GDT: Preseason Hockey! Game #2 - Your New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders, 7 PM, MSGSN

[RNCDevil]

Well, not a bad two periods.

Looking at 12 forwards...
Hughes, Bratt, Hischier, Mercer, Tatar, Shara, Palat, Haula, Wood are absolute locks. That's 9
You have 3 more spots for Holtz, Bastian, McLeod, Gertseen, Johnsson, and Zetterlund.

My top 4 from that group is Bastian, Holtz, Zetterlund, McLeod...not sure how Johnsson makes this team.

Marino looks solid. I am not thrilled with Smith's decision-making.

 

[JimEIV]

Nice black eye Jesper has there.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Jesper PLEASE get a better tie

 

[Emperoreddy]

Jesper PLEASE get a better tie

It's really really bad

 

[DerekDevils30]

Jesper PLEASE get a better tie

He will once he gets PAID

 

[theoptimist]

Holtz has made assists like that before. I think he is the primary on Sharangovich first goal last season in Tampa

 

[Xirik]

I took a quick peek back at the intermission and I wondered why they were interviewing David Spade.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Come on Fitz, sign him now!

 

[JimEIV]

Holtz has made assists like that before. I think he is the primary on Sharangovich first goal last season in Tampa

Wasn't just the passes though...he was aggressive on the forecheck, looked engaged and for the first time didn't look like he was skating in mud.

 

[Forge]

Well, not a bad two periods.

Looking at 12 forwards...
Hughes, Bratt, Hischier, Mercer, Tatar, Shara, Palat, Haula, Wood are absolute locks. That's 9
You have 3 more spots for Holtz, Bastian, McLeod, Gertseen, Johnsson, and Zetterlund.

My top 4 from that group is Bastian, Holtz, Zetterlund, McLeod...not sure how Johnsson makes this team.

Marino looks solid. I am not thrilled with Smith's decision-making.

Don't we get some cap relief from burying Johnsson? Maybe that's the way to go about it? Have Bastian as a 13th and then Z, Mikey and Holtz as the other three.

Wasn't just the passes though...he was aggressive on the forecheck, looked engaged and for the first time didn't look like he was skating in mud.

I thought I saw him throw a real check in the first period.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Wasn't just the passes though...he was aggressive on the forecheck, looked engaged and for the first time didn't look like he was skating in mud.

Yeah his forechecking specifically stuck out. Put a lot of pressure on that led to early turnovers a couple times.

 

[MVP Zacha]

Does Bill Spaulding have a giant head or a small upper body and hands?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Expecting a couple of crappy ones going by Schmid

 

[MasterofGrond]

Does Bill Spaulding have a giant head or a small upper body and hands?

giant head

 

[Hisch13r]

If Jack or Mercer can win faceoffs (unlikely tbh) then I think I'd want Mercer on PP1 over Nico. I want a righty in the bumper so there's a one time option in the slot for Jack or Bratt from the circle

 

[Forge]

I like that Holtz was able to create a little bit of space on his own for that shot.

When you actually have the vision he does (as seen just a second later on that pass) and the threat of the pass or shot is real, it's going to make him a lot more dangerous in that spot

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

NJ is in an interesting situation with the abundance of forwards. Lets assume the top two lines are set.

Palat-Hughes-Holtz
Sharangovich-Hischier-Bratt
_________-Haula Mercer
Wood-_________-_________

Zetterlund will be claimed if waived. Boqvist has a good chance at getting claimed if waived. I think you can sneak Johnsson down to Utica. I don't see anywhere for Tatar outside that 3rd line, but he is a great plug and play if there are injuries. Gertseen has to be waived as well. Lets assume since McLeod is here that there is no chance he gets cut, here is how I see the roster going.

Palat-Hughes-Holtz
Sharangovich-Hischier-Bratt
Tatar/Zetterlund-Haula Mercer
Wood-McLeod/Boqvist-Bastian

 

[MasterofGrond]

Holtz looking 1000x more confident out there too,

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Why was that a penalty?

 

[JimEIV]

Didn't look like a penalty to me

2 minutes for shoving.

 

[MasterofGrond]

If they waive Z I'll burn a jersey, swear to god

and i WONT replace it!

 

[Emperoreddy]

NJ is in an interesting situation with the abundance of forwards. Lets assume the top two lines are set.

Palat-Hughes-Holtz
Sharangovich-Hischier-Bratt
_________-Haula Mercer
Wood-_________-_________

Zetterlund will be claimed if waived. Boqvist has a good chance at getting claimed if waived. I think you can sneak Johnsson down to Utica. I don't see anywhere for Tatar outside that 3rd line, but he is a great plug and play if there are injuries. Gertseen has to be waived as well. Lets assume since McLeod is here that there is no chance he gets cut, here is how I see the roster going.

Palat-Hughes-Holtz
Sharangovich-Hischier-Bratt
Tatar/Zetterlund-Haula Mercer
Wood-McLeod/Boqvist-Bastian

I don't see any good reason to keep both of Tatar and Johnsson on the roster. Tatar is the better plug so they should just wave Johnsson.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Marino a lot more active than I expected

 

[Saugus]

Still feels weird seeing Mercer in his new number. That skating stride is unmistakable though.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Man I love Yegor