Devils 2019-20 preseason thread (team discussion, news and notes) II

[Missionhockey]

So you want to sit a guy who by your own statement is better suited for the job in case there is an injury? That makes even less sense to me.

I think that major factors of a 4th liners role is to be aggressive on the forecheck, pressure the defense, and provide energy. I think Boqvist can do all those things just fine, plus they might be able to squeeze some 2nd PP time in for him. If that's how he starts the year then I don't think it doesn't make sense. I definitely don't think we should hand that spot to Wood just because he's less skilled. Besides, I don't know how anyone can say he isn't earning his spot right now. I was at the game last night and outside of the top line, he might have been the only one playing well.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

So you want to sit a guy who by your own statement is better suited for the job in case there is an injury? That makes even less sense to me.

Bastian isn’t better than Boqvist at anything other than being big. He’s not better suited for a role on this team and I like him.

 

[BenedictGomez]

This is just not the reality of the situation...they will play 9 minutes to 12 minutes a night and playing with Wood and Zacha would require a completely different style of play than playing with Hughes and Bratt.

You are going to take a guy and stick him with two grinders for 10 minutes a night and wonder why he isn't producing... it's not a good situation and we have seen that scenario played out before.

You're acting like Zacha & Wood are two 1970s enforcers with no offensive skill at all, which is weird.


It's not going to "stunt" Boqvist playing with Wood & Zacha in the least.

 

[JimEIV]

I think that major factors of a 4th liners role is to be aggressive on the forecheck, pressure the defense, and provide energy. I think Boqvist can do all those things just fine, plus they might be able to squeeze some 2nd PP time in for him. If that's how he starts the year then I don't think it doesn't make sense. I definitely don't think we should hand that spot to Wood just because he's less skilled. Besides, I don't know how anyone can say he isn't earning his spot right now. I was at the game last night and outside of the top line, he might have been the only one playing well.

For lack of a better analogy this seems like wanting to sit an offensive tackle because you really want a 5th receiver in the lineup..

 

[Cheddabombs]

I do believe that Shero has been involved in some trade talks and that a move could be made soon. I think he's looking for a way to get that LHD to play with Subban.

 

[JimEIV]

Definitely 3 hot hygienist and no dentist for my lineup

 

[Missionhockey]

For lack of a better analogy this seems like wanting to sit an offensive tackle because you really want a 5th receiver in the lineup..

Yeah...two players that play the same position is similar to a wide receiver playing offensive tackle.

 

[JimEIV]

Yeah...two players that play the same position is similar to a wide receiver playing offensive tackle.

You think Wood and Boqvist bring the same things to the table because they are both LW's?

 

[Comparison Ford]

i can’t seriously see him in either powerplay group unless we have injuries.

the way he’s been used in preseason, i feel like him being on the 2nd PP unit is almost a given.

PP1: Hall, Palmieri, Subban, Hughes, Simmonds

PP2: Bratt, Hischier, Boqvist, Gusev, Butcher

sucks for Zacha, but maybe he sneaks his way into one of those.

 

[JimEIV]

You're acting like Zacha & Wood are two 1970s enforcers with no offensive skill at all, which is weird.


It's not going to "stunt" Boqvist playing with Wood & Zacha in the least.

This is the essence of the problem as I see it....we have lots of guys who bring what Boqvist does who are better at it...we don't have any guys that bring what Wood does. If Boqvist should be in the lineup he should be replacing a player that he is better than for the job description....we have lots of scapels
and almost no hammers and most seem to want to add another scapels at the expense of a hammer.

This doesn't seem like a good plan to me.

 

[JimEIV]

Bastian isn’t better than Boqvist at anything other than being big. He’s not better suited for a role on this team and I like him.

You are playing Boqvist as the 4th line RW?

 

[Hisch13r]

This is the essence of the problem as I see it....we have lots of guys who bring what Boqvist does who are better at it...we don't have any guys that bring what Wood does. If Boqvist should be in the lineup he should be replacing a player that he is better than for the job description....we have lots of scapels
and almost no hammers and most seem to want to add another scapels at the expense of a hammer.

This doesn't seem like a good plan to me.

If a guy like Bastian or Hayden was close in impact to Boqvist then I'd agree but he blows away all the other options

 

[Emperoreddy]

the way he’s been used in preseason, i feel like him being on the 2nd PP unit is almost a given.

PP1: Hall, Palmieri, Subban, Hughes, Simmonds

PP2: Bratt, Hischier, Boqvist, Gusev, Butcher

sucks for Zacha, but maybe he sneaks his way into one of those.

Zacha doesn’t really have a place on the PP this year. Maybe as an extra shooter, but I rather the overall better player on there then a guy just to fit a role.

 

[MadDevil]

One could argue that right now Wood isn't even bringing what Wood brings to the table, so giving Boqvist 4th line + second PP minutes isn't the worst alternative.

 

[JimEIV]

If a guy like Bastian or Hayden was close in impact to Boqvist then I'd agree but he blows away all the other options

Honestly what you are saying seems so foreign to me....you seem to be looking at everyone as just a group of forwards and that is not at all how I see it.
A team is comprised of lots of different components with lots of different attributes....we can't have 12 sub 200lbs under 6' skilled forwards and 6 offensive puck moving defensemen.

Talk about replacing Wood Boqvist or vice versa is nonsensical in my mind it's like saying savory and sweet it's all food and jelly is better than mustard so put on the meatloaf and like it.

 

[Blender]

Right now I would go with:

Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Boqvist-Zajac-Coleman
Wood-Zacha-Simmonds

 

[Hisch13r]

Honestly what you are saying seems so foreign to me....you seem to be looking at everyone as just a group of forwards and that is not at all how I see it.
A team is comprised of lots of different components with lots of different attributes....we can't have 12 sub 200lbs under 6' skilled forwards and 6 offensive puck moving defensemen.

Talk about replacing Wood Boqvist or vice versa is nonsensical in my mind it's like saying savory and sweet it's all food and jelly is better than mustard so put on the meatloaf and like it.

I want the best hockey players on the ice playing hockey and Boqvist is a better hockey player than all the other bubble guys. You're acting like the team is full of small guys who can't play defense. Hall, Nico, Zajac, Zacha, Simmonds, Wood, Boqvist all 6 feet or taller. Then guys like Palmieri and Coleman who play bigger than they are. Hall, Nico, Zacha, Zajac, Coleman, Palmieri all at least solid defensively

 

[DevHock]

I do believe that Shero has been involved in some trade talks and that a move could be made soon. I think he's looking for a way to get that LHD to play with Subban.

Jon Merrill??

 

[JimEIV]

Right now I would go with:

Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Boqvist-Zajac-Coleman
Wood-Zacha-Simmonds

That's not bad... I'd be shocked though if they put a $5 million dollar contract on the 4th line to start the season

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

You are playing Boqvist as the 4th line RW?

No, I’m playing Miles Wood as 4th line RW as he did for a significant part of last season.

 

[Hisch13r]

Right now I would go with:

Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Boqvist-Zajac-Coleman
Wood-Zacha-Simmonds

That's been what I've wanted for a long time now. I'd also like that with Zacha and Coleman swapped

 

[MartyOwns]

if boqvist is on the team, it should mean someone will be traded away, probably for some defensive help. i’d be ok with that

 

[JimEIV]

No, I’m playing Miles Wood as 4th line RW as he did for a significant part of last season.

I think Bastian is a better option honestly...Handedness alone makes me more inclined to go with Bastian on the right side.. then there is size which I think this lineup is lacking. Simmonds there could be interesting. Seems weird to spend 5m on 4th line RW though

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Right now I would go with:

Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Gusev-Hughes-Palmieri
Boqvist-Zajac-Coleman
Wood-Zacha-Simmonds

I like those lines too. Probably use Zacha-Zajac-Coleman as a shutdown line if we have a lead late.

 

[Blender]

That's not bad... I'd be shocked though if they put a $5 million dollar contract on the 4th line to start the season

I don't think Hynes cares about how much Simmonds was paid on a 1 year deal.