Post-Game Talk: No Longer Under Siege but still On Deadly Ground (Devils win 4-3 in OT over the Habs)

[glenwo2]

See what I did there, @JK3 ?


I think I'll use @BenedictGomez 's in-depth analysis for this One with a twist :


GOOD

Nico

Hall's passing

Bratt ('cause I'm f'n biased)

Gusev (He played waaaaay better tonight! The goose really was loose!! )

Coleman ('cause Pickles)

Simmonds (He's really picked it up and proved he can still go)

Blackwood (Remains the best chance for the Devils to....ESCAPE with the Victory)


BAD

Hynes
Our Defense
Did I mention Hynes?
Did I mention our Defense?

Click to read more...

 

[devilsblood]

I think Bratt has been showing some real offensive confidence lately. Looking real dangerous with the puck. Certainly had a few of those moments last night.

Hoping a break out is coming soon.

 

[haak84]

Nico needs to play 20 minutes a night.

 

[Tretyak 20]

Nico needs to play 20 minutes a night.

Hynes: "That Euro-wuss will get ice time when he learns to be as tough on the puck as my boy Hayden!"

 

[None Shall Pass]

Lost in all the referee madness is that it was overall a very good game against a better team on the road.

Realistically, we'd be a much more formidable team with some better depth on D. Tennyson is not a solution.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Lost in all the referee madness is that it was overall a very good game against a better team on the road.

Realistically, we'd be a much more formidable team with some better depth on D. Tennyson is not a solution.

This, and we had the chance to run up the score if the early PPs werent dreadful and if Butcher buried that empty net and if Gusevs crossbar shot went in. They had plenty of chances

 

[devilsblood]

Nico needs to play 20 minutes a night.

No fwd plays 20 minutes on the team.

Nico does play the 3rd most minutes overall, and the 2nd most minutes 5v5. But league wide he is 128th in the league amongst fwds.

So we seem to do that whole "roll 4 lines" thing, which many on here were advocating over the summer, more then other teams.

 

[13BearerOfHope]

Yesterday was an entertaining game to watch - and while we deserved the W we got lucky - let's be honest.
For example the two goals in the end of periods one and two. Nico's five hole shorty with 1 second left was actually aimed to be a top shelf shot, he even admitted it. LOL he was too polite to claim it was intentional .

 

[JimEIV]

Lost in all the referee madness is that it was overall a very good game against a better team on the road.

Realistically, we'd be a much more formidable team with some better depth on D. Tennyson is not a solution.

So much is needed though. Just about the entire left side of the defense needs to be replaced this summer. We still don't know if Blackwood is capable of being a #1 or not but regardless we still need another goalie...

If Bastian and Maltsev could possibly be contributors to this team sometime in the future, those two would go a long way to adding some much needed size to lineup...but I think we do need some more size throughout this lineup. Especially on defense.

The way the right side of defense is constructed I think it's going to be very difficult finding the right partners but even one solid LHD would go a long way to improving the overall D. And I think Ty Smith really complicates the entire situation because I don't believe we have a proper partner for him on the right side. Ironically the best fit would probably be Vatanen for Smith and he might not even be here next year.

And then there is this coaching staff.

 

[NjDevsRR]

So much is needed though. Just about the entire left side of the defense needs to be replaced this summer. We still don't know if Blackwood is capable of being a #1 or not but regardless we still need another goalie...

If Bastian and Maltsev could possibly be contributors to this team sometime in the future, those two would go a long way to adding some much needed size to lineup...but I think we do need some more size throughout this lineup. Especially on defense.

The way the right side of defense is constructed I think it's going to be very difficult finding the right partners but even one solid LHD would go a long way to improving the overall D. And I think Ty Smith really complicates the entire situation because I don't believe we have a proper partner for him on the right side. Ironically the best fit would probably be Vatanen for Smith and he might not even be here next year.

And then there is this coaching staff.

Man, too bad not one of Burlon Delahey Faust McPherson Eckford Corrente Fraser Scarlett Santini Merril Gelinas Urbom Hegelson panned out.

 

[Billdo]

So much is needed though. Just about the entire left side of the defense needs to be replaced this summer. We still don't know if Blackwood is capable of being a #1 or not but regardless we still need another goalie...

If Bastian and Maltsev could possibly be contributors to this team sometime in the future, those two would go a long way to adding some much needed size to lineup...but I think we do need some more size throughout this lineup. Especially on defense.

The way the right side of defense is constructed I think it's going to be very difficult finding the right partners but even one solid LHD would go a long way to improving the overall D. And I think Ty Smith really complicates the entire situation because I don't believe we have a proper partner for him on the right side. Ironically the best fit would probably be Vatanen for Smith and he might not even be here next year.

And then there is this coaching staff.

I think Severson has shown he can play the left side so if we were able to have a guy come in like Muzzin we could roll with the pairings below assuming we sign Vatanen which I really would like to happen.

Muzzin-Subban
Severson-Vatanen
Smith-Butcher

 

[JimEIV]

Man, too bad not one of Burlon Delahey Faust McPherson Eckford Corrente Fraser Scarlett Santini Merril Gelinas Urbom Hegelson panned out.

Not sure what any of that means?
But
Merrill is averaging over 20 minutes a night in Vegas and is one of their primary PKers. A PK that is currently ranked 11th best kill percentage in the league. He has 327 games under his belt...if that is not panning out, I'm not sure what is. I don't think it would a stretch to say that Merrill is better than any LHD we currently have defensively.

Santini's story isn't over yet. He is currently leading Milwaukee in +/- with 5 assist 17 games. I expect to see in him Nashville at some point this season. But Steve is still only 3 years out of college and has 114 to his credit. He is still 24 years old, soon to be 25 but I wouldn't write his career as over

 

[billingtons ghost]

Lost in all the referee madness is that it was overall a very good game against a better team on the road.

Realistically, we'd be a much more formidable team with some better depth on D. Tennyson is not a solution.

Yeah, this.

The team is just a few pieces away from a bunch of guys who could all have confidence in each other doing their job. I think MacBlack is righting the ship and erasing one big question mark. If we can just stabilize the D a bit with a good LHD, and have the kids play a simple game and eliminate the really zany stuff - we'll climb up the standings.

Don't think it'll be enough to get into the playoffs, but wouldn't it be awesome if it was...
Not a complete game - but getting closer.

 

[FooteBahl]

I think Severson has shown he can play the left side so if we were able to have a guy come in like Muzzin we could roll with the pairings below assuming we sign Vatanen which I really would like to happen.

Muzzin-Subban
Severson-Vatanen
Smith-Butcher

I don’t think Muzzin and Vatanen happen with a Hall re-signing...Ray would have to get very creative. A buyout of Cory would save 4 million so that could be a start.

23.7 million in space right now for next year to sign Hall, Vats, Bratt (RFA), Blackwood (RFA).

Let’s say cap goes up 3 million and we buyout Cory: that will give us right around 30 million. Maybe we could do some UFA hunting.

 

[MartyOwns]

I don’t think Muzzin and Vatanen happen with a Hall re-signing...Ray would have to get very creative. A buyout of Cory would save 4 million so that could be a start.

23.7 million in space right now for next year to sign Hall, Vats, Bratt (RFA), Blackwood (RFA).

Let’s say cap goes up 3 million and we buyout Cory: that will give us right around 30 million. Maybe we could do some UFA hunting.

but if cory goes, someone has to replace him. domingue might be worse than schneider, if such a thing was possible

 

[JimEIV]

but if cory goes, someone has to replace him. domingue might be worse than schneider, if such a thing was possible

I think this year we have to see what kind of workload Blackwood can handle. If he can legitimately handle 50 games, it broadens what you can bring in next year.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I think this year we have to see what kind of workload Blackwood can handle. If he can legitimately handle 50 games, it broadens what you can bring in next year.

On NHL Network Radio on Friday Kouleas & Barnaby discussed this & said the Devils have nothing to lose at this point & they may as well just play Blackwood as many games as possible to see if he can actually be a #1 netminder or if he's an NHL backup.

 

[Billdo]

I don’t think Muzzin and Vatanen happen with a Hall re-signing...Ray would have to get very creative. A buyout of Cory would save 4 million so that could be a start.

23.7 million in space right now for next year to sign Hall, Vats, Bratt (RFA), Blackwood (RFA).

Let’s say cap goes up 3 million and we buyout Cory: that will give us right around 30 million. Maybe we could do some UFA hunting.

Hall isn't coming back. If Schneider is bought out with Hall gone it would free up some cash especially since Greene will be off the cap too. That's 16 mil right there.

 

[MartyOwns]

I think this year we have to see what kind of workload Blackwood can handle. If he can legitimately handle 50 games, it broadens what you can bring in next year.

agreed, but we need to learn from past mistakes. if next year we have 1 good starter (assuming blackwood is that) and one sieve, we are 1 injury away from another year of disappointing frogshit

 

[BenedictGomez]

Hall isn't coming back. If Schneider is bought out with Hall gone it would free up some cash especially since Greene will be off the cap too. That's 16 mil right there.

I get $15M.

Hall = 6 Greene = 5 Cory = 4, but yes, the Devils would be flush.

The problem is, flush to buy whom? Not sure there's too many great FAs upcoming.

 

[Billdo]

I get $15M.

Hall = 6 Greene = 5 Cory = 4, but yes, the Devils would be flush.

The problem is, flush to buy whom? Not sure there's too many great FAs upcoming.

Hoffman and Muzzin, yeah I thought for some reason Greene was 6 too.

 

[None Shall Pass]

I already know the reactions that will come from saying this, but I still want to see more games from Cory before thinking about buying him out.

None of the goals he gave up in Edmonton were egregious or anything. I just rewatched them before posting this.

Breakaway, a deflection, a very fortunate bounce for Neal coupled with poor defense, and another deflection by a guy who a defenseman should have been blocking out anyway.

Yes, blah blah blah, past three years, I know I know, but at this point his problem's look mental. He was perfectly fine in the 1st game before he got hurt. He needs to see a sports psychologist.

 

[billingtons ghost]

agreed, but we need to learn from past mistakes. if next year we have 1 good starter (assuming blackwood is that) and one sieve, we are 1 injury away from another year of disappointing frog****

It looks to me like there are lots of UFA goalies next year - Certainly a scrap heap of sorts, but if we hope Blackwood will play 50-60, then we can look at a vet who is looking to hang on. There's a whole list of guys that all could be pretty solid in a 30 game backup role - Greiss, Halak, Khubodin - and a glue factory list of Mike Smith, Jimmy Howard, Cam Talbot, Brian Elliot, Ryan Miller, Korpisalo...

I mean, no one in their right mind wants these guys on their team in a prominent role, but I think we'd want someone to push and help MB29, not threaten his job.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I already know the reactions that will come from saying this, but I still want to see more games from Cory before thinking about buying him out.

None of the goals he gave up in Edmonton were egregious or anything. I just rewatched them before posting this.

Breakaway, a deflection, a very fortunate bounce for Neal coupled with poor defense, and another deflection by a guy who a defenseman should have been blocking out anyway.

Yes, blah blah blah, past three years, I know I know, but at this point his problem's look mental. He was perfectly fine in the 1st game before he got hurt. He needs to see a sports psychologist.

 

[devilsblood]

I already know the reactions that will come from saying this, but I still want to see more games from Cory before thinking about buying him out.

None of the goals he gave up in Edmonton were egregious or anything. I just rewatched them before posting this.

Breakaway, a deflection, a very fortunate bounce for Neal coupled with poor defense, and another deflection by a guy who a defenseman should have been blocking out anyway.

Yes, blah blah blah, past three years, I know I know, but at this point his problem's look mental. He was perfectly fine in the 1st game before he got hurt. He needs to see a sports psychologist.

And he's going to get more games, the next bunch of games may be AHL games, but he's going to get a chance to resurrect himself somewhere.

And maybe he never finds it, but let's just say from here on out he plays 20 NHL games and posts a .911 save %, and wins at a decent clip. We're going to buy him out and go pay some other guy who is maybe playing to a .911 save % himself? I doubt that.