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New Jersey Devils Team Discussion


JagerMeister

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Like I said in the other thread, I really don't care anymore, at least for this season. I stopped getting pissed off quite a while ago. It sucks they are where they are, but it's what happens when your best forwards leave and you don't have anybody to replace them. Relying on free agency to fill holes like they have is a recipe for disaster. Fixing their issues is probably a 2-3 year process of drafting/developing forwards. So I'm fully expecting there to be a lot more pain before it gets better. Right now I'm just enjoying watching guys like Jagr and Elias (although Patty has been terrible this year) as they wind down their careers, and seeing the kids on defense grow. It's tough to go from two decades of success to the bottom again.

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@MadDevil  It's a cyclical thing. You had your glory years, now other teams are passing you. The truth of the matter is Lou has not drafted well since the glory years. I'm straight up shocked that Schneider's stats have taken such a huge hit this year. The defense is not supporting him like they should be, but some of the blame is with Schneider himself, who has just had an off year. Whether that is the norm or an anamoly will go a big way into shaping your franchise, in many ways, having him be really good may block the Devils from getting the true superstars in the draft...we shall see.

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@MadDevil  It's a cyclical thing. You had your glory years, now other teams are passing you. The truth of the matter is Lou has not drafted well since the glory years. I'm straight up shocked that Schneider's stats have taken such a huge hit this year. The defense is not supporting him like they should be, but some of the blame is with Schneider himself, who has just had an off year. Whether that is the norm or an anamoly will go a big way into shaping your franchise, in many ways, having him be really good may block the Devils from getting the true superstars in the draft...we shall see.

we did have our glory years, but they were still godamn boring lol, if we could get an exciting player in the draft.

Like I said in the other thread, I really don't care anymore, at least for this season. I stopped getting pissed off quite a while ago. It sucks they are where they are, but it's what happens when your best forwards leave and you don't have anybody to replace them. Relying on free agency to fill holes like they have is a recipe for disaster. Fixing their issues is probably a 2-3 year process of drafting/developing forwards. So I'm fully expecting there to be a lot more pain before it gets better. Right now I'm just enjoying watching guys like Jagr and Elias (although Patty has been terrible this year) as they wind down their careers, and seeing the kids on defense grow. It's tough to go from two decades of success to the bottom again.

We just lost to carolina, the worst team in the godamn league. Oh and also by our favorite way of losing, blown leads. Has anyone been counting? And hate to say it, Jagr hasnt been doing well. He isnt our best forward this year.

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Honestly, the forward group looks like something an expansion team would ice. Old guys, rejects, reclamation projects, and lunch pail players. That's what they go in to battle with against faster, and usually more skilled teams every night. I just can't get upset when the results aren't there. It's starting to look like this team overachieved last year because of the Czechs all having one final good season, and now the wheels have completely fallen off.

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Honestly, the forward group looks like something an expansion team would ice. Old guys, rejects, reclamation projects, and lunch pail players. That's what they go in to battle with against faster, and usually more skilled teams every night. I just can't get upset when the results aren't there. It's starting to look like this team overachieved last year because of the Czechs all having one final good season, and now the wheels have completely fallen off.

Im guessing Tootoo would be part of the rejects group. But yeah, its sad because Scott Gomez is right now our best offensive player along with Cam. Nothing will save this team. Do you think we should keep Jags next year? maybe put him on 2nd line, i mean i doubt any other team would want Jagr.

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The thing with Jagr is I think he still wants to be "the guy". I don't think he wants to be just a second/third liner who isn't as important. There aren't many places other than the Devils who can offer him that. I think he also likes the style the Devils play because it's a slower style that involves a lot of cycling and boardwork, which is where he excels. He can use his rather large backside to shield the puck down low and work from there. I'm not sure he would want to play on a team that's more up tempo and involves going up and down the ice.

Whether or not he should come back, I don't know. It's not like the Devils have a lot of options. They're going to need bodies next year and if Jagr is still effective and wants to come back, it's not the worst idea. I think a lot of it depends on the rest of the year. The sad thing is there's still plenty of season left. Jagr could very well fall off a cliff by the time March/April rolls around, and finally decide to retire, or go somewhere else. Personally I think they should shop him around and see if they can get anything for him. You never know what some desperate GM might give up for him.

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The thing with Jagr is I think he still wants to be "the guy". I don't think he wants to be just a second/third liner who isn't as important. There aren't many places other than the Devils who can offer him that. I think he also likes the style the Devils play because it's a slower style that involves a lot of cycling and boardwork, which is where he excels. He can use his rather large backside to shield the puck down low and work from there. I'm not sure he would want to play on a team that's more up tempo and involves going up and down the ice.

Whether or not he should come back, I don't know. It's not like the Devils have a lot of options. They're going to need bodies next year and if Jagr is still effective and wants to come back, it's not the worst idea. I think a lot of it depends on the rest of the year. The sad thing is there's still plenty of season left. Jagr could very well fall off a cliff by the time March/April rolls around, and finally decide to retire, or go somewhere else. Personally I think they should shop him around and see if they can get anything for him. You never know what some desperate GM might give up for him.

Ik, but if Jagr is your number 1 guy, your offense wont be that good. How have u liked him so far this season and the rest of the players?

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He hasn't been as good as last year, but I still think he's effective. It doesn't help that Zajac has stone hands and Cammalleri hasn't been able to stay healthy. The injuries make it tough to really judge some of these guys. I think they've been completely healthy for a handful of games, and with how small the margin for error is for this team it's hard to get any traction. On paper I thought they would be better this year, but it's just not happening for a variety of reasons. Declining players, a general lack of speed and skill, injuries, and some questionable coaching decisions. Pretty much everything that could go wrong has.

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He hasn't been as good as last year, but I still think he's effective. It doesn't help that Zajac has stone hands and Cammalleri hasn't been able to stay healthy. The injuries make it tough to really judge some of these guys. I think they've been completely healthy for a handful of games, and with how small the margin for error is for this team it's hard to get any traction. On paper I thought they would be better this year, but it's just not happening for a variety of reasons. Declining players, a general lack of speed and skill, injuries, and some questionable coaching decisions. Pretty much everything that could go wrong has.

Yup, Zidlicky with almost 28 minutes today  :angry: . But what team would want a declining 42 year old Jagr? i dont think we would get much in return tbh

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Right now I don't think you'd get much for him. But closer to the deadline if there's a team out there that thinks they need a veteran like Jagr, or if there's an injury, you might be able to get a better return. It's not going to be huge by any means, but it's better than him walking for nothing (which has happened far too much over the years). The only way to really fix the Devils problems is through the draft. Might as well load up on as many picks as possible.

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Right now I don't think you'd get much for him. But closer to the deadline if there's a team out there that thinks they need a veteran like Jagr, or if there's an injury, you might be able to get a better return. It's not going to be huge by any means, but it's better than him walking for nothing (which has happened far too much over the years). The only way to really fix the Devils problems is through the draft. Might as well load up on as many picks as possible.

and maybe get a new coach  :P

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  Just a theory, but I think Henrique's offensive stats are being held back by the lack of legit offensive stars in New Jersey. He has not developed or taken the type of leap I thought he would make. Part of that is one him, part of that on the surrounding foundation. Regardless, I think he becomes captain in few years. He's really the only one bringing it every night and setting the proper example.

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  Just a theory, but I think Henrique's offensive stats are being held back by the lack of legit offensive stars in New Jersey. He has not developed or taken the type of leap I thought he would make. Part of that is one him, part of that on the surrounding foundation. Regardless, I think he becomes captain in few years. He's really the only one bringing it every night and setting the proper example.

yes, and also give him first line minutes, he is leading our team i scoring tied with jagr yet has had less minutes then him, i would put Gomez on center with cam and henrique, and then move Jagr down to second line, i think its worth a try

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Right now I don't think you'd get much for him. But closer to the deadline if there's a team out there that thinks they need a veteran like Jagr, or if there's an injury, you might be able to get a better return. It's not going to be huge by any means, but it's better than him walking for nothing (which has happened far too much over the years). The only way to really fix the Devils problems is through the draft. Might as well load up on as many picks as possible.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2309425-5-lineup-changes-the-new-jersey-devils-should-consider-for-the-new-year

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Henrique reminds me a lot of Parise. He doesn't have the same kind of motor, but he's got the same high hockey IQ, can play in pretty much any situation, has a good work ethic, and unlike Parise has a bit of an edge to him. The only thing he's not good at is shootouts. I think he's 1-13 in his career now, and the only goal he had came back in his rookie year. He's definitely future captain material.

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 Reid Boucher should be given a look at the NHL level, how much worse can he be than Ryder for Gods sake?

 

  And again, I love Gelinas, I love how he runs the point on a power play, he needs more ice time to see if he is a real hockey player. What are you gonna get out of Zidlicky on the point? By the time the team retools he is going to be retired anyway, give Gelinas a shot at 20 minutes a night, light a fire under him and remind him that defenseman play defense, and see what he is. The offensive skill is there, he is not going to get any better as a third pair guy playing 14 minutes a night. Stick him out there and let him sink or swim.

 And I know Joe Whitney is four foot two but he is having a fine year in Albany, I watched a game (I watch a lot of AHL hockey, thank God i have a patient and understanding wife, lol) about a month ago against Hartford where the Albany Devils were down late and Whitney scored two goals to tie the game and steal a point. He has a high motor, yes, his size is an issue but in the new NHL which stands for No Hitting League skill matters most. Not saying he is the next Theo Fleury but look at Zuccarello in New York. He cannot be worse than Clowe.

 And finally, Stefan Matteau and Mike Sislo should be given a shot.  Yes, I know Bernier and the fourth line have been a good story for the club, but give the kids a shot.

  As the team fades and the trade deadline creeps up, I think New Jersey would be well served to agresssively look for trade partners for some of the old farts and stick Matteau, Sislo, Boucher in among the forwards and see how it shakes out. Whitney too. And push Gelinas, find out if he is an NHLer or not.

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Henrique reminds me a lot of Parise. He doesn't have the same kind of motor, but he's got the same high hockey IQ, can play in pretty much any situation, has a good work ethic, and unlike Parise has a bit of an edge to him. The only thing he's not good at is shootouts. I think he's 1-13 in his career now, and the only goal he had came back in his rookie year. He's definitely future captain material.

 

 Agree with that 100%. I always thought he would make a perfect captain. He was not captain in Windsor just because it was a seniority thing, our veteran d-man was looked up to. Adam was an emotional leader though, he never gave up, never relented. The guy is what...23 and already has 2 game 7 series winning goals to his credit, that just about sums it up.

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Agree with that 100%. I always thought he would make a perfect captain. He was not captain in Windsor just because it was a seniority thing, our veteran d-man was looked up to. Adam was an emotional leader though, he never gave up, never relented. The guy is what...23 and already has 2 game 7 series winning goals to his credit, that just about sums it up.

henrique is the devils best offensive player right now
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Playing well in the AHL is one thing. Doing it in the NHL is another. Boucher looked completely overwhelmed when he was called up earlier in the year. Sislo has done nothing since being called up (although he hasn't really been a liability either). Whitney got a look last year and looked terrible. I'm not against trying something different, but I also don't want to bring kids up in a bad situation with probably a lot of losing ahead of them. Boucher is very much in the Ryder mold in that if he's not scoring goals, the rest of his game is a problem. I'd rather he stay in the AHL and continue to work on it than to come up and play bottom six minutes with grinders and scrubs. The one guy I'm actually surprised hasn't gotten a look is Matteau. I figured for sure with how much this coaching staff loves gritty, hard working, physical players he would have gotten a look by now. Although he's struggling to put up offense in the AHL, so maybe they want him to start producing before bringing him up.

 

As for Gelinas, I just don't see him being anything more than a PP specialist. Yes, I know he's still relatively young and still has time to improve, but I have my doubts about his mental game. Both last year and this year he started off fine, but his defensive game regressed as the season went on and he eventually became a liability. He said when he was a healthy scratch earlier in the year that he knew what he needed to work on, then last game he gave the puck away and took a bad penalty on the same shift. He's constantly shooting himself in the foot. I certainly hope I'm wrong. I hope that he does clean it up and he becomes a top four defenseman. But at this point he looks more like another Kurtis Foster.

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Can't really blame him. Firing the coach was pretty much throwing in the towel on the season. I think that's why they just brought Oates and Stevens back. They're at least familiar with the team and can help get them through the rest of the season. No reason to bring in the next guy into the middle of this mess. I'm sure the players see it, so if I was Jagr I'd probably want to get out too. There's really no reason to not trade him at this point.

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Can't really blame him. Firing the coach was pretty much throwing in the towel on the season. I think that's why they just brought Oates and Stevens back. They're at least familiar with the team and can help get them through the rest of the season. No reason to bring in the next guy into the middle of this mess. I'm sure the players see it, so if I was Jagr I'd probably want to get out too. There's really no reason to not trade him at this point.

Oh My God, WE WON AGAINST A GOOD TEAM!!!

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