GDT: Wild @ Devils - 5 P.M. - MSGSN

[Devs3cups]

I just said verbatim :

Didn’t see the rest of your post, apologies!

 

[glenwo2]

Didn’t see the rest of your post, apologies!

Yeah don't worry.

I saw your quoting me and you got the one just prior to me adding that stuff (I probably was in the process of doing so while you replied).

I mean I know Tkachuk is a talented asshole with very good historical numbers but they won't help us NOW....this season which is what I care about.

 

[Devs3cups]

Jokester Lindy lmao

 

[Satans Hockey]

Jersey records...

Home Reds - 2-2-1 - 5 points
Road Whites - 2-0 - 4 points
3rd Blacks - 1-0 - 2 points

 

[billingtons ghost]

You know guys if Mikey McLeod's ascendant play relegates Nico to third line center, you're all going to have to eat Jim's hat. There should be some public spectacle for that.

Still some wild stuff out there, but this was the first game they won with an all-around game and not just some wild over-the-top talent display in the third. My favorite game of the season for the way the whole team played.

Edit: How is MN so good historically defensively and yet.... Merrill and Dakota Mermis.

 

[MB3]

I was never “anti-Bratt” at all per-se, and of my 4 Devils jerseys hanging in my closet one of them is 63.

But going into the off-season I stood firm that Bratt wasn’t worth more than $8m and that I would be upset if he got it. What I saw was a dynamic skater with brilliant handles but a poor effort in the defensive zone and a game that hasn’t yet translated in the playoffs.

We’ll see about the playoffs, but holy cow Jesper Bratt looks shot out of a f***ing cannon to start the year. Most impressively is how frequently he’s around the puck in the defensive zone. It looks like he worked hard at developing his 90-foot game, and it’s really really evident to anyone watching the team this year.

cannot believe we have him, jack, nico and timo signed for this long. hockey f***in rules bro

 

[My3Sons]

You know guys if Mikey McLeod's ascendant play relegates Nico to third line center, you're all going to have to eat Jim's hat. There should be some public spectacle for that.

Still some wild stuff out there, but this was the first game they won with an all-around game and not just some wild over-the-top talent display in the third. My favorite game of the season for the way the whole team played.

Edit: How is MN so good historically defensively and yet.... Merrill and Dakota Mermis.

You mean if McLeod can push Hischier down to the fourth line.

 

[Devs3cups]

I was never “anti-Bratt” at all per-se, and of my 4 Devils jerseys hanging in my closet one of them is 63.

But going into the off-season I stood firm that Bratt wasn’t worth more than $8m and that I would be upset if he got it. What I saw was a dynamic skater with brilliant handles but a poor effort in the defensive zone and a game that hasn’t yet translated in the playoffs.

We’ll see about the playoffs, but holy cow Jesper Bratt looks shot out of a f***ing cannon to start the year. Most impressively is how frequently he’s around the puck in the defensive zone. It looks like he worked hard at developing his 90-foot game, and it’s really really evident to anyone watching the team this year.

cannot believe we have him, jack, nico and timo signed for this long. hockey f***in rules bro

He is way more involved in the D-zone. He made a great play early in the 3rd to strip the puck away from Foligno and negate a scoring chance.

I’ve also noticed he’s playing more physical. He’ll never be a full on physical player, nor do you want him to be, but he doesn’t shy away from contact as much.

Both those things will pay off in the playoffs.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

The problem with Toffoli, whom I love, is he's gonna be 32

He's gonna be looking to cash in on a fat and, more importantly, long deal (as he should), and i think it's a mistake to commit long term resources to a guy outside our core group age range.

though its a long time from then...

maybe if we do really well (as does Tyler) he will consider signing a shorter deal to contend!

while it may be wishful thinking.. hes made over 35mil in his career! so its possible!!

Smith is the weak link on D, I’m pretty sure Nemec could do better right now. There’ll be mistakes, but there are mistakes with Smith anyways. Plus, Nemec can bring a whole lot more in the O-zone and in transition than Smith.

Siegs - Dougie
Luke - Marino
Bahl - Nemec

I’d be fine with this too, balances out the D-core quite nicely.

id love to give Bahl a bump (not coke you sickos!)

hes been the best dman in our zone in my opinion!

 

[glenwo2]

Jersey records...

Home Reds - 2-2-1 - 5 points
Road Whites - 2-0 - 4 points
3rd Blacks - 1-0 - 2 points

So going by those numbers, we should dominate on the road.

He is way more involved in the D-zone. He made a great play early in the 3rd to strip the puck away from Foligno and negate a scoring chance.

I’ve also noticed he’s playing more physical. He’ll never be a full on physical player, nor do you want him to be, but he doesn’t shy away from contact as much.

Both those things will pay off in the playoffs.

I have certain people on my "list" and can't see what nonsense they're putting up but I assume you're responding to something regarding Bratt?

'Cause everything you said is true.

 

[Devs3cups]

So going by those numbers, we should dominate on the road.


I have certain people on my "list" and can't see what nonsense they're putting up but I assume you're responding to something regarding Bratt?

'Cause everything you said is true.

I was responding to someone who basically said that they think that Bratt’s game has changed a lot since last year and that he’s more engaged defensively/has worked to become a more complete player!

 

[glenwo2]

I was responding to someone who basically said that they think that Bratt’s game has changed a lot since last year and that he’s more engaged defensively/has worked to become a more complete player!

Hmm...that's probably not HersheyBob then.

 

[Satans Hockey]

I didn't open the bobblehead at the arena but just opened one, had no idea they were gonna make noise as well, it's NJ banging on the drum to start the lets go Devils chant. A nice little feature that I haven't seen on any Devils bobblehead before. The arms are flexible too so they can bang on the drum lol

 

[Aurinko]

Putting McLeod to top line is a no brainer for me. I think the faceoffs and physicality he brings fits in fantastic to any of the lines.

 

[Better Call Sal]

You know guys if Mikey McLeod's ascendant play relegates Nico to third line center, you're all going to have to eat Jim's hat. There should be some public spectacle for that.

Still some wild stuff out there, but this was the first game they won with an all-around game and not just some wild over-the-top talent display in the third. My favorite game of the season for the way the whole team played.

Edit: How is MN so good historically defensively and yet.... Merrill and Dakota Mermis.

I don't know about that, he's pretty vocal about McLeod being one of the worst first round picks in team history as well.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Marc André Fleury looked cooked last night. Over and done. He used to be so athletic and active in goal, that was his signature. Very flexible and physical, lots of dynamic, big splits to push across the goal mouth, jumping out at shooters. Think of that last second save he made against Detroit to win his first Stanley Cup. We didn’t see any of that last night. Old and slow and restricted in range. We scored a number of times on goals where the puck went cross ice and he was just not able to get across himself. And was slow to react. Old and slow.

 

[Better Call Sal]

The PP has been impressive, we all know that, but this goal was just plain unfair. That instant pass by Timo to Bratt on the dot was gorgeous.

Our passing was the best it’s been last night in my eyes. The Marino dish to Bratt, the Bratt dish to Toffoli, the Holtz dish to Bratt on his disallowed goal, this one, Luke serving up dimes. Jack doing his normal thing. Hope this is just the start of the cohesion we’ve been hoping for.

 

[Camille the Eel]

The

The PP has been impressive, we all know that, but this goal was just plain unfair. That instant pass by Timo to Bratt on the dot was gorgeous.

Our passing was the best it’s been last night in my eyes. The Marino dish to Bratt, the Bratt dish to Toffoli, the Holtz dish to Bratt on his disallowed goal, this one, Luke serving up dimes. Jack doing his normal thing. Hope this is just the start of the cohesion we’ve been hoping for.

How quickly the puck is moving on our power play is amazing. Luke, to Jack (in motion, drawing coverage low), back to Luke up top, to Bratt low dot opposite side, slap pass to Toffoli - Tip, Goal. All in maybe 4 seconds.

Luke’s ability to change the point of attack at the top is also the key.

Even going back to our glory years around 2000, I don’t remember a power play clicking like this is right now.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Bratt has always been good defensively, he just wasn't making the "flashy" plays that people associate with defense. Blocking shots, picking pockets, sealing guys off physically. Between that and the whole 'small skilled European forward' thing people were just defaulting to their priors and not actually evaluating what he did on the ice.

Since 2021-22, among Devils forwards with +250 minutes of ES ice time, Bratt ranks 2nd best in Corsi against/60 at ES, and 1st best in shots allowed/60 in ES, and 5th best in xGA/60 at ES. He is better than Nico Hischier in all three of these categories.

Yet people didn't care until he blocked a shot and started moving his legs a little faster.

 

[OmNomNom]

i love travis green



yes i said it

 

[Better Call Sal]

Bratt has always been good defensively, he just wasn't making the "flashy" plays that people associate with defense. Blocking shots, picking pockets, sealing guys off physically. Between that and the whole 'small skilled European forward' thing people were just defaulting to their priors and not actually evaluating what he did on the ice.

Since 2021-22, among Devils forwards with +250 minutes of ES ice time, Bratt ranks 2nd best in Corsi against/60 at ES, and 1st best in shots allowed/60 in ES, and 5th best in xGA/60 at ES. He is better than Nico Hischier in all three of these categories.

Yet people didn't care until he blocked a shot and started moving his legs a little faster.

I'm sure it has something to do with not overextending his minutes, but I've always been surprised Bratt hasn't been used on the PK much since his rookie year, where I recall him being somewhat decent. I think he's similar to Jack in that because he's smaller and skilled, people don't view him as someone who can hold his own defensively. But I feel like he typically has, especially as he's matured physically in the past few years.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I was never “anti-Bratt” at all per-se, and of my 4 Devils jerseys hanging in my closet one of them is 63.

But going into the off-season I stood firm that Bratt wasn’t worth more than $8m and that I would be upset if he got it. What I saw was a dynamic skater with brilliant handles but a poor effort in the defensive zone and a game that hasn’t yet translated in the playoffs.

We’ll see about the playoffs, but holy cow Jesper Bratt looks shot out of a f***ing cannon to start the year. Most impressively is how frequently he’s around the puck in the defensive zone. It looks like he worked hard at developing his 90-foot game, and it’s really really evident to anyone watching the team this year.

cannot believe we have him, jack, nico and timo signed for this long. hockey f***in rules bro

Agree completely.

Will admit I was part of the anti-Jesper faction; particularly since he didn't (or wouldn't) play in his own end or in hard areas.

He has been much more attentive in those areas - so much so that he is being used in PK situations.

With his lack of bulk he will never be in the Tkachuk class but he's definitely a much better player than I'd expected him to be.

 

[Oneiro]

I'd rather Bratt play "Bratt level" :

than this :

I could care less what Tkachuk has done Career-wise.

I doubt he'd be producing like Bratt if he was on our team instead. Not a shot in hell.

I mean we have our own "Grit" player (who can score) which is Timo and he's struggling to put the puck in the net though he's contributing in other ways.

I love you fighting the good fight, Glen. I was mostly joking - I think Tkachuk proved something last year and certainly proved me wrong, away from Gaudreau/Lindholm. That is a big mountain to climb for almost any player - hell, McDavid is still trying to put up a performance like that. Like you wisely said, let Bratt be Bratt and do his thing.

To me, it looks like Bratt is aware of some of the criticism he took during the playoffs. I'm sure he was hard on himself given his history. Remember, he also practically had no post-season experience - that Tampa series in '18 was as cut and dry over from game 1 as it gets. But one of the things I'm seeing is that he's playing the boards more intelligently. He knows he's not a big guy and the angles he's taking to the puck, not shying but absorbing contact in a way that doesn't get him destroyed - he's grown his game a lot over the summer. And the anticipation of the cross blue line pass, particularly on those dust-ups that tend to happen on the half-wall when the other team tries to enter the zone...And also just shooting when he should, keeping it simple at the right time and using deception when it makes sense. Less over-passing, just whatever's necessary.

Random but typical tangent from me: there's this book by Musashi, supposedly Japan's greatest swordsman, called The Book of Five Rings. At one point, he talks about how there's no such thing as a fast cut or a slow cut - there's just The Cut AKA whatever gets the job done. I think eventually all really great players come to know this - this is what Lidstrom always did, what Stevens did after he came here, what Crosby started doing in '15-16 and maybe what we're starting to see from both Jack and Bratt. It's a beautiful thing to watch.

It's why I sometimes think that a player's true peak isn't always his statistical peak but the one in which he's most efficient and just giving his team what they need.

 

[BahlDeep]

You mean if McLeod can push Hischier down to the fourth line.

Hopefully... to the AHL

 

[Rhodes 81]

Jersey records...

Home Reds - 2-2-1 - 5 points
Road Whites - 2-0 - 4 points
3rd Blacks - 1-0 - 2 points

#Analytics

You know guys if Mikey McLeod's ascendant play relegates Nico to third line center, you're all going to have to eat Jim's hat. There should be some public spectacle for that.

Still some wild stuff out there, but this was the first game they won with an all-around game and not just some wild over-the-top talent display in the third. My favorite game of the season for the way the whole team played.

Edit: How is MN so good historically defensively and yet.... Merrill and Dakota Mermis.

I have to admit I didn't realize Mermis was still hanging around. I always thought he was better than most of the other random depth D we cycled through in the dark days (shoutout to my boy Auvitu). Pretty cool to see he's finally getting regular playing time at 29 this year.

Bratt has always been good defensively, he just wasn't making the "flashy" plays that people associate with defense. Blocking shots, picking pockets, sealing guys off physically. Between that and the whole 'small skilled European forward' thing people were just defaulting to their priors and not actually evaluating what he did on the ice.

Since 2021-22, among Devils forwards with +250 minutes of ES ice time, Bratt ranks 2nd best in Corsi against/60 at ES, and 1st best in shots allowed/60 in ES, and 5th best in xGA/60 at ES. He is better than Nico Hischier in all three of these categories.

Yet people didn't care until he blocked a shot and started moving his legs a little faster.

There's always going to be a contingent of fans for which it doesn't compute that a Lazar-McLeod-Bastian line is actually worse defensively than Tatar-Hischier-Bratt, but it's true. People don't always recognize those plays that win 50/50 pucks in the offensive zone as a defensive play, but they are. The ability to just grind out time in the offensive zone without giving the other team a chance to generate anything is the key difference from this season so far from our best games last year. They need to figure out who is going to be that Tatar player on Hischier's line who just wins puck battles all over the offensive zone. I hoped it would be Mercer but he's not going to get that chance until he gets himself going to some extent.