Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) - season begins!

[Devils Dominion]

Palms gets hurt in practice?

Not good.

 

[StvBroDan]

So is this a bye week for the Devils?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

So is this a bye week for the Devils?

I don't think so technically

I think their real bye is sometime in January. This is technically just a scheduling quirk

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I really hope Palms is OK. We really don't need him to become injury prone.

 

[Bleedred]

It's like a bonus bye week.

Funny enough, we have more days between games during this week than we do for our actually bye week. 6 full days without a game this week, only 5 days without a game during the bye week in January, which is actually between the 8th and 12 of January. I'm pretty sure the Sharks, Kings and Rangers have their bye week the same time. That means there's gonna be a noticeable amount of fewer games around the league that week. Last year we barely even noticed when a team was on their bye week, since only 2-3 teams were on it at the same time.

 

[glenwo2]

Boyle is much more tolerable these days since he isn't a Rags player. Definitely a player you want ON your team rather than facing him on an opposing one.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Hall could have a monster season if he cuts down on his unforced giveaways on the PP.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Hall could have a monster season if he cuts down on his unforced giveaways on the PP.

He already is having g a monster season. Scoring above a PPG pace while being snake bitten.

 

[Devils Dominion]

He already is having g a monster season. Scoring above a PPG pace while being snake bitten.

Yes, but it's only 8 games.
I'm talking about an 85+ point year.
He at times just gives the puck away under no pressure.
Cut that out of his game and we score more PP goals.
It can be corrected.

 

[MadDevil]

Are they giveaways or just him trying to make a play that doesn't work out? I'd rather he try different things than to just always make the safe play.

 

[RSeen]

He is still young, but Zacha has been extremely underwhelming this season and quite frankly in his career. He definitely needs to be more assertive in his play and shoot the puck more. Its a good thing we have guys like Nico and Bratt emerging and having McLeod, JQ and Blandisi as prospect as well. Zacha doesn't have to be a top line player, but it would be nice for him to turn out to be a second liner. That is far from a guarantee though.

 

[Bleedred]

He is still young, but Zacha has been extremely underwhelming this season and quite frankly in his career. He definitely needs to be more assertive in his play and shoot the puck more. Its a good thing we have guys like Nico and Bratt emerging and having McLeod, JQ and Blandisi as prospect as well. Zacha doesn't have to be a top line player, but it would be nice for him to turn out to be a second liner. That is far from a guarantee though.

He's been a product of having pretty low ice time, both last year and continuing into this year. He also was a little bit unlucky last year.

I can't figure out if he's just been a bit unlucky this year, or just not that good.

 

[RSeen]

He's been a product of having pretty low ice time, both last year and continuing into this year. He also was a little bit unlucky last year.

I can't figure out if he's just been a bit unlucky this year, or just not that good.

Unlucky? Whats that based on? He only averaged around 1 shot per game, that would be more his fault.

I just think he wasn't NHL ready last season and right now I definitely think he is not a top 6 player. I don't think ice time is the issue, more what he has done with it.

 

[RSeen]

Also regarding the 4th line, I'd move Gibbons back on it and bring up JQ to play on the 3rd line.

JQ-Zacha/Henrique-Bratt
Wood-Boyle/Coleman/Gibbons

Noeson and Hayes should not be in the lineup.

 

[glenwo2]

Hayes should not even be in the league. Good grief.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Unlucky? Whats that based on? He only averaged around 1 shot per game, that would be more his fault.

I just think he wasn't NHL ready last season and right now I definitely think he is not a top 6 player. I don't think ice time is the issue, more what he has done with it.

No.

The preseason wasn't a fluke. It's all confidence and grabbing the stick too tight right now. This guy looked like Kopitar in a few games in the preseason and I'm sure he's got the game in him.. It's a pressure thing and just feeling comfortable. He's got to be given a role he can excel at. I think dropping him on the top line is fine for preseason, but once he's out there playing against stud 1st lines, he's just paddling as hard as he can and trying not to make dumb plays.

I think we see a different Zacha if he gets comfortable enough to just play his own game. That might mean him getting lost in the shuffle a bit and dropping down to the third line - but I think he'll be a top6 guy for us... eventually.

patience.

 

[njdevils1982]

It's like a bonus bye week.

Funny enough, we have more days between games during this week than we do for our actually bye week. 6 full days without a game this week, only 5 days without a game during the bye week in January, which is actually between the 8th and 12 of January. I'm pretty sure the Sharks, Kings and Rangers have their bye week the same time. That means there's gonna be a noticeable amount of fewer games around the league that week. Last year we barely even noticed when a team was on their bye week, since only 2-3 teams were on it at the same time.

difference is team practices this week and not during the bye week

 

[oxman44]

No.

The preseason wasn't a fluke. It's all confidence and grabbing the stick too tight right now. This guy looked like Kopitar in a few games in the preseason and I'm sure he's got the game in him.. It's a pressure thing and just feeling comfortable. He's got to be given a role he can excel at. I think dropping him on the top line is fine for preseason, but once he's out there playing against stud 1st lines, he's just paddling as hard as he can and trying not to make dumb plays.

I think we see a different Zacha if he gets comfortable enough to just play his own game. That might mean him getting lost in the shuffle a bit and dropping down to the third line - but I think he'll be a top6 guy for us... eventually.

patience.

Agreed. Hes also hit 3 posts the past couple games. Sure, that happens to everyone but if those go in and he has 5 goals are we still having this conversation?

In my opinion its a skating stamina thing. Hes not a Hall, Mcleod or Bratt type skater, a Lighter body, very quick with endless stamina that seemingly can go for 2 minutes straight. He is a big kid with a big body and is only going to get bigger. hes going to get tired out there pretty quick. When you see those other guys flying around, I think people expect him to be the same. Hes a great skater in his own right but hes got a different style and he can fly when he gets a chance. Hes going to be a big power forward with a great blend of physicality, play making and scoring. Hes also playing center and he doesn't want to get caught tired out there and be a liability. But its probably gonna take some time for him to become dominant playing against NHLers with that type of game. Hes only 20, when he is 24- 25 my guess is hes going to be a monster

 

[AfroThunder396]

They're asking Zacha to be Zajac when they should be asking him to be Arnott.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

When Boyle is ready, I consider moving Coleman to 3rd line center and Zacha to wing. Zacha hasn't showed me much other than the Toronto game.

 

[Devils Dominion]

When Boyle is ready, I consider moving Coleman to 3rd line center and Zacha to wing. Zacha hasn't showed me much other than the Toronto game.

You watched all of the games?
PZ has had strong games.

He should be moved to the wing.
It's not easy playing center at 20 years old.

Coleman is not 3rd line, he's been surprisingly good at 4th line though.

 

[RSeen]

Zacha might take more time to develop than initially thought, but the results thus far have been undeniably weak. He has gotten time with top 6 players and not made the most of it yet. I think the biggest thing is he needs to be more assertive, take more shots, etc.

 

[Devils731]

For myself, it’s be interesting to put Zacha with less talented players and tell him he need to drive the play.

As an anecdote, I think Larsson made a jump to being more assertive and effective when he got paired with Gelinas and was expected to lead the pair.

Forcing Zacha to be the leader on a line takes away the mental crutch of needing to defer to better players.

 

[Bankers Box]

Could be his issue, he just plays so timidly and it drives me insane b.c we have all seen glimpses of of skill and what he is capable of.

He just leaves you wanting so much more.

*can't figure out how to quote Devils731 above me with this new layout

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

For myself, it’s be interesting to put Zacha with less talented players and tell him he need to drive the play.

As an anecdote, I think Larsson made a jump to being more assertive and effective when he got paired with Gelinas and was expected to lead the pair.

Forcing Zacha to be the leader on a line takes away the mental crutch of needing to defer to better players.

This could be why Zacha had such good stretches last year with Josefson and Noesen. I'd be intrigued by a Coleman-Zacha-Bratt line. Forcing him to lead a line could do a lot of good for his confidence.