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

[Saugus]

I aspire to low event mediocrity

Cornell's lesser known motto.

 

[Devils Pride 26]

How much grinding does this thing need? Holy shit.

Trade his ass

 

[My3Sons]

Trade his ass

That’s the last resort. You try everything you can before getting to that point. NJ doesn’t win that trade even if it would be salvaging a bad situation. Fitz should fly to Sweden after the season and sit in a room with Bratt’s agent if necessary.

 

[Forge]

That’s the last resort. You try everything you can before getting to that point. NJ doesn’t win that trade even if it would be salvaging a bad situation. Fitz should fly to Sweden after the season and sit in a room with Bratt’s agent if necessary.

They have to start looking at the possibility before qualifying offers, yeah?

 

[My3Sons]

They have to start looking at the possibility before qualifying offers, yeah?

I think the draft is when those sorts of players get moved. Hopefully they can hammer something out.

 

[NJDevs26]

How much grinding does this thing need? Holy shit.

Part of me feels like the Timo meme gorilla waiting on a Bratt extension. Either that or the skeleton fan waiting on a Leafs Cup

 

[Bleedred]

What if Bratt is pissed that we got Timo, the same way Parise was pissed that we got Kovalchuk?

 

[NjDevsRR]

Part of me feels like the Timo meme gorilla waiting on a Bratt extension. Either that or the skeleton fan waiting on a Leafs Cup

 

[NjDevsRR]

Speaking of Bratt

6 pts last 12 gms


Listen, hes a great player, but we are seeing a historic season of scoring. He is quickly dropping under a PPG pace on the season so he shouldn’t be asking for a lot of $$. Fitz will just laugh at the agent. Larkin has similar points and is a center. So Bratt should be getting less than 8.7 per.

8 x 8, do it Lou.

 

[Devs3cups]

The 2008-2009 team, which has the most W's in team history, had a 41-19-3 record after their 63rd game, for 85 points.

We're 41-16-6 for 88 points after game #63

Perspective. Actually f***ing wild lol. Love this team.

 

[NHL Fanatik]

Meier will bounce back big time next game I think. Just hope he doesnt try to force things

Besides a new system hes still shaking the lackadaisical play he likely played some with in SJ; what with them being mostly uncompetitive the last few years. Example being the wild stretch passes.

But he'll reel it in Im sure. May take him to the playoffs to do so

 

[Devils Pride 26]

That’s the last resort. You try everything you can before getting to that point. NJ doesn’t win that trade even if it would be salvaging a bad situation. Fitz should fly to Sweden after the season and sit in a room with Bratt’s agent if necessary.

This has been going on for what, 3 years now? It’s about that time

 

[Clam Jensen]

The 2008-2009 team, which has the most W's in team history, had a 41-19-3 record after their 63rd game, for 85 points.

We're 41-16-6 for 88 points after game #63

Perspective. Actually f***ing wild lol. Love this team.

Your positivity is like a beam of light shining through the occasional darkness.

 

[BostonDevil]

What if Bratt is pissed that we got Timo, the same way Parise was pissed that we got Kovalchuk?

Can’t be like that. If he is, not sure I’d want him around.

Throw extensions out to both of them that are fair. If Timo signs his, fine.

The whole idea that Bratt is owed some preferential treatment is outdated at this point. The guy has decided not to sign a long term deal the past 2 years.

Can’t wait on Timo. Two separate deals.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

I've calmed down a little bit after yesterday's disappointing loss however these are the main points that still concern me.

- Structure in both the neutral zone and the defensive zone
- Vanecek's ability to not lose a series
- Poor execution of plays in high leverage situations
- Inability to keep 4th line away from top lines
- The powerplay, including entry and personnel selection.

 

[Devils731]

I've calmed down a little bit after yesterday's disappointing loss however these are the main points that still concern me.

- Structure in both the neutral zone and the defensive zone
- Vanecek's ability to not lose a series
- Poor execution of plays in high leverage situations
- Inability to keep 4th line away from top lines
- The powerplay, including entry and personnel selection.

Ruff talking about defensive zone miscues after the game is a little frustrating because his system leads to puck watching and open spaces for the opponent on the weak side. It’s effectively on purpose that the weak side is wide open since the defenseman both pressure behind the net, 2 forwards provide support, and the third forward stands still in the high slot covering the remaining 75% of the ice.

We’ve seen this basic system for 3 years and the forwards all struggle to protect behind them as they watch the puck to determine if they need to switch, rotate, or pressure. They can’t watch the puck to determine where they should be and also monitor the space behind them, not when the play in front of them needs constant monitoring.

At this point Ruff just needs to accept that his system will lead to breakdowns like this. It may still be beneficial for him to act like the breakdowns aren’t an expected result of the system but it won’t stop me from rolling my eyes when he discusses them.

The pressure is great when it’s working and implodes when the other team can work through it.

 

[TF1970]

Ruff talking about defensive zone miscues after the game is a little frustrating because his system leads to puck watching and open spaces for the opponent on the weak side. It’s effectively on purpose that the weak side is wide open since the defenseman both pressure behind the net, 2 forwards provide support, and the third forward stands still in the high slot covering the remaining 75% of the ice.

We’ve seen this basic system for 3 years and the forwards all struggle to protect behind them as they watch the puck to determine if they need to switch, rotate, or pressure. They can’t watch the puck to determine where they should be and also monitor the space behind them, not when the play in front of them needs constant monitoring.

At this point Ruff just needs to accept that his system will lead to breakdowns like this. It may still be beneficial for him to act like the breakdowns aren’t an expected result of the system but it won’t stop me from rolling my eyes when he discusses them.

The pressure is great when it’s working and implodes when the other team can work through it.

i agree here that it is just the way his system is - as all systematic schemes, it has its benefits & drawbacks in certain areas. now, sometimes that IMO is on some forwards being harder & as ruff said postgame last night, wanting to prevent goals against, as opposed to just being in the area positionally. any line that has hughes/bratt as two-thirds of it is terrifying on the defensive side of things - its a tough juggle as to the risk/reward of them together. hopefully meier can settle in & stabilize to help at least bring some heaviness to alleviate them getting caved so much defensively.

side note, does anyone subscribe to the newly paid devils insiders podcast? if so, curious as to what their general train of thought was on the latest edition after last night?

 

[minibrodeur]

I'd like to see Timo play side boards on the PP use that one timer instead of playing bumper or net front.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Ruff talking about defensive zone miscues after the game is a little frustrating because his system leads to puck watching and open spaces for the opponent on the weak side. It’s effectively on purpose that the weak side is wide open since the defenseman both pressure behind the net, 2 forwards provide support, and the third forward stands still in the high slot covering the remaining 75% of the ice.

We’ve seen this basic system for 3 years and the forwards all struggle to protect behind them as they watch the puck to determine if they need to switch, rotate, or pressure. They can’t watch the puck to determine where they should be and also monitor the space behind them, not when the play in front of them needs constant monitoring.

At this point Ruff just needs to accept that his system will lead to breakdowns like this. It may still be beneficial for him to act like the breakdowns aren’t an expected result of the system but it won’t stop me from rolling my eyes when he discusses them.

The pressure is great when it’s working and implodes when the other team can work through it.

In the playoffs when you’re facing the best teams in the league and they can focus all their attention on finding ways to exploit your weaknesses, this doesn’t seem like the kind of system that is going to be successful.

 

[glenwo2]

How much grinding does this thing need? Holy shit.

What the fk is Bratt's AGENT (not Bratt himself 'cause he's busy trying to win Hockey games) DOING????

IS HE EVEN IN THE COUNTRY??

 

[glenwo2]

@BostonDevil @Clam Jensen

What if Bratt is pissed that we got Timo, the same way Parise was pissed that we got Kovalchuk?

That would be plausible....if there wasn't a recent NJ.com article (behind a paywall that I have access to) that has him be absolutely thrilled with the Devils acquiring Meier.

I believe I even posted a blurb on that.

How Devils’ trade for Timo Meier affects Jesper Bratt’s pending restricted free agency

The Devils traded for Sharks star Timo Meier on Sunday.

www.nj.com

Bratt is confident, too. The 24-year-old breakout star has 56 points in 59 games this season and desperately wants to win a Stanley Cup in New Jersey. Fitzgerald trading for Meier propels the Devils closer to that goal.

“Yeah,” Bratt said, when asked if the Meier trade motivates him to sign a long-term deal. “Getting a player like this makes a huge difference for us. Hopefully, even for him, a deal gets done and all of that stuff.

“Right now, I’m just focused on winning games and playing my best hockey and making a push right now. All the other things will get figured out somehow.”

 

[NjDevsRR]

People are being too hard on Timo.

Dude was an animal for the first 30 mins then Ruff switched the lines and it got discombobulated.

The shorthanded goal was more on DOUGLAS IMO, not a great pass which put his teammates in a bad spot. Then the high stick penalty is what it is.

 

[McDuffz88]

Trade his ass

Unfortunately we might have to. We can't wait until the last second because then we wouldn't have many teams interested & the buy price will be even lower. It's bad enough we're already going to lose the trade but we might as well trade away when competition is best. The very latest I let this drag out is the draft. If he's not signed by then, bye bye Bratt it was nice knowing you. The fact the agent isn't even trying to do a counter offer shows the 2 sides aren't even close to making a deal. Fitz is just talking to the media about it to pressure the other side & to make them look like a**holes. Which they are.

People are being too hard on Timo.

Dude was an animal for the first 30 mins then Ruff switched the lines and it got discombobulated.

The shorthanded goal was more on DOUGLAS IMO, not a great pass which put his teammates in a bad spot. Then the high stick penalty is what it is.

Agreed, I think he played fantastic with Hughes & didn't look as good off his wing. We need to let Timo build chemistry & learn the team. Just stick him with one man for 5 games & not shuffle him around. At this point we can afford to lose a few games it's not a big deal. We are already guaranteed playoffs. It's also a reason I wouldn't mind if we sat Vtek for a week so he can heal up & get some rest.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

 

[guitarguyvic]

I love Bratt. I think he should be resigned. I think he is a legit top line player and we will be a worse team without him.

With that said, it’d be nice if we saw some sign of perspective from he and his agent. He’s basically a ppg player. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again…with scoring up all across the league, this is equivalent to a 70 point player a decade ago. It’s fairly obvious that a Larkin/Fiala style contract in the range of 8-8.5 per is plenty fair and I have a hard time believing Fitz is offering less than that. If you’re serious about staying with this team, then sign it already. Otherwise you’re playing hardball and asking for more than the reasonable going rate.