Post-Game Talk: Devils beat Bruins 3-2! f***ing Right Edition

Devils 3 Stars


  • Total voters
    156
Status
Not open for further replies.

glenwo2

LINDY RUFF NEEDS VIAGRA!!
Oct 18, 2008
51,942
24,189
New Jersey(No Fanz!)
I don’t think there was a Devils fan out there who put Ruff anywhere near the top of their list when it was announced he was the mystery candidate. I sure as hell wasn’t. My view was “at least he’ll be better than Hynes.” Needless to say, he’s far exceeded my very low original expectation.

It’s way too early to talk playoffs but if nothing else, we should be in the thick of things.

That pass from Hughes was absolutely filthy. I love that he’s showing his true power this year.

This was my feeling on the Lindy hiring as well.

I heard he was good with young players so I was willing to give him a chance and take a wait-and-see approach.

And thus far, I have been immensely impressed with the Job he's doing. :thumbu::thumbu::thumbu:
 

Tao Jersey Jones

Registered User
Sep 28, 2003
16,771
7,655
Plainfield, NJ
Bruins fan here, who the hell is this sharangovich kid and how does he only have 3 points? Every time I see him play he’s doing something good

what’s his upside?
Sharangovich started to take off in the second half of the last AHL season after Binghamton abandoned Hynes' system. Most of his points came at the end of the season when he was on a line with Maltsev and Studenic. He more than doubled his output and continued his momentum in the KHL.
 

billingtons ghost

Registered User
Nov 29, 2010
10,507
6,747
And about 500 different line combinations that don’t work.

This is so true - one of my biggest problems with the guy was too much line shuffling - and not going BACK to what worked after a short change.

I like that Lindy finds a little chemistry, keeps the line together... he sees something he doesn't like and all of a sudden there's a guy missing from the line... but next game, the line is back together. I really like his personnel management so far to maintain the momentum the team is generating.

You can really feel like we are moving in a direction for the first time in 7 years.
 

My3Sons

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...
Sponsor
I am sure you'll get many responses and I am sure I will have a different take than most...He has come out of nowhere. We drafted him as an overager in 2018 and spent the last two years in the AHL doing very little...Came on strong in the AHL right before it was shutdown for the pandemic...Continued his strong play in the KHL scoring 17 goals in 34 games for Minsk...

My talent analysis...Good speed and strong on his skates. Has shown a bit of snarl from time to time Hard, fast(meaning quick release) shot not very accurate. His accuracy needs improvement and so does his shot selection...Could be just a learning process

It is hard to say what his upside is based on the past. There is a potential for a late blooming middle 6 forward in my opinion.

From what I've read here in the past couple of months, my unscientific observation is most of the NJ fans agree with you.
 

JimEIV

Registered User
Feb 19, 2003
65,688
27,889
From what I've read here in the past couple of months, my unscientific observation is most of the NJ fans agree with you.
Maybe? But earlier in the year there seemed to be fast moving hype train that I was never on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: My3Sons

My3Sons

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...
Sponsor
Maybe? But earlier in the year there seemed to be fast moving hype train that I was never on.

I think anytime a player goes from suspect to prospect you’ll see that but I don’t recall any groundswell saying he would be anything more than a middle six type of player. It’s just the realization he could be an actual NHL player of any stripe that was surprising and exciting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimEIV

Richer's Ghost

Bourbonite
Apr 19, 2007
60,106
14,422
photoshop labor camp somewhere in MN
I am sure you'll get many responses and I am sure I will have a different take than most...He has come out of nowhere. We drafted him as an overager in 2018 and spent the last two years in the AHL doing very little...Came on strong in the AHL right before it was shutdown for the pandemic...Continued his strong play in the KHL scoring 17 goals in 34 games for Minsk...

My talent analysis...Good speed and strong on his skates. Has shown a bit of snarl from time to time Hard, fast(meaning quick release) shot not very accurate. His accuracy needs improvement and so does his shot selection...Could be just a learning process

It is hard to say what his upside is based on the past. There is a potential for a late blooming middle 6 forward in my opinion.

So upside is Brylin 2.0

Downside Zharkov 2.0
 

AfroThunder396

[citation needed]
Jan 8, 2006
39,056
22,927
Miami, FL
Yeah there were a few people who were talking Sharangovich up to be some kind of top-6 sniper. He has a decent shot, if he works on it a little more he could be a ~15 goal guy. Maybe he gets some PP #2 production during his career as a net front guy. But I don't think he'll be a top-6 forward.
 

FooteBahl

Took a big shitz for Nemec
Sponsor
Jul 19, 2005
5,487
7,514
Metuchen NJ
Yeah there were a few people who were talking Sharangovich up to be some kind of top-6 sniper. He has a decent shot, if he works on it a little more he could be a ~15 goal guy. Maybe he gets some PP #2 production during his career as a net front guy. But I don't think he'll be a top-6 forward.
For some reason, and I could be way off, he reminds me of a poor man’s Billy Guerin when he played for us.
 

Blackjack

Registered User
Feb 13, 2003
18,134
14,920
keyjhboardd +bro]ke
Visit site
I think it's too early to write off top six upside for Shara. Is it likely? No. But I don't think it's impossible. He's played 11 NHL games, and showed enough in his most recent one for an opposing fan to come here and ask about him, let's see where he's at when the season finishes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MartyOwns

Goptor

Registered User
Jun 30, 2016
2,201
2,552
The part of this game that perfectly describes this team compared to last years was on Wood and McLeod's 2on1 rush:
Halak made a save on Wood's shot and immediately got a snow shower from Wood on his left side and McLeod on his right side.

They're not an easy team to play against and they'll drive you absolutely crazy. Hynes' teams were infamously easy to play against. Enough so that the players all got an earful in the off-season by guys on other teams.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StevenToddIves

StevenToddIves

Registered User
May 18, 2013
10,335
24,420
Brooklyn, NY
4ym3nm.jpg

Zacha's emergence -- and he has been simply terrific this year -- presents an interesting conundrum once Zajac and Hischier return to the line-up. Quite simply, the Devils have an overabundance of centers.

I think all of us would agree that Hischier and Hughes need to be centering the top two scoring lines, while Zajac is the obvious choice for 3C. On the 4th line, McLeod has done an excellent job and seems perfectly suited to that role. So, what to do with Zacha?

I'm going to go back to something I've been saying for quite some time -- I'd really like to see him on the LW alongside Hughes for the long-term. Zacha has the speed to keep up with Jack and the shot to finish for him. He's a big body who can go to the crease and win battles along the boards. Most importantly, he can take some of the pressure off Hughes in the defensive zone and the face-off circle.

I'd be interested in what most of us think the line combinations should be for a healthy Devils line-up. I would like to see this (L/C/R):

Bratt-Hischier-Gusev
Zacha-Hughes-Palmieri
Johnsson-Zajac-Sharangovich
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

extras: Kuokkanen, Maltsev, Merkley
 

StevenToddIves

Registered User
May 18, 2013
10,335
24,420
Brooklyn, NY
Butcher has played well though - 2 points in 2 games and set up a few other opportunities. The Butcher-Subban pairing played well tonight.

I'd say Butcher has to be the odd man out once Murray returns. Though I agree Butcher has played well offensively, most of the Bruins extended offensive pressure came with Butcher on the ice. He just lacks the physical tools to beat NHL forwards in one-on-one battles, it's not his fault. Right now, it's hard to see Butcher unseating the Devils ostensible top 6 of LD Murray/Kulikov/Smith or RD Subban/Severson/Vatanen. He's a nice, if overpaid, option as the #7 D.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HBK27

Nubmer6

Sleep is a poor substitute for caffeine
Sponsor
Jul 14, 2013
13,713
17,781
The Village
For some reason, and I could be way off, he reminds me of a poor man’s Billy Guerin when he played for us.
Actually, he reminds me very, very vaguely of Coleman. Came out of nowhere, late bloomer, hard worker, goal scorer, solid defensively, works the boards well, decent speed.

I think he makes a good net-front presence. I would consider playing him as the screen on PP2 to mirror Wood on PP1. Screen the goalie, pick up garbage goals (he seems to have pretty quick hands in tight), and dig the puck out from behind the opponent's net.
 

Nubmer6

Sleep is a poor substitute for caffeine
Sponsor
Jul 14, 2013
13,713
17,781
The Village
I'd say Butcher has to be the odd man out once Murray returns. Though I agree Butcher has played well offensively, most of the Bruins extended offensive pressure came with Butcher on the ice. He just lacks the physical tools to beat NHL forwards in one-on-one battles, it's not his fault. Right now, it's hard to see Butcher unseating the Devils ostensible top 6 of LD Murray/Kulikov/Smith or RD Subban/Severson/Vatanen. He's a nice, if overpaid, option as the #7 D.

I could actually see him as a 2nd/3rd pairing tweener on the right team. Just not OUR team. Not right now at least.
 
  • Like
Reactions: My3Sons

StevenToddIves

Registered User
May 18, 2013
10,335
24,420
Brooklyn, NY
I maintain the Rags preseason hype made little sense.

Pre-season odds are made by the people who pay too much attention to what a team looks like "on paper". I like to call them the "on paper people". People who did not watch hockey and looked at the print-outs after the game thought Tony DeAngelo was an emerging elite defenseman. People who actually watched the Rangers knew he was perhaps the worst defensive player in the entire NHL last season; a me-first guy who could care less about the scoreboard so long as his name was on the scoresheet. Adam Fox is a player who I like more, but he's not exactly a sure-shot in his own zone, either. That Rangers blueline is extremely problematic, built for numbers and not for performance. I think it will improve in the future with savvy draft choices of Miller, Schneider and Robertson but it's not there yet, especially with their youth between the pipes.

Without getting too deeply into it, I do not think Quinn is getting the job done as head coach. I feel the Rangers need to make a change behind the bench at some point. As for their talented young forwards -- they'll be terrific, they just need time. Kappa Kakko has really taken a nice step forward this year and I think he'll be an impact player for them very soon. Though Lafreniere has not lit it up, as Jack Hughes proved last year the NHL is very hard for an 18 year old, no matter how talented they are. The Rangers would be wise to check the trade deadline market on Chris Kreider -- an excellent player for sure but the Rangers can not afford to load so much of their cap hit at LW with him and Panarin, especially considering Kreider is blocking Lafreniere for future ice time.

As for this year, I feel the Rangers are a lottery team. The future is bright at MSG but the reality of the situation is that it's a team with a ton of question marks right now.
 

JimEIV

Registered User
Feb 19, 2003
65,688
27,889
Actually, he reminds me very, very vaguely of Coleman. Came out of nowhere, late bloomer, hard worker, goal scorer, solid defensively, works the boards well, decent speed.

I think he makes a good net-front presence. I would consider playing him as the screen on PP2 to mirror Wood on PP1. Screen the goalie, pick up garbage goals (he seems to have pretty quick hands in tight), and dig the puck out from behind the opponent's net.
Coleman didn't come out of nowhere though...He had a very solid NCAA career won a National Championship while playing like Claude Lemiuex circa 1995 - Look up that game where he scored like 4 points including the game winner and got ejected in the NCAA finals...I could be off on the details I am going from
memory.

He came to Albany and looked strong from the 4th line was promoted almost immediately and blew out his shoulder the day before Thanksgiving after scoring 2 goals and being the 1st star of the game after only 14 games...That forced him to miss the entire year with Shoulder surgery. I contend he would've been a Devil by December/January 2015-16 had he not hurt his shoulder -

After missing his whole first AHL year it was inevitable he was going to start in the AHL of the 2016-17. He was called up in January 2017 and never looked back.
 

Nubmer6

Sleep is a poor substitute for caffeine
Sponsor
Jul 14, 2013
13,713
17,781
The Village
Coleman didn't come out of nowhere though...He had a very solid NCAA career won a National Championship while playing like Claude Lemiuex circa 1995 - Look up that game where he scored scored like 4 points including the game winner and got ejected in the NCAA finals...I could be off on the details I am going from
memory.

He came to Albany and looked strong from the 4th line was promoted almost immediately and blew out his shoulder the day before Thanksgiving after scoring 2 goals and being the 1st star of the game after only 14 games...That forced him to miss the entire year with Shoulder surgery. I content he would've been a Devil by December/January 2015-16 had he not hurt his shoulder -

After missing his whole first AHL year it was inevitable he was going to start in the AHL of the 2016-17. He was called up in January 2017 and never looked back.
I stand corrected.

I guess *I* just didn't think he was going to be anything other than a 4th line grinder. Wasn't paying enough attention, I guess.
 

Emperoreddy

Show Me What You Got!
Apr 13, 2010
129,839
75,228
New Jersey, Exit 16E
Pre-season odds are made by the people who pay too much attention to what a team looks like "on paper". I like to call them the "on paper people". People who did not watch hockey and looked at the print-outs after the game thought Tony DeAngelo was an emerging elite defenseman. People who actually watched the Rangers knew he was perhaps the worst defensive player in the entire NHL last season; a me-first guy who could care less about the scoreboard so long as his name was on the scoresheet. Adam Fox is a player who I like more, but he's not exactly a sure-shot in his own zone, either. That Rangers blueline is extremely problematic, built for numbers and not for performance. I think it will improve in the future with savvy draft choices of Miller, Schneider and Robertson but it's not there yet, especially with their youth between the pipes.

Without getting too deeply into it, I do not think Quinn is getting the job done as head coach. I feel the Rangers need to make a change behind the bench at some point. As for their talented young forwards -- they'll be terrific, they just need time. Kappa Kakko has really taken a nice step forward this year and I think he'll be an impact player for them very soon. Though Lafreniere has not lit it up, as Jack Hughes proved last year the NHL is very hard for an 18 year old, no matter how talented they are. The Rangers would be wise to check the trade deadline market on Chris Kreider -- an excellent player for sure but the Rangers can not afford to load so much of their cap hit at LW with him and Panarin, especially considering Kreider is blocking Lafreniere for future ice time.

As for this year, I feel the Rangers are a lottery team. The future is bright at MSG but the reality of the situation is that it's a team with a ton of question marks right now.

Big issues at center too. Zib is having an awful season. Strome is garbage. Chytl isn't a bad player, but he isn't a top 6 center in my eyes.

Not an easy position to fill either. High end centers are hard to come by.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StevenToddIves
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->