Post-Game Talk: Devils beat Sabres 2-1 in OT!

[Jersey Fan 12]

I could see that working well. Only issue is however the Devils slice it there’s too many play makers and not enough shooters on one line.

Tatar - Hischier - Zacha
Sharangovich - Mercer - Bratt
Kuokkanen - McLeod - Johnsson
Studenic - Gauthier - Vesey

After last year I thought for sure that Jesper Boqvist would emerge as the center for Kuokkanen and Sharangovich.

But for whatever reason he didn't show much in camp and even in Utica he has just one assist in three games. Whether that is because he's focused on developing the other areas of playing the position or he simply isn't as good as expected remains to be seen.

Will be interesting to see the line combinations against Calgary.

 

[glenwo2]

Whatever else is left is where I’d put him. He’s looked out of place with Nico and Pavel and he’s not a good fit with Johnsson and Mercer.

I’m not the biggest fan of Jesper Bratt but I can say that he’s a serviceable forward, a luxury forward so to speak but he’s not a core player moving forward for this team when we already have several small, skilled, finesse wingers who can do what he does.

No.

No we don't.

We really don't (aside from Jack Hughes).

 

[Buck Dancer]

No.

No we don't.

We really don't (aside from Jack Hughes).

Well putting up zero pts in 4 games and being easy to play against when comes the time to win board battles, you’re right, he’s probably the only one on our roster.

Jesper Bratt is great when playing in open space and has time to dangle. When we’re playing a more physical team, he’s not as effective. With that said, there’s no denying he’s been a major disappointment thus far in 4 games and playing with Mercer will be great for him. Now let’s see what he’ll be able to do on this new line and let’s hope he’ll start shooting the puck more then he’s been doing since the start of the season because he does have a nice, deceptive shot.

Edit: Looks like Bratt is getting demoted and will be playing with McLeod and Johnsson. Ruff is sending a message and I love it.

 

[Offseason Champs]

The new lines at practice are interesting for sure. Breaking up the super best friends line is troubling but I really like most of our wingers lining up alongside Mercer. That third line is like the untapped potential line lol. Maybe we can find something good there.

 

[glenwo2]

Well putting up zero pts in 4 games and being easy to play against when comes the time to win board battles, you’re right, he’s probably the only one on our roster.

My point, smart-mouth, is that none of the players aside from Jack Hughes has better hands and vision than Bratt. PERIOD.

And he got moved down to a line with McLeod and friggin' Johnsson? Good luck trying to score ANY points now with those two.

They might as well be Miles Wood and Wayne Simmonds.

McLeod works hard and he has done well at Faceoffs but he doesn't score much if any so no assists-opportunities for Bratt there.

Plus, I'm still not convinced that the Johnsson we saw earlier is the real Johnsson. He still does many of the same maddening things many here crapped on him for.


What kind of "message" is Ruff sending exactly by pairing him up with two players who don't exactly light up the scoreboard themselves, to be kind...?

How does putting him with THEM actually motivate him to "Get him going"? He might as well play one-on-five and try to do everything himself then.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

The new lines at practice are interesting for sure. Breaking up the super best friends line is troubling but I really like most of our wingers lining up alongside Mercer. That third line is like the untapped potential line lol. Maybe we can find something good there.

The best friends line got broke up in both of the last two games. I am sure we will see it again. I really thought based on Ruffs comments after the game that just Bratt and Tatar would switch. The team really needs Rango to get scoring and that was not going to happen playing with Mikey. IMO we have to get Rango and Kuok going and that is more likely to happen with Nico than playing with Mikey.

 

[Buck Dancer]

My point, smart-mouth, is that none of the players aside from Jack Hughes has better hands and vision than Bratt. PERIOD.

And he got moved down to a line with McLeod and friggin' Johnsson? Good luck trying to score ANY points now with those two.

They might as well be Miles Wood and Wayne Simmonds.

McLeod works hard and he has done well at Faceoffs but he doesn't score much if any so no assists-opportunities for Bratt there.

Plus, I'm still not convinced that the Johnsson we saw earlier is the real Johnsson. He still does many of the same maddening things many here crapped on him for.


What kind of "message" is Ruff sending exactly by pairing him up with two players who don't exactly light up the scoreboard themselves, to be kind...?

How does putting him with THEM actually motivate him to "Get him going"? He might as well play one-on-five and try to do everything himself then.

The message is for Bratt to play like we know he can. He’s getting demoted because he’s not delivering and it’s time mix things up, to possibly get last years best goal scorer going. I’m certain that if Bratt’s line was firing on all cylinders, Ruff wouldn’t of demoted Bratt.

Ignoring his play and why he’s now playing with McLeod and Johnsson is concerning. Yes, he’s shifty and yes, he’s a good playmaker but he shouldn’t be a lock to play on our best line or 2nd best line because of that when he’s not playing up to expectations.

The second he gets his game back into gear, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him alongside Nico and Sharangovich.