GDT: Your New Jersey Devils @ Nashville Predators, 8 PM, MSG

[JimEIV]

Not that I want to even dignify this pointless exercise any further than I already have, but that’s the case for pretty much every draft year. You can point out guys from the first round in just about every draft who ended up being grinders or bottom pair defenseman. That doesn’t mean the team drafting them thought that was their absolute ceiling.

I think when you're best choices are Micro Mueller, Kerby Rychel, Anthony Mantha, Frederick Gauthier, Emile Poirer...Curtis Lazar is an attractive choice.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Is it just me or did they just start doing that?

Looked like it was new for yesterday's game. Bill Spaulding was saying on TV they decided to use that tactic due to Nashville defenseman age average.

Looked good for slow team matchups. At least yesterday.

 

[Nocashstyle]

I think when you're best choices are Micro Mueller, Kerby Rychel, Anthony Mantha, Frederick Gauthier, Emile Poirer...Curtis Lazar is an attractive choice.

Again, super easy to say that with hindsight. Read any of their draft profiles.

Not every player reaches their potential.

 

[JimEIV]

Again, super easy to say that with hindsight. Read any of their draft profiles.

Not every player reaches their potential.

Right, not every player reaches his potential....but some years have more potential than others...

And in lower potential years, higher floor, low ceiling players rise to the top.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

There's been a number of times this season that felt like they could be a turning point for the team to get back to last year's heights, only to have the inconsistency kill the momentum a game later. But 4 straight in my mind where we looked clearly like a team that was either even or better than the opponent and having everyone (outside of Seigs/Hamilton) healthy is enough to give you hope that this time might be for real. No reason at all to believe it is too late.

Just playing devil's advocate. If one of the tenants of the apparent systems change is to put more onus on the centers to play a more traditional, defensively responsible center role (which is certainly what it appears to me and what the announcers have alluded to), then Ruff may not have felt like the team could effectively handle that with McLeod as their 2nd or even 1st line center in some games, Haula in and out of the lineup/unable to play C for a chunk of the season for some reason, Mercer having to play C, and Tierney/Willman getting regular time. It's entirely possible Ruff recognized they needed to make a change but just didn't think the personnel he had available could do it. Upgrading from Hichier-McLeod-Lazar/Mercer-Tierney with Bowers and Dowling thrown in there sometimes to Hughes/Haula-Hischier-Lazar-Nosek is a major improvement to every line, given who it means is on each wing as well.

I don't necessarily agree with that conclusion if that is the case, but this is why it's difficult to judge coaching decisions when the coach is working within roster limitations. I feel like both the "it's all the goalies fault" and the "it's all Ruff's fault" crowds have been ignoring the elephant in the room that our roster, particularly at center, has been filled with AHL talent all season due to injuries and that is finally not the case.

I don't buy that one bit. You're basically saying he didn't want to change the system because he didn't have the roster for it so instead he used a different system that didn't fit the roster.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Looked like it was new for yesterday's game. Bill Spaulding was saying on TV they decided to use that tactic due to Nashville defenseman age average.

Looked good for slow team matchups. At least yesterday.

Ok, so not just me. Makes you wonder why it took so long for them to try that....

Tons and tons of games with no adjustments and then all of a sudden, new system and new strategies....wonder who's the mastermind behind it.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Ok, so not just me. Makes you wonder why it took so long for them to try that....

Tons and tons of games with no adjustments and then all of a sudden, new system and new strategies....wonder who's the mastermind behind it.

Lindy got a notice from da boss probably, and realized missing playoffs very real possibility as of a few weeks ago. Getting shit together I guess.

But yeah having this done in early Jan or December would have been much better.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

If you're not constantly adjusting as a coach in any sport when your team is struggling, you're a bad coach. Sorry that's a newsflash to some people lol

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[glenwo2]

My thoughts and takesways:
I really think that putting up thst zero against Carolina was big for this group. I'm thinking coming off of that they felt more encouraged than discouraged and it has carried over. We all know the goals will come with this team.

Last night's game. They go into a rested teams building and the second half of a B2B and completely come in waves and waves of offensive chances and shots. While doing this they don't get completely goalied. They didn't have the brutal breakdowns and softie from their netminder that would have made the game get away from them like they did vs Calgary. That was last years Devils type of shit out there. Maybe just maybe they have their swagger back and Lindy can make us sorry again! LFGD!

And do this from start to finish this time instead of being gassed by the 3rd period.

 

[glenwo2]

At this point? Hard to argue a change shouldn’t have happened earlier.

But no good coach is changing a system a month into a season coming off a great season a year before.

Better late then never though. And some props to the old dog for not being too stubborn.

Is it a case of an old dog not being too stubborn?

Or is it a case of an even BIGGER DOG (Fitz) telling him to make changes or this season will be this old dog's last season?

 

[Dialamo]

Missed the last two games due to being quite busy. Glad to see we pulled out another win!

For the wildcard spots, how many points are we looking at pacing wise? I always try to assume 100 points is the safe spot. I think the closest I've seen the final spots get to 100 was 98 a few years back.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Missed the last two games due to being quite busy. Glad to see we pulled out another win!

For the wildcard spots, how many points are we looking at pacing wise? I always try to assume 100 points is the safe spot. I think the closest I've seen the final spots get to 100 was 98 a few years back.

 

[glenwo2]

Lazar is one of those guys smart enough to recognize that, even though he was a high pick and clearly was an offensive guy in juniors, he wasn’t going to have a long career trying to be that in the NHL. He understands his role and does it perfectly.

Funny enough, though, he’s also only 3 points away from his career high in the NHL.

Maybe Bill mentioned it on the broadcast (I wasn't paying attention) but Lazar played in his 500th NHL hockey game.

What a milestone game it was to have a moment like that last night.

 

[Bleedred]

Missed the last two games due to being quite busy. Glad to see we pulled out another win!

For the wildcard spots, how many points are we looking at pacing wise? I always try to assume 100 points is the safe spot. I think the closest I've seen the final spots get to 100 was 98 a few years back.

I honestly think 95-96 points should do it.

I have to believe ONE of Philadelphia/Detroit falls out and either us or Pittsburgh gets that spot.

 

[njdevils1982]

Lazar is one of those guys smart enough to recognize that, even though he was a high pick and clearly was an offensive guy in juniors, he wasn’t going to have a long career trying to be that in the NHL. He understands his role and does it perfectly.

Funny enough, though, he’s also only 3 points away from his career high in the NHL.

Your longstanding disdain for Andreas Johnsson will always make me laugh.

I still don't understand where it comes from, but it could be from his leaf stint, pretty sure? There is some Toronto overlap with them both.

yes, partly due to i didnt care to take toronto's castaway and his play here was worse than low expectations

he came to jersey and put up 11 f***ing points in 50 games in 2021 season......

then had a 'decent' start to 2022 season but his pre and post new years splits were a joke.

he went from a 54 point pace to 30 which is unacceptable.


he didnt PK, didnt take draws and was soft as f***......if he isn't putting up points he's worthless as he brings absolutely nothing else to the team. also didnt get any leadership vibes out of the guy.

he was garbage through and through.....good riddance

 

[JimEIV]

Ok, so not just me. Makes you wonder why it took so long for them to try that....

Tons and tons of games with no adjustments and then all of a sudden, new system and new strategies....wonder who's the mastermind behind it.

Well...it coincided with pretty much the exact same time McLeod left the team...

if you think you could get away with looser play from the center position to free up Jack from some defensive responsibilities because you have McLeod, Nico and Haula who are pretty good defensively and now you don't have McLeod, Jack is not 100% and needs Haula, in essence losing two more defensive centers....Maybe that was turning point?

Just a thought.

Personally...I think Lindy wanted to keep Jack free from defensive responsibilities as long as possible and then couldn't anymore.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Well...it coincided with pretty much the exact same time McLeod left the team...

if you think you could get away with looser play from the center position to free up Jack from some defensive responsibilities because you have McLeod, Nico and Haula who are pretty good defensively and now you don't have McLeod, Jack is not 100% and needs Haula, in essence losing two more defensive centers....Maybe that was turning point?

Just a thought.

Personally...I think Lindy wanted to keep Jack free from defensive responsibilities as long as possible and then couldn't anymore.

Interesting take on that - genuinely. I hadn't thought about that angle of it.

 

[JimEIV]

Interesting take on that - genuinely. I hadn't thought about that angle of it.

Just thinking out loud mostly.

 

[NJDevs26]

You have three defensively responsible centers in Nico, Haula and the jackass formerly known as MM and don’t want to put a lot on their plate? Then one loss of that group and now you give the centers more responsibility? Sorry, not buying that.

 

[JimEIV]

You have three defensively responsible centers in Nico, Haula and the jackass formerly known as MM and don’t want to put a lot on their plate? Then one loss of that group and now you give the centers more responsibility? Sorry, not buying that.

It's not a one loss it's a 2 spot loss

Loss 1 MM

Loss 2 Jack out or Jack on the wing with Haula created 2 vacant C spots filled by Laser#3 and Nosek #4...who can't play the same as McLeod #4 and Haula #3....
not only that there is no need for any of it if Jack is on the wing...

Jack Han's diagram showed specifically how the center couldn't cheat up in the new system....and ironically used Jack as the "example"

hey I'm not saying that this is correct... But everyone asking "why now"... Changing the center strategy almost the same exact time McLeod takes a leave seems like more than a coincidence.

 

[RNCDevil]

One "source" idea...The fact that players were mentioning the change, do you think it could mean it was prompted by the players?

 

[glenwo2]

One "source" idea...The fact that players were mentioning the change, do you think it could mean it was prompted by the players?

 

[JimEIV]

One "source" idea...The fact that players were mentioning the change, do you think it could mean it was prompted by the players?

If not directly from Lindy....I think it's more likely to have come from the front office than the players.

If this organization is allowing players to redesign the system we're in trouble.

 

[RNCDevil]

Anyway, this source speculation has no real value. Back to more productive musings...

Dougie's 4 month check in would be early April, right?