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

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Emperoreddy said:
Playing hurt can alter a player's decision making in ways you wouldn't expect. It's hard to adjust to your new limitations and still be effective.

Jack has been poor this season, but he shouldn't he judged long term until we see him next season.
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I'm not judging him long term at all, he is currently in some weird funk, whether it be injury or mental, or a mix of both. If the team picks it up next year, he is going to be a big part of it, so I'm hoping whatever it is is out of his system by then.
 
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Billdo said:
So we basically need at least two defenseman, a fourth line, a starting goalie, and a top 6 winger. Oh and an entire coaching staff. Good thing we've got an extra 2.35 mil with Schneider and Kuokkanens buyouts going away. Only one more year of Kovalchuks penalty too.
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I think we just need one solid left handed defenseman. Someone to either push Siegenthaler down or Bahl to the #7 spot. There are some pretty decent free agent options to fill out the middle 6 lines. The 4th line will be okay with Lazar/Bastian/some guy.

The coaches and goalie are the decisions that will define Fitz’s Devils tenure. If he can’t find the answers, he’ll go the way of Shero.
 
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SteveCangialosi123 said:
Not copium at all. Who the hell doesn’t want to win? The only way we were missing the playoffs this year was this unbelievable concoction of things going wrong, including a player leaving for legal reasons. Just an insane amount went bad.

Without any doubt across most of the sports world, it is better to suck and bring in top talent than just chug along with no hope of winning anything plus no top picks.
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Agree with your first part. Not sure on the second. What does “no hope of winning anything” mean?

The NBA is where the “process” originated. But, the Sixers have won what? The Knicks are nobody’s idea of a title contender, but they’re a fun team that people like to watch and root for. That’s a reasonable outcome - and it exists in hockey to. I’d be happy with a team that isn’t likely to win a championship but is still meaningful to its fans. I grew up on then 80s Devils - not a lot of championship aspirations back then.
 
MadDevil said:
You're right, any GM worth a damn would spend 15 minutes ripping his entire roster instead of expounding specifically on the one player he was asked about. Jesus Christ you'd think Fitz personally insulted Holtz's entire family the way some people treat it. Oh no, he said mean things like he needs to be better with the puck and away from the puck. What an asshole!
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You don’t understand sir, nothing will ever ABSOLVE FITZ OF HOW HE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION ABOUT HOLTZ.

UNTIL HE DIES HE WILL BEAR THE MARK OF A MAN WHO WRONGED A TENDER-HEARTED YOUNG FORWARD, EAGER TO LEARN TO PLAY THE RIGHT WAY, WHILE SERVING THE CRAVEN WHIMS OF THE DEPRAVED GOLDEN BOYS.

You want proof? Here’s a horrifying photograph from a recent Devils practice.

8CF7EE1B-9C18-41B6-A49E-E57B14AECAB7.jpeg
 
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It has to be said Holtz hasn't done a whole heck of a lot to prove the organization's treatment of him wrong since the dubious Montreal game benching, he's either been invisible or just plain awful the last two months yeah I know, no icetime, no linemates but you gotta at least at SOME point make some kind of a positive impact. Maybe getting benched after scoring late in the game checked him out. If that's the case it's over for him here.
 
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Emperoreddy said:
Buvenivich would be nice
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I'd love Buch but bleeding more assets instead a Jack winger via trade would suck. Might have to bargain hunt or look at the FA route because we need the trade assets for a goalie unless we use the top 10 pick (at this rate) for it which I'd only want for Saros and Swayman

NJDevs26 said:
It has to be said Holtz hasn't done a whole heck of a lot to prove the organization's treatment of him wrong since the dubious Montreal game benching, he's either been invisible or just plain awful the last two months yeah I know, no icetime, no linemates but you gotta at least at SOME point make some kind of a positive impact. Maybe getting benched after scoring late in the game checked him out. If that's the case it's over for him here.
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Said it in the GDT but not getting answers on some players like Holtz and Mercer on whether they're just not the guys we thought is gonna be an issue in the offseason and the chance they break out next year somewhere else, we'll have a fanbase wringing their wrists they like they do with every Shara goal this year
 
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tailfins said:
Agree with your first part. Not sure on the second. What does “no hope of winning anything” mean?

The NBA is where the “process” originated. But, the Sixers have won what? The Knicks are nobody’s idea of a title contender, but they’re a fun team that people like to watch and root for. That’s a reasonable outcome - and it exists in hockey to. I’d be happy with a team that isn’t likely to win a championship but is still meaningful to its fans. I grew up on then 80s Devils - not a lot of championship aspirations back then.
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The NBA is a different animal just because you basically need at least one top 10 player to have any hope of competing for a title. There are very few exceptions. The Knicks are a good team, Brunson is awesome, but no one sees them as a threat to win a thing. They’re still a star away from any real chance.

In baseball, Houston’s mini dynasty was seeded by talent from years and years of sucking ass. The Orioles are soon to be the new hotness for the same reason.

But to get back on topic, we have all the top talent we need now. More than enough. The toughest part is over (other than goalie). Now we just need to tinker (and stay healthy).
 
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At least with Mercer they do have two seasons of evidence that there's something there. With Holtz there really isn't anything other than a limited hot streak earlier this year.
 
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Guttersniped said:
You don’t understand sir, nothing will ever ABSOLVE FITZ OF HOW HE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION ABOUT HOLTZ.

UNTIL HE DIES HE WILL BEAR THE MARK OF A MAN WHO WRONGED A TENDER-HEARTED YOUNG FORWARD, EAGER TO LEARN TO PLAY THE RIGHT WAY, WHILE SERVING THE CRAVEN WHIMS OF THE DEPRAVED GOLDEN BOYS.

You want proof? Here’s a horrifying photograph from a recent Devils practice.

View attachment 837641
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isnt that what a devils practice is supposed to look like?
 
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NJDevs26 said:
At least with Mercer they do have two seasons of evidence that there's something there. With Holtz there really isn't anything other than a limited hot streak earlier this year.
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He went from us not wanting him talks for Meier/Helly to us being more open to him being in a Saros trade. The view on him has changed 180 since last year and we can't just assume he'll bounce back with a good coach because then we can use an assumption like that with most of these guys. Guys like Siegs/Marino shouldn't be thought of as trade pieces in the same breath which I don't know if I agree entirely.
 
I'm still kind of hoping that once they actually accept it's over this season maybe Holtz will get more of an opportunity. I don't really disagree with the criticisms of him that Fitz pointed out in his very mean and unwarranted attack, but if there's nothing left to play for, why not give him more of a look?

It's looking like he and the organization are probably headed for a breakup at this point, which ultimately might best for both parties.
 
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Better Call Sal said:
I really find it next to impossible to evaluate Holtz at this point. Say what we will about showing something, he has been handed really little in terms of opportunity this year. I really want to see what another coach can do for him.
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He needs another summer with Bratt’s guy. This time he needs to mix in balance work so he can stay upright more often when he’s in board battles
 
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Better Call Sal said:
I really find it next to impossible to evaluate Holtz at this point. Say what we will about showing something, he has been handed really little in terms of opportunity this year. I really want to see what another coach can do for him.
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I mean I agree but at this point getting this team a goalie + top 6 winger is more important. If he can help in securing either then he's gotta get traded. It's also evident this management is super low on the guy with how he's been treated and Fitz's scorched earth comments about him in the presser.
 
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SteveCangialosi123 said:
I think we just need one solid left handed defenseman. Someone to either push Siegenthaler down or Bahl to the #7 spot. There are some pretty decent free agent options to fill out the middle 6 lines. The 4th line will be okay with Lazar/Bastian/some guy.

The coaches and goalie are the decisions that will define Fitz’s Devils tenure. If he can’t find the answers, he’ll go the way of Shero.
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Fair enough.
 
NJDevs26 said:
It has to be said Holtz hasn't done a whole heck of a lot to prove the organization's treatment of him wrong since the dubious Montreal game benching, he's either been invisible or just plain awful the last two months yeah I know, no icetime, no linemates but you gotta at least at SOME point make some kind of a positive impact. Maybe getting benched after scoring late in the game checked him out. If that's the case it's over for him here.
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It has to be a little rough for him that he was scoring goals at a top 30 rate in the league and that wasn’t enough.

He has raw scoring numbers very close to Mercer. Both have struggled at puck possession. Both have had good offensive moments at times. I don’t think either has been a defensive stalwart.

I think if you’re Holtz you’re probably feeling like your play has at times been better and at other times comparable but opportunity has been wildly different.

Especially when the team asked you to work on skating and work effort and you’ve done better than both with little reward or praise but have been oddly singled out at times for issues that plague the whole team.

————————

It does look like Holtz first step slowness may hold his whole career back but I also think the Devils have oddly kept asking him to be a square peg being put into a round hole and then are disappointed with him for only getting marginally rounder.

If I was in his shoes I would be looking to move onto a place that wanted me to be a square peg to at least give me a chance to show what I can do in that slot.

Plus, the Devils have been so bad with 2 or 3 lines so often this season, it must seem extra crazy to not get a real shot.
 
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Better Call Sal said:
I really find it next to impossible to evaluate Holtz at this point. Say what we will about showing something, he has been handed really little in terms of opportunity this year. I really want to see what another coach can do for him.
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Move Holtz while he still has some semblance of value and teams are valuing him as a trade piece. Wait for another coach and you’re just tanking his value.

If you want a true one trick pony sniper who can actually produce, go get Cole Eiserman with your top 10 pick.
 
The hardest things to acquire/draft for NHL teams:

A superstar center
A two way selke caliber center
A true power forward
An elite two way dman
An elite offensive dman (we possibly have two)


We have that.

Give them a better coach and supporting cast and you will see another fantastic turnaround next season
 
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devilsblood said:
I agree with this. Which would make the captaincy here in NJ very difficult for any player.

I'd like to see(not that it would be out in the open) Nico take charge a bit more, but yeah, tough gig given the young egos(don't mean this negatively per se) on the team.
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Absolutely true
 
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