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

Emperoreddy

Show Me What You Got!
Apr 13, 2010
134,264
82,677
New Jersey, Exit 16E
First Quarter grades from ESPN

New Jersey Devils

Preseason over/under: 101.5
Current points pace: 109.3

What's gone right? New Jersey at its best is playing hard, physical hockey. Cliche? Yes. True? Fact. The Devils were pushed around in seasons past, but the offseason addition of Brenden Dillon, for example, has helped set a tone for New Jersey. Speaking of offseason moves, acquiring Jacob Markstrom has (finally!) set the Devils up for success in net. Markstrom is providing a much-needed boost in goal (.907 SV%, 2.54 GAA) and that, along with New Jersey's overall defensive buy-in, has them sixth in goals against per game (2.61). Meanwhile, Jesper Bratt (28 points in 23 games) and Jack Hughes (25 points in 23) are packing a punch up front, and the Devils' special teams have been good. In most ways, New Jersey has performed right to expectations.

What's gone wrong? Inconsistency. New Jersey has lost to San Jose, only to beat Florida in consecutive games. The Devils have been blanked by Tampa Bay -- and then crushed the Hurricanes. Being shut out happens to the Devils too frequently, with their past three defeats all coming without a goal from New Jersey. It suggests a lack of depth scoring the Devils must address. And they have been average in shot generation (16th), another potential offensive issue that could slow New Jersey's progress. First-year coach Sheldon Keefe may still be getting his message across to the Devils.


Grade: B. New Jersey is right on pace with where it is supposed to be. Nothing wrong with that -- but it also feels like the Devils could be further ahead. They have weathered some injury issues but none so debilitating that the Devils couldn't rally. Putting together the same effort each night will move New Jersey along. Backsliding against the league's lowest-ranking teams only to rise against stiff competition rarely takes a club where it wants to go in April. The Devils establishing and maintaining an identity from here is critical.

Kind of underplaying our special teams. Been more then just good.
 

Incharge1976

Registered User
Mar 4, 2011
2,063
2,023
You'd think they would want to do a better job and maybe push a little more eyes to that coverage given their ESPN+ / Hulu stuff that puts out the local coverages of games.

Go read their future power rankings for the next 3 years that they put out last week if you want a really good laugh. They have the Rangers ranked 2nd and us 9th.

They are so out of touch that they actually hurt our score since Nemec is playing in the NHL according to them. This was written 7 days ago. Just a joke.
 

ZachaFlockaFlame

Registered User
Aug 24, 2020
15,938
21,177
To get Brady Palat would have to go, more or less. And beyond just the additional assets a team is gonna want to take him (whether that's Ottawa or a third team), he's got a NMC.

So you're dealing Nemec+ and then some picks (probably netting out to ANOTHER first at least), and that's assuming Palat will go.

I just don't think that's a trade that necessarily improves your cups odds in the long run. I'm a known Brady hater, though.

He would 100% would but I understand the hesitation, I'm down on Nemec but I just don't want to trade him for anything in sight. I would love if the Sharks won the lottery, got Hagens and then made Will Smith available on the block. That trade would be the one I look for. An equally young center for Nemo might be the move.
 

Killing Joke

Registered User
Dec 2, 2017
2,847
2,847
IMG_9289.jpg


Should’ve went with Dicksinson over Silayev.
6’3 194 can skate and is play both ends of the ice while being clearly good offensively.
 
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Reactions: Zajacs Bowl Cut

TheBeerNerd

Registered User
Nov 13, 2024
220
451
NY side of the Hudson River
The other day I saw a comparison of Silayev's development so far, and it seems like the closest best-case for him is Ed Jovanovski. Yeah, he's not gonna get as many points as Dickinson, but we've got plenty of others who can do that.

On some level, I still wish we had gotten Zeev Buium, but the logic behind Silayev is sound and he's doing well in his D+1.
 

Zajacs Bowl Cut

Lets Go Baby
Nov 6, 2005
73,179
47,689
PA
anyone know how much "functional" cap space we would have at the deadline at the current rate? I realize we'll have injuries, etc between now and then
 

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