Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - season begins!

[Billdo]

These expected stats are nice and all but I feel like we've been having this same conversation for far too long. It's always "if this happens then we should be fine because this says so." How about winning more than 2 in a row? How about NOT having a stinker after a good game? I'm not expecting to go 82-0 but this team has to get their head out of their ass sooner than later.

 

[NJDevs26]

Is RBA the best coach in the NHL?

What is it that they do that keeps them so far above the fray year after year.

The best regular season coach...their stuff never translates into the playoffs except against us

 

[Bleedred]

I could honestly go another week without watching this team after the pathetic Friday night performance.

 

[MadDevil]

We're not looking bad either. This last week and a half of solid play has certainly helped.

Defensively as well:

And then you've got this...

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853082603835813954

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853110302792958190

 

[TheUnseenHand]

At yet here is was being told an average goalie would fix everything.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Red Bulls? That's still a thing? What about the Cosmos?

If you're being serious yes, they have had their own stadium in Harrison across from Newark that's in walking distance of the Devils arena since 2010.

Cosmos have been dead for years and ain't likely coming back.

 

[MadDevil]

At yet here is was being told an average goalie would fix everything.

Being 4th worst in Goals Saved Above Expected would seem to suggest we haven't had average goaltending. So far we've gotten more down year Markstrom than up year Markstrom. But that doesn't mean it will last all season, and if they play more like the Ducks and Canucks games they'll probably still be okay. Still, it is kind of annoying being at the bottom of these lists again. Thanks Dave.

 

[My3Sons]

I agree. I really don't know why the league has gone back to turning a blind eye to blatant, repetitive, dangerous injury situations, particularly to the head but also other dirty plays, boards etc. They've gone a full 360 to about 10-12 years ago when they made a very distinct message to be disciplinary about those types of hits

This season (not just with NJD), we've seen baffling calls by refs who call instigator over very minor infraction (or another extra penalty) when a clear cheapshot attempt has happened and the only guy getting the extra penalty is the player who is trying to handle the cheapshotter. Somehow the team that cheapshots a player ends up getting a PP to boot!

Happened twice to NJD already just this season alone. And also occured in another team NHL game this season as well, forget which game it was but I read about it on the main board. Very similar to what we saw.

You could draw initial conclusions as if the NHL is encouraging this situation the way it's being handled the last season and a half. There's a ton of examples I won't get into (Rempe, Trouba had a few last season alone, but I only know those examples well since they happen with teams we are closely watching)

Even the play by lomberg on cotter was dicey. No one in the league even mentioned that they would look at it.

It’s like a prescient prophet would advocate a strategy where a team iced a plethora of replaceable sociopaths who purposely cheap shot the best players on all the other teams hoping to injure them. Someone with the stones to call out the league like that should be knighted and given a feast in his honor. But where will we find such a noble and thoughtful person?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

At yet here is was being told an average goalie would fix everything.

The Devils will have a very good season if they get average goaltending.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Has anyone seen the video of Bastian walking around at the Michigan game with a sling around his jaw?

Think the Devils will finally tell us he’s out for a while?

 

[Nubmer6]

And then you've got this...

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853082603835813954

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853110302792958190

Ah, the Rogalski effect.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Being 4th worst in Goals Saved Above Expected would seem to suggest we haven't had average goaltending. So far we've gotten more down year Markstrom than up year Markstrom. But that doesn't mean it will last all season, and if they play more like the Ducks and Canucks games they'll probably still be okay. Still, it is kind of annoying being at the bottom of these lists again. Thanks Dave.

I really don't want to hear "if they play more like the games against bad teams they will be fine" argument. Do we really think they aren't playing the same game against good teams? They out skill bad, soft teams and get caved by teams who can match their skill.

The Devils will have a very good season if they get average goaltending.

So has been the case for the better part of a decade now...

I really want to be excited about this team, but sans a random game here or there, regardless of the goaltending, they just don't look impressive. I'm kind of sick of the flattering advanced stats. I get their merit but they simply aren't translating to wins. I'd really like to see a roster stick together for more than a season. At least the bulk of a roster. It would much better help to assess the root causes of their futility. No doubt a better goalie helps. But how much it actually moves the needle (until you get to the Sheterkins of the world), I just don't know.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

These expected stats are nice and all but I feel like we've been having this same conversation for far too long. It's always "if this happens then we should be fine because this says so." How about winning more than 2 in a row? How about NOT having a stinker after a good game? I'm not expecting to go 82-0 but this team has to get their head out of their ass sooner than later.

we have been having the same conversation for far too long, because we haven't gotten even average goalie play. The exception is 22-23 and look how that season turned out.

At yet here is was being told an average goalie would fix everything.

is the average goaltending in the room with us?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I really want to be excited about this team, but sans a random game here or there, regardless of the goaltending, they just don't look impressive. I'm kind of sick of the flattering advanced stats. I get their merit but they simply aren't translating to wins. I'd really like to see a roster stick together for more than a season. At least the bulk of a roster. It would much better help to assess the root causes of their futility. No doubt a better goalie helps. But how much it actually moves the needle (until you get to the Sheterkins of the world), I just don't know.

I am quite impressed by the defense. It looks like one of the better groups in the league, and should get stronger with more practice reps. And we have two of the most exciting D prospects in the league waiting to contribute.

I don’t really give a shit about advanced stats in a small sample, but you don’t even need to look at them to see we’re so much more solid than last year.

 

[Xirik]

Looks like he’s back.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

At one point they seemed poised to modernize the sport but the last few years they have really gone backwards on that. At some point the medical studies will lead to a class action like the NFL had to deal with. Once that happens the rules will be changed and enforced.

Have you watched an NFL or MLB game lately?

More people watched Caitlin Clark than watched Game 5 of the World Series.

There's a reason for that.

 

[Rhodes 81]

Caveat: this is all a small sample so far this year

The expected goal share charts correlate strongly with the teams that gain the most points over large sample sizes. That is not an opinion, that is a fact.

When presented with such consistent data over the course of multiple years and coaches and a largely overhauled defensive group that suggests we should be a good team but have bad goaltending, you can conclude one of two things:
1.) There is something unique to our team that causes us to perform significantly worse than other teams would by performing the same actions
2.) The goaltending has been bad

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853137012271808980

Would much rather just go 7 D. Let’s send Nemec down already if he’s not going to play.

 

[billingtons ghost]

And then you've got this...

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853082603835813954

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853110302792958190

Sure. It's always the goaltending. Doesn't matter who's the goalies are.

Couldn't be that the eye test is correct and when the forwards and/or D corps play a cohesive, responsible checking game and complete simple passes, we win and the goalie starts look great (a shutout, even!). and when we play like a minor league garbage hockey team, we lose and goalies suck.

 

[BostonDevil]

It’s like a prescient prophet would advocate a strategy where a team iced a plethora of replaceable sociopaths who purposely cheap shot the best players on all the other teams hoping to injure them. Someone with the stones to call out the league like that should be knighted and given a feast in his honor. But where will we find such a noble and thoughtful person?

The wrong players are on the right team

 

[Emperoreddy]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853075714855030941

The Crapitals may be #good

We might be good as well. Need to clean up some situational stuff and get a few more saves consistently, but some good underlying stuff

 

[dgibb10]

The caps are so f***ing good this year. Martin Fehervary and Nic Dowd are my kings.

I was interested in those 2, TVR, Malenstyn, and Duhaime this offseason among guys the caps have right now.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Sure. It's always the goaltending. Doesn't matter who's the goalies are.

Couldn't be that the eye test is correct and when the forwards and/or D corps play a cohesive, responsible checking game and complete simple passes, we win and the goalie starts look great (a shutout, even!). and when we play like a minor league garbage hockey team, we lose and goalies suck.

No clue what point you’re trying to make considering the defense is almost entirely different, the coach is different, and every easily understandable D metrics like slot shots, odd man rushes, etc have all been better.

I’d like to know which games we’ve played like minor league garbage hockey though. You should manually track scoring chances next time we play to confirm your eye test

I will say your commitment to the “goaltending doesn’t exist” bit is quite funny. Even though this is very easily disproved by multiple other teams that play on MSG.

 

[Bleedred]

What time do we find out if Aman was claimed or not?

Used to be 12 eastern. Now it seems to be 12 pacific.

No clue what point you’re trying to make considering the defense is almost entirely different, the coach is different, and every easily understandable D metrics like slot shots, odd man rushes, etc have all been better.

I’d like to know which games we’ve played like minor league garbage hockey though. You should manually track scoring chances next time we play to confirm your eye test

I will say your commitment to the “goaltending doesn’t exist” bit is quite funny. Even though this is very easily disproved by multiple other teams that play on MSG.

I think we’ve played good defensively most games, but the ones that stick out as bad are obviously Tampa and maybe the second Washington game?

I also thought we weren’t that good last game. But it’s Calgary and they’re normally not blowing anyone out.

The three best by far were the first two games Allen played (Buffalo and Utah) and the Vancouver game. We got shutouts in 2 of those 3.

 

[My3Sons]

Have you watched an NFL or MLB game lately?

More people watched Caitlin Clark than watched Game 5 of the World Series.

There's a reason for that.

I’m not seeing that as a great comparable