GDT: Devils vs. Sabres - Animal House - 7:00 PM MSG+2

[Blackjack]

It would be pretty awesome if in the future Hall and Nico could both put up PPG in the same season. Right now the top line can already completely take over games at times. They have a chance to be among the top lines in the NHL if the kids' keep developing like it looks like they can.

Yup, perfectly stated. Right now they're just inconsistent because they're so young. Remember that orgasmic shift they had in the third period? They'll have 4-5 of those per game when they can drink in pubs.

 

[Blackjack]

If Wood continues to refine his game, his ceiling is Simmonds. Maybe even higher.

His ability to control his hands in tight at peak speed shows some serious skill. He would not have made that play last year -- honestly, he probably doesn't even get a shot off.

I love Wayne Simmonds, but I actually see them as very different players. Wood's speed is just beyond special, it's sublime. Simmonds doesn't have that speed, but he's tremendous on the boards, where Wood gets knocked off the puck fairly easily. If Wood ever comes close to what Simmonds is on the boards he will be an elite forward.

I really like the way he's playing the game. I saw some other posters pointing out smart passes that he's making, and he really is making good decisions with the puck. A great sign for someone so young.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I love Wayne Simmonds, but I actually see them as very different players. Wood's speed is just beyond special, it's sublime. Simmonds doesn't have that speed, but he's tremendous on the boards, where Wood gets knocked off the puck fairly easily. If Wood ever comes close to what Simmonds is on the boards he will be an elite forward.

I really like the way he's playing the game. I saw some other posters pointing out smart passes that he's making, and he really is making good decisions with the puck. A great sign for someone so young.

His vision and decision making, as well as execution with the puck, have grown exponentially since last season. You could see it immediately in preseason. He was borderline brain-dead last year. Like a forward version of John Moore. I don't know where he found that IQ, but I'm glad he did.

 

[Darkauron]

I love Wayne Simmonds, but I actually see them as very different players. Wood's speed is just beyond special, it's sublime. Simmonds doesn't have that speed, but he's tremendous on the boards, where Wood gets knocked off the puck fairly easily. If Wood ever comes close to what Simmonds is on the boards he will be an elite forward.

I really like the way he's playing the game. I saw some other posters pointing out smart passes that he's making, and he really is making good decisions with the puck. A great sign for someone so young.

Yeah Simmonds is a much different player. They are only compared because they are big guys. Gut yeah if Wood can become like Simmonds we will have Miles of Wood for sure.

 

[New Jersey]

nights off with the last game being a w are so nice.

i really liked the performance again buffalo. all they need to do is apply that same physicality and will and play just as well defensively against philly and pittsburgh.

7 dmen is definitely the move rn.

 

[Devils Dominion]

We only won because JJ was not in their lineup.

 

[devilsblood]

Nico's problems scoring goals are totally percentage based. He's right on track for how many shots on goal a first overall pick should put up in his first season.

Adjusted to 82 games, he's putting more pucks on net then Stamkos and Tavares did in their rookie year, while trailing McDavid and Kane by 2 shots.

Full order for recent #1 forwards:

1. Matthews: 279
2. Mackinnon: 241
3. Hall: 239
4. Kane: 191
4. McDavid: 191
6. Nico: 189
7. Stamkos: 187
8. Tavares: 186
9. RNH: 177
10. Yakupov: 138

Or his shot is not as good?

 

[glenwo2]

And this is why I am done (for the time being at least). Didn’t watch but figured I’d read the thread to get a vibe of the game. I think one of the 2 powerplays against Nashville was a delay of game if I’m not mistaken. So that means in two games against 2 different teams the Devils have basically generated one single powerplay over 120 minutes. Boy, we really bring out the fair play in teams! That is straight up bull **** and I’m not sure how anyone could think that this isn’t an issue. And for good measure add on another offside review with 5 seconds left. Tell you this much, it felt pretty good to not be aggravated for 2 1/2 hours last night. Even in they win, I’m finding it next to impossible to enjoy the game right now.

I just watch highlights these days. If the Devils win a game, I just wait for the so-called "condensed game" that's shown in the Devils video section.

If the Devils lose, I don't even bother...and only just watch highlights of their goals(if any).

I used to be able to watch the full games but thanks to the friggin' officials with their dumbass offsides garbage, the fact that other teams get less penalized than we do, and Hall's injury(which proved that this team is a lottery team without him), I'm no longer watching.....but I am WAITING...for the Playoffs.

If Wood continues to refine his game, his ceiling is Simmonds. Maybe even higher.

His ability to control his hands in tight at peak speed shows some serious skill. He would not have made that play last year -- honestly, he probably doesn't even get a shot off.

Simmonds???

I hope he can be better than a friggin' Goon who has some hockey skills.

(am I being unreasonable? yes. But I despise Simmonds. Heck, I despise any Simmonds in the NHL!)

Miles Wood ceiling is MILES WOOD, period.

 

[MadDevil]

Simmonds is a "goon" who averages close to 30 goals a year while being a complete pain in the ass to play against. I'd take that on my team any day. Yes, he crosses the line sometimes, but that's the price you pay for that type of player.

Wood could be anything from a Simmonds type to a Jason Chimera type. The progress he's made in just the last year makes me think he could be closer to a 20+ goal a year guy than a 15-20 goal guy.

 

[Wingman77]

Simmonds is a "goon" who averages close to 30 goals a year while being a complete pain in the ass to play against. I'd take that on my team any day. Yes, he crosses the line sometimes, but that's the price you pay for that type of player.

Wood could be anything from a Simmonds type to a Jason Chimera type. The progress he's made in just the last year makes me think he could be closer to a 20+ goal a year guy than a 15-20 goal guy.

We had that with guys like Lemieux, McKay, and Holik and reaped the benefits. Granted the game has changed, even from 2-3 years ago in that regard, but guys that can be a pain in the ass and still play hockey always have spots on a roster and can significantly help a team get over a hump due to the different elements they bring.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Crazy Zajac stat. Zajac’s line did not give up one single 5 on 5 shot on net.

 

[MadDevil]

Crazy Zajac stat. Zajac’s line did not give up one single 5 on 5 shot on net.

Well, he was 9th among 11 forwards in even strength minutes.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Nico could have been a 60 point guy if he wasn't so damn snake-bitten. He's got a shot percentage of 7.1 this season. A lot of it is poor luck, but there's room for improvement as well. He just needs to improve his strength and things should fall into place .. maybe as soon as next season.

Come on stop with all these excuses if it's true he was/is snake bitten then things will even out maybe not this year but then next. So you can look forward to a special year from him

 

[Bleedred]

We only won because JJ was not in their lineup.

I forgot all about that bullshit breakaway goal (wasn't it a shorthanded goal too?) that he scored against us last time, even before the game started.

Then I realized he wasn't in the lineup, as I hadn't heard his name called all night and then because he didn't have one scoring chance against us.

Maybe we'll see him next year, he can come visit us when we play in Sweden, since that's probably where he'll be playing next year.

 

[Bleedred]

We had that with guys like Lemieux, McKay, and Holik and reaped the benefits. Granted the game has changed, even from 2-3 years ago in that regard, but guys that can be a pain in the ass and still play hockey always have spots on a roster and can significantly help a team get over a hump due to the different elements they bring.

I don't wanna call those guys gamebreakers, in the way Stevens was, though you can certainly make a case that Lemieux was pretty damn close to a gamebreaker, but those are definitely great examples of physical players, who had a lot of use outside of just their physicality.

Simmonds is definitely a modern day example of this, but there aren't too many physical guys that I can think of anymore, who provide more than just that aspect and are really good at hockey. I think Lucic is still in that category.

Maybe Marchand, even though he's got the dirty scumbag element to him. I guess it's easy to forget about him. Ryan Kesler might be another. Maybe Dustin Brown, before his decline, though he's having a pretty good season this year.