GDT: Preseason Game 1: Islanders @ Devils - 7 P.M. - MSGSN2, MSGSN

[MasterofGrond]

I will not hear lazar slander of any kind

 

[Whaddagoal]

I did not even know there was a person on this board that had even a sliver of a paint chip against Lazar. I presumed he was universally enjoyed across our fandom!

 

[Richer's Ghost]

I was out of it about 8 days ago for about 4 days, something was going around the area. Better the last 2 days. Haula probably got his kids in school or preschool or something and dragged something home

My kiddos daycare teachers have told me about 1/3rd of the kids have had a stomach bug that had them pooping and barfing randomly. That's a lot for this time of year. Jan/Feb is usually when you see a strain of something wreck classes that hard.

 

[MadDevil]

I did not even know there was a person on this board that had even a sliver of a paint chip against Lazar. I presumed he was universally enjoyed across our fandom!

He's a 4th liner, so part of the fan base will turn on him eventually.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Let's give a chance for Haula to actually be there before we say Palat-Haula-Noesen will not work.

Haula as the 3C should be perfectly fine. I'm not saying our center depth is great beyond the obvious top 2, but Haula brings plenty of the aspects that you want out of a 3C. One of the most productive combos he's been a part of over the past two seasons had been on a line with Palat and Boqvist, so I'm more than willing to give them a shot together with Noesen.

 

[Devs3cups]

Let's give a chance for Haula to actually be there before we say Palat-Haula-Noesen will not work.

Haula as the 3C should be perfectly fine. I'm not saying our center depth is great beyond the obvious top 2, but Haula brings plenty of the aspects that you want out of a 3C. One of the most productive combos he's been a part of over the past two seasons had been on a line with Palat and Boqvist, so I'm more than willing to give them a shot together with Noesen.

100%. Haula is a 0.5 PPG center, with Palat and Noesen that should be more than enough for a 3C.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

The biggest takeaways from me from last night:

Markstrom looks gigantic in the net
Tatar fits so well with Nico
Bratt was clearly the best player on the ice
The ahl line was space junk. Absolutely terrible.

 

[theoptimist]

He's a 4th liner, so part of the fan base will turn on him eventually.

MM was my favorite player, so you’re right, I do like my fourth line centers. I like Lazar but some might call his Devil career a “resurgence.” He has his limits. Meier-Lazar-Mercer had a little run last year but I’m not trying to see that again. Haula is out two days with??? I hope Hischier and Hughes play 75 games each.

 

[JimEIV]

I still think Palat is done...I hope he proves me wrong but I don't think he has it any longer.

 

[glenwo2]

The biggest takeaways from me from last night:

Markstrom looks gigantic in the net
Tatar fits so well with Nico
Bratt was clearly the best player on the ice
The ahl line was space junk. Absolutely terrible.

Yeah. Those guys showed why they belong in the AHL.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

I did not even know there was a person on this board that had even a sliver of a paint chip against Lazar. I presumed he was universally enjoyed across our fandom!

i was less than enthused about the trade at the time, but i’d definitely changed my tune. Very little to dislike about him and i can only imagine he’s a great influence on the youngsters.

 

[Satans Hockey]

The video package for the Gaudreaus was very well done. I do think the 13 seconds should have been 34 seconds, 13 + 21 for Matthew's number.

I like how the English soccer leagues changed from a moment of silence to a moment of applause where everyone just cheers really loudly. Also gets rid of the chance of idiots yelling stupid shit because they know that everyone can hear them.

 

[MVP Zacha]

i was less than enthused about the trade at the time, but i’d definitely changed my tune. Very little to dislike about him and i can only imagine he’s a great influence on the youngsters.

Seems that he drives Luke crazy. He chirps Luke constantly and it is hilarious.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Seems that he drives Luke crazy. He chirps Luke constantly and it is hilarious.

That time they were interviewing him and Luke comes up and he's like "Yeah they actually wanted to talk to someone other than the Hughes brothers imagine that" or something to that effect - I lost it. Luke looked like someone just kicked his puppy.

 

[NjDevsRR]

First preseason gm. Not much to look into

But I like the added size on D

Love Tatar with Nico


This team may require some time to gel under the new coach. Hopefully the Euro trip really beings this group together.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Had it on in the background while battling an illness but was happy to see NJD hockey back.

- Caught a play were Tatar(?) passed it to Dougie in the slot and I was able to mutter, “sexy” before sneezing and coughing.
- Nico’s goal was a snipe but Bratt made that play happen.
- Goal on Daws was recent vintage boxed wine NJD goaltending.
- Apparently Pelech can do whatever he wants and not get called for a penalty on multiple occasions.
- Three ‘25 2nd round picks: one for Allen just in case he plays 40, one to possible use and one for a 3rd line center either late fall or at TDL?

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

I'll say that, Dougie looked like Dougie, and that is a good thing.

From the eye test, it seemed like almost all his wrist shot attempts had a seeing eye path and found the goalie on net.

He didn't seem particularly slowly, but he had 1 typical Dougie moment that led to a rush back. I don't think I'm worried about him.

I'd like to see his slapper again - assuming he still has that post his surgery then I am not worried about his season play coming up.

came here to say this. I didn't see the full game, but good portions of it.

I was happy to see Hamilton back - and also thought it looked like nothing changed with him

 

[AfroThunder396]

Had it on in the background while battling an illness but was happy to see NJD hockey back.

- Caught a play were Tatar(?) passed it to Dougie in the slot and I was able to mutter, “sexy” before sneezing and coughing.
- Nico’s goal was a snipe but Bratt made that play happen.
- Goal on Daws was recent vintage boxed wine NJD goaltending.
- Apparently Pelech can do whatever he wants and not get called for a penalty on multiple occasions.
- Three ‘25 2nd round picks: one for Allen just in case he plays 40, one to possible use and one for a 3rd line center either late fall or at TDL?

I'm guessing they'd prefer to keep two of those picks given that we don't have a 1st and have traded away quite a few picks recently. I would think at least one will be in play at the deadline.

 

[Billdo]

He’s one season away from Switzerland, so center it is!

Nonsense.

 

[JrFischer54]

I still think Palat is done...I hope he proves me wrong but I don't think he has it any longer.

i dont really care what palat does in the regular season this team should be fine and make the playoffs even if he sucks during the regular season. i do fully expect him to be a force come playoff time. if not then ship him off with a pick

 

[Hisch13r]

Nonsense.

One of the few bright spots from last year but he’s a year away from being out of the league… Sure thing!

 

[Bad Goalie]

The biggest takeaways from me from last night:

Markstrom looks gigantic in the net
Tatar fits so well with Nico
Bratt was clearly the best player on the ice
The ahl line was space junk. Absolutely terrible.

If the AHL players were impressive vs NHL players, they would look like the NHL players they are not. You can stick one of them on a line with NHL players and maybe they can slide by like they sometimes do in call-ups. Put them all together and you will likely be disappointed. The disappointment comes when you expect them to be better than they can be.

 

[Camille the Eel]

came here to say this. I didn't see the full game, but good portions of it.

I was happy to see Hamilton back - and also thought it looked like nothing changed with him

on Hamilton - he was indeed his old self, including a couple of hairy potential turnover moments in the second and third periods when he was the only guy back with the puck. He always scares the crap out of me when he's the last guy up top and they attack his possession. But yeah he looked 100%. The shot to the net is so accurate. Maybe we will be tipping some more pucks in front too.

On our zone exits it looked like the new Keefe "play connected" mantra (that Bryce was talking about during the second intermission) actually had meaning. Three guys would be supporting each other within a moderate area and using quick lateral passes, often touch passes, to move the puck out to center ice, where we had one guy flying the zone not two. It looked pretty snappy and even when it didn't work it didn't result in an out and out turn over, just a new possession battle further out from our goal line.

Re Palat I don't conclude much. Guys with his resume and experience are famous for using camp for conditioning.

The first ten games of the season is when we will see what we've got. I'm struck again by how short training camp is in hockey. I can't believe that after this next week we will already heading to Europe for those opening games. That's like no time for coaches to really put in a new system. Compare it to the month of baseball Grapefruit League and the similar full month of NFL preason. It truly renders the opening 8 to 10 games of the Hockey season the time when the system really gets learned and applied.