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

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

We finally get a good beat writer...and everything is behind a paywall. May have to at least do a trial to read this one.

Meanwhile, The Athletic has no beat writer and essentially zero coverage for the Devils and has added ads to the site, despite the original promise of it being ad free. The quality there is rapidly deteriorating.

The Athletic took venture capital money and spent it like a drunken sailor trying to build a user base they could sell. Now that they have sold it to the NY Times it's going to be cut to the bone. Ultimately I don't think the economics are there for mass market traditional sports reporting behind a paywall. I think the only thing that makes sense is uber-niche content behind paywalls that devoted fans will pay for because its the only way to get it (e.g. The Wrestling Observer, or JFresh's substack).

Edit: I think ESPN+ reporting also makes sense, where it's basically an advertisement for their streaming service and to keep you engaged with it. But on its own it doesn't seem like the market is there for it.

 

[vtdevils2k]

We finally get a good beat writer...and everything is behind a paywall. May have to at least do a trial to read this one.

Meanwhile, The Athletic has no beat writer and essentially zero coverage for the Devils and has added ads to the site, despite the original promise of it being ad free. The quality there is rapidly deteriorating.

I love the athletic, however, the lack of a beat writer and Devils content is pathetic. It's down right unacceptable especially if you subscribe just for Devils coverage. I know others are thinking of canceling because of this and the ads.

I wish I could just subscribe to certain aspects because I really enjoy what Cory P and others do, and am a fan of other teams, but the Devils content is beyond embarrassing right now.

This Ryan guy is killing it and brings actual news and fresh coverage.

Agreed...may do a trial as well.

 

[RangerDoggo]

We finally get a good beat writer...and everything is behind a paywall. May have to at least do a trial to read this one.

Meanwhile, The Athletic has no beat writer and essentially zero coverage for the Devils and has added ads to the site, despite the original promise of it being ad free. The quality there is rapidly deteriorating.

You'd think with a new owner like the Times, they'd have more resources to dedicate to their original mission. Absolutely nothing good can ever last on the internet.

The Athletic took venture capital money and spent it like a drunken sailor trying to build a user base they could sell. Now that they have sold it to the NY Times it's going to be cut to the bone. Ultimately I don't think the economics are there for mass market traditional sports reporting behind a paywall. I think the only thing that makes sense is uber-niche content behind paywalls that devoted fans will pay for because its the only way to get it (e.g. The Wrestling Observer, or JFresh's substack).

Well shit. Never mind.

 

[Devils731]

This may sound wild, but I'm being serious about the food thing.

What if we started a petition in regards to local vendors?

I'm guessing that between regular posters and lurkers there's anywhere between 75-100 of us.

I have at least 10 people in my life who are fans and guess some of you have more or can at least acquire signatures.

I have experience in the industry and will spearhead it if enough of you hmu. They're not going to listen to my random ass alone.

I think the Devils contract all their food stalls to Legends, the food group the Yankees started.

So I guess you’d want to petition Legends to make a local connection?

 

[TBF1972]

After the Whistle guys (Formerly The Instigators) have the Devils as one of the four playoff teams from the Atlantic which would seem to make these numbers attainable.

But take their prediction with a grain of salt - have the Rangers winning the division and competing for the Cup while the Islanders and Capitals miss the playoffs.

Can't see either of those things happening.

kind of doubt that outcome as none of the mentioned teams play in the atlantic.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Well shit. Never mind.

I'm guessing here TBH I don't have internal information on their financials, but it's traditionally been the case that these companies take VC money to buy marketshare/users with a terrific product and then cut costs later once they either get acquired or go public. NYTimes presumably bought them though for a reason so maybe they keep investing in it..idk

 

[Jack Be Quick]

I think the Devils contract all their food stalls to Legends, the food group the Yankees started.

So I guess you’d want to petition Legends to make a local connection?

No chance there's not a buyout and/or good guy clause in that contract.

For all their perceived flaws as hockey team owners they're no dummies.

They could also keep their bs blue moon and Nathan's stands, just reduce their presence.

And I'd also imagine there's an expiration date on that contract. The Yankees may be worth well over a billion, but our owners have more and it could become apparent to them that it's worth more to make our experience better.

 

[Japam]

Is Athletic behind a paywall? I disabled JS on their site and now I'm able to read entire articles. Am I not supposed to say that out loud?

 

[MartyOwns]

no paywall here for some reason. great read.

‘I don’t regret one bit of it’: Martin Brodeur finally talks about his Devils grudge and forgiveness, that brief Blues stint and his GM dreams

How Devils goalie Martin Brodeur's dramatic final season in New Jersey led to general manager dreams.

www.nj.com

 

[NjDevsRR]

When its exactly one month until opening night.

 

[Azathoth]

no paywall here for some reason. great read.

‘I don’t regret one bit of it’: Martin Brodeur finally talks about his Devils grudge and forgiveness, that brief Blues stint and his GM dreams

How Devils goalie Martin Brodeur's dramatic final season in New Jersey led to general manager dreams.

www.nj.com

Cool read. I'm definitely a biased Devils fan but its amazing that even in a small paragraph, Avery still manages to come off as a bit of a douche.

 

[forceten]

This may sound wild, but I'm being serious about the food thing.

What if we started a petition in regards to local vendors?

I'm guessing that between regular posters and lurkers there's anywhere between 75-100 of us.

I have at least 10 people in my life who are fans and guess some of you have more or can at least acquire signatures.

I have experience in the industry and will spearhead it if enough of you hmu. They're not going to listen to my random ass alone.

Edit: I'm guessing that between the reddit and Facebook groups - of which I'm not a part of - we can gain even more support. That giant Goya sign is trash.

I miss when they had Hobby's upstairs. I used to have Prudential's box tickets reasonably often and would eschew the crap they put in there for a good Hobby's sandwich. Those were the days. Except for the team. Those were NOT the days. LOL!

 

[MartyOwns]

Cool read. I'm definitely a biased Devils fan but its amazing that even in a small paragraph, Avery still manages to come off as a bit of a douche.

honestly even bringing avery into this article was puzzling. he’s an absolute nobody, an irrelevant pit stain.

i found it interesting that there seemed to be more bad blood than i thought when marty left, although he downplayed it as much as possible here.

 

[Nocashstyle]

We finally get a good beat writer...and everything is behind a paywall. May have to at least do a trial to read this one.

Meanwhile, The Athletic has no beat writer and essentially zero coverage for the Devils and has added ads to the site, despite the original promise of it being ad free. The quality there is rapidly deteriorating.

Yeah it’s annoying needing to pay for a subscription, but in today’s world, subscription based content seems to be really the only way journalism can survive. I’ll gladly keep paying NJ.com’s subscription fee if it means Novo continues to be the beat writer. He has been absolutely killing it pumping out content…and this is only during the off-season. I don’t think he has even had the luxury of being a beat writer during the season yet either.

 

[HBK27]

Yeah it’s annoying needing to pay for a subscription, but in today’s world, subscription based content seems to be really the only way journalism can survive. I’ll gladly keep paying NJ.com’s subscription fee if it means Novo continues to be the beat writer. He has been absolutely killing it pumping out content…and this is only during the off-season. He hasn’t even had the luxury of being a beat writer during the season yet either.

I agree that it's a necessity and glad to hear that you and others are supporting NJ.com and his content. I may do so at some point as well, maybe once the season starts.

I already currently subscribe to a major newspaper publication that I rarely read and had subscribed to substack writers in the past. I'm sure there's a lot of good content on NJ.com and I want to support local journalism, so may just need to adjust my priorities and give it a try.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[NjDevsRR]

 

[Billdo]

I love the athletic, however, the lack of a beat writer and Devils content is pathetic. It's down right unacceptable especially if you subscribe just for Devils coverage. I know others are thinking of canceling because of this and the ads.

I wish I could just subscribe to certain aspects because I really enjoy what Cory P and others do, and am a fan of other teams, but the Devils content is beyond embarrassing right now.

This Ryan guy is killing it and brings actual news and fresh coverage.

Agreed...may do a trial as well.

I got rid of it when my sub expired. When Corey left it was very clear they were putting no effort into any Devils content. I can't bring myself to pay for NJ.com though, I think I probably should.

 

[Devils731]

I hope Hickey enjoys his few weeks in Newark.

 

[Andre Palot]

View attachment 584246

Wake me up when we get 2017 Thomas Hickey

 

[Nocashstyle]

I remember Hickey being halfway decent for two or three seasons earlier in his career…but looks like he’s basically been AHL fodder recently. I doubt he gets signed, especially with Smith likely being that #7 guy

 

[Eggtimer]

I know it’s off topic, but…

Remember when Jacob Josefson was getting labeled as our powerplay specialist?

He was deadly on the half-wall ……….
Honestly though , I convinced myself that he was pretty decent in the half wall , but it was painful to see us trying to run the PP through him ….. Wow ….

 

[OmNomNom]

more competition is always good. hope he's hungry to fight for 7D and push the other guys

 

[RangerDoggo]

I have to assume he's a warm body for the preseason and will likely be dumped once that's over.

 

[Eggtimer]

I wonder if Hickey would consider playing in Utica ? To help the kids out ? Or do we have limited roster spots as it is , even in Utica ?

I have to assume he's a warm body for the preseason and will likely be dumped once that's over.

I’m thinking maybe to fill the “veteran “ quota fir preseason games ? I dunno . Internal competition is always good. Pushes the kids knowing that their spot has to be earned