GDT: New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames 7pm: Just the facts edition

[Devils Unseen Hand]

The effort was there, it really was but last night highlighted the fact that we have little in the way of talent. I think we could all agree that if Elias, Henrique, or Clowe had been in the lineup we would have gotten at least a point but they aren’t and our depth is junk. Brunner and Ryder flat out stink. I swear I saw Ryder fall down more than he stood up. Brunner had moments of speed but no finish, a common theme amongst most Devils this season. Now we can turn our eyes towards the offseason and see what transpires.

My guess is there will be some significant changes. As hard as the team has played the last 3 games, this season and last have shown that we have a major issue with offensive depth as well all know. The question now is does Lou, or anyone else if ownership goes a different direction, build for PDB or move on without him. There can be cases made on both sides but when you’re looking at a roster overhaul, my guess would be a different coach. That being said, I could easily see PDB coming back with a very short leash next season, not that I agree with it.

As for players, immediately sign Jagr. More than his offensive output, he brings leadership, guidance, and a sense of humor to this team. Start working with Cory to get him signed long term. He’s shown he is more than capable of being the number one guy and he has been lights out on this team. Buy out Salvador or Volchenkov (I like him but his contract is rough and injuries are just not worth it). Move Ryder and/or Brunner for anything. A bag of pucks would be acceptable. I would not mind seeing Zids back for another season as he really has been impressive this year, dumb penalties and all. Our defense really is good, goaltending is solid, we just need to add 2-3 guys that can actually produce at varying levels and we’ll be good. Do what we can in free agency, bring up some of the kids, and let’s work on this moderate rebuild.

I agree. Which is why I posted what I did above.

For us, I wouldn't mind bringing up Hrabarenka or Helgeson for the remaining games this year. Worth taking a look at some of the big kids.

 

[njdevil26]

An absolute NO to Heatley. He's done.

Michalek is a third liner Gaborik is soft and selfish (more so than Kovy)

Hemsky is a mystery to me. He looks dominate some nights but most nights he's a no show.

Keep an eye an amnesty buyouts this year.

Brad Richards looks like he's out. Lou could see him as the backup plan to Stastny.

Grabovski is also not a bad option if the Caps don't retain him.

 

[RNCDevil]

There are no easy fixes. We got lucky with Jagr. Ryder is what you should expect with "senior" players. I wish they scored more. I wish the litany of lost points and shootouts never happened. At this point I just hope some of the mid round forwards surprise.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Zubrus was a beast last night.

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

I agree. Which is why I posted what I did above.

For us, I wouldn't mind bringing up Hrabarenka or Helgeson for the remaining games this year. Worth taking a look at some of the big kids.

I like Helgeson and could see him with the big club possibly next season. Just a question of who stays/goes/gets traded. Let's face it, Merrill isn't and shouldn't be going anywhere. He just keeps getting better. Gelinas is the heir apparent to Zids. truth of the matter is, at least right now, Larsson is odd man out. I could see him getting traded for offensive help. While his value is low right now, he's still a top 4 pick and is only 20 so teams will pay for him. I'd hate to see him go but he does no good sitting in the press box for every tiny mistake he makes.

 

[devilsblood]

Zubrus was a beast last night.

We have such low expectations of what a "beast" is anymore.

 

[Emperoreddy]

lolwut? I gotta see this now even though it's probably a bit masochistic. That play happened at the far end for me so I didn't see it that well.

If he raised the shot more it would of easily went in. He has space and it was on the right path.

A lot of nights the scoring woes have been lack of shots (we are last in the league for shots for a reason). Or just tons of shots into the logos and knees.

Wasn't really the case last night. There were legit bad bounces and with most of our skill out there was no one to force one in. Just sucks but if you take care of business in other games you can afford a lose like that.

Win those shootouts last week and we could of afforded this lose.

 

[JK3]

Meh, we had some good chances but I wouldn't go too far. Everything is still generated from our grinding cycle with weak perimeter shots or throw it to the point type shots.

We still never create any type of cross ice, one timers or backdoor type plays to ever get the goalie moving. Our forwards are always in a tight cluster around the puck, no one ever releases to open ice, it's just grind away, chuck it at the net and slam a rebound into pads close to the net.

 

[glenwo2]

We have such low expectations of what a "beast" is anymore.

yeah.


When I think of "beast", I think of Brock Lesnar.


Not Zubie.

 

[Emperoreddy]

yeah.


When I think of "beast", I think of Brock Lesnar.


Not Zubie.

"My Name is Paul Heyman, and Dainus Zubrus is a Paul Heyman guy!!"

 

[Camille the Eel]

How is that essential?

We lead the league in preventing shots and would be top five in team GAA if Schneider got more starts.

The issue is definitely NOT in getting stronger on the backend.

First I didn't mean just stronger on Defense. Stronger all over the ice. The current Devils are soft, slow and old. They don't hit and they don't skate.

But even as to Defense: it's just fundamentals. If we had some guys who recalled the talent of the Stevens-Daneyko-Neidermeyer-Rafalski, even the Johnny Oduya talent level - defensemen who could skate and had offensive facility too - rather than a team concept that makes everyone think Defense first, everything else second, we'd be able to structure a fundamental offense too. Compare the Devils with the successful teams right now on the back end:

Rangers = Mcdonough, Staal, Girardi - not one Devils defensemen worth any of them.

Bruins = Chiara, Hamilton, Seidinger, Boychuck - etc. - not one Devils defensemen worth any of them.

Blackhawks = Keith, Hjalmarson, Seabrook . . . etc. (almost a shame, they're so good why even mention these guys)

Penguins = Orpik, Martin, Maata, Letang, Niskannen, Scuderi . . .

Canadiens = Gorges, Markov, Subban, Emilin, Murray . . .

Columbus = Jack Johnson, Tyutin, Wisniewski (41 points right now)

The Devils do not stack up against these teams viewing the defense as a whole. We can argue about one guy or another; Zidlicki has put up points and Green skates and at times plays at a high level (at other times not) but as a whole you could take our entire defense, trade it for most of the above defense rosters, and immediately our team becomes more formidable.

We do have young promise. But we can use size, strength, skating, and skill at the back end, and use it up front too. Just build a better team is what I say.

 

[R8Devs]

First I didn't mean just stronger on Defense. Stronger all over the ice. The current Devils are soft, slow and old. They don't hit and they don't skate.

But even as to Defense: it's just fundamentals. If we had some guys who recalled the talent of the Stevens-Daneyko-Neidermeyer-Rafalski, even the Johnny Oduya talent level - defensemen who could skate and had offensive facility too - rather than a team concept that makes everyone think Defense first, everything else second, we'd be able to structure a fundamental offense too. Compare the Devils with the successful teams right now on the back end:

Rangers = Mcdonough, Staal, Girardi - not one Devils defensemen worth any of them.

Bruins = Chiara, Hamilton, Seidinger, Boychuck - etc. - not one Devils defensemen worth any of them.

Blackhawks = Keith, Hjalmarson, Seabrook . . . etc. (almost a shame, they're so good why even mention these guys)

Penguins = Orpik, Martin, Maata, Letang, Niskannen, Scuderi . . .

Canadiens = Gorges, Markov, Subban, Emilin, Murray . . .

Columbus = Jack Johnson, Tyutin, Wisniewski (41 points right now)

The Devils do not stack up against these teams. We can argue about one guy or another but as a whole, but as a whole you could take our entire defense, trade it for one of the above defense rosters, and immediately our team becomes twice as formidable.

We do have young promise. But we can use size, strength, skating, and skill at the back end, and use it up front too.

I think you're severely underrating Greene, and counting guys from other teams who really aren't that good. Staal is not as good as he used to be, Murray is not that good, Niskanen was an afterthought till this year. Hamilton would probably be a healthy scratch here(not because he's bad though, but because his mistakes probably wouldn't be covered up by someone else). With the exception of Ryan Murray I would take our defense/pool over Columbus'.


I see what you're saying but I think you're kind of exaggerating how bad we are defense(in all honesty as a whole they are above average). You don't need to hit and start a fight everytime someone on the other team has a clean hit on your guy, if it was dirty then it is a different story but I really hate when teams like Boston get all up in someone's grill after a clean hit.

 

[glenwo2]

"My Name is Paul Heyman, and Dainus Zubrus is a Paul Heyman guy!!"

More like "My Name is Paul Heyman.....and I am the Advocate for DIIIEE-NUSSSS....ZUUUUUUUBRUSSSSS!!"

Okay, I'm done.

 

[Camille the Eel]

I'll go with your assessment if you do see what I'm saying. One tends to exaggerate to make a point.

I think we are fundamentally weak in a lot of ways across the board. Strength is a big piece of it. Not scoring on our chances is a big problem. But the Devils have also been pushed around a lot this year.

 

[ScottyK]

I'll go with your assessment if you do see what I'm saying. One tends to exaggerate to make a point.

I think we are fundamentally weak in a lot of ways across the board. Strength is a big piece of it. Not scoring on our chances is a big problem. But the Devils have also been pushed around a lot this year.

The pushed around part I believe comes from our 2012 playoff strat to not retaliate. It became part of the culture after that because it worked so well for us vs philly and the nyr

 

[Emperoreddy]

More like "My Name is Paul Heyman.....and I am the Advocate for DIIIEE-NUSSSS....ZUUUUUUUBRUSSSSS!!"

Okay, I'm done.

OMG this just made my night.