Devils Team Discussion (current team/player news and notes) ‎PART X

[Bleedred]

Why do people think The addition of Ruutu makes Zubrus redundant?

Because Zubrus isn't good anymore. He had 7 points after Christmas. Ruutu is a younger and better version.

 

[DenisSamson3]

Because Zubrus isn't good anymore. He had 7 points after Christmas. Ruutu is a younger and better version.

Does Ruutu kill penalties? Because if he doesn't then he may look like Ryder if he is not scoring for us next year. At least Zubrus kills penalties.

 

[Bleedred]

Does Ruutu kill penalties? Because if he doesn't then he may look like Ryder if he is not scoring for us next year. At least Zubrus kills penalties.

Ruutu is much better at offense at this point. Who cares of Zubrus kills penalties? He's still way overpaid. Bernier used to kill penalties too and he was pretty good at it for a while. Same with Carter. They produced offense at the same clip as Zubrus did for much of last year (Bernier didn't last year)

Zubrus isn't good enough for an every night top 9 roll. It's time to accept that he's rapidly declining. His contract stinks. Salvador is a PK specialist on an equally ****** (maybe a little worse) contract.

 

[Slaying_ice]

i like stephen gionta because he's paid his dues and never floats or takes a shift off and has a blue collar mentality about his game, i also like ryan carter and what he brings to the table and i hope he makes it back to the team but what do i know w/e

This right here!

I've never understood all the hate for Gio. He plays the game hard every night and isn't a liability out there. Surprisingly, he's one of our best hitters out there too. Gio never is afraid to take the body. He's also a pretty good PKer wether anyone on here wants to admit it or not. The only beef I have with Gionta is he has a horrendous shot. He's got some good speed and sometimes breakway speed, but usually when he gets one-on-one with the net-minder, he usually throws it right into the pads or logo.

All-in-all, I want Gio back on the team. Even though he's a small guy, he's still a good grinder for our 4th. Say what you will but I like the guy.

 

[Bleedred]

Ruutu had 8 points in 19 games. Zubrus had 7 points in his last 50 games approximately.

Zubrus also had 3 points in his first 16 games to start the year. This was before he was paired with Jagr. He only had points in 5 games after the 21st of December and he played in every game I'm pretty sure. He had 2 different 2 point games in that stretch. I don't expect Ruutu to fall off like that, even though he had a similar stretch in Carolina before coming to the Devils.

Zubrus looked finished last year. Yeah he's a good PKer, but paying over $3 million for a PKer on the decline sucks.

 

[StnTwnDevil]

This right here!

I've never understood all the hate for Gio. He plays the game hard every night and isn't a liability out there. Surprisingly, he's one of our best hitters out there too. Gio never is afraid to take the body. He's also a pretty good PKer wether anyone on here wants to admit it or not. The only beef I have with Gionta is he has a horrendous shot. He's got some good speed and sometimes breakway speed, but usually when he gets one-on-one with the net-minder, he usually throws it right into the pads or logo.

All-in-all, I want Gio back on the team. Even though he's a small guy, he's still a good grinder for our 4th. Say what you will but I like the guy.

I don't understand it either. One thing I think everyone can agree on is that this line-up is filled with polarizing players, lol. I think Elias and Greene might be the only guys on the team that there is, for the most part, a consistent opinion.

 

[Devil X]

If Gio was 6'2 no one would have an issue with him on our 4th line.

For his role he is fine.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

when you have to say "he plays the game hard" as the first thing in defense of him, it probably means he stinks

he IS a liability out there. someone please post the advanced stats that shows how much.

 

[tr83]

This right here!

I've never understood all the hate for Gio. He plays the game hard every night and isn't a liability out there. Surprisingly, he's one of our best hitters out there too. Gio never is afraid to take the body. He's also a pretty good PKer wether anyone on here wants to admit it or not. The only beef I have with Gionta is he has a horrendous shot. He's got some good speed and sometimes breakway speed, but usually when he gets one-on-one with the net-minder, he usually throws it right into the pads or logo.

All-in-all, I want Gio back on the team. Even though he's a small guy, he's still a good grinder for our 4th. Say what you will but I like the guy.

I don't think the hate was directed at Gio per se. The hate was directed at Gio because he was Pete's pet. The maddening personnel decisions that he made last year we mind-boggling. There is no way he should EVER have 16 minutes of ice time per game, not even if we took 6 penalties in a game.

I love that he isn't afraid to hit. I remember seeing about 10 games in 2012 when he was breaking in and he had a monster hit seemingly EVERY game.

Unfortunately, Gio is a borderline NHL player. He's terrible in the faceoff circle, he also trails the play often, and his hockey sense isn't that good. His speed makes up for it. If our team were faster, he'd have no place here.

 

[Comparison Ford]

Yeah it's definitely more to do with Pete's use of him rather then Gio himself. I have always liked him too, but Gio should not be on the ice in the last five minutes of the game. I only remembering it working out in that one game he had the deflection goal in the last minute, but still, we have so many better options. The only person who would be a worse option is Bernier. But I guess they don't believe that.

Also, any news on the Josefson front? You have to think that the resigning of Gio and Bernier is a heavy weight on Jacob's decision to stay in N.A.

 

[NJDevs26]

If Gio was 6'2 no one would have an issue with him on our 4th line.

For his role he is fine.

If Gio was 6'2 he'd still be lousy at faceoffs. I'd have no issue with him if he was at RW.

 

[lachyrm]

Gio should not be on the ice in the last five minutes of the game.

He was out there for a number of goals in the final minute of regulation to either tie or lose the game. I seem to remember that it happened twice in three games during one particularly rough stretch, but I could be making that up.

Regardless, it's a concern when a player with limited reach and ability to break up passes is on the ice late in the game, and it's an even bigger concern when he finds himself among a select few players on a shortened bench when doing so. Even more so when the team is a fringe playoff team, like last year.

 

[Bleedred]

He was out there for a number of goals in the final minute of regulation to either tie or lose the game. I seem to remember that it happened twice in three games during one particularly rough stretch, but I could be making that up.

Regardless, it's a concern when a player with limited reach and ability to break up passes is on the ice late in the game, and it's an even bigger concern when he finds himself among a select few players on a shortened bench when doing so. Even more so when the team is a fringe playoff team, like last year.

It happened 3 games in a row this year. We won the first in OT, then lost the next two in OT.

Not sure if Gio was out for all 3, though I definitely remember him out there in the Nashville game when it was tied. He was also out in the final minute of both of those games in Florida in 2013. We blew the lead with the other teams goalie pulled those two games in a row too.

 

[glenwo2]

when you have to say "he plays the game hard" as the first thing in defense of him, it probably means he stinks

he IS a liability out there. someone please post the advanced stats that shows how much.

Exactly.

I mean if the very first thing you say is that a player "Plays hard" instead of listing the real skills he has, then that player isn't much of one.

 

[Classic Devil]

Gionta isn't a terrible 4th line winger, but he has no business at center.

 

[devsfan4life]

Not sure if this is the right place for this question, but does anybody know when regular season tix go on sale?

 

[manilaNJ]

I think we all wind up getting caught in some of these narratives, especially after a disappointing season. It seems like we want definitive blame to point our fingers at.
We repeat a point enough, it feels true.
Re: Gionta/final minutes of regulation/liability etc. etc.

Don't ask me why I decided to do this, but I took a look at all the 1 goal games that were decisive in the final 8 minutes (as in, either won by 1 goal or sent to OT)
I came up with 20 games. 12 games with us scoring, 8 with the opposition getting the final tally in regulation.

Of those 8 games, Stephen Gionta was on the ice for the decisive goal in 1. That was the game against Colorado where Roy pulled the goalie with lots of time left on the clock and an oddball collection of players were stuck on the ice for ~2minute shift (Elias, Bernier, Gionta, Merrill, Harrold)

You too can relive the fun using http://www.shiftchart.com/

Gionta isn't a terrible 4th line winger, but he has no business at center.

This I agree with. Especially because he gets buried with defensive zone shifts and takes a significant amount of PK time. Being able to win a faceoff or two and not waste time chasing the puck with 4th liners out there would be nothing but a benefit.

Anyway, all that being said, Gionta is a liability in the way that any average 4th liner is. You put them out there to take the ****** draws, to play against the face punchers, and to not make your top 9 not play 55min/game. Not to be a skilled hockey player.

If you were worried about him out there with a 1 goal lead/deficit in the final 5 minutes of a game on a regular basis, it's because we played the most 1 goal/EN games of any other team in the NHL this season.

b Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
65 of New Jersey's games were decided by a single goal or empty netter, most in the NHL. Their record in such games was 23rd.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108400641085440

Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
89 of Colorado's points came in games decided by a single goal and/or empty netter (41-11-7). No other team was above 74 pts. (ANA, MIN).
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108616521936896

Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
If NJ had COL's record in one-goal and empty net games, they'd have 114 points, one back of Boston.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455110506588545024

We didn't even have to win a damn shootout. A difference of 5 extra goals could have sent this team to the postseason - maybe even less when you consider how many turds we laid against Columbus.

Anyway, regarding Gionta. Here's the most important part. We are finally in a position to use him strictly as a 4th liner again. Lack of depth forced him to play above his head for more games than a below 4th liner should. But using him in the right role again, with 3 actual NHL lines ahead of him is a hell of a lot better than rolling out Boulton-Mills-Janssen or the likes of it.

EDIT
TL;DR: Gionta should be the least of our concerns.

 

[JimEIV]

That above is an all around excellent post.

 

[Devilswede]

I think we all wind up getting caught in some of these narratives, especially after a disappointing season. It seems like we want definitive blame to point our fingers at.
We repeat a point enough, it feels true.
Re: Gionta/final minutes of regulation/liability etc. etc.

Don't ask me why I decided to do this, but I took a look at all the 1 goal games that were decisive in the final 8 minutes (as in, either won by 1 goal or sent to OT)
I came up with 20 games. 12 games with us scoring, 8 with the opposition getting the final tally in regulation.

Of those 8 games, Stephen Gionta was on the ice for the decisive goal in 1. That was the game against Colorado where Roy pulled the goalie with lots of time left on the clock and an oddball collection of players were stuck on the ice for ~2minute shift (Elias, Bernier, Gionta, Merrill, Harrold)

You too can relive the fun using http://www.shiftchart.com/


This I agree with. Especially because he gets buried with defensive zone shifts and takes a significant amount of PK time. Being able to win a faceoff or two and not waste time chasing the puck with 4th liners out there would be nothing but a benefit.

Anyway, all that being said, Gionta is a liability in the way that any average 4th liner is. You put them out there to take the ****** draws, to play against the face punchers, and to not make your top 9 not play 55min/game. Not to be a skilled hockey player.

If you were worried about him out there with a 1 goal lead/deficit in the final 5 minutes of a game on a regular basis, it's because we played the most 1 goal/EN games of any other team in the NHL this season.

b Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
65 of New Jersey's games were decided by a single goal or empty netter, most in the NHL. Their record in such games was 23rd.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108400641085440

Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
89 of Colorado's points came in games decided by a single goal and/or empty netter (41-11-7). No other team was above 74 pts. (ANA, MIN).
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108616521936896

Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
If NJ had COL's record in one-goal and empty net games, they'd have 114 points, one back of Boston.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455110506588545024

We didn't even have to win a damn shootout. A difference of 5 extra goals could have sent this team to the postseason - maybe even less when you consider how many turds we laid against Columbus.

Anyway, regarding Gionta. Here's the most important part. We are finally in a position to use him strictly as a 4th liner again. Lack of depth forced him to play above his head for more games than a below 4th liner should. But using him in the right role again, with 3 actual NHL lines ahead of him is a hell of a lot better than rolling out Boulton-Mills-Janssen or the likes of it.

EDIT
TL;DR: Gionta should be the least of our concerns.

This! Well done!

 

[schoenfeld]

if jacob josefson was half the professional stephen gionta is maybe he wouldn't be scratched so often.

 

[schoenfeld]

maybe that swedish stay puft marshmellow man adam larsson should work a summer or two in the gionta hardware store so he can stop being so sensitive and maybe not have that stupid look on his face all the time

 

[SeidoN]

if jacob josefson was half the professional stephen gionta is maybe he wouldn't be scratched so often.

maybe that swedish stay puft marshmellow man adam larsson should work a summer or two in the gionta hardware store so he can stop being so sensitive and maybe not have that stupid look on his face all the time

someone doesnt like Swedes

so tell me Pete, hows your summer?

 

[Better Call Sal]

I think we all wind up getting caught in some of these narratives, especially after a disappointing season. It seems like we want definitive blame to point our fingers at.
We repeat a point enough, it feels true.
Re: Gionta/final minutes of regulation/liability etc. etc.

Don't ask me why I decided to do this, but I took a look at all the 1 goal games that were decisive in the final 8 minutes (as in, either won by 1 goal or sent to OT)
I came up with 20 games. 12 games with us scoring, 8 with the opposition getting the final tally in regulation.

Of those 8 games, Stephen Gionta was on the ice for the decisive goal in 1. That was the game against Colorado where Roy pulled the goalie with lots of time left on the clock and an oddball collection of players were stuck on the ice for ~2minute shift (Elias, Bernier, Gionta, Merrill, Harrold)

You too can relive the fun using http://www.shiftchart.com/



This I agree with. Especially because he gets buried with defensive zone shifts and takes a significant amount of PK time. Being able to win a faceoff or two and not waste time chasing the puck with 4th liners out there would be nothing but a benefit.

Anyway, all that being said, Gionta is a liability in the way that any average 4th liner is. You put them out there to take the ****** draws, to play against the face punchers, and to not make your top 9 not play 55min/game. Not to be a skilled hockey player.

If you were worried about him out there with a 1 goal lead/deficit in the final 5 minutes of a game on a regular basis, it's because we played the most 1 goal/EN games of any other team in the NHL this season.

b Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
65 of New Jersey's games were decided by a single goal or empty netter, most in the NHL. Their record in such games was 23rd.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108400641085440

Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
89 of Colorado's points came in games decided by a single goal and/or empty netter (41-11-7). No other team was above 74 pts. (ANA, MIN).
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455108616521936896

Rob Vollman @robvollmanNHL · Apr 12
If NJ had COL's record in one-goal and empty net games, they'd have 114 points, one back of Boston.
https://twitter.com/robvollmanNHL/status/455110506588545024

We didn't even have to win a damn shootout. A difference of 5 extra goals could have sent this team to the postseason - maybe even less when you consider how many turds we laid against Columbus.

Anyway, regarding Gionta. Here's the most important part. We are finally in a position to use him strictly as a 4th liner again. Lack of depth forced him to play above his head for more games than a below 4th liner should. But using him in the right role again, with 3 actual NHL lines ahead of him is a hell of a lot better than rolling out Boulton-Mills-Janssen or the likes of it.

EDIT
TL;DR: Gionta should be the least of our concerns.

Hear, hear!

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

if jacob josefson was half the professional stephen gionta is maybe he wouldn't be scratched so often.

yea because going by who this coach decides to scratch and play is a great idea, considering he benched Fayne, Larsson, and Gelinas for long periods of time.

 

[Bleedred]

someone doesnt like Swedes

so tell me Pete, hows your summer?

LOL!