GDT: The Blue Note @ Your NJ Devils, 1/5/2023

[JK3]

It’s all about face offs with Ruff, that’s why Haula is with Hughes and why you see Mikey all the time too.

 

[Hisch13r]

It doesn't hurt to try until that trade is made. The current set up is basically Kliff Kingbury's offensive gameplan for the cardinals except instead of, "hey Kyler, go do some shit" it's, "hey Jack, don't worry about the other guys, go do some shit"

No. We will try nothing. Only Haula to infinity and beyond.

 

[DerekDevils30]

The clear play is to give Hughes Palat and drop Haula to the bottom 6 at C. See if that does something. But will Ruff do it?

 

[britdevil]

I hate how right I was on Haula. I was saying I hate him super early on in the year while everyone was still having their honeymoon with him.

In my mind he was brought in as a 3rd line centre. A reliable veteran who can not hurt you while matching up against scoring lines.

It's really hard to believe how they are using him. Strapped to Hughes like Kurri to Gretzky. GROSS.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

I need to take an aspirin, i mean seriously, got a headache from the loss what a terrible month to decide not to drink

 

[Bleedred]

Don't sound like Matty has any faith either

He's already talking about how we could be 4th in the Metro by Saturday if we don't get a result in that game.

It sounds like he already thinks we're losing that one lol.

 

[BostonDevil]

Why can’t they play Sharangovich with Hughes?

H2O line? Anything but Haula

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

How is it pointless to bitch about Haula because he’ll be gone in a year? This shouldn’t be treated as a throwaway year.

Because they look this good against teams with a complete anchor weighing down their 1C, what's gonna happen once Fitz upgrades that spot. And I never said it was a throwaway year, they have to make the playoffs now with that W13 streak but this board collectively shitting their pants over a loss where they played incredible in is annoying.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Not sure why Vanecek couldn’t play tonight, throw him out there on the back to back. I was so spoiled seeing Marty play a bazillion games.

We are so tight for points.... And we kinda gamble here. Wpuld have been better to win tonight. Car lost and we would at least close gap and keep rangers still at 3 behind.

Now we hosed for saturday

 

[Forge]

In my mind he was brought in as a 3rd line centre. A reliable veteran who can not hurt you while matching up against scoring lines.

It's really hard to believe how they are using him. Strapped to Hughes like Kurri to Gretzky. GROSS.

This is kind of my thought as well. There's no way that this team made that deal for Haula and thought, "yeah, this is a top 6 wing for us"

 

[Better Call Sal]

Honestly I think the thing that infuriates me so much is the usage of Sharangovich and Mercer.

I know Mercer flubbed a breakaway but I feel both of these players have been neutered this year to some degree. And they’ve still been somewhat productive despite that.

 

[jkrdevil]

So…? I don’t disagree with that necessarily.
But Fitz clearly believes in Ruff and as long as we’re in the playoff picture/fight I think he’ll be secure and have a chance to turn things around. So unless we go on a big losing streak to the point where we’re completely out of the race in the next 20 games or so I can’t see Ruff not finishing the season here.

Another factor to consider. If they miss the playoffs after the start they had Fitz could be very well shown the door also. So there may be is some pressure on him as well.

It would be a very bad collapse with business considerations. Good luck selling tickets next year to a team that has made the playoffs once in 10 years and suffered a major collapse the year before. Even eith a good start you aren’t going to get buy-in.

(For the record I’m not saying missing the playoffs is more likely than not, just what effect that roll of the dice coming up might have).

 

[Hisch13r]

What did Rango do to get in Ruff’s doghouse? It’s egregious how a guy who has one of the best shots on the team is not on a PP unit but Haula has?! Ridiculous.

I’ve never thought Yegor’s game is suited to the PP regardless of how good his shot. The real issue is not giving him more to play with at 5v5. He should be with at least one of Bratt, Jack, Nico at all times.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I think we're either gonna turn this around and he stays or we fall out and he goes.

There's no reason to keep his tenure alive on machines, other than ''Respecting a veteran head coach and not embarrassing him by firing him in his twilight''.

I really think he's about done.

But we could turn it around (I'm no longer as optimistic) and he stays until the year ends.

There’s very possibly multiple good reasons for Fitz.
1. Fitz really believes in him
And
2. Despite a bad stretch Ruff has the devils in the playoff race in January.
3. He doesn’t think Ruff is the problem and a new coach would turn things around necessarily

1 and 3 are somewhat the same

 

[Bleedred]

I hate how right I was on Haula. I was saying I hate him super early on in the year while everyone was still having their honeymoon with him.

Coming into this year it didn't look like he was gonna be this bad. He scored 3 goals in the last 2 regular season games he played last year and had a goal in his second to final playoff game he played last year.

But this is a Michael Ryder, Mike Cammalleri CRASH off a cliff. Not exactly something that's not normal for players at his age.

I also didn't realize how much of a journeyman he was until last night. 10 years in the league, 7 teams, 6 teams in the last 6 years. Hasn't played 100 games with anyone but Minnesota, his first team in the league.

 

[Saugus]

No. We will try nothing. Only Haula to infinity and beyond.

Too bad Haula doesn't wear #93. This would be relevant:

 

[njdevil26]

I feel bad hating on Haula because he should be a 3rd line center and nothing more. But wow it is criminal that Jack Hughes had to play with Haula and Tatar…. And it’s a joke that Haula gets PP time and is out there for late game one goal deficits. The guy has 2 goals. If he HAS to take the face off (why can’t Nico?) he should take it and skate the F to the bench.

 

[jkrdevil]

It doesn't hurt to try until that trade is made. The current set up is basically Kliff Kingbury's offensive gameplan for the cardinals except instead of, "hey Kyler, go do some shit" it's, "hey Jack, don't worry about the other guys, go do some shit"

I do admit they need to get Haula away from Hughes. Jack is supposed to be a playmaker and his numbers over the past 20 games look like a supercharged David Clarkson having twice as many goals as assists. It isn’t like he isn’t making plays out there. A move needs to be made sooner than later.

 

[Bleedred]

There’s very possibly multiple good reasons for Fitz.
1. Fitz really believes in him
And
2. Despite a bad stretch Ruff has the devils in the playoff race in January.
3. He doesn’t think Ruff is the problem and a new coach would turn things around necessarily

1 and 3 are somewhat the same

Maybe you're right, but I'm feeling he won't let this go on all season long.

He's giving him his chance to turn it around right now.

He really was showing some weird signs in the Pittsburgh game, like the challenge on the obvious goal.

If he starts playing Vanecek every game in the next week, hooo boy, watch out.

 

[FinnishDevil]

I need to take an aspiring, i mean seriously, got a headache from the loss what a terrible month to decide not to drink

People dont drink in January..

we were good in November and thats when people dont.. uhm..

 

[Hisch13r]

He hadnt played well either in awhile. Only 1 chance i remember today.

Him, Mercer been a void.

I mean Haula hasnt been scoring and basically never will but be is setting up good plays on the flipside.

If anything what you’re saying is literally MORE of a reason to change things up. You’re doing yourself no favors by wasting talented players and forcing your stars to carry the entire team because the depth is cold. We know that those guys perform (and perform better than Haula might I add) when they’re with our top guys.

 

[Forge]

Honestly I think the thing that infuriates me so much is the usage of Sharangovich and Mercer.

I know Mercer flubbed a breakaway but I feel both of these players have been neutered this year to some degree. And they’ve still been somewhat productive despite that.

I feel like Mercer is being utilized fine. I don't know that he's a guy that I want to be a top line fixture, but I feel like he's a good guy who can move up and down the lineup. Any given night he could be on line 1, 2, 3 and 4 and he'll be okay in whatever role you may ask him to be that night.

The sharangovich thing is interesting though. I just don't know what happened there or keeps Lindy from wanting to put him up in the top 6. He's gotten some opportunities and just bricked them, so maybe not landing those makes that situation look bleaker than it really is.

 

[Saugus]

The clear play is to give Hughes Palat and drop Haula to the bottom 6 at C. See if that does something. But will Ruff do it?

Ruff wasn't going to overuse Palat in his first game back. But if he is at full strength, I think he should be slotted back into the top 6 in the next few games.

 

[Dylan9z9]

Don't sound like Matty has any faith either

He's already talking about how we could be 4th in the Metro by Saturday if we don't get a result in that game.

It sounds like he already thinks we're losing that one lol.

If we play like we did tonight we are done.... tons of missed assignments, bad passes and missed clearing oppertunities another words typical Devils play

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Another factor to consider. If they miss the playoffs after the start they had Fitz could be very well shown the door also. So there may be is some pressure on him as well.

It would be a very bad collapse with business considerations. Good luck selling tickets next year to a team that has made the playoffs once in 10 years and suffered a major collapse the year before. Even eith a good start you aren’t going to get buy-in.

(For the record I’m not saying missing the playoffs is more likely than not, just what effect that roll of the dice coming up might have).

I don’t agree two parts of that.
1. More pressure on Fitz doesn’t mean Lindy is gone if Fitz still believes in Lindy and sees him as our best option moving forward.
2. In terms of business considerations, I can’t see how they’d be any worse going into next season than they were this season. I’d imagine they’ll have more interest as they showed a great flash, we’re closer to the playoffs and everyone is expecting the devils as a team to breakout at some point. At the very least if things fall apart they’ve given everyone a taste of a great young team.