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

[Triumph]

Is this totally true?

Last year he scores 5 goals in 19 playoffs games in a not high level men’s league.

He also scored 1 goal during the regular season, so I'm counting those together - 6 goals in 58 games.

3 years ago he scores 6 goals in 21 games in U18 international. 2 goals in 4 games in U16.

It's unclear to me what the competition of this U18 international is. Is it the other big hockey nations, or is it e.g. France, Denmark, etc., or some mixture of the two.

4 years ago he scores 10 goals in 52 games in a U18 league when he’s like 14-15 years old.

Obviously we know Nemec is an exceptional player, but I wager almost nobody who makes the NHL plays against such competition at that age. Nico Hischier put up 3.5 points per game in some Swiss U17 league when he was 14/15, the league is extremely high scoring but he was still the best scorer in it, and he was projected as a mid to low first round pick in summer 2016. This is all a long-winded way of saying anyone picked high is very likely to have dominated competition this far beneath them. Slafkovsky played 18 games in this U18 league at age 13/14 and had 9 goals in 18 games.

——————-

Nemec has played massively over his age due to the country he was playing in but his goal scoring doesn’t seem lacking in goals despite playing against people much older than him his whole career.

I don't think it's lacking, I think it's right near the middle, given everything. He only scored 1 international goal last season in 19 games; some of that was competition near his level, some of it was way above. We'll obviously have a better sense of this next season.

What's funny is that I thought I had seen his third goal this weekend but turns out I hadn't - that one is a 'goal scorer's goal'. A defenseman who can get a couple of those a year plus the regular random screened shots + fluke bounces + what have you is at risk of hitting double digits in goals in good years for sure.

 

[Goptor]

Seider had 1G 10A on the PP for 50% of his points
Nemec has 1G 4A on the PP for 22% of his points
Sandin had 3G 9A on the PP for 50% of his points

Non PP PPG
Nemec - .33 PPG
Sandin - .36 PPG
Seider - .22 PPG

Nemec is doing fine. If he was playing more on the PP his point/shot totals would be inflated.


Nemec has an absolutely terrific wrist shot both in accuracy and velocity. He will score a lot in the NHL.

Is this true? His shot was the biggest question mark going into the draft. If he has an elite shot, then he may be one of the top defensemen in the league.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Is this true? His shot was the biggest question mark going into the draft. If he has an elite shot, then he may be one of the top defensemen in the league.

Look at his highlights, his wrist shot is quite good. The puck comes off like a forward.

 

[bossram]

Oof that looks awful to me with Siegs and Hamilton both in the corner. I know it worked, but

View attachment 668289

It's intentional. Ruff's preferred DZC is The Swarm.

I don't like the system, but I noted a few days ago they are executing it better, and picking better spots when to have both D "Swarm" the opposition. Forwards are doing a better job collapsing into the slot.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Some quality, encouraging stuff on Timo in case there were any concerns from anyone.

 

[MauDevils]

Textbook what exactly? Just a great read by Nico. The defenseman are chasing and basically did nothing to prevent that pass out front.

 

[Zippy316]

Some quality, encouraging stuff on Timo in case there were any concerns from anyone.

The wild thing about this for me is watching him on the ice it genuinely feels like he is trying to force things too much.

Despite that, he’s still posting phenomenal underlying numbers which is encouraging.

Once he gets going and develops some chemistry with teammates, he’s going to be dangerous. As long as he’s clicking once playoffs roll around, that’s all that matters.

 

[Devs3cups]

What an absolute beauty. Love this guy.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Could the Devils be the current version of the 2008-09 blackhawks? They made the playoffs for the first time in ages that year on the backs of their new young stars, advancing all the way to the conference finals. They couldn't get past the Red Wings, who were essentially making their final run as an elite team. The current Boston Bruins could be a parallel to that Red Wings team. I would be ecstatic if the Devils made it to a Conference Final showdown with them.

And then of course Chicago won the first of three Cups the following year.

 

[njdevil26]

I thought last night Meier looked the most "comfortable" in the games he's played as a Devil. If Ruff can keep his head out of his rear end and stop tinkering with the lines, Meier-Hughes-Bratt could be an absolute monster for other teams.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Meh. 1. We don't possess a matchup line. 2. We are on the road so it's tough to get the matchup you want without the last change.

You're worried about the fourth line but I am more worried about the other lines.

Hughes's line got penned in and really have to the best chances against Suzuki.

I think we're fine with rolling lines, esp since the fourth line really did well yesterday and produced the first goal.

Rolling lines was a staple of the Lemaire years - and is a staple of most quality teams.

The one line that's been vulnerable against top lines is not the McLeod Line.

 

[Triumph]

Textbook what exactly? Just a great read by Nico. The defenseman are chasing and basically did nothing to prevent that pass out front.

That's why it's textbook - this is what the Devils want their defensemen doing. Most teams wouldn't have both of their D in the corner like this as a default.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

@glenwo2

Pretty much

 

[bossram]

Textbook what exactly? Just a great read by Nico. The defenseman are chasing and basically did nothing to prevent that pass out front.

Again, this is intentional. This is the defensive zone coverage they play - The Swarm.

They want both defensemen to engage in down low battles. The goal is to either get a quick stop and win the pick, or hurry the offensive player into a bad play. The forwards are responsible for collapsing into the low slot - it's a lot of pressure on them to make the correct reads.

I don't like the system, but they've been executing it better lately. The D are choosing better spots when to "Swarm" and the forwards are making better reads.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Rolling lines was a staple of the Lemaire years - and is a staple of most quality teams.

The one line that's been vulnerable against top lines is not the McLeod Line.

Which line has been vulnerable then? I know you're not about to suggest the Hughes line, which has a very good xG%, has been worse than the McLeod line, which is below water.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

This will be airing weekly if not daily as we wind down the regular season.

Let me guess? An "insider"?

 

[Cheddabombs]

False fire alarm went off in my office today, must have been those red hot Devils it was picking up on!

 

[NjDevsRR]

False fire alarm went off in my office today, must have been those red hot Devils it was picking up on!

 

[OmNomNom]

I think the "blame" should be placed on Bratts side tbh. I just don't see Fitz and Co super lowballing him. They know what he is, they developed him, they see the fans love him, etc. To me, Bratt wants out. That's just my guess as to why he hasn't signed yet. He doesn't want to be the guy who asks to be traded but I don't get the impression he actually wants to sign here. Not hearing anything from his camp is a bit peculiar although I know most agents keep this stuff quiet. We just hear the Devils have offers and then nothing happens.

i know it's not the only factor, but if he wants out, it would be made difficult, considering his gf is native New Jerseyan - just taking a personal perspective imo. but that aside, where the heck would he want to go? out west, further from Sweden?

we're literally the 2nd best team in the NHL - i'd hope he's not dumb enough to want out, and i agree w you - i doubt fitz is lowballing. i think his agent is really being a hardass and doing his job. i think it'll get done though

 

[Zippy316]

Again, this is intentional. This is the defensive zone coverage they play - The Swarm.

They want both defensemen to engage in down low battles. The goal is to either get a quick stop and win the pick, or hurry the offensive player into a bad play. The forwards are responsible for collapsing into the low slot - it's a lot of pressure on them to make the correct reads.

I don't like the system, but they've been executing it better lately. The D are choosing better spots when to "Swarm" and the forwards are making better reads.

The biggest difference it seems is the forward coverage low to high. The collapse down low to cover the slot isn’t anything new.

Devils have been doing some interesting system where the low forward is the one that challenges the point carrier from the net out. Effectively taking away the shooting lane and allowing a better coverage of deflections.

The team as a whole seems to understand the coverage extremely well so far and everyone is on the same page. To the point that it’s noticeable that Meier is a little off defensively when he’s on the ice, but he’s still learning.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Good read.

 

[Saugus]

Some quality, encouraging stuff on Timo in case there were any concerns from anyone.

Didn't Timo also have some weird goalless drought to start the season this year when he was still on the Sharks? And then obviously it picked back up with regression to his mean.

The production will come, he just has to keep blasting away.

 

[Better Call Sal]

https://thehockeynews.com/news/jesper-boqvist-and-the-devils-love-the-fast-life

An article from yesterday on Boqvist and the team, not sure if it was shared yesterday since I was out for much of the day.

 

[Call Me Al]

no issues with timo - he’s playing well all things considered. and if jack and bratt are breaking out of their funks it’s only a matter of time. that line will be capable of putting up huge numbers on any given night

 

[Billdo]

If Bratt wants out ( no one knows for sure except for him ) but why the hell would he ? Makes zero sense to me unless there are things that happen behind the scene that we don’t know about . Like lowball offers amd unfair treatment .
Usually when a player wants out it’s for a few reasons ( player feels unwanted, reduced ice-time , dislikes the city , girl friend or wife wants to live elsewhere , feels underpaid )
None of which seems to be the case with Bratt but who knows for sure.
Why would you leave a team that is just on the cusp of being a cup contender for the next decade , while you play a big role in that , with the team that drafted you , surrounded by elite talent that happen to be your buddies ….
Im sorry but it makes zero sense to me why he would want out.

Maybe he's holding a grudge he didn't get an extension by now and was "low balled" two summers ago. Maybe he just doesn't like it here. I don't know, maybe he does want to sign and will. I hope that's the case but if I had to bet I would NOT bet on us not offering market value as the reason he signed elsewhere.