Post-Game Talk: Wild 5, Devils 2

[glenwo2]

Switching gears here, I just had a thought...

Who makes who better on the Mercer line that's been the only line that's played well?

Does Bratt make Johnsson better?

Does Johnsson make Bratt better?

Or is it all Mercer?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Warren Zevin was beloved it seems. Hindu Love Gods was him being backed by most of REM. He’s had a number of big names backing him up over the years. Underrated performer and writer and gone too soon. I am proud I got to see him play live.

Remarkable songwriter. very underappreciated. Maybe if he hadn't been such an ass to people who mattered it would have gone a lot better for him.

So many performers loved the guy. I loved his music and still do.

"Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song)"
Warren Zevon
May he rest in peace. No one should die his kind of death. Life'll Kill Ya'

 

[TBF1972]

more minnesota music…

prince slappin da bass …and then sliding/throwing the thing off stage

my top 3 based on consecutive listenings:
the exodus has begun
purple rain
little red corvette

 

[McDuffz88]

Switching gears here, I just had a thought...

Who makes who better on the Mercer line that's been the only line that's played well?

Does Bratt make Johnsson better?

Does Johnsson make Bratt better?

Or is it all Mercer?

I think its all Mercer. I don't think it's a coincidence both Bratt & Johnsson are having career years the 2nd they got paired with Mercer. It's not even just them. Everyone just looks much better with Mercer. The brief times he's spent with Sharangovich they had chemistry both putting up points off each other. I remember even in preseason when Holtz was on Mercers line Holtz meshed well too scoring points. I really think Mercer is just that type of player that elevates the play of everyone around him. Which is why I really wanna see him & Nico on the same line. Maybe we can finally get some real production out of Nico. Question is who do we make wing? Hughes looks awful at wing so it's either Nico or Mercer. We all know Mercer will get a fat contract when the time comes & we won't be able to afford to have 7 million dollar 3rd line centers. One will have to shift. Mercer paired with Nico or Hughes will take their play to the next level I'm almost sure of it.

 

[ninetyeight]

I've come down from being extremely excited about a devils team, to semi optimistic about the future, to not caring about if they make the playoffs, to now not even wanting to watch the games.

They really shouldn't be this bad, I might be delusional about our players skill level, but seems to me even players coming from other teams are way worse when they play here. Is it the coaching? Recchi for sure needs to be fired, but I wouldn't want to swap Ruff for any of the prior head coaches we've had in the last decade+. And how much can you really put on Nas for all of this?

Seeing Nico struggle and being an average player really makes me sad. I think we could manage if one or two players had an off season, but right now Smith, Severson, Sharangovich, Hischier, Kuokkanen, McLeod, Tatar are all playing below their skill level. And even Zacha and Graves (goals aside) have struggled recently. Blackwood has also come down from looking like a future Vezina winner to just another NHL goalie.

Don't really know how would you fix this other than just shuffling lines calling up new players and hope things click. Powerplay could be sorted out with a new special teams coach, but other than that I doubt changing the staff does much.

Anyway I'd let Kuokkanen sit another game, scratch Sharangovich, waive Gertsen, call up Holtz and someone to play LW (boq, de leo) and run these lines:

Johnsson Mercer Bratt
Zacha Nico Tatar
Boqvist Hughes Holtz
Vesey McLeod Bastian

 

[NJ07102]

It's funny how Lindy blames the team for not "competing" when at the same time the Utica Comets manage to compete each and every game. But I don't believe the compete level is the real problem here. And even if "compete" IS the problem, it is ultimately Lindys job to get the guys to compete every night. It is obvious he is failing there and also in other areas like having a solid structure and even a halfway decent idea, how a pp should work. Is our coaching staff putting the players into the best possible position to win? Doesn't look like it to me.

 

[Guttersniped]

I think its all Mercer. I don't think it's a coincidence both Bratt & Johnsson are having career years the 2nd they got paired with Mercer. It's not even just them. Everyone just looks much better with Mercer. The brief times he's spent with Sharangovich they had chemistry both putting up points off each other. I remember even in preseason when Holtz was on Mercers line Holtz meshed well too scoring points. I really think Mercer is just that type of player that elevates the play of everyone around him. Which is why I really wanna see him & Nico on the same line. Maybe we can finally get some real production out of Nico. Question is who do we make wing? Hughes looks awful at wing so it's either Nico or Mercer. We all know Mercer will get a fat contract when the time comes & we won't be able to afford to have 7 million dollar 3rd line centers. One will have to shift. Mercer paired with Nico or Hughes will take their play to the next level I'm almost sure of it.

It's not all Mercer.

Johnsson had a great 2018-19 season. He only played 43 games in 2019-20 due to a couple of injuries and had knee surgery in February 2020. So he was coming back from knee surgery on top of struggling with the bad combination of his asthma and the after-effects of the February bout with COVID. We all can see now that he's a guy who makes it the magic happen off the rush with his speed, so the knee would definitely hindered that, and he's a high motor guy, so conditioning/breathing issues would be a problem too.

Bratt's breakout season was 2019-20 and everyone would have been way more into him last season if his finishing didn't suddenly go off the rails. Bratt has made linemates better for years, Zacha is better with him, Nico is better with him, Hughes is better with him, Palmieri was even better with him. He and Johnsson had great chemistry last year, they looked good with each except for the scoring part.

This isn't discounting how impressive Mercer has been at all, he's been obviously steller, and he's compliments them really well too. Mercer did struggle on the California road trip though because the line was broken up a bit after the shut out in Anaheim. In LA Mercer struggled with Zacha and Holtz while Nico had a great game with Johnsson and Bratt (that game was one of Bratt's best of the season). In San Jose Mercer had to suffer through half a game on a line with Holtz and Sharangovich, it did not go well at all, until Ruff mercifully got the band back together. And they immediately got scored on. It happens, but they played really well together. The line was kept together when we went home to play Florida, Nico and Zacha got babysitting duties with Holtz.

Now Dawson and Jack have only played together even strength for a grand total of 3:04 while with Dawson and Nico it's been 7:40, so we haven't seen fun stuff like that. We have slogged through 20:58 of Nico and Jack making me have painful late 2019-20 season flashbacks though.

 

[hidek91]

McLeod with an xGF% of 2.88. I don't think I've ever seen anyone lower. His xGF was .01

Very good at faceoffs but terrible hockey IQ combined with bad hands.

 

[Nico13]

Shame on you team.

 

[hidek91]

It's funny how Lindy blames the team for not "competing" when at the same time the Utica Comets manage to compete each and every game. But I don't believe the compete level is the real problem here. And even if "compete" IS the problem, it is ultimately Lindys job to get the guys to compete every night. It is obvious he is failing there and also in other areas like having a solid structure and even a halfway decent idea, how a pp should work. Is our coaching staff putting the players into the best possible position to win? Doesn't look like it to me.

I don't criticize the fact that Fitzgerald tries to build the way he does, in fact I think it's smart and it's much better than what Lou did (adding veterans even when there was no hope of competing) but on a top 10 team, you don't give free bottom six spots to players like McLeod, Maltsev, Thompson, Holtz, Studenic or Boqvist, you sign cheap but proven UFAs (a'la Boyle) and the young guys, if they want to have an NHL spot, need to win this spot, e. g. they have to do exactly what Mercer did. In a current state, this team is built like a development team, which affects players' value positively (because hey, Maltsev was an NHL regular the moment we traded him) but it affects results negatively.

It's a matter of priorities but since 2013, I've seen literally all coaching staffs being criticized but when they left New Jersey, they had good results (DeBoer) or average results (Hynes), while New Jersey remained bottom 10 team.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

...but on a top 10 team, you don't give free bottom six spots to players like McLeod, Maltsev, Thompson, Holtz, Studenic or Boqvist, you sign cheap but proven UFAs (a'la Boyle) and the young guys, if they want to have an NHL spot, need to win this spot, e. g. they have to do exactly what Mercer did.

I agree and disagree. Some of our young players have gotten spots too easily, because there aren't better options. On the other hand, if there were more Veseys, Boyles or Simmonds' in the team, I'm pretty sure you or someone else would complain why they give ice time for all of these useless veterans and don't play our prospects.

 

[Nico13]

The bottom 6 is laughable. This team has potential but we can't be that soft overall. There is no way you can win with a roster like that. And its not a matter of time. The softness will not disappear overnight.

We have a decent top 6 although I think our actual best line should be a very good third line at best (Mercer should be top 6) in a really good and playoff team.

The top 6 + Tatar (+ Wood) with half of them being much more middle 6 guys its what we have.
Bastian could be a decent 4th liner with the right linemates but I am not even sure.

This game against the Wild says a lot about how to compete and what you need for that.
This Wild team is not very impressive overall on paper but when you see them on the ice you see an angry team with relentless players who work really hard.

We are soft physically and mentally. Not a good recipe to be a successful team.

Even our 2017/2018 team (before and after the deadline) with less talent was way better than the actual team. Now let's think how and why... the reply will be again the same. Softness. And our 2017/2018 was not even the more physical team on the league... not even top 10 or so... but at least they were not a bunch of little babys.

Oh and of course... we need a new coach. A guy who can motivate the players and kick their asses sometimes.

Maybe this team needs a Tortorella to open their eyes.

Watch how the Flames went from very soft to very hard to play against. And why.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I think our East west play is an issue 5 on 5 as well, but you can cover that up a bit with north/south play at evens.

You don't see us scoring goals like San Jose or Minnesota did where we are pulling either the defense or the goalie out of position or getting into a place to take advantage of rebounds. We don't really cycle well either IMO.

We are usually stuck hoping the goalie just misses a shot or one of guys makes a perfect shot and we don't have a pick the corners type of sniper to succeed that way.

It's the exact opposite defensively where we seem to always let the opposing team get in behind us to clean up easy rebounds or back door plays. We get pulled out of position easily and either get caught puck chasing or puck watching.

To be fair, other teams usually don't send 4 players into the corner after a single puck carrier and when they do they generally don't allow the pass to go through to one of the forwards wide open in the slot as a result...

 

[hidek91]

I agree and disagree. Some of our young players have gotten spots too easily, because there aren't better options. On the other hand, if there were more Veseys, Boyles or Simmonds' in the team, I'm pretty sure you or someone else would complain why they give ice time for all of these useless veterans and don't play our prospects.

Of course, people would always complain but the question is what do you really want. If you want results, some of our young players shouldn't even sniff NHL ice, if you just want to develop (which is what we're doing) then it has to come at the expense of results.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

I do think they got overcoached these past two games.

Just simplify and run the obvious lines. Tatar is starting to score a bit and that Nico line with him opened scoring against San Jose too.

And even when they weren't scoring, Zacha-Nico-Tatar wasn't giving up much which let the Mercer line go out and score goals to actually win games instead of make scores less ugly.

That's what I was saying prior to the game. Ruff needs to stop tinkering with the lines, he needs to keep the same guys together for a couple games.

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Ruff: The play is sloppy and there isn't a noticeable system in place. No structure, everyone gravitates towards the puck and leaves the slot wide open. Subban and Severson have been skating wherever they want all season. It is crazy.

No line up grit: Minnesota was stronger, faster, and not afraid of contact. I saw this even when the team was winning and knew all along we are timid. Soft teams don't go far in the playoffs if they make them. The NJ Devils only play well on light contact games.

 

[Billdo]

They need to get rid of the entire coaching staff. There is too much skill to be this bad. Tons of passengers on this team and without a functioning structure they're toast.

 

[Call Me Al]

look we’ve them show up in the third period how many times and impose their will on opposing teams? it isn’t all scoring effects, they can be a good team when they try. the problem is that is almost never the first period and they dig themselves into holes. they’ve eked out a point enough times that it covers up a lot of problems if you just look at the standings and see them hanging around

how many times have they played a full 60 minute game? penguins maybe, panthers, flyers and islanders games? 4/21.

putting aside the embarrassingly bad power play, the team just doesn’t have the mental makeup to compete for the full 60 minutes when the puck drops aside from one maybe two lines. it’s coaching and leadership

 

[TBF1972]

I don't criticize the fact that Fitzgerald tries to build the way he does, in fact I think it's smart and it's much better than what Lou did (adding veterans even when there was no hope of competing) but on a top 10 team, you don't give free bottom six spots to players like McLeod, Maltsev, Thompson, Holtz, Studenic or Boqvist, you sign cheap but proven UFAs (a'la Boyle) and the young guys, if they want to have an NHL spot, need to win this spot, e. g. they have to do exactly what Mercer did. In a current state, this team is built like a development team, which affects players' value positively (because hey, Maltsev was an NHL regular the moment we traded him) but it affects results negatively.

It's a matter of priorities but since 2013, I've seen literally all coaching staffs being criticized but when they left New Jersey, they had good results (DeBoer) or average results (Hynes), while New Jersey remained bottom 10 team.

in the off-season fitz brought in hamilton, graves, jaros, tatar, vesey, gauthier, geertsen rolleyes and bernier. this is external competition for the internally developed players and of the forwards mentioned only mcleod is a regular in the rotation. there are no free bottom six spots handed out. mcleod was praised for his game against barkov in the florida win. he is not expected to be a dangerous player on a scoring line. scoring is gravy, if his line can keep the opposition in check.

the devils need hughes to take command of the offense. but he is still very young, his body needs seasoning, he is back from an injury and needs to rebuild his confidence and get up to his game pace.

 

[JimEIV]

Switching gears here, I just had a thought...

Who makes who better on the Mercer line that's been the only line that's played well?

Does Bratt make Johnsson better?

Does Johnsson make Bratt better?

Or is it all Mercer?

I think Johnsson has been the beneficiary from both.

I think Mercer has seemed to cool a little bit over the last 4 or 5 games, hopefully he can pick it back up...that said, there was a stretch in there that Mercer was driving that line and making both betters. I think Mercer found a little bit of chemistry with Bratt... before Bratt was with Mercer people were unfairly bitching about him and that seems to have went away...

While Mercer cooled down a little over the last few games, I think Bratt is still playing at the same level and that makes me feel that Bratt has been the most consistent and best forward this season. But I do think Mercer got him going early on.

 

[JimEIV]

They need to get rid of the entire coaching staff. There is too much skill to be this bad. Tons of passengers on this team and without a functioning structure they're toast.

I am not trying to be a dick...I am really not. But this thought has popped up more than a few times over the last few years...at some point you have to be honest and admit that there is not as much skill as you think there is.

I know no one wants to hear it but the guys we've banked the future on simply haven't produced. Can't keep blaming circumstances, coaching the weather or whatever at some point you have to come to grips that some of these guys just aren't as good as we expected.

Nico is on 7.8 goal pace for the year... seriously he is...I can't even wrap my head around that. This is almost Cory-watch level bad

 

[guitarguyvic]

I am not trying to be a dick...I am really not. But this thought has popped up more than a few times over the last few years...at some point you have to be honest and admit that there is not as much skill as you think there is.

I know no one wants to hear it but the guys we've bank the future on simply haven't produced. Can't keep blaming circumstances, coaching the weather or whatever at some point you have to come to grips that some of these guys just aren't as good as we expected.

Nico is on 7.8 goal pace for the year... seriously he is...I can't even wrap my head around that. This is almost Cory-watch level bad

These situations keep popping up where as a fan you tell yourself “ok this is a big game, an important moment, time to see if these guys step up”…and then all you get is a big wet fart of a performance. Even as I was watching this shitshow in our own defensive end unfold I thought to myself “alright maybe we can at least see our two big first overall picks step up”nope, they literally made zero impact. How anyone can watch this same script unfold time and time again and still come away with positive feelings about these players is beyond me.

 

[Mgd31]

Jimmy Vesey looked like one of our most dangerous offensive players last night.

 

[JimEIV]

These situations keep popping up where as a fan you tell yourself “ok this is a big game, an important moment, time to see if these guys step up”…and then all you get is a big wet fart of a performance. Even as I was watching this shitshow in our own defensive end unfold I thought to myself “alright maybe we can at least see our two big first overall picks step up”nope, they literally made zero impact. How anyone can watch this same script unfold time and time again and still come away with positive feelings about these players is beyond me.

I 100% agree... there just aren't many positives right now.

Although right now I am looking more at the captain than Jack. With Jack I am willing to give him some time after an injury...it will take a little bit to get back into some sort of groove I think. It seems whenever a player misses a chunk of games it takes them a few or more to get back up to speed.

But Nico...I am just flabbergasted by how non-existent he's been.

 

[Unknown Caller]

I am not trying to be a dick...I am really not. But this thought has popped up more than a few times over the last few years...at some point you have to be honest and admit that there is not as much skill as you think there is.

I know no one wants to hear it but the guys we've banked the future on simply haven't produced. Can't keep blaming circumstances, coaching the weather or whatever at some point you have to come to grips that some of these guys just aren't as good as we expected.

Nico is on 7.8 goal pace for the year... seriously he is...I can't even wrap my head around that. This is almost Cory-watch level bad

Nico is the biggest disappointment of the year. I get that he's racked up some secondary assists to make his point total semi-respectable, but he's just a non factor in every single game. With the contract that the Devils handed out to him, that's a huge issue. There's almost no difference in play between Hischier and a guy like Tatar.