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

[AfroThunder396]

Despite Boston having an historic season, we have a better road record than they do in both points and points percentage.

NJ: 25-4-4 = 54 points in 33 games (84% of possible points)
BOS: 23-7-2 = 48 points in 32 games (75% of possible points)

 

[Call Me Al]

Small, highly-skilled offensive player with limits defensively? Might fit in well with the Dolan Circus.

And wouldn't have to move.

i actually can’t imagine being a fan of the devils and being this unwilling or unable to enjoy the season we’re having right now

 

[TBF1972]

"All our scoring right now is because depth guys are contributing. We need our top guys to produce!"

"This team is relying way too much on a couple of top guys. We need depth scoring to come through!"

Newsflash folks: this is exactly what it looks like to have a team with depth. When the top guys are on a slump, the depth guys make up for it. But the depth guys aren't going to score consistently for an extended period of time (that's why they are depth, duh) so that's when you want to see your stars carrying the team. Which they've done on this team.

It's like some of you think it's realistic to expect evenly distributed production from every line at all times and score 6 goals a game. Did we just start watching hockey yesterday or something? I don't get it.

as long as the team wins 10-0 every night nobody cares, who actually scored.

but if not ...

 

[TBF1972]

I’m very pumped for this . Get to watch Bedard live . I’d way rather watch the Devils play live even if it was a random game in November against a shit team but I’ll take what I can get . View attachment 666570

so you try to convince me, that you are an adult.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Small, highly-skilled offensive player with limits defensively? Might fit in well with the Dolan Circus.

And wouldn't have to move.

 

[Guadana]

Despite Boston having an historic season, we have a better road record than they do in both points and points percentage.

NJ: 25-4-4 = 54 points in 33 games (84% of possible points)
BOS: 23-7-2 = 48 points in 32 games (75% of possible points)

 

[Saugus]

Can't wait for this Mini-Playoff with Tampa to start.

Also can't wait for the Devils to play Florida.

Devils owe Tkachuk an asskicking for what he did to Nico.

We just need to keep Brunette away from the golf carts and we should be good.

 

[MadDevil]

Small, highly-skilled offensive player with limits defensively? Might fit in well with the Dolan Circus.

And wouldn't have to move.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

We just need to keep Brunette away from the golf carts and we should be good.

Can't help thinking the guys have reminded him a few times already.

i actually can’t imagine being a fan of the devils and being this unwilling or unable to enjoy the season we’re having right now

Who isn't enjoying it?

 

[MachoDiablo]

Kind of just underscores how bullshit last year was. I know the roster has been improved, but they still should have been a lot better than the record showed last year.

Seriously; I actually went into last season all pumped to watch a young team learn and grow, make mistakes, but leave us with a feeling of "hey, the pieces are falling into place, just hold on a little bit longer", and instead we got a tire fire...though at least a tire fire has being a spectacle in its favor, last year's team was just beyond frustrating to watch.

But I remember going to Mets games in 2013-2014 and being able to enjoy losing seasons because I could see the young players rising up that would get them the 2015 NL pennant; hell, just this week you could get that vibe from the Habs fans, they know their team sucks right now but they could still go to the arena and appreciate the effort they were seeing and feel some hope for the future.

That said, if the deal was "have a more enjoyable, if still losing, season last year and then take a small step forward this year" or "suffer through last year then make the massive leap to Cup contender this year", I'm obviously taking the latter every time.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

You do realize PK was responding to Mark Messier at the time.

And Subban was trying to defend an indefensible hit by TJ Oshie to one of the people responsible for developing the guidelines?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

We played well defensively and then had massive breakdowns with guys wide open in front of the net. VV had his best game in a very long time. We got exceptional goaltending else that could have been four or five against easily. Those breakdowns were mainly bc the Canes are good as opposed to us being bad, but that's what we will see in the east.

The shots we allowed early on were from the outside and gave him a chance to get into a groove, but we have the Canes plenty of chances and when they didn't miss the net or get the shot blocked VV was awesome.

I just think you have some kind of weird perception that unless we allow 15 shots total, that we didn't play well defensively. This isn't the trap era anymore...teams are going to get chances and odd man rushes in EVERY game. EVERY team allows them. Yes, Carolina had a few chances early, but the 2nd half of the game they basically did nothing. They had 6 high-danger chances total the entire game. Thats outstanding defense. Not saying Vanecek wasn't also great, because he was. But the point remains.

(this is the part where you tell me that high-danger chances don't matter and you believe your eyes)

 

[Better Call Sal]

You do realize PK was responding to Mark Messier at the time.

And Subban was trying to defend an indefensible hit by TJ Oshie to one of the people responsible for developing the guidelines?

Of course I do. It's why I love it so much.

 

[Nubmer6]

Again, I was baffled by the Carolina deadline. I strongly feel if they added a 2C like Ryan O'Reilly or Bo Horvat, then a Bertuzzi-type for the top 6 and a defenseman who actually plays defense -- well, it might've been enough to be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league. But now I can't see them beating the Rangers or Devils in a 7 game series.

I think Horvat was the perfect player for them to add... Would have knocked off both their need for a 2C and a goal scorer. I'm guessing they were taken off guard when the Isles traded for him so early.

As for Ghost, I'm guessing their line of thinking is that if they could make DeAngelo look good, they could make him look good too.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I just think you have some kind of weird perception that unless we allow 15 shots total, that we didn't play well defensively. This isn't the trap era anymore...teams are going to get chances and odd man rushes in EVERY game. EVERY team allows them. Yes, Carolina had a few chances early, but the 2nd half of the game they basically did nothing. They had 6 high-danger chances total the entire game. Thats outstanding defense. Not saying Vanecek wasn't also great, because he was. But the point remains.

(this is the part where you tell me that high-danger chances don't matter and you believe your eyes)

Again I have to take the opportunity to point out the deficiency with citing HD statistics. How does it account for the degree of danger? That one chance that Carolina had where the player was able to fire off a one-timer in the slot about five feet from Vitek with no devils player within ten feet of him was more dangerous than any chance the devils got the whole night.

Also what were the stats on odd man rushes? I recall two or three in succession from the canes early on. I don’t recall the devils getting that many for the whole game, but I could be wrong.

 

[Triumph]

Carolina is a talented team, but they're probably the only NHL contender who got appreciably worse at the deadline. I'm not sure what they're thinking over there, because anyone who knows hockey can see they need a #2 center but they're still deluding themselves that Jesperi Kotkaniemi is anything more than a checking liner. The Gostisbehere deal was, well... so awful it has to be considered funny. He's essentially a power play specialist you need to constantly shelter at 5x5 so that his frighteningly weak defensive game does not get exposed. Puljujarvi is a decent player, and that was a solid add, but we're not talking an impact player by any means.

Again, I was baffled by the Carolina deadline. I strongly feel if they added a 2C like Ryan O'Reilly or Bo Horvat, then a Bertuzzi-type for the top 6 and a defenseman who actually plays defense -- well, it might've been enough to be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league. But now I can't see them beating the Rangers or Devils in a 7 game series.

So no, Carolina is not a finisher away from a cup. I'd say they're a defenseman, a top 6 winger and a 2nd line center away from being better than the Rangers or Devils, much less the Bruins or Lightning. Don't get me wrong, the Hurricanes are still dangerous -- they're extremely well-coached, they have a solid bottom 6, some star power at the top of the line-up, and one of the best top 4 Ds in the league. But this is a team with just 4 top 6 forwards (Aho, Svechnikov, Teravainen, Necas while Jarvis is still getting there), and probably the worst 3rd D pairing in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They have a 3rd line F playing on the top unit in Puljujarvi, and a center who is maybe as good as McLeod or Haula centering their 2nd line. It's tough to see them getting out of a brutal Metro division in this year's post-season.

I've watched a lot of Carolina this year, as they were the team which scared me most in the division. I think they live and die by their foremost strength, which is that Slavin/Burns/Pesce/Skjei is as good of a top 4 D as you'll find anywhere in the league. But I have to wonder about who is making the decisions in that front office which really hurt the team's chances at the trade deadline while pretty much every other Eastern contender improved remarkably.

Carolina lost one of their top scorers for the year and so they decided to mostly stand pat while everyone else blew out their top assets trying to get better - it makes sense to me. They have a ton of room this off-season, kept their 1st round pick, and the only major UFAs they have is Jordan Staal (who if he returns, will do so much cheaper) and the goalies, who they both acquired as UFAs. And this team can still go deep if they get some shooting luck.

I think Horvat was the perfect player for them to add... Would have knocked off both their need for a 2C and a goal scorer. I'm guessing they were taken off guard when the Isles traded for him so early.

As for Ghost, I'm guessing their line of thinking is that if they could make DeAngelo look good, they could make him look good too.

Horvat is not good defensively and doesn't fit with what the Canes are trying to do. Not at all surprised he's not there - the Canes let other teams pay for guys who have their best season in their walk year.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

We just need to keep Brunette away from the golf carts and we should be good.

I think he learned his lesson.

 

[njdevils1982]

Isn’t this just fantastic.



The mask is a homage to Marty right?

I love this dude.

and chico (logo on top)

 

[TBF1972]

Bratt is a wonderful player. There are definitely people on this board who don't want to give him the contract he's going to get, but I think most do. But the contract issue looms larger each day. I can't imagine that they are going to let him get to free agency for nothing if he won't lock in.

bratt is a wonderful player and i hope he gets signed long term at a reasonable rate.

but the devils are build around hughes and hischier. every other piece around them is kind of replaceable and therefore fitz shouldn't overpay to keep bratt or meier or mercer. the devils don't need more hamilton or palat type contracts.

 

[Triumph]

Again I have to take the opportunity to point out the deficiency with citing HD statistics. How does it account for the degree of danger? That one chance that Carolina had where the player was able to fire off a one-timer in the slot about five feet from Vitek with no devils player within ten feet of him was more dangerous than any chance the devils got the whole night.

Also what were the stats on odd man rushes? I recall two or three in succession from the canes early on. I don’t recall the devils getting that many for the whole game, but I could be wrong.

Doubt very much this is true, that was a dangerous chance but the pass was telegraphed and the player was angled in such a way that Vitek could get out to challenge him. It's definitely a dangerous chance, but it's not some open net opportunity.

If this is the best chance a team gives up in a game, or they give up only one like this, they are doing well. Carolina gave up a lot of dangerous chances on their PP, they had Hughes walking right in on a semi-breakaway, etc.

 

[TBF1972]

He does bring a lot but he's not the full package...Prices have gotten inflated so probably goes over 8 but he should be on par with Fiala under 8 imo ...Meir is a power fwd and should get more than Bratt

more on a shorter term (5-6 years) would be ideal

unfortunately not realistic

 

[Better Call Sal]

and chico (logo on top)

Yep, you nailed it, they asked him about it when he had it made.

Vanecek pays homage to Brodeur, Resch with new mask | NHL.com

Devils netminder honors legendary goalies

www.nhl.com

Vanecek said he plans to wear the mask for a few games before getting it signed by Brodeur and Resch, then retiring it.

"We asked and they (Brodeur and Resch) said it's a good idea and that I can wear it," Vanecek told the Devils. "I'm really happy they did that, I think it's really nice to be able to pay homage. I'm really happy about it."

"They are both legends."

It's really hard not to love Vitek.

 

[HBK27]

I like the move going back to Vitek while he's hot.

I'll be at the Rock tonight with my 2 boys - hoping for a good game and maybe even 1st place in the Metro by the end of the night.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Certainly agree with going back to Vitek after the performance he had on Sunday.

 

[TBF1972]

Hypothetically...

If the Bratt situation goes south, would you trade him for Quinn Hughes?

I'm not talking one for one as I don't think Bratt alone gets it done.

i wouldn't.

the meier trade was made to improve our forward group. fitz traded away from a position of strength (lhd) because we have absurd positional depth. bringing in a top lhd for bratt + would basically negate the meier trade sacrificing cheap depth (zetterlund, okhotyuk), futures (picks) plus whatever vancouver would ask as a plus to upgrade a player (mukhamadullin), which the team might not had room for in the lineup, for a player (q. hughes), which best plays an already covered role. quinn hughes only makes sense, if hamilton goes out of the door at the same time.