GDT: Devils vs. Canadiens - 7:00 PM MSG+2

[PKs Broken Stick]

Zacha is the key to rounding out the top 6. MarJo is replaceable. There are plenty of capable LWers that can be plugged into his spot

Like Boqvist next year Boqvist and Bratt had a sick play together in a highlight.

 

[NJ07102]

Like Boqvist next year Boqvist and Bratt had a sick play together in a highlight.

It's really fun to watch Bratt play. He has such a great vision, nobody else on the team, not even Hall, can match that.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Like Boqvist next year Boqvist and Bratt had a sick play together in a highlight.

Bratt and Boq had good chemistry in the 2017 prospects camp and scrimmage

 

[JimEIV]

Zacha is the key to rounding out the top 6. MarJo is replaceable. There are plenty of capable LWers that can be plugged into his spot

Zacha can't be the only shooter on his line.

I love Bratt but his game is surveying the offensive zone and making a play, so is Johansson"s. In that regard, both Bratt and Johansson play similar styles in the O zone... Even with the success last night, that line is the most il-conceived combo I have ever seen. We need a shoot-first guy on that line...

Bratt-Zacha-Palmieri . Makes a lot of sense to me.

Maybe

Quenneville-Zacha-Bratt

Eventually

Bratt-Zacha-Studenic/Anderson?

I don't know but right now you have 3 guys looking for an open man...at least that's the way it looks to me.

 

[Devils Dominion]

For the love of God, can Dano stop it with the "ohhs" and stop talking over Cangy during scoring chances?

 

[Triumph]

Zacha can't be the only shooter on his line.

I love Bratt but his game is surveying the offensive zone and making a play, so is Johansson"s. In that regard, both Bratt and Johansson play similar styles in the O zone... Even with the success last night, that line is the most il-conceived combo I have ever seen. We need a shoot-first guy on that line...

Bratt-Zacha-Palmieri . Makes a lot of sense to me.

Maybe

Quenneville-Zacha-Bratt

Eventually

Bratt-Zacha-Studenic/Anderson?

I don't know but right now you have 3 guys looking for an open man...at least that's the way it looks to me.

I think it works well because all 3 players know how one another think and they will learn where one another will be. That's going to lead to strong chances, as it did last night.

Bratt had 0 shots on goal last night but he is 6th on the team in shots/60 among forwards on the Devils, Johansson is 10th, and Zacha even with his 11 shots the last 3 games is 14th. There will be nights where these guys aren't able to get anything going and they end up with 1 shot between them, but there will be nights like last night where they're strong all game.

 

[NjDevsRR]

For the love of God, can Dano stop it with the "ohhs" and stop talking over Cangy during scoring chances?

Ohhhhh my
Ohhhhh boy
Ohhhh

Ohhhhh my

 

[tr83]

That was my main moment of consternation, it happened just after the Habs made it 5-2 and could have easily made it 5-3 as a result



For someone that doesn't care about Cory you still post enough about him. It'd be nice if you occasionally posted on something other than Cory or Keith, there are eighteen other skaters out there.

For the love of God, can Dano stop it with the "ohhs" and stop talking over Cangy during scoring chances?

I kind of like it. Dano loves this team

 

[Devils Dominion]

I kind of like it. Dano loves this team

Every time he does it we don't score

Let Cangy call the play

 

[R8Devs]

Like Boqvist next year Boqvist and Bratt had a sick play together in a highlight.

hischier was also in that clip

 

[NJ07102]

Ohhhhh my
Ohhhhh boy
Ohhhh

Ohhhhh my

Yeah, but the Detroit guy is way worse. I like Dano and compared to when he started he has improved dramatically.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Just like that Pav is on pace for 20 goals. Hopefully he takes off and doesn't look back. Think everybody would sign up for a big 2 way 20/20 center.

 

[NJ07102]

Just like that Pav is on pace for 20 goals. Hopefully he takes off and doesn't look back. Think everybody would sign up for a big 2 way 20/20 center.

He is also on pace for zero assists But hey, love the guy and he does so many things right. What he needed was confidence and it seems the few game in Bing did wonders to him. As important, though, is that Bratt is back and the three play really well together.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Just like that Pav is on pace for 20 goals. Hopefully he takes off and doesn't look back. Think everybody would sign up for a big 2 way 20/20 center.

He could be that this season

Ive always thought Zacha could be a strong two way, 50-60pt center. Almost a perfect 2C description (obviously youd like a second 1C)

He scored 30+ already before, hes only 21 (22?)

 

[Nubmer6]

Chico waffled him last night saying he needs to learn to NOT chase forwards to the boards, leaving the middle open. Apparently he did that last night and someone beat Kinkaid but it hit crossbar. That's also how the first goal was scored 1 v 0 on Cory the prior game. Chico said, "I dunno if that's okay in the KHL" and I started cracking up.

Ah... you just reminded me, since I wasn't here to gripe about it last night...

What the HELL happened on the 2nd Habs goal? We TOTALLY screwed up covering an odd man rush AGAIN. Why the hell wouldn't Coleman pick up the trailer, instead of going after the puck carrier WHO WAS ALREADY COVERED?

</gripe>

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Same. I'm still concerned he'll be nothing better than 3rd-line on a decent team, but it is what it is. At worst case I figure he could be a Pandolfo sort given he's very solid defensively & killing penalties.

I would actually be happy if he produces like a 3C that is very good defensively. To me it is nothing to be concerned about for the following reasons.
1. He is going to be on a RFA contract next season. We do not have to commit big cap dollars or make a decision this offseason if he is really a 2C or 3C or 4C for that matter. He will not get a contract that will hurt us long term this offseason.
2. I do not see how anything Zacha does the rest of the season would change Shero's strategy with respect to acquiring another center this offseason. If one is available in the draft or trade/UFA I am sure Shero would pursue that player. I would love it if Zacha could become a high producing 3C because we have 2 centers that are more productive than he is. No team ever has too many good centers IMO.
3. He is only 21. Studies typically show the average skater plateaus between ages 22-25. Hopefully he is a late bloomer.
4. We are not a cup contender right now. Waiting to find out what he is may only be costing us the difference between making the playoffs as a 7or 8 seed or missing them. I personally would prefer missing them and getting a chance in the lottery as opposed to making the playoffs and losing in the first round. I know some fans would prefer making it.

 

[NJDevs26]

4. We are not a cup contender right now. Waiting to find out what he is may only be costing us the difference between making the playoffs as a 7or 8 seed or missing them. I personally would prefer missing them and getting a chance in the lottery as opposed to making the playoffs and losing in the first round. I know some fans would prefer making it.

Except that if 'finding out' about Zacha is the negative difference between missing and making the playoffs, it's a lot less likely Zacha would be a real asset going forward. That's the inherent problem with the idea that you'd rather find out about someone as opposed to making the playoffs, sure younger players should get a chance but if you find out about someone and they can't do the job that's NOT a good thing going forward, going up 2-3 spots in the middle of the first round with a remote chance to move up isn't a huge consolation. I'd rather have Zacha be productive as a reason we make the playoffs.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Zacha is a perfect comparable to Couturier - defensively strong centers who take a while to break out offensively

I think Zacha figures out the offense quicker than Couturier did, but dont know if he ever hits 75

This is another reason why I want Hall with Zacha

 

[tr83]

I would actually be happy if he produces like a 3C that is very good defensively. To me it is nothing to be concerned about for the following reasons.
1. He is going to be on a RFA contract next season. We do not have to commit big cap dollars or make a decision this offseason if he is really a 2C or 3C or 4C for that matter. He will not get a contract that will hurt us long term this offseason.
2. I do not see how anything Zacha does the rest of the season would change Shero's strategy with respect to acquiring another center this offseason. If one is available in the draft or trade/UFA I am sure Shero would pursue that player. I would love it if Zacha could become a high producing 3C because we have 2 centers that are more productive than he is. No team ever has too many good centers IMO.
3. He is only 21. Studies typically show the average skater plateaus between ages 22-25. Hopefully he is a late bloomer.
4. We are not a cup contender right now. Waiting to find out what he is may only be costing us the difference between making the playoffs as a 7or 8 seed or missing them. I personally would prefer missing them and getting a chance in the lottery as opposed to making the playoffs and losing in the first round. I know some fans would prefer making it.

But as a #6 pick in a supposedly deep draft, he has to be a #2C

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Except that if 'finding out' about Zacha is the negative difference between missing and making the playoffs, it's a lot less likely Zacha would be a real asset going forward. That's the inherent problem with the idea that you'd rather find out about someone as opposed to making the playoffs, sure younger players should get a chance but if you find out about someone and they can't do the job that's NOT a good thing going forward, going up 2-3 spots in the middle of the first round with a remote chance to move up isn't a huge consolation. .

Every team goes into the season with multiple questions with respect to players being able to play in the position they are playing. Take the Devils. Coming out of camp IMO 3 of our biggest questions were Mueller at 1LD, Zacha at 2C, and JQ as wing. None of them were established in the role they started the season. How could the Devils have started the season with an established 1LD and 2C? They are expensive assets to acquire.

"Except that if 'finding out' about Zacha is the negative difference between missing and making the playoffs, it's a lot less likely Zacha would be a real asset going forward."

Exactly my point. If our young players (Zacha, Mueller, JQ, etc) all had come out playing great all year we would not be having this conversation. IMO Mueller answered the bell but the others have not yet, although Zacha is finally showing signs of doing so. If we finish out of the playoffs than we need the higher pick. If we make it because our young players improved than we do not need it as much. If Zacha is not at least a 3C I would rather figure it out sooner rather than later.

We will agree to disagree about the importance of a lottery pick.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

But as a #6 pick in a supposedly deep draft, he has to be a #2C

I could not care less how we acquired Zacha. At this point I look at him as a player making just less than $1 million per year that the Devils will be negotiating with as an RFA over the summer. Hopefully he will have a great last three quarters of the season and the Devils will have to pay him more.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Ah... you just reminded me, since I wasn't here to gripe about it last night...

What the HELL happened on the 2nd Habs goal? We TOTALLY screwed up covering an odd man rush AGAIN. Why the hell wouldn't Coleman pick up the trailer, instead of going after the puck carrier WHO WAS ALREADY COVERED?

</gripe>

And on the first goal allowed Greene hesitated to go to Drouin
If he didn't I don't think the shot gets off

 

[BenedictGomez]

Just like that Pav is on pace for 20 goals.

16 goals

 

[MadDevil]

16 goals

And 0 assists. So he'd still finish with less points than the last two years.

 

[glenwo2]

Serious question, have we ever had a top 6 player as soft as MoJoke?

My response to that : "Yeah.....Even Kovalsuck wasn't this soft."


*note : Take Notes post was from a game we lost this season where MarJo was...to be kind...less than stellar.

He had a solid game against the Habs but this is proof-positive that the moment he sucks again, there will be posts like the one above.