Devils 2020-21 team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part XIX

[R8Devs]

So, I do agree with the sentiment that's nice that our young guys are the ones playing well and the veterans are the guys that f***ing suck. But that still puts us a tough spot moving forward. Say Palms continues to look like shit and we don't resign him, Gusev is already gone in my mind, and Zajac is toast. We still need to bring in top 6 talent somewhere and it's likely not going to be internally, at least for a few seasons while our young guys keep growing.

Next year who will we have as top 6 wingers? Bratt, Zacha... Johnsson? Holtz? It's not great. And there aren't that many free agents this year that I think would help. Obviously trades can happen though I'm not sure who they'd target.

I think the crop of UFA wingers are not that bad, no super high-end guys but there are options for upgrades and the Devils have the cap space available to maybe go low term with a higher AAV.

Maybe they can convince Hall to come back on a short term high AAV deal lol, even with his struggles he'd be an upgrade on a lot of the wingers the Devils have.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I'm finally getting a chance to watch the Doc special on NBCSN and it's so great. I love the feature with him and Chico.

 

[britdevil]

This team is desperate for a consistent goal threat.

I don't think there is a single shooter on this team that currently garners respect of NHL defenders. Maybe Palms, but his head is so far up his arse, he can smell what he had for dinner yesterday.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm finally getting a chance to watch the Doc special on NBCSN and it's so great. I love the feature with him and Chico.

Thanks for reminding me I still haven't watched it yet, hope it's on YT

 

[Emperoreddy]

This team is desperate for a consistent goal threat.

I don't think there is a single shooter on this team that currently garners respect of NHL defenders. Maybe Palms, but his head is so far up his arse, he can smell what he had for dinner yesterday.

Teams have zero respect for Palms shot right now. They know he is shooting wide. Same with Subban

 

[My3Sons]

This team is desperate for a consistent goal threat.

I don't think there is a single shooter on this team that currently garners respect of NHL defenders. Maybe Palms, but his head is so far up his arse, he can smell what he had for dinner yesterday.

It’s cliche but it’s a process. They have some of the puzzle parts including some hard to find parts in two top six centers a goalie and a PP QB who may develop into a solid top pair defender. They also have a couple of guys who maybe settle in as good second line guys and a bunch of bottom six guys. They desperately need two wingers for Jack as others have noted. They also need four defenders. They could use a bona fide number one defender who is a right shot.

Still the change from a core that relied on Palms and Zajac and Greene and Cory and PTOs and Hayden and Rooney is a big deal and is reason for some optimism despite any bad losses this year. NJ’s players will mature just in time for the PIT BOS and WAS players to fall off the table with age.

 

[glenwo2]

Well...this weekend sucked.

 

[Jets012]

Zajac needs to have a speedy winger with him. He's shot right now skating, but he still has value doing some cerebral stuff. Last year, when he was with Coleman he did well. This year when he's been with Wood, he's looked better.

Keep McLeod and Bastian on the 4th line. Play Maltsev with them. Have Wood help out Zajac. It makes up for his deficiencies.

 

[NJDevs26]

Hopefully Wood didn't have to go to the quiet room after that puck to the ear. God knows we aren't getting an update from this staff.

 

[glenwo2]

Hopefully Wood didn't have to go to the quiet room after that puck to the ear. God knows we aren't getting an update from this staff.

The scary thing is that Wood saw that puck heading straight to his face and turned his head to avoid it.

Imagine if he didn't see it....he might've had gotten it WORSE than Nico did since that was a deflection.

This was a puck direct from Boner-in-Sweatpants Chara.

 

[Blackjack]

At least this season we got a few weeks to think the team might be competitive before learning the ugly truth. Last season I think we were out of the running before we even won a game. Shortens things up a bit, next year guys like Gusev and Zajac and maybe Plamieri, Subban, Butcher, Tennyson, will be gone. Foote, Walsh, Okhotyuk, Bahl, in. Try it again.

 

[haak84]

probably a pretty good season to be out of the playoff race. a lot of transitioning happening. some really exciting prospects on the up and up. young core showing flashes of brilliance.

 

[Mgd31]

Zajac needs to have a speedy winger with him. He's shot right now skating, but he still has value doing some cerebral stuff. Last year, when he was with Coleman he did well. This year when he's been with Wood, he's looked better.

Keep McLeod and Bastian on the 4th line. Play Maltsev with them. Have Wood help out Zajac. It makes up for his deficiencies.

Agreed, Zajac needs Wood. Miles reenergized him and Sharangovich today.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Too much hockey left to be despairing now. Just go out and play better next game and stop being so jittery with the puck. Tell the kids to start having fun again. Take the pressure off. Blackwood should sit the next game or two.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Agreed, Zajac needs Wood. Miles reenergized him and Sharangovich today.

Sharangovich will hopefully put on some bulk, some muscle weight as time goes by.

 

[Oneiro]

After this week, Fitz starts taking phone calls.

 

[NJDevs26]

probably a pretty good season to be out of the playoff race. a lot of transitioning happening. some really exciting prospects on the up and up. young core showing flashes of brilliance.

There's never a good season to be out of the playoff race as a fan. If you're the owners and are losing money from no fans regardless, different story.

This season is only as good as the young players make it, especially with the vets struggling. If the team continues to slide we'll still be wondering about almost all of the younger players going forward including Blackwood.

 

[haak84]

There's never a good season to be out of the playoff race as a fan. If you're the owners and are losing money from no fans regardless, different story.

This season is only as good as the young players make it, especially with the vets struggling. If the team continues to slide we'll still be wondering about almost all of the younger players going forward including Blackwood.

Of course it's always better to be in the race but I think forming an identity and building a stockpile of talent is more important over the next couple of seasons.

The circumstances that this team is going through this year is once in a lifetime. It's a wash for me as a fan. I'm just glad there are Devils games to watch and a lot of them over the next couple of months. My expectations are the same as in the beginning of the season.

As long as our worst players are the players to most likely be out the door and the team is relatively competitive. That's a pleasurable season to be a part of as a fan.

 

[Blackjack]

There's never a good season to be out of the playoff race as a fan. If you're the owners and are losing money from no fans regardless, different story.

This season is only as good as the young players make it, especially with the vets struggling. If the team continues to slide we'll still be wondering about almost all of the younger players going forward including Blackwood.

obviously this is a low point, but it’s hard to understand how anyone can feel good after what we saw this weekend.

I get “realistic expectations”. Fine. Is it not reasonable to expect SOME improvement year over year? Because right now we’re just as bad as last year if not worse. That’s what’s so demoralizing.

 

[Mgd31]

Devils should claim Connolly. Need goal scorers. Still only 27 and not a bad contract at all.

 

[haak84]

obviously this is a low point, but it’s hard to understand how anyone can feel good after what we saw this weekend.

I get “realistic expectations”. Fine. Is it not reasonable to expect SOME improvement year over year? Because right now we’re just as bad as last year if not worse. That’s what’s so demoralizing.

I see a lot of improvement with our young core. I see a huge regression from everyone over age 26.

if this continues to happen you will start to see team improvement year in and year out from this season forward. That’s my expectation.

 

[haak84]

Look at our roster under 27.

look at our roster over 26.

we have a ton of cap space and no bad contracts.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Too much hockey left to be despairing now. Just go out and play better next game and stop being so jittery with the puck. Tell the kids to start having fun again. Take the pressure off. Blackwood should sit the next game or two.

And it's all divisional so if they want to be in it, it's completely on them. Get some wins against the NY teams and the bipolar mood around here will change quick

 

[Camille the Eel]

When we have been successful this year it’s by being aggressive with Boston and the Rags, even Philly for periods, and playing faster than them. We were not very aggressive this weekend against the Caps. A lot of that is the Caps being better. But I thought we paid them too much respect and were peeling back too much, being very hesitant and tentative. That was playing Washington’s game in effect.

 

[TonySoprano]

So we really stink again. 9 points out with 1 game in hand. Season is over 1/4th of the way through for the 5th time in the last 6 years?

We're killing it!! Are you all eNjoYing the ride?