GDT: Devils @ Canucks - 10:00 PM - MSG

[glenwo2]

No, I wouldn't have. The numbers justified it in my mind and I'd rather play Vanecek against the more difficult opponent at this point anyway. Like I said I get why ppl were surprised but I just don't think it's THAT big of a deal.

okay fair enough.

 

[Eggtimer]

If Blackwood let in his usual softies that he had done in the past, and the Devils ended up losing the game, would you think it was a stupid unfathomable move on Lindy's part?

Lindy would've been blasted for that decision, had that happened.

(yes, It didn't but I'm just stating my what-if's here)

Are you talking about the Canucks game in Lindy getting blasted if we lost with MB in net ?
I don’t think it was the wrong choice to start him . Save VV for the Oilers game . Do you think he made the wrong choice ? I guess you could make arguments fir going either way . I don’t think either would get blasted as I don’t see it as a clear cut case where it should have been undoubtedly one way ?

 

[HBK27]

It's easy to point out Blackwood's flaws as a goalie. He's been maddeningly inconsistent. He is getting the help he needs in front of him this season and he's still up and down. Some folks express their frustrations with more color. I think @Bleedred hits on a very important issue with Blackwood and it is his contract. He is going to need a new one and he's already somewhat expensive. Maybe they can squeeze one more year out of him but he's at that stage where typically a team would look to a four or five year deal to lock up a starter. If you don't see him worth that, it's definitely something that you have to filter through a lens when you view his play this season. I think we are almost all ecstatic the team is winning and it doesn't seem to be a fluke or the result of one or two unsustainable things. I look at Blackwood right now as I do guys like Tatar or Johnsson or Graves. They are here this year and probably want more than the team will want to offer them in a contract. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who has real faith in Blackwood at this point even if we are rooting for him.

I guess the question then becomes - what do we do for goalies next season? Daws and Schmid have solid stats again in Utica, so maybe one of them will be ready - Schmid will be 23 next season while Daws will be 22...so on the younger side, but within reason.

Not really any good options on the UFA market, plus I don't know if we want to block Schimd & Daws' path with two vets signed to multi-year deals. What does Blackwood have left - one or two RFA years...and where can I easily find this information?

Obviously plenty of time to see how the rest of the season goes before making any decisions.

 

[Hisch13r]

You know you're about to be cancelled, right?

Two players on the Devils you can't criticize.

The fact you bitch about “cAnCeLlEd” is the least surprising thing possible. Newsflash it doesn’t exist.

 

[billingtons ghost]

It's easy to point out Blackwood's flaws as a goalie. He's been maddeningly inconsistent. He is getting the help he needs in front of him this season and he's still up and down. Some folks express their frustrations with more color. I think @Bleedred hits on a very important issue with Blackwood and it is his contract. He is going to need a new one and he's already somewhat expensive. Maybe they can squeeze one more year out of him but he's at that stage where typically a team would look to a four or five year deal to lock up a starter. If you don't see him worth that, it's definitely something that you have to filter through a lens when you view his play this season. I think we are almost all ecstatic the team is winning and it doesn't seem to be a fluke or the result of one or two unsustainable things. I look at Blackwood right now as I do guys like Tatar or Johnsson or Graves. They are here this year and probably want more than the team will want to offer them in a contract. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who has real faith in Blackwood at this point even if we are rooting for him.

I get what you are saying, but there difference between a high ceiling 25 year old goaltender and fringe one journeymen dimensional wingers is pretty vast, dontcha think? The idea of 'replacement level' in today's NHL is a tough one, when people crap on Carter Hart and now behind a Torts D he's in the Vezina Convo, and when other goalies seemingly in that conversation every year can't get a win.

Adin Hill,Craig Andersen, Stuart Skinner, and Logan Thompson are in the top ten in goalie stats.

I find it really hard to judge goaltenders in teams that are terrible or excellent, and it's clear that GMs do as well. See Elvis Merzlikens, Grubauer. Etc. If they jettison Blackwood bc Dawes or Schmid prove themselves ready, that's frigging great for us.

Otherwise, paying the same (or more) for a 'true #1' or even a sideways replacement is ridiculous.

Of all the name goaltenders that move, how many live up to it? We just watched guys that had acquired pretty good names with good teams get shredded.

What's the point of endlessly bitching at game 10 mark,? Maybe at the TDL? OK. Off-season next year, ok? But give credit where it is due and be hopeful.

 

[Bleedred]

I guess the question then becomes - what do we do for goalies next season? Daws and Schmid have solid stats again in Utica, so maybe one of them will be ready - Schmid will be 23 next season while Daws will be 22...so on the younger side, but within reason.

Not really any good options on the UFA market, plus I don't know if we want to block Schimd & Daws' path with two vets signed to multi-year deals. What does Blackwood have left - one or two RFA years...and where can I easily find this information?

Obviously plenty of time to see how the rest of the season goes before making any decisions.

He’s UFA eligible after next season.

 

[glenwo2]

Are you talking about the Canucks game in Lindy getting blasted if we lost with MB in net ?
I don’t think it was the wrong choice to start him . Save VV for the Oilers game . Do you think he made the wrong choice ? I guess you could make arguments fir going either way . I don’t think either would get blasted as I don’t see it as a clear cut case where it should have been undoubtedly one way ?

I would've saved VV for the Canucks, Oilers, and the 2nd Home and Home against Calgary...and let Blackwood take the first game against Calgary.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[My3Sons]

I get what you are saying, but there difference between a high ceiling 25 year old goaltender and fringe one journeymen dimensional wingers is pretty vast, dontcha think? The idea of 'replacement level' in today's NHL is a tough one, when people crap on Carter Hart and now behind a Torts D he's in the Vezina Convo, and when other goalies seemingly in that conversation every year can't get a win.

Adin Hill,Craig Andersen, Stuart Skinner, and Logan Thompson are in the top ten in goalie stats.

I find it really hard to judge goaltenders in teams that are terrible or excellent, and it's clear that GMs do as well. See Elvis Merzlikens, Grubauer. Etc. If they jettison Blackwood bc Dawes or Schmid prove themselves ready, that's frigging great for us.

Otherwise, paying the same (or more) for a 'true #1' or even a sideways replacement is ridiculous.

Of all the name goaltenders that move, how many live up to it? We just watched guys that had acquired pretty good names with good teams get shredded.

What's the point of endlessly bitching at game 10 mark,? Maybe at the TDL? OK. Off-season next year, ok? But give credit where it is due and be hopeful.

I get what you are saying. But it's the nature of internet message boards. Folks make points from the mundane to the ridiculous. There is one poster still trashing Bratt. At this point, that makes no sense to me. How far removed are we really from Hischier should be traded he's just a 3C? I struggle to see Blackwood as having great upside anymore. The physical gifts are there but for a goalie the between the ears stuff is vital. I'm just not seeing enough of that from him. I realize that's the hardest skill to evaluate. Blackwood has had a good number of NHL games at this point and he does have room to improve. Maybe by the end of the year he will have solidified his play to the point he does project confidence the way he did when he started and he did steal some games for the team. Right now for me he's like Severson. I want it to work out. These are guys who started with NJ and I'd like them to stay with NJ. I just can't lose sight of the reality of their status right now.

As for Hart, I know he was touted a bit higher than Blackwood when drafted. He had a bit better pedigree. He had his collapse and is playing well this season. Let's see how it keeps up as the Flyers start to get tired and guys get hurt from perpetual shot blocking and the constant grind. I'd love for Blackwood to outplay Hart and the team is doing reasonably well defensively this season. Not perfect but reasonably and last night Blackwood made the saves he needed to make. If he starts to string more of those games together he still has time to change the minds of any who remain apprehensive (which includes me). I'm rooting for him and happy to forget the past. He just hasn't shown enough consistency yet that I have a feeling that I know what to expect when he's in net. It's early he can show us all. In the meantime I get both sides of the argument.

 

[devilsblood]

You are really something else, you know that?

Is "talking down to people" a skill? christ....

I was referring to the entire set of games against Western Canadian teams.

Get off your high horse.

I was only busting chops, but your post was definitely asking for it.

 

[Billdo]

You know you're about to be cancelled, right?

Two players on the Devils you can't criticize.

Nevermind.

 

[devilsblood]

So it’s not the release version on the album. I’m too lazy to go back to the working version that thr placeholder lyrics to compare it. I am wondering if it was a totally diiferent take they had in the can or if they actually recorded another version just for the show to avoid any live mistakes.

Even when I thought it was live, I was thinking "this is pretty tight to the album" It just seemed when the bass came in, it came in heavy.

 

[My3Sons]

Even when I thought it was live, I was thinking "this is pretty tight to the album" It just seemed when the bass came in, it came in heavy.

The solo seems different to me and maybe there are a few flourishes in the basic track that are missing? I'm sure the answer is out there on google but I'm too lazy to do it.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I'm not sure you are explaining that correctly?

The distinction makes a vas deferens.

 

[devilsblood]

I get what you are saying. But it's the nature of internet message boards. Folks make points from the mundane to the ridiculous. There is one poster still trashing Bratt. At this point, that makes no sense to me. How far removed are we really from Hischier should be traded he's just a 3C? I struggle to see Blackwood as having great upside anymore. The physical gifts are there but for a goalie the between the ears stuff is vital. I'm just not seeing enough of that from him. I realize that's the hardest skill to evaluate. Blackwood has had a good number of NHL games at this point and he does have room to improve. Maybe by the end of the year he will have solidified his play to the point he does project confidence the way he did when he started and he did steal some games for the team. Right now for me he's like Severson. I want it to work out. These are guys who started with NJ and I'd like them to stay with NJ. I just can't lose sight of the reality of their status right now.

As for Hart, I know he was touted a bit higher than Blackwood when drafted. He had a bit better pedigree. He had his collapse and is playing well this season. Let's see how it keeps up as the Flyers start to get tired and guys get hurt from perpetual shot blocking and the constant grind. I'd love for Blackwood to outplay Hart and the team is doing reasonably well defensively this season. Not perfect but reasonably and last night Blackwood made the saves he needed to make. If he starts to string more of those games together he still has time to change the minds of any who remain apprehensive (which includes me). I'm rooting for him and happy to forget the past. He just hasn't shown enough consistency yet that I have a feeling that I know what to expect when he's in net. It's early he can show us all. In the meantime I get both sides of the argument.

A players confidence, even a mentally tough player, can be wrecked by a bunch of different things. Team play around that player can do it. Injuries can do it. Coaching can do it. We've certainly seen Blackwood effected by injuries, and I'd argue team play in previous years has not helped either.

Now if he can stay healthy, while the team continues to play well around him, then I think his confidence can improve.

 

[Billdo]

Cancelled?

You can criticize any player. If you have good arguments even better.

But selectively blame the teams lack of success on a single player without any further evidence, isn't the way to go. And if you pick one of the most productive players, who is even underpaid, it gets comical and you shouldn't be surprised, when others laugh about it.

Well said.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Even setting aside whether cancelling matters in general (I think I can make a pretty good one it functionally doesn't), you can't be "cancelled" on a message board unless a mod bans you, i guess, lmao

 

[billingtons ghost]

The distinction makes a vas deferens.

That's officially enough message boards for me today. woohoo.

 

[britdevil]

A players confidence, even a mentally tough player, can be wrecked by a bunch of different things. Team play around that player can do it. Injuries can do it. Coaching can do it. We've certainly seen Blackwood effected by injuries, and I'd argue team play in previous years has not helped either.

Now if he can stay healthy, while the team continues to play well around him, then I think his confidence can improve.

 

[Nubmer6]

Weird Face Miles Wood only knows love for his fellow man and ladies. Share in his love.

View attachment 602291


(I went looking for photos for the countdown thread on the main board in the pre-season and discovered Wood makes extraordinarily weird expressions while playing. His lips are all over the place like he’s in a wind tunnel.)

Comes from skating too fast too often.