GDT: New Jersey Devils @ Washington Capitals - 7:30pm

[Guadana]

Yeah, but what about Oettinger? He's better than Nico and was picked behind him, and we still don't have a good young goalie yet!

I don't think many are crying about the Nico pick anymore. Other than that guy above me, but that's just kind of his schtick.

And I don't think he's complaining about Nico with that Shane Wright comment, as much as he's complaining about Nemec!

Oettinger. You always have a trump card.
There are some Jiricek fans versus Nemec. That was fun because "he was more productive " and "more nhl expirience" and "more nhl points" and "nemec still playing in ahl" and "nemec can't crack the line up". Noone asked them to start it on the main boards. And after there were "its only 2 games", "4 games", "6 games", "he was nothing special against ducks". And now they are silent. And "its better to send Joricek to ahl". Fun part was jackets fan on their board, who was very aggressive against Devils and nemec on the main board said that "devils were lucky, loose when they were buying good players, they drafted nemec after sign of Hamilton, we never did it". Yeah, Fantilli was late round pick and there were no sign Johnny Gaudreaunee from the market before that. And now, after trade of Provorov and sign of Severson they are competing for playoff. And I'm not talking about non Devils topic about Michkov and shitting on him.
Mtl and jackets fan base are really want to sh1t on other prospects and players and teams more than they know about their own systems. I sometimes read other boards or main boards to know something new about young players and its really something special from specific fan base, its not a thing for everyody. Arizona fans are not trying to belittling Nemec even with later picked Cooley.

 

[glenwo2]

I’m sure he’s been on waivers already, probably multiple times due to his age.

But he was yet to play a game in the NHL the last time he was waived.

I’m pretty sure when he came up last time he was on emergency recall and it’s definitely probably the same this time with Lindgren hurt.

good point.

BTW, I can't reiterate this enough : THANK F'N GOD we beat that sh*tty-ass washed-up has-been team finally.


I admit that when Daws let in that slapshot from the point during the Craps PP which tied the game at 3, I thought "Here we go again" and we'd get yet another repeat of the Boston game.

Good thing the Devils had more offense to give instead of being "OFFENSIVE", for a change.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Its insane, absolutely insane. I have seen young Dman look incredible in the offensive zone, but VERY seldom in the d zone. We have something special in him

He reminds me of a young Doughty with not quite as much offense yet. Just steady as hell and has incredible hockey sense.

 

[MartyOwns]

He’s a dude

that’s bonkers. talk about a two way defenseman

 

[Nocashstyle]

Philly would like a word...

Hard disagree. Philly has some really cool areas.

 

[Saugus]

I was very impressed by Holtz's puck battles in this game. He was great at digging out the puck in dirty areas to manufacture scoring chances out of nothing plays, 2 of which turned into McLeod goals. Both came at high leverage situations: the first to break the tie right before the second intermission, the second to put the game away.

We usually think of Holtz as being valuable primarily due to his shot, but this shows he can contribute in other ways too. I'm glad to see Lindy's comments recognizing that, and hope it will give Holtz some more rope in future games.

#FreeHoltz

 

[devilsblood]

I was very impressed by Holtz's puck battles in this game. He was great at digging out the puck in dirty areas to manufacture scoring chances out of nothing plays, 2 of which turned into McLeod goals. Both came at high leverage situations: the first to break the tie right before the second intermission, the second to put the game away.

We usually think of Holtz as being valuable primarily due to his shot, but this shows he can contribute in other ways too. I'm glad to see Lindy's comments recognizing that, and hope it will give Holtz some more rope in future games.

#FreeHoltz

The idea that Holtz could just be a guy who let's his linemates do the work and he'd be the finisher was never realisitic.

He needs to be a guy who can do some board work, who is responsible defensively, who can get into the dirty areas. Ruff demanding that is Ruff being a good coach.

I thought Holtz had some legit pep in his step last night as well.

 

[Oneiro]

Yeah. I think we’re seeing the detail oriented stuff get stronger from the young guys. It’s not linear, it’s often still frustrating but they’re clearly growing on both sides of the puck.

 

[devilsblood]

Lazar-McLeod-Holtz with a 75xGF% tonight. Absolutely stellar.

A couple weeks ago it was Lazar McLeod Bastian.

The common denominator here is obviously Lazar McLeod. I think Bastian on the RW gives you a good defensive high end 4th line that can dominate possession. Holtz on the RW gives you a line that can dominate possession and puts pucks in the net.

Interestingly the goals last night were dirty area McLeod goals, but I'm sure the prettier Holtz goals will come if that line stays together.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

Being a

Hoping the snowstorm cancels the game Saturday since we are ASS on b2bs at the moment lmao

Being at a game where an expected packed house is greatly reduced by bad weather is an oddly fun experience.

a 334 club party

We have way more fans now than in 1987. I'd project it to be a 666 party.

 

[forceten]

Hard disagree. Philly has some really cool areas.

Agreed. Philly is gritty, but it's a pretty good city. Washington is a good place too, other than the politics being front and center.

Then again I feel like most places have value and things to recommend them.

 

[Mirka the Turka]

A couple weeks ago it was Lazar McLeod Bastian.

The common denominator here is obviously Lazar McLeod. I think Bastian on the RW gives you a good defensive high end 4th line that can dominate possession. Holtz on the RW gives you a line that can dominate possession and puts pucks in the net.

Interestingly the goals last night were dirty area McLeod goals, but I'm sure the prettier Holtz goals will come if that line stays together.

I think you gotta sit Bastian for our AHL guys.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

Good morning fellow Devils fans! What a fine day it is to realize i was not dreaming, Mikey McLeod did score twice last night!

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

View attachment 795519
Shuhh Moan has been playing some decent enough hockey on the back end for the NJD, but unfortunately Jiricek will be the better D man. I still think Shane Wright will be better than Nico and quite possibly Jack, but I hope I'm wrong.

This post made me realize i’ve completely forgotten about Shane Wright. How’s he doing? Is he still in the league?

 

[Rhodes 81]

Agreed. Philly is gritty, but it's a pretty good city. Washington is a good place too, other than the politics being front and center.

Then again I feel like most places have value and things to recommend them.

There are very few major cities that don't have at least a couple of nice areas and something of cultural value. Wanting to live somewhere is a different story but as a visitor any city with a sizeable population tends to be fine.

 

[devilsblood]

I think you gotta sit Bastian for our AHL guys.

Nah the Bastian hate is all sorts of crooked.

 

[devilsblood]

Good morning fellow Devils fans! What a fine day it is to realize i was not dreaming, Mikey McLeod did score twice last night!

9 goals on the season. Tied for 6th on the team. One more then Holtz.

 

[Saugus]

9 goals on the season. Tied for 6th on the team. One more then Holtz.

If those two keep playing together, I expect both of them will score plenty more goals. I'm pleasantly surprised at how well they have meshed.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Nah the Bastian hate is all sorts of crooked.

There is no hate. Bastian is just capped at his level right now and people see this as a spot to upgrade over time.

Why not try Clarke for a game or 3 to see how he compares to Nate?

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Big win against the Caps in their barn. And Mercer has an awesome one timer from the slot. Maybe the best on the team.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Nah the Bastian hate is all sorts of crooked.

He’s just not particularly useful right now. He doesn’t need to be off the team, but it would be nice to get some guys back to push him into an extra forward role. Fully healthy I’m keeping Smith in over him all day just to help the PK.

 

[devilsblood]

There is no hate. Bastian is just capped at his level right now and people see this as a spot to upgrade over time.

Why not try Clarke for a game or 3 to see how he compares to Nate?

Because they are looking for a specific style out of that spot. And Clarke doesn’t play that style.

PK being part of it.

Never mind that Smith Tierney would be his linemates. So we can just get avoid the “lousy linemates” narrative by not playing him with them.

 

[HersheyBob27]

He’s just not particularly useful right now. He doesn’t need to be off the team, but it would be nice to get some guys back to push him into an extra forward role. Fully healthy I’m keeping Smith in over him all day just to help the PK.

Ok I would be curious to see clarke saddled with smith and tierney. That would be one of the worst lines in the league. PK is horrible right now with smith. Having him plod around on LW is assinine

 

[Camille the Eel]

I was very impressed by Holtz's puck battles in this game. He was great at digging out the puck in dirty areas to manufacture scoring chances out of nothing plays, 2 of which turned into McLeod goals. Both came at high leverage situations: the first to break the tie right before the second intermission, the second to put the game away.

We usually think of Holtz as being valuable primarily due to his shot, but this shows he can contribute in other ways too. I'm glad to see Lindy's comments recognizing that, and hope it will give Holtz some more rope in future games.

#FreeHoltz

One of Holtz’s best games as a Devil and, as you pointed out, includes a lot of little things and play away from the puck.

 

[Whaddagoal]

He’s just not particularly useful right now. He doesn’t need to be off the team, but it would be nice to get some guys back to push him into an extra forward role. Fully healthy I’m keeping Smith in over him all day just to help the PK.

That is my point too. I don't see the harm in giving some guys a look (Clarke, or even someone else for that matter)

Because they are looking for a specific style out of that spot. And Clarke doesn’t play that style.

PK being part of it.

Never mind that Smith Tierney would be his linemates. So we can just get avoid the “lousy linemates” narrative by not playing him with them.

I find it hard to argue against giving Clarke a few games over someone like Tierney or Bastian even. Bastian did have a better game yesterday, but it doesn't washout the sort of overall net neutral he has provided this team since coming back from his injury last season.

Obviously Clarke is not going to slot in anywhere on this roster above the 3rd line unless there were massive depth issues with injuries. He's gonna get a crack at the NHL at the 4th line most probably, so theres no reason to expect otherwise.

And to be fair to him, we don't know actually what type of game Clarke plays at NHL level because he has never seen NHL ice competition outside of preseason. Never been given a chance.

I was big Nate supporter before his injury, much more than McLeod at that time, but since he has come back post injury he is not that effective. I see his growth as completely stagnant at this point, to the degree that I'm not sure there's anything left to see.

Let's see what we have in Clarke, or some other guys in the AHL for a stint while we have moderate amount of injury/depth issues.