GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (5-2-0, 10 Pts) vs. Washington Capitals (2-1-0, 4 Pts), 7 PM, MSGSN2

[Captain3rdLine]

He’s shown it but not nearly consistently enough for someone who’s apparently supposed to be a top forward in the league.

You’re gonna need to come up with something more than just Gretzky if you want to convince me that someone can be that caliber of player while being both small and weak.

lol this is one of the dumbest arguments I’ve been in. You’re arguing that you cannot but we’ve literally seen him do it.

Yes he isn’t consistent enough but you acting like it’s not possible for a small weak player to be a star when we’ve seen him do and the greatest player of all time did it is comical. Like genuinely what even are you trying to argue at this point?

 

[Hisch13r]

Mercer's looked a lot better this year but he's still working on his 7th straight pointless game since the first game besides picking up an ENG. He's a guy that needs to produce.

 

[njdevils1982]

lets go....

no reason the game cant be at least tied

 

[Emperoreddy]

They benched him in games they were leading by 1 and 2 at Ottawa and at Washington. Benching your least trusted defender when you’re trying to hold onto a lead is one thing…benching your second best offensive D when you’ve been down two for half the game is weird.

It's because the team can't play defense tonight, which tonight isn't his fault, but that's the reason

 

[Captain3rdLine]

It was Bratt?? Well I stand corrected. It was a different “star” player of ours playing like a f***ing rookie. Bench his ass too then, whatever.

lol it’s 2024 man not the 90s

 

[Hisch13r]

And that’s what makes their start to the season such a house of cards. No way Cotter, Haula, and Noesen et al. continue at that pace.

Also a house of cards because we have not been playing good hockey for much of the year. If this isn't just an adjustment period to Keefe and they don't start to control games they're going to tumble down the standings.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Is Bratt playing? I can't watch this one. Just saw we game up 5 so far :/

 

[Captain3rdLine]

They benched him in games they were leading by 1 and 2 at Ottawa and at Washington. Benching your least trusted defender when you’re trying to hold onto a lead is one thing…benching your second best offensive D when you’ve been down two for half the game is weird.

We were only down 2 for the last 7-8 minutes or so of that period and he got at least one shift since that point.

He’s not benched. Just not playing a ton. And there’s no point worrying about putting offensive players out while you’re in the second period still getting hemmed in your own end. I

 

[Hisch13r]

It's because the team can't play defense tonight, which tonight isn't his fault, but that's the reason

Which is a bad justification from Keefe and all the more reason he should play. If everyone sucks defensively and you need goals then play the guy who can help you score and don't worry about him maybe being marginally worse defensively than the rest of the shit show.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

What’s surprising about this? They’ve done this multiple times for multiple games now?

...no they didn't. The 3rd pairing in general got less ice time. They never singled out Casey like this. Idk wth you're talking about. He's being played like a 7th d-man tonight

 

[Jersey Fresh]

I agree and unless you’re a super duper pessimist, there’s probably no way Nico, Jack, Bratt, Dougie and Timo don’t pick up another level eventually. It should all balance out in the end.

I get that other side of it too, but after last season, these guys have to show me. I’m not penciling in anything other than career third/fourth liners regressing.

 

[njdevils1982]

holy shit yes

 

[SJinNewJersey]

I like when the guys stand up for each other.

 

[Hisch13r]

Ugh do not need one of the few guys that has looked good all year fighting when we need to bring the game back

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Jack is afraid of contact on so many plays it’s impacting his effectiveness

Minus-2, no points and yet second in ice time among the forwards?

Is this some type of reverse psychology?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

...no they didn't. The 3rd pairing in general got less ice time. They never singled out Casey like this. Idk wth you're talking about. He's being played like a 7th d-man tonight

No they literally did exactly this man. Nemec would get shifts with other dmen while Casey missed shifts.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Can’t have one of our best offensive players off the ice for five minutes like that….

 

[Lou is God]

Jack is afraid of contact on so many plays it’s impacting his effectiveness

Yup. He's playing like he's afraid to get hurt.

 

[Patrik26]

Minus-2, no points and yet second in ice time among the forwards?

Is this some type of reverse psychology?

It's a continued lack of accountability. Jack runs the franchise apparently.

 

[Deviled]

Could it be that Jack had free reign to make any and whatever plays he wanted, and now hes expected to fit into a system so hes struggling?

We are talking about a player who has likely been told little over his entire career to remain within a set of boundaries

 

[Devs3cups]

Nice pass by Nemec there

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Could it be that Jack had free reign to make any and whatever plays he wanted, and now hes expected to fit into a system so hes struggling?

We are talking about a player who has likely been told little over his entire career to remain within a set of boundaries

It’s part of it. He cheats a lot to create offense and I think Keefe has cut down on that

 

[Hisch13r]

Could it be that Jack had free reign to make any and whatever plays he wanted, and now hes expected to fit into a system so hes struggling?

We are talking about a player who has likely been told little over his entire career to remain within a set of boundaries

He didn't look good for much of last year either so no.

 

[Devs3cups]

I get that other side of it too, but after last season, these guys have to show me. I’m not penciling in anything other than career third/fourth liners regressing.

Super duper pessimist it is!

 

[Bleedred]

Getting scored on by McIlrath would be fitting and right in line with this game.