GDT: Your New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames, 7 PM, MSGSN

[NJDevs26]

Fitz has been acquiring a new goalie each year since he started with the exception of last year since they actually got reliable goaltending for once. He unfortunately needs to get one now, at least a stop gap since he doesnt have a single playable goalie and then another this summer. Don’t envy the guy at all.

I don't even blame him for not changing the goalie in the offseason and I get the trade market sucks...but you gotta try SOMEthing different by now when the goaltending's this bad. Guys have been waived for less garbage than what Vitek's dumped on the ice this season.

 

[NJDevs26]

I was really tempted to 'trade' my ticket to Monday's game for one tonight with Jack coming back...but just like glen, I didn't have a good feeling after the Avs win, which was really just the same shit we've seen all year. Sometimes against good teams we manage to individual talent our way to wins, and frequently against bad teams we wet the bed.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Yeah at this point you might as well at least waive him and move on permanently to someone else whether thats Shmid or Dawes or just some other rando, just to say you at least tried something. I very very very highly doubt there's any chance of this team making the playoffs if they stay status quo anyway, there's really no risk in making a change that won't even cost any assets.

 

[Mgd31]

I don't even blame him for not changing the goalie in the offseason and I get the trade market sucks...but you gotta try SOMEthing different by now when the goaltending's this bad. Guys have been waived for less garbage than what Vitek's dumped on the ice this season.

Yes I would waive Vanacek tonight. They need something new immediately.

 

[NJDevs26]

BTW I don't think Vitek avoids the media (really players don't have much choice in the matter, it's just a matter of how much they engage) as much as the media avoids him, almost like they want to go soft on him because he's such a nice guy. Plus let's be honest, this is Jersey...who outside of Ryan is gonna get in his grill anyway? And I've never seen Ryan go off on a player afaik, only management.

 

[BurntToast]

Maybe Fitz is still in hiding after two members of his team, were arrested for being perverts.

*Crickets*

 

[Whaddagoal]

I'm not trying to single you out - I am singling out posts critical of the offense and it just so happens you are one of a very few posters doing it.

I just don't think such an expecation is realistic. There's gonna be games when the team isn't able to bury great chances. They're already burying goals at a top five clip in the league - you're essentially demanding they do that every single game. It's misplaced, especially given that they sit literally in the basement in GA.

We are getting the offense in sort of garbage time, or last ditch stuff. Even the SHG tonight was such an event. We get goals but it's when we get them that seem to bother me. There was another poster I think saying something similar as I left for home. Maybe theunseenhand?

We need goals to build up the positive jump, but we're getting goals alot as clawback goals to lessen the lead the other team has. We had moments, in tonight's game to really rally around and they had bad luck or bad execution. The goals that never were scored quickly flipped to VV bullshit sink goals allowed. It's more frustrating to me to see that rhythm that never builds to anything.

 

[AfroThunder396]

The depth is fine. The teams injuries were a problem, the biggest issue has been goaltending. Punting the season when they’re right there for a playoff spot when it could be salvaged by making needed moves is not easy to swallow. And yes Tom is a f***ing moron especially if it sees it how you write it up.
And also the rookie dman aren’t the problem. It’s been the vets, another area Tom should have addressed a month ago.

This is a massive failure of a year thanks to him.

He’s a bad gm.

If the vets are a problem then the depth isn’t fine. The vets are the depth.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I actually think this game we've broken the push for playoffs. There are shit ton of games left, but metro is not cooperating and I can't see us stringing 4 or 5 wins in a row and I can't see us doing it in near succession.. I think this team has finally defeated my spirit for the season. I was holding out for a long time with this bs play but I can't feel any truly placed optimism for this season.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

The Sharks have two players with a worse +/- than Timo’s -25. Our all time worst is -44. Let’s see if he can break a record.

 

[NJDevs26]

The Sharks have two players with a worse +/- than Timo’s -25. Our all time worst is -44. Let’s see if he can break a record.

Probably depends on how much they dare to play Burnt Hibachi Man

 

[Bleedred]

I doubt this is the game that gets Vitek waived. Especially with his SHAM of a game against Colorado where he made all these saves to mask the two soft goals he allowed in the 3rd period to tie that game.

It feels like there’s already been about 5 or 6 “This is it! This is the end of Vitek!” Games since December. The first Tampa game at least put him on the bench for much of the several weeks after. Actually, I think it may have even been the second game against Boston around new years that did that.

At the very most, we may be back to him getting the bench more often than not or Daws fares okay against Carolina. But even then there’s a back to back set right after that one.

The beginning of the end was last April, even though we didn’t know it yet. This is like a character that’s in a coma for almost an entire season of a TV series, before finally slipping away after it being long overdue. And after it’s been spoiled all over the place that the character will finally be out of the series.

We should be so lucky if tonight was the end of the Vitek experience.

The Sharks have two players with a worse +/- than Timo’s -25. Our all time worst is -44. Let’s see if he can break a record.

The Sharks also have two goalies better than worthless Vanecek.

And one of them is Blackwood……

And I badly need four showers, three teeth brushings and two flossings after digesting such sad filth.

 

[Bleedred]

Please Fitz……somebody



Vitek or Rogalski. Before Saturday’s game.

I don’t care if we have to sign Kenny Sutton to EBUG.

 

[njdevils1982]

We really need a 'Timeout...what is that?' type of meme

 

[guitarguyvic]

BTW I don't think Vitek avoids the media (really players don't have much choice in the matter, it's just a matter of how much they engage) as much as the media avoids him, almost like they want to go soft on him because he's such a nice guy. Plus let's be honest, this is Jersey...who outside of Ryan is gonna get in his grill anyway? And I've never seen Ryan go off on a player afaik, only management.

I mean, the broadcast crew twists themselves into knots to avoid criticizing him. Pretty indicative overall.

I think they avoid criticizing any individual player. It's all softball commentary focused on more nebulous concepts of team play.

 

[Devs3cups]

The Sharks have two players with a worse +/- than Timo’s -25. Our all time worst is -44. Let’s see if he can break a record.

Pretty easy to be a -25 when you get the worst on-ice SV% of all of our regular forwards at all situations. Insanely unlucky season for Timo.

I can't wait for next year with this core.

 

[JrFischer54]

That goaltending was abysmal. Just abysmal.

I like what Fitz has done to lock up this core and rebuild the D from where it was. But this season leaves me questioning whether he has the killer instinct to be a Cup winning GM. He needed to make the courageous move of upgrading the coaching right after a historic season, but he chose to take the safe route and retain a coach that isn't Cup caliber and in the process also downgraded the rest of the coaching staff/future HC prospects.

I don't directly blame him for the goaltending situation as I can see how it's an incredibly challenging issue to address, but it's a bad look when combined with the coaching staff failure.

It’s not challenging to address there are goalies to be had it’s just up to him if he wants to spend to get them. If he can’t make that decision and willing to punt the season then he’s got 1 year here and he should be tossed. Goaltending has been an issue all year a move should’ve been made early Dec

 

[guitarguyvic]

It’s not challenging to address there are goalies to be had it’s just up to him if he wants to spend to get them. If he can’t make that decision and willing to punt the season then he’s got 1 year here and he should be tossed. Goaltending has been an issue all year a move should’ve been made early Dec

It's not challenging...the several other GM's who also haven't made a move are all being dumb too? That's your position?

 

[Killing Joke]

One disappointing season doesn't make Tom Fitzgerald a bad GM. Lindy Ruff isn't even a bad coach. Just IMO not the right coach to take this team forward and the same with Vitek as our starter. He's been basically shot for almost a calander year. Chico was defending Vitek tonight. Then I got home and had the game on T.V. The turd of the 2nd Calgary goal happens. Wonder what Chico had to day about that one. I love you chico!

No what makes Tom a bad GM is not addressing clear issues. Coaching, and goaltending sooner. Re-signing Lindy was stupid. Not getting a goalie in the off season is stupid. Not sending Vitek into the minors because he's unplayable and should have no future here is stupid.

 

[JrFischer54]

They actually may be closer to waiving Vitek after tonight and bringing up Schmid as a wake up call. Ruff was dejected talking about Vitek postgame. There may be no more good will left

The only way they waive him is if they bring in another goalie. Noway they do it to bring schmid up hasn’t he stunk down there anyway?

 

[Bleedred]

I think the only reason anybody even talks about John Gibson (be it fans or potentially the front office) is because Vitek is in the running for worst player in the NHL this year.

Just wait until he sticks around long enough to lose a bunch of games 2-1. Has he even lost a game 2-1 this year? I know he was in net for a 4-0 shutout.

That’s why he has so many wins this year. Because he can’t lose 2-1.

He also almost literally can’t win 2-1 either. He did it once this year.

This chump bum has more 6-5 wins this year than he does 2-1 wins. Think about that.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Even Ruff admitted Vitek was bad tonight.

 

[MadDevil]

I mean, the broadcast crew twists themselves into knots to avoid criticizing him. Pretty indicative overall.

I think they avoid criticizing any individual player. It's all softball commentary focused on more nebulous concepts of team play.

That's been the case for years so I'm not sure why people are still surprised by it. I also don't need the broadcast crew calling out players when this board and social media do it more than enough. It's right up there with people bitching that Amanda, who works for the team, doesn't ask hard questions or demand answers from coaching/management.

I'm not surprised they don't want to call Vitek out because he's a likeable goofball. Sure, he stinks, but I don't think Dano or Sal getting on him is going to make him play better. It might make the fans watching feel better to hear him get called out but that's about it.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The only way they waive him is if they bring in another goalie. Noway they do it to bring schmid up hasn’t he stunk down there anyway?

He hasn't been good down there, but that happened with him last year too.

 

[Killing Joke]

It’s not challenging to address there are goalies to be had it’s just up to him if he wants to spend to get them. If he can’t make that decision and willing to punt the season then he’s got 1 year here and he should be tossed. Goaltending has been an issue all year a move should’ve been made early Dec

This. Also, lets call into question Tom's drafting as well now that we're on why Tom actually sucks.

Stillman is as godawful of a pick as you can make in the first round. Holtz over Rossi and Perfettit is also stupid and looks that way more and more as those two get going. Even more so when Tom keeps a bad coach around that refuses to put that player he picked at 7th over more talented guys that play a more premium position (something we can use with two injury prone top 6 centers) is also why he sucks.

Goaltending should have been addressed in the off season. Rumor was he talked to the Bruins about one of their two goalies and the start was Mercer+. Given how shit Mercer started the season, and how he isn't a core piece, he should've went that route.

And if he is keeping Casey over using him as a trade piece, I can't wait for him to get fired like Shero did.