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

[devilsblood]

As far as I know Smith was regularly playing on the right side the last few years before he came here.

It's true his most common partner last year was Cole, a lefty, but Smith only played 45 games last year in Carolina, and played the least amount of minutes per game amongst d-men on that team.

Similar story in New York 2 years ago.

So yeah, he has done it, and he probably could do it, but he's 34, turns 35 next year, Bahl/Smith doesn't look like a pairing you trust with much responsibility.

Smith as a 7th makes a lot sense to me.

 

[Nubmer6]

It's true his most common partner last year was Cole, a lefty, but Smith only played 45 games last year in Carolina, and played the least amount of minutes per game amongst d-men on that team.

Similar story in New York 2 years ago.

So yeah, he has done it, and he probably could do it, but he's 34, turns 35 next year, Bahl/Smith doesn't look like a pairing you trust with much responsibility.

Smith as a 7th makes a lot sense to me.

Not saying whether it's a good pairing or not. Just saying that if you're going to move one of them to the right, Smith is the logical choice.

 

[devilsblood]

Not saying whether it's a good pairing or not. Just saying that if you're going to move one of them to the right, Smith is the logical choice.

Oh ya, he'd be the guy, but I'd rather bring in a legit 3rd pair rhd, and then Smith would be the 7th.

 

[Nubmer6]

Oh ya, he'd be the guy, but I'd rather bring in a legit 3rd pair rhd, and then Smith would be the 7th.

Ya. I was actually hoping they'd bring one in at the TDL that was signed thru this year and the next. Probably noone worth acquiring.

 

[Billdo]

Ya. I was actually hoping they'd bring one in at the TDL that was signed thru this year and the next. Probably noone worth acquiring.

I wonder how much of a deal a guy like Connor Clifton is going to command. He'd be a good option for RD3.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Anyone else wish the Devils wore uniforms like these instead of the "Jersey" black and grays?

 

[MasterofGrond]

I would have Luke with Smith, Bahl with Marino. That way there is at least one reliable transporter on every pair.

If they can find a better third pairing that they want to give the job to over Smith, I'm sure they will, but I'd wager they are bargain shopping and it's someone in the Smith tier more so than a clear upgrade

Please don’t weigh down my beautiful boy Luke with Smith. That pairing would be an adventure defensively and Luke deserves more ES minutes than it would get.

 

[Forge]

Please don’t weigh down my beautiful boy Luke with Smith. That pairing would be an adventure defensively and Luke deserves more ES minutes than it would get.

If anything does stay as the 6th d man, he has to weigh someone down lol

 

[devilsblood]

Anyone else wish the Devils wore uniforms like these instead of the "Jersey" black and grays?

Here.

 

[Camille the Eel]

88 points with 20 games left in the season. I can hardly believe it. If you had told me this before opening night I’d have sworn no way. The absolute powerhouse depth of talent we had on the ice tonight too.

9 point cushion on the Rangers too now with 20 games to play. 4 1/2 game lead.

 

[Incharge1976]

88 points with 20 games left in the season. I can hardly believe it. If you had told me this before opening night I’d have sworn no way. The absolute powerhouse depth of talent we had on the ice tonight too.

9 point cushion on the Rangers too now with 20 games to play. 4 1/2 game lead.

I want to catch Carolina. I think they can do it.

 

[Bleedred]

88 points with 20 games left in the season. I can hardly believe it. If you had told me this before opening night I’d have sworn no way. The absolute powerhouse depth of talent we had on the ice tonight too.

9 point cushion on the Rangers too now with 20 games to play. 4 1/2 game lead.

We still have a game in hand on them I believe?

That's a pretty big lead. Their cooler recently has probably got us locked up for 2nd and we can still get to 1st.

We'd need both our biggest chiller of the season, combined with the Rangers biggest heater of the season for them to pass us before the year ends.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

that head to head game against Carolina next week might be winner take all for the division with how close these teams have been all year tbh

 

[Incharge1976]

We still have a game in hand on them I believe?

That's a pretty big lead. Their cooler recently has probably got us locked up for 2nd and we can still get to 1st.

We'd need both our biggest chiller of the season, combined with the Rangers biggest heater of the season for them to pass us before the year ends.

I don't think we are perfect on D due to the style we are playing but the Rangers are even worse. Their team is terrible at D and their pickups at the deadline somehow made them worse. They are hoping Shesterkin can go God mode and they can score enough goals. I think they are worse than last year, especially considering Shesterkin may have had a career year last year.

 

[Eggtimer]

I can’t recall the exact Marty quote but didn’t he basically say the cap structure of the team only allots a certain amount to the goalie position? I can’t really see how we afford an “elite” level goaltender going forward, lest Akira or Brennan comes in and provides that on an ELC or their RFA contracts. It’s possible.

But I think they are conceding the goalie position is mostly voodoo at this point and they are more than happy with the Vanacek performance this year. That’s the model.

Brodeur said that they don’t want to pay inflated UFA prices on a goalie , and within a cap system , they want to develop goalies from within the organization vs. taking risk and overpaying free agents.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Feel great about this team heading down the stretch. We can score from just about anywhere in the lineup right now. You look up and down the lineup and it’s exactly what Fitz envisioned. We are bigger now and still one of the fastest teams in the league. Wasn’t terribly long ago where we were worried about our scoring depth when Jack was a one man wrecking crew. Now every line is chipping in.

Still see lots of opposing fans saying our team is soft. I’m not seeing that. There’s some size and “grit” on each of our lines right now. Lines 1, 3, and 4 are all good on the cycle and now Jack and Jesper have Timo to bully some d-men down low and retrieve pucks. Our back end is big and can end attacks quickly with their aggression and long sticks. It’s not a soft team and everyone will see that in the playoffs.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Rags get the Canes twice this month. We might be rooting for them in our quest to pass Carolina.

 

[NjDevsRR]

It’s beautiful

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It’s beautiful

View attachment 664089

I didn't mind Sal and Greene as captains but I love having a forward captain because you can spam or shout it whenever they score lol

 

[Bleedred]

Weirdly enough

One of the only games for a while that Carolina lost was actually to the Rangers. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve not been able to catch them as of yet, because they’re one of the only teams in the league other than Boston that’s somehow been hotter than us in the last 2 months.

That win also helped keep the Rangers hot on our tails, but they’ve since hit the skids in the last couple of weeks and have fallen way behind us.

 

[Bcap88]

Weirdly enough

One of the only games for a while that Carolina lost was actually to the Rangers. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve not been able to catch them as of yet, because they’re one of the only teams in the league other than Boston that’s somehow been hotter than us in the last 2 months.

That win also helped keep the Rangers hot on our tails, but they’ve since hit the skids in the last couple of weeks and have fallen way behind us.

Since January 1

Carolina is 17-6-2
New Jersey is 18-4-4

 

[Bleedred]

Since January 1

Carolina is 17-6-2
New Jersey is 18-4-4

I guess it was really during our December skid that Carolina pulled ahead of us and at one point it was like 6-7 points I think, but we’ve cut that down a bit.

That Rangers loss I spoke of was literally their only loss of any kind in like a 12 game span. Their loss to us in January and loss to the Rangers were their only two regulation losses over 17 games. And they also had one OT loss to Vancouver in that stretch.

 

[Bcap88]

I guess it was really during our December skid that Carolina pulled ahead of us and at one point it was like 6-7 points I think, but we’ve cut that down a bit.

That Rangers loss I spoke of was literally their only loss of any kind in like a 12 game span. Their loss to us in January and loss to the Rangers were their only two regulation losses over 17 games. And they also had one OT loss to Vancouver in that stretch.

Next week is a big week in terms of the division if they lay an egg you can prob kiss the division good bye

 

[forceten]

Carolina has a game in hand on us that they don’t cash in until April 10, just before end of season.

 

[Saugus]

Since January 1

Carolina is 17-6-2
New Jersey is 18-4-4

It's crazy how nobody in our division ever loses. Not only are we in the stronger conference, we're in the stronger division too.

Makes our ridiculous improvement in points from last season even more impressive.