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

[My3Sons]

I don’t know how I suddenly represent all the criticisms of Lou and/or the Islanders on the board.

I didn’t even dump on him or NYI in the post. I said the Islanders arguably have the best goalie tandem in the NHL this season. Not sure how that can be interpreted as “unsustainable goaltending”.

They did most likely only make the playoffs in 2019-20 because of the shutdown and unique qualifying round. By March they had dropped out of a playoff spot and were bad in pretty much every way possible. That’s just true.

Their 2018-19 scoring by committee was really coming from unexpected places, Cizikas was more of a 3C but their 4C, Filppula, scored 17 goals to go with his 20 that season.

Looks like I overestimated the offense that season though, it was definitely how much they kept GA down in the regular season that was the difference in their best seasons:

SEASON: GF/GP GA/GP
2021-22: 2.79 (22nd-tie) 2.82 (7th-tie) .512%
2020-21: 2.71 (21st) 2.23 (2nd) .634%
2019-20: 2.78 (22nd) 2.79 (9th) .588%
2018-19: 2.72 (22nd) 2.33 (1st) .628%

Statistically speaking, those super low GAs are harder to maintain and the team needs more offense.

You’re assigning me generic alleged ‘board takes’ about the NYI here though. I don’t make all that many forecasts about any team, or as I like to call them, guesses. You can get on a high horse if you predicted the NYI not making the playoffs this season, and also Trotz getting fired, plus correctly guessing what will happen next season. If not, then your guesses are as good as anyone else’s.

I don’t even particularly dislike the Islanders, at least compared to other OG divisional rivals (earmuffs @Bleedred ). I was enthusiastically rooting against them in the PO but we had picks at stake.

I know we got lectures about the Islanders being contenders that we were supposed to be in quiet unquestioning awe of… or something to that effect. Those lectures were switched to the Rangers this season tho.

People on this board aren’t required to be extra vigilant or scrupulously fair when discussing other GMs or teams.

Post-Devils Lou reminds of things that I do and don’t like about his approach. I just made a few comments, it wasn’t a exhaustive overview. When I said people might overrate the turnaround, he got the GM of the Year award both times they had their playoff runs.

I’m not against him winning those either, though I loath that award. Hell, I consider myself a borderline Lou apologist. I find some of the anti-Lou ranting amusing but they lost, when he retires the Devils org will slobber all over him.

Side Note: I did claim what others say about the Devils never bothers me, but that’s not true. The “Devils ruined hockey” narrative is so rage inducing, I can’t discuss it. I mean, WTF?

View attachment 578849

I just want to make everyone who says that head explode Scanners style.

So that definitely still bothers me.

Well Lou and NYI criticism are only two of many highlights on your twenty six page hfboards resume and we can’t forget the 246 pages of supporting appendixes

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Can't even get excited for this coming season knowing it could be the last for Bratt as a Devil......meh.

Arseni Gritsyuk has entered the chat

 

[tailfins]

I don’t know how I suddenly represent all the criticisms of Lou and/or the Islanders on the board.

I didn’t even dump on him or NYI in the post. I said the Islanders arguably have the best goalie tandem in the NHL this season. Not sure how that can be interpreted as “unsustainable goaltending”.

They did most likely only make the playoffs in 2019-20 because of the shutdown and unique qualifying round. By March they had dropped out of a playoff spot and were bad in pretty much every way possible. That’s just true.

Their 2018-19 scoring by committee was really coming from unexpected places, Cizikas was more of a 3C but their 4C, Filppula, scored 17 goals to go with his 20 that season.

Looks like I overestimated the offense that season though, it was definitely how much they kept GA down in the regular season that was the difference in their best seasons:

SEASON: GF/GP GA/GP
2021-22: 2.79 (22nd-tie) 2.82 (7th-tie) .512%
2020-21: 2.71 (21st) 2.23 (2nd) .634%
2019-20: 2.78 (22nd) 2.79 (9th) .588%
2018-19: 2.72 (22nd) 2.33 (1st) .628%

Statistically speaking, those super low GAs are harder to maintain and the team needs more offense.

You’re assigning me generic alleged ‘board takes’ about the NYI here though. I don’t make all that many forecasts about any team, or as I like to call them, guesses. You can get on a high horse if you predicted the NYI not making the playoffs this season, and also Trotz getting fired, plus correctly guessing what will happen next season. If not, then your guesses are as good as anyone else’s.

I don’t even particularly dislike the Islanders, at least compared to other OG divisional rivals (earmuffs @Bleedred ). I was enthusiastically rooting against them in the PO but we had picks at stake.

I know we got lectures about the Islanders being contenders that we were supposed to be in quiet unquestioning awe of… or something to that effect. Those lectures were switched to the Rangers this season tho.

People on this board aren’t required to be extra vigilant or scrupulously fair when discussing other GMs or teams.

Post-Devils Lou reminds of things that I do and don’t like about his approach. I just made a few comments, it wasn’t a exhaustive overview. When I said people might overrate the turnaround, he got the GM of the Year award both times they had their playoff runs.

I’m not against him winning those either, though I loath that award. Hell, I consider myself a borderline Lou apologist. I find some of the anti-Lou ranting amusing but they lost, when he retires the Devils org will slobber all over him.

Side Note: I did claim what others say about the Devils never bothers me, but that’s not true. The “Devils ruined hockey” narrative is so rage inducing, I can’t discuss it. I mean, WTF?

View attachment 578849

I just want to make everyone who says that head explode Scanners style.

So that definitely still bothers me.

Yeah - sorry, didn’t mean to point fingers at you. I generally live your posts. You’ve inspired me to up my gif game.

 

[Goptor]

One thing you can credit Lou with is he did not screw around with goaltending.

Burke came in his first year with the Devils.
Andersen first year with the Leafs.
Lehner first year with the Isles.

He's maintained high end goaltending through almost all of his career in management.

 

[Bleedred]

One thing you can credit Lou with is he did not screw around with goaltending.

Burke came in his first year with the Devils.
Andersen first year with the Leafs.
Lehner first year with the Isles.

He's maintained high end goaltending through almost all of his career in management.

I agree with you. He seems to still have somewhat of a good eye for goalies and always did before this. He also drafted several goalies (but mostly just in 1990 and a couple shortly after) that had successful NHL careers, even though he struck out on a bunch later on and even used too high of picks on a couple of them. The Varlamov deal could have ended up badly for him, but it’s worked out.

That said, one thing that still doesn’t sit well is that Lou in his second to last year here allowed Marty to be placated and it ended up in costing us a playoff berth. We only missed by five points. Both him and Pete acted like two big p***yes that year with the Marty stuff.

 

[My3Sons]

One thing you can credit Lou with is he did not screw around with goaltending.

Burke came in his first year with the Devils.
Andersen first year with the Leafs.
Lehner first year with the Isles.

He's maintained high end goaltending through almost all of his career in management.

That’s always been his basic philosophy to build from the net out.

 

[Guttersniped]

Yeah - sorry, didn’t mean to point fingers at you. I generally live your posts. You’ve inspired me to up my gif game.

The Outpost The Outpost Series GIF - The Outpost The Outpost Series Thecw - Discover & Share GIFs

Click to view the GIF

tenor.com

No problem, I arguably overreacted. I just get tired of people white knighting our division rivals (often just as a way to complain more about our team). Lou is obviously different but I recommend being chill about that, his legacy is about as safe and legendary as it gets for a working GM.

I rag on the GM of the Year Award because obviously it’s dumb and deserves it. A group of 30-32 people who manage everything shouldn’t give each other an award every year. They add “a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media” to beef up voting with 10 extra ballets but that doesn’t help.

It started in 2009-10 and they voted on it, like every other NHL award, at the conclusion of the regular season through 2012-13. Shero won that year, with Murray & Bergevin as finalists.

Both the Habs and the Ducks lost in the 1st round in 2013 (the Pens lost to the Bruins in the ECF) and that might driven the GMs to change the rules to make themselves look better. Starting in 2013-14, they vote for the award after conclusion of the second round of the Playoffs.

The one fun thing about this award is that the vote breakdowns are public, so you can really see who they like or don’t. Let’s just say instead of Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award other possible names included:
Holy f*** Do We Love David Poile or What GM of the Year Award or
Eat a Bag of Dicks Stan Bowman GM of the Year Award
Admittedly those are wordier names.

NHL Records

records.nhl.com

The first award doesn’t have listed finalists here but contemporary articles had them (McPhee & Poile). Sadly I couldn’t find the voting breakdown for 2009-10.

I was going to mess around more with this (who got the most votes, who was most snubbed while killing it, etc) but just haven’t got around to it. But here they are, so everyone can drink them in.

Here are all the top three nominees, the bolded are the winners:

Don Maloney
2009-10 Phoenix Coyotes

George McPhee
2009-10 Washington Capitals

Dave Poile
2009-10 Nashville Predators
2010-11 Nashville Predators
2011-12 Nashville Predators
2016-17 Nashville Predators

Mike Gillis
2010-11 Vancouver Canucks

Steve Yzerman
2010-11 Tampa Bay Lightning
2014-15 Tampa Bay Lightning
2017-18 Tampa Bay Lightning

Doug Armstrong
2011-12 St Louis Blues
2018-19 St Louis Blues

Dale Tallon
2011-12 Florida Panthers

Ray Shero
2012-13 Pittsburgh Penguins

Bob Murray
2012-13 Anaheim Ducks
2013-14 Anaheim Ducks
2014-15 Anaheim Ducks

Marc Bergevin
2012-13 Montreal Canadiens
2013-14 Montreal Canadiens
2020-21 Montreal Canadiens

Dean Lombardi
2013-14 Los Angeles Kings

Glen Sather
2014-15 New York Rangers

Jim Rutherford
2015-16 Pittsburgh Penguins

Brian McLellan
2015-16 Washington Capitals

Jim Nill
2015-16 Dallas Stars
2019-20 Dallas Stars

Peter Chiarelli
2016-17 Edmonton Oilers

Pierre Dorian
2016-17 Ottawa Senators

George McPhee
2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights

Kevin Cheveldayoff
2017-18 Winnipeg Jets

Don Sweeney
2018-19 Boston Bruins

Don Waddell
2018-19 Carolina Hurricanes

Lou Lamoriello
2019-20 New York Islanders
2020-21 New York Islanders

Julien BriseBois
2019-20 Tampa Bay Lightning
2020-21 Tampa Bay Lightning

Bill Zito
2020-21 Florida Panthers

Joe Sakic
2021-22 Colorado Avalanche

Chris Drury
2021-22 New York Rangers

THE VOTING RESULTS BY YEAR

2009-10
Can’t find the voting breakdown *sob*

2010-11
Award Voting Pts. (1st-2nd-3rd) (5 pts-3 pts-1 pt)
1. Mike Gillis, VAN 96 (14-8-2)
2. Steve Yzerman, T.B. 61 (7-7-5)
3. David Poile, NSH 55 (6-6-7)
4. Bob Murray, ANA 35 (4-3-6)
5. Ray Shero, PIT 26 (3-2-5)
6. George McPhee, WSH 25 (2-4-3)
7. Peter Chiarelli, BOS 23 (2-3-4)
8. Don Maloney, PHX 12 (0-3-3)
9. Stan Bowman, CHI 8 (1-1-0)
10. Ken Holland, DET 6 (1-0-1)
11. Doug Wilson, S.J. 4 (0-1-1)
12. Paul Holmgren, PHI 3 (0-1-0)
Darcy Regier, BUF 3 (0-1-0)
14. Pierre Gauthier, MTL 1 (0-0-1)
Joe Nieuwendyk, DAL 1 (0-0-1)
Jim Rutherford, CAR 1 (0-0-1)

2011-12
1. Doug Armstrong, STL 119 (16-11-6)
2. Dale Tallon, FLA 88 (10-11-5)
3. David Poile, NSH 62 (11-1-4)
4. Glen Sather, NYR 17 (1-2-6)
5. Paul Holmgren, PHI 17 (0-4-5)
6. Bryan Murray, OTT 10 (0-2-4)
7. Don Maloney, PHX 9 (0-2-3)
8. Ken Holland, DET 8 (0-2-2)
9. Mike Gillis, VAN 7 (0-2-1)
10. Stan Bowman, CHI 5 (1-0-0)
11. Greg Sherman, COL 3 (0-1-0)
12. Lou Lamoriello, N.J. 1 (0-0-1)
Ray Shero, PIT 1 (0-0-1)

2012-13*
1. Ray Shero, PIT 94 (14-6-6)
2. Bob Murray, ANA 88 (11-9-6)
3. Marc Bergevin, MTL 75 (7-12-4)
4. Stan Bowman, CHI 36 (3-6-3)
5. Bryan Murray, OTT 23 (2-2-7)
6. Garth Snow, NYI 18 (0-1-5)
7. Dave Nonis, TOR 6 (0-2-0)
8. Ken Holland, DET 5 (1-0-0)
David Poile, NSH 5 (1-0-0)
10. George McPhee, WSH 4 (0-1-1)
11. Scott Howson, CBJ 2 (0-0-2)
12. Dean Lombardi, L.A. 1 (0-0-1)
Don Maloney, PHX 1 (0-0-1)
Glen Sather, NYR 1 (0-0-1)
Greg Sherman, COL 1 (0-0-1)
Doug Wilson, S.J. 1 (0-0-1)

2013-14
1. Bob Murray, ANA 66 (9-6-3)
2. Marc Bergevin, MTL 49 (7-4-2)
3. Dean Lombardi, LA 33 (3-4-6)
4. Stan Bowman, CHI 29 (3-4-2)
5. Jim Nill, DAL 27 (4-0-7)
6. Peter Chiarelli, BOS 23 (2-3-4)
7. Chuck Fletcher, MIN 21 (2-3-2)
8. Steve Yzerman, TB 19 (2-2-3)
9. Ken Holland, DET 14 (1-3-0)
10. Greg Sherman, COL 10 (2-0-0)
11. Glen Sather, NYR 9 (0-2-3)
12. Jarmo Kekalainen, CBJ 8 (0-2-2)
13. Doug Armstrong, STL 6 (0-2-0)
14. Dale Tallon, FLA 1 (0-0-1)

2014-15
1. Steve Yzerman, TBL 80 (9-10-5)
2. Glen Sather, NYR 49 (7-3-5)
3. Bob Murray, ANA 36 (3-6-3)
4.Bryan Murray, OTT 32 (5-1-4)
5. Garth Snow, NYI 28 (3-3-4)
6. David Poile, NSH 24 (2-4-2)
7. Kevin Cheveldayoff, WPG 19 (2-2-3)
8. Chuck Fletcher, MIN 19 (1-3-5)
9. Brad Treliving, CGY 15 (3-0-0)
10. Stan Bowman, CHI 13 (1-2-2)
11. Brian McLellan, WSH 11 (1-2-0)
12. Ken Holland, DET 5 (0-1-2)
13. Jim Benning, VAN 1 (0-0-1)
Marc Bergevin, MTL 1 (0-0-1)

2015-16
1. Jim Rutherford, PIT 90 (10-12-4)
2. Brian MacLellan, WSH 56 (6-7-5)
3. Jim Nill, DAL 55 (7-3-11)
4. Dale Tallon, FLA 50 (7-3-6)
5. Doug Armstrong, STL 39 (4-5-4)
6. Doug Wilson, SJS 38 (3-7-2)
7. Steve Yzerman, TBL 17 (2-1-4)
8. Stan Bowman, CHI 10 (1-1-2)
9. Ron Hextall, PHI 3 (0-1-0)
10. Don Maloney, ARI 1 (0-0-1)
Bob Murray, ANA 1 (0-0-1)

2016-17
1. David Poile. NSH 112 (18-6-4)
2. Peter Chiarelli, EDM 52 (6-5-7)
3. Pierre Dorion. OTT 46 (2-10-6)
4. Lou Lamoriello, TOR 36 (5-3-2)
5. Bob Murray, ANA 36 (3-5-6)
6. Jim Rutherford, PIT 24 (2-4-2)
7. Jarmo Kekalainen, CBJ 17 (1-2-6)
8. Stan Bowman, CHI 8 (1-1-0)
Brian MacLellan. WSH 8 (1-1-0)
10. Doug Armstrong, STL 7 (0-2-1)
11. Jeff Gorton, NYR 2 (0-0-2)
12. Chuck Fletcher, MIN 1 (0-0-1)
Brad Treliving, CGY 1 (0-0-1)
Steve Yzerman. TBL 1 (0-0-1)

2017-18
1. George McPhee, VGK 149 (25-7-3)
2. Kevin Cheveldayoff, WPG 107 (8-20-7)
3. Steve Yzerman, TBL 46 (3-8-7)
4. Don Sweeney, BOS 17 (0-3-8)
5. Joe Sakic, COL 10 (-1-0-5)
6. Brian MacLellan, WSH 7 (1-0-2)
7. Ray Shero, NJD 7 (0-1-4)
8. Ron Hextall, PHI 5 (1-0-0)
9. David Poile, NSH 2 (0-0-2)
10. Jarmo Kekalainen, CBJ 1 (0-0-1)

2018-19
1. Don Sweeney, BOS 80 (8-11-7)
2. Doug Armstrong, STL 63 (8-6-5)
3. Don Waddell, CAR 59 (9-3-5)
4. Doug Wilson, SJS 58 (5-9-6)
5. Lou Lamoriello, NYI 56 (8-4-4)
6. Brad Treliving, CGY 22 (2-3-3)
7. Joe Sakic, COL 14 (1-2-3)
8. Jarmo Kekalainen, CBJ 7 (0-1-4)
9. Jim Nill, DAL 6 (0-1-3)
10. George McPhee, VGK 3 (0-1-0)
11. Marc Bergevin, MTL 1 (0-0-1)

2019-20
1. Lou Lamoriello, NYI 86 (11-9-4)
2. Julien BriseBois, TBL 71 (8-8-7)
3. Jim Nill, DAL 61 (8-6-3)
4. Joe Sakic, COL 60 (5-10-5)
5. Kelly McCrimmon, VGK 36 (4-3-7)
6. Jim Benning, VAN 29 (3-3-5)
7. Chuck Fletcher, PHI 12 (1-1-4)
8. Jeff Gorton, NYR 2 (0-0-2)
9. Kevin Cheveldayoff, WPG 1 (0-0-1)
Don Sweeney, BOS 1 (0-0-1)
Don Waddell, CAR 1 (0-0-1)

2020-21
1. Lou Lamoriello, NYI 104 (12-13-5)
2. Marc Bergevin, MTL 79 (13-4-2)
3. Bill Zito, FLA 45 (4-6-7)
4. Joe Sakic, COL 41 (4-5-6)
5. Kelly McCrimmon, VGK 40 (4-5-5)
6. Julien BriseBois, TBL 25 (2-4-3)
7. Bill Guerin, MIN 17 (1-2-6)
8. Kyle Dubas, TOR 5 (1-0-0)
9. Don Waddell, CAR 5 (0-1-2)
10. Kevin Cheveldayoff, WPG 3 (0-1-0)
11. Jeff Gorton, NYR 2 (0-0-2)
Don Sweeney, BOS 2 (0-0-2)
13. Pierre Dorion, OTT 1 (0-0-1)

2021-22
1. Joe Sakic, COL 109 (16-8-5)
2. Julien BriseBois, TBL 87 (12-8-3)
3. Chris Drury, NYR 53 (4-7-12)
4. Ken Holland, EDM 41 (3-7-5)
5. Bill Zito, FLA 33 (2-6-5)
6. Bill Guerin, MIN 16 (1-2-5)
7. Brad Treliving, CGY 14 (1-2-3)
8. Rob Blake, LAK 13 (2-1-0)
9. Don Waddell, CAR 6 (1-0-1)
10. Kyle Dubas, TOR 4 (0-1-1)
11. Kevyn Adams, BUF 1 (0-0-1)
David Poile, NSH 1 (0-0-1)

*Yep. Bowman has a 4th place finish here, so what about about that bag of dicks? Well, keep in mind this was the 48 game season where Chicago went 36-7-5 for a .802 winning %. It’s still pretty unenthusiastic.

 

[Maine Fan]

During the Devil's rebuild, they have had defense problems. Lack of talent in the defense area has been the problem, IMO. I have raved about Tom Ftiz's attack on fixing the defense first.

Now he starts getting credit without the result as an improved team. They have struggled and failed at making the playoffs. Thanks, Fitz for seeing the problem and attacking it. You still face some significant decisions with Blackwood. Is there a plan to dump him?

Devils GM Displaying His Values Through Defensive Upgrades - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has revamped his roster, particularly on defense, which shows what he values in building a team.

thehockeywriters.com

BTW great move Tom getting rid of Zacha.

Go, Fitz
Go, Devils

 

[OmNomNom]

forgot we had Jack Dugan until @Hockey Sports Fan mentioned him in the latest poll. why was he never played in vegas? injuries?

 

[Blackjack]

That’s cool, going by our prospect rankings I guess we have 15 of the top 30 prospects in the league.

 

[FooteBahl]

That’s cool, going by our prospect rankings I guess we have 15 of the top 30 prospects in the league.

I commented on that tweet with almost the exact same thing. He’s barely in our top 15

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

That’s cool, going by our prospect rankings I guess we have 15 of the top 30 prospects in the league.

lol i was coming here to pretty much post this verbatim. He’s gonna be like the 17th best devils prospect in the polls.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

i’ve been reading Gretz’s substack since he got let go by NBC. His Devils post was today, and while i don’t think there’s anyone around here that sugarcoats the last 10 years, i think it’s easy to forget just how bad it’s been. This is a hell of a depressing opening paragraph.

Since making a Stanley Cup Final run in 2012, the Devils have missed the playoffs in nine out of 10 seasons, making one random appearance in 2017-18 on the back of Taylor Hall’s MVP season. They lost in five games, giving them just a single postseason win in 10 years. Every other team in the NHL with the lone exception of Seattle (who has played just one season) has won at least four game playoff games during that stretch, while only two (Florida with nine and Arizona with four) have failed to win at least 10 playoff games.

32 Teams In 32 Days: New Jersey Devils

Jack Hughes is ready to take off.

adamgretz.substack.com

 

[Sheros expletives]

The hell is up with the "plz dizable yo adblock" popup? Its more intrusive than ever.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

i’ve been reading Gretz’s substack since he got let go by NBC. His Devils post was today, and while i don’t think there’s anyone around here that sugarcoats the last 10 years, i think it’s easy to forget just how bad it’s been. This is a hell of a depressing opening paragraph.

32 Teams In 32 Days: New Jersey Devils

Jack Hughes is ready to take off.

adamgretz.substack.com

Arizona only won 1 - that play in round in the Covid year does not count in my eyes.

and Buffalo has won 0 playoff games in that span.

So his article is false.

 

[Oneiro]

As far as the Lou stuff goes, I think you have to respect what top end talent brings and what organizational focus brings. I feel that the latter loses credibility when the talent isn't there and so-called "identity" is actively an impediment when a GM is not realistic about his roster's ultimate chances. David Poile is one such GM right now, as is Treliving and possibly Sweeney.

The fact remains that the teams that won the cup had very high picks. And still those winners had to take their medicine with respect to the hard parts of the game and perfecting details. Watch the Bruins if they don't land a Bedard or someone similar in the next few years - that organization is done once the perfection line retires. There will be nothing left to admire and McAvoy is not of the magnitude to bridge eras.

I really don't think it's all a matter of crossing some threshold of talent and a cup becomes an inevitability, as much as charts want to tell you that. TB and COL actively responded to holes in their games and styles, even though people annointed both teams well in advance of their first cup wins.

This process, given where we were, is exactly how long I'd expect it to take when your No. 1 C is Zajac and he's got no one to pass to.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I can not wait to see the year Fabian Zetterlund has.

I could see 30 points in an energy line type role from him.

 

[Guttersniped]

That’s cool, going by our prospect rankings I guess we have 15 of the top 30 prospects in the league.

I guess he was easy to invite because his brother was going but it’s funny that it’s “A Bunch of Top 1st Round Picks! A Couple of Other Guys Too!”

 

[Unknown Caller]

One thing you can credit Lou with is he did not screw around with goaltending.

Burke came in his first year with the Devils.
Andersen first year with the Leafs.
Lehner first year with the Isles.

He's maintained high end goaltending through almost all of his career in management.

And what has that gotten him post-lockout? He's probably one of the worst GMs in the game at this point. He's going to single handedly burn down two organizations into decade long rebuilds, but hey at least he acquired Cory Schneider, Robin Lehner and Semyon Varlamov.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I can not wait to see the year Fabian Zetterlund has.

I could see 30 points in an energy line type role from him.

Dude is basically a Coleman replacement. He is an absolute animal and wouldn’t be surprised if he puts up better numbers than Blake one day. I’m uber high on him.

 

[MadDevil]

Arizona only won 1 - that play in round in the Covid year does not count in my eyes.

and Buffalo has won 0 playoff games in that span.

So his article is false.

I was about to say Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs since 2010-11, but maybe he forgot they existed.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Arizona only won 1 - that play in round in the Covid year does not count in my eyes.

and Buffalo has won 0 playoff games in that span.

So his article is false.

Arizona also killed our 1st round pick that year, the Devils would have probably walked away with Holtz and one of Rossi/Perfetti/Askarov. They got the Mercer pick out of it so it's hard to be too upset, but that last John Hynes parting gift losing to the Coyotes was brutal.

 

[tailfins]

As far as the Lou stuff goes, I think you have to respect what top end talent brings and what organizational focus brings. I feel that the latter loses credibility when the talent isn't there and so-called "identity" is actively an impediment when a GM is not realistic about his roster's ultimate chances. David Poile is one such GM right now, as is Treliving and possibly Sweeney.

The fact remains that the teams that won the cup had very high picks. And still those winners had to take their medicine with respect to the hard parts of the game and perfecting details. Watch the Bruins if they don't land a Bedard or someone similar in the next few years - that organization is done once the perfection line retires. There will be nothing left to admire and McAvoy is not of the magnitude to bridge eras.

I really don't think it's all a matter of crossing some threshold of talent and a cup becomes an inevitability, as much as charts want to tell you that. TB and COL actively responded to holes in their games and styles, even though people annointed both teams well in advance of their first cup wins.

This process, given where we were, is exactly how long I'd expect it to take when your No. 1 C is Zajac and he's got no one to pass to.

It's interesting you bring up the Bruins. That's not a team with a ton of high picks.

Still, your point as it relates to the Devils is well taken. I think there were other paths and faster paths, but certainly the Devils aren't in a terrible spot.

Possible the Devils will have to overpay for a goaltender at some point, but this roster does look like it should be competitive.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Yeah its deff that part of the offseason where this thread goes off the deep end with nothing to really talk about...lol

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I can not wait to see the year Fabian Zetterlund has.

I could see 30 points in an energy line type role from him.

thinking about it - would love to see a Wood - Haula - Zetterlund line.

That line could attack you with insane speed.