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

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

In my opinion everything hinges on Adam Larsson.

I say this because he needs largest jump in improvement from last season. If he is able play solid top 4 minutes there is no issue.


But if he should play like has in each of the previous 2 seasons, the entire defense is in jeopardy because the gap in top 4 minutes will be too large to bridge...you'll end up with Salvador playing in way more situations and minutes than he should be and players who aren't capable of picking up the slack (Merrill and Zidlicky) will have to also.

The two defensemen we lost played 18:40 and 16:56 minutes per game last season. I'm not overly concerned.

Our top four by TOI/G are all still on the team.

 

[MichaelJ]

I don't think anyone is talking about rushing Severson. If the coaching staff thinks he's ready, then he's ready. If they don't, then he isn't.

There was a lot of handwringing on this site last year about how Merrill HAD to spend the entire year at Albany. We don't know.

I just wouldn't promote Damon at the expense of Gelinas and I have no use for Salvador so I see the switch as no harm no foul.

People keep falling back on the youth argument and saying we couldn't make the playoffs. Do you think having 3 young D plus Salvador makes us a lock for the playoffs?

 

[MichaelJ]

Both Merrill and Larsson will likely be paired with vet defensemen and a bottom pairing of Gelinas-Severson won't kill us, I don't see it as any worse than a Gelinas-Sal pairing.

 

[ScottyK]

Both Merrill and Larsson will likely be paired with vet defensemen and a bottom pairing of Gelinas-Severson won't kill us, I don't see it as any worse than a Gelinas-Sal pairing.

Other than the defense being tissue paper soft

 

[R8Devs]

Larsson will be fine. When he was bad at the beginning of the season last year everyone was playing bad, it's not like it was just him. Fayne got better when he wasn't yoyo'ed around, I don't see why the same won't happen for AL. Even Pete said he has his full confidence in larsson.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

people make a big deal about the D being soft. I am not concerned about it whatsoever.

 

[ScottyK]

people make a big deal about the D being soft. I am not concerned about it whatsoever.

I just think you need some sort of physical presence on the back end. Maybe Merrill or Larsson can add a little nastiness. If/when sal gets hurt give hegelson a shot

 

[tycobb]

Both Merrill and Larsson will likely be paired with vet defensemen and a bottom pairing of Gelinas-Severson won't kill us, I don't see it as any worse than a Gelinas-Sal pairing.

Haha you don't think a Gelinas - Severson pairing would hurt us? Who is going to be playing in the defensive zone?

 

[ScottyK]

Haha you don't think a Gelinas - Severson pairing would hurt us? Who is going to be playing in the defensive zone?

I think you may be misinformed about Damon's game but I agree if that's our 3rd pair we are in trouble

 

[tycobb]

I think you may be misinformed about Damon's game but I agree if that's our 3rd pair we are in trouble

I am not misinformed. If Severson defensive abilities are half as good as his offensive abilities (as of last year) he is going to make the NHL team over Gelinas.

 

[RSeen]

Have you seen him play? Do you know this, or are you just saying it?

There is no room, and I doubt Deboer wants to play 4 kids at a time on D.

 

[MichaelJ]

Haha you don't think a Gelinas - Severson pairing would hurt us? Who is going to be playing in the defensive zone?

Severson is far from an offense only D.

 

[MichaelJ]

I think you may be misinformed about Damon's game but I agree if that's our 3rd pair we are in trouble

As if a Sal-Gelinas bottom pair will be world-beaters lol.

 

[tycobb]

Severson is far from an offense only D.

Never said he was, but he is much better offensively. He is a offensive defenseman with ZERO NHL experience. I will be shocked if Severson is good enough in his own zone to not only to play in the NHL, but to cover for Gelinas.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

I wouldn't be surprised if Severson makes the team. He hung around for a while last training camp/preseason. DeBoer seems to really like him.

 

[tycobb]

As if a Sal-Gelinas bottom pair will be world-beaters lol.

Sal has become to new Volch of 2 years ago where the board thinks he is much worse than he really is. He isn't great, but he will be fine as a PK specialist and covering for Gelinas mistakes.

 

[tycobb]

I wouldn't be surprised if Severson makes the team. He hung around for a while last training camp/preseason. DeBoer seems to really like him.

Severson makes the team, then Gelinas isn't going to make it.

 

[ajdevjet]

sal has become to new volch of 2 years ago where the board thinks he is much worse than he really is. He isn't great, but he will be fine as a pk specialist and covering for gelinas mistakes.

bingo !

 

[Classic Devil]

Severson is supposed to have a very good defensive game, but who knows how that would transfer to the NHL right out of juniors.

 

[JimEIV]

The two defensemen we lost played 18:40 and 16:56 minutes per game last season. I'm not overly concerned.

Our top four by TOI/G are all still on the team.

That is true...But Salvador shouldn't be a 20 minute defenseman and Larsson needs to be. From last season you are going to need a major jump from Larsson.

Also these numbers are a bit misleading because the roles are all vastly different...For instance Fayne's almost 19 minutes is mostly all 5v5 and PK time...of Volchenkov's almost 17 miuntes, 4 minutes of it is PK - Salvador is also a major PKer.... So two of your top 4 PKers are gone and you need someone fill those 5v5 minutes Fayne left behind. This all going to fall on Larsson


Andy Greene 24:34:00
Marek Zidlicky 21:38
Bryce Salvador 20:17
Jon Merrill 19:13
Peter Harrold 18:40
Mark Fayne 18:18
Adam Larsson 17:47
Eric Gelinas 16:55
Anton Volchenkov 16:47



When you look at the 5V5 time You can see Fayne left a significant gap that is going to have be replaced.

ANDYGREENE 17.88
MAREKZIDLICKY 17.72
JONMERRILL 16.38
MARKFAYNE 16.03
BRYCESALVADOR 16.02
PETERHARROLD 15.98
ADAMLARSSON 15.77
ERICGELINAS 13.68
ANTONVOLCHENKOV 12.96

 

[BrodeursCups]

Never said he was, but he is much better offensively. He is a offensive defenseman with ZERO NHL experience. I will be shocked if Severson is good enough in his own zone to not only to play in the NHL, but to cover for Gelinas.

He is a damn good all-around defenseman. He took it to another level last year offensively, but he's a rock in his own zone.

As for "covering for Salvador," not many will be able to mask his horrendous speed and grenade handling puck skills. Still a very good PKer, but absolutely must be playing limited 5-on-5 minutes. I'm not trying to hate on Sal, but that's the reality of the player at this point in his career.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Salvador freaking stinks

 

[AfroThunder396]

Merrill already effectively absorbed Fayne's ES minutes.

I just hope he doesn't regress. That's something a lot of people are overlooking. It's not uncommon for 2nd year players to struggle, especially in the face of harder assignments and more minutes.

I hope he's up to the task because he's a very valuable player with an important role. But we're putting a lot of eggs in his basket. We shouldn't automatically assume that a rookie defenseman will stay in form because we've been burned by that many times.

 

[Pegi90*]

Salvador freaking stinks

lold.

captain salvadeuce!!

next year he will bounce back to the level he was in 2012 playoffs.

 

[MichaelJ]

Never said he was, but he is much better offensively. He is a offensive defenseman with ZERO NHL experience. I will be shocked if Severson is good enough in his own zone to not only to play in the NHL, but to cover for Gelinas.

Then he won't make the team and there's nothing to argue about.