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

[britdevil]

This is Nico Hischier's world and we just live in it.

 

[kanucks25]

I think it depends on your fantasy scoring. I had both in a league that rewards goals 2x to assists so I had to drop Luke. If it's a keeper League, keep Luke. I don't know if they'd ever go so far as to replace Dougie on PP1 bc of his shot, but Keefe is a wildcard too. Did he give players a long leash in Toronto, bc Luke is going to need a long leash with his turnovers.

Thanks.

Not a keeper league and goals are slightly worth more so Dougie is likely the answer.

In Toronto they never had an actual PP D-man (lol) and they almost never took their big forwards off the top unit for any significant period AFAIK.

 

[glenwo2]

It’s going to be Willman or Bowers.

Willman.

At least he showed SOME type of production the few times he was up here.

 

[Deviled]

It’s been three games. He’ll most likely go on the road trip and be sent down then is my guess. If he doesn’t play at any level for longer I’ll be pretty upset.

Could be the case; just wondering why theyd wait any games at all, if he can be sent up and down freely?

 

[Devils731]

Could be the case; just wondering why theyd wait any games at all, if he can be sent up and down freely?

For the most recent, it sounds like Keefe had specific things he felt he finally got to address in practice after not having many practices. They may have felt it was important to have him there for those moments.

Also, Luke and Pesce just came back from injuries so there is always the chance they wake up on game day and feel too sore to play that night. It wouldn’t surprise me if he travels for the same reason.

I don’t think they will have him not playing long term and I don’t think he’s hit unreasonably not playing yet.

 

[TrufleShufle]

It's interesting to watch how Keefe has the same idea as he had with the leafs to over load the top line every once in a while to shake things up. I always assumed it was down a couple desperation move, but he seems to do it more randomly than that, don't hate it.

 

[Devils731]

It's interesting to watch how Keefe has the same idea as he had with the leafs to over load the top line every once in a while to shake things up. I always assumed it was down a couple desperation move, but he seems to do it more randomly than that, don't hate it.

In games where there aren’t a lot of PPs or PKs I think it makes a lot of sense, since those guys aren’t racking up extra minutes on special teams those games.

For the Devils especially, getting Nico an offensive zone draw while also getting Hughes and Bratt on the ice gives that shift an extra shot at instant impact.

Also, at home you get the added advantage of doing it already knowing the opponents line.

As long as they can manage ice time while doing it, I think it’s good.

 

[Better Call Sal]

It's interesting to watch how Keefe has the same idea as he had with the leafs to over load the top line every once in a while to shake things up. I always assumed it was down a couple desperation move, but he seems to do it more randomly than that, don't hate it.

He clearly sees the value in Nico's faceoff prowess with how he has deployed him for key draws throughout a game. Depending on the situations, if you can get him out to win the draw and maintain possession in the zone for Jack and Bratt to do their thing, I definitely see the logic in it.

I can't recall a coach in my lifetime who will tinker lines in this manner throughout a game based on different situations. Could just be something I never truly focused on when I was younger, but it's kind of refreshing.

 

[Devils731]

I can't recall a coach in my lifetime who will tinker lines in this manner throughout a game based on different situations. Could just be something I never truly focused on when I was younger, but it's kind of refreshing.

One off the top of my head is the Penguins with Malkin and Crosby. They’d usually be on different lines but would end up taking shifts together sometimes if the situation called for it.

 

[Rhodes 81]

I do wonder how the Devils are going to handle Lazar’s absence.

The center depth in this organization is not particularly pretty after the NHL team. Schmelzer, Bowers, and Dowling have seemed painfully mediocre in their limited NHL minutes or preseason. I guess they could give you 7-8 minutes a night, but can’t really expect much except to hope they don’t hurt you.

Wonder if the Devils try moving Cotter or Bastian to 4C so they could call up Halonen or Foote who may actually be able to contribute.

I think it'll be Bastian for a short term with lots of minutes for the top 3 centers, but if Lazar is out as long as we think he will be it might force us to trade for a center

 

[Owenay]

It’s going to be Willman or Bowers.

Not that it really matters, but so far for the Comets:

Willman - 6 games, 1G, 1A, -11!
Bowers - 6 games, 0G, 2A, -4
Dowling - 6 games, 2G 2A, -6
Schmelzer - 6 games, 0G 0A, -7
Beckman - 1 game, 1G 1A, +1
Hardman - 4 games, 1G 0A, -4
Stillman - 5 games, 0G 1A, -4
Halonen - 6 games, 2G 0A, -4
Foote - 5 games, 2G 4A, -2

How's that waiver wire looking?

 

[Jersey Fresh]

It’s crazy how boned we got with the schedule to start the season. The Rags don’t have a b2b until the end of November, by which point we’ll have already had four of them. Not to mention multiple other instances of three in four/four in six days.