GDT: Devils vs. Sabres - A Special Teams Double Feature! 7:00 PM - MSG+

[Billdo]

Years ago when I was coaching one of the sophomores who thought he should be starting said, "This ain't the post office."

While I thought it was funny at the time, he had a point.

How many more times do you have to watch Sami do whatever he feels like or get caught out of position before he is removed from the lineup?

And if a guy can sit out all camp but gets a free pass while playing a one-way game and ignoring his defense assignments, what is the incentive for the rest of the team to do their jobs?

Play the guys who earn the time.

Oh I don't disagree with any of that at all. I just know that that's rarely something that happens in the short term.

 

[glenwo2]

THIS ARTWORK IS SO GOOD IT GOT ME BACK ON HFBoards... Just, wow.

Has been years... wondering what other old timers are still lurking.

LET’S GO DEVILS!!!

You're like the Lochness Monster.

Everyone thought you were a Myth....until you poked your head out of the water and were seen!

 

[glenwo2]

If the Sabres can sit Jeff Skinner there is no logical reason why Jesper Bratt is taking ice time away from guys like Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Maltsev or even Nick Merkley and/or Jesper Boqvist for that matter.

 

[AfroThunder396]

THIS ARTWORK IS SO GOOD IT GOT ME BACK ON HFBoards... Just, wow.

Has been years... wondering what other old timers are still lurking.

LET’S GO DEVILS!!!

Holy shit.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I find it odd that for years, we'd look up and see the whole left side of our defense consist of Andy Greene + scrubs, and say that our right side was stacked.

Now, I look at our left side and think how good it is -

and then the right side ...outside of Severson... blech. Liability.

Progress?

Not sure I agree. Only one defenseman to this point that's been blech (and his name rhymes with Hammy).

Murray has looked a bit weak after returning but he is a huge upgrade over what the Devils had a year ago.

And Kulikov has been a pleasant surprise with a physical element that has been missing for a couple of seasons.

 

[Bleedred]

Why exactly are we scratching Bratt? Because whoever we put in for him will actually be an upgrade? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Doubt it will be topped.

 

[tr83]

If the Sabres can sit Jeff Skinner there is no logical reason why Jesper Bratt is taking ice time away from guys like Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Maltsev or even Nick Merkley and/or Jesper Boqvist for that matter.

And despite the hate he receives on these boards, Matt Tennyson on his worst day is far better then Vatanen in his own end; and knows the system and how and when to pinch without leaving his teammates out to dry. But if he's not going to play then Will Butcher with Kulikov is still a better option.

Tennyson is not an NHL defenseman. Vatanwn is very rusty and I would take a rusty Vatanen over a healthy Tennyson any day.

Im no advanced stats guy but even the eye test says he drags anyone down that is paired with him.




I thought that messing with chemistry on a stretch where they dominated Boston was a mistake, but i understand why getting Nico and Sammi back in the lineup was important

 

[Emperoreddy]

3 loses really brings out the absolute crazy level takes.

 

[Emperoreddy]

They have little to know practice time. The only way to get returning guys into game form is to play them.

If you sit or hold guys back they will remain rusty for longer.

It's an unfortunate situation how the schedule has worked out, but is what it is. It's frustrating, but it's not something to super toast the entire team for.

They deserve more patience then some of you are showing.

And FYI this is still a development year. It's not a playoff or bust year. A good start didn't change that.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

THIS ARTWORK IS SO GOOD IT GOT ME BACK ON HFBoards... Just, wow.

Has been years... wondering what other old timers are still lurking.

LET’S GO DEVILS!!!

What in the wild world of sports is this???? JERRY G!? I thought you went off grid after winning the lottery. Nice to see you pop your head up for a hello.

 

[hacksaw7]

​

What else did Nasreddine direct? The Room?

 

[glenwo2]

Wait what? This is a legitimate thought???? Sitting Bratt?

You're talking to the same guy who was basically extolling the virtues of Zacha several pages back(or in another thread, I forget)...

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Why exactly are we scratching Bratt? Because whoever we put in for him will actually be an upgrade? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Doubt it will be topped.

 

[billingtons ghost]

This GDT is so damn good.

It would SUCK if the Devils lost again, thus wasting this Gem.

Shouldn't you be spending your time focusing on the 'scratch Bratt' line of some previous post?

But seriously - if we do win tonight, the GDT MUST be one of the three stars.

 

[glenwo2]

Shouldn't you be spending your time focusing on the 'scratch Bratt' line of some previous post?

But seriously - if we do win tonight, the GDT MUST be one of the three stars.

Did you even see this yet?

Posted it here 2 hours ago!

GDT: - Devils vs. Sabres - A Special Teams Double Feature! 7:00 PM - MSG+

 

[billingtons ghost]

Did you even see this yet?

Posted it here 2 hours ago!

GDT: - Devils vs. Sabres - A Special Teams Double Feature! 7:00 PM - MSG+

Yes I did... and I figured you were driving over to his house.

 

[Combat Koala]

Fantastic GDT, well done.

Hopefully they can carve out a win and maybe have some decent PK's and PP's.

 

[FooteBahl]

Fantastic GDT, well done.

Hopefully they can carve out a win and maybe have some decent PK's and PP's.

Lol at the PK. Every time we kill one off, it reminds me of the Little Giants movie where they were super pumped that they gained a yard.

 

[The 29th Pick]

THIS ARTWORK IS SO GOOD IT GOT ME BACK ON HFBoards... Just, wow.

Has been years... wondering what other old timers are still lurking.

LET’S GO DEVILS!!!

well welcome back Mr Gigantic! (and we're allowed to say Shit now)

 

[Cheddabombs]

Lol at the PK. Every time we kill one off, it reminds me of the Little Giants movie where they were super pumped that they gained a yard.

Amazing movie ahaha

 

[JimEIV]

THIS ARTWORK IS SO GOOD IT GOT ME BACK ON HFBoards... Just, wow.

Has been years... wondering what other old timers are still lurking.

LET’S GO DEVILS!!!

I hope your presences breaks the current streak....Good to see you

 

[hidek91]

They have little to know practice time. The only way to get returning guys into game form is to play them.

If you sit or hold guys back they will remain rusty for longer.

It's an unfortunate situation how the schedule has worked out, but is what it is. It's frustrating, but it's not something to super toast the entire team for.

They deserve more patience then some of you are showing.

And FYI this is still a development year. It's not a playoff or bust year. A good start didn't change that.

Sure but it's a zero sum game, meaning that if six of our nine defencemen play, three have to sit. We are just discussing who sits and who plays. And not scratching Vatanen for those 3 games, while also not rewarding Butcher for good 3 games is almost a sabotage, IMO.

Regarding forwards, I don't really understand Bratt discussion, sure, he didn't produce a lot of points so far but the eye test has been very good, I criticized his defence in the offseason but he's been solid in his own end, the compete level and intensity are high for him. I think that what some people seem to miss is that our group of young forwards (I don't mean Zacha, Jack, Bratt, Wood, Hughes here) may not produce more than 2 regular NHLers, let alone any top six forwards:

1) Boqvist - still young and still has to figure it out but while not awful on defence, doesn't create offense at NHL level,
2) McLeod - looked good at the beginning but has been more and more invisible lately, moreover is a part of a very bad PK,
3) Bastian - here production has been decreasing lately but I like his size and hockey IQ,
4) Sharangovich - good defensively but doesn't produce offensively,
5) Maltsev - that shot is unacceptable for a guy who will be 23 in March,
6) Kuokkanen - production is there but the eye test doesn't scream "NHL regular".

Scratching Bratt or Zacha (who both produce and are at least OK defensively) for any of those 6 would be a huge mistake.

 

[crashline]

Ugh. Buffalo, again?

We are all Phil Connors running into Ned Ryerson and that first step is indeed, a doozy.

 

[Blender]

 

[glenwo2]

Yes I did... and I figured you were driving over to his house.

How can I be driving over to his house when I have a game to play in less than 20 minutes?