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

[devilsblood]

It's good for him, for now, but not sure how long he can last on a roster this talented over time. There certainly will be guys pushing him out at some point in near future, if he doesn't properly carve out a more defined edge/role here. He came in as a net front, 4th line, size guy, that could maybe get some PP front net action, but that was during injuries (or before we got all the more talented guys Meier, Palat, Haula, etc).

I hope Bastian can improve, but you're probably right that its not really something we are counting on.

As for even being a more defensive specialist (McLeod is morphing into that), even Rango gets PK time (when he's playing and he looks good at it), and the PP time goes to the true PP guys, so the specialist niche is not even an option for Nate now.

4th line is often not about how talented a guy is. Being big and strong and a guy who plays such a sound game will endear him to a good amount of coaches. Certainly our team appreciates him.

I even think our 4th line is very well constructed. With the solidly unexciting play of Bastian being a key part of that.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Handsome Tom

 

[Eggtimer]

Yeah I could only see it if Jack feels like he maybe left too much on the table. Doesnt mean he has to be upset by it but maybe he wants his brother to have the chance to capitalize since he didnt

It would be epic if Quinn signs here for pennies on the dollar. Something like 1 mil per for say 5 years so he can fit in our roster under the cap. Then all 3 brothers pool their contracts amd split it three ways so it’s all even lol.
Oh god would there be salty people out there screaming how unfair and how much BS that is and people bitching about rules need to change or something stupid like that.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Handsome Tom

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

 

[Forge]

Are we likely to shed a year off of Luke's ELC when he signs? Is it likely he asks for that?

Yes, but I'm pretty sure that is standard. I think Colorado did that with Makar and he only played in the playoffs that year.

 

[NHL Fanatik]

Palat.

I know itd need to be tried and likely wouldnt be a fan favorite lineup but Id really love, for the playoffs, to make our top three lines all-around solid with no major drop-off. Would go a long way for matching up easier on the road

Tatar-Hischier-Meier
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Boqvist-Haula-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Sharangovich, Lazar

Lot of room to play with too if we want to flex the roster. Two solid NHL backups and wiggle room with wingers being so versatile

 

[Billdo]

I don’t see who the 3rd line LW is then. Wood? Sharangovich?

Lazar is a C/RW 4th liner and Bastian is a RW 4th liner. It’s pretty basic actually.

Palat...

 

[Bleedred]

Maybe Vitek just needed some of his favorite hibachi joint to refuel his game.

Would be nice if he could get it together cause the building will be pumped tomorrow night for Timo.

It’s sad what happened to his nice head of hair.

I’m hoping I don’t suffer the same fate. I see it receding a bit but any of my bald peers I point this out to laughs about how only I would be worried about that and they wish they had a quarter of the hair left that I do.

That post was about Fitz’s hair. Not Vitek’s lol. Damn auto merge.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Maybe Vitek just needed some of his favorite hibachi joint to refuel his game.

Would be nice if he could get it together cause the building will be pumped tomorrow night for Timo.

It’s sad what happened to his nice head of hair.

I’m hoping I don’t suffer the same fate. I see it receding a bit but any of my bald peers I point this out to laughs about how only I would be worried about that and they wish they had a quarter of the hair left that I do.

That post was about Fitz’s hair. Not Vitek’s lol. Damn auto merge.

Hopefully Vitek can come back from this latest slide like earlier in the year and peak heading into the playoffs.

 

[theoptimist]

I think we will see Hughes-Haula-Bratt in the playoffs

 

[NHL Fanatik]

I think we will see Hughes-Haula-Bratt in the playoffs

thatd be a mistake IMO

 

[NJDevilsFan21]

I know itd need to be tried and likely wouldnt be a fan favorite lineup but Id really love, for the playoffs, to make our top three lines all-around solid with no major drop-off. Would go a long way for matching up easier on the road

Tatar-Hischier-Meier
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Boqvist-Haula-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Sharangovich, Lazar

Imo aside from PP1, Hughes and Bratt shouldn't be on the same line anymore. They have similar play styles, and are a disaster in the defensive zone when together. Simply put, neither one of them can play defense that well and when both are on together we end up wasting offensive zone time chasing the puck in our own end. It was brutal in Arizona. Bratt and Nico don't work well either, so I think it's time to see what Bratt can push being the main guy on a line where his size is fairly shielded by the two other guys.

Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Hughes-Haula-Meier
Palat-Boqvist-Bratt
BMW

Boq and Haula can be swapped, but I'm going with this just because we've seen so much of 56/86 already we/they know what to expect of each other. Hughes becomes the unquestionable play driver of his line, while Bratt becomes the same for his. Tbh, Bratt should be able to flourish against weaker competition too.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

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

Was saying the same thing...I think he would be perfect 3rd pair rhd and he is a physical player too....

 

[Triumph]

Imo aside from PP1, Hughes and Bratt shouldn't be on the same line anymore. They have similar play styles, and are a disaster in the defensive zone when together. Simply put, neither one of them can play defense that well and when both are on together we end up wasting offensive zone time chasing the puck in our own end. It was brutal in Arizona. Bratt and Nico don't work well either, so I think it's time to see what Bratt can push being the main guy on a line where his size is fairly shielded by the two other guys.

Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Hughes-Haula-Meier
Palat-Boqvist-Bratt
BMW

Boq and Haula can be swapped, but I'm going with this just because we've seen so much of 56/86 already we/they know what to expect of each other. Hughes becomes the unquestionable play driver of his line, while Bratt becomes the same for his. Tbh, Bratt should be able to flourish against weaker competition too.

People are just going to keep saying things like this forever because both guys are small, but Hughes and Bratt are not poor defensively at all, and to me it was Meier who dragged that line down. I don't expect Meier to be an issue on the line long-term, but he was clearly out of position on the first goal they allowed and it looked like he wasn't in the right spot on the third one either. It's his first game, that's going to happen.

Hughes + Bratt are on the ice for fewer shots against than either Hughes without Bratt or Bratt without Hughes the last 3 years.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Just accept that Hughes line will look off for 10 games. If I is still bad then, you maybe move some players around.

 

[Billdo]

Was saying the same thing...I think he would be perfect 3rd pair rhd and he is a physical player too....

Agreed. Some snarl, good player, would be a great fit, should be relatively affordable.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Mercer has the franchise record. I am not counting Scouts stuff

 

[Bleedred]

Mercer has the franchise record. I am not counting Scouts stuff

Or Rockies lol.

Colorado can claim those since they wear their jerseys as retro's.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Mercer has the franchise record. I am not counting Scouts stuff

@Satans Hockey approves of this message

 

[devilsblood]

I know itd need to be tried and likely wouldnt be a fan favorite lineup but Id really love, for the playoffs, to make our top three lines all-around solid with no major drop-off. Would go a long way for matching up easier on the road

Tatar-Hischier-Meier
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Boqvist-Haula-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Sharangovich, Lazar

Lot of room to play with too if we want to flex the roster. Two solid NHL backups and wiggle room with wingers being so versatile

That third line, even with Mercer, still seems like a drop off. If you want 3 high talent lines I think Bratt, or Meier, need to be on the 3rd.

I'm fine with the 3rd line from last night though, Palat and Haula can handle difficult defensive assignment, so I'd deploy it as such. Boq's maybe a weak link in that regard, but he notched a couple last night so maybe he'd bring more of the offensive element to that linwe.

And for those wondering where Lazar could fit? Well if we are stymied offensively by a big physical team in the playoffs, I could maybe see Lazar in Boq's spot, and that line being a high end defensive line.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Mercer has the franchise record. I am not counting Scouts stuff

@Satans Hockey approves of this message

This is the way.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

It's nice to see arguing about playoff 3rd lines this late into the season, vs. arguing about who will help propel a tank.

 

[NHL Fanatik]

That third line, even with Mercer, still seems like a drop off. If you want 3 high talent lines I think Bratt, or Meier, need to be on the 3rd.

I'm fine with the 3rd line from last night though, Palat and Haula can handle difficult defensive assignment, so I'd deploy it as such. Boq's maybe a weak link in that regard, but he notched a couple last night so maybe he'd bring more of the offensive element to that linwe.

And for those wondering where Lazar could fit? Well if we are stymied offensively by a big physical team in the playoffs, I could maybe see Lazar in Boq's spot, and that line being a high end defensive line.

I dont dislike the idea of Bratt on the third but playing equivalent minutes as before

Would certainly open up room for a triple-combo of Meier-Hischier Hughes-Holtz Bratt-Mercer

Now that I list that out I kinda really like it lol

 

[NjDevsRR]

It's nice to see arguing about playoff 3rd lines this late into the season, vs. arguing about who will help propel a tank.

I remember posting this around this time last year lmao