GDT: Devils @ Red Wings, 7:30 PM, MSG+

[glenwo2]

I think it was already happening. Simmonds just stopped taking people to task for it.

He didn't need to 'cause opposing players knew he was there.

Just his presence and the threat of him doing something is what prevented things like what happened to Jack tonight to become commonplace (which it will).

Teams now know the Devils have no real enforcer on the team.

Jack better bring a Football Helmet instead of a Hockey Helmet in the next 20 games.

 

[Patrik26]

Yep. But that is going to fall on Deaf ears of course.

When opposing teams believe you have ZERO Enforcers or people that make you pay for taking advantage of their young players, they pull sh-t like this.

Tonight was the perfect example of what happens when you don't have someone WHOSE *REPUTATION* is a deterrent from taking runs.

Good on Hayden for giving Bertuzzi what he deserves but I agree with you that a lot of teams are going to start doing this now that Simmonds is gone.

It's a different game now.

Players don't hit like they used to.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Anyone think Tom Wilson wouldn't take a run at Hughes now? Ryan Reaves? Matt Martin? Brendan Lemieux?

 

[Azathoth]

I’m pretty sure the wilsons and reaves of the world don’t give a shit if a washed up Simmonds is mad at them.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

It's not the way it works?

So in other words, it's perfectly okay to be a f'n sore loser and go after young players in the closing seconds of a game you lost?

Looks like I need to look up the NHL manual for any updates....

I'm saying you are always going to face repercussions if you injure someone. The other team doesn't just forget because they scored a PP goal.

 

[My3Sons]

It's a different game now.

Players don't hit like they used to.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Anyone think Tom Wilson wouldn't take a run at Hughes now? Ryan Reaves? Matt Martin? Brendan Lemieux?

I don’t think Simmonds was stopping any of those guys from taking a run at Jack. Give it a few games with HAYDEN hitting people after they go after Hughes and word will get out. To me HAYDEN has to have a couple of actual fights to establish himself and teams will at least know they will have to pay a price.

All that aside, the team needs someone who can actually play well with Hughes. Simmonds wasn’t that guy and the team needs to move on to find an answer. The team could really use a big scary sociopath with blazing speed and a great shot and enough brains to play with Hughes.

 

[MauDevils]

Hughes has taken plenty of hits this year, I didn't see Simmonds deterring too much of that.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I was stuck at work saw only highlights today.... any clips of the hits and rough stuff near the end?

 

[Balance]

Gusev is 6+20 in the last 30 games...

Truly a beast

I mean, should we be shocked truly? He was the KHL MVP. And he really didn't look bad at the start of the season, the coaching staff was clueless in slotting him and made him a quick scapegoat to save face.

 

[crashline]

Hughes has taken plenty of hits this year, I didn't see Simmonds deterring too much of that.

Aye, whether Simmer's been around or not most teams seemed to particularly enjoy finishing their checks on Lil J!zzy this season.

It's just the normal welcome for untested young hot dogs.

 

[OmNomNom]

missed the game, but seems like hayden and subban can replace what was "lost" from simmonds

 

[OmNomNom]

He didn't need to 'cause opposing players knew he was there.

Just his presence and the threat of him doing something is what prevented things like what happened to Jack tonight to become commonplace (which it will).

Teams now know the Devils have no real enforcer on the team.

Jack better bring a Football Helmet instead of a Hockey Helmet in the next 20 games.

jack is just bambi on ice right now, just like nico was

i'm on the opposite side of you here, because it's an unproveable idea - that people are going after jack strictly bc simmonds isn't there. there's no way to know whether he made a diff or not, and as cordell said, simmonds only had 2 fights in this season

 

[Maine Fan]

Wow, imagine, Cory got a win. He is ready for a Cup series

 

[captainscott]

jack is just bambi on ice right now, just like nico was

i'm on the opposite side of you here, because it's an unproveable idea - that people are going after jack strictly bc simmonds isn't there. there's no way to know whether he made a diff or not, and as cordell said, simmonds only had 2 fights in this season

the amount of fights doesn't mean much. Why do people think the devils offered 5 million dollars per year for simmonds? to protect hughes and add some toughness. Its not a coincidence the first game without simmonds on the ice with hughes and there is an incident.

Other guys will have to step up but Simmonds earned that respect through the years now they have to fend for themselves etc. which is fine but when they traded simmonds they opened up hunting season.. no disrespect to Hayden.. but he isn't Simmonds.. I will stand by my opinion that getting a lousy 5th round pick for Simmonds wasn't worth it.

 

[captainscott]

Ya'll are freaking out like crazy over the lack of simmonds. It ridiculous

Its not crazy. I wouldn't say anyone is freaking out. but you have an 18 year kid that weighs 160lbs playing first line minutes.. he could use a full year of protection out there.. its not crazy to think thats not worth a next to useless 5th round pick..you ar event

 

[Better Call Sal]

Truly a beast

I mean, should we be shocked truly? He was the KHL MVP. And he really didn't look bad at the start of the season, the coaching staff was clueless in slotting him and made him a quick scapegoat to save face.

Eh, he was pretty lost defensively early on (not that he was the only one). Give credit where credit is due, putting him with Zajac and Coleman really helped ease his transition. And credit where credit is due to Goose as well, he's been great for the last 40 games or so.

Last night was his 3rd straight 2 point game as well. He's 1 point shy of 40, which I think many of us would have signed up for this summer not knowing what we'd get with him or what his role was going to be.

 

[Better Call Sal]

<3 Love this guy.

 

[tr83]

<3 Love this guy.

"Thanks for finally scoring some goals for me you slugs"

 

[tr83]

How the hell has Jeff Blashill survived so long as coach?

 

[NJDevils17]

How the hell has Jeff Blashill survived so long as coach?

They’re tanking so keeping him helps.

 

[Blender]

Missed most of the game, but good to get a controlling win even with this bad lineup. Detroit is embarrassingly bad.

 

[NJDevs26]

Missed most of the game, but good to get a controlling win even with this bad lineup. Detroit is embarrassingly bad.

Our horse manure team's beaten them in three blowouts (combined 13-3 score) with Domingue and Cory starting all the games, that's all you need to know about this Dead Wing team.

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

Our horse manure team's beaten them in three blowouts (combined 13-3 score) with Domingue and Cory starting all the games, that's all you need to know about this Dead Wing team.

And they managed to sweep the Habs 4-0 this year... that’s a little over a 25% of their wins for the year lol.

 

[Triumph]

They’re tanking so keeping him helps.

At this point, they have no chance of catching anyone. That said, what coach wants to jump in midseason with this team? They'll hire Gallant in April or May.

 

[NjDevsRR]

And they managed to sweep the Habs 4-0 this year... that’s a little over a 25% of their wins for the year lol.

And here is the best part, this Detroit team won the season series against Boston LOL. Just shows you that hockey is a weird sport.

 

[NJDevs26]

Domingue and Cory also have four wins combined all year...75% of them against the Wings lol