Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) - season begins!

[Better Call Sal]

Tomorrow is definitely going to be a difficult test, especially coming off the travel from the trip. If they can stick with them the whole way, that will say a lot about this team in my eyes.

The Oilers and Panthers games are the ones that I really expect us to take.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

November is ridiculous schedule-wise. League needs to update their algorithm or something.

Hopefully all three of those guys aren't out long. MoJo's collision didn't SEEM that violent, but you never know with concussions. Does he have a history?

 

[Cheddabombs]

I just don't know how we'll continue to fare with these injuries, it's just absurd. The first line can only carry the team so far and they have to make up for our terrible defense.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I just don't know how we'll continue to fare with these injuries, it's just absurd. The first line can only carry the team so far and they have to make up for our terrible defense.

We are missing 3 top forwards.
That's a lot and dont think other teams are suffering so many injuries to top players like us.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

We are missing 3 top forwards.
That's a lot and dont think other teams are suffering so many injuries to top players like us.

Three top forwards plus a minute eating penalty killing dman on an already weak d unit if Santini is out for an extended period. I'll be happy with .500 hockey without these guys.

 

[Cheddabombs]

We are missing 3 top forwards.
That's a lot and dont think other teams are suffering so many injuries to top players like us.

maybe not now but the Ducks had a ton of injuries to their top guys, more than us.

But we are very banged up with key injuries

 

[None Shall Pass]

Severson and Zacha are both tied with 4 points in 13 games. Both a +1.

Lovejoy has 3 points in 6 games. +3.

 

[Devils Dominion]

REFUSE to lose to the Blues

 

[Cheddabombs]

REFUSE to lose to the Blues

They're the best team in the west...

 

[Devils Dominion]

They're the best team in the west...

They also have blue uniforms and play in Missouri.

 

[BenedictGomez]

They also have blue uniforms and play in Missouri.

They're not invincible, Adidas ruined their uniforms too.

 

[njdevs1337]

They are developing zacha the wrong way. Eveyone is putting him down because players like barzal and rantanen are doing so well. Barzal is centering Ladd and eberle and rantanen is playing with MacKinnon. Zacha is playing with garbage players. Hayes and boyle. How is he suppose to do anything with that. I don' think he'll be a center long term. He plays better as a wing. Hopefully when zajac comes back they put him on the wing and give him good players to play with. They have to put him in a spot to succeed. Hynes had him on the top line for 3 games and then moved him. Give him a bigger shot than that to build chemistry. That takes some time. Put him on nicos wing. Nico makes players on his line better. We want nico and zacha to be the future if our team. Develop them together. They are wasting zacha away putting him on the 3rd line. Boost his confidence.

 

[Zippy316]

They are developing zacha the wrong way. Eveyone is putting him down because players like barzal and rantanen are doing so well. Barzal is centering Ladd and eberle and rantanen is playing with MacKinnon. Zacha is playing with garbage players. Hayes and boyle. How is he suppose to do anything with that. I don' think he'll be a center long term. He plays better as a wing. Hopefully when zajac comes back they put him on the wing and give him good players to play with. They have to put him in a spot to succeed. Hynes had him on the top line for 3 games and then moved him. Give him a bigger shot than that to build chemistry. That takes some time. Put him on nicos wing. Nico makes players on his line better. We want nico and zacha to be the future if our team. Develop them together. They are wasting zacha away putting him on the 3rd line. Boost his confidence.

He was given an opportunity with Hall and Palmieri to start the year.

The reason he's where he is is he hasn't performed that well, but the Devils are still using him in a lot of important situations. He's been out there on the PK, PP, 3-on-3, 4-on-4, etc. So it's not like they're wasting him away on the third line.

 

[MichaelJ]

He was given an opportunity with Hall and Palmieri to start the year.

The reason he's where he is is he hasn't performed that well, but the Devils are still using him in a lot of important situations. He's been out there on the PK, PP, 3-on-3, 4-on-4, etc. So it's not like they're wasting him away on the third line.

Yea, Zacha was given a chance earlier. He wasn’t terrible but he didn’t seize the opportunity either. I really like the idea of him on Nico’s wing but I don’t think that could happen until Zajac returns.

 

[The Devil In I]

They are developing zacha the wrong way. Eveyone is putting him down because players like barzal and rantanen are doing so well. Barzal is centering Ladd and eberle and rantanen is playing with MacKinnon. Zacha is playing with garbage players. Hayes and boyle. How is he suppose to do anything with that. I don' think he'll be a center long term. He plays better as a wing. Hopefully when zajac comes back they put him on the wing and give him good players to play with. They have to put him in a spot to succeed. Hynes had him on the top line for 3 games and then moved him. Give him a bigger shot than that to build chemistry. That takes some time. Put him on nicos wing. Nico makes players on his line better. We want nico and zacha to be the future if our team. Develop them together. They are wasting zacha away putting him on the 3rd line. Boost his confidence.

While I agree that he's not being developed correctly (should have been back in junior last year)...he started the season as the top line center and he's been held pointless in 11 of 13 games this year. And it's not like he's regularly creating chances that his lower quality linemates haven't been able to finish. In a typical game he'll show some good board work in the offensive zone, take a hard high shot here and there, and otherwise be largely invisible. I agree that he should get moved to the wing because he hasn't shown what it takes to stick as a center.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

We don't have the personnel at the moment to move Zacha to wing. I'm sure he'll get shifted over when Zajac returns, if not sooner (when Johansson comes back).

"Invisible" is a bit harsh, I think, as a label for Zacha. It's pretty clear he can play a skill game, and a responsible game. At this point in his career, though, I just don't think he has the confidence as a player to play both simultaneously. Maybe it'll come.

 

[Lou is God]

Been out of the loop the last few days, what happened to Santini that he was a scratch last night? I know he was injured.

It seems like when he's out our defense is at it's worst. In fact I do know we're 0-2 in games he doesn't play.

 

[FooteBahl]

Been out of the loop the last few days, what happened to Santini that he was a scratch last night? I know he was injured.

It seems like when he's out our defense is at it's worst. In fact I do know we're 0-2 in games he doesn't play.

It sounds like he’s battling an injury that’s been lingering. They haven’t really said much though.

 

[Lou is God]

It sounds like he’s battling an injury that’s been lingering. They haven’t really said much though.

We need him healthy until we get better depth or we're going to have many nights like last night.

And I stand corrected, we're 0-1-1 without him.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

 

[Devils Dominion]

I thought Sunny left last year.

 

[Lou is God]

Was he a HF member or am I thinking of someone else?

 

[Darkauron]

I thought Sunny left last year.

Yeah I remember hearing that too. Strange.

 

[njdevs1337]

He was given an opportunity with Hall and Palmieri to start the year.

The reason he's where he is is he hasn't performed that well, but the Devils are still using him in a lot of important situations. He's been out there on the PK, PP, 3-on-3, 4-on-4, etc. So it's not like they're wasting him away on the third line.

I said in my post he was given 3 games. That's not a true chance

 

[Devils Dominion]

Yeah I remember hearing that too. Strange.

I'm almost certain that he left last year.
Maybe he came back at some point.

Big picture, not a big deal IMO.