GDT: Pens @ Devils - The Grinch! - 7:00 PM - MSG+

[guitarguyvic]

If stripping Nico of the C makes the team look bush league, it's because they are bush league and shouldn't have handed over the captaincy to anyone on this roster considering none of them really deserve it.

These are all just symptoms of shitty leadership with no direction.

 

[NJDevs26]

Complain giving Nico the C is proof of entitlement, so stripping one of the hardest working guys on the team of the C is then gonna solve the entitlement problem?

 

[Blackjack]

All the people that are claiming they would have taken the gamble on Tarasenko should link to their posts back in the offseason where they stated this along with the price that they were willing to pay.

 

[MadDevil]

Complain giving Nico the C is proof of entitlement, so stripping one of the hardest working guys on the team of the C is then gonna solve the entitlement problem?

Hey you guys who aren't working hard, we're going to punish a guy who does, so you better shape up!

 

[JrFischer54]

Hey you guys who aren't working hard, we're going to punish a guy who does, so you better shape up!

i mean when you put it like that sounds like everyone is pretty shitty.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

3-7 years ago? I was reading that nonsense all summer.

It may still be popular among a contingent of posters but I think that philosophy crested after Matthews took the league by storm (so 2017), the most recent drafts haven't had the same impact so I don't see it as often, also maybe some posters are looking at the Devils and wondering if maybe veteran players can do little things that make other players more effective within a team structure (or at least I am).

 

[JrFischer54]

i'm still waiting to hear a valid reason why not to take the c from him

so far i got

makes us look bad around the league to players
nico feelings might get hurt and request a trade

 

[guitarguyvic]

i'm still waiting to hear a valid reason why not to take the c from him

so far i got

makes us look bad around the league to players
nico feelings might get hurt and request a trade

I don’t think it makes a difference. The cat is out of the bag already. Just like the Hughes contract.

 

[MadDevil]

i'm still waiting to hear a valid reason why not to take the c from him

so far i got

makes us look bad around the league to players
nico feelings might get hurt and request a trade

Because it's not going to magically make Hughes produce, or Shara regain his scoring touch, or fix the PP, or help our goalies make a save? Or any number of things that are actual issues?

 

[Lou is God]

but the team survived. what do people think will happen if the c is taken from nico? honest question like what negative consequences?

What's really the negative consequences of him having it? I mean how do you know he's unfit to wear it? Andy Greene wore it with a lot of crappy Devils teams.

 

[guitarguyvic]

A guy that young that's been a part of nothing but losing teams should never be burdened with the captaincy. Generational talents like Crosby and McDavid are the exception.

An organization with a culture of accountability would have left the captaincy open and challenged the players on the team to earn it over the next few years.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

i'm still waiting to hear a valid reason why not to take the c from him

so far i got

makes us look bad around the league to players
nico feelings might get hurt and request a trade

What's the reason for taking it from him? He's not putting up enough points and is hurt a lot? Just seems like a public humiliation for Hischier for no real reason.

 

[ninetyeight]

This whole captaincy thing is nonsense, it shouldn't be up to the fans to say who the captain is. Ideally the players should choose the captain (maybe even yearly vote or something), but I'm sure the staff is also very aware of the dressing room chemistry.

Besides this isn't the military where one guy leads and everyone else shuts up, anyone can step up and be a leader and fire up the team regardless if his jersey has a letter or not.

This all just feels like another made up excuse from the fans why the team isn't winning, like changing the stripes on the jerseys or the goal song.

And I actually think Nico has been good for the most part and plays exactly like a captain should, defense first, hard working, blocking shots. He just doesn't score enough for a 1OA.

 

[Lou is God]

A guy that young that's been a part of nothing but losing teams should never be burdened with the captaincy. Generational talents like Crosby and McDavid are the exception.

An organization with a culture of accountability would have left the captaincy open and challenged the players on the team to earn it over the next few years.

I think it would have been more prudent to wait to give it out, at least wait till we get over this hump. But now that he has it, you can't take it away.

 

[TrufleShufle]

i'm still waiting to hear a valid reason why not to take the c from him

so far i got

makes us look bad around the league to players
nico feelings might get hurt and request a trade

Because as much credit as we give to the C, if guys stand up in the room and have enough respect to call people out the "C" doesn't matter. It would be an optics move that would do nothing for the team besides make some weird unneeded drama in the room.

From all accounts the team seems to get along good enough, if Dougie or Severson have something to say, I'd imagine they would say it regardless of what is on their chest. But publicly taking the C from Nico and giving it to someone else he is close with does nothing to change that but does run the risk of creating some weird situation with absolutely nothing to gain.

This isn't a video game where putting the C on a guy will give him some boosted stats, but stripping a guy of it publicly can def have an affect.

So those are some reasons not to, can I flip it and ask what the benefit of doing it would be? Do you think throwing it on a new guy would be like taking the muzzle off him and allowing him to finally stand up and say, "hey guys, try harder."

 

[Devs3cups]

I'm not going to dispute anyone on this, Jack's defensive game has been pretty bad, especially lately. I understand and agree with this. How many offensively minded young players struggle with defensive decision making? I'm sure this will change.

Saying Hughes doesn't create anything offensively though really seems wrong. With a few exceptions, I feel as though he creates great chances and looks for his line mates nightly. I will agree that he does seem to complicate his game and wants to do too much out there right now, probably a symptom of losing and wanting to do everything.

But, reminder that Jack Hughes is 20 years old with about 1.5 seasons under his belt in terms of games played while going through COVID and a major shoulder injury. Context is important.

 

[Lou is God]

This whole captaincy thing is nonsense, it shouldn't be up to the fans to say who the captain is. Ideally the players should choose the captain (maybe even yearly vote or something), but I'm sure the staff is also very aware of the dressing room chemistry.

Besides this isn't the military where one guy leads and everyone else shuts up, anyone can step up and be a leader and fire up the team regardless if his jersey has a letter or not.

This all just feels like another made up excuse from the fans why the team isn't winning, like changing the stripes on the jerseys or the goal song.

And I actually think Nico has been good for the most part and plays exactly like a captain should, defense first, hard working, blocking shots. He just doesn't score enough for a 1OA.

I've always wondered if the C was really overrated in some sense, seems like it was more of an honor. I heard Stevens really wasn't a rah rah type of guy in the locker room, pretty reserved.

 

[JrFischer54]

This whole captaincy thing is nonsense, it shouldn't be up to the fans to say who the captain is. Ideally the players should choose the captain (maybe even yearly vote or something), but I'm sure the staff is also very aware of the dressing room chemistry.

Besides this isn't the military where one guy leads and everyone else shuts up, anyone can step up and be a leader and fire up the team regardless if his jersey has a letter or not.

This all just feels like another made up excuse from the fans why the team isn't winning, like changing the stripes on the jerseys or the goal song.

And I actually think Nico has been good for the most part and plays exactly like a captain should, defense first, hard working, blocking shots. He just doesn't score enough for a 1OA.

i agree with a lot of this stuff your saying but as fans not saying we should have an actual vote in the process but we have a right to discuss it and voice displeasure. we are paying for this product and supporting it.

 

[JrFischer54]

I've always wondered if the C was really overrated in some sense, seems like it was more of an honor. I heard Stevens really wasn't a rah rah type of guy in the locker room, pretty reserved.

i always wondered this too and you will never get a legit honest answer out of a former player about it. you don't have to be a rah rah guy you just have to set an example on the ice

 

[OmNomNom]

i agree with a lot of this stuff your saying but as fans not saying we should have an actual vote in the process but we have a right to discuss it and voice displeasure. we are paying for this product and supporting it.

players don't give a shit about us fans, we're not in the trenches

if the captain is a role model for the team (whether they're loud or not), then he deserves the C, no matter how shitty the team is playing. it's not completely up to the captain to affect whether the team does well or not. if it was, then he'd be the coach

 

[guitarguyvic]

I've always wondered if the C was really overrated in some sense, seems like it was more of an honor. I heard Stevens really wasn't a rah rah type of guy in the locker room, pretty reserved.

I absolutely believe the C is a symbolic gesture about the kind of player you want your team to be modeled after. And secondarily a way to honor a player.
I really don't think it has anything to do with the player's personality or what happens in the locker room.

 

[JrFischer54]

I'm not going to dispute anyone on this, Jack's defensive game has been pretty bad, especially lately. I understand and agree with this. How many offensively minded young players struggle with defensive decision making? I'm sure this will change.

Saying Hughes doesn't create anything offensively though really seems wrong. With a few exceptions, I feel as though he creates great chances and looks for his line mates nightly. I will agree that he does seem to complicate his game and wants to do too much out there right now, probably a symptom of losing and wanting to do everything.

But, reminder that Jack Hughes is 20 years old with about 1.5 seasons under his belt in terms of games played while going through COVID and a major shoulder injury. Context is important.

if this is going to be a continued excuse (not blaming you for mentioning this) but in general seeing a lot of "youth" excuse. if thats going to be the way things are then expect the same level of play if/when holtz comes up if/when luke joins the team or muk. so basically this team will never have a good solid group.

 

[Lou is God]

i always wondered this too and you will never get a legit honest answer out of a former player about it. you don't have to be a rah rah guy you just have to set an example on the ice

No one set a better example without saying a damn word than Stevens.

Of all the great things Lou did as our GM, securing him was by far was his greatest achievement.

 

[JrFischer54]

players don't give a shit about us fans, we're not in the trenches

if the captain is a role model for the team (whether they're loud or not), then he deserves the C, no matter how shitty the team is playing. it's not completely up to the captain to affect whether the team does well or not. if it was, then he'd be the coach

yeah i do agree with that you can even say ownership doesn't even care about the fans too lol

 

[Devs3cups]

if this is going to be a continued excuse (not blaming you for mentioning this) but in general seeing a lot of "youth" excuse. if thats going to be the way things are then expect the same level of play if/when holtz comes up if/when luke joins the team or muk. so basically this team will never have a good solid group.

I don't really see age as an excuse per se, in the sense that progress isn't always linear for young players. Fact is that, even though Jack is in his third season, he hasn't played that much hockey, and has had to go though some pretty serious stuff early in his career. Of course other young players have been through some hardships, but not everyone goes through it the same way.

When I say that Jack is 20, I don't mean it to say that we should just accept bad play from him. I mean it more in the sense that Jack has time to figure out those aspects, and is currently learning the NHL game.