GDT: NJ Devils @ MN Wild

[devilsfan950003]

Tatar isn’t what he used to be and I’m glad we didn’t sign him to the same deal two years ago that he had his first two years here, which was like $4.5 million.

But he’s been fine this year. He probably has a pretty good points per 60. Not bad for a guy who plays 11 minutes.

Not bad for the line mates he has to work with.

 

[Eggtimer]

Tatar was not done two years ago and he isn't done now. What are you talking about?

All the bitching about the bottom six, I can only imagine what it looks like without Tatar. Tatar is even on the year, his most common linemates are Bastian, Lazar, Mercer, Dowling, Hischier, Palat. Tatar has played 50 minutes with Kurtis MacDermid, they are a -4 together.

There are better options than Tatar fir the bottom 6 out there …
Ya without him right at this moment we would be having to play someone like Foote all year but we could have / should have picked up someone else instead of Tatar in the offseason . Him Dowling , Haula in the bottom 6 has been a disaster.

 

[devilsfan950003]

Sprong the only player without a SOG last night.'

I say this not as a knock on Sprong.

I like his play. Keep playing him.

 

[Triumph]

There are better options than Tatar fir the bottom 6 out there …
Ya without him right at this moment we would be having to play someone like Foote all year but we could have / should have picked up someone else instead of Tatar in the offseason . Him Dowling , Haula in the bottom 6 has been a disaster.

Tatar hasn't been a disaster. He is even. He is even playing with all these other guys.

Bastian - +1 with Tatar/-6 without Tatar
Lazar - +2 with Tatar/-7 without Tatar
Mercer - -3 with Tatar/+5 without Tatar
Dowling - -4 with Tatar/-1 without Tatar
Hischier - +4 with Tatar/+9 without Tatar

These are the forwards he has 100 minutes with.

There are better options than Tatar - they are almost certainly more expensive. If Tatar can be brought back at $1m or less, I think he can still be effective.

 

[SansaStark]

I think this win has even more significance given we are without so many key guys.

Gutsy effort led by a hat trick from the Captain. I'll revel in it for a couple days.

I get some of the negativity on this board is pretty much troll posting at this point.

But there is also a segment of real fans who have shown disdain for this team..

Seems odd given this team is solidly in a playoff spot.

It was a nice win. They had some good energy, got on the forecheck and ran into some nice effort type goals. I'm happy they won and happy they seemingly will make the playoffs, even though they will likely get swept by CAR. If not, I'll be even more happy. I'll take the playoff experience for Luke & co.

But don't confuse disdain for love. I love the logo on the sweater. I love the team. Not players. Just because we love the team and think the roster should be better or different doesn't mean we have disdain for the team. It would be far more accurate to say some of us has disdain for players, disdain for management, etc.. But not for the team. We all love the team. That is what we all have in common.

 

[NJDevs26]

There are better options than Tatar fir the bottom 6 out there …
Ya without him right at this moment we would be having to play someone like Foote all year but we could have / should have picked up someone else instead of Tatar in the offseason . Him Dowling , Haula in the bottom 6 has been a disaster.

That’s the thing, Tatar only looks good in comparison to the rest of the dross in the back six/Utica and because people like the guy (how can you not?).

 

[devilsfan950003]

Agreed I’d be fine with bringing back Tatar. He’s often the punching bag of this board but I think he’s a serviceable 13th fwd / occasional bottom-6er.

I don’t care much whether he can suit up in the playoffs the team should be making updates at the deadline so that the 11th-13th fwd on opening night won’t be seeing minutes in the playoffs. He also brings the juice when he comes in from the press box which is a skill in itself.


Don’t see why they can’t bring back Dowling as AHL depth who can come up to the big squad from time to time. I’d prefer if he were say 7C in the depth chart since the center injury issues this year have been pretty perilous but overall I doubt he’ll have many (/any) suitors for a full time NHL role at 34 years old and minimal NHL experience.

Utica needs youth and skill at center. I guess Dowling could be brought back. I just wouldn't want him to take a spot on the roster from someone with more promise.

 

[Bleedred]

I would honestly be okay with one more year of Tatar @ $1 million.

It's not like they're still forcing him to play in the top 9 and they've had no problem healthy scratching him already, so we already know they won't be bringing him back to play with Nico or anything like that.

 

[glenwo2]

That last comma makes this comment way less fun.

@Bleedred isn't bald.

He's follicly challenged. There's a difference.

 

[glenwo2]

I think the record without Jack is something like 6-6-1? Did I count that right. Just getting a point a game the last 7 gets us to 93 for the season.

And that's also with some really bad goaltending in some of those games, blowing leads and losing a point or two in the final minutes and even seconds in 3 of those games.

And in the final 7 games we won't be having to face teams like Dallas or Winnipeg twice and no more road trips. 6 of the 7 are at home.

Losing to Winnipeg is always annoying especially knowing how Hellebuyck (or however the fk his name is spelled) will ALWAYS sh*t the bed in the playoffs when it counts.

He's basically a HOF regular season champion.

 

[glenwo2]

Oh crap - I didn't realize they played a back to back home and home. I'm thinking there's gonna be some major scraps going on. Looking forward to this one actually.

If the Kovy scrap combined with them running Markstrom in the background was any indication, things may get a big ugly.

 

[glenwo2]

Hischier, Bratt, and Luke playing great (aside from Luke going braindead a couple times a game). Devs matchup very well against the Wild (play style, size, physicality). Hopefully they pretty much lock it up with another W tomorrow.

Whoa! This is the first time I've seen you post anything even remotely positive about the Devils.

Were you hacked or something?

 

[Bleedred]

@Bleedred isn't bald.

He's follicly challenged. There's a difference.

I’m not bald at all dammit!

My hair is longer than it’s been in years. I’m surprised it’s still this thick, but it’s way more gray than it appears when I keep it short.

 

[Dylan9z9]

I’m not bald at all dammit!

My hair is longer than it’s been in years. I’m surprised it’s still this thick, but it’s way more gray than it appears when I keep it short.

Better get some JUST FOR MEN Keith Hernandez!

 

[Dylan9z9]

If the Kovy scrap combined with them running Markstrom in the background was any indication, things may get a big ugly.

I bet MacDermid is in the lineup

 

[Triumph]

That’s the thing, Tatar only looks good in comparison to the rest of the dross in the back six/Utica and because people like the guy (how can you not?).

So Tatar's gone, presumably everyone worse than Tatar is also gone (Bastian, Lazar, Dowling) you expect the Devils to find what, 4 players better than what they have now? And to do it at the same price, around $5M? We can even adjust it for the anticipated cap increase and say something like 5.25M.

And we're also keeping in mind that the only things coming from outside are maybe Hameenaho and maybe Lachance, that even if Gritsyuk does come over, he will not play a 4th line role here. Maybe there's some UDFA who competes for a spot but I won't hold my breath there, and I certainly don't think Utica has much to offer - maybe Halonen takes a step, but I wouldn't hold a spot open for him.

Maybe Tatar hangs them up, maybe he doesn't want to come back for a 4th liner/extra role, but they definitely would be in worse shape without him right now, and it's just ignoring reality and/or being polarized against Tatar because stat people liked him back in 2022 to think otherwise.

 

[My3Sons]

I bet MacDermid is in the lineup

And he won’t fight anyone

 

[Guttersniped]

Edit: Nevermind, not worth it.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Taking care of my kids solo last night bud. But thanks for tagging me. Glad you thought one good night against a mid team means they must be cup bound. But either way. Yes they played well. Now do it again. No actually even better, do it for a full season.
This game isn’t the flex you think it is. If they lose to the rags all this goodwill is completely erased. take a seat chica

This is the my most little brother shit ever, NYR can beat us on Saturday and they could still miss the playoffs. They have Minnesota on Wednesday, us on Saturday, Florida twice still, TBL twice still, Carolina and the Islanders left.

Devils win tomorrow and lose on Saturday and it's a wash for us anyway. Good chance they win both.

 

[Dylan9z9]

And he won’t fight anyone

That's his role ... then better get him off the team

 

[Dylan9z9]

This is the my most little brother shit ever, NYR can beat us on Saturday and they could still miss the playoffs. They have Minnesota on Wednesday, us on Saturday, Florida twice still, TBL twice still, Carolina and the Islanders left.

Devils win tomorrow and lose on Saturday and it's a wash for us anyway. Good chance they win both.

We want to be the ones to put the dagger in their season

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Taking care of my kids solo last night bud. But thanks for tagging me. Glad you thought one good night against a mid team means they must be cup bound. But either way. Yes they played well. Now do it again. No actually even better, do it for a full season.
This game isn’t the flex you think it is. If they lose to the rags all this goodwill is completely erased. take a seat chica

and then you complain why people don't respond rationally to you all the time.

huh, I wonder why!

 

[AfroThunder396]

The bottom line guys like Dowling, Bastian, and Lazar have been putrid this year but Tatar is pretty significantly propping them up. He's not a scoring threat any more but he can still be a valuable player on the 4th line that can play up in a pinch.

If he's amenable to a 1 year 1M deal I'd do it. I think Tatar would do it because he already explored the market and knows he won't get a better deal from anyone else.

 

[Better Call Sal]

The bottom line guys like Dowling, Bastian, and Lazar have been putrid this year but Tatar is pretty significantly propping them up. He's not a scoring threat any more but he can still be a valuable player on the 4th line that can play up in a pinch.

If he's amenable to a 1 year 1M deal I'd do it. I think Tatar would do it because he already explored the market and knows h won't get a better deal from anyone else.

In his media availability after re-signing here, he was pretty open about how he never really wanted to leave here and how strong of a bond he still had with the players and staff even after he left. I definitely think he'd be open to staying if we give him the option.

 

[Triumph]

The bottom line guys like Dowling, Bastian, and Lazar have been putrid this year but Tatar is pretty significantly propping them up. He's not a scoring threat any more but he can still be a valuable player on the 4th line that can play up in a pinch.

If he's amenable to a 1 year 1M deal I'd do it. I think Tatar would do it because he already explored the market and knows h won't get a better deal from anyone else.

He also signed a one-year deal elsewhere and was quickly traded. I'm sure Tatar wasn't putting down roots in Colorado or anything but that is relatively rare and can't be a great experience. If he falls out of favor elsewhere, it'll probably just be the end of his NHL career.