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

[Emperoreddy]

They just won today and with the talent on paper they have and their goaltending, it won't be an easy game.

They were awful today against one of the worst teams in the league.

We absolutely can't let them get off the mat after losing 5 of their last 6 and getting obliterated at 5 on 5 all those games and disfunction showing up in their locker room

 

[Devs3cups]

They were awful today against one of the worst teams in the league.

We absolutely can't let them get off the mat after losing 5 of their last 6 and getting obliterated at 5 on 5 all those games and disfunction showing up in their locker room

Might happen unfortunately. They're due and with their goaltending it's entirely possible, especially against a rival.

I could see them losing Monday, regrouping and then going through that home stretch with a lot of success.

 

[New Jerseys Devil]

Rest up and get right back at it against the dirty Rags! Would love to see a roster addition but they can fight through without as well. Settle in, work on the mental mistakes and all should be well!

 

[Bleedred]

They just won today and with the talent on paper they have and their goaltending, it won't be an easy game.

I’m not disagreeing with anything after your first four words here, but they beat the Habs, who are a complete and utter joke. They have the third lowest points percentage in the league, behind only the honky tonk retirement club and Chicago lol.

If the Rangers lost to them yesterday than we might actually be looking at a new head coach and GM for tomorrow night’s game against them.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Cotter has been pretty cold the last 10 games. Only has 1 point and it was that nasty snipe vs the Panthers 2 weeks ago. I'd say we need Cotter , Haula or Mercer to chip in a goal tmrw. Our top 6 scored plenty the last 2 games. An added goal from the 3rd line would be nice.

I would love to see a lower scoring 2 to 1 or 3 to 2 game where we get a good goaltending performance and some production from guys who are slumping.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[Oneiro]

I don't expect much more than this from Cotter. Early year was a nice little bonus on that trade for us.

But starting to accept that Mercer is who he is - in the mid-1st round, it's still great to get a mainstay middle 6 guy who PKs well and gives you 40-50. But glad we got that 4.5 hit because at 6+ the heat would be turned up way higher.

 

[devilsblood]

I honestly think the only reason Askarov isn't on the roster over Vitekwood is for the same reason Schmid kept getting sent down as soon as Blackwood would come back from injury, despite being the far superior goalie that season. They aren't gonna waive either of those guys, as both are on expiring deals and would probably be claimed. And they won't do the three goalie thing, just like we wouldn't. Most teams won't, but a few of them have been doing it for a while. Detroit being one of those teams.

But I didn't follow the Sharks preseason enough to know if Askarov had a poor preseason or camp. He looked great in the couple of games he played while Vitek was injured recently. Best numbers on the team, but he only played 2 games and was sent right back when Vitek came back after a week or two injured.

He's the only guy I may one day regret not picking up, especially since Markstrom/Allen are old and Daws is still a gigantic sized question mark. And not to mention we could have even picked him over Holtz back in the 2020 also!

But yeah, Saros, Swayman and Hellebuyck were never made available. I suggested Ullmark a year ago, but was more interested in maybe renting him for a year, and was fearing what we might have had to extend him for.

Askarov is posting a .937 in the AHL in addition to his .927 the NHL. He is living up to the hype, and still only 22 years old.

I can't believe Nash actually traded him and SJ's 1st was likely viewed as much more valuable then ours, but can't help but wonder if we couldn't have made that trade happen.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I don't expect much more than this from Cotter. Early year was a nice little bonus on that trade for us.

But starting to accept that Mercer is who he is - in the mid-1st round, it's still great to get a mainstay middle 6 guy who PKs well and gives you 40-50. But glad we got that 4.5 hit because at 6+ the heat would be turned up way higher.

I am of the opinion that Mercer's reputation around the league is pretty high, and I would certainly dangle him in a deal for an upgrade at wing. Unfortunately, he is just not taking that next step that we had all hoped he would. He is an extremely poor defensive player and disappears for too many stretches at a time.

Definitely agree about the contract. I was never a fan of giving him a longterm deal at the cap hits that were thrown around.

 

[devilsblood]

Thanks! I was under the impression that Siegenthaler and Kovacevic were getting really tough minutes, guess that’s not the case, looks pretty balanced. Must be really nice for Keefe that he doesn’t really have to protect anyone.

Siegs and Kov were getting pretty tough minutes at the beginning of the year when Keefe was trying to shield the kids pairing of nemec and casey, but now they just kinda roll em

Although the matchups are not drastic, the O-zone starts are. Kova and Sieg's are both in the low 30's percent wise since Hughes and Pesce returned.

Hamilton and Dillon are the in the 50's while Luke is 48% and Pesce is at 45%. So as it pertains to Luke, he is definitely not playing sheltered minutes. If anyone is being protected, it's Hamilton, but Kova and Sieg's are definitely playing tough defensive minutes. Which makes sense given neither guy provides much offensively (Though Kova does seem to have some offensive attributes).

I'd also suspect that in late game lead protection scenario's you see Kova and Sieg's defensive responsibilities ramped up even more so.

The only area where one could say Luke is being protected it is on the PK, where he plays the least of anyone. Hamilton plays very limited minutes there as well. The other 4 guys play pretty evenly in the 2:30-2:50 range.

 

[devilsblood]

I am of the opinion that Mercer's reputation around the league is pretty high, and I would certainly dangle him in a deal for an upgrade at wing. Unfortunately, he is just not taking that next step that we had all hoped he would. He is an extremely poor defensive player and disappears for too many stretches at a time.

Definitely agree about the contract. I was never a fan of giving him a longterm deal at the cap hits that were thrown around.

Extremely poor defensive player? What is this based on?

His defensive numbers are pretty good while playing on a line that get's the toughest match ups.

Keefe's certainly doesn't see him as an extremely poor defensive player. His usage suggests the opposite, 5v5 and also on the PK.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Extremely poor defensive player? What is this based on?

His defensive numbers are pretty good while playing on a line that get's the toughest match ups.

Keefe's certainly doesn't seem him as an extremely poor defensive player. His usage suggests the opposite, 5v5 and also on the PK.

 

[devilsblood]

Despite the defensive usage this season he is a + in both departments.

Not going to put much weight in his numbers as a 20 year old rookie.

As I said Keefe plays him as if he is a good defensive fwd.

Edit: last 3 seasons Mercer is above water in sf, above water in xgf, and dead even in gf. I question the model put forth by CJ.

 

[Triumph]

Mercer is probably partially bad defensively because of how poor he is offensively - he's just not able to win battles often enough on the forecheck. That said, I do imagine a lot of his poor defensive metrics over his first 4 years are from when he was playing center where he was abysmal.

 

[devilsblood]

Mercer is probably partially bad defensively because of how poor he is offensively - he's just not able to win battles often enough on the forecheck. That said, I do imagine a lot of his poor defensive metrics over his first 4 years are from when he was playing center where he was abysmal.

And in general his offensive game is not about puck possession. What he's good at offensively is finishing around the net. Which is not to say he can't, or doesn't need to improve in the puck possession dept, and at this point his shot generation needs to improve as he is on pace for a career low, but what has made him successful offensively coming into this year is finishing chances at a high rate.

So yeah I agree his defensive numbers are influenced by that.

And as you say his minutes as a center are also a drag on his numbers, as his rookie year and last season, the seasons he played the most at center, are well worse then this year and 2 years ago.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

apparently Hoglander is available from Vancouver? He might fit nicely in the middle 6.

We'd have to send out some salary though

 

[Billdo]

We're slipping...

 

[britdevil]

 

[Bleedred]

#DaveRogalski

Probably won’t get much better as long as he’s here.

Although Markstrom just looks like Father Time could be coming for him.

 

[devilsblood]

apparently Hoglander is available from Vancouver? He might fit nicely in the middle 6.

We'd have to send out some salary though

I think it unlikely given his small stature and Fitz's recent moves to make the team bigger and stronger.

His assist numbers are pretty underwhelming, and despite a pretty good shot rate, he's really made his name thanks to a 20+% shooting last year. Not used much defensively 5v5. Virtually no PK toi.

Not a trade I'd look to make and doubt Fitz is as well.

 

[dgibb10]

If i'm taking someone from Van i'd want Suter

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Lou Bloom]

Don't know why people are turning on Mercer after one bad game. I was highly critical of his defense his first three seasons in the league and thought people calling him a two way player were doing so just based on draft reputation alone, but he's finally playing good defense this season and has shown a much better motor and toughness than he had in previous years. He's also been much more dangerous offensively this season compared to last season where he seemed invisible.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

one bad game? I've been on this Mercer bandwagon for at least a year. He hasn't done dick since the playoffs started in '23.