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

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec as pp2? Not unreasonable, but legitimately the only option at that point.

My guess is they wait until Luke is back. Scoring goals will keep a guy in the lineup.

Nemec at PP2 wouldn’t just not be unreasonable but would be a good thing. I doubt they wait until Luke comes back. Seems very likely that Casey is out the second Pesce is back

 

[SJinNewJersey]

At some point Keefe might have to put Haula back on a line with Jack to help "fix" him. That would put all the lines in a blender.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I don't even love Palat, but still not sure what exactly he is preventing us from doing cap wise at the moment.

I also don't see him being on the 4th line for any extended amount of time.

Who do you think will be pushed back to the 4th? Everyone above him is better and I actually liked him on the 4th line last night.

 

[Triumph]

Nemec at PP2 wouldn’t just not be unreasonable but would be a good thing. I doubt they wait until Luke comes back. Seems very likely that Casey is out the second Pesce is back

Nemec was awful on the PP last year and has started out the season poor at 5v5. Doubt that it would be a good thing.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec was awful on the PP last year and has started out the season poor at 5v5. Doubt that it would be a good thing.

How in the world was he awful on the pp last year? He’s had a rough start but I’m not worried at all and he played much better last game. He is a perfectly capable PP quarter back and will likely run that powerplay once Pesce is back.

Palat may have shown up to training camp finished, it will happen at his age. I still think he can contribute on a 4th line (especially the current iteration) but obviously if that's his limit he can't be here next year. It's still way too early to tell that.

If all he is is a good 4th liner who plays up during injuries and kills penalties I’d imagine he will be back. The buyout doesn’t really save enough to be worth it.

 

[Triumph]

How in the world was he awful on the pp last year? He’s had a rough start but I’m not worried at all and he played much better last game. He is a perfectly capable PP quarter back and will likely run that powerplay once Pesce is back.

He was awful. The Devils were outscored with him on the ice 5v4, and they gave up 2.5 xG/60 which is obviously atrocious. Everyone on PP2's numbers were better without him (and likely better without him and Hamilton, too). Among NHL defensemen who played 50 minutes on the power play last year, Nemec had the worst on-ice shots ratio and by far the worst xG.

I don't doubt that at some point, Nemec will be a fine PP guy, even if he's not asked to play there that often. I'm skeptical he is any good now.

If all he is is a good 4th liner who plays up during injuries and kills penalties I’d imagine he will be back. The buyout doesn’t really save enough to be worth it.

$6M is too much to pay for that, you can replace that for less plus the buyout, and again, if he is that now, there's no telling that he would be that next year, either. But this is all a long way off.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

He was awful. The Devils were outscored with him on the ice 5v4, and they gave up 2.5 xG/60 which is obviously atrocious. Everyone on PP2's numbers were better without him (and likely better without him and Hamilton, too). Among NHL defensemen who played 50 minutes on the power play last year, Nemec had the worst on-ice shots ratio and by far the worst xG.

I don't doubt that at some point, Nemec will be a fine PP guy, even if he's not asked to play there that often. I'm skeptical he is any good now.



$6M is too much to pay for that, you can replace that for less plus the buyout, and again, if he is that now, there's no telling that he would be that next year, either. But this is all a long way off.

The 2nd PP was a mess in general and should be thrown all on Nemec. I’m more than confident that he is already a more than capable powerplay qb

If you can replace what Palat is for less than 2M sure. But as of right now I don’t think you can assume you could. Especially if you consider his experience and hopefully playoff impact. I really liked his game on the 4th line last night and he puts up strong defensive results.

 

[Guttersniped]

How in the world was he awful on the pp last year? He’s had a rough start but I’m not worried at all and he played much better last game. He is a perfectly capable PP quarter back and will likely run that powerplay once Pesce is back.

Nemec had 2 PPA assists in 77:28 minutes of PP time and had trouble holding the blue line.

He’s also been terrible this year, there’s zero reason to give him PP time now.

I have a tough time arguing that he should get ice time over Casey when Pesce gets back considering how Casey’s been better while playing on his off-side.

From 2923-24

Nemec on the PP



Vs

Luke on the PP



Vs

Hamilton on the PP

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Nemec had 2 PPA assists in 77:28 minutes of PP time and had trouble holding the blue line.

He’s also been terrible this year, there’s zero reason to give him PP time now.

I have a tough time arguing that he should get ice time over Casey when Pesce gets back considering how Casey’s been better while playing on his off-side.

From 2923-24

Nemec on the PP
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Vs

Luke on the PP
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Vs

Hamilton on the PP
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We know he’s started tough but he was better last game and it’s seems like Casey will be sent down. And I’m perfectly happy giving Nemec the benefit of the doubt and Casey could use some AHL seasoning. It makes by far the most sense.

That 2nd powerplay unit was a mess overall. He has the skill and talent to run a powerplay. And when Casey likely comes out for Pesce he seems like the best option until Luke is back.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

At some point Keefe might have to put Haula back on a line with Jack to help "fix" him. That would put all the lines in a blender.

Don’t want to do that. Easiest move is to just switch Meier and Mercer.

 

[Goptor]

Cotter is their best player and instantly turns any line successful. He should be moved up so he can carry the Hughes/Bratt line.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

A wonder if a team like Nashville would want Ondrej Palat.
They have his buddy in Stamkos, Trotz is going all in for postseason and actually have cap space to make the deal.

NJ just need a warm body in return like Tomasino or Parssinen

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

A wonder if a team like Nashville would want Ondrej Palat.
They have his buddy in Stamkos, Trotz is going all in for postseason and actually have cap space to make the deal.

NJ just need a warm body in return like Tomasino or Parssinen

huh?

Nashville has $700k in cap space.

 

[Triumph]

The 2nd PP was a mess in general and should be thrown all on Nemec. I’m more than confident that he is already a more than capable powerplay qb

And I'm more than confident than Nemec was awful last year on the PP - the PP was worse when he was there - and it's wishcasting to believe that he is already good. The power play is difficult, it requires a kind of precision and timing that young players don't always have, and it can take years to develop it.

2.57 xG/60 on the power play, do you know how bad that is? Nemec had 2.75 xG 5v5. The Devils gave up loads and loads of chances when he was on the ice on the PP. They struggled to enter the zone and struggled to defend when they didn't. I don't think that can all be chalked up to the structure of the power play.

If you can replace what Palat is for less than 2M sure. But as of right now I don’t think you can assume you could. Especially if you consider his experience and hopefully playoff impact. I really liked his game on the 4th line last night and he puts up strong defensive results.

Again, it's early to talk about any of this. Last night was probably his best game so far. Still needs to show some more, but it's early in the season.

 

[BostonDevil]

huh?

Nashville has $700k in cap space.

Puckpedia is showing ~5.6M

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Puckpedia is showing ~5.6M

Puckpedia is adjusting for Johansen contract termination while cap wages isn’t due to grievance filed.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

And I'm more than confident than Nemec was awful last year on the PP - the PP was worse when he was there - and it's wishcasting to believe that he is already good. The power play is difficult, it requires a kind of precision and timing that young players don't always have, and it can take years to develop it.

2.57 xG/60 on the power play, do you know how bad that is? Nemec had 2.75 xG 5v5. The Devils gave up loads and loads of chances when he was on the ice on the PP. They struggled to enter the zone and struggled to defend when they didn't. I don't think that can all be chalked up to the structure of the power play.

I never chalked it up to the structure of the powerplay. We simply didn’t and still don’t have good powerplay personnel for our 2nd unit. None of our forwards after our big 4 have good skillsets for the powerplay. Nemec isn’t somebody who’s gonna create chances out of nothing playing with unskilled players. He’s a smart offensive player who’s actually good at timing, finding open ice, making smart passes and reading off other skilled players. Unfortunately the second unit still lacks skill so it may not be any better but I don’t think it was bad last year or will be bad this year because of Nemec. He’s done it well at every level and is more than capable of running a powerplay at the NHL level. That doesn’t mean he’s gonna be able to do a ton if the players he’s with are shit on the powerplay.

 

[Better Call Sal]

For @JK3 to use tomorrow since I created them in the summer.

 

[Better Call Sal]

And also:

 

[Triumph]

I never chalked it up to the structure of the powerplay. We simply didn’t and still don’t have good powerplay personnel for our 2nd unit. None of our forwards after our big 4 have good skillsets for the powerplay. Nemec isn’t somebody who’s gonna create chances out of nothing playing with unskilled players. He’s a smart offensive player who’s actually good at timing, finding open ice, making smart passes and reading off other skilled players. Unfortunately the second unit still lacks skill so it may not be any better but I don’t think it was bad last year or will be bad this year because of Nemec. He’s done it well at every level and is more than capable of running a powerplay at the NHL level. That doesn’t mean he’s gonna be able to do a ton if the players he’s with are shit on the powerplay.

You're just talking past me, which is usually what happens. Do you understand how bad it is to give up 2.57 xGA/60 with a man advantage? Do you understand what colossal errors have to be being made?

The Devils have 17 seasons in the Corsi era. No defenseman has even come close to having that bad an xGA on the power play. Johnny Oduya had a 2 xGA/60 on the PP in 2010, the year he was traded, that is the only player who has come close.

The second unit was absolutely not helped by Nemec last season, who struggled with zone entries, in-zone passing, and pretty much all aspects of the power play last season. He'll get there. I'm not sure the guy who's showed up for the last 4 games is ready for a power play, though.

 

[RSeen]

What do our pairs look like when healthy?

Dillon-Hamilton
Luke-Pesce
Siegs-Kovacevic
Nemec

Nemec really going to be out? Based on the way Kovacevic is playing I think he would be. Can't have him as a #7 tho. Casey will likely spend all year in the minors unless we have multiple injuries.

 

[Devs3cups]

What do our pairs look like when healthy?

Dillon-Hamilton
Luke-Pesce
Siegs-Kovacevic
Nemec

Nemec really going to be out? Based on the way Kovacevic is playing I think he would be. Can't have him as a #7 tho. Casey will likely spend all year in the minors unless we have multiple injuries.

You do it or you send both Nemec and Casey down for a while. I think eventually Nemec takes Kovacevic's spot though.