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

[My3Sons]

It's not just intensity. The problem is that the playoffs are a fundamentally different game. There are some exceptions. Historically the pens would get the same kind of calls they would get in the regular season as would the rags. But mostly the entire rulebook changes. Illegal hits become legal. Interference, clutching, grabbing, etc. all goes from an auto penalty to just "good hard playoff hockey". Toronto has never been built for a slog fest. They are built to take advantage of the rulebook as it's written. And when the game is called that way, they are successful. But when they throw the rulebook out in the playoffs, it's a massive disadvantage for them.

I despise that the NHL does this. Rules are rules. Either call the game by the rules or write a new playoff rulebook so GMs can plan accordingly.

The refs have been allowing more and more holding and interference go during the regular season for certain teams. It’s one of thr problems facing NJ who have to play the Islanders Bruins Caps and Carolina. It’s painful to watch. I’d love to make a video and force the refs to watch it and explain why the calls aren’t being made. Then I’d be able to reenact the foul on the ref and ask if it’s a good hockey play or a felony. Ultimately it’s on the league and game management.

 

[My3Sons]

But they "wanted to win in Toronto", is maxing out they way to achieve that?






In terms of AAV they are very similar.


If Fitz signed Hamilton for $11, would Jack have settled at $8?

Bratt apparently wanted more, but levels were in place. He stayed within the teams structure.


You ignore the rest of Holik's career.

Belfour was a good player, won a cup. Not a Jordan level player, but way more success then Matthews and company thus far.


It's not about the injury, it's about finding ways to lose in the playoffs. Forest through the trees.

Bratt wanted more. The reporting hinted that Fitz told him you aren’t getting 8 so we will come close but if that isn’t good enough we are trading you. At that point Bratt said ok since he was happy.

 

[theoptimist]

I'm not worried about Palat. Just don't expect much in terms of regular season production from him.

Mercer needs to get stronger.

Stronger and probably a little wiser in the offensive zone. Jake Guentzel is about the same size and is doing fine

 

[JimEIV]

1 goal in Palat's last 24 games has me worried.

 

[My3Sons]

1 goal in Palat's last 24 games has me worried.

My blood pressure and cholesterol are more worrying to me but I hear you.

 

[Bleedred]

I think Toronto has gotten a little extra hype over the years because of being Toronto. Excluding the Canadian Division year, they have never finished above 3rd in the conference. Certainly a team that could go on a run, but never THE favorite. Outside the year they lost to the Habs, you can make an argument that every team they lost to is just better than them. Even last year with the Panthers given it was sandwiched between two seasons where Florida won the division.

I know there have been some comparisons of us moving forward and the Leafs. I think looking forward we will have better blue line talent Than they have ever had during Matthews era. And obviously they were impacted by the cap freeze and under estimating what impact bringing in Tavares for the amount they did would have on the Matthews and Marner asking prices.

Agree with all of this, but add the loss to the Blue Jackets in the 2020 qualifying round to another one they lost to a team not better than them, along with the 2021 Montreal loss.

That loss to Columbus or whatever happened there.

 

[Guttersniped]

Every time I've seen Robertson he's around the net. Granted I don't watch Dallas much but I caught a few games last year and this year and he seems to be always be between the hash marks and around the net....our players like the perimeter.

I don't know what you're definition of tough is but it seems different from mine.

I know what my definition of a player who goes to the net to score is and Robertson isn’t that.
(Also Robertson would make more if he signed for 7-8 years, but he signed a 4 year bridge deal.)

Robertson’s 5v5 Shot Chart

22-23


Vs
Brady’s 5v5 Shot Chart

22-23

Vs
Hischier’s 5v5 Shot Chart

22-23


So yeah, Robertson doesn’t go to the net more than Hischier.

Mercer is greasy goal scorer who goes to the net as well, you don’t have to be a hulking giant to do it.

22-23


Hell Bratt goes to the net more than Robertson this season:

22-23



Meier’s 5v5 shot chart (the only guy we got who goes to the net, according to you).

2022-23

 

[Oneiro]

We haven't had a coach who's been great at the cycling, north-south aspects of the game.

You had Hynes, who was a theory over reality guy. And then Ruff, a guy who's never won and whose teams were always loose. But even if PIT and CAR want to move on from their guys, tactically, it's clearly a concern that our coaching spot is open. Wonder if they delay the inevitable just to spite us.

 

[Ripshot 43]

My blood pressure and cholesterol are more worrying to me but I hear you.

If your sons ask to “take you out behind the shed”, that’s when you run!

 

[JimEIV]

I know what my definition of a player who goes to the net to score is and Robertson isn’t that.
(Also Robertson would make more if he signed for 7-8 years, but he signed a 4 year bridge deal.)

Robertson’s 5v5 Shot Chart
View attachment 861492
22-23
View attachment 861523

Vs
Brady’s 5v5 Shot Chart
View attachment 861508
22-23
View attachment 861524
Vs
Hischier’s 5v5 Shot Chart
View attachment 861493
22-23
View attachment 861537

So yeah, Robertson doesn’t go to the net more than Hischier.

Mercer is greasy goal scorer who goes to the net as well, you don’t have to be a hulking giant to do it.
View attachment 861497
22-23
View attachment 861516

Hell Bratt goes to the net more than Robertson this season:
View attachment 861504
22-23
View attachment 861514


Meier’s 5v5 shot chart (the only guy we got who goes to the net, according to you).
View attachment 861499
2022-23
View attachment 861520View attachment 861521

None of that actually shows you anything.

Shot location doesn't tell you a player is driving the net or fighting for loose pucks at all. Not even a little.

Perimeter players still score from the high danger areas. To think otherwise is simply detached from gameplay.

The perimeter player arrives late and avoids contact and plays an opportunistic game... Or scores in deep through passing and openings vs a guy in the trenches looking for scraps taking the hacks and whacks and using his body...or actually taking the puck deep into the location through the opposition.

Shot location doesn't tell you any of that

Johnny come lately to the same location isn't doing the same thing as a bull with the puck at all...but your dot matrix could never in million years tell you that. Those charts are showing nothing more than shot volume.

But you keep believing in it.

 

[MasterofGrond]

"Shot location doesn't tell you if a guy is driving the net" is kind of an insane thing to say.

I hear what you're saying, a shot chart doesn't convey the full nature of a players contributions or the shape of their impact, but what the everliving f*** is the point of driving the net if you don't shoot from driving the net?

If a guy shoots from close to the net, isn't that, ipso facto proof he drives the net? Or is there some extra definition we have to apply here to fetishize certain kinds of guys (brady tkachuk) at the expense of guys who win games just as well but are maybe smaller?

 

[Billdo]

Three point shooters shooting from beyond the arc doesn't mean anything.

 

[Saugus]

We haven't had a coach who's been great at the cycling, north-south aspects of the game.

You had Hynes, who was a theory over reality guy. And then Ruff, a guy who's never won and whose teams were always loose. But even if PIT and CAR want to move on from their guys, tactically, it's clearly a concern that our coaching spot is open. Wonder if they delay the inevitable just to spite us.

DeBoer ran that sort of offensive system (heavy forecheck and strong cycle) when he was the coach here. But we had the horses for that style then. Not sure we do now.

 

[My3Sons]

If your sons ask to “take you out behind the shed”, that’s when you run!

For now they are calling me Old Man not Old Yeller. But that could change any day.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Bratt basically has that signature move he tries all the time where he’s one on one with defender, does a little hesitation and then dips the shoulder blowing past the dman on his way to the net.



He’s much stronger than he was when he scored that one. Cangi on the call

 

[glenwo2]

Bratt basically has that signature move he tries all the time where he’s one on one with defender, does a little hesitation and then dips the shoulder blowing past the dman on his way to the net.



He’s much stronger than he was when he scored that one. Cangi on the call

And unlike his "signature move" during the shootout, THIS "signature move" works basically EVERY TIME.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Thankfully, because I was regularly on this board all season long, I didn't need to be here these last few days to watch the beginning of the summer reruns.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I can't wait for Fitz big move this summer.

Brady Tkachuk, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, or Tom Wilson.

One of those players will be a Devil.

 

[JK3]

 

[Bleedred]

I can't wait for Fitz big move this summer.

Brady Tkachuk, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, or Tom Wilson.

One of those players will be a Devil.

It’ll probably be Markstrom. I’d rather it be Ullmark, though he’s only a one year rental if we do that.

And I don’t have much interest in re-upping him.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I just wonder what type of extension Ullmark would be asking for. Love the player

 

[My3Sons]

I can't wait for Fitz big move this summer.

Brady Tkachuk, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, or Tom Wilson.

One of those players will be a Devil.

Is that word for word what you previously posted? C'mon, even I at least reword things. Do better.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I also think there is a solid chance one of Brendan Dillon or Nikita Zadorov is walking the Devils blueline next season.

 

[MartyOwns]

I can't wait for Fitz big move this summer.

Brady Tkachuk, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, or Tom Wilson.

One of those players will be a Devil.

perfect discussion fodder for another classic main board thread

 

[Guadana]

I can't wait for Fitz big move this summer.

Brady Tkachuk, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, Linus Ullmark, or Tom Wilson.

One of those players will be a Devil.

I can't wait for Fitz big move this summer.

Adam Henrique, Stefan Noesen, Yaakov Trenin, Warren Foegele, or Dakota Joshua.

At least one of those players should be a Devil. Let's be realistic.