GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (33-23-6, 72 Pts) @ Dallas Stars (39-19-2, 80 Pts), 8 PM, ESPN+/Hulu

[NjDevsRR]

Oooof that 2nd line and down

 

[JimEIV]

I may disagree with some pessimistic posters but that doesn’t take away their fan card. They are real fans, and are passionate . That shouldn’t be poked at

I haven't been there all day, I'm sort of afraid to go look as I might get enticed.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

 

[Richer's Ghost]

 

[Edmonton East]

Bleedred, please let me know why you "don't care?" Are you giving up on the Devils? Just this season? Forever? What is going on? I am frustrated with the Devils; lack of consistency: effort for 60 min per game, scoring, and defense for 60 mins per game. Injuries are untimely. So Bleedred, what is going on with you?

They finally got good goaltending for a season and are still mid, so he's beside himself lol

 

[NJDevs26]

DO NOT relitigate team thread stuff here, this is the game thread

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

go Devils

 

[MadDevil]

At this point I'm fully expecting a strong team performance win, then getting trounced by Winnipeg on trade deadline day, because that's the kind of season it is.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

At this point I'm fully expecting a strong team performance win, then getting trounced by Winnipeg on trade deadline day, because that's the kind of season it is.

Beating Dallas last year was one of the more LOL wtf's wins last year, let's do it again lol

 

[JimEIV]

It's not unusual for guys to step up when a star player goes down.

 

[MadDevil]

It's not unusual for guys to step up when a star player goes down.

It's Timo Time

 

[Richer's Ghost]

It's Timo Time

Am I wrong to think this will end up as a 5 min major and a game misconduct about mid 1st period?

 

[HoliksGhost]

Before Christmas break we were playing at a playoff level, blocking shots at all cost, winning all types of games. Crushing the Rangers, buying into Keefe’s plan.

 

[JimEIV]

It's Timo Time

He has been coming on lately.

 

[MadDevil]

Am I wrong to think this will end up as a 5 min major and a game misconduct about mid 1st period?

Stop harshing my buzz man.

 

[njdevils1982]

It's not unusual for guys to step up when a star player goes down.

the ewing theory. lets go!

 

[Edmonton East]

Nonsense. You can't play one line enough to not have that depleted 2nd and 3rd line exposed. We are on the road, Dallas will get the matchups they want more frequently....it's stupid to put all your eggs in one basket. That first line will be easy to neutralize and there is nothing behind that line to make a dent.

Your solution is to have all mid lines so they can't pick 1 to matchup against...c'mon. Here's the issue with your lines below under the current circumstances.

Meier - Nico - Noesen
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Cotter - Haula - Tatar
Dowling - Lazar - Bastian

Noesen isn't capable of playing heavy minutes. Keefe has already stretched him well above his career average by over 2 minutes. He also has 1 ES point SINCE CHRISTMAS. Nico is gonna have to play even more than usual, so Noesen can't be on his line....he also doesn't deserve to be there. Secondly, BRATT NEEDS TO BE WITH NICO. Their only hope is these 2 reconnecting and producing at an elite top line level. If you want more balance, fine, Meier can go with Mercer so we can see if your boy Mercer is ever gonna live up to your offseason hype....Palat to the top line. Yay.

In summary, newsflash: this team only has 3 top 6 players right now so the 2nd and 3rd lines are gonna get exposed no matter what.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Honestly, short of a complete turnaround, I dread seeing haula, bastion, tartar and lazar next season, sorry to be so harsh but Jesus

 

[youryeah]

now would be a good time for timo to go full sicko mode

 

[Nah Ur Beat]

@Call Me Al the part where you said 'imagine the team if we went bpa' is revisionist, not just the drafting being poor which i agree with

Sorry its in this thread, the feds are on my tail

 

[Bleedred]

Honestly, short of a complete turnaround, I dread seeing haula, bastion, tartar and lazar next season, sorry to be so harsh but Jesus

The last three guys you mentioned are all UFAs and I highly doubt any of them will be back. Maybe there's an outside chance they bring back Bastian, depending on how they feel about him. I would say he has the greatest chance of those 3 of being back next year. I'd say the chances of either Tatar or Lazar being back here next year are microscopic if I had to guess. And I really don't even think the chances Bastian is kept are very high either.

Hauls is unfortunately signed for next year (Who couldn't have seen the the third year of that deal not working out?!), but I'd have to think he's bought out, unless someone takes him in a cap dump. Might be easier just to buy him out and wash our hands of it, rather than give a team something of value to take him on for next year.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Bleedred, please let me know why you "don't care?" Are you giving up on the Devils? Just this season? Forever? What is going on? I am frustrated with the Devils; lack of consistency: effort for 60 min per game, scoring, and defense for 60 mins per game. Injuries are untimely. So Bleedred, what is going on with you?

@Bleedred

 

[Whaddagoal]

If Mercer and Haula had produced like we were hoping so far, none of this depth questions/concerns would be asked or noticed, we would have 3 useful lines. Instead production is absent from those two, plus cotter/tatar haven't been great. Same with palat.

Let's see if this jack absence can at least motivate the guys who need to produce, to produce more.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

The last three guys you mentioned are all UFAs and I highly doubt any of them will be back. Maybe there's an outside chance they bring back Bastian, depending on how they feel about him. I would say he has the greatest chance of those 3 of being back next year. I'd say the chances of either Tatar or Lazar being back here next year are microscopic if I had to guess. And I really don't even think the chances Bastian is kept are very high either.

Hauls is unfortunately signed for next year (Who couldn't have seen the the third year of that deal not working out?!), but I'd have to think he's bought out, unless someone takes him in a cap dump. Might be easier just to buy him out and wash our hands of it, rather than give a team something of value to take him on for next year.

Id just demote him to 4th line and cross my fingers we got something half useful out of him. His work ethic is high at least and he is a bit of a streaky guy.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

I will be happier when we are back to 7:08 PM starts.