GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (32-21-6, 70 Pts) @ Colorado Avalanche (33-24-2, 68 Pts), 9:30 PM, MSGSN

[TheUnseenHand]

No you're not, you think it's a legitimate concern right now. It isn't, though.

I was literally just talking to a coworker yesterday saying I thought they should make the playoffs easily lol.

But small doubt is definitely starting to creep it's way in, absolutely.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I know everyone enjoys playing revisionist history for Fitz’s “overcorrection” from 22-23 to now, but I think people forget how and where that depth moved.

Still here: Jack, Bratt, Nico, Timo, Haula, Palat, Mercer, Bastian, Lazar.

Traded: Sharangovich for Toffoli, who gave worthwhile production while he was here.

Stayed, no longer here: McLeod, less said the better.

Walked away from: Wood, Boqvist, Tatar. Only Boqvist seems to be one that was a mistake, Tatar is back and has regressed since that season.

I think this lies on Fitz currently of course to bring in the right support , but the narrative of him having overcorrected since that playoff year bothers me because the roster needed to be reworked. Anyone who thinks it wasn’t worthwhile to bring in Markstrom and Allen while overhauling the defense clearly wasn’t paying close attention to our issues last season.

Unfortunately, there is a lot not going well for the forward group right now all at once’s. Noesen has cooled off. Cotter has cooled off. Haula has possibly completely lost it. Timo can’t buy a goal. Mercer can’t buy a goal. We just ran through the entire offensive supporting cast.

I still think the core of this team can compete with anyone. But it has become too reliant on the best players to drag them through every game right now. More support depth is needed up front.

 

[Clam Jensen]

I want to just snap my fingers and jump to the TDL and then skip to the playoffs. What an unenjoyable slog this team is in.

 

[RSeen]

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.

Helps to play with our two best offensive forwards too. Palat is being carried.

 

[IDEKWTM]

So basically six points better with much better goaltending lol

Better system

 

[Whaddagoal]

Sad that after the season start and December play we are now barely better than last seasons team.

Better, yes but not by a large lot. Massive upgrade in goaltending and moderate upgrade on defense / defense system.

keefes system traded less rush chances for safer 5v5 play. special teams success has driven some of the wins.

Is it worth it? we will see how far / if we get to playoffs.

So far it is a slight upgrade, but seeing how inept our 5v5 scoring is against good teams right now, minus a few key players, I'm a little worried.

 

[NJDevs26]

Better system

In theory yes but as we’ve gone more defensive the offense has had even more disappearing acts

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I was literally just talking to a coworker yesterday saying I thought they should make the playoffs easily lol.

But small doubt is definitely starting to creep it's way in, absolutely.

nah.

The Rangers are the first team out at the moment, tied with Boston and Ottawa. Boston basically already admitted they're going to sell. Ottawa doesn't have Tkachuk and have lost like 6 in a row.

Any of these teams scare you as far as getting 9 points more than you down the stretch? Because that is what it'd take.

 

[Devs3cups]

I’m not overly worried about this team making the playoffs. I’m pretty sure they’ll do it.

With that being said, getting into the playoffs playing like they are right now wouldn’t exactly inspire confidence.

 

[Better Call Sal]

In theory yes but as we’ve gone more defensive the offense has had even more disappearing acts

While there is something to be said for how much we might be potentially sacrificing on the offensive side, are we longing for that type of hockey that we played under Lindy? Wanting to pull my hair out every night because I know that we're not going to hold onto a lead to save our lives?

The team is playing a more capable style of hockey to be successful in the long run. That much is clear. But, the depth at forward does not appear to be able to generate enough within this system currently to be successful. It was working well in the early going.

Haula had 8 points in the first 13 games of the season. He now has 3 in his last 34.
Cotter had 12 points in his first 19 games. He now has 6 goals and 7 points in his last 40.
Timo gets bagged on for not scoring but he at least has 10 points total in his last 19 games, even if only one is a goal. He does, however, only have 1 assist in his last 6 games.
Mercer has 4 goals and 6 points in his last 21.
Noesen had 13 goals and 22 points in his first 27 games. He now has 6 goals and 10 points in his last 31.

I applaud Keefe for sticking with the lines that were working for as long as he did, but I think it is time to rethink having Jack and Bratt together. The rest of the lines need some sort of spark, and putting Bratt on another line can hopefully provide that.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Meier looks like he has all but totally lost his confidence when handling the puck in a shooting position. Fumbling it and hesitating and nearly falling over himself.

Two potential ways to get him going would be: (1) play him with Hughes. (2) move him onto power play one in place of Bratt. This also helps puck retrieval and standing up to pressure from the PK

I would argue that getting Meier going is the single biggest potential fix we can rig.

 

[CalamityX23]

Didnt see the game, score states it wasn't pretty

saw the quick game recap highlights, Allen lost sight on 2 of those goals... sucks.... but hardly any NJD attempts(seen through the highlights)....

f*** us

Meier looks like he has all but totally lost his confidence when handling the puck in a shooting position. Fumbling it and hesitating and nearly falling over himself.

Two potential ways to get him going would be: (1) play him with Hughes. (2) move him onto power play one in place of Bratt. This also helps puck retrieval and standing up to pressure from the PK

I would argue that getting Meier going is the single biggest potential fix we can rig.

This is so true..... if Meier can get back to scoring, it would be a tremendous game changer for this offense...

Hopefully Keefe can figure out how to get him going.... I actually think he needs a playmaker by him more than anything.... Him and Mercer have run its course.... IMO.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Timo and Nico do work well together. I think they should stick unless we bring in a center that can be more reliable than Dowling to play with him as a line driver. Nico's line is always going to shoulder a heavier defensive load, which probably makes the 5-on-5 offensive opportunities more difficult to come by. And to Timo's credit, he's done well in that regard. But we need his offense, and need to find a way to get him more chances to bust through the dam.