GDT: Rangers @ Devils - 7 P.M. - MSG/MSGSN/NHL Network

[TheUnseenHand]

He already admitted he passed on a 1 year offer from the Devils expecting to get 2 years somewhere. Fitz then pivoted and traded for Toffoli.

Understood, but we could have had both. We are now relying on Holtz as he is pretty much the only option.

 

[theoptimist]

Save the smoke for the first GDT

 

[britdevil]

Understood, but we could have had both. We are now relying on Holtz as he is pretty much the only option.

I'm sure Fitz will look to add at the deadline, I'm not too concerned.

 

[glenwo2]

 

[Emperoreddy]

I was expecting more overreactions to all the preseason winning on the positive side, wasn't really expecting it on the negative side.

Guys need to relax, I know years of sucking scarred us, but it's looking good right now. The warts will even themselves out

 

[njdevils1982]

Save the smoke for the first GDT

i summon mr spear. .....spare no day without smoke.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Understood, but we could have had both. We are now relying on Holtz as he is pretty much the only option.

At least we are in a good position to shelter Alex if need be. Long gone are the days when we needed a Holtz to reach their potential. This is sink or swim for him. Maybe he figures it out. Maybe not. But I think they’re in a good spot where they can let him learn. And I mentioned it in the off-season. I hope Alex is learning a lot from Toffoli. His ceiling can be that of a Toffoli if he puts it altogether.

As good as Tatar was for us last year the Toffoli add will pay dividends in the high pressure playoff games. Time to take the next step.

 

[Guttersniped]

Sorry but I don't see it. This kind of post reminds me of when that one guy was saying Jack would get 100 points in his rookie season.

Again, he'd really need to improve and magically find the offense without losing the defense. Tonight, he was fine, but also had like 0 offensive impact. The game where he did better offensively, he was bad defensively. I doubt Ruff will give him a long leash for the bad defensive plays.

It was a weird game but after seeing the team live for the first time I don’t think these lines survive.

The Nico line isn’t good enough defensively. Haula isn’t good enough defensively to make up for that.

Maybe you even flip Haula and Nico because Nico needs to play with smarter players. It’s not just about hustling.

But Meier-Hischier-Mercer probably happens because that line can score a lot of f***ing goals. Top players play with each other.

 

[Devs3cups]

PP is actually looking pretty good. If we could sneak in the top 10, that would be nice.

 

[Blender]

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Understood, but we could have had both. We are now relying on Holtz as he is pretty much the only option.

I don’t think that’s the case. The Devils have plenty of centers of plenty of right wings. I don’t think i’d even mind trying Bastian with Palat and Haula and having Thompson on the 4th line. Having Bratt, Mercer, and Toffoli as potential RWs even without Holtz is an embarrassment of riches.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I don’t think that’s the case. The Devils have plenty of centers of plenty of right wings. I don’t think i’d even mind trying Bastian with Palat and Haula and having Thompson on the 4th line. Having Bratt, Mercer, and Toffoli as potential RWs even without Holtz is an embarrassment of riches.

Taking Toffoli off that line right now would be stupid. The only one that might need tweaking is nico's line.

 

[Offseason Champs]

So according to this thread Holtz was good and fine and horrible and should be fine on the second line but man if only we brought back Tomas Tatar instead of having to rely on him to be in the top 6.

I feel people have already decided how they feel about the player and few are actually seeing him objectively.

Look at it this way: if our biggest problem this year is how well 10 plays I think we'll be just fine.

Like if he doesn't stick you send him to Utica, move Mercer up and bring up golden boy Tyce Thompson. Life moves on, it's not that big of a deal.

 

[My3Sons]

I don’t know if it is a coincidence but Hischier’s line did not get one defensive zone draw tonight. Is that an attempt to shelter Holtz? If so that could be a problem. You can’t shelter Hischier. He’s your matchup center. That may be Holtz’s undoing but we will see.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Devils dominated until they went into self preservation mode because its….wait for it…the preseason. OH MY, who would have thought these guys aren’t going full throttle. A lot of folks need to lighten up.

 

[My3Sons]

Devils dominated until they went into self preservation mode because its….wait for it…the preseason. OH MY, who would have thought these guys aren’t going full throttle. A lot of folks need to lighten up.

What are you talking about? This was easily the most important game so far this season!!!!

 

[Blender]

I don’t know if it is a coincidence but Hischier’s line did not get one defensive zone draw tonight. Is that an attempt to shelter Holtz? If so that could be a problem. You can’t shelter Hischier. He’s your matchup center. That may be Holtz’s undoing but we will see.

It's preason. I wouldn't read into that more than that in preseason coaches like to try other players in unfamiliar situations to see how they do.

 

[JimEIV]

I don’t know if it is a coincidence but Hischier’s line did not get one defensive zone draw tonight. Is that an attempt to shelter Holtz? If so that could be a problem. You can’t shelter Hischier. He’s your matchup center. That may be Holtz’s undoing but we will see.

Looking at the stats it just looks the bottom 6 took the majority of the Dzone draws.

I also noticed Bahl led the team in minutes tonight and 5v5 minutes.

It'll be really exciting if takes a big step and becomes a steady top 4 man... that would be huge to have that presence in the top 4...

We quickly and quietly got bigger and grittier. Bahl, Nosek Meier, Toffoli, Palat and I'd even throw Haula into that mix from a grit stand point.

I'm so enamored with what Fitz has done with this team.

 

[My3Sons]

Looking at the stars it just looks the bottom 6 took the majority of the Dzone draws.

I also noticed Bahl led the team in minutes tonight and 5v5 minutes.

It'll be really exciting if takes a big step and becomes a steady top 4 man... that would be huge to have that presence in the top 4...

We quickly and quietly got bigger and grittier. Bahl, Nosek Meier, Toffoli, Palat and I'd even throw Haula into that mix from a grit stand point.

I'm so enamored with what Fitz has done with this team.

You knew after he renovated the defense he’d start to renovate the forward group.

 

[NJDevils17]

Bahl taking a step to at minimum replace Graves would be awesome but his preseason play gives solid top-4 vibes. Really excited for what he can deliver.

A franchise defining move:

Taylor Hall for Dawson Mercer + Kevin Bahl + 2021 3rd (Siegenthaler)

 

[JimEIV]

You knew after he renovated the defense he’d start to renovate the forward group.

Well I really had no idea with what to expect from him. But there isn't a single thing that he's done that hasn't been good

Coming into this off season I questioned letting Severson and Graves go at the same time... it was tempered by knowing Luke and Nemec were here but it still seemed awfully risky .. but it kind of highlights the foresight of adding Marino when he did.

But there really isn't a single thing he's done or not done that I can complain about and were coming into his 4th year. It's been all aces

 

[Nubmer6]

Well I really had no idea with what to expect from him. But there isn't a single thing that he's done that hasn't been good

Coming into this off season I questioned letting Severson and Graves go at the same time... it was tempered by knowing Luke and Nemec were here but it still seemed awfully risky .. but it kind of highlights the foresight of adding Marino when he did.

But there really isn't a single thing he's done or not done that I can complain about and were coming into his 4th year. It's been all aces

Acquiring Miller may have been a misstep. We'll know soon enough.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Matt and Sam felt Bahl has been the story of the preseason. Couldn't stop raving about his progress

 

[JimEIV]

Acquiring Miller may have been a misstep. We'll know soon enough.

I don't know that adding a depth Dman can ever really be a mistake? I mean he was never going to be more than a 6th in the best case scenario.

 

[My3Sons]

Acquiring Miller may have been a misstep. We'll know soon enough.

For a fifth round pick? What did you expect?