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

[MadDevil]

I'm all for being patient with Zacha, but at some point he does need to start hitting the scoresheet. I'd like to think it will happen eventually, but sometimes it just doesn't.

 

[glenwo2]

Bratt has been too quiet of late

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I never heard so much discussion about a 20 to 30 point player. His future with the Devils, hopefully is as a 3rd line center who can contribute some offense.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I never heard so much discussion about a 20 to 30 point player. His future with the Devils, hopefully is as a 3rd line center who can contribute some offense.

PZ?

 

[Nubmer6]

I bet if Blackwood keeps churning out even the most average of starts, Cory probably doesn't get dressed into a game any time soon.

Blackwood may be suited for this team more than Corey.

Some goalies are more reactionary (they rely more on speed and athleticism like Hasek and Lundqvist) while others are more positional (like Marty). I feel with a strong defense, a positional goalie excels, while a reactionary goalie is better when you have a poor D (like we have).

I think Corey was more positional than reactionary, and at this point, he has no ability go get across the crease at all. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I swear that I heard him say Rollie Melanson coached him to play deeper in the net. If so, that takes away his positional play and compounds his issues. All I know is he sure looks small in net when he plays.

 

[Nubmer6]

I know someone mentioned it before but...

 

[bobilly45]

Blackwood may be suited for this team more than Corey.

Some goalies are more reactionary (they rely more on speed and athleticism like Hasek and Lundqvist) while others are more positional (like Marty). I feel with a strong defense, a positional goalie excels, while a reactionary goalie is better when you have a poor D (like we have).

I think Corey was more positional than reactionary, and at this point, he has no ability go get across the crease at all. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I swear that I heard him say Rollie Melanson coached him to play deeper in the net. If so, that takes away his positional play and compounds his issues. All I know is he sure looks small in net when he plays.

You're half right and wrong. Cory is a pure butterfly goalie, and has been since game 1. Brodeur was mostly a hybrid goalie until very late in his career when he was over 40 and then incorporated more butterfly techniques into his game.

Now I'm not an NHL goalie coach, but playing deeper in the net goes against everything a goalie is taught. Right off the bat you are making it much easier for the shooter to score by giving him more room to place a shot. This is a universal goalie rule no matter which style you play, butterfly or hybrid.

I strongly prefer, and play, a hybrid style. Imo a hybrid style is better in virtually all situations, except the 5hole, which that edge goes to the butterfly's.
Butterflys are taught to go down right away, which over time takes a toll on your legs/back.... ie cory,quick,rene etc.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

PZ?

Yep. At least I’m hoping.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I'm all for being patient with Zacha, but at some point he does need to start hitting the scoresheet. I'd like to think it will happen eventually, but sometimes it just doesn't.

If he played every game like the last one it will happen. He just isn’t doing that every game and that is why we are where we are.

He does the opposite of what players do when they force it. He shys away and gets discouraged when he plays well and doesn’t score.

I think some of it is definitely a maturity thing. Learning not to pout when the puck doesn’t go in for you.

 

[Emperoreddy]

You're half right and wrong. Cory is a pure butterfly goalie, and has been since game 1. Brodeur was mostly a hybrid goalie until very late in his career when he was over 40 and then incorporated more butterfly techniques into his game.

Now I'm not an NHL goalie coach, but playing deeper in the net goes against everything a goalie is taught. Right off the bat you are making it much easier for the shooter to score by giving him more room to place a shot. This is a universal goalie rule no matter which style you play, butterfly or hybrid.

I strongly prefer, and play, a hybrid style. Imo a hybrid style is better in virtually all situations, except the 5hole, which that edge goes to the butterfly's.
Butterflys are taught to go down right away, which over time takes a toll on your legs/back.... ie cory,quick,rene etc.

I don’t believe Cory ever played as deep in net during his good years as he does now.

He clearly doesn’t seem to trust his positioning. At least to me it seems that way b

 

[Devils Dominion]

It stinks that Hall is out tomorrow

He usually lights up Rawly

 

[Bleedred]

Blackwood may be suited for this team more than Corey.

Some goalies are more reactionary (they rely more on speed and athleticism like Hasek and Lundqvist) while others are more positional (like Marty). I feel with a strong defense, a positional goalie excels, while a reactionary goalie is better when you have a poor D (like we have).

I think Corey was more positional than reactionary, and at this point, he has no ability go get across the crease at all. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I swear that I heard him say Rollie Melanson coached him to play deeper in the net. If so, that takes away his positional play and compounds his issues. All I know is he sure looks small in net when he plays.

Others have also pointed this out, but I don't know. I just think Cory massively declined over the last several years. Not so much that the team didn't suit his play. It's easy to see when comparing 15-16 and earlier Cory to 16-17 and later Cory.

 

[haak84]

Hischier seems to be improving. Real solid December. He’s still developing right before our eyes. Would love to see a few multi point games (big games) in January.

 

[Bleedred]

You're half right and wrong. Cory is a pure butterfly goalie, and has been since game 1. Brodeur was mostly a hybrid goalie until very late in his career when he was over 40 and then incorporated more butterfly techniques into his game.

Now I'm not an NHL goalie coach, but playing deeper in the net goes against everything a goalie is taught. Right off the bat you are making it much easier for the shooter to score by giving him more room to place a shot. This is a universal goalie rule no matter which style you play, butterfly or hybrid.

I strongly prefer, and play, a hybrid style. Imo a hybrid style is better in virtually all situations, except the 5hole, which that edge goes to the butterfly's.
Butterflys are taught to go down right away, which over time takes a toll on your legs/back.... ie cory,quick,rene etc.

Lundqvist was able to make a career out of playing on the goal line successfully. There aren't many other who were able to do it successfully though.

It does seem like Cory is playing deeper this year than even the last couple years.

I always thought of Quick as less of a traditional butterfly goalie and one of the closest things we've seen to Hasek or Brodeur this era, as far as playing style goes.

 

[haak84]

Who is having a better season barzal or hischier? Barzal with a big game tonight but I think hischier has been better.

 

[Nubmer6]

You're half right and wrong. Cory is a pure butterfly goalie, and has been since game 1. Brodeur was mostly a hybrid goalie until very late in his career when he was over 40 and then incorporated more butterfly techniques into his game.

Now I'm not an NHL goalie coach, but playing deeper in the net goes against everything a goalie is taught. Right off the bat you are making it much easier for the shooter to score by giving him more room to place a shot. This is a universal goalie rule no matter which style you play, butterfly or hybrid.

I strongly prefer, and play, a hybrid style. Imo a hybrid style is better in virtually all situations, except the 5hole, which that edge goes to the butterfly's.
Butterflys are taught to go down right away, which over time takes a toll on your legs/back.... ie cory,quick,rene etc.

Oh... I certainly know you shouldn't play deeper. In fact, it's usually a sign of a goalie who's lost his confidence. I just thought I heard Corey say that he was told to play deeper when Rollie came here, which astounded me. I wish I kept the interview on my DVR. it was last year's 82 game odyssey and I was only half paying attention when I heard it, and never got back to confirm what I heard, but it certainly shocked me.

The only thing I could possibly image it helping is the time it takes to slide form post to post since you'd be moving a shorter distance, but it just seems asinine.

 

[JK3]

Oh... I certainly know you shouldn't play deeper. In fact, it's usually a sign of a goalie who's lost his confidence. I just thought I heard Corey say that he was told to play deeper when Rollie came here, which astounded me. I wish I kept the interview on my DVR. it was last year's 82 game odyssey and I was only half paying attention when I heard it, and never got back to confirm what I heard, but it certainly shocked me.

The only thing I could possibly image it helping is the time it takes to slide form post to post since you'd be moving a shorter distance, but it just seems asinine.

Yeah I remember hearing that, coming out and taking up more of the net against shooters is part of every goalies game and a sign of confidence, but I think it's more in reference to attacking or biting on plays too much which pulls him waaaay out of position. Cory's not very athletic and once he's down and out he struggles to get back into position. He's a technical goaltender where you try to take up as much space as you can, stay on your angles, drop down into the butterfly and let pucks hit you. The problem is he's way off on his angles and his positioning is poor, throw in that he can't move very well laterally and he's toast.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Was offline the last few days. Apologizes if this was mentioned in the GDT. Huge shout out to the guys for that performance against Boston. There is talk about being a "cap team". The team that played Thursday was not even close to being a "floor team". The floor is just under $59 million. The team played with about $47 million worth of player (if my math is correct).

The guys also deserve a shout out for being 2-0-1 without Hall.

Amazing how much better everyone looks when your goalie plays like MB2 did in Boston. 40 out of 42 was impressive.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Who is having a better season barzal or hischier? Barzal with a big game tonight but I think hischier has been better.

I really do not care about comparing Hischier to Barzal, but IMO both are improving this expected. Players production tends to rise until they are 23 or so. With respect to Barzal, his stats are down. IMO that is because he is no longer playing in a "fun and gun" system and he is now playing in tight games. Last year he was making highlight reel plays on goal 3 in 5-3 losses. This year he is helping his team win more games after they sustained a major loss (JT).

I thought Barzal might become a Duchene/O'Rielly type of player that puts up numbers but do not help their teams win games. Unfortunately it looks like Barzal may become a player that actually helps his team win games.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Just some fun stuff to enjoy:

Nico is on pace for a 60 point season if he plays all remaining games here on out. He did not have his 10th goal of the season last year until February 13th.

Palms is somehow a +3 on this team that has a -20 goal differential. His next goal will make it 4 straight 20 goal seasons, all with us once he arrived from Anaheim. I sincerely hope he gets an All-Star nod because he deserves it.

Hall is still on pace over an 82 game season to come around his point total of last year amazingly. His goals and shots per game are also right around his career average, so he's still playing as expected even while banged up.

Blake ****ing Coleman - 2 goals and 4 assists away from matching last year's output. This time last year he had 5 goals and 6 assists, he's doubled his goal output in the same span this year and is on pace for 25 goals.

Travis Zajac - Don't look now but Trav is on pace for another 40 point season. It would be the 8th time in his 13 year career that he would have reached this mark.

Great post. The biggest disappointment is no other young forward took a step forward offensively. Earlier in the year I would have put Mueller on the positive list but apparently the coaches are not impressed with his play. The young guys still have time to get it going.

Coleman does deserve more love. I think we are so used to his strong play we take it for granted. Tremendous value contract as well.

 

[Lateralous]

More referring to the fact that his game will inevitably regress for the next 5 games and then there will be another “good” game.

I think you’re underselling PZ. The lack of points is obviously maddening but I feel like it’s closer to 2 out of every 3 games he’s having an excellent overall game and we’re left lamenting the lack of points. At least since the return from Binghamton. Granted, I’ve missed several games lately but he almost always more assertive in the ones I do catch

 

[Maine Fan]

If he played every game like the last one it will happen. He just isn’t doing that every game and that is why we are where we are.

He does the opposite of what players do when they force it. He shys away and gets discouraged when he plays well and doesn’t score.

I think some of it is definitely a maturity thing. Learning not to pout when the puck doesn’t go in for you.

Simple get a shrink

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Devils are now 3-0-1 without Hall. They are 1-3 without Zacha. Hockey is a funny game.

 

[MichaelJ]

Oh ffs, MackBlack is going to win ROY, we won’t sell at the deadline, and the Devils will finish 9th in the conference.

 

[Emperoreddy]

6 goals and 1 assist since he got sent down.

Not amazing, but it’s defintjely a step in the right direction.