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

[Oneiro]

Smith is ultimately the Greene replacement - guy who can play all-situations and give you 20+ min. a night. Severson can be the offensive 20+ guy on another pairing. I see the future as:

Smith-X
X-Severson
Mueller-Butcher

With the two 'X's hopefully being guys with size. We talked about this a few weeks ago, but it's hard to imagine a defense that has Vatanen, Walsh, Butcher and Smith on it. At least two of the first three guys have to go.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

This is Hynes we are talking about. No way Smith unseats Greene.

Mueller-Vatanen
Smith-Severson
Greene-Butcher/Santini

 

[My3Sons]

Mueller-Vatanen
Smith-Severson
Greene-Butcher/Santini

Not enough Lovejoy.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Is Boyle eligible to play on Friday?

 

[Nubmer6]

Updated Kincode:

Hall​	Hischier​	Palmieri​		Mueller​	Vatanen​		Kinkaid​
Johansson​	Zacha​	Bratt​		Greene​	Severson​		Schneider​
Coleman​	Zajac​	Anderson​		Butcher​	Lovejoy​		Lack​
Wood​	Seney​	Dea​		Yakovlev​	Santini​
Boyle​	Noeson​	Stafford​

[TBODY]
[/TR]

[/TBODY]

 

[Emperoreddy]

Is Boyle eligible to play on Friday?

He was eligible to play tonight .

 

[Devils Dominion]

He was eligible to play tonight .

Hopefully he's back in on Friday

 

[Emperoreddy]

So it’s thanksgiving and we are 5 points out with a game in hand on basically everyone.

Not ideal for sure, but it’s still doable.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I was concerned that Joey or Seney would get injured in the NHL since neither are physically ready.

Hope Joey is not hurt too badly.

I'll bet Hynes puts Noesen back in.
If Boyle is ready he needs to play tomorrow

What was Boyles injury, concussion?

 

[Better Call Sal]

So, how many goals does that make for Zacha during his goal streak?

 

[Blender]

After a rough few first games possession wise, Bratt has a 54.36% on-ice CF% (1st), 53.7% on-ice FF% (4th), 54.43 on-ice SF% (5th), 62.5% on-ice GF% (4th), and but does have a 11.63% on-ice Sh% (2nd) which may drop a slightly. The only 5on5 goals he's been on for against were in his first game back. None against in the 4 games since.

He also has 5 points in 7 games which is a 58 point pace over 82 games, and a 3.88 points/60 which is by far the best on the team. I don't think you can underestimate how big of an impact having a legit player on the 2nd line has been.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

If Mueller isn't playing above his head and just fooling us all ATM and Smith joins the team this off-season, I'm leaning into the "trade Butch" territory. It would be nice to see what could be done to piece him together to get more help up front. He is a great player and it would sting to see him excel somewhere else, but I'd rather that, then bury him until Greene is gone and/or shove him on the right side.

I'm not fully there yet, but if everything continues the way it looks until the off-season, I think I will be.

Mueller is a great value contract. He salary is only $850K. He will be RFA after this season but still will be a great value given that he will not be making UFA money.

As far as trading Butcher, that could be a decision Shero would have to make near the deadline if the Devils are not in playoff contention. One scenario for a team valuing Butcher highly is a contender that needs a PP QB before the deadline. If we got a solid offer I would be curious to see what Shero would do. The key to getting good value for a player is trade him when another team has a need, not when it fits your schedule. It will be interesting to see how the D shakes out over the next year or so.

 

[devilsblood]

This is Hynes we are talking about. No way Smith unseats Greene.

Well I'm of the mind that trading Butcher makes sense.

But ZBC's pairing above where Smith and Butcher are the bottom pair could work. I think they'd be exposed at times, and may not be a pair you want anywhere near a late game 1 goal lead, but they could also be ridiculously dominant possession wise vs opposing 3rd and 4th liners.

 

[AfroThunder396]

It should be noted that Pavel Zacha has more goals than Matt Barzal this season.

 

[devilsblood]

After a rough few first games possession wise, Bratt has a 54.36% on-ice CF% (1st), 53.7% on-ice FF% (4th), 54.43 on-ice SF% (5th), 62.5% on-ice GF% (4th), and but does have a 11.63% on-ice Sh% (2nd) which may drop a slightly. The only 5on5 goals he's been on for against were in his first game back. None against in the 4 games since.

He also has 5 points in 7 games which is a 58 point pace over 82 games, and a 3.88 points/60 which is by far the best on the team. I don't think you can underestimate how big of an impact having a legit player on the 2nd line has been.

Ya he is back to looking like the impactful player he was early last year.

Lots of jump in his step, creating really well for others, though he doesn't really create much for himself.

As per his on ice shooting %, he is very economical with his shot selection, he creates such good looks, and rarely just throws it at the net himself that I think he'll maintain a pretty high %.

 

[devilsblood]

It should be noted that Pavel Zacha has more goals than Matt Barzal this season.

Twice as many! In less games even.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

It should be noted that Zacha has simplified his game, is letting Bratt and MOJO do their thing on the outside and driving the high danger areas. He is on pace for over 20 goals this season now.

 

[tr83]

Updated Kincode:

Hall​	Hischier​	Palmieri​		Mueller​	Vatanen​		Kinkaid​
Johansson​	Zacha​	Bratt​	Greene​	Severson​	Schneider​
Coleman​	Zajac​	Anderson​	Butcher​	Lovejoy​	Lack​
Wood​	Seney​	Dea​	Yakovlev​	Santini​
Boyle​	Noeson​	Stafford​

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Why isn't Stafford a bench?

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

It should be noted that Pavel Zacha has more goals than Matt Barzal this season.

Sounds better when you say he has double the number!

 

[devilsblood]

I was concerned that Joey or Seney would get injured in the NHL since neither are physically ready.

Hope Joey is not hurt too badly.

I'll bet Hynes puts Noesen back in.
If Boyle is ready he needs to play tomorrow

What was Boyles injury, concussion?

Joey is a pretty strong looking kid, I don't think being physically ready is an issue with him.

Nor Seney really. He could stand to get stronger, but so could Nico, and Bratt, and Butcher......

 

[devilsblood]

Mueller-Vatanen
Smith-Severson
Greene-Butcher/Santini

I'm doubting Smith is in the top 4 next year. I think he get's at least a year of 3rd pairing minutes.

 

[devilsblood]

Mueller-Vatanen
Smith-Severson
Greene-Butcher/Santini

I'm doubting Smith is in the top 4 next year. I think he get's at least a year of 3rd pairing minutes.

 

[devilsblood]

wtf?

 

[devilsblood]

Smith is ultimately the Greene replacement - guy who can play all-situations and give you 20+ min. a night. Severson can be the offensive 20+ guy on another pairing. I see the future as:

Smith-X
X-Severson
Mueller-Butcher

With the two 'X's hopefully being guys with size. We talked about this a few weeks ago, but it's hard to imagine a defense that has Vatanen, Walsh, Butcher and Smith on it. At least two of the first three guys have to go.

Mueller on the 3rd pair?

I'm foreseeing a Mueller Sev's top pair in the not too distant future.

 

[NJDevils17]

FWIW, I think this is the best Severson has played since the start of his career.

14 pts in 20 games, with awesome even strength production. He looks like a real contributor to this team not just a plug and play guy. He did just turn 24.

 

[haak84]

devils need to lock kinkaid up now. his price is rising every game. he currently is the best goalie for the money.