GDT: Devils vs. Flyers - Watch With Wonder and Amazement! - 7:00 PM - MSG+2

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Lou is God

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Nov 10, 2003
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As I said earlier, if you were told that Wood would be just a fourth line player 3 years ago would you have been happy with that? He was being looked upon as a Kreider-type player if he could someday match his speed with the finish of a goal scorer. That hasn't happened, which is why he's now playing fourth line minutes.

Why not judge him on the player he is today than judging him on the player others said he was going to be years ago.

Considering how incredibly soft this team is, you should appreciate what he brings on the ice.
 

Better Call Sal

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Nov 24, 2011
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I understand it's easy to rag on Wood because he can be reckless, but he brings such a different element to our team that is useful when he's on. I don't want to see him traded myself, but recognize he's probably a valuable trade chip with his contract and similar intrigue on his skillset from other teams.

I think with consistent and ideal linemates, he can get back to being closer to his form in 17-18. It's a shame Maroon didn't stick around only because I thought the two of them played well off of each other. One being elusive speed wise and the other, not so much. :laugh:
 

Better Call Sal

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the thing is he doesn’t being that element nearly as much as he used to

Sure, I think he became more gunshy after that suspension on his hit in Tampa in 17-18.

That still doesn't change that he provides a serious break in the redundancy that we kind of have with our wingers being on the smaller side. He has size, still gets physical and has great speed. All of that combined makes for a very useful middle/bottom 6 winger.

I'd be intrigued to see what another coach can do for his game.
 

johnny pierogi

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We are all in agreement that his most beneficial attribute at this point in time is toughness. I never said I didn't appreciate that aspect of his game so long as he avoids stupid penalties.
 

glenwo2

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Sure, I think he became more gunshy after that suspension on his hit in Tampa in 17-18.

That still doesn't change that he provides a serious break in the redundancy that we kind of have with our wingers being on the smaller side. He has size, still gets physical and has great speed. All of that combined makes for a very useful middle/bottom 6 winger.

I'd be intrigued to see what another coach can do for his game.

If Wood could only learn to elevate the goddamn puck when he shoots it....

Opposing Goaltenders read him like a book when he charges at them (he's shooting five-hole).

If he started shooting top shelf or something, he'd have a lot more goals and that combined with his breakaway speed would make him a very valuable player.

As it is, Speed is the only thing he has and only scores when the opposing Goaltender does not close the Five-hole properly.
 
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Better Call Sal

Salnalysis
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If Wood could only learn to elevate the goddamn puck when he shoots it....

Opposing Goaltenders read him like a book when he charges at them (he's shooting five-hole).

If he started shooting top shelf or something, he'd have a lot more goals and that combined with his breakaway speed would make him a very valuable player.

As it is, Speed is the only thing he has and only scores when the opposing Goaltender does not close the Five-hole properly.





Not exactly solid timing on making these points. :laugh:

He doesn't just have speed. His speed is likely his greatest weapon given his size, but he has the ability to do plenty more. And he provides some variety to our spots on the wing that we don't tend to really have. I think he's kind of underappreciated around these parts because of his moments of recklessness.

FYI, he's equaled his goal output from last year already in 10 less games. I hope he finishes the season this strongly, it'd be a blessing in a dismal year.
 
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OmNomNom

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Mar 3, 2011
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here's what i think is his issue - he's a great straightline skater, but when you're skating into a goalie in said straight line, you don't have a ton of options - you either pick corners or go 5 hole or under the arm - we usually see him try to pick corners and shoot wide

so usually what wood ends up doing is dumping in, pulling back and wait for back up, or drive the net. or shoot at a corner or 5 hole. he doesn't have a ton of options, and not a lot of time to make a decision
 

Hypernova

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Jack is so frustrating to watch sometimes. He obviously has a ton of talent and he'll get it in the neutral zone with speed and his skating is so smooth and then you see his great hands when bringing it into the zone and you are thinking here comes a great play, i know it's coming, annnnnnd he makes a terrible pass that gets picked off for a odd man rush the other way. Happened at least 4 times yesterday. Can no one on the devils help him with that?? Don't they show him video?? Luckily he's still young and can figure it out.
 
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Nubmer6

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here's what i think is his issue - he's a great straightline skater, but when you're skating into a goalie in said straight line, you don't have a ton of options - you either pick corners or go 5 hole or under the arm - we usually see him try to pick corners and shoot wide

so usually what wood ends up doing is dumping in, pulling back and wait for back up, or drive the net. or shoot at a corner or 5 hole. he doesn't have a ton of options, and not a lot of time to make a decision
Learning the Clark-around would give him a good option to come in, fake a shot and go around the net for scoring chance while giving his linemates a few extra seconds to catch up and support him.
 
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OmNomNom

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Learning the Clark-around would give him a good option to come in, fake a shot and go around the net for scoring chance while giving his linemates a few extra seconds to catch up and support him.
the question is, how's his clarkarounding speed? he's gotta be able to turn quickly too
 

OmNomNom

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Jack is so frustrating to watch sometimes. He obviously has a ton of talent and he'll get it in the neutral zone with speed and his skating is so smooth and then you see his great hands when bringing it into the zone and you are thinking here comes a great play, i know it's coming, annnnnnd he makes a terrible pass that gets picked off for a odd man rush the other way. Happened at least 4 times yesterday. Can no one on the devils help him with that?? Don't they show him video?? Luckily he's still young and can figure it out.
the brain is still developing in the middle of puberty, which is he def going through
 

Ol Dirty Bstrd

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Nov 25, 2007
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So trade all our young guys (except Nico and Jack) on good contracts (except Butcher) and keep our older players who's contracts expire at the end of next year? Got it.

Oh you must be one of those people who wants to ice an entire team under 30. Got it.

Another way of looking at it - keep our good players who know how to score (the only two we have) and trade a couple (not all) of our young, underperforming players who haven’t and may not ever reach their potential.

It’s not like I’m advocating giving them away, I’m talking about making a hockey trade. And our UFAs to be and Subban would be up for grabs as well. Basically anyone except Nico, Hughes, MBW, Palms and Coleman (assuming they resign)
 

Triumph

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Oct 2, 2007
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Wood frustrates people because he gets a lot of chances and doesn't finish. They'd appreciate a player who gets fewer chances but buries the exact same amount as Wood.

What is disappointing is that Wood and Zacha really seemed like they had something going in 2017-18 and that has just disappeared.
 
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glenwo2

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Not exactly solid timing on making these points. :laugh:


Yeah maybe not. :confused::confused::confused:

But he does shoot at the goaltender's five-hole more than he should, if we're going by that.

He needs to do more of that (at least 50% of the time to keep the Goaltenders guessing).

As things still stand, Opposing goaltenders will expect him to shoot five-hole more often than not.
 

My3Sons

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So glad none of us here are the GM of the Devils.

We'd "Lou Lamoriello" the team back into Mediocrity. :laugh:

I disagree. I'd be amazing. I'd have private investigators get dirt on all the other GMs and then force them to trade me their best players for our scrubs. Then I'd use the same private investigators to get dirt on the players forcing them to sign long term team friendly contracts. It would be glorious.
 

SpeakingOfTheDevils

Devils Advocate
Jan 22, 2010
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Wood frustrates people because he gets a lot of chances and doesn't finish. They'd appreciate a player who gets fewer chances but buries the exact same amount as Wood.

What is disappointing is that Wood and Zacha really seemed like they had something going in 2017-18 and that has just disappeared.

I'm fairly confident that at least one of those players will be traded this summer.
 

devilsblood

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Mar 10, 2010
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the thing is he doesn’t being that element nearly as much as he used to
There are only so many times a guy is going to go crashing into the goalie and knocking the net into the end boards before he thinks, "maybe I need to adjust my game a bit".
 

devilsblood

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Mar 10, 2010
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Sometimes need a sanity check from a different fan base. i watched tonight's game and saw the devils were the better team in first, were better team coming out of each period and other than last 10-15 minutes in 2nd period were better team. I have flyer base telling me about CF 75% and we were better team but unlucky. Can Devil fans just send a little sanity?
You guys gave up way too many odd man breaks.

And you guys did hit some posts(we hit at least one as well) and Blackwood played very well, especially in that 2nd period, but the relevance of corsi kind of goes out the window once a team has a big lead.
 

Edmonton East

BUT the ADvaNCEd STatS...
Nov 25, 2007
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Again, Jack will be fine.
Based on his draft position and pre-NHL hype.

Most interesting thing about Hughes is how many "reputable" people in NHL media mentioned him as near Patrick Kane. That was laughable, as I said at the time. Even if it was only 10% of analysts that believed this....that's 10% too many.

Always thought Barzal was the best comparable and I didn't/don't mean that as a negative.
 
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