Post-Game Talk: Devils lose to Jets 8-4

[Buck Dancer]

i think Jack is willing too hence him getting spilled into the boards this season multiple times. It’s not just willingness though you have to have the tools to win those battles. I like Bratt and think he is a good player. That said even if he goes into the corners every game how many times is he wining that close physical battle where his shiftiness can’t come into play? I’m sure Geersten is willing but he isn’t skilled enough to make much use of his size and strength.

That’s a fair point and that’s why I want to see us do everything in our power to acquire a power forward, or three, to balance our roster and help out our diminutive forwards. It’s also extremely tiresome for smaller guys to try and take the puck away from bulking opponents who just have to shield them off to get the job done.

If this was the river hockey tournament, I’d keep our team intact and I’d say we would be borderline favorites to win it all but unfortunately for us, it’s the NHL, the fastest and hardest league in the world and as of right now, we don’t have the proper mix to compete in that league on a regular basis.

 

[jkrdevil]

The more I look at the team moving forward (beyond this year) the more I think Zacha should be on the trade block. He's been fine this year overall, but I don't think he fits in with how the forward group should be constructed.

To use Lou's orchestra theory, they are missing the percussion up front in the top-9. The need more size to win puck battles on the wall and forecheck. Ideally, your lines should be a two skilled playmakers/scorers and a relentless forechecker who can hold the puck (A Zubrus, Arnott or even Blake Coleman type). They don't have the latter.

They currently have a spine in Hughes, Nico and Mercer that is going to improve as they get older. Bratt is looking to be a keeper as a skilled winger and so is Johnsson. You also have Holtz coming in next year most likely as a skilled scorer. So that fills those spots. Tatar has a year left of the deal and can problem fill the other wing role a little bit.

That leaves two open winger spots for the forechecking type. Zacha does not fit that role and at this point he probably has the most value in terms of trading.

Also, I will add in looking at the roster moving forward I think one of Kuokkanen or Sharangovich are also not long for this team. I think one should get bumped down to the 4th line. McCleod also probably should go. The 4th line should be for specialist, but I don't think his faceoff skills outweighs his ability to nothing else at all. Bring in defensive specialist for that role. But these players don't have any real trade value outside of opening a roster spot.

I also think a change in philosophy in the organization needs to happen. The organization still wants to play and up and down, type of game. We don't have a McDavid or Matthews type to win like that long term. They need to clamp thing down defensively and moves (whether this season or offseason) need to be made to improve defensively up front.

 

[NjDevsRR]

We are missing Wood and a Maltsev type in terms of a big body fishing out pucks. Good to have Bastian back but he’s limited.

How has Foote looked in Utica? Has he earned a call up?

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Try to move #28. How many more years can we continue watching replays of goals scored on us and seeing him glide in 2 seconds later?

 

[NJ07102]

How has Foote looked in Utica? Has he earned a call up?

No.

 

[NjDevsRR]

No.

 

[billingtons ghost]

I've beaten the size and strength drum alot, and I do think this is a big part of our problem...

But the last two games, the thing I'm seeing time and again is the unwillingness/laziness/inability of our forwards to at least slow opposing teams going into our zone.

It seems like every goal replay contains one, two or three of their forwards at full speed backing off our defense and either creating odd-man chances, road coning them, or drawing the D to a spot or the corner leaving someone unattended elsewhere.

I know it has appeared like our D has been the big culprit (and of course Sevs coughing the puck up and Subban flopping on his belly and Ty Smith being terrible in just so many ways could be memes at this point) but I think the fundamental difference in these past three games is that everyone has decided to be an offensive superstar now that Jack is back, and rather than backcheck or be in position, they are being sucked too far up the ice, and/or just going for changes when the puck leaves the offensive zone.

I don't think our goalies or D have much of a chance if the guys up front aren't committing on a nightly basis to at least battle the opposing forwards and slow them to the boards.

When we are winning, it almost looks like we are playing left-wing lock or 1-2-2, just because we skate back and get in position. When we are losing, there are three guys gliding back to the bench after turning the puck over at the blueline and a few guys scrambling out to head off a rush.

The giveaways in the neutral zone are getting to become a thing now too.

 

[Eggtimer]

The more I look at the team moving forward (beyond this year) the more I think Zacha should be on the trade block. He's been fine this year overall, but I don't think he fits in with how the forward group should be constructed.

To use Lou's orchestra theory, they are missing the percussion up front in the top-9. The need more size to win puck battles on the wall and forecheck. Ideally, your lines should be a two skilled playmakers/scorers and a relentless forechecker who can hold the puck (A Zubrus, Arnott or even Blake Coleman type). They don't have the latter.

They currently have a spine in Hughes, Nico and Mercer that is going to improve as they get older. Bratt is looking to be a keeper as a skilled winger and so is Johnsson. You also have Holtz coming in next year most likely as a skilled scorer. So that fills those spots. Tatar has a year left of the deal and can problem fill the other wing role a little bit.

That leaves two open winger spots for the forechecking type. Zacha does not fit that role and at this point he probably has the most value in terms of trading.

Also, I will add in looking at the roster moving forward I think one of Kuokkanen or Sharangovich are also not long for this team. I think one should get bumped down to the 4th line. McCleod also probably should go. The 4th line should be for specialist, but I don't think his faceoff skills outweighs his ability to nothing else at all. Bring in defensive specialist for that role. But these players don't have any real trade value outside of opening a roster spot.

I also think a change in philosophy in the organization needs to happen. The organization still wants to play and up and down, type of game. We don't have a McDavid or Matthews type to win like that long term. They need to clamp thing down defensively and moves (whether this season or offseason) need to be made to improve defensively up front.

I get wanting to trade Zacha but where do,we get reduction from then? He was our leading scorer and about the only forward we have besides Holtz that can beat a NHL goalie with his shot from distance.

 

[Mgd31]

We are missing Wood and a Maltsev type in terms of a big body fishing out pucks. Good to have Bastian back but he’s limited.

How has Foote looked in Utica? Has he earned a call up?

He really doesn't seem to have made any progress since last year. I would call up Clarke before him if anything. But I would leave both those guys down for the rest of the year.

 

[mtnet]

On the plus side, we're spared any games over the weekend.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

The more I look at the team moving forward (beyond this year) the more I think Zacha should be on the trade block. He's been fine this year overall, but I don't think he fits in with how the forward group should be constructed.

To use Lou's orchestra theory, they are missing the percussion up front in the top-9. The need more size to win puck battles on the wall and forecheck. Ideally, your lines should be a two skilled playmakers/scorers and a relentless forechecker who can hold the puck (A Zubrus, Arnott or even Blake Coleman type). They don't have the latter.

They currently have a spine in Hughes, Nico and Mercer that is going to improve as they get older. Bratt is looking to be a keeper as a skilled winger and so is Johnsson. You also have Holtz coming in next year most likely as a skilled scorer. So that fills those spots. Tatar has a year left of the deal and can problem fill the other wing role a little bit.

That leaves two open winger spots for the forechecking type. Zacha does not fit that role and at this point he probably has the most value in terms of trading.

Also, I will add in looking at the roster moving forward I think one of Kuokkanen or Sharangovich are also not long for this team. I think one should get bumped down to the 4th line. McCleod also probably should go. The 4th line should be for specialist, but I don't think his faceoff skills outweighs his ability to nothing else at all. Bring in defensive specialist for that role. But these players don't have any real trade value outside of opening a roster spot.

I also think a change in philosophy in the organization needs to happen. The organization still wants to play and up and down, type of game. We don't have a McDavid or Matthews type to win like that long term. They need to clamp thing down defensively and moves (whether this season or offseason) need to be made to improve defensively up front.

I really wish we were able to bring back Coleman. He’s the exact type of player we could use right now. Dominant defensively, gets so many shots off, great physical presence.

 

[JimEIV]

Stevie Nicks and Phoenix: 'This actually is my home'

I didn't know Stevie Nicks was a sandwich.

 

[Forge]

How has Foote looked in Utica? Has he earned a call up?

Not good. Schnarr deserves a call up before Foote at this juncture

 

[jkrdevil]

I really wish we were able to bring back Coleman. He’s the exact type of player we could use right now. Dominant defensively, gets so many shots off, great physical presence.

Unfortunately the gamble of trading him doesn’t look like it is paying off. Foote is looking like a guy Tampa wanted get out from under before anyone noticed and who know about the defensemen they picked (I’m not trying to spell the name). That isn’t to fault of Fitz and management. Things break slightly differently and they have a top-10 pick from Vancouver that’s the break.

I will also say getting more players who are stronger on the puck should help the PP. Which would allow us to dial things back 5-on-5.

They are in a better position than they were two years ago when they had to trade Hall. They aren’t looking down the barrel of that type of deal. They can look to improve without having to take a step back.

 

[Eggtimer]

Yes Foote has done F-all in Utica . Maybe he is one of those rare players that can play better in the NHL than he can in the AHL ( I doubt it)
It sucks but it feels like we are regressing to the norm and going to finish more in line to where we did last year.
Several models and projections had us at an 8 win improvement over last years projected full season record. That seems to be about where we will finish realistically.
I’ve said it in other posts. I don’t get how the Redwings and Ducks are winning and turned everything around when all they did is add Seider and Raymond , Zegras and Drysdale. I mean we added Mercer and Hamilton to,this years roster , you’d think it would have a similar impact then? My guess is the other teams veteran players provide more than our guys like Shara , Kuokkanen , McLeod , etc.
They had established teams that got a big injection of youth and talent where we have a bunch of young talent already so adding some more youth and talent didn’t really give a boost to the rest of the roster . Those teams look rejuvenated.

 

[Devs3cups]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but here's another apparent P.K slewfoot from last night's game:

 

[glenwo2]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but here's another apparent P.K slewfoot from last night's game:

DAMN. I recall Zac Rinaldo (when he was a Flyer) pulling that sh*t on our players back in the day and I was P*SSED!

I imagine Jets fans were just as p*ssed there was no call.

 

[Forge]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but here's another apparent P.K slewfoot from last night's game:

We need to make sure to trade him to a team we don't have any more games against once we move him at the deadline.

 

[Bleedred]

Subban had a history of some dirty plays in the past, but they were much more isolated. They seem to happen more now than ever and like everything else that I believe in that his game has went to shit due to erosion and decline, I wonder if he uses these slewfoots because they're his only option at taking a guy out of the play, as he's just not a particularly good player anymore?

 

[Richer's Ghost]

half of these aren't what I think of as a slewfoot where you actually kick the players leg out, he's arming them down over his leg with upper body trying to stop them from getting past him. Are they still cheap? Sure, but it's not like coming in behind a guy and kicking his leg out.

All signs of him not being fast enough, positioned enough, and getting burned too often trying to cheat the play to stay in it.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Years ago trades happened every month, now trades occur late season. A lack of trading makes the league boring. Trades can also spark newborn chemistry for your team overnight. Lou Lamoriello was the best at this, in my opinion. Like Neal Broten for Corey Millen in the middle of the winter 1995.

Fitzpatrick needs to call other GMs. It might take one of our best players to get another player or two, so I have never said untouchable. That being said I really would like to hold onto Mercer and Hughes.

We also need a new coach and stronger disciplinarian next year. Let Ruff go in the offseason. He does not hold players accountable for irresponsible play and isn't know for much success. Our goal mouth is unattended every game and the slot is wide open. Opposing teams are burying shots all night from within 10'. Subban and Severson are all over the place. We look like a team that is trying to save our life every game.

I don’t know - the defense looked much better than last year but then took a nose dive over the last 5 to 10 games. I was thinking the D was much improved. I wonder what started the recent confusion? Some think that Graves got hurt and that that upset the top pair. Meanwhile Smith returned from injury and has been wetting the bed.

At the same time the 5 man units in our end have lost their structure and everyone is running around and blowing assignments. Plus backing out of center ice and letting the opposition enter our zone with speed.

It’s been a perfect storm. It’s like we have lost our system of play on all levels.

 

[HyperX]

We need to make sure to trade him to a team we don't have any more games against once we move him at the deadline.

Lmao as funny as that is, he isnt goin anywhere; hes not even worth 2m nowadays, let alone 4.5

 

[Lou is God]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but here's another apparent P.K slewfoot from last night's game:

He's going to get one of our kids maimed, I exaggerate but seriously.

 

[FinnishDevil]

Generally I agree with you. I wish it was as simple as making a big trade. That wouldn’t fix the team defense problems or the soft play by too many guys or the iffy goaltending. I think one of the reasons they play McLeod so much is that he will push back. I think they let Ruff finish out the year and get someone else in the offseason if the losing patches continue they way they are going. If the team finishes at NHL 500 that’s probably a realistic expectation.

I agree. I dont even think a trade right now is something I would do, even if theres some guys I dont want to see here long term.

Last year was "let the kids play" kinda year and it was fun. This year people have to and have been held accountable for being shit.

Being in playoff contention post TDL would do so much for this team and its core players mentally. I really just hope they would get to play meaningful hockey for as long as possible.

 

[My3Sons]

That’s a fair point and that’s why I want to see us do everything in our power to acquire a power forward, or three, to balance our roster and help out our diminutive forwards. It’s also extremely tiresome for smaller guys to try and take the puck away from bulking opponents who just have to shield them off to get the job done.

If this was the river hockey tournament, I’d keep our team intact and I’d say we would be borderline favorites to win it all but unfortunately for us, it’s the NHL, the fastest and hardest league in the world and as of right now, we don’t have the proper mix to compete in that league on a regular basis.

Something tells me Fitz agrees with this. He started to reshape the defense last offseason and I’ll guess he starts in the forward group this offseason.