Jacob Josefson - sent to Albany!

[kiwidevil]

I don't even want him sent down, would rather him sit and watch for some games. That is probably not possible with roster space unless someone else is sent down.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

Jo should be worried cause when we add a new forward he should be on the bench

 

[Desert Devil]

We'll always need a guy like Barch, especially with the teams we play. Yeah he's not the worlds greatest fighter but he is somewhat of a deterrent. Subbing him out now would be a bad idea. The playoffs are a different animal though, as we saw last year. JJ needs to start producing though, I can't see why Loki won't be given a shot if this type of offensive performance continues from JJ.

 

[Jedi]

He'll learn much more in the NHL than he would from the AHL. its time he just learns, he has the skills and the know-how he just needs to put it all together. he'll learn eventually and i'm sure he'll be soaking up as much Elias as he can because he has the capability to be Patty's replacement. give him time, he'll come around

Yayo will never be a Patty replacement, not even close. That's a pipe dream.

He's shown me nothing to indicate he can be better than a 3rd line checking center. I don't see more upside to him than that. If he had it in him, he'd have at least shown flashes of it by now.

And I like Yayo. I wanted him to be a part of this team's future.

But he has shown very little, and in this short season we can't wait and hope he magically develops an offensive game in only 30 games left. How much is he going to learn in 30 games playing 4th line minutes...?

I see Yayo as a longer term prospect. This isn't the season to wait and pray he'll suddenly start contributing. Next year sure, we can be patient then, but not this year.

 

[Getzo5]

Who is ever easy on Tedenby? He get's ripped to shreds by 95% of this board. No one has called JJ a bust/

If Deboer can bench Fayne for a rough game, he should be able to do it to JJ easily.

I`m one of those 5% and even I have given him some heat.

As for your point about the depth. Acquiring a top6/top9 forward that could play in both top6/bottom6 would do wonders to this team. Poni is basically Zubrus` replacement at this point, can`t have both right now. Him or the newly acquired player would be bumped up/down and solidify our top9. What`s more important, our 4th line would get back to normal, not to mention our situation on defense would finally get clearer and less tense (+ Harrold should get a game or two). Butler would be given a bigger role, I think he`s shown that he can handle more minutes. On the top of that, Loktionov would get the opportunity to show his value playing with a defensively responsible big body (Zubrus/Poni) and a shoot-first player like Butler, which is a perfect setup for a two-way playmaking center that lacks physicality.

Truth in that is 100% I've just been giving benefit of the doubt...

I just don't want NJ to end up in trouble with this situation.

I honestly don`t see how it could cause any problems. We`re talking about a bottom6 experiment.

We'll always need a guy like Barch, especially with the teams we play. Yeah he's not the worlds greatest fighter but he is somewhat of a deterrent. Subbing him out now would be a bad idea. The playoffs are a different animal though, as we saw last year. JJ needs to start producing though, I can't see why Loki won't be given a shot if this type of offensive performance continues from JJ.

Barch is capable of playing hockey, that is all you need to know.

 

[Bleedred]

Let's scratch Barch for the next 3 games. Don't need him for the Sens, and the Caps. Put Matteau on that line, and see what they do for those 3 games. If he can't get anything going then I'll call a spade a spade with him offensively.

Honestly I am not high on him offensively either. He needs to work on his shot which is very weak.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

I`m one of those 5% and even I have given him some heat.

As for your point about the depth. Acquiring a top6/top9 forward that could play in both top6/bottom6 would do wonders to this team. Poni is basically Zubrus` replacement at this point, can`t have both right now. Him or the newly acquired player would be bumped up/down and solidify our top9. What`s more important, our 4th line would get back to normal, not to mention our situation on defense would finally get clearer and less tense (+ Harrold should get a game or two). Butler would be given a bigger role, I think he`s shown that he can handle more minutes. On the top of that, Loktionov would get the opportunity to show his value playing with a defensively responsible big body (Zubrus/Poni) and a shoot-first player like Butler.

I honestly don`t see how it could cause any problems. We`re talking about an experiment.

The short season thing freaks me out a little but perhaps it could probably be better than I think (just a bunch of wat if's in the negative fashion.).

Butler looks like he can handle some more responsibility. And when Zubrus is back, it's just about NJ having 17-18 of the same players so the hope is (to me at least) that stuff gets better, defensively too as you stated. Agree 100% with all, just worried because of the shortened season.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Let's scratch Barch for the next 3 games. Don't need him for the Sens, and the Caps. Put Matteau on that line, and see what they do for those 3 games. If he can't get anything going then I'll call a spade a spade with him offensively.

Honestly I am not high on him offensively either. He needs to work on his shot which is very weak.

This, roll his line as an actual line and see what they can do. He doesn't need to pot any, just help create chances and maybe get some points, feed Butler and Matteau and they let rip it.

 

[Getzo5]

The short season thing freaks me out a little but perhaps it could probably be better than I think (just a bunch of wat if's in the negative fashion.).

Butler looks like he can handle some more responsibility. And when Zubrus is back, it's just about NJ having 17-18 of the same players so the hope is (to me at least) that stuff gets better, defensively too as you stated. Agree 100% with all, just worried because of the shortened season.

If it fails, he`ll be back in Albany in no time, I can tell you that with certainty. It`s really not like we`d risk all that much. As someone said above, we need to know what Loktionov has to offer and we`re going to find out only if we play him. Josefson brings close to nothing (at least split him and Gionta on the PK for God`s sake) these days.

 

[Sgt Brylin]

-8 on this team speaks volumes. Even with linemates that can't take a shot for the life of them, it's worrying that none of these linemates are more than -2 each at the worst. Yayo is on the ice when we concede regardless of who he plays with, and that's worrying.

 

[JimEIV]

Barch is the best 4th line tough guy the Devils have had since Jim McKenzie. Now you can argue the usefulness of a player like this or you can argue the frequency that a player like this should be used, but you cannot argue that Barch hasn't been good in his role. Barch has been a very pleasant surprise this season for me. He can play the game better than any single player we've used in this role for more than a decade.

 

[hlaverty06]

Didn't read thread, doesn't change my opinion either. Having a "heavyweight" is so overrated. I'd rather my best players be out there than some goon. If they are so important, why don't they play in the playoffs? And they don't have to "keep people in check", that's what the refs do.

Again I ask, Chris Neil decides to throw a hissy fit and making questionable hits. You want Clarkson sitting for 5 cause he's the only player who can answer the bell?

Or Perhaps Ryan Carter can get injured trying cause Neil would tear him a new one

 

[hlaverty06]

We'll always need a guy like Barch, especially with the teams we play. Yeah he's not the worlds greatest fighter but he is somewhat of a deterrent. Subbing him out now would be a bad idea. The playoffs are a different animal though, as we saw last year. JJ needs to start producing though, I can't see why Loki won't be given a shot if this type of offensive performance continues from JJ.

Thank you, exactly.

I have no issue putting a 4th line of Matteau-Josefson-Butler or the CBGB's in the playoffs. In the regular season though I am not comfortable at all.

 

[aboriginal]

i think hed have more success if he was on the top line and kovy was moved over to the left side, where he belongs.

 

[Oroku Saki*]

Barch is the best 4th line tough guy the Devils have had since Jim McKenzie. Now you can argue the usefulness of a player like this or you can argue the frequency that a player like this should be used, but you cannot argue that Barch hasn't been good in his role. Barch has been a very pleasant surprise this season for me. He can play the game better than any single player we've used in this role for more than a decade.

Totally agree. He does a lot of little things that goes unnoticed. Stick in the lane, keeps a cycle going, etc. I like him.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I wouldn't mind throwing Loktionov in for a couple games in place of YaYo. You would have to shuffle the lines a bit though. I'd also like to see Harrold in for Volch/Tallinder. Honestly, Sal probably deserves to sit a game with his recent play but I guess you can't really scratch your captain...

 

[Zippy316]

I love Josefson but it's quite obvious his game has been lacking lately, especially the last three or four games.

But the problem is, who do you replace him with? Does Loktionov truly offer much more than what Josefson will? Everyone has repeatedly said about Loktionov that he needs to play with offensive players in order to produce. He's not going to look much better with Barch or Butler as Josefson. Even if we give him the benefit of the doubt of producing offensively, it's not like he's going to do it much more that makes it worth it over Josefson playing arguably more sound defensive minutes and playing a PK shift.

I just don't get the logic. If we had a good center that we could easily replace him with, I'd be all for benching him a few games, but the reality is we don't.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Right now, I say no. Ask me in another few games and I might have a completely different answer. I just feel it is not our biggest issue right now. I don't think he has been as bad as everyone says he has been nor do I think the answer is to send him down.

I think our biggest issue right now is what to do on defense and on the PK. What our optimal defensive units are (let's never see Sal and Volch as a pairing ever again). And thank god we only see the Isles PP one more time this year

 

[Rob Nieds work ethic]

I'd give him 2-3 more games and then see.

 

[MartyOwns]

i think hed have more success if he was on the top line and kovy was moved over to the left side, where he belongs.

I don't even care if you're trolling.

 

[njdevilsftw]

But don't forget. Pete has put josefson on the towline with Zajac and Kovy. But he did not produce any points or didn't really have an effect. Unless Pete is willing to break up the cbcg line and call them the 3rd line. Nothing will really change. If Pete wants to make it interesting he should try

Bernier-Zajac-Kovy
Elias-henrique-Clarkson
Poni-josefson/Loki-butler
Carter-gionta-barch/Jansen

(Besides Clarkson and Bernier nobody else really wants to shoot and he obviously can handle to puck and can get the goals in front of the net.

 

[Saugus]

People just want to see the toy Lou traded for.

If Lokti was not traded here this thread wouldnt even be up right now.

You're probably right, but it's a valid question when we do have Loki waiting in the wings. Lou just might give him a shot.

There is nothing more for Josefson to do in Albany. He's not going to go down there for a couple months and all of a sudden know how to score at the NHL level.

He's fine for his role right now - a 4th line center. What he needs to improve on right now is his faceoffs. The scoring will come with patience.

Also, I don't understand why people insist on sending Barch down. That's not going to happen, and if by some strange turn of events it does, Janssen will be recalled in his spot.

Agreed. Josefson has been fine for his current role. Sending him down won't teach him anything he doesn't already know. It's clear he's an NHL player, but he needs to work out some of the flaws. Scratch him if you must, but don't send him down.

 

[aboriginal]

I don't think Loki is the answer at all. Yayo is so much better acclimated to this system and trusted by deebo as it is. U can rely on his defensive ability. Plus Loki can barely score himself and isn't familiar with the game plan. There's no easy answer with the jake. It's all in his head. He's gotta use his good shot more often and be less selfish. He's perfectly suited for the NHL and this team, but he does need to have more confidence in his ability to bury the puck. Good line mates or not.

 

[aboriginal]

I don't even care if you're trolling.

I never troll here xXOooXXO

 

[Chessarmy]

Once again, people have been saying it for a while. We are still winning a lot of close games. Having a 3rd line C that is not contributing and is not really holding his own defensively lately can be the difference between winning 7 out of 10 games compared to winning 4-5 out of 10.

We are forced to basically play two 4th lines at the moment. The production of Gionta's line is really masking Josefson's struggles even more.

Agreed 100%. When I look at some of the proposed line-ups for this team and see Josefson centering the 3rd line, it looks like a glaring weakness at this point. This team needs offense, Josefson provides nothing there. He was given a chance to prove himself and failed. He was given a chance in the shootout and he missed the net. How much time are we supposed to wait before Josefson proves he has anything to offer this team? We're 15 games into the season, he's been invisible in nearly every game.

I don't know that Loktionov would be better, but Josefson is invisible most games spare for one or two sound defensive plays that stand out. He's good at not screwing things up, but his offensive game is just so bad at this point. No vision to make quick passes, no grit to outwork the other team on the cycle, no shot, and he plays on the perimeter far too often.

I'd send him down for his own good. He can establish a more offensive game in the AHL and get more minutes, then bring him back up after 10-15 games if he plays well.

Again, I look at the line-up for this team and Josefson centering the 3rd line sticks out like a sore thumb. He just isn't very good and is massively overrated on here. I don't see him creating anything offensively, he doesn't make an impact and in a shortened season there really isn't much time to waste. I think Lou needs to go after another forward before the playoffs start, even if its just a 3rd line guy. Josefson would be fine if he was centering the 4th line, but CBGB are more effective in that role and have proven it in the past.

Look, I'm all for giving young guys a chance, and I understand the importance of being patient with them, but at what point do you ask yourself - when is this guy going to show some flashes of brilliance? If he's supposed to be an Elias-lite, where is all this talent and why haven't we seen it yet? If Josefson is going to pan out, he needs to go back to the AHL and regain confidence because playing (or not, its hard to tell sometimes) poorly in the NHL on a team that could really use someone that knows how to put the puck in the net, is going to do nothing for him.