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

[MasterofGrond]

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?

Yeah, and your opinions generally are in the Messier range.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Looking forward to Luke getting in some games this year. Michigan plays #1 ranked Minnesota for the B1G Ten Championship Saturday night. The NCAA tournament is right around the corner so that means Luke is going to be here in a few weeks. I also just looked at his stats and just realized he is over a PPG season. I thought with him being on a weaker team this year that his numbers were the same or dipped very very slightly but that is not the cass. Luke is going to replace Severson's offense next season without a doubt. Hamilton , Siegenthaler , Marino , Hughes , Bahl & Smith isn't a bad d core to work with next year. I really wouldn't mind keeping Graves around if possible. Would be nice to sign him to a medium term deal. We just have so many defensmen still coming through the ranks that it's totally understandable if we don't make a good pitch to keep him. I'm really missing Ohoktiuk and Shakir being in the system but it is what it is. Nemec should get some games in next year too. Casey on the way as well as McCarthy , Villen , Barbosha etc...yeah even though we lost those 2 guys we still have some good ones in the ranks.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Looking forward to Luke getting in some games this year. Michigan plays #1 ranked Minnesota for the B1G Ten Championship Saturday night. The NCAA tournament is right around the corner so that means Luke is going to be here in a few weeks.

That MIN top line is disgusting

 

[MasterofGrond]

Yeah Minnesota is so f***ing good

 

[Guttersniped]

Prob out of context here but saw that clip making the rounds mostly negatively towards PK.

PK and his antics, lots of people aren't fans and that's fine to have an opinion. I find if funny though that Messier with his Rangers glasses on made that comment. I think a lot of people either forgot or aren't aware of what a POS player Messier was in his day. Greatness, undeniable... borderline scumbag, undeniable.

Ranger fans were unhappy with the hit.

I also don’t know if making faces at the guy you work with is exactly professional.

Messier is historically famous for being a pompous asshole and he’s doing it here by not listening to a guy just played. These hits happen, they aren’t even penalized, much less punished by the NHL.

If Messier wants to get on a high horse he can say they should try to get them out the game, he can say they originally claimed they would these hits out so they should, etc.

He’s saying the NHL are and Subban just hasn’t seen it because he’s the one who isn’t paying attention to hits.

Because you know a guy who played until
2003-04 knows way more than a guy who played until 2021-22 about what current players can and can’t get away with.

Both these guys are pretty much infamous narcissists but at least Subban has a reputation for being a nice, fun one.

I will admit that I loathe Messier with every fiber of my being and can’t even stand to look at his dumb f***ing face, so there’s that. But I’m trying to be impartial as best as I can here lol.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Yeah, and your opinions generally are in the Messier range.

 

[Sdevils42]

Biz recanted on his Devils atheism by a month into the season. Even during our rough December he said he thinks we'll still get into the playoffs, but probably as a wild card team.

Yandle was saying that shit after the 13 game win streak or at least right before it was snapped.

His takes are TERRIBLE. When he was on TNT not too long after saying he first started coming on there, they were talking about guys who aren't in the HOF that deserve to be in and he said Shane Doan. The only way Doan could have possibly gotten into the HOF is by breaking the games played record like Patrick Marleau did. Marleau will likely get into the HOF and that's the only reason why. Way better players than Marleau (*Cough* Elias *Cough*) are not going to be in. And I'm a Patrick Marleau fan, but outside of breaking that games played record (Which is an incredible accolade) he wasn't coming near the HOF.

And then last night they went around asking everyone who is the Leafs starter if the playoffs started today. He was the only one that said Matt Murray and also said ''And I know you guys aren't gonna like this'' and said because he knows how to win and he's been there before.

Matt Murray is not the same Matt Murray that he was in 2017. I hear the same dumb shit about 37 year old Jonathan Quick, because of when he won 9 and 11 years ago.

No one believes in the Devils. As I'm sure you've all experienced since being Devils fans we're treated like a third rate team. Maybe some of it is the recent ineptitude but even back when they were dominant mid 90s-early 00s the team is an afterthought.

"Early season streak was a fluke, they have a weak schedule, they'll get pushed around in the playoffs", and all the other bogus narratives. I think it comes down to people just not watching them play at all because if you did they certainly pass the eye test. Combine that with very good advanced stats and it's all BOS, CAR, NYR (to a lesser extent now but a week ago, phew).

May be overconfident but I am not worried about the Hurricanes. Reg season team IMO, they just don't have the firepower especially now with the news about Svech. Have spoken at length about a potential NYR/NJD matchup and again not worried unless Igor goes 2022 for a stretch. Boston is obviously the monster but they can be beaten. Wonder if they run out of gas in a potential ECF matchup and the Devils have skated with them. But they are intimidating and a deserved favorite.

The team I am worried about is TOR. I think they finally made the moves this year that makes them a player. Down Tavares and ROR last week was an eye opener. They are not a pretty team anymore or don't solely rely on that slick play to win games, they have some grit. Nylander has stepped up, Marner is an elite 2 way player and Matthews is a gamebreaker.

My expectations are ECF though, I think this team has what it takes. Still too many breakdowns in the D zone for me, clearances and leaving guys uncovered. IMO they got lucky a couple times vs CAR, Vanacek played very well. Would like to see Schmid worked in a little more but it's VV's net.

Am I nuts with the expectation?

 

[Guttersniped]

we absolutely cannot see Blackwood in a game again this year unless its for a meaningless game where we've already clinched the division or a specific playoff seed

That GDT is going to be lit tho.

 

[Bleedred]

we absolutely cannot see Blackwood in a game again this year unless its for a meaningless game where we've already clinched the division or a specific playoff seed

I won’t go over the edge if we do give him a game or two, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of Schmid and sending him back for this shit bag.

I’d be happiest if we’ve seen him play his last game as a Devil though.

 

[My3Sons]

Ranger fans were unhappy with the hit.

I also don’t know if making faces at the guy you work with is exactly professional.

Messier is historically famous for being a pompous asshole and he’s doing it here by not listening to a guy just played. These hits happen, they aren’t even penalized, much less punished by the NHL.

If Messier wants to get on a high horse he can say they should try to get them out the game, he can say they originally claimed they would these hits out so they should, etc.

He’s saying the NHL are and Subban just hasn’t seen it because he’s the one who isn’t paying attention to hits.

Because you know a guy who played until
2003-04 knows way more than a guy who played until 2021-22 about what current players can and can’t get away with.

Both these guys are pretty much infamous narcissists but at least Subban has a reputation for being a nice, fun one.

I will admit that I loathe Messier with every fiber of my being and can’t even stand to look at his dumb f***ing face, so there’s that. But I’m trying to be impartial as best as I can here lol.

The NHL standard for these sort of hits is a bit blurry. To me, Oshie may not have hit the car ahead of him square in the bumper, but he hit some of the bumper and the rear quarter panel. Frankly, I'd prefer not to see that hit. If you aren't fast enough or agile enough to get to the front half of the car you aren't qualified to make the hit. Blasting a guy from three quarters to the rear that close to the boards is pretty risky and unskilled in my view. I just can't abide the constant flow of off puck interference, holding, clutching, grabbing, small cross checks, and hits to the back that the marginal players use to slow down the good players. Watching Hughes play has changed my view on where the game needs to go. My kids don't care about TJ Oshie's borderline hits. They can watch MMA if they want and see actual guys with courage face each other in a no holds barred manner. The fans that cry about the game getting soft in its old age will watch anyway. Hockey needs more young and casual fans. Jack Hughes can add them, TJ Oshie style hitting won't. Just my thoughts and it's an opinion not a fact.

 

[Guttersniped]

No one believes in the Devils. As I'm sure you've all experienced since being Devils fans we're treated like a third rate team. Maybe some of it is the recent ineptitude but even back when they were dominant mid 90s-early 00s the team is an afterthought.

"Early season streak was a fluke, they have a weak schedule, they'll get pushed around in the playoffs", and all the other bogus narratives. I think it comes down to people just not watching them play at all because if you did they certainly pass the eye test. Combine that with very good advanced stats and it's all BOS, CAR, NYR (to a lesser extent now but a week ago, phew).

May be overconfident but I am not worried about the Hurricanes. Reg season team IMO, they just don't have the firepower especially now with the news about Svech. Have spoken at length about a potential NYR/NJD matchup and again not worried unless Igor goes 2022 for a stretch. Boston is obviously the monster but they can be beaten. Wonder if they run out of gas in a potential ECF matchup and the Devils have skated with them. But they are intimidating and a deserved favorite.

The team I am worried about is TOR. I think they finally made the moves this year that makes them a player. Down Tavares and ROR last week was an eye opener. They are not a pretty team anymore or don't solely rely on that slick play to win games, they have some grit. Nylander has stepped up, Marner is an elite 2 way player and Matthews is a gamebreaker.

My expectations are ECF though, I think this team has what it takes. Still too many breakdowns in the D zone for me, clearances and leaving guys uncovered. IMO they got lucky a couple times vs CAR, Vanacek played very well. Would like to see Schmid worked in a little more but it's VV's net.

Am I nuts with the expectation?

I dunno, I’m going to wait a month before I really think about this.

 

[forceten]

Am I nuts with the expectation?

No. Everything you say here has legitimacy. Carolina is a deep team but their talent is distributed somewhat. Losing Svech is very painful. They're dangerous, but they can lose too. Their goaltending can be great or nonexistent. Deadline adds amp up the PP (no better than ours right now) but hurt team defense and added nobody of skill - if anything it may have diminished it.

Boston is amazing. They still have yet to have a losing streak. But their top players are older. There are some dings already (Hall, Foligno, minor one to Marchand) and I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again. Their deadline adds seem to be working out well.

Thing is, any of these top 4-5 teams in the East can come out of the east. There's going to be a lot of dice rolling having impacts, because they're solid.

 

[Saugus]

That GDT is going to be lit tho.

We haven't seen the playoffs in almost 5 years, and it's been nearly a decade since we've had any expectations for a deep run.

Then when you consider what a hive of scum and villainy this board is...

...all of our GDTs this April are going to be lit. Can't wait.

 

[My3Sons]

Can we talk about how f***ing mad I'm going to be if I have to see Vanecek and Blackwood in the back to back this weekend and not Vanecek and Schmid?

I can't wait. It will be glorious. Can I just say that word on the street is that Blackwood is really a 920 goalie despite never having actually been a 920 goalie and that if he wins his next start the doubters will have to eat crow. Do with that what you will when Blackwood next starts in the Sunshine state, Florida Man.

 

[StevenToddIves]

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.

I sincerely doubt the Isles dealing for Horvat took Carolina's management by surprise. I honestly think the hubris associated with the Kotkaniemi signing is just obliterating the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup chances. The Kotkaniemi move cost the Canes a 1st and 3rd rounder and hurt their ability to re-sign a Norris-level defenseman in Dougie Hamilton. Then, refusing to admit their mistake after Kotkaniemi was awful last year, they gave him a multi-year $5 million deal and let a very good 2C in Vinny Trocheck go so they could give Kotkaniemi top-line minutes.

This year, Kotkaniemi has struggled all year long. He can't even average half a point per game despite playing huge 5x5 and PP minutes with some outstanding wingers on a contending team. But Carolina refuses to admit this mistake, they just keep doubling down on the same mistake over and over again. I think there's 31 NHL GMs who see Carolina as desperate for a 2C and Carolina's management team is still trying to convince themselves that Jersperi Kotkaniemi is Evgeni Malkin so they can continue to stick their collective tongues out at Montreal for something which happened three years ago.

As for Gostisbehere, there's just no defending that move. I won't compare him to DeAngelo because Gostisbehere is a good kid and DeAngelo is a pretty lousy human, but neither one of them can defend at an NHL level or even close.

Again, it's tough for me to criticize Carolina's management completely because I love their scouting team. I feel they've drafted about as well as any NHL team over the past half-decade. But imagining this team if they had never made the Kotkaniemi signing -- well, it's an alternative universe where the Hurricanes might be the class of the league. Let's say they kept that 1st and 3rd round pick in 2022, then re-signed Hamilton and never bothered with DeAngelo. Even if they lost Trocheck as a UFA this year, the picks they threw away on Kotkaniemi could have been packaged to easily outbid the Islanders on Bo Horvat. And if anyone would argue about the salary cap, let's keep in mind that Hamilton + Horvat = $13 million in 2022-23, while Kotkaniemi + Gostisbehere = $10 million -- it's not much of a difference. The biggest insult to Carolina has to be the fact that Trocheck is playing with the Rangers and Hamilton with the Devils -- the team which knocked them out of the playoffs last year and the team likely to knock them out of 1st place this year.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Carolina is a very good team, but they've sputtered in the playoffs because they don't have any real gamebreakers. What did they do to address that this year? They made a half-hearted attempt in acquiring Paccioretty but that blew up in their faces. Not sure why anyone would feel confident about them finally getting over the hump when they still haven't solved their biggest problem from previous years. And their goaltending is more questionable this year than in the past.

Toronto is a good team too. I just don't know if they can mentally get over the reputation of first round futility. Not to mention I think they went overboard with the rentals. No good for chemistry. Who was the last team to bring on that many new faces and go far in the playoffs? You can't just throw a bunch of new faces into the mix 2/3 of the way into the season and think it's a sure thing to turn out positively.

Boston is the clear cut favorite. Yeah they are older but their stars are practically age-less. Marchand seems to actually get better as he gets older, it's freaky. They're going to break the record for most wins/points in a season (or at least come close)...there's gonna be a tremendous amount of pressure for them to live up to that. That's going to really manifest itself in the first round the most. They have enough experience and talent to weather that, I think. Once they get over that first round, they're going to have a ton of momentum to take it all the way - it's hard for me to envision an upstart team who's never been there like the Devils coming in and stopping that freight train.

Everyone else in the conference to me is just blah. But it's the playoffs and anything can happen. Plenty of teams have gone on cinderella runs to win their conference, even if they almost always flame out to a legit contender in the Final.

 

[NjDevsRR]

The Benchmarks | 10 TAKEAWAYS | New Jersey Devils

Pulling even in points with Carolina this week was another benchmark game the Devils have had this season

www.nhl.com

 

[StevenToddIves]

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.



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.

1. Are we talking about Max Pacioretty? He's got three career points in Carolina. He's played 80 games over the past three seasons combined -- if you trade for an injury-plagued player, you cannot act shocked and unprepared when they get hurt.

2. I'm going to respectfully disagree with with the idea that Carolina "decided" to stand pat while everyone around them "blew out their top assets trying to get better". The Devils' top "tradable" assets going into the trade deadline were likely -- in order -- Luke Hughes, Nemec, Holtz, Mukhamadullin, Gritsyuk, 2023 1st round pick (mid-to-late-20s), Casey. NJ gave up their 4th and 6th biggest assets and held onto their top 3 to get a winger who would represent the best winger on Carolina. Personally, I'd say there was no "decision", I'd just say Tom Fitzgerald is simply a superior GM to Tom Waddell right now.

3. I'd agree with you that the Canes' cap situation is not all that bad, and Staal will likely agree to a team-friendly deal next year. I'd also say goaltending shouldn't be an issue, as most scouts are pretty high on the potential of Kochetkov, who is the future in net in Carolina by all indication.

4. The idea that Horvat is not good defensively is silly. The idea he doesn't "fit" with what Carolina is trying to do is silly. Right now, he gets paid $800,000 less than Kotkaniemi to be a better 2C in every single aspect we can possibly imagine. Carolina's biggest problem is that "what they're trying to do" is continue to prove to Montreal that the Kotkaniemi deal makes them smarter. The Canadiens just went and took the assets gained from Kotkaniemi and used them to help acquire Kirby Dach, who is also a superior player to Kotkaniemi for almost $2 million less per season.

Again, I'm not attacking you or Carolina here. I've just talked with a few people in the hockey journalism world about Carolina's plan, and I'm not so sure they actually have one which outweighs a desire to wave a magic wand and turn Jesperi Kotkaniemi into Sasha Barkov.

 

[Oneiro]

I don't think they have a shy trigger finger. I just think they like the Tkachuk / Meier tier of player and won't deviate from it. Both times they lost because they lacked the assets in a major major deal. They got outbid by big-time, possibly undisciplined buyers both times.

We could very well have looked at them sputter again in the playoffs this year or the next, after paying the price for Horvat, Miller, etc. and been like..."Well, they didn't get the right kind of guy - they needed a star and used their assets for B-tier 2nd liners."

I don't hate the way they're playing this for the same reason I loved that Fitz stuck to his guns and only went after the Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Meier-tier of player.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Carolina is a very good team, but they've sputtered in the playoffs because they don't have any real gamebreakers. What did they do to address that this year? They made a half-hearted attempt in acquiring Paccioretty but that blew up in their faces. Not sure why anyone would feel confident about them finally getting over the hump when they still haven't solved their biggest problem from previous years. And their goaltending is more questionable this year than in the past.

Toronto is a good team too. I just don't know if they can mentally get over the reputation of first round futility. Not to mention I think they went overboard with the rentals. No good for chemistry. Who was the last team to bring on that many new faces and go far in the playoffs? You can't just throw a bunch of new faces into the mix 2/3 of the way into the season and think it's a sure thing to turn out positively.

Boston is the clear cut favorite. Yeah they are older but their stars are practically age-less. Marchand seems to actually get better as he gets older, it's freaky. They're going to break the record for most wins/points in a season (or at least come close)...there's gonna be a tremendous amount of pressure for them to live up to that. That's going to really manifest itself in the first round the most. They have enough experience and talent to weather that, I think. Once they get over that first round, they're going to have a ton of momentum to take it all the way - it's hard for me to envision an upstart team who's never been there like the Devils coming in and stopping that freight train.

Everyone else in the conference to me is just blah. But it's the playoffs and anything can happen. Plenty of teams have gone on cinderella runs to win their conference, even if they almost always flame out to a legit contender in the Final.

Haha, are we really ruling out Tampa? I mean, I'd love to rule them out but I just see them coming out of that division again this year, despite how sick it would make me inside. Just so much talent, a team built to win in both regular season and playoffs, and one of the top two goalies on earth in Vasilevskiy.

Right now, if I was forced to do my nhl.com playoff bracket, I think I'd have Conference finals as Tampa vs. New Jersey and Colorado vs. Edmonton, but I think it's been 3 years since I've won any type of NHL bracket pool so maybe I'm just over the hill.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Replacing Dougie with Tony friggin Deangelo (and now by extension Ghostisbiere) is clearly a major downgrade. Same idea with losing Trochek. The fact that they've been able to maintain their regular season success is indicative of how well coached and deep they are. But eventually this catches up in some form. I don't really understand how people have expected them to go farther in each successive season despite not actually icing a better roster.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Haha, are we really ruling out Tampa? I mean, I'd love to rule them out but I just see them coming out of that division again this year, despite how sick it would make me inside. Just so much talent, a team built to win in both regular season and playoffs, and one of the top two goalies on earth in Vasilevskiy.

Right now, if I was forced to do my nhl.com playoff bracket, I think I'd have Conference finals as Tampa vs. New Jersey and Colorado vs. Edmonton, but I think it's been 3 years since I've won any type of NHL bracket pool so maybe I'm just over the hill.

Honestly I kind of forgot about Tampa - which is sort of indicative of their season LOL. I agree 100% about them as a team. I just think they're finally gassed. Expecting them to win another 3-4 rounds of playoff hockey for the fourth year in a row is kind of crazy - and that's on top of the fact that I think their roster has been weakened significantly. Since they won the cup, they've lost the entire third line that was a major playoff catalyst, Palat, Gourde, Mcdonaugh. Who is replacing what those guys brought...Hegel? Jeanot? It's not enough IMO.

They aren't gonna go down without a fight, but eventually something has to give here. I think Boston takes complete advantage of their weaknesses if they meet.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Looking forward to Luke getting in some games this year. Michigan plays #1 ranked Minnesota for the B1G Ten Championship Saturday night. The NCAA tournament is right around the corner so that means Luke is going to be here in a few weeks. I also just looked at his stats and just realized he is over a PPG season. I thought with him being on a weaker team this year that his numbers were the same or dipped very very slightly but that is not the cass. Luke is going to replace Severson's offense next season without a doubt. Hamilton , Siegenthaler , Marino , Hughes , Bahl & Smith isn't a bad d core to work with next year. I really wouldn't mind keeping Graves around if possible. Would be nice to sign him to a medium term deal. We just have so many defensmen still coming through the ranks that it's totally understandable if we don't make a good pitch to keep him. I'm really missing Ohoktiuk and Shakir being in the system but it is what it is. Nemec should get some games in next year too. Casey on the way as well as McCarthy , Villen , Barbosha etc...yeah even though we lost those 2 guys we still have some good ones in the ranks.

Devils are still stacked -- absolutely, disgustingly stacked -- in LD prospects following the trade of two very strong prospects (Mukhamadullin, Okhotiuk). I'd still rank the Devils LD pool near #1 in the NHL:

1 L. Hughes
2 Bahl
3 Vilen
4 Orlov
5 Misyul
6 Zaitsev
7 Edwards
8 Vukojevic

Hughes might be the NHL's #1 prospect until Bedard is drafted. Bahl may have graduated, but if we consider him a prospect we have to be encouraged by his recent play and his skill set. Vilen and Orlov would be in the conversation for a top 2 LD prospect on many teams. Misyul and Zaitsev have been largely forgotten by many prospect writers, but the fact is they are both extremely solid KHL defensemen. Even Edwards and Vukojevic have the chance to make it as an NHL 6/7 D. It's just a very strong group.

Honestly I kind of forgot about Tampa - which is sort of indicative of their season LOL. I agree 100% about them as a team. I just think they're finally gassed. Expecting them to win another 3-4 rounds of playoff hockey for the fourth year in a row is kind of crazy - and that's on top of the fact that I think their roster has been weakened significantly. Since they won the cup, they've lost the entire third line that was a major playoff catalyst, Palat, Gourde, Mcdonaugh. Who is replacing what those guys brought...Hegel? Jeanot? It's not enough IMO.

They aren't gonna go down without a fight, but eventually something has to give here. I think Boston takes complete advantage of their weaknesses if they meet.

Boston's big advantage is that the 1st round match-up of Tampa v Toronto is going to be a f***ing doozy.

But I'd also have to add that this year's Eastern Conference is so tough that there are no easy playoff match-ups. To me, if Pittsburgh were in the Pacific Division, they'd be in first place by 10 points right now. But in the brutal Metropolitan Division, they're fighting for a playoff seed. There's just great imbalance in the NHL geographically right now.

 

[My3Sons]

I don't think they have a shy trigger finger. I just think they like the Tkachuk / Meier tier of player and won't deviate from it. Both times they lost because they lacked the assets in a major major deal. They got outbid by big-time, possibly undisciplined buyers both times.

We could very well have looked at them sputter again in the playoffs this year or the next, after paying the price for Horvat, Miller, etc. and been like..."Well, they didn't get the right kind of guy - they needed a star and used their assets for B-tier 2nd liners."

I don't hate the way they're playing this for the same reason I loved that Fitz stuck to his guns and only went after the Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Meier-tier of player.

I think Carolina's issue is they will only acquire or voluntarily pay players below market value. I get it. That's how you win cups in the cap world. That said, if you have a team with value players you can splurge on a couple of necessary players. Like NJ with Hamilton. He fit an obvious glaring need for NJ. They had to pay market value. His contract will be an albatross at the end but hopefully they get five years out of it before then. Carolina just seems unwilling right now to really "go for it" in my view which is strange given that their window closes in two years if they really stick to their value model.

 

[Nubmer6]

As for Gostisbehere, there's just no defending that move. I won't compare him to DeAngelo because Gostisbehere is a good kid and DeAngelo is a pretty lousy human, but neither one of them can defend at an NHL level or even close.

I don't make judgements on players' personalities. I'm just saying the defensively deficient DeAngelo did reasonably well with them last year, and they probably have the same hopes for Gostisbehere.