Post-Game Talk: Devils lose to the Flyers 3-1

[glenwo2]

So a goalie that has yet to establish himself in the AHL is your solution for a Devils team that scored one goal on 34 shots?

The wisdom of the HFBoards crowd.

Jesus...no need to be snarky-as-F here.

It's not my "solution" but it's just a suggestion considering this is a season for DEVELOPMENT (I can't emphasize this enough 'cause some apparently keep forgetting this tiny detail) so why not throw him out there?

It's not like we're making the playoffs or anything.


I thought everyone was in agreement over how this season was going to be.

Do you believe this is a year they challenge for the playoffs, Tony? Come on now...We need to be realistic.



And LOL @ MartyOwns for once again (like clockwork) liking a post that criticizes anything I posted.

 

[My3Sons]

I’m going to say what probably bucks the trend here, but here it goes. I’m well aware that Palmieri not lighting the lamp at all is a problem. And that the timing of him needing a new deal also makes it problematic.

That said, I think the turning by a lot of people here on him after 7 games is pretty over the top and ridiculous.

I would think this guy, the most consistent producer we’ve had for 5 straight seasons, would have built up more goodwill than that. Sadly though, as per usual, everyone wants to deal him because he’s turning 30 and want to sell while they still can.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, our current problem is scoring goals. And while Palms lack of goal scoring currently is an issue, he’s a proven commodity. You get rid of that and who will replace that level of production? It would be shocking to see him not start to fill the net eventually given his play trends.

He obviously needs to start scoring, but it cracks me up how fast people turn on a dime on players as they get older. This is the Zajac conversation all over again.

You make a valid point, but I think there is a different thought process in place for Palms and Gusev. My guess is at least one would be open to a three year deal given the climate if the average annual value was decent. I think the issue is that the team wants to keep those spots on hold for Holtz and Mercer and Foote. Those are all Fitz guys and I expect all are hoped in the next two years to start making their way into the top six. You have Jack Nico and Bratt already. You have plenty of young guys that can play in a bottom six who will get better with experience. Both Palms and Gusev need to be performing top six players to be successful. I imagine both can be reasonably consistent for two or three more years despite their slow starts this year. I think it's more about Fitz's statement that the team doesn't want any players blocking younger players while they build around Nico and Jack. Yes, there are some who are openly hostile to Palms and Gusev, but there is also a rational discussion about whether it makes sense to sign them to extensions. Prior to this season folks were debating five and six year deals. Now, I don't hear anyone advocating for that, even their supporters. I think it is pretty telling that it was reported prior to the season that Palms was open to an extension but "both sides" wanted to take a wait and see approach. Given guys like Hall and Hoffman I'll guess that Gusev and Palms don't get pre-Covid type deals this offseason. Again, I'd take them back on team friendly deals for two years and think about three years if it was make or break, but it's not a simple answer if the players insist on longer deals. Just my thoughts, and I may be way wrong.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

You lied about what I previously said about Subban. You are a liar.

what are you even talking about...?

You need to try to post more coherently so people understand what you're saying.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Jesus...no need to be snarky-as-F here.

It's not my "solution" but it's just a suggestion considering this is a season for DEVELOPMENT (I can't emphasize this enough 'cause some apparently keep forgetting this tiny detail) so why not throw him out there?

It's not like we're making the playoffs or anything.


I thought everyone was in agreement over how this season was going to be.

Do you believe this is a year they challenge for the playoffs, Tony? Come on now...We need to be realistic.



And LOL @ MartyOwns for once again (like clockwork) liking a post that criticizes anything I posted.

Love this Rangers-esque, low expectations/development rhetoric.

Why wouldn't the playoffs be a minimum expectation?

What team is clearly better than the Devils? Particularly when NJ has yet to have a full lineup?

Nothing is "developed" without expecting success.

The Devils aren't the New York Jets.

Anyone who watched last night's game objectively would say the Devils were the better team.

Enough efforts like that and they will win more games than they lose.

 

[Darkauron]

You lied about what I previously said about Subban. You are a liar.

What are you even talking about? Why are you even here anymore?

 

[glenwo2]

Love this Rangers-esque, low expectations/development rhetoric.

So only the Rags have realistic expectations for a developmental season.

Okay got it.

Time to plan the parade.

We're obviously ready to challenge for the Stanley Cup this year.

Why wouldn't the playoffs be a minimum expectation?

The playoffs would be a bonus if they somehow snuck in.

As it is, everyone(except for you and a few others) knew this season wasn't going to be about making the playoffs but about developing the young players.

What team is clearly better than the Devils? Particularly when NJ has yet to have a full lineup?

Philly.

They did beat us even though we had the better of play in the past game.

Boston seems to have found their mojo so it's a big accomplishment that we beat them earlier.

Washington is another, though we haven't faced them yet.

Nothing is "developed" without expecting success.

Success as in "winning hockey games" is one thing which I agree.

Success being measured in "making the playoffs" is totally different 'cause there is a higher expectation that should not be there YET for this team full of players that are finally being coached by a real coach.

The Devils aren't the New York Jets.

They're not the Green Bay Packers either who make the playoffs year after year.

Let's have some perspective, shall we?

Anyone who watched last night's game objectively would say the Devils were the better team.

Sure. I can get behind that.

But this goes back to my original point in that Comrie should get an opportunity to play.

Wedgewood just lost back to back games being scored on 4+ times.

Whether the goals were his fault or not, doesn't matter.

I would like to throw Comrie out there to see him in action.

You claim that nothing is developed without expecting success.

Well I ask how someone can be developed if they don't get the opportunity? (hence my Comrie statement)

Enough efforts like that and they will win more games than they lose.

No argument for me there.


(Hi, MartyOwns!)



EDIT : Aannnd we just lost Travis Zajac to the Covid-Protocol monster. "Why wouldn't the playoffs be a minimum expectation?" you asked. That's another reason.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

how great is bergeron? a legend and first ballot hall of famer

nice to see him wear the C


…and ya, the team faceoff stats are abismal …..as bad as my spelling of abysmal is

Looking at that top 10 face off list, I wish NJ could have Henrique back on this team.

He exactly what we need in a role that Zacha is largely failing at.
Can play both center and wing.
Plays both PP and PK.
Good for 20 goals per year with good defence.
Wins face offs and is a leader.

I think a lot Devils fans raised their eyebrows at his contract that he signed in Anaheim. Almost $6m per season. But for what he brings, I think that contract is justified.

 

[glenwo2]

Looking at that top 10 face off list, I wish NJ could have Henrique back on this team.

He exactly what we need in a role that Zacha is largely failing at.
Can play both center and wing.
Plays both PP and PK.
Good for 20 goals per year with good defence.
Wins face offs and is a leader.

I think a lot Devils fans raised their eyebrows at his contract that he signed in Anaheim. Almost $6m per season. But for what he brings, I think that contract is justified.

I'd take him back right now.

 

[JimEIV]

Faceoff aren't just the center though.

In fact I would love to know how often a centerman actually wins a faceoff without assistance from his wingers...I bet those instances are a small minority.

 

[Darkauron]

Id love for Coleman to come back, and then maybe henrique. priority wise

 

[Bleedred]

Henrique’a contract wouldn’t have been too bad if the cap kept going up, but it’s not.

Henrique is 31 now (in like a week he will be), so I expect him to go downhill fast and that’s why I always argued against re-signing him.

He has as many points as Zacha this year (in one fewer game played), but I think as of now he’s still undeniably the better player than Zacha by quite a whole lot.

But what if he’s not in a year or two from now? And I’m saying that more because of Henrique’s likely decline and not because I believe in Zacha’s untapped potential or ceiling.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

once you guys see Mercer, you'll forget about Henrique real quick

 

[Devils731]

once you guys see Mercer, you'll forget about Henrique real quick

Button discusses Mercer's career outlook

This is from today.

I haven’t watched him play much I’m thinking of him in a Langenbrunner mold. Skilled enough to play with the top guys and compliment them but can bounce anywhere in the lineup and play with that lines style.

Henrique, for me, is a good shooter with good hockey sense. He’s effective in the right role but you wouldn’t want to play him outside of his strengths.

 

[My3Sons]

Button discusses Mercer's career outlook

This is from today.

I haven’t watched him play much I’m thinking of him in a Langenbrunner mold. Skilled enough to play with the top guys and compliment them but can bounce anywhere in the lineup and play with that lines style.

Henrique, for me, is a good shooter with good hockey sense. He’s effective in the right role but you wouldn’t want to play him outside of his strengths.

If there's one thing I've learned from watching my three kids play competitive high school sports at a local and regional level and even a bit nationally it's that your truly best players are the ones that can play every position if necessary. They are your pool of guys that can likely succeed at the next level. Sometimes your specialists are just that good, but they tend to get squeezed as the level of competition increases and their limitations can be exposed. Mercer sounds like that guy who can do everything because he's good and the game is relatively easy for him on both sides of the red line. That's a potentially valuable NHL player. He can't line up next to Nico soon enough.

 

[glenwo2]

Button discusses Mercer's career outlook

This is from today.

I haven’t watched him play much I’m thinking of him in a Langenbrunner mold. Skilled enough to play with the top guys and compliment them but can bounce anywhere in the lineup and play with that lines style.

Henrique, for me, is a good shooter with good hockey sense. He’s effective in the right role but you wouldn’t want to play him outside of his strengths.

It took Button until the last few seconds of that vid to mention The NJ Devils.

You wouldn't know Mercer was on the Devils by the way he spoke of Mercer saying he'd be good on "a team".

I swear I thought this was an old vid prior to the draft the way he was talking. lol.


Anyway, very encouraging things to hear about Mercer and look forward to him taking the ice in the near future.

 

[Blackjack]

If Mercer turns out as good as Langenbrunner I think this team will win a cup.

 

[NJDevs26]

Love this Rangers-esque, low expectations/development rhetoric.

Why wouldn't the playoffs be a minimum expectation?

What team is clearly better than the Devils? Particularly when NJ has yet to have a full lineup?

Nothing is "developed" without expecting success.

The Devils aren't the New York Jets.

Anyone who watched last night's game objectively would say the Devils were the better team.

Enough efforts like that and they will win more games than they lose.

It’s nice to be positive but expecting the playoffs with this team is just not realistic for any number of reasons starting with they were one of the bottom seven teams in the league last year (and now have to play an unbalanced schedule in a tough division), made no real additions up front, their goalie addition skipped out on us and while the D did get better, it’s hardly by enough to jump us over most of the teams we’re playing. Then you have the Nico and Bratt absences going into the season compounded by normal injury attrition/COVID absences when we have little depth, exhibit A our goaltending, exhibit B our centers with now two of the top three on the shelf.

I’d love for them to prove most of us wrong but taking the first five games as proof of anything is ill advised. And as a Jet fan, they aren’t that far off from the Jets since 2012. We’ve had one playoff season, the Jets had one 10-6 season and pretty much every other season from both teams has been crap in the last several years.

 

[Lou is God]

I do disagree in some sense with one thing Button said about Mercer, he said he thinks he will need another year to develop before entering the NHL, I think he can make the team next year, mostly because of his hockey IQ and ability to step in anywhere.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

It’s nice to be positive but expecting the playoffs with this team is just not realistic for any number of reasons starting with they were one of the bottom seven teams in the league last year (and now have to play an unbalanced schedule in a tough division), made no real additions up front, their goalie addition skipped out on us and while the D did get better, it’s hardly by enough to jump us over most of the teams we’re playing. Then you have the Nico and Bratt absences going into the season compounded by normal injury attrition/COVID absences when we have little depth, exhibit A our goaltending, exhibit B our centers with now two of the top three on the shelf.

I’d love for them to prove most of us wrong but taking the first five games as proof of anything is ill advised. And as a Jet fan, they aren’t that far off from the Jets since 2012. We’ve had one playoff season, the Jets had one 10-6 season and pretty much every other season from both teams has been crap in the last several years.

This Devils team is far superior to that of the past few years if for no other reason that the players on the ice are a year older and have come up through the system after a very successful season in Binghamton last year.

Unlike the Rangers, who have to procure talent with big contracts, the Devils have a core group from within the organization.

This season's Jack Hughes is far superior to the player he was a year ago.

That guys like Boqvist, Merkley, Brett Seney and Kuokkanen are fighting to get in the lineup - even with Hischier out - suggests the Devils are far deeper than in the past.

Similarly, due to a system that stresses team defense as well as the additions of Ty Smith. Murray and Kulikov, the defense corps is improved to the point where there is competition to get in the lineup; with promising younger players on the way.

Externally, whether it's goaltending, lack of depth, or roster changes, there is no team in this so-called Group of Death that looks all that much better than the Devils to this point.

Last night two of the three scorers for the Flyers were Nate Prosser and Michael Raffl. Not exactly Gretzky and Lemieux.