GDT: We're Here: Your New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers, 7 PM, ESPN+/Hulu

[Devils731]

There hasn't been such a thing as a "stay at home defenseman" in 10 years.

But Graves isn’t even a 2 way defenseman or a modern day defensive defenseman.

He’s an offensive defenseman in a big man’s body. People see the body and assume he must be good defensively when his value comes in the transition. His shooting is good on some level but may be a net negative depending on the team. It may be negative for the Devils.

 

[captainscott12]

Jack could’ve had like 4 assists tonight. He had one good chance of his own too. Disappointing that he was kept off the scoresheet.

unfortunately two of his best passes were to brendon smith

But Graves isn’t even a 2 way defenseman or a modern day defensive defenseman.

He’s an offensive defenseman in a big man’s body. People see the body and assume he must be good defensively when his value comes in the transition. His shooting is good on some level but may be a net negative depending on the team. It may be negative for the Devils.

i thought he as brutal tonight

 

[Devils090]

Jack could’ve had like 4 assists tonight. He had one good chance of his own too. Disappointing that he was kept off the scoresheet.

He made 2 or 3 bad decisions in close, shot when he should have passed and passed when he should have shot

 

[Rynewed]

Jack could’ve had like 4 assists tonight. He had one good chance of his own too. Disappointing that he was kept off the scoresheet.

Thats the toughest part of watching offensively elite players

Very very few games go by where they dont have enough chances for 2-3 pts, its just how much help will they get that night

 

[Devils731]

English, do you speak it

Devils wildly outshot the Flyers with Bratt on the ice.

 

[Devs3cups]

Weird game overall. I didn't feel we played all that badly, but a few defensive breakdowns and a goalie who is incapable of making saves give a shitty result.


I'm really getting annoyed with Ruff, like really.

- Dude uses lines during the pre-season to just f*ck them all up for the first game. Why? Complete nonsense.

- Bratt playing 15 minutes while lesser forwards get more TOI is so dumb I can't even comprehend it.

- Why is Blackwood starting when Vanecek has CLEARLY been better in pre-season? Blackwood doesn't have the benefit of the doubt anymore. Vanecek will most likely be in there Saturday, so that's good.



As for the positives, I have a few:

- I really liked Marino. He was steady.

- Holtz got his first goal. Congrats to him! He got a few good looks tonight, he'll score some goals.

- Jack and Bratt looked electric once again.

- Mercer had a strong game.

- The PP did look more dangerous.

 

[RangerDoggo]

Devils wildly outshot the Flyers with Bratt on the ice.

Fat lot of good that did.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[captainscott12]

Blackwood's last 56 games going back to February 20th of 2021.

.892%, dropping EVERY. f***ING. GAME. HE. PLAYS. AT. THIS. POINT.

Disgraceful.

179 goals on 1655 shots.

Check my work if you want. Run the numbers yourself.

Don't expect a god damn thing from this terrible player this year, other than maybe helping guide us to Bedard.

yeah i mean not sure how much more people need to see.... thanks for the stats and the " feel" test on him is even worse... I feel like literally every shot is going in on him... and i will tell you right now.. players can sense that and you play worse when you don't trust your goalie...

 

[Xirik]

Blackwood's last 56 games going back to February 20th of 2021.

.892%, dropping EVERY. f***ING. GAME. HE. PLAYS. AT. THIS. POINT.

Disgraceful.

179 goals on 1655 shots.

Check my work if you want. Run the numbers yourself.

Don't expect a god damn thing from this terrible player this year, other than maybe helping guide us to Bedard.

Nice avatar.

 

[RangerDoggo]

Ruff is not in the chat

 

[Devils090]

Fat lot of good that did.

Our genius head coach prob should have played Bratt more than 13 f***ing minutes

 

[Rynewed]

Goal 1 = TERRIBLE. It would be my current softy of the night, but I haven't seen anything from any of the other games.

Goal 2 = Not terrible, but absolutely stoppable. ''His glove is his strength'' my ass.

Goal 3 = Pretty much no chance.

Goal 4 = Stoppable. Barely screened and it goes through him.

Not to mention a Justin Braun point shot hit the post before he even faced a shot on goal in the opening minute or two and then more shoddy puck play even before he got scored on and WEAK REBOUNDS ALL NIGHT LONG.

He SUCKED. Plain and simple.

And Ruff sucks for starting him.

Ruff made the right choice starting him. You want your better goaltender to play the home opener, no?

 

[JimEIV]

But Graves isn’t even a 2 way defenseman or a modern day defensive defenseman.

He’s an offensive defenseman in a big man’s body. People see the body and assume he must be good defensively when his value comes in the transition. His shooting is good on some level but may be a net negative depending on the team. It may be negative for the Devils.

He's not an offensive D man either...he never carries the puck, he doesn't join the play, he doesn't sneak in in the offensive zone....

He's a first pass defender is with a big shot. Pretty vanilla if you ask me

 

[Eggtimer]

I’m guessing Holtz takes a seat Saturday. Just a feeling after that turnover at the end.

If Hischier is back..

Palat-Hischier-Mercer (Cycling line you’re comfortable with defensively)
Sharangovich-Hughes-Bratt (They flashed in the 3rd when put together)
Tatar-Haula-Zetterlund (I’d like to see Fabian get a look)
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

They won’t bench Holtz…
It wasn’t even that bad of a play . Down by two ? Ya go for a high risk high reward play.
Why scratch a kid over one play ? No way they shit on his confidence and scratch him for the home opener after he just scored his 1st NhL goal…..

 

[RangerDoggo]

Our genius head coach prob should have played Bratt more than 13 f***ing minutes

Wouldn’t have helped

 

[Saugus]

Ruff is not in the chat

Ruff is still asking his grandson how to load the chat.

 

[Devils090]

But Graves isn’t even a 2 way defenseman or a modern day defensive defenseman.

He’s an offensive defenseman in a big man’s body. People see the body and assume he must be good defensively when his value comes in the transition. His shooting is good on some level but may be a net negative depending on the team. It may be negative for the Devils.

>Graves
>offense

Wut

 

[BostonDevil]

Ruff made the right choice starting him. You want your better goaltender to play the home opener, no?

I want the better goaltender to play almost every night

 

[Maine Fan]

Here we are again. I know it is only the first game of the season. There are 81 to go. Who was in goal? In case you forgot, Blackwood. How many goals did they lose by? (3) 5 minus 2 equals (3). How many unstoppable or bad goals did Blackwood let in? (3). How many goals did the NJ Devils lose by, (3).

I said it last season, the season before, and earlier this season. Blackwood will destroy the Devils. But know this: Blackwood only has one year left on his contract with the Devils. We have waited this long; we can wait another year. With this ownership, Devils losing is natural. Fitz was stuck with Blackwood. Please don't blame him. Blame the Owners.
Later

 

[captainscott12]

Ruff made the right choice starting him. You want your better goaltender to play the home opener, no?

well what would you say if the rangers started kinkaid over shesterkin ? in their opener i don't care if the game was in china... you play your number 1 in game 1 ..

 

[LoktionovMVP]

I want everyone on this forum who said they were okay keeping Ruff around to apologize to me personally

 

[Bleedred]

I hate when people accuse me or other posters of ''Hating'' players that think suck. That word is just thrown around way too casually.

But like I said, after his ''Shit'' talk (literally) and his inability to stop a puck over his last 56 games, I f***ing hate this player.

If there's just one player that I hate on my team, big surprise that it's a f***ing goalie that SUCKS.

I haven't hated a player on this team this much in a long time. A goalie is gonna cost you more points than anybody that I or anybody else usually complains about. Whether it's McLeod, Stephen Gionta, Ruutu, f***ing Pelley, Mark Fraser, Pete Harrold. you name it.

I hate when people accuse of ''Hating'' players. That word is just thrown around way too casual.

But like I said, after his ''Shit'' talk (literally) and his inability to stop a puck over his last 56 games, I f***ing hate this player.

If there's just one player that I hate on my team, big surprise that it's a f***ing goalie that SUCKS.

I haven't hated a player on this team this much in a long time. A goalie is gonna cost you more points than anybody that I or anybody else usually complains about. Whether it's McLeod, Stephen Gionta, Ruutu, f***ing Pelley, Mark Fraser, Pete Harrold. you name it.

 

[Devilsfan992]

Those numbers are disgusting and sad at the same time.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Torts got his team playing hard and the way he wanted.

Ruff couldn't get that out of his guys and it's been a trend.