Devils 2018-19 team discussion (news and notes) - part IX

[FooteBahl]

It's hard to be mad at 2016 when we ended up getting Bratt and Anderson. And McLeod will be *something*, I can't see him busting out of the league entirely.

Very true. I just consider Bratt our first rounder from that year. Everything else is gravy.

 

[bodda]

In 22:35 minutes of 3vs3 play this year we have been outshot 26-5. We actually have a winning record of face-offs too, 18-17, so it's not like we never get possession either.
That's just.. wow..

 

[None Shall Pass]

Yeah, I'm not giving totally up on Zacha. And like everyone else on the team, I truly hope he plays better, because that means our team is playing better and we win games.

I just think he sucks right now/this season in general. He's competent-to-pretty-good defensively, but a second line center needs to be more than that. Bratt and MoJo are scoring despite him, not because of him.

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

I don't think we should hold the fact that his dad is a nutcase against him. That's not his fault.

The other stuff are legit criticism's, but you can't judge him for his dad.

I'm not saying that it's Zacha's fault that his dad is a nutcase... I'm saying that our scouts should've picked that up because it's a clear red flag that should've been identified.

Again, that was just a terrible pick which ever way we want to slice it.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I'm not saying that it's Zacha's fault that his dad is a nutcase... I'm saying that our scouts should've picked that up because it's a clear red flag that should've been identified.

Again, that was just a terrible pick which ever way we want to slice it.

Yep, there is no way to justify it at this point

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Now? Behind this dumpster fire defensive play? Let's not. We've already killed Cory and are in the process of killing Kinkaid.

The goaltending is worse than the defense. Much much worse.

 

[Triumph]

I'm not on the anti Hynes train that has had a lot of passengers lately but I will say this. I don't get why Santini hasn't been given a shot over Lovejoy, Mueller should be back in, and Coleman is being underused. He's almost built for OT yet never sees ice.

I'd be surprised if Santini doesn't play in one of the next two games.

I don't really know how Coleman is 'built for OT'. He's good at winning board battles and 1 on 1 takeaways in open ice, but I don't think he's that great with the puck in open ice or at finding teammates in said open ice.

 

[Call Me Al]

he’s good on the rush though. look at his short handed goals - he can play those one on one rushes and get a good shot off, and he’s defensively responsible. it’s not an accident that he’s one of our top goal scorers

 

[Call Me Al]

aside from that, whatever we’re doing isn’t working i think most fans want to try something new

 

[MartyOwns]

The goaltending is worse than the defense. Much much worse.

they’re terrible in concert with each other, to the point where we recently had defensemen tripping over each other to bat the puck into our own net and goalies throwing gloved pucks on opposition sticks in OT. in my opinion it’s pointless to debate which is worse than the other, because it’s a complete team wide tire fire right now

 

[Call Me Al]

i feel confident saying that if team defense was better the goalies wouldn’t be playing this badly. and when the problem goes on this long you’d like the team to at least take a step back and rebuild from the defensive system out but it just seems like they are going to do the same thing until it maybe works

 

[MartyOwns]

singing kumbaya in the locker room together?

 

[BenedictGomez]

Yeah I would HOPE most fans would give their younger players the benefit of the doubt until they prove they can't produce at this level. Otherwise you're just a cynic more than a fan.

This is a good point; that said, I've seen enough of Zacha's skill set to know that he's never going to be a serious scoring threat at the NHL lever, regardless of whether he's 19, 20, 21, 25, etc...

 

[Triumph]

he’s good on the rush though. look at his short handed goals - he can play those one on one rushes and get a good shot off, and he’s defensively responsible. it’s not an accident that he’s one of our top goal scorers

I don't think you want 1 on 1 rushes with a guy getting a shot off in OT. I know the Devils have been awful in OT this year but that's not a winning strategy either. Part of why Vatanen's so bad in OT is that he thinks the game like Coleman.

 

[NJDevs26]

I don't think we should hold the fact that his dad is a nutcase against him. That's not his fault.

The other stuff are legit criticism's, but you can't judge him for his dad.

If anything some might see that as a positive in the sense that there would be more development once you got Pavel on his own and away from the home influence. Bratt’s development curve spiked once he started working with the mental health coach or whatever specialist it was.

This is a good point; that said, I've seen enough of Zacha's skill set to know that he's never going to be a serious scoring threat at the NHL lever, regardless of whether he's 19, 20, 21, 25, etc...

Yeah I think we’re at the point where it’s safe to say Zacha tops out as a bottom sixer, especially after he’s gone so far backwards this year offensively.

 

[BenedictGomez]

It was a dumb pick back then and it’s blowing up in our face today. To this day, I can’t figure out how we passed on Ivan Provorov.

Agree with your entire post, as for the bolded, the answer is one word: Russian.

I'd be surprised if Santini doesn't play in one of the next two games.

I'd be surprised if he does.

If I had my way, Santini & Mueller would be in.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

they’re terrible in concert with each other, to the point where we recently had defensemen tripping over each other to bat the puck into our own net and goalies throwing gloved pucks on opposition sticks in OT. in my opinion it’s pointless to debate which is worse than the other, because it’s a complete team wide tire fire right now

The team stinks and I’ve totally lost interest but we wouldn’t be on track for a top 5 pick if we got anything close to league average goaltending. Both goalies are terrible. Kinkaid could probably still be an okay backup but is definitely not a starter. Cory is barely an AHL goalie at this point. It’s sad.

 

[RNCDevil]

I think you mean 2015 and 16. The 2017 draft could turn the corner for us with Nico, Boqvist, Walsh, Studenic and Talvitie. That looks like it could be a phenomenal draft.

Sorry, 14, 15 and 16. Q and Zacha, I'm hopeful are at least serviceable, but really not getting impact from Q, Z, M.

 

[devilsblood]

This is a good point; that said, I've seen enough of Zacha's skill set to know that he's never going to be a serious scoring threat at the NHL lever, regardless of whether he's 19, 20, 21, 25, etc...

But do you see it as a skill set issue? I think he has the tools, just doesn't know how to use them.

 

[devilsblood]

I don't really know how Coleman is 'built for OT'. He's good at winning board battles and 1 on 1 takeaways in open ice, but I don't think he's that great with the puck in open ice or at finding teammates in said open ice.

Good speed and an aptitude for defensive play. Maybe we can actually get the puck back from the opposition.

Perfect fit? Maybe not but at this point why not try it?

 

[OmNomNom]

i still think zacha looks better now than he did before being sent down. the guy is less tentative on the puck

 

[mtnet]

Even when Zacha is doing the right things or in the right place, most times he just can't score and the no assist thing is completely mind boggling. I know he did have one or two that were taken away which is even more of a cruel joke. Even fringe NHL players manage to pot goals or tally the occasional assist, even by wayward chance here and there. I'm convinced the kid is just hopelessly cursed, as is Cory.

Like that Ducks game. The one game in 20 that Cory played well enough to win, he gets a 3g beat down by his own team, one of them batting a puck out of mid-air into our net while standing in the crease. You can't make this shit up!

 

[NorwegianDevil]

Why was Zacha rated so highly?

36 points in 34 games in the OHL isnt thaaat good?..

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

Even when Zacha is doing the right things or in the right place, most times he just can't score and the no assist thing is completely mind boggling. I know he did have one or two that were taken away which is even more of a cruel joke. Even fringe NHL players manage to pot goals or tally the occasional assist, even by wayward chance here and there. I'm convinced the kid is just hopelessly cursed, as is Cory.

Like that Ducks game. The one game in 20 that Cory played well enough to win, he gets a 3g beat down by his own team, one of them batting a puck out of mid-air into our net while standing in the crease. You can't make this **** up!

Tim Sestito says "hi" 102GP 0 goals.

 

[Billdo]

I don't really know how Coleman is 'built for OT'. He's good at winning board battles and 1 on 1 takeaways in open ice, but I don't think he's that great with the puck in open ice or at finding teammates in said open ice.

He creates turnovers, is a bitch on the forecheck, and cycles well. Kind of obvious.