I think Hamilton was shooting way too much earlier in the season so I'm not sweating him not racking up shots right now. I'm looking past anything Hamilton does late this season actually. There are certainly aspects of his game which I see as a bit concerning, such as consistently chasing down breakaways, but I'm just willing to scratch this season, and then look for him, and the team, to bounce back next season.
Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part XXIV
- Thread starter NJDevs26
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AfroThunder396
[citation needed]
Hamilton is making very lazy and reckless plays at the line. Im not super worried about it because he's dealt with at least two injuries this year, may not have perfect vision with his face shield, and likely hasn't had proper diet and workout since his jaw surgery.
Also he was soooo good earlier in the year and has a long history of great play. I am going to give him a mulligan on this season.
Also he was soooo good earlier in the year and has a long history of great play. I am going to give him a mulligan on this season.
- Oct 22, 2002
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I think Zetterlund and Bahl should be full time Devils next season.
Zetterlund should replace Vesey minutes as a plug and play bottom 6er.
Bahl should replace Colton White as the teams new 7th dman.
I would trade Zacha and give his wing spot to Holtz. He doesn't need another year in AHL.
And release Geertsen to open a forward roster spot for a free agent signing.
Either a 3C if we want to keep Mercer at wing or a top 6 winger if we want to return Mercer down to 3C.
Zetterlund should replace Vesey minutes as a plug and play bottom 6er.
Bahl should replace Colton White as the teams new 7th dman.
I would trade Zacha and give his wing spot to Holtz. He doesn't need another year in AHL.
And release Geertsen to open a forward roster spot for a free agent signing.
Either a 3C if we want to keep Mercer at wing or a top 6 winger if we want to return Mercer down to 3C.
This team drives me nuts. I go into last night assuming we will lose to Arizona like we did last time and like we lost to the Habs last week and justifying how angry I am at the team... then stay up til 1 am pumped about Zetterlund, proclaiming to my wife who is trying to sleep that I'm going to get Sharangovich on my blank Devils jersey... and texting friends about how if Blackwood is healthy next season and playing well we're going to be awesome.
RangerDoggo
The Devils have a culture of failure
This team is good if you like to have a constant whiplash of expectations.
Bahl I believe can play another season in the AHL without having to clear waivers, so let him develop there.
Zetterlund would have to clear waivers, but his season this year demands he gets an NHL oppurtunity next year. All signs point to him earning a spot.
The Devils are going to pencil Holtz in as well. He's going to start the season in the NHL, and if he doesn't stick that would be dissapointing.
Boq is very likely our 3c to start next year.
Mercer is top6 wing, and depth center.
Between Zacha Johnsson Tatar I think you trade whoever you can get the most for. Maybe two of them.
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SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
The forward group gets very crowded pretty quickly if Zetterlund and Holtz are both ready next year, even assuming we move on from Zacha and Johnsson. It’s going to be an interesting offseason for Fitz.
I wish Zacha wasn't awful.
Sharangovich-Hughes-Mercer
Bratt-Hischier-Holtz
Tatar-Zacha/Boqvist-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
That's not a bad forward group if we're getting actual defense and goaltending.
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
Not bad at all, and that’s with zero acquisitions. If we add just one top 6 forward, someone that is pretty good is getting squeezed. Good problem to have though.
So with a more healthy lineup Johnsson is the odd man out? Next season will be a crowded forward group If both Zetterlund and Holtz make the big club.
Johnsson has to go. He was on fire to start the season but I think he has something like 3 goals in the last 46 or so games. There is zero reason for him to be in the lineup.
Blender
Registered User
- Dec 2, 2009
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Zetterlund suddenly has 4 points in 6 NHL games. He's definitely looked much better this time up than his first few games, but he's getting actual ice time.
I just don't see adding a top 6 fwd.
Why? That player would be expensive to acquire and then expensive to retain.
Personally I'm fine with Shara Bratt Mercer and Holtz as the top 6 wing mix for next year.
If I'm looking to add anyone, it's a gritty mid 6 winger. Or a grittier two way 3C which would move Boq to wing.
Zacha isn't awful, his #'s are pretty good this year. The problem is he is leaving so much potential on the table because he's a low effort player, which is both frustrating, but also a bad example for others.
I do like that lineup though, I'd draw it up just the same, though I think Johnsson is in the mix for the 3rd line lw. Edit: actually read it wrong, I think Zacha is in comp with Tatar and Johnsson for 3rd line lw, not with Boq at center, although Zacha on Boq's wing does allow for a decent faceoff guy on that line.
And look at us with 4 righty RW's.
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- May 1, 2011
- 133,228
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Is it still possible that Nico Hischier might actually be a better player than Brian Gionta or Jamie Langenbrunner?
And he has washboard abs.
I don't really remember his first time up, but he was getting shots on net even then. Continuing to do so in this recent stint as well.
Blender
Registered User
- Dec 2, 2009
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His first 3 games he played like 4-5 minutes per game on the 4th line. Seemed pointless to even have him in the lineup.
Which is hilarious because his face in his helmet looks like he's a chubby 14 year old kid... then you see he's built like a gosh darn iceberg.
Darkauron
Registered User
Fab is built like a tank. I loved watching him play when he wasnt injured. Always thought he was an Nhl player. Hope he can finally stick
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
I wouldn’t want someone that’s more of what we have. But if we could get someone with a skill set that we don’t have like Nichushkin (elite forechecker, elite defensively, actually uses his size), I could see it.
OmNomNom
Taco is Love, Taco is Life
idt it happens but can you imagine wood and big Z on a line together?
gross (in a good way)
gross (in a good way)
Ya, played 9 minutes his first game, had 3 sog's, was a +2 in on ice corsi, +1 in on ice sog's, a +1 in GF's.
Only played 5 minutes in his next game and looks like his line got pinned in their own end posting a 0-8 on ice corsi.
Played a little under 5 minutes his 2nd game. Back to even in terms of possession though no individual sog's and was then back to Utica.
I think he could have gotten a longer leash then, but he went back to Utica played really well, and fast fwd a bunch of months and he is up again and looking really good. So I may have questioned the handling of his early stint in NJ but overall it seems to have worked out.
Ya gritty two way mid 6 guy, I'm in. But really have to be wary of price tag. We once had a ton of cap, but looking out a couple years it's getting pretty tight.
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