GDT: r1g5

[Discipline Daddy]

Rod also is highly unlikely to agree with anyone’s assessment that any of the guys playing is playing bad enough to justify getting sat imo. I want to to see the kid play but I agree with him. Ghost leaning the wrong way on one play is not nearly the justification required and Nikishin isn’t taking over Burns’ RD first pair spot for his first game ever. In the playoffs. If it wasn’t for one goal in double overtime we’d be sweeping these guys. There’s zero reason to change the D. Janks should’ve never been out in the first place, but I think that was Rod leaning to treating a vet right with Roslovic. Jack had been here longer and had worked all season, between the two of them I think Rod felt obligated to give him the nod until he made some mistakes and they lost.

I'd love to see Nikishin play of course.

But at the same time, one of Rod's strengths as a coach is he believes in his players. He never calls them out in an embarrassing way to the media. If a player makes an obvious mistake in the game, he usually gives them the next game to prove themselves. It's how Rod would have wanted it as a player, and the other players buy in because of it. I get that Nikishin is exciting, but Ghost has been here all year and has been a good player for us. If we swapped out a player after every bad play, you wouldn't get the full support the system requires.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Is it our pov or are people just saying “This is what Rod is going to do because he is who he is”.

Doesn’t mean people agree with him. Just acknowledging that’s what’s likely to happen.

Yeah I get that, I think it's both with mostly the latter and a handful who agree with Rod, but my post you replied to was actually more directed at Rod (does he read hf26 for strategy insight???) than posters here anyways.

 

[To Be Determined]

We got an injury at goalie. Time for Nikishin to gear up

rod blows everyone's minds - nikishin draws in for slavin, who is playing goalie.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I'd love to see Nikishin play of course.

But at the same time, one of Rod's strengths as a coach is he believes in his players. He never calls them out in an embarrassing way to the media. If a player makes an obvious mistake in the game, he usually gives them the next game to prove themselves. It's how Rod would have wanted it as a player, and the other players buy in because of it. I get that Nikishin is exciting, but Ghost has been here all year and has been a good player for us. If we swapped out a player after every bad play, you wouldn't get the full support the system requires.

I don't think people are advocating for swapping Ghost out because he's been so bad that he needs to be replaced or because he made a mistake in the double OT. He's a solid bottom pair D and would be in most playoff teams' lineups. But if a player comes in who is just flat out better (which may or may not be the case with Nikishin) then you don't hold that player out just to keep Ghost happy because he's been here all year.

Learning the system, language barriers, etc. are reasonable arguments. I think Nikishin's talent and upside outweighs those concerns, but I wouldn't factor in Ghost being here all year except as a part of the system knowledge and how it directly impacts their play on the ice.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

in Nikishin's case I'd say it's more fixing PP2 since Ghost has been alright at PP1 - I think our biggest issue there is not having a good net-front guy with you guys having Noesen now.

now Ghost at even strength? ho boy, that's been an adventure and I'd 100% consider making the move from that standpoint alone. The other would be having him rotate in for Burns for a game on his off side, especially since that doesn't affect the iron man streak. Walker could also make sense but IMO he's actually been pretty decent this series, not a huge impact guy but the issue's been on the other side of the pair at 5 on 5 when you guys can get sustained pressure on that pairing.

I mean, he should be the PP1 guy regardless. That's how you would effectively ease him into the league and it's doing something he was tremendous in Russia. You wouldn't play him and then play him on PP2 and then most likely drain your top dmen of minutes which could hurt in the long run of the playoffs. Carolina has virtually nothing to lose this year tbh, I get the East is super wide open but I think they can have the best of both worlds if they let Nikishin play. I especially don't understand him not playing tonight when tonight is a home game, clincher and against a very wounded team walking into one of the hardest environments in the league to play in come April and beyond.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'd definitely start Nikishin

I don't want to complain the opposing team's thread about injuries, but holy hell lol

 

[bleedgreen]

Yeah I get that, I think it's both with mostly the latter and a handful who agree with Rod, but my post you replied to was actually more directed at Rod (does he read hf26 for strategy insight???) than posters here anyways.

I agree with him enough in that I appreciate his consistency and I know the reason the players love him is because he does things like this. I also think our D core is strong and healthy enough to justify his style. I would’ve liked to see Nikishin at least get a few games in before the playoffs. If he had played those games and looked good it’s a different conversation, isn’t it? Rod isn’t actually justified in pulling someone out because it’s an unfair thing to throw Nikishin in cold in a league he’s never played in before. I think even if he looked good pre playoffs Rod would still have done this to be honest. I think he’s more than earned the right to do it as he sees fit.

I think it’s a tough spot, and Rod makes it easier by just being himself about it. I think it’s fair enough. I don’t agree we’re going hurt our chances doing this. Not yet anyways. I don’t have high expectations though for this particular year.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

I'd definitely start Nikishin

Look, I know the hockey gods owed us a few for the way we've been impacted with injuries in the past, but f***ing hell, can't they spread it out a little? Seems almost unfair to NJ to punish them so

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Look, I know the hockey gods owed us a few for the way we've been impacted with injuries in the past, but f***ing hell, can't they spread it out a little? Seems almost unfair to NJ to punish them so

Most of us Devils fans knew the writing was on the wall with Jack out this series and maybe they could gut a few games out from Markstrom and the special teams but that's ironically what has lost us this series. The Devils have kept up with Carolina 5v5 somehow lol

Health has been a big issue for this roster past couple of years, it's time to fire the garbage medical staff lol

 

[WreckingCrew]

Not likely to be a more perfect time to play Nikishin than in this game. Up 3-1, at home, low pressure, controlling lineups...play the man and see how he does, run 11F 7D if needed, but play him. What we don't want is for an injury to occur and we're forced to play him for his first game on the road facing elimination or something, that's just asking too much and a recipe for disaster. Or we play the "known" guy (like Stillman) who's not as good, that sends a bad message to Nikishin. Since he didn't get in for any regular season games, best to get him 1 NHL game in what's likely the lowest pressure situation we'll have for the rest of the playoffs.

 

[Stanky and Janky]

I think you can easily justify playing or not playing a player like Nikishin. If Rod thinks that doing what he's doing is what gives the team the best chance, so be it.

I also wonder if Rod's own experience has anything to do with it. We think his end of career treatment might inform how he treats a guy like Burns. Well, he began his career in the playoffs I believe, and maybe that leads to him to whatever he thinks about doing that. It could also just be that he thinks this is the team that brought them here and earned the right. Which again, I think is defensible. And while some young dudes might not love that being the case they might also be able to see that Rod would have their back someday in a similar situation.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I don't want to complain the opposing team's thread about injuries, but holy hell lol

No, you're right. It's getting a little ridiculous at this point. Though maybe if Pesce would stop blocking so many of our shots, he'd be healthier

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

No, you're right. It's getting a little ridiculous at this point. Though maybe if Pesce would stop blocking so many of our shots, he'd be healthier

I can't get on Pesce for that, that's his game for the most part. Dougie/Noesen have been downright ass this series lol. You guys still paying them under the table?

 

[Derailed75]

I can't get on Pesce for that, that's his game for the most part. Dougie/Noesen have been downright ass this series lol. You guys still paying them under the table?

Dundon so cheap..... Oh wait

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Dundon so cheap..... Oh wait

Paying guys under the table to be sleeper agents would be an elite move

 

[Ole Gil]

I think you can easily justify playing or not playing a player like Nikishin. If Rod thinks that doing what he's doing is what gives the team the best chance, so be it.

I also wonder if Rod's own experience has anything to do with it. We think his end of career treatment might inform how he treats a guy like Burns. Well, he began his career in the playoffs I believe, and maybe that leads to him to whatever he thinks about doing that. It could also just be that he thinks this is the team that brought them here and earned the right. Which again, I think is defensible. And while some young dudes might not love that being the case they might also be able to see that Rod would have their back someday in a similar situation.

Brett Burns is also on the top PK unit that is clicking at 100%.

Team defense has been good across the board. Okay top pairing guys are going to give up chances to the other teams best players. I think the expectations sometimes are a little higher than reasonable. There's a discrepancy with how disgusted people are with his play and the on-ice results.

They have the #1 GAA in the playoffs at the moment. So something is going a little okay. I know a lot of that is NJ, but it's hard to look at that and ask for better.

 

[Tryamw]

I don't want to complain the opposing team's thread about injuries, but holy hell lol

If Brett isn't ded I don't see him missing Seig just recovering more likely but

 

[zman77]

 

[zman77]

 

[MinJaBen]

Seems almost unfair to NJ to punish them so

 

[WreckingCrew]

Look, I know the hockey gods owed us a few for the way we've been impacted with injuries in the past, but f***ing hell, can't they spread it out a little? Seems almost unfair to NJ to punish them so

They took out Freddie and have been dirty as f*** this whole series, I have 0 sympathy for their injuries...it's light karma at best

 

[Sigurd]

rod blows everyone's minds - nikishin draws in for slavin, who is playing goalie.

I just wanted to say that I loled at this post. Well done.

I also agree with people saying that this is the perfect game to put Nikishin in if they were going to use him in the playoffs (excluding an injured defense man). If they aren't gonna play him tonight, then they most likely won't use him at all in the playoffs this year (again, excluding an injury).

I think what bothers me the most is why act like you're gonna use him in the playoffs when you don't actually plan on doing so? I get the veteran defense man versus the rookie who hasn't played 1 game in the NHL. However, as others have said, Nikishin is a blue chip prospect, and Makar, another elite defensive prospect, played his first NHL game in the playoffs and didn't have any serious issue.

 

[hockeynjune]

Giterdun.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

They took out Freddie and have been dirty as f*** this whole series, I have 0 sympathy for their injuries...it's light karma at best

I said almost