Confirmed with Link: Devils re-sign Pavel Zacha (3 years, $2.25 AAV)

[Blackjack]

Did you take a look at the Hughes thread recently? lol.

Don't think we're going to have quite so many problems in that thread going forward.

 

[Blackjack]

did anyone post this? ineffective math is one of my favorite Twitter follows. Also, an "average 5v5 forward with extremely strong penalty killing impacts" is EASILY worth $2.25 million.

 

[Hisch13r]

I have a feeling we are going to hate the opening night line combos. Hopefully not, but I feel like we will see Simmonds tied to Hughes at least.

That right there is enough to make me hate it. Hughes shouldn't be tied to a 5v5 boat anchor

 

[Blackjack]

That right there is enough to make me hate it. Hughes shouldn't be tied to a 5v5 boat anchor

I could see him playing well with Wood and Zacha, but I agree that I wouldn't want him anywhere near Hughes.

 

[Bleedred]

That right there is enough to make me hate it. Hughes shouldn't be tied to a 5v5 boat anchor

They might also feel that Hughes might be enough to help someone that’s a boat anchor 5 on 5.

 

[Hisch13r]

I could see him playing well with Wood and Zacha, but I agree that I wouldn't want him anywhere near Hughes.

That's ideally where I want him. For me the issue is what to do with Boqvist. I think he is 100% the best player we have for the 12th forward spot but if he's with Coleman and Zajac that's putting him onto a shutdown line that'll have a large majority of the DZ starts. If he's with Zacha and Wood then he might be better off in Sweden but if there is an injury in the top 6 I feel he's the perfect guy to step into that role

 

[Blackjack]

They might also feel that Hughes might be enough to help someone that’s a boat anchor 5 on 5.

The Athletic article was talking about how Hughes creates seams with his zone entries, and then slots passes to wingers that find them. I think we probably want someone with really slick hands, skating and intelligence on his wing. Fortunately we have a bevy of such guys: Hall, Bratt, Gusev, and Palmieri would all fit the bill.

 

[Hisch13r]

The Athletic article was talking about how Hughes creates seams with his zone entries, and then slots passes to wingers that find them. I think we probably want someone with really slick hands, skating and intelligence on his wing. Fortunately we have a bevy of such guys: Hall, Bratt, Gusev, and Palmieri would all fit the bill.

I agree with the other 3 but I've never felt he and Hall's styles would mesh super well. They both carry the puck so much I could see their styles clashing

 

[TrufleShufle]

The Athletic article was talking about how Hughes creates seams with his zone entries, and then slots passes to wingers that find them. I think we probably want someone with really slick hands, skating and intelligence on his wing. Fortunately we have a bevy of such guys: Hall, Bratt, Gusev, and Palmieri would all fit the bill.

I can't imagine a better winger on this team for Hughes than Palms. He is the exact guy in every way to be playing with him. I will be dumbfounded if that isn't what they try first.

 

[Billdo]

I can't imagine a better winger on this team for Hughes than Palms. He is the exact guy in every way to be playing with him. I will be dumbfounded if that isn't what they try first.

Plus he's arguably the only "shooter" out of forward bunch. We have a bunch of guys who can score goals, sure, but I'd say Palmieri is the only "goal scorer" if that makes sense.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Plus he's arguably the only "shooter" out of forward bunch. We have a bunch of guys who can score goals, sure, but I'd say Palmieri is the only "goal scorer" if that makes sense.

Makes perfect sense, and that is one of the "every ways" I meant.

 

[Hisch13r]

Plus he's arguably the only "shooter" out of forward bunch. We have a bunch of guys who can score goals, sure, but I'd say Palmieri is the only "goal scorer" if that makes sense.

Hall is the biggest shooter of the bunch in terms of volume

 

[TrufleShufle]

Hall is the biggest shooter of the bunch in terms of volume

Yea in terms of volume, but that's about it. Hall is better at pretty much everything hockey related than Palms. But Palms has him beat when it comes to shooting the puck. Whether its 1Ts or wrist shots or straight slappers. Speed and accuracy goes to Palms.

Hall shoots more simply because he has the puck so much more. If you enter the zone with the puck every time, you only have two options, and one of them is shoot. And Hall enters the zone with the puck, A LOT.

 

[Hisch13r]

Yea in terms of volume, but that's about it. Hall is better at pretty much everything hockey related than Palms. But Palms has him beat when it comes to shooting the puck. Whether its 1Ts or wrist shots or straight slappers. Speed and accuracy goes to Palms.

Hall shoots more simply because he has the puck so much more. If you enter the zone with the puck every time, you only have two options, and one of them is shoot. And Hall enters the zone with the puck, A LOT.

When it comes to being a straight up triggerman Palms is elite. I think it was CJ Turtoro who said something like if all things are equal Laine has the best shooting % in the league at 30% or something and I believe Palms was #2 at like 20%

 

[TrufleShufle]

When it comes to being a straight up triggerman Palms is elite. I think it was CJ Turtoro who said something like if all things are equal Laine has the best shooting % in the league at 30% or something and I believe Palms was #2 at like 20%

Interesting, didn't hear that.

But that's what I meant when I said perfect for Hughes and what Bildo was saying when he said "goal scorer."

It will be very exciting to watch, I hope they are given time to click.

 

[Hisch13r]

Interesting, didn't hear that.

But that's what I meant when I said perfect for Hughes and what Bildo was saying when he said "goal scorer."

It will be very exciting to watch, I hope they are given time to click.

Found it. It was IneffectiveMath and CJ responded.

 

[mtnet]

You're both right

Palms never saw a shot he didn't like and it's far and away his leading attribute

His one timer is decent too, our power play is just way too obvious telegraphing setups

 

[HBK27]

I can't imagine a better winger on this team for Hughes than Palms. He is the exact guy in every way to be playing with him. I will be dumbfounded if that isn't what they try first.

Largely agree with this.

I do wonder, though, how Simmonds would pair with Hughes though. There's the obvious "protection" that he offers Jack, but beyond that, it also seems like Hughes sets up players for a fair amount of goals in tight (or via deflection). Wonder if that part of Simmonds' game might translate well to playing with Hughes, whereas Palms can rip it from further away.

The more I think about it, the more I really like the idea of Zacha on Hughes' LW. Can step in on faceoffs, help out defensively...plus, Hall and Gusev just don't seem like great fits with Hughes considering how Hall carries the puck and Gusev is also more of a playmaker.

 

[HBK27]

You're both right

Palms never saw a shot he didn't like and it's far and away his leading attribute

His one timer is decent too, our power play is just way too obvious telegraphing setups

 

[OmNomNom]

did anyone post this? ineffective math is one of my favorite Twitter follows. Also, an "average 5v5 forward with extremely strong penalty killing impacts" is EASILY worth $2.25 million.

Beast

 

[Nubmer6]

Largely agree with this.

I do wonder, though, how Simmonds would pair with Hughes though. There's the obvious "protection" that he offers Jack, but beyond that, it also seems like Hughes sets up players for a fair amount of goals in tight (or via deflection). Wonder if that part of Simmonds' game might translate well to playing with Hughes, whereas Palms can rip it from further away.

The more I think about it, the more I really like the idea of Zacha on Hughes' LW. Can step in on faceoffs, help out defensively...plus, Hall and Gusev just don't seem like great fits with Hughes considering how Hall carries the puck and Gusev is also more of a playmaker.

I get the gut feeling that at least for one game they're going to try Simmonds with Hall and Hischier. *IF* he can keep up well enough, it might work out. Hall is a high volume shooter, Nico can cover for Simmond's defensive inadequacies, and Simmonds can be there to clean up rebounds and add some grit.

That would probably make a 2nd line of Goose - Hughes - Palms, and perhaps another scoring line of Boqvist - Zacha - Bratt. leaving Coleman - Zajac - Wood in a shutdown role. The main concern would be the 2nd line's ability to defend.

 

[devilsblood]

Hall is the biggest shooter of the bunch in terms of volume

But his shots often come via his own creation, often on the move.

Palms is more a find a soft spot, wait for a pass and rip it, type player.

In general I think Palms benefits from playing with a puck mover who can set up the offense. Hall fits that bill, and I imagine Hughes will fit that bill while being more of a setup man/less of a shooter then Hall is.

Hall and Hughes together seems a bit redundant as you prob want to spread out two high level puck carriers, but I imagine they would produce some high level offensive chances.

 

[FooteBahl]

I get the gut feeling that at least for one game they're going to try Simmonds with Hall and Hischier. *IF* he can keep up well enough, it might work out. Hall is a high volume shooter, Nico can cover for Simmond's defensive inadequacies, and Simmonds can be there to clean up rebounds and add some grit.

That would probably make a 2nd line of Goose - Hughes - Palms, and perhaps another scoring line of Boqvist - Zacha - Bratt. leaving Coleman - Zajac - Wood in a shutdown role. The main concern would be the 2nd line's ability to defend.

The third and fourth lines are exactly what I posted earlier. I think they work out well. Your second line could be a little defensively weak, but they will wreak havoc in the O-zone

 

[Blackjack]

I get the gut feeling that at least for one game they're going to try Simmonds with Hall and Hischier. *IF* he can keep up well enough, it might work out. Hall is a high volume shooter, Nico can cover for Simmond's defensive inadequacies, and Simmonds can be there to clean up rebounds and add some grit.

That would probably make a 2nd line of Goose - Hughes - Palms, and perhaps another scoring line of Boqvist - Zacha - Bratt. leaving Coleman - Zajac - Wood in a shutdown role. The main concern would be the 2nd line's ability to defend.

Yeah, I think the 2nd line would be sheltered a bit in your scenario in terms of zone starts, but I don't see that as a big problem.

 

[Khione]

great!