Devils 2018-19 team discussion (news and notes)

[Devils Dominion]

I've noticed a lot of hesitation to shoot this preseason

Hope they think shoot more and get more pucks on net.

It frustrated me this preseason

Too many shots passed up and not a lot of clean shots getting through.

 

[RangerDoggo]

I've noticed a lot of hesitation to shoot this preseason

That’s been a problem for years, and before the current coaching staff came in. All the same, the shots come and go over the course of the game. It’s weirdly uneven, but when they’re on, they’re on.

 

[Devils090]

Faceoff wins mean nothing when the team has their scoring chances killed by a plug playing way above his skill set.

>Zajac doesn’t win faceoffs on the PP
>actually he wins 61% of them
>whatever they don’t mean anything


Amazing stuff as always from you

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Devils have never been a sexy pick to finish high. Even when they were winning cups.

One thing I keep hearing get mentioned is that Hall isn't going to have the same season this year. What if he gets better? I mean it will be his second season with Nico, it could happen...

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Devils have never been a sexy pick to finish high. Even when they were winning cups.

One thing I keep hearing get mentioned is that Hall isn't going to have the same season this year. What if he gets better? I mean it will be his second season with Nico, it could happen...

he also missed like 2 weeks and had a nagging thumb injury the entire 2nd half of the year

is it likely? Probably not. Is it impossible? Nope.

 

[HBK27]

I stopped listening to the new PDOcast today when Dimitri put us only above five other teams in his watchability rankings. As per his Reddit AMA today, he put the Canes as the fifth team in the Metro to make the playoffs, just above us. Because that’s worked well the last twenty million times the “experts” and their “advanced” stats have predicted the exact same thing.

Respect is given, not earned. Unless it’s us, in which case, **** you, you’re not getting it.

I listened to that on my drive in this morning. Was a bit surprised how low they had the Devils ranked - seems like the list is mostly about star power and style of play really isn't considered. It was basically viewed as Hall and Nico and that's it. Not sure how that still keeps us behind a team like Montreal.

 

[Hypernova]

Skip to 6:15, Hynes talks about why Zajac is on the PP.

I bet Hynes loves this movie

 

[RangerDoggo]

I listened to that on my drive in this morning. Was a bit surprised how low they had the Devils ranked - seems like the list is mostly about star power and style of play really isn't considered. It was basically viewed as Hall and Nico and that's it. Not sure how that still keeps us behind a team like Montreal.

So he shifted the goalposts from last year when he had the Devils at 21 for style of play reasons. It helps that last season they made the list a little bit into the season.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

I listened to that on my drive in this morning. Was a bit surprised how low they had the Devils ranked - seems like the list is mostly about star power and style of play really isn't considered. It was basically viewed as Hall and Nico and that's it. Not sure how that still keeps us behind a team like Montreal.

A lot of rankings have the Devils in the 23-26 range that I've read.

I can certainly see why people would think that. The Devils were a neutral goal differential and negative shot differential team last year who relied tremendously on a career year by one player. They didn't add anyone of substance in the offseason. If they have the same possession and goal performance again they likely won't make the playoffs.

The upshot is that we have a lot of younger players with room to grow. Hischier obviously needs to take a step this year, but so do Zacha and Butcher. If all three of those guys get better this year I think the playoffs are within reach.

 

[Triumph]

That’s been a problem for years, and before the current coaching staff came in. All the same, the shots come and go over the course of the game. It’s weirdly uneven, but when they’re on, they’re on.

'Before the current coaching staff came in' - the Devils have 3 skaters from before the current coaching staff: Travis Zajac, Andy Greene, and Damon Severson. Maybe a hesitation to shoot isn't just a Devils thing.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

What do we think is realistic ice time for Wood this year?

Last year he averaged 11:30/gm at ES, 0:57 on the PP and 0:34 SH (12:28 total).

I can see the ES figures jumping up a little, but I'm hoping to see a big increase in PP time.

 

[palek1019]

A lot of rankings have the Devils in the 23-26 range that I've read.

I can certainly see why people would think that. The Devils were a neutral goal differential and negative shot differential team last year who relied tremendously on a career year by one player. They didn't add anyone of substance in the offseason. If they have the same possession and goal performance again they likely won't make the playoffs.

The upshot is that we have a lot of younger players with room to grow. Hischier obviously needs to take a step this year, but so do Zacha and Butcher. If all three of those guys get better this year I think the playoffs are within reach.

That and hopefully, a healthy MoJo, Palms, and Zajac. That second line is going to be crucial. It looks promising so far.

 

[Csonked Out]

What do we think is realistic ice time for Wood this year?

Last year he averaged 11:30/gm at ES, 0:57 on the PP and 0:34 SH (12:28 total).

I can see the ES figures jumping up a little, but I'm hoping to see a big increase in PP time.

He has looked good so far this preseason. He is one of the biggest dark horses in the league right now just due to th unknown.

 

[MartyOwns]

What do we think is realistic ice time for Wood this year?

Last year he averaged 11:30/gm at ES, 0:57 on the PP and 0:34 SH (12:28 total).

I can see the ES figures jumping up a little, but I'm hoping to see a big increase in PP time.

i would assume his ice time goes up, although i don’t know by how much. the question is, who’s ice time will be going down as a result

 

[HBK27]

A lot of rankings have the Devils in the 23-26 range that I've read.

I can certainly see why people would think that. The Devils were a neutral goal differential and negative shot differential team last year who relied tremendously on a career year by one player. They didn't add anyone of substance in the offseason. If they have the same possession and goal performance again they likely won't make the playoffs.

The upshot is that we have a lot of younger players with room to grow. Hischier obviously needs to take a step this year, but so do Zacha and Butcher. If all three of those guys get better this year I think the playoffs are within reach.

This was a "watchability" ranking though, not where they think the Devils will finish.

Devils were middle-of-the-pack in scoring and goals against last season, so scoring in their games should be close to league average. Even if they take a step back, it’s reasonable to assume they will at least be competing for a playoff spot. I wasn’t expecting us to be in the top half of the rankings, but was certainly lower than I expected. Certainly didn’t take into account the style of play or any players beyond Hall and Nico.

Teams such as Montreal, Arizona, Vancouver and Carolina were all listed ahead of us. None besides Carolina really projects to compete for a playoff spot and you could argue NJ’s star power versus any of those teams.

 

[Blender]

What do we think is realistic ice time for Wood this year?

Last year he averaged 11:30/gm at ES, 0:57 on the PP and 0:34 SH (12:28 total).

I can see the ES figures jumping up a little, but I'm hoping to see a big increase in PP time.

I'll predict about 14 minutes per game this year, however that splits out.

 

[JimEIV]

Amanda has nice handwriting.

 

[RangerDoggo]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Wood gets more ice time this season. He’s looked ready to go in his preseason outings.

Amanda has nice handwriting.

I honestly missed it. It’s pleasant to look at.

 

[AfroThunder396]

A lot of rankings have the Devils in the 23-26 range that I've read.

I can certainly see why people would think that. The Devils were a neutral goal differential and negative shot differential team last year who relied tremendously on a career year by one player. They didn't add anyone of substance in the offseason. If they have the same possession and goal performance again they likely won't make the playoffs.

The upshot is that we have a lot of younger players with room to grow. Hischier obviously needs to take a step this year, but so do Zacha and Butcher. If all three of those guys get better this year I think the playoffs are within reach.

That and hopefully, a healthy MoJo, Palms, and Zajac. That second line is going to be crucial. It looks promising so far.

And our goaltending largely sucked until the middle of February. Better play in the crease will do wonders for this team.

 

[RangerDoggo]

If we signed someone, the consensus among the media would be “why are they wasting such valuable cap space?” f*** what the “experts” think.

 

[Billdo]

Pretty nice

 

[JimEIV]

Pretty nice

I don't really pay much attention to these sort of things but it looks unfinished to me.

 

[billingtons ghost]

He has looked good so far this preseason. He is one of the biggest dark horses in the league right now just due to th unknown.

He had the speed two years ago.
Added the cornering last year.
Looks like this year he added silky smooth mitts.

I'm pretty psyched. Probably could've written this as haiku.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Love it. Much prefer the simplistic look as opposed to the ones with a million and one different images on it.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Wood and Bratt looked terrific in the games they played. Very excited.