Confirmed with Link: Brian Boyle to NJD. 2 year Deal

MartyOwns

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What's even more interesting Fiddler got all those faceoffs playing this season with two of the best faceoffmen in the league with Zajac and Mike Fisher in Nashville.

is zajac towards the top of the list for faceoffs league-wide? i wasn't aware of that

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Zajacs Bowl Cut

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is zajac towards the top of the list for faceoffs league-wide? i wasn't aware of that

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He's been above 51% every year of his career. He was 54.6% last year and won the 7th most FO's in the league. He was in the top 25 in % for guys who took at least 500 faceoffs.
 

Oneiro

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Based on him getting a couple games to start last year?

It does say they see something.

But it also speaks to our RW depth. Which is still bad. So yeah he could get another go of it.

But imo giving McLeod some RW duties to break him in makes sense. His size and speed gives him a leg up on Speers. Speers is AHL eligible, McLeod is not. And while in this plan McLeod starts at wing, him being in the league allows him to get center minutes along the way.

Emporeddy already said it: our staff + Hockey Canada have praised this kid far more than anyone in the fanbase.

I'm probably biased at this point, but to me, it's clear he's our top guy after the Hischier, Zacha, McLeod-tier. The problem is that there's nothing flashy about this kid. His game is not flashy. His numbers aren't too gaudy, just solid. But if Zacha had started off playing with the same attention to detail that Speers does, he'd have cemented a top six role months ago.

Anyway. To get back on track, displacing Boyle should be the goal for our younger depth centers. If that happens in the next two years - if they have no choice but to sit or buy him out - things will be looking good.
 

AfroThunder396

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Boyle is very good at his job, and realistically 4th line center isn't a spot you want any of your prospects in. If they're worth your while they'll be in the top-9.

4th line C is for plugs like Coleman to be aiming for, not real prospects like McLeod or JQ. Those guys will get more out of a 3rd line wing spot than a 4th line center spot.
 

Bleedred

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Boyle is very good at his job, and realistically 4th line center isn't a spot you want any of your prospects in. If they're worth your while they'll be in the top-9.

4th line C is for plugs like Coleman to be aiming for, not real prospects like McLeod or JQ. Those guys will get more out of a 3rd line wing spot than a 4th line center spot.

Which is why I don't like the idea of McLeod or Quenneville playing 4th line C whenever I would see people posting it in projected line combinations.

Although I do think it would be pretty sweet if we could move into the 21st century and abandon the idea of needing a grit//sandpaper 4th line, made up of guys like Jordin Tootoo, Bobby Farnham, Rod Pelley, or god forbid goons that are BAD at NHL level hockey like Gazdic, Janssen, PL3, Barch, Peters, Boulton, etc.

Fiddler and Boyle aren't bad signings for the 4th line. We just got Fiddler when he was old and not very good anymore, and loaded him up with a career high of 70.7% defensive zone starts.
 

VoidCreature

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He's been above 51% every year of his career. He was 54.6% last year and won the 7th most FO's in the league. He was in the top 25 in % for guys who took at least 500 faceoffs.

If he was just a little better at goal scoring he'd be a perennial Selke candidate. Seriously underrated.
 

JimEIV

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If he was just a little better at goal scoring he'd be a perennial Selke candidate. Seriously underrated.

Yeah. At some point the Selke has become the best two way forward not the best defensive forward the award was supposed to be.
 

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Yeah. At some point the Selke has become the best two way forward not the best defensive forward the award was supposed to be.

No doubt. Zajac has been the best defensive forward in the league for years now. He just doesn't score enough points to be considered for the award. I have never, even in the defensive glory years of this team, seen a player as perfect positionally as Zajac. He is in the correct spot 99.9% of the time in the defensive zone. You might see him slightly out of position once or twice a year. It's really incredible.
 

DerekDevils30

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No doubt. Zajac has been the best defensive forward in the league for years now. He just doesn't score enough points to be considered for the award. I have never, even in the defensive glory years of this team, seen a player as perfect positionally as Zajac. He is in the correct spot 99.9% of the time in the defensive zone. You might see him slightly out of position once or twice a year. It's really incredible.

We could have a sensational 3rd line/checking unit in 2-3 years with Zajac as the 3C. Some awesome possibilities with players like Quenneville, Speers, Anderson, etc playing on his wing. Here's to hoping Hischier and McLeod allow that to happen.

I shudder to think how much worse this team would have been without Zajac last season.
 

Missionhockey

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No doubt. Zajac has been the best defensive forward in the league for years now. He just doesn't score enough points to be considered for the award. I have never, even in the defensive glory years of this team, seen a player as perfect positionally as Zajac. He is in the correct spot 99.9% of the time in the defensive zone. You might see him slightly out of position once or twice a year. It's really incredible.

Wait what? Bergeron only scored eight more points this year than Zajac. To be honest, I can't think of a scenario I would rather have Zajac than Bergeron. Zajac is a good defensive forward and player in general, but lets not overrate him.
 

Stephen Gionta

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Last season? How about the last four?

Yeah. In my opinion, Zajac has been the Devils best player the last 4 seasons. The guy is SO important to this team. Notice how since he entered the NHL, every single star winger that we've had plays better with Zajac. Parise, Kovalchuk, Hall, Jagr?


Wait what? Bergeron only scored eight more points this year than Zajac. To be honest, I can't think of a scenario I would rather have Zajac than Bergeron. Zajac is a good defensive forward and player in general, but lets not overrate him.

I think Zajac is a top 3-5 defensive forward in the NHL.
 

Oneiro

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Not related to Boyle, but, I'll be so happy to see Zajac raise the cup one day.

Really hope it happens. What an under-appreciated player and Devil.
 

Missionhockey

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I think Zajac is a top 3-5 defensive forward in the NHL.

That may even be true, but in terms of shot suppression, Bergeron is in a league of his own.

At even strength:

Kopitar TOI: 1205.6 Corsi Against: 1017
Toews TOI: 1163.1 Corsi Against: 1084
Zajac TOI: 1178.2 Corsi Against: 1047

Bergeron TOI: 1120.4 Corsi Against: 833

Zajac is great and in terms of the best defensive centers in the NHL he more than holds his own, but lets not overrate him.

www.hockey-reference.com is where I got these stats in case anyone was wondering.
 

New Jersey

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I don't think Zajac has ever once been "overrated" by anyone devoted to this hockey team. Hell, he's earned plenty of criticism and it's been justified, but he is absolutely the most underappreciated defensive forward in hockey over the last 5-7 years, throughout the National, that is.

When you weigh his total contribution to the team in all three zones over his career, relative to the performance of the team since 2012, he's earned his money.
 

glenwo2

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Not related to Boyle, but, I'll be so happy to see Zajac raise the cup one day.

Really hope it happens. What an under-appreciated player and Devil.

Andy Greene says "Hi".

258f0896b15945b69f5d500a67ac978e.jpg




Anyway, looking forward to Brian Boyle to pissing off the Rags and their fans with his "work" on the ice.
 

Tretyak 20

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Yeah. At some point the Selke has become the best two way forward not the best defensive forward the award was supposed to be.

Just like the Norris long ago became the best offensive defenseman award. As a Devils fan I will always be seriously pissed Stevens never won that award.
 

JimEIV

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Just like the Norris long ago became the best offensive defenseman award. As a Devils fan I will always be seriously pissed Stevens never won that award.

I still complain about that 1994 Norris trophy.

I was living in Boston at the time and saw Ray Bourque on a regular basis during that time....Never in a million years would I choose him over Scott Stevens.

Unless it was to break plates in All-Star game.
 

DerekDevils30

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He is a great presence for a young team looking to break out. I'm still surprised how good his hands are in tight. I remember he made some very skillful plays in the first round against Washington last playoffs including a sublime behind the back pass to set up an OT winner
 

Tundra

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I don't think Zajac has ever once been "overrated" by anyone devoted to this hockey team. Hell, he's earned plenty of criticism and it's been justified, but he is absolutely the most underappreciated defensive forward in hockey over the last 5-7 years, throughout the National, that is.

When you weigh his total contribution to the team in all three zones over his career, relative to the performance of the team since 2012, he's earned his money.

He became overrated when he received that ridiculous contract. He was underrated and underpaid on his prior contract, thanks to solid play and favorable line combinations.
 

Ripshot 43

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Saw a decent amount of this guy with the Rangers and with the Lightning. Love the signing in the sense of bringing in a vet who won't back down and someone who can help protect all the kids in the lineup.

To think that Wood is going to learn from Boyle must be sickening to teams in the Metro.

Most of us were right about Boyle (minus the normal few that try to troll), but this guy above got it spot on.
 

New Jersey

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He became overrated when he received that ridiculous contract. He was underrated and underpaid on his prior contract, thanks to solid play and favorable line combinations.

wow that post didn't age well. i agree he's been almost invisible this year but he's getting away with it because of his contract, return from injury, the fact that he's not a liability on the ice and the team's so good.

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