GDT: New Jersey Devils (21-5-1) @ New York Rangers (14-10-5), 7 PM, MSG, MSGSN, NHLN

[NjDevsRR]

They could definitely use an energy player in place of Holtz. I’m not giving up on the guy, but he needs more time in the oven. And Zetterlund is good enough to be on a more skilled line than with McLeod, though he’s also excellent in that role.

Nico Line
Hughes Line
Sharangovich Boqvist Zetterlund
Wood McLeod Mango

They can roll that and Zets will provide much need board presence for Yegor and Jesper.

 

[jkrdevil]

Can't believe people have given up on Blackwood

He's a good goalie who never played for a good team until this year where he got injured. Let him prove himself, he's better than Vanacek.

He never played on a good team because he has career sv. pct akin to a goalie from the 1980’s.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

When healthy, Blackwood put up a .918 sv% and a .915 sv% in his first two seasons. Vanecek has not even approached that until this year, he had back to back .908 sv% seasons in Washington. Blackwood's last two seasons obviously came down, but we all know the covid/injury issues and he was on a much worse team than Vanecek.

Talking pedigree (junior + AHL seasons), Blackwood's are substantially better.

I'm not even trying to turn this into a Vanecek bashing session, because I like him in a 1B role. It's just more support for my belief in Blackwood's ability.

View attachment 620686

but why do the first 2 seasons matter, but the last 2 dont?

and if you say- well he was injured. Exactly. The guy cannot stay healthy. He cannot be relied upon.

 

[Bleedred]

Can't believe people have given up on Blackwood

He's a good goalie who never played for a good team until this year where he got injured. Let him prove himself, he's better than Vanacek.

I can't believe there are people who haven't given up yet.

His last 62 games are an .892%.

He SUCKS.

He SUCKED in the AHL, he was SOLID (not GREAT) in the NHL in his first 2 years, particularly between December of 2019 and February of 2020, but he's been SHIT since then. And since the hot 5 games to start 2020-2021, he's an .892% over his last 62 games.

And aside from that, we've run out of time on him. He's up for (this is something that there's differing numbers and no clarity on) a qualifying offer of $3-$4 million next year, which is too much of a liability to give out when we're a cap team and his last 2 years have been bad.

He did just bad enough this year in a couple of his awful games to wash out his good games.

Goalies usually don't bounce back after 62 games like that. They might for a year (see: Bobrovsky and Quick last year) or maybe in a more reduced role, but it doesn't happen a whole lot.

And look at Bob and Quick this year? Back to the old and declining, useless versions.

That said, he's much younger than those guys, so odds are a little better, but we're only a little over 2 years removed from the never ending ''Cory will bounce back!'' mania. I give him a slightly better chance of bouncing back than him, just because he's 26 and not 33, but it's not looking great.

Think if there's a chance of him bouncing back it'll be with another team. A divorce is badly needed. They moved into separate bedrooms a while ago and the sex stopped every longer ago than that.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Trying to enjoy a nice OT loss in peace without all this Blackwood talk

 

[Guttersniped]

I’ll stand by my opinion that the only goalie on our roster with the ability to be truly elite is Blackwood. His issue is he can’t stay healthy. Love Vanecek’s play and not writing him off after a couple games, I just think he’s limited in terms of upside. It’s okay for people to have different opinions on this stuff.

I mean, that’s cool. What does this change?

 

[Tundra]

Survey all the gms and they are taking blackwood over VV. This is revisionism. Blackwood's biggest problem is durability. Not stopping the puck. How many man games has he missed over the last 3 years?

 

[R8Devs]

I think the top 6 has played well but I think Bratt back with Hughes is a potential way for Ruff to play all 4 lines and maybe spark some more scoring.

Tatar-Hischier-Zetterlund
Bratt-Hughes-Mercer
Sharangovich-Haula-Holtz/Johnsson
Wood-Mcleod-Boqvist

 

[Saugus]

i feel like part of it is the lines. getting palat back will be huge

I think it's also likely that some guys are playing through mild injuries or are just regressing from their form in October and November. Siegenthaler doesn't look like himself the last few games. Bratt has been ok, but is not registering on the scoresheet. Zetterlund has been far less noticeable than before. And I don't think that losing Bastian is the only reason Wood has fallen off a bit. These things add up.

 

[glenwo2]

And whether we want to admit it or not, against a quality opponent in their building. Team is freaking 11-1-1 on the road. I’m all for being concerned when its warranted, but this game just doesn’t call for the panic button.

Personally, I have three concerns about the team. A fourth line that is unplayable, a power play that needs to convert more and the most important one is Vanacek looking more like the Vanacek we were expecting than the demigod we got in October and November.

This part is the main thing.

This was the Vitek we were expecting.

Someone who is Average and gives the Devils a chance to win more games than they lose as opposed to Blackwood or any other of the 7 goaltenders from hell last season that gave us ZERO chance.

I admit I was spoiled with Vezina Vitek doing his thing and thinking this would be the norm.

Still love him, though.

 

[njdevils1982]

Nico Line
Hughes Line
Sharangovich Boqvist Zetterlund
Wood McLeod Mango

They can roll that and Zets will provide much need board presence for Yegor and Jesper.

play 11-7 instead

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Blackwood’s stats of late are abysmal, but even if they were good, he’s glass. Irrelevant player, particularly with Schmid being terrific to start the year.

 

[Whaddagoal]

i feel like part of it is the lines. getting palat back will be huge

Yup just when is that happening... I hope soon.

And i think i must be on ZBC's ignore list from some time long ago . Was curious what he thinks on Bratt more.

 

[Unknown Caller]

I mean, that’s cool. What does this change?

Nothing? Nothing we say here changes anything. It's just a bunch of people bloviating through their keyboards.

 

[My3Sons]

I’ll stand by my opinion that the only goalie on our roster with the ability to be truly elite is Blackwood. His issue is he can’t stay healthy. Love Vanecek’s play and not writing him off after a couple games, I just think he’s limited in terms of upside. It’s okay for people to have different opinions on this stuff.

No it isn’t. All opinions should mirror mine. What the hell is wrong with you?

Nothing? Nothing we say here changes anything. It's just a bunch of people bloviating through their keyboards.

Huge props for bloviating. Not that I would ever do that.

 

[glenwo2]

No it isn’t. All opinions should mirror mine. What the hell is wrong with you?

So you believe Blackwood is Elite?

I mean...seriously. SERIOUSLY.

 

[DerekDevils30]

3 winnable games coming up.

Stars coming off a back to back and 3 in 4 nights.

Flyers Thursday.

Panthers Saturday.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Too much time for him to think instead of just reacting.

Take it straight at the net with full speed and make an instinctive shot with your head up, reading the goalie. That would have played to Jacks strengths.

Don’t swing wide at walking speed and try to fiddle and diddle like he did. Above all don’t get in too deep on Shesterkin. If you are going to deke, stay more outside so Shesterjin has to open the five hole going side to side.

 

[Jets012]

Zetterlund needs to play more

 

[Better Call Sal]

Oof lol

 

[NjDevsRR]

3 winnable games coming up.

Stars coming off a back to back and 3 in 4 nights.

Flyers Thursday.

Panthers Saturday.

I’ll be happy with 4 pts,

5 out of 8 with the Rags game

 

[Unknown Caller]

So you believe Blackwood is Elite?

I mean...seriously. SERIOUSLY.

It is possible to read opinions that differ from yours without acting like you just found out Santa Claus isn't real.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Yup just when is that happening... I hope soon.

And i think i must be on ZBC's ignore list from some time long ago . Was curious what he thinks on Bratt more.

no sir. I dont have anyone on ignore on this site.

And yeah, I mean I guess Bratt isnt playing to his almost league leading pace anymore like he was to start the season....but that doesn't mean he has been bad.

 

[NJDevs26]

This part is the main thing.

This was the Vitek we were expecting.

Someone who is Average and gives the Devils a chance to win more games than they lose as opposed to Blackwood or any other of the 7 goaltenders from hell last season that gave us ZERO chance.

I admit I was spoiled with Vezina Vitek doing his thing and thinking this would be the norm.

Still love him, though.

Could also be Vitek is starting to struggle with the increased workload, he’s never has this much of the net before

 

[NjDevsRR]

Oof lol

DAM SON