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

[glenwo2]

Nico with some very direct comments about tonight. At least he is annoyed, nobody else seems to care.

I refuse to believe that nobody else cared.

But I do think they put a muzzle on Bratt, though and had him regurgitate the "We fought hard" Team-Speak to the media last night.

He was critical of the team last time the Devils lost so I'm not going to say he doesn't care.

 

[RSeen]

I’d have to think he has a good pulse on what we need and what we don’t need.

First thing is Green needs to go. We would struggle to make the playoffs with prime Cory in Green’s system. The two post deadline goalies have numbers on par with prime Cory and we’re under 500 lol.

I think he knows someone like Bahl is way over his head this year. I think he knows Smith needs to hang them up or at the very least not be on our team next year.

The bottom 6 needs a shakeup. I think that shakeup could be just getting Bastian back, who I was down on earlier in the year and thought maybe he wouldn’t be on the NHL team next year. I think he’d be an upgrade at this point.

We need to find multiple pieces for the bottom six. And frankly we need to be more physical so I'm all for adding someone like Trenin who can play a physical style and potentially handle defensive minutes. Dakota Joshua would be interesting as well.

 

[MadDevil]

Oooh something else for us to get pissed off about.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Oooh something else for us to get pissed off about.

BAH GAHD

That’s Ken Daneyko’s music…

 

[Guadana]

they're stacked? and have everything you need to be a consistenet cup contender? yet they're missing the playoffs and really didn't compete for a spot over the last 2 months? They have no goatending, can't defend, and have no coach. That's just the obvious problems.

No goaltending?
New coach will teach them how to defend I guess? So everything they need is a goalie and new coach?

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

T

The "Hero" who doesn't know how to use any break-away move other than the Juke.

The only thing left is to see him eclipse 73 points (he has 73 now) which he should get (even by accident) the remaining games.

Whoopty-damn-do.

He uses that move everytime and always either mishandles it or gets stuffed by the goalies pad. He could atleast try to lift the puck instead of always trying to slid it past the goalies pad/skate every time. It's some real bone headed stuff. Like how hasn't his teammates or the coaches told him to try something else. That goal could of made it 3 to 0 or 3 to 1 at that point in the game. Maybe we aren't this frustrated if that was a turning point that helped lead to a win SMFH.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Take this season in stride and basically come back stronger next year. It's an atrocity that they're missing because of how they didn't take any bad team seriously but hey that's a lesson for them. They were once that bad team spoiling teams seasons and now it's happening to them. Also, as much as I love Marty for he did for us as a player, it's so f***ing evident that the Devils are running into goalies into the ground because of what he thinks of the position. Daws, Vitek, Allen all being played at his work rate in the 90's and 2000's. The coaching staff next year, whoever it is, can't listen to upper management with how they play goalies or else we're going to end up with the same shit we have this year.

 

[theoptimist]

Nico is a clown for saying “certain teams” in his statement last night. Guy has been on a non-playoff team for most of his career and probably on the most inconsistent Devils team in a decade. He’s still a baby. He really needs to drop the gloves before he hits 30. Every leader fights, even Travis Zajac.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Nico is a clown for saying “certain teams” in his statement last night. Guy has been on a non-playoff team for most of his career and probably on the most inconsistent Devils team in a decade. He’s still a baby. He really needs to drop the gloves before he hits 30. Every leader fights, even Travis Zajac.

I said it in the GDT. If he doesn't say anything with fire, he gets lambasted as a loser captain which has happened before here. If he says something like this, what you just said happens. He's in a no win position with how this year's gone in press conferences.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Nico is a clown for saying “certain teams” in his statement last night. Guy has been on a non-playoff team for most of his career and probably on the most inconsistent Devils team in a decade. He’s still a baby. He really needs to drop the gloves before he hits 30. Every leader fights, even Travis Zajac.

I have no problem at all with what he said because he’s pissed and he’s right. Why anyone cares that he said “certain teams” is beyond me given it’s absolutely right with how they’ve performed all year and it’s glaringly obvious. And him saying that should make it apparent that, for whatever reason, there is an inability for this group under this staff to be prepared for opponents under them in the standings and at home.

If anyone has any fear of Green staying, I think this should be something that will quell that.

 

[ZYXWVUT]

We need to find multiple pieces for the bottom six. And frankly we need to be more physical so I'm all for adding someone like Trenin who can play a physical style and potentially handle defensive minutes. Dakota Joshua would be interesting as well.

I think Trenin could fit on Hughes left side. Big body, straight-line game, physical forechecking presence, has shown to have some touch and ability to score 15ish goals in essentially fourth line deployment. Good defensive metrics. Has played some center but better on the wing. And offensively just needs to be a compliment. I also wouldn’t hate seeing Meier given a whirl on the right side of Hughes, that way he is getting Jacks passes from the forehand on the attack (i.e. left shot C to his RW or right shot C to his LW). Which in turn could allow you to bump Palat back with Hischier/Bratt to maximize his contribution on a line that has proven to be effective.

 

[glenwo2]

Oooh something else for us to get pissed off about.

Tweet was deleted.

What was it?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Tweet was deleted.

What was it?

Novo tweeted about a coaching candidate he did an interview with, it was Bruce Boudreau from what I saw his tweets this morning

 

[Homedresser]

No goaltending?
New coach will teach them how to defend I guess? So everything they need is a goalie and new coach?

I'm taking about roster composition, I literally said they don't have goaltending and the obvious coaching hire is important to what they do. You're just arguing to argue

you said they were stacked and had everything they need to be a cup contender. Don't worry I didn't miss the fact you contradicted yourself later in the post.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Team needs grit really bad. The GM turned this team into a soft bunch. He let this team go all season - goalies, coaches, and softness. Mercer was a rag dolled whipping boy last night.

The loss of Mike McLeod also hurt this team bad.

 

[SansaStark]

Woke up this morning wanting to vomit i'm so upset about last night.

Spinning your tires about lineup changes and wingers and coaches and GMs and all that.... is completely meaningless when you're supposed to be a finesse offensive team that has no finesse and can't score. This has been and will continue to be a problem until the core is broken up. This is not the core.

Jack lost us this game with his selfish play. the most important game of the year, that had a chance to put a silver lining on what has been one of the worst years in franchise history. He has to be shut down immediately and god willing he completely changes his entire training regime and attitude over the summer. But if he's getting surgery, not sure how he's going to "bulk up" and fix his frame to withstand more contact. This player is the problem with this team. Its so freakin clear as day to me.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

This is the first GM job for Fitzgerald and this is seldom mentioned. He gets the start with a team that is loaded with low draft picks and prospects, a gift any GM could ask for.

It took a decade of awful hockey to accumulate what we have today and we still couldn't make the playoffs. Now some of those youngsters and picks are gone with nothing to show for except one playoff win since he came here.

I get the injury part but it was only a small stretch where we had a lot of guys out at one time. Good teams find a way to stay afloat. We were pushed around all season long, and so the GM picks a fighter that can't skate. I don't have much faith in this guy any longer, sorry.

 

[Guadana]

you said they were stacked and had everything they need to be a cup contender. Don't worry I didn't miss the fact you contradicted yourself later in the post.

You didn't answer on my question.

 

[Guadana]

This is the first GM job for Fitzgerald and this is seldom mentioned. He gets the start with a team that is loaded with low draft picks and prospects, a gift any GM could ask for.

It took a decade of awful hockey to accumulate what we have today and we still couldn't make the playoffs. Now some of those youngsters and picks are gone with nothing to show for except one playoff win since he came here.

I get the injury part but it was only a small stretch where we had a lot of guys out at one time. Good teams find a way to stay afloat. We were pushed around all season long, and so the GM picks a fighter that can't skate. I don't have much faith in this guy any longer, sorry.

Load? There were no second draft picks and everything he had is Nico and Jack with Bratt. With no defense in roster and proapect pool. Defense take a lot of time to build, he did it in two years from all around perspective.
Shero did nothing, only lost the value of picks, find an idiot to trade Hall, was lucky to win lotteries in the year where he was trying to compete. And was lucky to have Hart level season from hall and vezina level months from Kincaid. Devils were awesome team year ago, this season was ruined by goalies and injuries. Shero had goalies, bit his team was ruined by the level of badness of his team and his playoff, like his two good overall picks and a couple of good 5-6th round picks, were pure luck, nothing more. We would draft Wright with him and we would never have record season with him, because Smith would never be traded, D'Angelo would be signed. There would never were Timo Meier, because Shero would never draft Mukhamadullin.


I would say its very interesting how "smart" Shero would be on the draft of 2021. May be he would draft Clarke because it was a hard need. And we would never see 8*8 Jack deal.

Fitz made his mistakes, but "he was lucky to start witth the team that was loaded by picks and prospects" criticism isn't working. Team wasn't loaded by prospects, from 5 years of bad performance Devils had very weak prospects and assets pool.

 

[ZYXWVUT]

I absolutely share concerns about the “core”. Because they are soft. Both physically and mentally. And I also think not having jam spread throughout the lineup, specifically up front, contributes to the ups and downs in terms of whether or not they score enough. The way it’s constructed as has been pointed out is one way to generate, which is off the rush. Sans the Meier-Hischier-Bratt trio at the moment. And the lack of depth is just so glaring. After that aforementioned line, you have Hughes with a third liner in Haula and a kid in Holtz with warts who is still trying to find his way thus up and down like a toilet seat. Then Nosek who is a 4C forced into 3C. Along with two complimentary wingers who can be effective, but alongside skill. And a fourth line of two american league players. And now on the backend two teenagers basically. A 5-6 in Bahl. Marino who can play minutes but not next to guys in over their heads, which has been the case all year. Siegenthaler stinks, makes smith look like Bobby Orr handling the puck. And DeSimone who is maybe a 7D at best. Ditto for Smith, who gets burned all the time. Recipe for losing. And I hate to bring it up, but losing MM on a whim is a HUGE blow bc he brings so much of what they lack. You could make the case to me he was becoming a legit part of the “core” then poof, suddenly gaping hole at 3C. In fact, I bet if you just added him back into the lineup and he never vanished, they have 3-4 more wins minimum.

 

[theoptimist]

Nah, just finished having breakfast and I still think that was a clown statement. Captain needs to tread lightly running his mouth like that.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Load? There were no second draft picks and everything he had is Nico and Jack with Bratt. With no defense in roster and proapect pool. Defense take a lot of time to build, he did it in two years from all around perspective.
Shero did nothing, only lost the value of picks, find an idiot to trade Hall, was lucky to win lotteries in the year where he was trying to compete. And was lucky to have Hart level season from hall and vezina level months from Kincaid. Devils were awesome team year ago, this season was ruined by goalies and injuries. Shero had goalies, bit his team was ruined by the level of badness of his team and his playoff, like his two good overall picks and a couple of good 5-6th round picks, were pure luck, nothing more. We would draft Wright with him and we would never have record season with him, because Smith would never be traded, D'Angelo would be signed. There would never were Timo Meier, because Shero would never draft Mukhamadullin.


I would say its very interesting how "smart" Shero would be on the draft of 2021. May be he would draft Clarke because it was a hard need. And we would never see 8*8 Jack deal.

Fitz made his mistakes, but "he was lucky to start witth the team that was loaded by picks and prospects" criticism isn't working. Team wasn't loaded by prospects, from 5 years of bad performance Devils had very weak prospects and assets pool.

How about Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec?

J Hughes #1
Nico Hischier #1
Simon Nemec #2
Luke Hughes #4

My point was this is a lot of 1st round talent stockpile. Whether it be trades or on ice performance, you either build around it or make something from it. We should have been a playoff contender this year.

 

[Bleedred]

Take this season in stride and basically come back stronger next year. It's an atrocity that they're missing because of how they didn't take any bad team seriously but hey that's a lesson for them. They were once that bad team spoiling teams seasons and now it's happening to them. Also, as much as I love Marty for he did for us as a player, it's so f***ing evident that the Devils are running into goalies into the ground because of what he thinks of the position. Daws, Vitek, Allen all being played at his work rate in the 90's and 2000's. The coaching staff next year, whoever it is, can't listen to upper management with how they play goalies or else we're going to end up with the same shit we have this year.

I’m not gonna sit here and suck Marty off because of who he was as a player. I’m beyond disappointed with the job he’s done since he became the director of goaltending (I don’t think he has that title but for all intents and purposes that’s what he is) from Rogalski to the weird goalie decisions that seem to go well beyond the coaches of the team.

I still don’t think Rogalski is good, but it seems Marty may be behind running guys into the ground. That quote and article may just be innocent and taken out of context, but it dawned on me two days before it was released how weird the goalies have been run here. They didn’t even let Kahkonen play here after his shutout. They’d rather let Allen play pretty much every game the rest of the year, other than the back to backs and maybe he’ll sit one other.

From Vitek being played into the ground even when he was horrific, to weird shit like Schmid playing the night after a heavy workload, Daws also playing a back to back (that one worked out) now Allen being run like he’s the starter of the Blues again. I think there’s a culprit that goes beyond the actual coaching staff at play here.

How about Daws in 2022? I blamed that on Ruff in an effort to save his job because Gillies was unplayable. Now I’m not so sure he was making all of that call.

I’d honestly be elated if we fired everybody involved with the goalie department and hired an all new goalie department run by Jim Carey and Mike Fountain than a suspect one run by Martin Brodeur and Scott Clemmensen.

I’m just throwing the Jim Carey and Mike Fountain out there because they were nobody players. Basically, I’d rather some other guys than Brodeur just because of who he was.

I have no emotional attachment to Marty the management person. Just like I have no emotional attachment to coach Scott Stevens whenever people call for us to hire him to coach.

 

[Patrik26]

There is the philosophy that being a great player doesn't translate into being a great coach, reason being many of the great players are just plain flat out more naturally talented and don't have to pay as much attention to detail and/or be cerebral about their play. Food for thought about our goalie situation even though Marty technically isn't a coach.

 

[HughesCorporation]

we seemed to run out of gas last night. our bottom 6 objective is to get the puck out of the DZ and get it across the blue line on a dump in and get the hell off the ice. that doesnt seem sustainable.
bahl getting almost 19mins of 5v5 is troubling. we need to throw some cash and overpay for a big Dman
dougies pec tear is concerning.. hope hes 90% next year without that cannon what will he bring? what do we have in marino and sieganthaler??