That’s why I say there probably isn’t many more goals that line can produce with a different third winger.
We need goals when Jack/Bratt (and Nico for that matter) aren’t on the ice. We need a center to play behind Jack and Nico and play PP2.
GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (32-21-6, 70 Pts) @ Colorado Avalanche (33-24-2, 68 Pts), 9:30 PM, MSGSN
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We need goals when Jack/Bratt (and Nico for that matter) aren’t on the ice. We need a center to play behind Jack and Nico and play PP2.
Killing Joke
Registered User
- Dec 2, 2017
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That's more of an indictment of how shit the team is 5 on 5 than it is of how good he has been. Bad teams have goal scorers too.
billingtons ghost
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2010
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I'm trying to resolve why the stats and the eye test doesn't line up with him. His game leaves alot to be desired in so many facets and it seems like this board is completely divided in those who say he's great and point at numbers and those who watch and say he's not a productive or helpful player right now.
If he was a fourth line guy he'd be great, but rn even Tatar is more dangerous, and there's a guy who can't succeed at anything on the ice rn.
His physicality is pretty much him getting killed. His strength isn't winning any pucks.
The more I watch him, the more he looks like Danius Zubrus but with a hard shot. Don't get me wrong, I like both big lugs, but for $9m? Oy.
Devils731
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2008
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10 puts you tied for top 90 forwards in the league.
So again, not great but it’s pretty good.
billingtons ghost
Registered User
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So you were saying he was just exceptionally lucky last year?
And a bigger indictment that he's playing with two of the best assist men in the league
Devils731
Registered User
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You said he’s been an unlucky shooter for 3 years but this is the only year his shooting percentage is poor.
That’s what he’s pointing out, what you said didn’t jive with reality.
- May 8, 2010
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I’ve probably seen less than 5 Tomas Tatar scoring chances in the last month and a half. Timo gets at least 1 good look a game. He’s just not scoring. Hopefully it’ll start soon, cause he’s definitely getting his looks.
billingtons ghost
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I don't think luck has anything to do with it. I think confidence, conditioning and motor getting you an extra second to put a puck on net instead of missing, changing an angle, beating a defenseman, getting to a better spot or lifting the puck has a lot to do with shooting skill.
I don't buy that his quality of shot is as good as what he generated last year. He's not nearly as dangerous... And when he IS in a dangerous spot, pucks roll off his stick or he's a step late, or a sec too show with his shot.
Deflections and rebounds have been a big part of his game, and he's not doing either
Devils731
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2008
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If there wasn’t some luck in shooting then players shooting percentages would be fairly consistent year to year but they’re usually not and sometimes wildly so.
Players in the prime part of their career don’t forget how to score out of nowhere but they can go through stretches where they flub some more chances than normal, goalies make crazy saves, pucks never hit a skate and go in, and they hit a few posts and out rather than in.
You said Timo has been an unlucky shooter for 3 years. Why is his shooting percentage only poor this year?
Generally, why don’t players consistently shoot about the same every year? Are players constantly getting out of shape and in shape? Are they forgetting how to score some years and remembering in others?
You have it backwards, the people watching him play can see he’s generating a lot of chances lately while the people saying he’s bad are just pointing at the number of goals.
No - we will beat Utah just like we beat Montreal and Nashville after dropping prior games. We will come out strong against them. Playing 500 hockey and winning alternate games has been our pattern since Markstrom got hurt.
We were sluggish in the first after days off on the road, against a supercharged hungry Colorado club playing their first game at home after 4 nations. And sitting at altitude for 2 days doesn’t help your legs.
The penalty kill and Allen kept us in it in the first. By the third period Allen wore down - as he tends to do - when under an all night barrage of shots. He was punch drunk by the third period - had no idea where the puck even was on 3 of the last 4 goals and wasn’t moving any more.
I for one do not believe that a single “sniper to play with Jack” is going to make a huge difference for us. I think it’s more of a depth thing that will help and an overhaul of 2 or 3 bigger, faster and more skilled forwards next year and subtracting some dead weight.
Thus I don’t want to buy at the deadline. That’s where you get ripped off. It’s a sellers market at the deadline and you don’t buy in a seller’s market. A pure rental that does not cost a future first rounder or a real prospect - sure that’s different. But don’t, repeat don’t give up serious assets now.
We will grind it out and make the playoffs. I like the character and the defensive structure and the core of this club even as constituted. Becoming a team that will make the playoffs (and consistently do so in the future) was the primary goal this season in my eyes and I think we are that team.
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Oneiro
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2013
- 10,247
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This is a good, not great team. I'm hoping for a deadline trade for a player with 2-3 years of team control, maybe even more, because this year is not the dream. I didn't watch tonight but it's absurd that this is, at best, a 3-4 man team every night going on two months now.
Let's get in, hopefully win a round against the zombie Whalers and then get punched in the face.
Let's get in, hopefully win a round against the zombie Whalers and then get punched in the face.
NJDevs26
Once upon a time...
- Mar 21, 2007
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So basically six points better with much better goaltending lol
If not now, then when? I get it, this is a "young" team so there's no real need to rush for contention.
That said... There are some factors at play that tend to make me think that Fitz might push for "winners" or "experience" on expiring deals.
Markstrom is 36 years old with one season left. Nico has two seasons left on his current "cheap" cap hit, and while I don't think he will walk, we can't just poo-poo the idea that he might... Dougie is productive right now (some believe that he's already taken a step back). The defence corps as a whole is not likely to be as deep/experienced after this current season. Finally, Fitz himself might be living on borrowed time (again, I don't think this is true but I doubt ownership will be enamoured with his current body of work since 2020...).
My point is simply this, we have the horses to transcend plucky young team imo. I don't want to end up a San Jose or Carolina. Bridesmaid and never the bride so to speak. Tampa (eg Coleman, Goodrow, Bogosian added to their team) and Colorado (eg Lehkonen, Manson, Cogliano added to their depth) realised the opportunity that they had in front of them and aggressively added talent to their impressive young core groups. I look to Colorado specifically because there are comparables, Mack was younger then than Nico is now and they relied heavily on a veteran goalie in Kuemper. It's a bit apples to oranges, that Colorado team was insanely talented, but Sakic added to it rather than sitting on his hands.
Almost like some of the people tap dancing and spiking the football after beating one of the worst teams in the league may have been a tad premature.
Mgd31
Registered User
Well that was a pretty predictable result to wake up to. They really need to have the Utah game because the next 2 games are against 2 of the best home teams in the league. And the games are off a back to back and 3 of 4.
Oh and they get to come home to play Winnipeg.
Oh and they get to come home to play Winnipeg.
Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
The Avs came out flying and we just didn’t have the response. We had opportunities for it, but the PP was disjointed all night and we failed to capitalize on our chances at even strength (again unfortunately).
I know everyone wants to regurgitate their feelings on the structure of the team after every loss. This is a game where it’s easy for that crowd to do so. I thought we had a good showing against Dallas and in the win the other night, but this one felt like a predictable outcome unfortunately.
I’d still like to see a skilled winger be acquired if it can help the middle six. God bless him, but I can’t take anymore Justin Dowling in my life. Keep Lazar in for now. I know everyone is pounding the table for Fitz to make a move, but there isn’t anything going on league wide at the moment. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence. I think there’s teams clinging to the deadline before making the decision to sell, along with teams that are waiting until the last minute to try and drive up the price.
I know everyone wants to regurgitate their feelings on the structure of the team after every loss. This is a game where it’s easy for that crowd to do so. I thought we had a good showing against Dallas and in the win the other night, but this one felt like a predictable outcome unfortunately.
I’d still like to see a skilled winger be acquired if it can help the middle six. God bless him, but I can’t take anymore Justin Dowling in my life. Keep Lazar in for now. I know everyone is pounding the table for Fitz to make a move, but there isn’t anything going on league wide at the moment. I’m sure it’s not a coincidence. I think there’s teams clinging to the deadline before making the decision to sell, along with teams that are waiting until the last minute to try and drive up the price.
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theoptimist
Thank you, Fitz
- Apr 22, 2014
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The 4 Nations break does not seem to have helped. I'm wondering at what point missing the playoffs is a legitimate concern.
No you're not, you think it's a legitimate concern right now. It isn't, though.
NJDevs26
Once upon a time...
- Mar 21, 2007
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Let's see where we are after the Winnipeg home return game after we have to play at Dallas and at Vegas in addition to the Utah game. It does help the lower part of the East is rubbish though, we realistically should already be in trouble.
The Devils had two and arguably three reliable pairs when they were dominating teams in December, they're down to 0 now. This R-R shit has to end, and unfortunately Casey isn't quite ready to play NHL defense yet.
A depth LHD should be added sooner rather than later, get Pesce and Kovacevic back to playing with a lefty.
A depth LHD should be added sooner rather than later, get Pesce and Kovacevic back to playing with a lefty.
Call Me Al
Registered User
- Aug 28, 2017
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defense still isn’t their real issue though. they got outplayed yesterday but they were still in it. honestly they could have been leading after 2 based on how they played in the second frame.
the team is going to live and die with their depth and right now lines 3 and 4 are completely dead weight. a deeper team would have feasted on the lower lines last night because colorado is even more top heavy than we are but their top lines and special teams won that battle.
i also think hatakka showed enough last season to be a lhd fill in until siege is back, but that’s tbd after the time he missed. what about misyul? he was good in the preseason. agree the r-r pairings need to stop though, i just don’t think that’s the biggest issue for this team by a long shot
Cheddabombs
Status Quo
- Mar 13, 2012
- 26,091
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Very annoying how often this team gets shutout or takes until midway through the 3rd period to finally get a goal. Just playing catchup most of the game with little to no forward depth to do it.
They were on their back heels all night and part of this is being able to control their own blueline or to end plays in their zone quickly and get the puck into transition. Their forward lines as constituted can work, but they're not getting any help from the back end.
