PTO: [NJD] D Jakub Zboril signs PTO with the Devils

[TBF1972]

And yet the position is called DEFENSEman.

i am sure every defenseman needs to think defense only when his team has the puck.

i am not a big fan of hamilton and his ability to defend in transition. but emphasizing his weaknesses while completely ignoring his strengths is equally pointless as highlighting his prowess and hiding his warts.

 

[Smitty426]

And yet the position is called DEFENSEman.

Eric Karlsson as a Norris winner says hello
Now do Foxy across the river
Maybe Josi or Gio gets you there

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Eric Karlsson as a Norris winner says hello
Now do Foxy across the river
Maybe Josi or Gio gets you there

Karlsson has been to the playoffs once in the last seven seasons - playing on a defense corps that had Vlasic, Braun, Dillon and Burns.

The Norris Trophy hasn't been about defending since Rod Langway in the early 1980's.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Devils team defense was the chief reason for the team missing the playoffs last year. While that wasn't all the fault of the defensemen on the ice, the team pretty much made wholesale changes.

If nothing else, this could add to the group in Utica. If Sheldon Keefe wants to truly make his mark, it could allow some of the younger Devils to marinate at the AHL level a bit longer.

Dude your schtick is so beyond old, nobody on the Devils is good blah blah blah.
Trust me guys I actually like the team, I just hate everyone that has ever put on the Devils jersey.

"positive vibes" my ass

 

[Smitty426]

Karlsson has been to the playoffs once in the last seven seasons - playing on a defense corps that had Vlasic, Braun, Dillon and Burns.

The Norris Trophy hasn't been about defending since Rod Langway in the early 1980's.

Well I can't really argue with that

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Dude your schtick is so beyond old, nobody on the Devils is good blah blah blah.
Trust me guys I actually like the team, I just hate everyone that has ever put on the Devils jersey.

"positive vibes" my ass

For the record, Nico is one of my favorite Devils of all time.

But as someone who saw the franchise go from its infancy to Stanley Cups during the Lamoriello/Lemaire days, watching the Blitzer/Harris/Fitz era of favoritism and corporate marketing hockey has been a bit difficult to take.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

For the record, Nico is one of my favorite Devils of all time.

But as someone who saw the franchise go from its infancy to Stanley Cups during the Lamoriello/Lemaire days, watching the Blitzer/Harris/Fitz era of favoritism and corporate marketing hockey has been a bit difficult to take.

I became a Devils fan when Gretzky called them a Mickey Mouse team so I've been around a long time too. I choose to see the positives instead on constantly bitching about everything like yourself.
Doesn't surprise me that Nico is one of your all time favorite players though, he's the only one I never see you talk about.

 

[Brodeur]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1834275999757877718

Hughes was spotted in an arm sling at last weekend's Michigan/Texas football game. So perhaps the Zboril PTO was related. I haven't seen any updates about Simon Nemec yet, but it's possible that the Devils will be down two defenseman to start training camp.

So maybe a spot to be won on the opening night roster between Zboril, Santeri Hatakka, etc.

 

[My3Sons]

For the record, Nico is one of my favorite Devils of all time.

But as someone who saw the franchise go from its infancy to Stanley Cups during the Lamoriello/Lemaire days, watching the Blitzer/Harris/Fitz era of favoritism and corporate marketing hockey has been a bit difficult to take.

You could be a bit more balanced in your criticism. Give credit where credit is due. Your posts too often read like an angry fan who was snubbed for an autograph.

 

[biturbo19]

Yikes. Even with the Hughes injury, the Devils are not the club i'd want to be trying to make if i were in Zboril's shoes. That's tough sledding.


Guess maybe he figures, with their depth...he'll get more chances to play with decent NHL defencemen and impress in camp, to try to sign on somewhere else? Otherwise, it's a big ooof...to sign on to a PTO with a team he doesn't stand much of any chance of making.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Yikes. Even with the Hughes injury, the Devils are not the club i'd want to be trying to make if i were in Zboril's shoes. That's tough sledding.


Guess maybe he figures, with their depth...he'll get more chances to play with decent NHL defencemen and impress in camp, to try to sign on somewhere else? Otherwise, it's a big ooof...to sign on to a PTO with a team he doesn't stand much of any chance of making.

Deleted. Hadn't seen the Tweet about Hughes before posting.

You could be a bit more balanced in your criticism. Give credit where credit is due. Your posts too often read like an angry fan who was snubbed for an autograph.

Fair point. Just frustrating to see what's become of a once great franchise.

 

[My3Sons]

Deleted. Hadn't seen the Tweet about Hughes before posting.


Fair point. Just frustrating to see what's become of a once great franchise.

These things are cyclical. NJ is on the cusp of being competitive again. I don't think it's simple in today's world for a team to build once it has lost its mojo which definitely happened to NJ. They also didn't really go full scorched earth which has ultimately slowed their ability to recover.

 

[Czechboy]

Is this still about Zboril?lol

 

[My3Sons]

Is this still about Zboril?lol

Is any thread on hf really about what it purports to be after a certain point?

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

For the record, Nico is one of my favorite Devils of all time.

But as someone who saw the franchise go from its infancy to Stanley Cups during the Lamoriello/Lemaire days, watching the Blitzer/Harris/Fitz era of favoritism and corporate marketing hockey has been a bit difficult to take.

Would you rather the Devils be relocated? Because thats what would have happened if the Harris and Blitzer duo didnt come around

Building a team is more than what it was when Lamoriello did it - times have changed

 

[Czechboy]

Is any thread on hf really about what it purports to be after a certain point?

Fair point! And I'm no innocent in that regard.lol

 

[My3Sons]

Fair point! And I'm no innocent in that regard.lol

I can understand a Czech hockey fan being interested in whether Zboril has a shot at a roster spot. I think the biggest challenge you will face is the relative modest coverage of thr Devils.

 

[Czechboy]

I can understand a Czech hockey fan being interested in whether Zboril has a shot at a roster spot. I think the biggest challenge you will face is the relative modest coverage of thr Devils.

And the relatively modest Zboril results.lol

I will cheer to the end but I think the end was when Columbus didn't call him up for one game at the end of last season.

All the tools but just can't put it together.. and boy are there a lot of guys like that from round 1 that never translated.

But, yeah, as a Czech fan we are very low on NHL D and even a 6/7 full timer would be exciting right about now.

 

[Andreas Ferrari]

I'm shocked that this has never been brought up here before. Nice job bringing it to all of our ( especially Bruin fans ) attention.

Is that the new thing they call sarcasm???

And as a Jet fan let me say thank you for Kyle Connor.

 

[BostonBob]

Is that the new thing they call sarcasm???

Gee - you're really quick. ( see - that's sarcasm )

And as a Jet fan let me say thank you for Kyle Connor.

You're welcome ( again - more sarcasm ).

 

[Czechboy]

Gee - you're really quick. ( see - that's sarcasm )



You're welcome ( again - more sarcasm ).

In fairness... Kyle Connor and the Jet's have had a lot more success than the Bruins in the NHL since 2015.

Time to take the loss (more sarcasm)

I'll see myself out!

 

[BostonBob]

In fairness... Kyle Connor and the Jet's have had a lot more success than the Bruins in the NHL since 2015.

Time to take the loss (more sarcasm)

I'll see myself out!

No - please don't go. ( yup - more sarcasm ).

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

As a Bruins fan, I truly think that Zboril is an NHL defenseman, especially on a bottom feeder team like New Jersey. I think he'll carve out a role for himself and be in the league for a while.

 

[Smitty426]

For the record, Nico is one of my favorite Devils of all time.

But as someone who saw the franchise go from its infancy to Stanley Cups during the Lamoriello/Lemaire days, watching the Blitzer/Harris/Fitz era of favoritism and corporate marketing hockey has been a bit difficult to take.

I too am an original fan, STH x2 for yrs 1&2. And yes Lou building the team was great BUT...
Teh cap era changed this team's path forever and that's not a bad thing. It did show how Lou last the touch. Conte was bad at the end and the last decent pick they made was Zajac with a lotta whiffs worse than Holtz TBH. Shero put them in the right direction. Crazy ownership in Jeff VDB was fun at first but the rumor of no $ to pay the players and free unlimited sushi at home was wild! HarrisBlizter is a necessary evil in order to be competitive. They don't bother me as much as many other fans. We will never be NYC corporate so I'm good, those poor bastards gotta come here to see the game not as small figures from the old blue section. It could be worse, get the defenders healthy and take what Fitz did and make it work!