We need a better netminder then Hutton badly. Fleury should be targeted immediately.
I think Cozens had a very good game in regards to the entire Sabre lineup. For a 19 year old he played a good overall game and made good decisions both with and without the puck more often then not. Execution was a little off at times but his IQ and overall game has me very excited for the future with him. Risto was decent overall, the D in general was not good especially Montour but Risto even though he had a few moments overall he was acceptable. He played well enough where he should be a #3 on a top contender. Montour was the worst and should definitely be off the team for next year, hopefully Samuelsson is ready for a top 6 role by opening night 2021-2022.
Skinner needs to be paired with Jack. Totally idiotic not to. And also Washington was real dirty and cheap you can tell Laviolette is the coach there, they played just like the Canes did in 06 and like then also got away with numerous infractions.
Overall tonight was not as bad as it could have been. First game for the team in 10 months. Their conditioning and intensity was poor. Super sloppy play. Our best player had one of his worst games since 2018 and still was on the scoresheet. Hutton was Hutton just trash.
All things considered with literally half of the top 6 brand new (Tage, Hall and Staal) and more then half the top 9 brand new with no pre season or actual games in 10 months against an elite team who had more intensity and better conditioned we definitely look better overall even though we still have garbage Hutton. We almost came back from 3 down to earn a point even with our best player having one of his worst games in his last 100 played.
The offense definitely looks like they will be at the 3+ gpg mark I predicted for them before the season. If Adams can get us a clear upgrade on Hutton before the 1/4 mark I can see us fighting for the DIV4 spot. The offense looks playoff worthy. The defense did not though the goaltending did NOTHING to help them.
I think Adams has to be proactive and aggressive in season to fight for the playoffs and avoid having our superstar demand a trade. I think even if we fall short of the playoffs but are still alive past the 50 game mark I think Jack will give us another chance since this is not a true season and his leverage is minimal with half a decade left on his deal in the summer. Adams should definitely have prospects not named Peterka, Quinn, and Johnson all available in trades and every pick save the 1st unless there are top 5 protection conditions on it and/or it is for an impact player under the age of 26. We need a goalie badly instead of Hutton. We need a better dman/dmen then Montour and/or McCabe. There are definitely upgrades that can be acquired for 2nds/3rds and guys like Mittelstadt/Asplund/Thompson.
Oh and even if they did not really mesh in game 1 having Taylor Hall on the ice for us was an incredible sight. He truly is a superstar caliber talent. He may not have the monster numbers but if you win a Hart and take a team like the Devils to the playoffs with almost minimal help you are a superstar. I don't buy that only McDavid, Kucherov, Crosby, Kane, Ovy and Mack are the only superstars. In my eyes a top 15-20 player/talent is a super star. Winning major trophies/40+ goals or 90+ points/carrying teams and visible high end talent make you a superstar. In the NFL our Bills have 2 arguably 3 superstars in Allen (top 3 QB present and future), Diggs (receiving champion and top 3 at his position) and arguably Tre White (top e at his position) I really want Hall long term and even if it takes a 6 year deal where years 5-6 may be a little painful, his elite talent and production are worth the possible issues at the tail end of the contract to lock up one of the games best forwards even if he is turning 30. Hall will be ppg+ this year and for at least 3 more seasons. I have no issue with a 6/50 contract when he will put up 250 points the first half of it even if he only puts up 180 the last half of it. You don't let elite talent go, especially when you acquire it for absolutely zero assets aside from a free agent contract. And I think having him and Jack on seperate lines is more beneficial.
