GDT: Penguins @ Devils, 2:00 PM, NHL Network

[NJDevs26]

He shouldn't crash too far through his high games. He should get roughly 2/3s of the remaining starts, maybe a bit less. That would get him to low 50s. For all the Blackwood hate, he's been fine as a spot starter/backup. He's definitely an NHL goalie and he's capable of pulling a sparkling performance out of his you know where every so often. But the net is definitely Vanacek's now.

His high in games started at any level of hockey is 39 last year, he’s already at 27 in just over half a season (46 games), assuming no injury he’ll get to at least 50, maybe 55 and that doesn’t include what he’ll play in the playoffs where he’ll presumably still be the #1

 

[Better Call Sal]

Remember when people had to work their way up from smaller markets to the big-time?

Listening to the D.I.E. "Hockey is for everyone" female announcers or interns like Sam Kasan instead of veteran broadcasters is sad.

I mean, I don't know their resumes down pat but Jamie Hersch worked with the Minnesota stations I want to say and has been with NHL and MLB Networks for a few years. I think she's paid her dues, if that is what you're looking for.

I don't listen to the radio broadcasts but Sam is just filling in for Matt while he's doing the studio analyst role with Erika on maternity leave. Since the radio broadcast is strictly through the team now and not through WFAN or anything like that, it doesn't bother me. You gotta get your break somewhere.

 

[NJDevs26]

It’s also a pretty weird complaint considering the majority of full time announcers are still guys. Nobody should have their life affected by giving two women’s hockey announcers one random Devils game on the radio last year, for example.

 

[Bleedred]

Vitek is 11th in the league in GSAx

Most of the guys ahead of him are the names you would maybe expect. The guys that are either elite and/or guys that play A LOT of games every year. Sorokin, Oettinger, Saros, Hellebuyck, Ullmark, Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin.

The biggest surprise is Sam Montembeault. Stuart Skinner and Ilya Samsonov are also just ahead of him.

He's not in the Vezina conversation, but he's definitely an unsung hero and the most important acquisition we've made in several years.

Not THE BEST acquisition, but definitely the most important.

I'm surprised he's not even more popular than he is.

I'm not convinced he's a long term solution here (he could be) and it's only been 30 games and not 47, but Blackwood was 37th in GSAx in that 19-20 season that made him so popular. His save percentage/GSAA of .916%/+7.08 GSAA that year was actually considerably better than his -0.54 GSAx.

 

[Bleedred]

He shouldn't crash too far through his high games. He should get roughly 2/3s of the remaining starts, maybe a bit less. That would get him to low 50s. For all the Blackwood hate, he's been fine as a spot starter/backup. He's definitely an NHL goalie and he's capable of pulling a sparkling performance out of his you know where every so often. But the net is definitely Vanacek's now.

I don't think he's definitely an NHL goalie, but ironically, his GSAx is actually a + this year. But the real kicker is that this is his first NHL season with a + in GSAx. As I just said in my last post, his 19-20 season that was so revered, his save percentage/GSAA actually flattered his play. He didn't even break even in GSAx that year, nor his first year, where he also had a solid and plus year in save percentage/GSAA.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

It’s also a pretty weird complaint considering the majority of full time announcers are still guys. Nobody should have their life affected by giving two women’s hockey announcers one random Devils game on the radio last year, for example.

There are 32 NHL clubs and hundreds of broadcasters (if not more) of students graduating from universities every year. If even one or two spots is given to broadcasters based on anything other than their abilities that leaves a tremendous amount of more qualified announcers unfairly prevented from pursuing their trade.

 

[Saugus]

Listening to the highlights, thought Jamie Hersch sounded alright on play by play. She apparently only just did it for the first time last April for NHLN.

For someone fairly new to it, thought she did fairly well. Weekesy is always a good guy to have in the booth as a counterbalance on play by play because he brings a good amount of energy.

I thought she was pretty good on the call. A little weird in her rapport with Weekes as the color commentator, but that's been true of all the national broadcasts under the new TV deal, so whatever.

But she was clearly knowledgeable about the game, identified players correctly (not a single sighting of Tommy Novak!), and her tempo and volume matched the intensity of play on the ice. That's all you can ask.

 

[Bleedred]

Remember when people had to work their way up from smaller markets to the big-time?

Listening to the D.I.E. "Hockey is for everyone" female announcers or interns like Sam Kasan instead of veteran broadcasters is sad.

Work their way up? You actually make it sound like calling a game on play by play from inside a studio, which I don't even think is a regular gig for her, is big time? Really? I don't even know if she calls one game a week. Last game on NHLN it was EJ Hradek and Kevin Weekes, with Hradek on PBP. I actually thought Jamie was better suited for the job than Hradek, who is a fine analyst type, but not so much on PBP.

Yes, Leah Hextall sucks, I think that's almost universally agreed upon by hockey fans, but Jamie was way better.

And Sam Kasan? Come on man, gimme a break. Yeah, I agree Kasan sucks at PBP. His ''DEEEVVVVILLSSSSSSSS'' calls when we score makes me feel like David Puddy hijacked the broadcast booth, but he's only even in there because Matt is on TV in the host/analyst role subbing for Erika on maternity leave.

What veteran broadcaster do you propose we should have brought in to fill that spot until Matt got back?

 

[Bleedred]

I thought she was pretty good on the call. A little weird in her rapport with Weekes as the color commentator, but that's been true of all the national broadcasts under the new TV deal, so whatever.

But she was clearly knowledgeable about the game, identified players correctly (not a single sighting of Tommy Novak!), and her tempo and volume matched the intensity of play on the ice. That's all you can ask.

The only complaint I had was they spent too much of the first 2 periods talking about Nico and his grimacing and how badly hurt he must be, because it was just giving me anxiety.

I thought she did a good job. I have no complaints with her. And her voice isn't like nails on a chalkboard when someone scores, like Leah Hextall.

I thought it was amusing how more than once she asked Weekes in assurance if Vanecek was the guy.

 

[glenwo2]

Why does it take Bratt 5 minutes to get to Hamilton here?

 

[Nubmer6]

Why does it take Bratt 5 minutes to get to Hamilton here?

He was too busy in the other corner scowling like he does when he scores.

 

[NJDevs26]

Work their way up? You actually make it sound like calling a game on play by play from inside a studio, which I don't even think is a regular gig for her, is big time? Really? I don't even know if she calls one game a week. Last game on NHLN it was EJ Hradek and Kevin Weekes, with Hradek on PBP. I actually thought Jamie was better suited for the job than Hradek, who is a fine analyst type, but not so much on PBP.

Yes, Leah Hextall sucks, I think that's almost universally agreed upon by hockey fans, but Jamie was way better.

And Sam Kasan? Come on man, gimme a break. Yeah, I agree Kasan sucks at PBP. His ''DEEEVVVVILLSSSSSSSS'' calls when we score makes me feel like David Puddy hijacked the broadcast booth, but he's only even in there because Matt is on TV in the host/analyst role subbing for Erika on maternity leave.

What veteran broadcaster do you propose we should have brought in to fill that spot until Matt got back?

If anything they probably should have just kept the radio team intact and had Sam or Catherine be the Erika fill in, unless Matt wanted to be the fill in and get a foot back on TV

 

[Nubmer6]

If anything they probably should have just kept the radio team intact and had Sam or Catherine be the Erika fill in, unless Matt wanted to be the fill in and get a foot back on TV

As much as I like Erica, I really like Matt doing the interviews. I just didn't realize how much I liked him till he came back. It was like a breath of fresh air.

 

[Bleedred]

If anything they probably should have just kept the radio team intact and had Sam or Catherine be the Erika fill in, unless Matt wanted to be the fill in and get a foot back on TV

I don't really care for Catherine too much, as she feels too much like an actress or something. It's hard to explain, but she just seems kind of fake and too rehearsed.

I know this will go over really well, but I'd prefer Amanda in a TV role to Catherine. I don't really see what's wrong with Amanda, but I know there's a sect here that she's not at all popular with.

I would bet it was MSG or the Devils choice to put Matt on TV, perhaps because this was his full time gig for several years a long time ago.

 

[JK3]

Matt's great at his job, I'd rather have him than Erika.

 

[glenwo2]

He was too busy in the other corner scowling like he does when he scores.

I guess it's his trademark.

Much like Nico and his grimace-faces.

Bratt has his scowling I-don't-give-a-**** expressions.

 

[glenwo2]

As much as I like Erica, I really like Matt doing the interviews. I just didn't realize how much I liked him till he came back. It was like a breath of fresh air.

Because he actually asks pertinent HOCKEY questions and not just the usual "How did you FEEL when you scored the goal" question.

 

[Saugus]

The only complaint I had was they spent too much of the first 2 periods talking about Nico and his grimacing and how badly hurt he must be, because it was just giving me anxiety.

I thought she did a good job. I have no complaints with her. And her voice isn't like nails on a chalkboard when someone scores, like Leah Hextall.

I thought it was amusing how more than once she asked Weekes in assurance if Vanecek was the guy.

Ya, I was telling my father in law that Nico always looks like that after his shifts, because the announcers kept bringing it up repeatedly.

But of course we know the score: If Nico is on the bench grimacing, he's fine. It's only when he goes down the tunnel that we get concerned.

Clearly NHL Network didn't get the memo on how Nico reacts to pain.

 

[Nubmer6]

Ya, I was telling my father in law that Nico always looks like that after his shifts, because the announcers kept bringing it up repeatedly.

Oh is THAT why he always looks like that?

 

[Emperoreddy]

I pretty much agree with CJJ

Yeah I choose to believe fatigue is playing a major factor in the dip

 

[PWiz30]

The only complaint I had was they spent too much of the first 2 periods talking about Nico and his grimacing and how badly hurt he must be, because it was just giving me anxiety.

Maybe that's where that cringe Twitter take that Nico needs to be tougher if he's going to wear the C came from yesterday.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Maybe that's where that cringe Twitter take that Nico needs to be tougher if he's going to wear the C came from yesterday.

That's an absurd take considering he clearly came back less then 100% and gutted it out anyway.

 

[PWiz30]

That's an absurd take considering he clearly came back less then 100% and gutted it out anyway.

Tell me about it. Nico lays his body on the line every game and doesn't let the punishment he takes as a result affect the way he plays. That is the definition of toughness.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

I guess it's his trademark.

Much like Nico and his grimace-faces.

Bratt has his scowling I-don't-give-a-**** expressions.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Remember when people had to work their way up from smaller markets to the big-time?

Listening to the D.I.E. "Hockey is for everyone" female announcers or interns like Sam Kasan instead of veteran broadcasters is sad.

Jamie literally did a better job than most of the jabronis that NHL Network threw against the wall to do these random games over the last decade.

But ok.