GDT: Panthers @ Devils - 7:00 PM - MSG

[captainscott2]

Is Scott Stevens in the conversation for a coaching position ? Kinda want an established guy that can teach defense. We have two bright young defenseman that will be the foundation of the is team need a guy that can teach them.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Yeah that’s where we are. I’m not a cap guy. Some have any cap space for a goalie and big signing ?

I don't think the UFA class will be all that loaded, any truly big acquisition will likely have to be via trade which will require premium assets.

Cap room should be fine. Toffoli, McLeod, Smith, Nosek, and potentially Miller off the books. Schneider and Kuokkanen buyouts off the books as well. Only Mercer due for a new deal and he's had a terrible year which should keep the AAV down.

 

[JK3]

They didn't play too bad, which was to be expected with a fire lit under their ass but two stinkers sunk us again.

These next 20 games are going to be a freaking slog.

 

[Patrik26]

I thought it was a fine game, all things considered. They played hard for the most part, had more sustained o-zone possession, Jack and Bratt and Nico were flying and had chances. A better goalie and Jack burying one of his numerous glorious chances and we beat the best team in the East.

Kind of game I want in a lost season.

Florida cruised for most of the game.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Whoever we draft with that top 9 pick isn't going to help us anytime soon.

If you think the team should start seriously trying to compete next year, it needs to be on the table for potential trades

 

[Unknown Caller]

They didn't play too bad, which was to be expected with a fire lit under their ass but two stinkers sunk us again.

These next 20 games are going to be a freaking slog.

It's more of a slog than most years out of the playoffs because this team is more talented than at least half of the playoff teams, goaltending aside.

Watching shitbag teams like Detroit, Philly and the Islanders play playoff hockey is painful.

Fitzgerald needs to take a long look in the mirror because there's no shot a roster with this much talent should be entirely out of the playoff picture on March 5th. It's on him.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Our defense is going to take some time.

I would strongly considering restructuring the entire defense to accommodate Luke and Nemec with strong veteran partners.

I'm not sure Marino is the guy for Luke and we don't have a strong Left partner for Nemec. I would consider getting both at the expense of our existing roster.

Emphasizing “veteran” partners. With size and strength. With everything falling apart we could really have used some confident veteran smarts around now just to maintain calm and resolution. Our complete loss of self confidence is the biggest issue right now.

 

[Mgd31]

Trade the pick for Swayman if he becomes available.

 

[Devs3cups]

How do you teach them to be mentally tough? Because they have zero of that.

Can this core be taught to defend? Can they be taught how to score off the cycle, to actually go to the net? Deflect goals in?

There are a lot of issues.

It's extremely possible next year is more futility, even if it's a positive step forward.

This team might be 3+ years off in the best case

You going full doomer after warning people in the GDTs all year not to be doomers is awesome. Full circle moment.

Team has killed us.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Trade the pick for Swayman if he becomes available.

Rumor is Swayman is extending, best bet would be Ullmark or Saros when Nashville predictably gets absolutely run in the first round.

Sounds like the Devils are set on Markstrom, so I don't think we'll get those marquee guys anyway.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Florida cruised for most of the game.

When you spot the other team a 2 goal lead that’s what happens.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Rumor is Swayman is extending, best bet would be Ullmark or Saros when Nashville predictably gets absolutely run in the first round.

Sounds like the Devils are set on Markstrom, so I don't think we'll get those marquee guys anyway.

As desperate I am for a goalie, I really don't like the idea of giving Saros his big pay day. I don't have faith the really big goalie contracts work out.

 

[JimEIV]

I just look at a team like Florida and how they play and how they’re structured…and it just seems to me NJ is such a far cry from that.

Just because we have talented individual pieces does not automatically equate to sustained success. One of the terms I’ve grown to hate is “bright future”. The sabres have supposedly had that for the last decade…how they doing?

Since the day Lou left I’ve preached that success isn’t just about acquiring talent. It’s the same everywhere whether it’s sports or “the real world”.

Just look at the types of players that they have... their best players are big fast and physical. They can grind it out or play a fast game...their smaller players are bigger than most of our guys...they only have 4 players on their entire 23 man roster under 6 feet

Tkachuk 6'2 201
Reinhart 6'2 193
Barkov. 6'3 215

That's a lot of size and talent.

 

[Guadana]

I shant watch anymore… it hurts… I should’ve recorded the entire previous season

I think I can find all the records.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Emphasizing “veteran” partners. With size and strength. With everything falling apart we could really have used some confident veteran smarts around now just to maintain calm and resolution. Our complete loss of self confidence is the biggest issue right now.

They need to find some kind of swagger before the season ends.

They can't just go into tank mode and sleep walk to game 82. I'm extremely confident that will do way more harm then the extra draft position will do us good.

 

[Mgd31]

Rumor is Swayman is extending, best bet would be Ullmark or Saros when Nashville predictably gets absolutely run in the first round.

Sounds like the Devils are set on Markstrom, so I don't think we'll get those marquee guys anyway.

Damn I was hoping him getting taken to arbitration last year would have soured the long term relationship.

 

[NjDevsRR]

And to be frank, they probably end this season a little above .500 in this final 20 games if they played like tonight. Goaltending did matter in a game like tonight.

I thought the effort was there and if the effort is there for the rest of the season they will look fine. Not great but fine. The doomerism is out of control on here at the moment

 

[Emperoreddy]

They can't Bataan Death March their way to another season end. Bratt, Nico, and Jack have done that far too many times.

They need to find some pride and end strong. It absolutely doesn't matter if it hurts our draft position or raises Green's coinage.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Late in the 3rd period we had only 3 guys on the ice for way too long before they realized they needed to send out 2 more. Have no clue what they were doing there.

Glad I'm not going Thursday or Saturday, absolutely sick of this team and ready for the season to be done. Normally I'd do a double header but I'll just be at Red Bull Arena Saturday night instead.

 

[Guadana]

I’ll give fitz one slight opening if he doesn’t trade taffoli he needs to go. He f***ed this up so bad. Get zetterlund back or something anyone

the effort was fine. The roster is weak. The goaltending is beyond awful. The defenseman are bad. It needs a mini rebuild. The bottom 6 needs a complete retool. Like total overhaul. Trade taffoli if it’s the last thing you do fitz. Get a mid winger we speed and size. Figure what the hell Holtz is now or trade him before he is worthless.

We have Gritsyuk, Lenny, Casey and Orlov/Karpovich/Vilen. That's your "third" line wingers and bottom pair. Third line center could be drafted this year.
Free agents available on the market. Bratt and Meier are open to play on the right wing, Mercer is your option for your third line, Henrique and Noesen are UFA.

 

[Mgd31]

And to be frank, they probably end this season a little above .500 in this final 20 games if they played like tonight. Goaltending did matter in a game like tonight.

I thought the effort was there and if the effort is there for the rest of the season they will look fine. Not great but fine. The doomerism is out of control on here at the moment

I really think it’s going to be hard to stay above .500 with this schedule and goaltending. Every one they have is unplayable at the moment. We’ll see what happens.

 

[Bad Goalie]

I think you need a special partner for Luke.

Marino had Graves last year he never anchored a pairing. I don't think he is good enough defensively to cover for Luke...Luke needs a Tanev

Finally!!!
I have been saying this since forever. He will be a FA. Fitz should be as aggressive as possible to get him. He's a rental in Dallas and will be free to sign anywhere at the free agent date. If I'm Fitz, I'm sleeping on his doorstep.

If it means you move Marino, so be it. Chris will be worth his weight in gold for Luke.

 

[racamdim]

Season is over, but Fitz still really needs to bring in a G by the end of the week. Maybe now that’s just a guy on an expiring like KK from SJ, but if he doesn’t this team is going to collapse down the stretch, which is simply not tenable going forward.

 

[Better Call Sal]

This has been an issue all season long. Someone needs to get Gordon Bombay out of retirement to do the egg drill.

 

[JimEIV]

Bahl is still pretty young. Although I thought he as going sorta blossom this year. He took half a step back. But he is a big time frame and could be a guy that is just a slower developer. Mercer took a full step back this year. The kid could just be a little tired. He’s been a work horse. Maybe he’s got a nagging injury. Who knows but his confidence is low. Holtz I think can play. But his playing on eggshells he will be good in my opinion whether it’s here or somewhere else. Taffoli is good we can’t afford another contract for a forward like him. We need it for a d a goalie and couple good bittom
Six guys. Anything else ?

Everyone took a step back this year though. Nobody is playing as well as last year with the exception of Bratt.