Devils 2018-19 team discussion (news and notes) - Preseason

[Missionhockey]

So...

Greene-Vatanen
Butcher-Severson (?)
Smith-Santini (?)

Lovejoy/Gryba?

 

[MartyOwns]

how far we go might hinge on zacha’s performance this year...i really hope he’s up for it. that second line worries me a bit, you’ve got 3 streaky players

 

[Darkauron]

Greene-vat
Butcher-Sevs
Smith - Mueller

Suck joy, Santini

My guess.

 

[theoptimist]

I’d rather experiment with Mueller-Vatanen then watch Greene-Vatanen. #yikes

 

[Better Call Sal]

how far we go might hinge on zacha’s performance this year...i really hope he’s up for it. that second line worries me a bit, you’ve got 3 streaky players

This is definitely the year that he has to take that next step offensively. Think he has all the capability in the world, he just needs to develop that mentality that he can shoot and take over a game.

I wouldn't be shocked if Palms is moved to that line to spread things out. We know Bratt can keep up with that first line at least and Zacha-Palms had good chemistry last year for the time they were together.

 

[Missionhockey]

Greene is still better than Mueller. It's unfortunate but he's probably still our best LD followed by Butcher. Butcher is the only alternative for the top pair and that is a huge jump.

 

[Nocashstyle]

I like the Mojo - Zach’s - Bratt line.

Mojo and Bratt have seemed to have some chemistry, and I can see Zacha’s game complimenting them nicely...maybe the two Swedes slickness and creativity can give Zacha some confidence too

 

[Nubmer6]

I like the Mojo - Zach’s - Bratt line.

Mojo and Bratt have seemed to have some chemistry, and I can see Zacha’s game complimenting them nicely...maybe the two Swedes slickness and creativity can give Zacha some confidence too

I dunno. That line REALLY needs a shooter.

 

[Classic Devil]

I dunno. That line REALLY needs a shooter.

Maybe... but maybe having three passers will incentivize each one of them to shoot more? Might be worth experimenting.

 

[MartyOwns]

This is definitely the year that he has to take that next step offensively. Think he has all the capability in the world, he just needs to develop that mentality that he can shoot and take over a game.

I wouldn't be shocked if Palms is moved to that line to spread things out. We know Bratt can keep up with that first line at least and Zacha-Palms had good chemistry last year for the time they were together.

i’ve been surprised to see bratt consistently on the 2nd line. lappin took his place, now palms. i think the coaching staff thinks they can get more out of bratt over the course of the season if they give him less time per game. having him develop some chemistry with zacha would solve a lot of problems...but yeah i’m sure at some point at least we’ll see him back on the top line.

 

[Billdo]

PTSD from guys like Pelley and Sestito playing 100 or so games at the NHL level. The Devils are carrying 2 extra players to Europe and people are going to flip out when they find out who those players are.

Just like last year with Gibbons and Coleman over Blandisi and JQ.

 

[Bleedred]

pls no Greene-Santini

That pairing might be alright, but there AIDS as a top pairing.

 

[MartyOwns]

serious question for people who don’t want greene on our top pairing during the regular season, who would you like there, exactly? do you want will butcher defending against every team’s best players? think about what that would look like

 

[Cheddabombs]

I just don't want to see Greene and Santini anymore. Let the pairing die, it's not good.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I know Corey Masisak has shown (albeit from a small sample size) that Butcher and Vatanen as a pair actually showed some positives. Wouldn't mind trying to give Greene-Severson and Butcher-Vatanen a shot as the top 4 with some mixture of Mueller/Smith-Lovejoy/Santini on the bottom pair to start.

Can always mix it up if it goes to hell fast.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

serious question for people who don’t want greene on our top pairing during the regular season, who would you like there, exactly? do you want will butcher defending against every team’s best players? think about what that would look like

I think he’d be fine with Vatanen again. With Santini he’d get caved in.

 

[Better Call Sal]

For those with the Athletic, here's the full article again, but here's the blurb on Butcher-Vatanen:

Handicapping the Devils' position battles, part II:...

Butcher only played 66:24 with Vatanen last season, but the results in a small sample were great across the board — more than 58 percent of the shot attempts, 62.5 percent of the high-danger chances, nearly 56 percent of the overall scoring chances. Those minutes included a lot of offensive zone starts, but there’s been plenty written about how the effects of zone starts might be overstated at times.

Worthy of a look at the very least.

 

[Zippy316]

I know Corey Masisak has shown (albeit from a small sample size) that Butcher and Vatanen as a pair actually showed some positives. Wouldn't mind trying to give Greene-Severson and Butcher-Vatanen a shot as the top 4 with some mixture of Mueller/Smith-Lovejoy/Santini on the bottom pair to start.

Can always mix it up if it goes to hell fast.

When Butcher and Vatanen are together, what do you think the game situation was most of the time?

It shouldn’t be that surprising they post good numbers together. If they didn’t, it would be disappointing. Throw them up against a top line from the first minute and I doubt their numbers look as good.

Mueller is unfortunately our best bet in a top pairing role with Vatanen. He’s our only defender that adds some size, physicality, and has some wheels. Plus it allows us to spread out the rest of the minutes evenly rather than put all of our eggs in one basket with Greene - Vatanen.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If Smith actually sticks we’ll have a pretty impressive group of offensive dmen. Vatanen, Butcher, Severson, and Smith can all create offense. No clue how they’re gonna look defensively though. We need prime Cory back to help out.

 

[Samuel Desbiens]

Via Igor Eronko : Yegor Yakovlev on being sent to farm team: 'It was a surprise for me. But I was told I have to adjust and it takes time, so I’m OK with that. I’m not going to go home, I want to prove I belong to the NHL'.

A pretty good news for the Devils, he could be a good depth defenseman after a brief moment in the AHL.

 

[Call Me Al]

yeah thats good news

 

[Blender]

Yakovlev showed some good promise at least.

 

[Nubmer6]

Guess we still have Lappin.

 

[HBK27]

Yakovlev showed some good promise at least.

Yeah, let him start in the AHL...see what we have in Smith at the NHL level for a few games and go from there.

 

[My3Sons]

pls no Greene-Santini

Coleman behind STAFFORD with STAFFORD playing his off wing? What did Coleman do to upset the staff?