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

[MartyOwns]

i’m more concerned about the quality of our forwards than their possible labias. feels like an injury or two could sink us.

 

[glenwo2]

Jesper is the second softest easy to play against after Jack.

please explain.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Thank god Wayne Gretzky was so easy to play against.

 

[JimEIV]

Luckily this is a fake thing that doesn’t mean anything.

It means we watch other teams in the playoffs.

Thank god Wayne Gretzky was so easy to play against.

That's why he got McSorely, Semenko and Tikkenan through the years...counter balance the kitty cat factor.

 

[MasterofGrond]

It means we watch other teams in the playoffs.


That's why he got McSorely, Semenko and Tikkenan.

Yes McSorely, Semenko, and Tikkanen are why they won all those cups.

At least have the respect for me to argue it was Messier, an actual good player who was tough to play against.

 

[JimEIV]

Yes McSorely, Semenko, and Tikkanen are why they won all those cups.

They're why he he didn't get hit for large portion of his career and never had to do any heavy lifting.

 

[Guttersniped]

Jesper is the second softest easy to play against after Jack.

Counter Argument: Bratt focused on getting stronger last off-season and won more board battles than Meier last season.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

It means we watch other teams in the playoffs.

Ah, got it. So exactly what Barkov was doing from 2013-2021. Then he got tough to play against.

 

[JimEIV]

i’m more concerned about the quality of our forwards than their possible labias. feels like an injury or two could sink us.

At least you acknowledge the lips.

 

[MasterofGrond]

They're why he he didn't get hit for large portion of his career and never had to do any heavy lifting.

Gretzky got hit all the time, nonsense to claim he didn’t. And if he got hit less than average, it’s because he’s the smartest hockey player to ever lace em up.

 

[JimEIV]

Counter Argument: Bratt focused on getting stronger last off-season and won more board battles than Meier last season.

It was noticeable that he won more battles I even said so...still, he lives on the perimeter.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Meier...There's one...of 6

Palat is one of those "vanilla bottom 6 players" Fitz referenced in his press conference...and he really shouldn't be anywhere near the top 6...a guy that hasn't scored 20 goals since Obama was president has no business business being near our best players.

He probably could’ve pulled it off between 2019 and 2021 were it not for covid, but this really messed me up lol.

It’s been 10 years! Feel like Fitz could’ve maybe pulled that one out in the negotiations and saved a little money…

 

[My3Sons]

Our team isn't small...but our top 6 is tiny. And soft and easy to play against.

Of course I'd like all the Devils players to be able to skate with sublime elusiveness and pass and shoot with aplomb and hit like a Mack truck and then fight like Ali or Tyson but the reality is that isn't the case. I think on balance that you have to view forwards as matching up against defenders. Sure, most defenders are going to be able to out muscle Jack and Bratt and Hischier to a lesser extent but two things can be true simultaneously. First, I think that general calculus is true on most teams. Look at most defense lineups and they are quite big and strong compared to the forwards and NJ is no exception. There are certainly circumstances where you'd prefer a really big body even if slower and less skilled but other circumstances where you'd prefer a much higher skill player even with a smaller frame. Comparing NJ to Florida is as others have said maybe putting the cart before the horse. Let's see how the new guys mesh and if Luke and Nemec can mature their games a bit and how Hamilton returns from injury. If the defense meshes there are going to be nights Luke or Nemec go off against the bottom six of the other team and it will look easy. There will also be games where Sasquatch face on Carolina tries to hog tie Hischier rather than even try to hit the puck off the face-off and the refs will let it go all game because of some desire to slow the game down and make sure the hard to play against players don't look like the slower less skilled players they are.

At some point the league will try to actually sell its product to young fans. It looked a few years ago like that was going to happen but the recent playoffs showed the dinosaurs are firmly in charge. I spend a lot on hockey for a guy living far away from any team. I have to go to Dallas or Florida or up to NJ/NY to visit family to see a game. My kids are exactly the sort of future fans the league needs. They watch McDavid and Jack and similar players. Sure they will watch a fight but teams like the Islanders or Carolina? Boring. Slow, clutch and grab. Yawn. Turn the channel. The flash over substance culture of today doesn't cater to the subtle nuance of long drawn out trap style games. They want highlight reel action and excitement not a shot counter totaling 45 combined for both teams at the end of regulation. So you aren't wrong, but it's only one facet of a game that really needs to change at some point. Just my thoughts.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

It was noticeable that he won more battles I even said so...still, he lives on the perimeter.

Computer (@Guttersniped), post some heat maps

 

[JimEIV]

Gretzky got hit all the time, nonsense to claim he didn’t. And if he got hit less than average, it’s because he’s the smartest hockey player to ever lace em up.

No he didn't not until later on. People even claimed that there was an unwritten rule.

Computer (@Guttersniped), post some heat maps

 

[MasterofGrond]

No he didn't not until later on. People even claimed that there was an unwritten rule.

Yeah the unwritten rules notoriously competitive pro athletes absolutely adhered to even if it meant letting Gretzky simply coast to natties.

It’s just absolute f***ing nonsense, lol.

 

[JimEIV]

Of course I'd like all the Devils players to be able to skate with sublime elusiveness and pass and shoot with aplomb and hit like a Mack truck and then fight like Ali or Tyson but the reality is that isn't the case. I think on balance that you have to view forwards as matching up against defenders. Sure, most defenders are going to be able to out muscle Jack and Bratt and Hischier to a lesser extent but two things can be true simultaneously. First, I think that general calculus is true on most teams. Look at most defense lineups and they are quite big and strong compared to the forwards and NJ is no exception. There are certainly circumstances where you'd prefer a really big body even if slower and less skilled but other circumstances where you'd prefer a much higher skill player even with a smaller frame. Comparing NJ to Florida is as others have said maybe putting the cart before the horse. Let's see how the new guys mesh and if Luke and Nemec can mature their games a bit and how Hamilton returns from injury. If the defense meshes there are going to be nights Luke or Nemec go off against the bottom six of the other team and it will look easy. There will also be games where Sasquatch face on Carolina tries to hog tie Hischier rather than even try to hit the puck off the face-off and the refs will let it go all game because of some desire to slow the game down and make sure the hard to play against players don't look like the slower less skilled players they are.

At some point the league will try to actually sell its product to young fans. It looked a few years ago like that was going to happen but the recent playoffs showed the dinosaurs are firmly in charge. I spend a lot on hockey for a guy living far away from any team. I have to go to Dallas or Florida or up to NJ/NY to visit family to see a game. My kids are exactly the sort of future fans the league needs. They watch McDavid and Jack and similar players. Sure they will watch a fight but teams like the Islanders or Carolina? Boring. Slow, clutch and grab. Yawn. Turn the channel. The flash over substance culture of today doesn't cater to the subtle nuance of long drawn out trap style games. They want highlight reel action and excitement not a shot counter totaling 45 combined for both teams at the end of regulation. So you aren't wrong, but it's only one facet of a game that really needs to change at some point. Just my thoughts.

McDavid is two inches and 20lbs bigger than Jack. He goes everywhere on the ice and through everyone with his speed. If Jack played the way McDavid does he'd be in a constant body cast.

 

[glenwo2]

Maybe early in his career, Bratt was easy to play against but now?

Not so much.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

feels like an injury or two could sink us.

Yeah that’s how i feel when i look at the roster, or at least the forwards. A lot of forward talent, for however one might judge it, has been shipped out in the last two years. Doesn’t feel like that long ago where the logjam was so bad we were glad Gritsyuk wasn’t coming over any time soon.

Now would be a great time for Foote to put it all together or for Haula and Palat to have some major bounce back seasons…

 

[glenwo2]

Yeah that’s how i feel when i look at the roster, or at least the forwards. A lot of forward talent, for however one might judge it, has been shipped out in the last two years. Doesn’t feel like that long ago where the logjam was so bad we were glad Gritsyuk wasn’t coming over any time soon.

Now would be a great time for Foote to put it all together or for Haula and Palat to have some major bounce back seasons…

Foote I just cannot see him have any extra gear.

I think what we have is what we will get with him.

 

[Guttersniped]

Gretzky got hit all the time, nonsense to claim he didn’t. And if he got hit less than average, it’s because he’s the smartest hockey player to ever lace em up.

No he didn't not until later on. People even claimed that there was an unwritten rule.

 

[My3Sons]

McDavid is two inches and 20lbs bigger than Jack. He goes everywhere on the ice and through everyone with his speed. If Jack played the way McDavid does he'd be in a constant body cast.

There's only one McDavid and he's maybe the only guy in the league that can do that at that high a level. Jack outskillls just about every other center. His size is the only thing that slows him down. He can shoot and score from anywhere create offense from nothing and is very elusive. Of course he has to pick his spots. Barkov and Bennett and both excellent players and will play consistently in the tough areas but they are not close to Jack's skill level. Again, at some point I think the idiots in charge die and the game will be modernized. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm all for body checking and fighting is whatever. Just get rid of the stick fouls, headshots, checking guys in the back, and clutch and grab and the game will be so much better.

 

[Ripshot 43]

I feel very positive about the Devils for the present and future. It looks like Fitz fixed the balance of our skaters realistically as well as one could expect in an offseason or 2 and shored up the goaltending for the short term.

For the future, it’s exciting to think about 4 years from now having a Luke, Nemec just entering the beginning of their prime years with still room to grow. Anton Silayev should be over then either with a year or 2 of experience or as a 22 year old rookie. Just need to make sure we have a wave of young forwards to complement these guys.

Excited for this season and beyond.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I just want to watch this team play some good hockey again. The 2022/23 season was so fun, then last year was an absolute shit-show. Let's get back to the fun

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I know Jim is most likely serious but the commitment to the bit is top notch

I just want to watch this team play some good hockey again. The 2022/23 season was so fun, then last year was an absolute shit-show. Let's get back to the fun

Anyone who went through the dark ages deserves a consistent playoff team especially if you missed out on the Cup era