The Devils are horror bad.

[SladeWilson23]

They suck in first periods. They suck at defending. They can't score 5 on 5. They suck at sucking.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

They suck in first periods. They suck at defending. They can't score 5 on 5. They suck at sucking.

They had some pretty big injuries recently and probably aren't in a groove yet with healthy key players into the full swing of things.

Also losing a key player on Defense and other areas will throw a team off a little. But the bigger issue is their goalies are just not getting it done, they miss Graves and Travis Green is bad luck.

Andrew Brunette leaving for the Preds is showing. He was a good assistant for Ruff with the offense. Green legit sucks as a coach in any capacity.

 

[weastern bias]

 

[sr edler]

It was so obvious that Bratt's numbers were propped up by playing with J. Hughes. Still a good player, but not someone who seriously drives a line on his own, like say Nylander does. As soon as Hughes went down, Bratt went on a prolonged siesta.

Same with Meier.

And Hamilton is always Hamilton (especially in crunch time).

 

[Michoulicious]

No goalie. No good.

 

[Sensatauro]

I mean, they are Devils, they're supposed to be horror bad...that's why they're Devils!

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Remember saying last year they were due for regression and was scolded out of their threads.

Still a really young core but would be shocked if they miss this year, just won't be as dominant as they were

 

[HajdukSplit]

Don’t get how they were considered cup contenders with their goalies and back line

 

[nbwingsfan]

They suck in first periods. They suck at defending. They can't score 5 on 5. They suck at sucking.

Was just about to make this thread.

On paper they should be contenders but as of now they’re in tough just to make the playoffs.

Their goaltending in less than ideal but the rest of the team should easily be making up for that

 

[NYRKing]

Goaltending is not great but the team defense is awful.

If you can make it thru the Red Wings Cringe Eminem goal song, watch the game highlights with those D Zone lapses.

—do wings fans like that goal song? I mean it’s super annoying for the opposing team lol.

 

[AfroThunder396]

There was always going to be a short term regression on defense with several vets walking and young players getting greater roles.

But the offense looks painfully one dimensional, especially without Hughes. Without the PP to prop them up they are painfully mediocre at ES.

Goaltending is not keeping them in games. Ruff is making terrible personnel decisions with actives/scratches and line combinations.

They look slow and and are usually in bad position. Lack of hustle and poor attention to detail. It's like teams have smartened up and are changing the way they play NJ, but the Devils haven't seemed to figure out an answer yet. Clog the neutral zone, don't take penalties, and attack the blue paint because they get caught chasing down low.

Not sure what the answer is but they have all the pieces to at least be a really good team. There's no excuse for this level of play.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It was so obvious that Bratt's numbers were propped up by playing with J. Hughes. Still a good player, but not someone who seriously drives a line on his own, like say Nylander does. As soon as Hughes went down, Bratt went on a prolonged siesta.

Same with Meier.

And Hamilton is always Hamilton (especially in crunch time).

Bratt wasn't even playing with Hughes lol.

 

[Buck Naked]

They suck at sucking.

So they're good?

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Goaltending is not great but the team defense is awful.

If you can make it thru the Red Wings Cringe Eminem goal song, watch the game highlights with those D Zone lapses.

—do wings fans like that goal song? I mean it’s super annoying for the opposing team lol.

It's not great.

 

[Peasy]

They kinda remind me of the early Matthews leafs. Great offensive talent, but they really need to learn how to play proper d overall, and also need a better goalie. Hopefully they're able to fix their issues properly and not follow the same path that the leafs have.

Still got some solid d specs coming in nemec and Casey, but it will take time for them to adjust in the NHL.

I know it's early, but I hope they didn't shoot themselves in the foot trading for Meier.

 

[njdevil26]

They were 6-2-1. Then they started dropping like flies with Hischier, Hughes, and Meier getting injured. Guys like Mercer and Palat had real slow starts... so the offense has not been consistent outside of Hughes, Bratt, and Toffoli.

Hughes only has two games back, Nico SHOULD be back tomorrow or Saturday, and Meier by next week. That aspect of the team will be fine once these guys have some time together healthy.


The goaltending is a problem and team defense is atrocious. We all knew they would take a step back in the regular season but they are at the point where they have to fix some things soon and I'm sure this is extremely unacceptable to Tommy Fitz and he's working the phones.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

It was so obvious that Bratt's numbers were propped up by playing with J. Hughes. Still a good player, but not someone who seriously drives a line on his own, like say Nylander does. As soon as Hughes went down, Bratt went on a prolonged siesta.

Same with Meier.

And Hamilton is always Hamilton (especially in crunch time).

I think Meier played 4 games without Hughes and scored 3 goals, before getting hurt himself. I wouldn't call that disappearing.

 

[Shane Diesel]

That was fast, just last season they were darlings here and the next best up and coming team.

 

[slimnipsu]

Goaltending is not great but the team defense is awful.

If you can make it thru the Red Wings Cringe Eminem goal song, watch the game highlights with those D Zone lapses.

—do wings fans like that goal song? I mean it’s super annoying for the opposing team lol.

Personally love it!!

 

[tfwnogf]

Are they really that bad though? Or is it a slump/injuries. The sharks, bjs and oilers have proven they deserve the title "horror bad", I don't want the distinction watered down.

 

[Zats Muccarello]

Still think they'll be fine once healthy.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Gonna be cool to have 32 of these threads over the course of the season. Really burnin down new villages here.

 

[Jerzey Devil]

The way the team played without Jack and Nico was disappointing to say the least. Too much talent on that roster to be this bad. Now they seem even worse somehow with Jack back in. Maybe the captain is the glue.

Goaltending is an issue but not the only one. The line combinations suck and I honestly think this is the main issue right now. Why not put Jack and Jesper back together?

All you have to do is stay out of the box against them and you’ll do fine.

Of course we can all point to Ruff but the team rallied around him after the Fire Lindy chants. He can bring out the best in them they just need to get over this slump.

 

[RangerBoy]

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman said the road to Cup was running through New Jersey.

Brunette is a good coach. He is no longer there. I thought Brunette did a very good job replacing Queeneville in Florida in a tough circumstances. The Devils seemed more organized last season with Brunette on the staff. Travis Green is a downgrade.

 

[Kane One]

The Devils aren’t horror bad. They just haven’t played the easy teams of their schedule yet.