GDT: Wild @ Devils - 5 P.M. - MSGSN

[Maine Fan]

Marc André Fleury looked cooked last night. Over and done. He used to be so athletic and active in goal, that was his signature. Very flexible and physical, lots of dynamic, big splits to push across the goal mouth, jumping out at shooters. Think of that last second save he made against Detroit to win his first Stanley Cup. We didn’t see any of that last night. Old and slow and restricted in range. We scored a number of times on goals where the puck went cross ice and he was just not able to get across himself. And was slow to react. Old and slow.

old and slow, I know it well.

 

[glenwo2]

Marc André Fleury looked cooked last night. Over and done. He used to be so athletic and active in goal, that was his signature. Very flexible and physical, lots of dynamic, big splits to push across the goal mouth, jumping out at shooters. Think of that last second save he made against Detroit to win his first Stanley Cup. We didn’t see any of that last night. Old and slow and restricted in range. We scored a number of times on goals where the puck went cross ice and he was just not able to get across himself. And was slow to react. Old and slow.

You're giving way too much credit to Fleury and next-to-nothing to us.

 

[The Wumpus]

It's why I sometimes think that a player's true peak isn't always his statistical peak but the one in which he's most efficient and just giving his team what they need.

Yzerman's famous career arc

 

[glenwo2]

Agree completely.

Will admit I was part of the anti-Jesper faction; particularly since he didn't (or wouldn't) play in his own end or in hard areas.

He has been much more attentive in those areas - so much so that he is being used in PK situations.
With his lack of bulk he will never be in the Tkachuk class but he's definitely a much better player than I'd expected him to be.

 

[Camille the Eel]

old and slow, I know it well.

“. . . that is the motto”

 

[Guttersniped]

Happy birthday to me, lets go, Devils!

Missed this. Got you a cake however.

 

[kiwidevil]

The PP has been impressive, we all know that, but this goal was just plain unfair. That instant pass by Timo to Bratt on the dot was gorgeous.

Our passing was the best it’s been last night in my eyes. The Marino dish to Bratt, the Bratt dish to Toffoli, the Holtz dish to Bratt on his disallowed goal, this one, Luke serving up dimes. Jack doing his normal thing. Hope this is just the start of the cohesion we’ve been hoping for.

This rotation is unfair. As a PK crew, You'd usually be worried about Jack going cross ice for Bratts one T. But here there's the full high, opposite wing rotation from Jack to Luke, to a wide open Timo to feed Bratt on the complete opposite side of his usual spot. Immaculate.

 

[Bleedred]

Marc André Fleury looked cooked last night. Over and done. He used to be so athletic and active in goal, that was his signature. Very flexible and physical, lots of dynamic, big splits to push across the goal mouth, jumping out at shooters. Think of that last second save he made against Detroit to win his first Stanley Cup. We didn’t see any of that last night. Old and slow and restricted in range. We scored a number of times on goals where the puck went cross ice and he was just not able to get across himself. And was slow to react. Old and slow.

The Haula goal was bad. It deflected a little bit, but he looked horrible on it.

First Bratt goal that made it 1-0 I noticed exactly what you pointed out though. I didn't nail him on that goal, but you can tell how old he is by his movement on that goal. Seemed to move across noticeably slower than an average aged goalie.

I'm just glad we shut up the stupid ''SURE FIRE HALL OF FAMER BY MY ESTIMATION! THREE STANLEY CUPS! ACTIVE LEADER IN WINS!'' that they wouldn't shut up about at the beginning of the broadcast or before we got the second goal on him.

I'm not saying this doesn't mean he shouldn't be in the HOF, but everyone always points out he has 3 cups, but what they don't tell you is how he wasn't even the starter for 2 of them. And he didn't even play at all (Except for one start) in one of them.

Ironically, his two strongest playoff runs were his two finals runs where he wasn't the winner. The 2008 run in Pittsburgh and the 2018 run in Vegas.

 

[My3Sons]

The Haula goal was bad. It deflected a little bit, but he looked horrible on it.

First Bratt goal that made it 1-0 I noticed exactly what you pointed out though. I didn't nail him on that goal, but you can tell how old he is by his movement on that goal. Seemed to move across noticeably slower than an average aged goalie.

I'm just glad we shut up the stupid ''SURE FIRE HALL OF FAMER BY MY ESTIMATION! THREE STANLEY CUPS! ACTIVE LEADER IN WINS!'' that they wouldn't shut up about at the beginning of the broadcast or before we got the second goal on him.

I'm not saying this doesn't mean he shouldn't be in the HOF, but everyone always points out he has 3 cups, but what they don't tell you is how he wasn't even the starter for 2 of them. And he didn't even play at all (Except for one start) in one of them.

Ironically, his two strongest playoff runs were his two finals runs where he wasn't the winner. The 2008 run in Pittsburgh and the 2018 run in Vegas.

Hockey media routinely treats old declining players as if they are still physically capable.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I love you fighting the good fight, Glen. I was mostly joking - I think Tkachuk proved something last year and certainly proved me wrong, away from Gaudreau/Lindholm. That is a big mountain to climb for almost any player - hell, McDavid is still trying to put up a performance like that. Like you wisely said, let Bratt be Bratt and do his thing.

To me, it looks like Bratt is aware of some of the criticism he took during the playoffs. I'm sure he was hard on himself given his history. Remember, he also practically had no post-season experience - that Tampa series in '18 was as cut and dry over from game 1 as it gets. But one of the things I'm seeing is that he's playing the boards more intelligently. He knows he's not a big guy and the angles he's taking to the puck, not shying but absorbing contact in a way that doesn't get him destroyed - he's grown his game a lot over the summer. And the anticipation of the cross blue line pass, particularly on those dust-ups that tend to happen on the half-wall when the other team tries to enter the zone...And also just shooting when he should, keeping it simple at the right time and using deception when it makes sense. Less over-passing, just whatever's necessary.

Random but typical tangent from me: there's this book by Musashi, supposedly Japan's greatest swordsman, called The Book of Five Rings. At one point, he talks about how there's no such thing as a fast cut or a slow cut - there's just The Cut AKA whatever gets the job done. I think eventually all really great players come to know this - this is what Lidstrom always did, what Stevens did after he came here, what Crosby started doing in '15-16 and maybe what we're starting to see from both Jack and Bratt. It's a beautiful thing to watch.

It's why I sometimes think that a player's true peak isn't always his statistical peak but the one in which he's most efficient and just giving his team what they need.

Nice analysis on Bratts growth as a player.

I would like to add that: He seems to be one of the few guys on the team that is noticably improving with large gains (season to season). He seems to take the off-season very seriously based on his personal gains.

Hughes (Jack) is also seeming to take big steps.

(Love Nico but we don't see as high step gain with Nico every new season - he improves season to season but it isn't as stark.. small improvements. same with other young guys... McLeod and Mercer has been slow and steady gains. Bastian I don't see big gains... Will see the pattern with Luke next season)

Jesper is definitely bigger and stronger than 2 seasons ago. That is very clear from his build now. You see it in the interviews compare to his earlier days. He looks like he spent serious time on his nutrition and gym routines over last few years. You can see it in his skating (power/burst stride) and how he is able to take more punishment in the corners when he has to battle it out. I am not so worried this season about him getting blasted every time he goes into the corner.... He holds his own and puts up a good struggle to get or maintain puck control.

Bratt seems to take his off season more seriously and personal bar for excellence seems high with him (based on preseason interviews and exit interviews). To me, that also explains how Bratt goes from 6th round pick to where he is today. He just has a natural drive for improvement that seems higher than a lot of others.

This season his shot is really stellar so far... Looking to see how this plays out

Combined with the rest of what he already had, Bratt is forming into a fantastic player package.

 

[Guadana]

Missed this. Got you a cake however.

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Thank you!!! Hope there are not a lot of sugar. How can I cut a piece out of it? Its shouldn't be broken. Never!

 

[Hug Ben Laf]

If Jack Hughes can gain weight and play around 190-200 pounds while keeping his speed, then he will be almost as unstoppable as McDavid.

And have other teams figure out that if they pull their goalie and play 6 skaters then the Devils are doomed?

 

[Aurinko]

If Jack Hughes can gain weight and play around 190-200 pounds while keeping his speed, then he will be almost as unstoppable as McDavid.

And have other teams figure out that if they pull their goalie and play 6 skaters then the Devils are doomed?

While McD is a good balance of speed & power, I think Jack should keep close to his current weight. I might be wrong on this, but speed and stamina will be his weapons and getting more power or bit more acceleration is just away from those.

 

[My3Sons]

If Jack Hughes can gain weight and play around 190-200 pounds while keeping his speed, then he will be almost as unstoppable as McDavid.

And have other teams figure out that if they pull their goalie and play 6 skaters then the Devils are doomed?

I’m skeptical he will ever be close to 200 with his frame.

 

[Guttersniped]

Thank you!!! Hope there are not a lot of sugar. How can I cut a piece out of it? Its shouldn't be broken. Never!

It’s mostly sugar.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

But you know he's going to ask for 8 million

If he asks for 8m, he can walk.

 

[Classic Devil]

Yeah the Toffoli contract talks will be interesting. Originally I went into the year thinking he would just fill up a top 6 spot for the year to give us help for the playoffs but wow has he exceeded all expectations. He fits this team like a glove and I want him extended asap. Him & Hughes have insane chemistry & we finally found Hughes his true winger. Toffoli is the perfect trigger man & is exactly what this team has been lacking for years. Only issue is going to be idk how we will fit him with the Mercer contract due (I know Mercer has played like dog shit but the dude is still going to get his extension with a raise). If I'm Fitz I'm now making it #1 priority to get a Toffoli contract done. But you know he's going to ask for 8 million & it's going to be hard for us but when you see chemistry like this with your star winger, you best make sure you make that contract happen. Figure out the cap issues later.

There ain't no way I'm signing Toffoli to an $8M contract at 32. Are you nuts?

 

[My3Sons]

There ain't no way I'm signing Toffoli to an $8M contract at 32. Are you nuts?

yes