GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (7-5-1, 15 Pts, 4th in Metropolitan) vs. Winnipeg Jets (7-5-2, 16 Pts, 3rd in Central), 8 PM, MSGSN

[guitarguyvic]

He is only a decent 4th liner because of his faceoff ability...most other aspects of his game really suck. At least from a skill perspective.

Most fourth liners are just as bad if not worse than Mcleod. Not sure what you're expecting out of that role.

 

[Guttersniped]

is it possible to repost that without the scouties stats?

The total I posted (25 GP) is vs Winnipeg starting in 2011-12, it’s just the Atlanta Thrashers version.

I used Stathead to limit it to 2011-23, that’s where I got those stats.

Spoiler: Stathead, NJD vs WPJ 11-12 to 22-23

Jets 2.0 only played in that arena, so the Canada Life Arena stats are all the away games.

Hockey Reference annoyingly combines all the Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets years, starting in 1999-00 in the head-to-head history stats.

If you want Devils vs Jets 1.0 I have to search the Coyotes stats. (The Goals Per Game lol.)

Spoiler: Stathead, NJD vs WIN 82-83 to 95-96

 

[devilsblood]

Sadly, this year he probably has been better than them so far. Him having a .900 save percentage with a 4.00 GAA is nuts.

Tops the league in saves/60. Wedgewood in 3rd.

And really, Wedgewood does look like the one that got away, at least in terms of someone who could be a good backup. Not that he would have had the luxury of being that here. But a .913ish save% since he left.

He is only a decent 4th liner because of his faceoff ability...most other aspects of his game really suck. At least from a skill perspective.

Playing like an elite defensive fwd this season. Was good in last years playoffs as well.

A very significant uptick in play, and a very under told story on this board.

You'll probably come around eventually.

 

[devilsblood]

Most fourth liners are just as bad if not worse than Mcleod. Not sure what you're expecting out of that role.

I think we are past the point of McLeod as a 4th liner. At least if he keeps playing like this. He's been excellent all year, and that is not hyperbole. As someone who is looking for clean hockey, you should be on top of this.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

McLeod being this stand out good is an issue in itself, it means other guys are playing like dogshit. That was an issue versus Carolina, he can't be your 3rd or 4th best forward nightly

 

[guitarguyvic]

I think we are past the point of McLeod as a 4th liner. At least if he keeps playing like this. He's been excellent all year, and that is not hyperbole. As someone who is looking for clean hockey, you should be on top of this.

A guy who can only score once every like 20 games is not someone that should be anywhere above the fourth line on a regular basis. I like that he's a solid responsible player but he would need to be more of a difference maker than that.

 

[devilsblood]

A guy who can only score once every like 20 games is not someone that should be anywhere above the fourth line on a regular basis. I like that he's a solid responsible player but he would need to be more of a difference maker than that.

Well he has 3 goals in 14 games this season.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Well he has 3 goals in 14 games this season.

If he can sustain that kind of productivity then OK maybe he can pass for a 3C...but I am skeptical.

 

[devilsblood]

If he can sustain that kind of productivity then OK maybe he can pass for a 3C...but I am skeptical.

Ya, needs to sustain, no doubt. But if so, he approaches elite 3rd line center with the way he is shutting down the opposition.

Also note his 5 sog's tonight led the team, and is a career high. His uptick in play has been significant, and it seems to be continuing to trend upward.

 

[Devs3cups]

Ya, needs to sustain, no doubt. But if so, he approaches elite 3rd line center with the way he is shutting down the opposition.

Also note his 5 sog's tonight led the team, and is a career high. His uptick in play has been significant, and it seems to be continuing to trend upward.

Yup. If he sustains his 18 goal pace, he’s producing way more than a 4C, that’s without taking into account the defense he brings.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I understand all that but I don't see the skill to sustain that kind of production. I have no problem being proven wrong of course.

 

[devilsblood]

I understand all that but I don't see the skill to sustain that kind of production. I have no problem being proven wrong of course.

The skating, size and motor are pretty apparent. His passing has been underrated for a couple seasons now. His handling was OK, and getting better.

His shot, and ability to get his shot off has gone from lousy to meh. Need to see continue improvement there.

 

[Guttersniped]

Step back this season was expected. I wrote this few times after the trades. All trades were bad except the Toffoli trade. There were many players that should have been gone, but were kept, instead good players were shipped out. More, good New Jersey players that were the core of this team for years got shipped out. Too much turn over. Now it's bunch of random guys.

Problems from the playoffs were not fixed. Last year our defense was the least offensive defense and that's why we could not score vs Caroline. That was not fixed, as a matter of a fact all bad Ds were kept.

This slump now is not just Hue and His missing in the line up. It's the team overall. Ds are too young, and no offense from them yet.

Unnecessary step back if you ask me. You can't keep turning over a roster, or you will never build. Talent has no meaning, team is more important.

Oh good lord, not the we should have kept Severson (8 years/6.25m), Graves (6 years/4.5m), Wood (6 years/ 2.5m) and Tatar (1 year/1.5m) and gotten rid of Marino (4 years/ 4.4m), Haula (3 years/ 3.15m) and Lazar (2 years/1m).

How were we supposed to add all that salary to keep the pricier UFAs? And if we did that we wouldn’t have been able to afford Toffoli’s 4.25m salary btw.

2023-24
Severson 16 GP 1G 5A 6 points
Graves 14 GP 0G 4A 4 points
Marino 14 GP 1G 9A 10 points
L. Hughes 14 GP 1G 7A 8 points

I think the defense is a work in progress after losing two useful players but their offense is negligible.

Wood 14 GP 2G 2A 4 points
Tatar 13 GP 0G 6A 6 points
Toffoli 14 GP 8G 6A 14 points
Haula 13 GP 5G 3A 8 points
Lazar 13 GP 2G 1A 3 points

Keeping the same players from last year = guaranteed scoring vs Carolina in the playoffs?

 

[devilsblood]

McLeod being this stand out good is an issue in itself, it means other guys are playing like dogshit. That was an issue versus Carolina, he can't be your 3rd or 4th best forward nightly

You kind of have a point. More accurately though, a big problem is he is our 2nd best fwd right now. Arguably our best fwd considering what he brings in terms of defense. But I will give that nod to Bratt. And Lazar(who is also playing very well) is ahead of too many guys too.

 

[njdevils1982]

It's my birthday. Please win!! Let's go!!

this is fitting after the fact the game is over and a loss.......happy birthday?

 

[Guttersniped]

The skating, size and motor are pretty apparent. His passing has been underrated for a couple seasons now. His handling was OK, and getting better.

His shot, and ability to get his shot off has gone from lousy to meh. Need to see continue improvement there.

McLeod has had problems with inconsistency before, so we’ll see if he can keep this up, but he’s playing like a 3C now for sure.

His underlying numbers have been excellent on several different lines. He’s not going to score a lot but so what, he’s driving play and not giving up much on a leaky team.

 

[McDuffz88]

He is only a decent 4th liner because of his faceoff ability...most other aspects of his game really suck. At least from a skill perspective.

The guy is way more than a decent 4th liner. In my opinion he is an elite 4th liner and decent 3c especially with how he's playing right now.

 

[Guttersniped]

Tops the league in saves/60. Wedgewood in 3rd.

And really, Wedgewood does look like the one that got away, at least in terms of someone who could be a good backup. Not that he would have had the luxury of being that here. But a .913ish save% since he left.


Playing like an elite defensive fwd this season. Was good in last years playoffs as well.

A very significant uptick in play, and a very under told story on this board.

You'll probably come around eventually.

Well we lost Wedgewood on waivers because both our goalies were hurt at the start of 2021-22, so that’s another way Blackwood’s injuries bit us in the ass.

I will admit it would kind of annoy me if Blackwood stays healthy all season on the Sharks after never managing to do that in the 5 previous seasons here.

Last season will probably stand out the most with that, even more than the clusterf*** 2021-22, because we were told all off-season that Blackwood had never felt healthier… and then he lasted 6 and half games before getting injured (the first time).

 

[Richer's Ghost]

The guy is way more than a decent 4th liner. In my opinion he is an elite 4th liner and decent 3c especially with how he's playing right now.

Just to frame the expectation, John Madden was an elite 3rd line center. McLeod doesn't touch him imo in the slightest. Above average? Maybe on his best nights.

 

[McDuffz88]

Just to frame the expectation, John Madden was an elite 3rd line center. McLeod doesn't touch him imo in the slightest. Above average? Maybe on his best nights.

I never said McLeod was an elite 3rd liner. I said if he plays how he is right he would be a good 3rd liner. He is prob the best 4th line center in the league. I would take him over any other one. The fact he's holding down a top line is proving that. Most players can't just go from 4th to 1st line duties & actually not look out of place. McLeod doesn't need to put up a million points. He wins the faceoff & does everything right. He rarely makes mistakes. He is great defensively. He can skate fast so he has the ability to play with quick players. You can put him on any line & it will be good.

 

[njdevils1982]

Just to frame the expectation, John Madden was an elite 3rd line center. McLeod doesn't touch him imo in the slightest. Above average? Maybe on his best nights.

but, what about rod pelley being then next madden

 

[Richer's Ghost]

but, what about rod pelley being then next madden

Hope is not a strategy

 

[Richer's Ghost]

I never said McLeod was an elite 3rd liner. I said if he plays how he is right he would be a good 3rd liner. He is prob the best 4th line center in the league. I would take him over any other one. The fact he's holding down a top line is proving that. Most players can't just go from 4th to 1st line duties & actually not look out of place. McLeod doesn't need to put up a million points. He wins the faceoff & does everything right. He rarely makes mistakes. He is great defensively. He can skate fast so he has the ability to play with quick players. You can put him on any line & it will be good.

misread but still not elite

 

[glenwo2]

Do I wish this team showed more with Nico and Jack out? Yes, Especially after giving out some big contract to some people not named nico or Jack.

However I do know this team will get a lot better once those two return.

Shots fired at Bratt and Timo's direction, for sure.

 

[HersheyBob27]

He's not a good hockey player. He's just not. He's barely a plug

Ouch