better options than him ? For example , one or more of Shakir Bahl or Okhotiuk outplay him in camp . Do you play Smith even if he is a liability , just to hope that he bounced back and improves ? What if he doesn’t ? It further tanks his value . Not to mention his play style is kinda of redundant plus Fitz has said he wants size and mobility on D . I just don’t see a spot for him next year unless he comes into camp and plays amazing . If if he does look improved , I can’t see the need for a small D that is more suited as a PP / puck moving specialist when we need more responsible defence players ?

 

[Oneiro]

Regardless of how you feel about Smith and his impact, Luke Hughes is going to be on the team as will Hamilton. That’s two bonafide rover types for the long haul, both with better skating, technical skills and size.

I just don’t see a place for even a highly improved Smith. To me, it’s not a question of giving up on a kid. It’s an inevitability.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

But how / why should you play him if there are others that have shown that they are better options than him ? For example , one or more of Shakir Bahl or Okhotiuk outplay him in camp . Do you play Smith even if he is a liability , just to hope that he bounced back and improves ? What if he doesn’t ? It further tanks his value . Not to mention his play style is kinda of redundant plus Fitz has said he wants size and mobility on D . I just don’t see a spot for him next year unless he comes into camp and plays amazing . If if he does look improved , I can’t see the need for a small D that is more suited as a PP / puck moving specialist when we need more responsible defence players ?

Agree on not just playing him to play him...it will all depend on how he responds next season see if he commits himself and restores his value....I assume if he doesn't make the team maybe time in Utica will serve him well....I don't see him in the long term plans of Devils but I definitely want to see him restore his trade value if possible....

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Agree on not just playing him to play him...it will all depend on how he responds next season see if he commits himself and restores his value....I assume if he doesn't make the team maybe time in Utica will serve him well....I don't see him in the long term plans of Devils but I definitely want to see him restore his trade value if possible....

The problem with that is that it is far more likely that his trade value goes down than up from here. He’s not gonna play a major role on the powerplay where he can pick up lots of points there’s a bunch of other guys who could outplay him for a spot in the lineup who are better fits. And if he isn’t playing in the lineup his values going down and even worse if he’s in Utica his value is being absolutely tanked. It is probably a good idea to look for a trade for him this summer while he still does have value.

 

[RSeen]

Regardless of how you feel about Smith and his impact, Luke Hughes is going to be on the team as will Hamilton. That’s two bonafide rover types for the long haul, both with better skating, technical skills and size.

I just don’t see a place for even a highly improved Smith. To me, it’s not a question of giving up on a kid. It’s an inevitability.

Smith just does not skate and defend well enough. Can't be weak physically and not skate and expect to be a top 4 Dman.

I guess you have to hope Ty can play better in season 3, put up some points in a PP2 role and then we can look at trading him. Not sure he has much value right now.

 

[Oneiro]

Smith just does not skate and defend well enough. Can't be weak physically and not skate and expect to be a top 4 Dman.

I guess you have to hope Ty can play better in season 3, put up some points in a PP2 role and then we can look at trading him. Not sure he has much value right now.

NHL teams know the junior track record - I think now is the time where a team might just chalk up his negative progress to NJ’s dysfunction, as with Zacha. And so now is the time to put him in a package.

 

[RSeen]

NHL teams know the junior track record - I think now is the time where a team might just chalk up his negative progress to NJ’s dysfunction, as with Zacha. And so now is the time to put him in a package.

What about the progression of Jack and Bratt? Is that due to NJ's dysfunction too? This was Ty's D+4 season. Not like we rushed him. It doesn't seem like he's put in the work on getting stronger and faster.

 

[Oneiro]

What about the progression of Jack and Bratt? Is that due to NJ's dysfunction too? This was Ty's D+4 season. Not like we rushed him. It doesn't seem like he's put in the work on getting stronger and faster.

Even bad teams have good players? Don’t see your point there. All I’m saying is that many teams might view this as a tough situation to develop in and a few guys doing well doesn’t necessarily change that.

 

[McDuffz88]

Crazy that Louis Dominigue couldn't stop a beach ball for us but can apparently win playoff games for the penguins.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Crazy that Louis Dominigue couldn't stop a beach ball for us but can apparently win playoff games for the penguins.

He isn't really stopping a beach ball for Pitt either. That was a pathetic goaltending performance in that game

 

[SKNJD9]

Just watched the HNIC Marek/Friedman report on Fiala.

Wasn't a ton there, just that Marek has heard the Devils really like him along with Fitz being on the record we'd move the 1st for a impact player

 

[NJDevs26]

Crazy that Louis Dominigue couldn't stop a beach ball for us but can apparently win playoff games for the penguins.

This one was like a Gilles win in February though lol

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Now we’re talking!

 

[Cheddabombs]

Get it done Fitz! The Hughes family & the Swiss will turn this team around

 

[Captain3rdLine]

That would be a huge addition. Like he’s really good and can score.

What could the cost be? Pick 5 or 6 and then what?
Would they have interest in Zacha and/or Smith?
Holtz?
Gritsyuk?
Mukhammadullin?

All of those guys could be in play on a deal like this.

And then we would have to figure out his contract.

This should be a much more fun discussion than just talking about Ruff and Recchi.