Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) VII - Playoff push; read warning in OP first

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OmNomNom

Taco is Love, Taco is Life
Mar 3, 2011
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In the Church of Salmela
i think it's more likely that you get accused of mansplaining lol. but i agree 100%, i don't think i've ever followed and then unfollowed someone so quickly
it's okay, i gave her compliments to offset my anger

her articles really ARE good. but she could do with going """above and beyond""" by tweeting a full game, and post-game stuff (maybe she's not contractually obligated to do that, but it's standard beat writer actions - just look at all her peers)
 

jkrdevil

UnRegistered User
Apr 24, 2006
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Miami
Of course, just hypothetical. My guess is that JT either stays put at a slight discount or goes somewhere for a slight overpayment with a more competitive team that believes it can burn cap and is iffy at 1C. Maybe Calgary is a fit? Maybe Minnesota? Do the Jets "go all in" and try to offer him a massive two year deal? Can you imagine JT on that team?

That basically describes us. I love Nico and his potential, but I don’t think he is someone who would beat out JT over the next 3-4 years for a Center spot. Plus, Center isn’t like goaltending where only one can play. I would guess he would be open to a 1a and 1b situation like Pens or other top teams
 
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My3Sons

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...
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That basically describes us. I love Nico and his potential, but I don’t think he is someone who would beat out JT over the next 3-4 years for a Center spot. Plus, Center isn’t like goaltending where only one can play. I would guess he would be open to a 1a and 1b situation like Pens or other top teams

I think that is some posters on this board suggest NJ as a realistic landing spot for him. That said, I don't want to overpay him and have him here for 7 years at about 10 mil per. Maybe Hall relents a bit on top dollar knowing the extra money goes to players he is friendly with and because he likes what they are building here and he trusts Shero. JT doesn't have that connection and I can't see him taking less from a new team. Just my thought, of course, there is always "What-de-lay Industries? No no you're way off."
 

Zajacs Bowl Cut

Lets Go Baby
Nov 6, 2005
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Because I already see him declining. That is, being far less dominant, by himself, than he was say when he scored that overtime winner in the playoffs a couple of years back. When he's been playing against us, this year, for instance, can you remember a single time when he, by himself, was game breaking? Barzal was far more difficult for us to handle.

Yes he's scoring 80 + points. But on a team where Anders Lee is scoring 40 goals and how many other guys are putting up some huge point totals. All those goals scored by the team inflates his production by at least 30% over what could be expected here.

He's basically a grinder you know. He loves to get the puck on his stick, and when he does, he holds on to it and is impossibly difficult to handle. But his skating isn't his great asset, his doggedness, strength, balance, and hands are. His background as a Lacrosse player continues to condition what he does on the ice. He's the best Lacrosse-player-NHL forward in the league.

Okay it's open season now. On me. I don't appreciated being called "ridiculous." Why not make an argument based on the merits rather than on an adjective? I've attempted one above by replying seriously to the issues raised.

Anders Lee is scoring 40 goals BECAUSE OF John Tavares, not the other way around....

he also does not play with Barzal.
 

R8Devs

1-5-6-12
Nov 20, 2010
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devils breakout using that play zacha tried to use when he turned it over there a lot of times. vatanen/greene also turn it over trying to go up in the middle. toronto's a good forechecking team shit happens. hynes isn't going to increase Zajac's workload to send a message on a mistake of a routine play they do.
 
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Devil X

Call me Nostradamus
Jul 9, 2007
5,987
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Seasons over, I have no idea what the plan for the offseason is.

But I will say this with 100% confidence and not even joking around.

The Devils will without question make the playoffs next season.

I have no idea why i feel this way but i do. I will save this post just to re-post it next year at this time.

I posted this last season on April 9th in the team thread, I saved the link for just this reason!

Never doubted it for a second!

Time for a little bragging!
 

Peter Sidorkiewicz

Devils Army
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Wood and Zacha just works.

I think our lineup is almost set for the playoffs. I can't see Severson getting back in for Lovejoy, given how much we know that Hynes wants Lovejoy in his lineup. (Lovejoy and Butcher make a good pairing and Hynes wants Lovejoy for the PK).

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Wood-Zacha-Maroon
Coleman-Zajac-Noesen (Should never be split up again - perfect shut down line)
Grabner-Boyle-Johansson

Extras: Gibbons, Bratt

I think MoJo has to play against Washington. We don't necessary need Gibbons for the PK anymore after acquiring Grabner and therefore I would play MoJo for an additional scoring threat.

Greene-Vatanen
Moore-Mueller
Butcher-Lovejoy

Extra: Severson

Kinkaid-Schneider
 
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Bologna 1

Registered User
Aug 5, 2006
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Say what you want about the maroon and grabner deals, especially the latter. But they have played some key roles and situations down this final stretch of tough games. They don't make it without those two deals imo, so that makes them well worth it to me. Shero did it right.
 

billingtons ghost

Registered User
Nov 29, 2010
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this is a bad take. Wood has been quite bad overall since his suspension and GIbbons, while I like, would not help the team as much as Johansson.


Right. In the playoffs, where physicality and determination matter, we should play a 5-goal, made of glass guy who the caps let go because of there constant playoff failures instead of an 18 goal guy who is the biggest and strongest and fastest on our team.

And I'm the one with the bad take?

Guys like mojo disappear while guys like Ryan Carter show up.
 

VoidCreature

Before you see the light, you must die.
Mar 6, 2015
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Right. In the playoffs, where physicality and determination matter, we should play a 5-goal, made of glass guy who the caps let go because of there constant playoff failures instead of an 18 goal guy who is the biggest and strongest and fastest on our team.

And I'm the one with the bad take?

Guys like mojo disappear while guys like Ryan Carter show up.

 

R8Devs

1-5-6-12
Nov 20, 2010
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Right. In the playoffs, where physicality and determination matter, we should play a 5-goal, made of glass guy who the caps let go because of there constant playoff failures instead of an 18 goal guy who is the biggest and strongest and fastest on our team.

And I'm the one with the bad take?

Guys like mojo disappear while guys like Ryan Carter show up.

johansson got let go because of cap reasons. He had 8 points in 13GP (5th on the caps) in the 16-17 playoffs and 7 in 12gp (6th on the caps) in the 15-16 playoffs. In the 16-17 playoffs he had an assist on the OT goal in game 5 and scored the OT goal in game 6. He also scored the game tying goal in game 6 with 7 minutes to go. They're not going to scratch him if he's available to play in the playoffs.

Before this season he played 4 straight seasons of 80, 82, 74, 82 games and has never missed a playoff game. But sure made of glass because he was a target of a elbow to the head.
 
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PKs Broken Stick

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Oct 9, 2008
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sucks that the chances of us playing the pens got a lot lower with nsh winning tonight. They have no reason to try to win in the last game, which happens to be against the blue jackets.
 

glenwo2

LINDY RUFF NEEDS VIAGRA!!
Oct 18, 2008
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It doesn't matter if Tavares is declining, the Devils would have 2 more years of cheap Hall, Bratt, Nico, and then Tavares. It's absolutely a no brainer to pay him whatever he's worth if that possibility opens up. You deal with the expensiveness of the team in 2 years and if that means trading Bratt for futures so be it. Hall is not going to be this good forever, this is almost certainly his best NHL season; you can't expect 40 goals out of him next year even with Nico getting better.

Brutal. Just Brutal. :shakehead:shakehead:shakehead
 

Alex NJD

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Apr 28, 2015
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I think MoJo should crack the playoff lineup. He may have to play to play on the Zacha line to be effective because I don't see him performing on Boyle's line. Wood may find himself on the 4th line again. Defensively you can't take Mueller out. I still think Severson gives a better chance to win than Lovejoy. I'd like to try Mueller-Severson but that leaves the 3rd pairing as Moore-Butcher...
 

Devils Dominion

Now we Plummet
Feb 16, 2007
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I think MoJo should crack the playoff lineup. He may have to play to play on the Zacha line to be effective because I don't see him performing on Boyle's line. Wood may find himself on the 4th line again. Defensively you can't take Mueller out. I still think Severson gives a better chance to win than Lovejoy. I'd like to try Mueller-Severson but that leaves the 3rd pairing as Moore-Butcher...

MoJo is not game ready yet.
 

Capt Nico Poo

Holik to HHOF
Nov 7, 2009
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My thoughts on Grabner as he was already with isles: A player with speed that gets himself on breakaway and other quality scoring chances more often than others. However, horrible at finishing and capitalizing on the chances. I really hoped he wouldve had a better scoring rate.
 
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