Man let's hope this carries over for Cory

Man let's hope this carries over for Cory
- willschulme

He played really well. I know it’s preseason but man I haven’t seen him play that well and comfortable in a few years.

Cory was great last night. Everyone's low expectations for Devils for this year revolved around goaltending. If these two come out and play like they have been we may see those same talking heads sing a very different tune.

I saw that Hughes is living with Cory also.. which I think is great. It will keep him focused on hockey and out of trouble. https://www.nj.com/devils...mmate-cory-schneider.html

Observations

Hughes, Boqvist, Bratt and Goose were all very quiet tonight. I can’t even remember a single shift where any of them carried the puck into a dangerous area or had a legit scoring opportunity. I don’t even think I heard Hughes name but once or twice the entire game.

Each appearance that goes by, I grow more and more convinced that Simmonds declining play is legit fall from grace and not a symptom of a “down year plagued by injury.” He just doesn’t look like the dominant flyer player we all loved to hate. Hopefully he is just a slow starter.

I don’t get the Hayden thing. I’ll trust in Hynes/Shero but I would play McLeod, Rooney, or Wood before I played Hayden. The guy has no quantifiable value that I can see.

Smith needs to go down. No nine game trial. He isn’t ready. Every time he touched the puck I held my breath waiting to see how he would screw up. His confidence seems shattered at this point, and I think he needs another year of development.

P.K played his best game. He carried the puck a lot more than in previous games and he was noticeable in all 3 zones. He was hitting, scrapping around the net, shooting, making great break out passes, and he routinely led the transition from D to O with powerful skating.

Zajac has had a pretty solid preseason. No frills. He’s scored, he’s made plays and he’s been his normal defensively responsible self. With all our new shiny toys it is very easy to overlook all the good things that Travis brings to the table, especially now that he is slotted in that 3C role where he has always belonged.

Observations

Hughes, Boqvist, Bratt and Goose were all very quiet tonight. I can’t even remember a single shift where any of them carried the puck into a dangerous area or had a legit scoring opportunity. I don’t even think I heard Hughes name but once or twice the entire game.

Each appearance that goes by, I grow more and more convinced that Simmonds declining play is legit fall from grace and not a symptom of a “down year plagued by injury.” He just doesn’t look like the dominant flyer player we all loved to hate. Hopefully he is just a slow starter.

I don’t get the Hayden thing. I’ll trust in Hynes/Shero but I would play McLeod, Rooney, or Wood before I played Hayden. The guy has no quantifiable value that I can see.

Smith needs to go down. No nine game trial. He isn’t ready. Every time he touched the puck I held my breath waiting to see how he would screw up. His confidence seems shattered at this point, and I think he needs another year of development.

P.K played his best game. He carried the puck a lot more than in previous games and he was noticeable in all 3 zones. He was hitting, scrapping around the net, shooting, making great break out passes, and he routinely led the transition from D to O with powerful skating.

Zajac has had a pretty solid preseason. No frills. He’s scored, he’s made plays and he’s been his normal defensively responsible self. With all our new shiny toys it is very easy to overlook all the good things that Travis brings to the table, especially now that he is slotted in that 3C role where he has always belonged.
- WayneZ

This won't be a shock if the team plays a shutdown squad like Montreal, Boston, or Columbus. Good thing is that NJ now has a lot more supplementary offence this year, so while invisible some games, they'll come out with three or four points the next.

It was a weird game in that NJ was winning but didn’t seem like the effort was really there. I thought Zacha looked very good.

Observations

Hughes, Boqvist, Bratt and Goose were all very quiet tonight. I can’t even remember a single shift where any of them carried the puck into a dangerous area or had a legit scoring opportunity. I don’t even think I heard Hughes name but once or twice the entire game.

Each appearance that goes by, I grow more and more convinced that Simmonds declining play is legit fall from grace and not a symptom of a “down year plagued by injury.” He just doesn’t look like the dominant flyer player we all loved to hate. Hopefully he is just a slow starter.

I don’t get the Hayden thing. I’ll trust in Hynes/Shero but I would play McLeod, Rooney, or Wood before I played Hayden. The guy has no quantifiable value that I can see.

Smith needs to go down. No nine game trial. He isn’t ready. Every time he touched the puck I held my breath waiting to see how he would screw up. His confidence seems shattered at this point, and I think he needs another year of development.

P.K played his best game. He carried the puck a lot more than in previous games and he was noticeable in all 3 zones. He was hitting, scrapping around the net, shooting, making great break out passes, and he routinely led the transition from D to O with powerful skating.

Zajac has had a pretty solid preseason. No frills. He’s scored, he’s made plays and he’s been his normal defensively responsible self. With all our new shiny toys it is very easy to overlook all the good things that Travis brings to the table, especially now that he is slotted in that 3C role where he has always belonged.
- WayneZ

Good observations.

I wouldn't put too much stock into last night, it was the CBJ broadcast and there were a few times when Hughes and Gusev had little sneeky plays but the announcers were deep into convo about other things.

There is a certain element also of not wanting to get injured also I assume. Would sure suck to have Nico or one of our core tweak something in the last preseason game. They were ahead and were playing conservatively in the 2nd and 3rd.

I definitely like Wood or Rooney over Hayden. But the season is long and they will all rotate on that bottom line I would imagine. After watching years of sub-par Devils lineups, with Tootoo on the first line, I will take a player I am not over excited about at 4th line RW and be happy we have 3 solid solid lines in the top 9 and a pretty okay 4th line.

I can't wait for this season to start. I have been traveling but scheduled to be back in NJ for next Friday so I can watch the game. When you arrange international business meetings around the Devils schedule, you might just be a hockey fan.

I have to admit I wasn't too impressed with smith last night, he seemed to turn it over or just throw it down the ice when Columbus was getting close to him and seemed a little lost defensively

Other than a few spurts it felt like the devils were a step or two behind Columbus but Schneider played great which is good to see, seemed that the devils had a hard time creating offense and we're stuck in their half most of the time

I have to admit I wasn't too impressed with smith last night, he seemed to turn it over or just throw it down the ice when Columbus was getting close to him and seemed a little lost defensively

Other than a few spurts it felt like the devils were a step or two behind Columbus but Schneider played great which is good to see, seemed that the devils had a hard time creating offense and we're stuck in their half most of the time
- dmarsden2988

The situation with Smith is a good example of why its totally riduclous that people in his position can only play in the NHL or Juniors. A year in the AHL would be good for his growth. Absolutely stupid (frank)ing rule.

The situation with Smith is a good example of why its totally riduclous that people in his position can only play in the NHL or Juniors. A year in the AHL would be good for his growth. Absolutely stupid (frank)ing rule.
- TRDevil

Yes, it's almost like they should raise the draft age to 19 so that players can fully mature in juniors, and then not go back, but only be drafted to minor/major teams.

Otherwise, that rule is going to stay because they don't want to dilute talent in the CHL or it won't be as good of a league to develop talent.

For a guy like Smith, it won't "hurt" his development - but he can work on a few more things. Sucks for him, but he hasn't addressed his "but" (see The Draft movie). Tough luck. There's a part of himself he has to conquer - to me, he hasn't shown well at the world juniors, and hasn't shown great in the playoffs or in important games. Ellis took the long road, so can he.

The situation with Smith is a good example of why its totally riduclous that people in his position can only play in the NHL or Juniors. A year in the AHL would be good for his growth. Absolutely stupid (frank)ing rule.
- TRDevil

This is why some of the better prospects will play in European leagues because it makes them exempt from this rule. I think you might start to see this trend increase because of how young the league is trending and the want to fast track players.

Sandin looks legit for Toronto

I need my daily dose of Cordell

6 years, 9.25 AVV for Rantanen

6 years, 9.25 AVV for Rantanen
- vlongo4419

i'd do that. solid deal

Rumors on Twitter from Dan Rice(the guy who broke the Gusev trade hours before it was official) is saying he's hearing that Smith is being sent back to Spokane

Rumors on Twitter from Dan Rice(the guy who broke the Gusev trade hours before it was official) is saying he's hearing that Smith is being sent back to Spokane
- vlongo4419

He is the type of kid who will find something to take out of this and come back better next year.

Maybe if the Cheifs arent that great this year he will get to join the team early when he is in top game form.

Rumors on Twitter from Dan Rice(the guy who broke the Gusev trade hours before it was official) is saying he's hearing that Smith is being sent back to Spokane
- vlongo4419

Still think this is a mistake, at least without his 9 games.

He is the type of kid who will find something to take out of this and come back better next year.

Maybe if the Cheifs arent that great this year he will get to join the team early when he is in top game form.
- Devilish4

He was supposed to do that this year.

Rumors on Twitter from Dan Rice(the guy who broke the Gusev trade hours before it was official) is saying he's hearing that Smith is being sent back to Spokane
- vlongo4419

Confirmed sent down

He was supposed to do that this year.
- rmdevil313

Yeah hard to look at this as anything but a disappointment

Yeah hard to look at this as anything but a disappointment
- willschulme

It is disappointing but hes only 19 years old so its not like he's a lost cause. D men take more time as we all know anyway. Its a position that takes a high level of hockey IQ to be proficient at. Sometimes I think we forget that the NHL is the most competitive hockey league in the world and write people off or at least overly disparage them when they don't make an immediate significant impact. I think he will be fine. Hopefully this will light a fire and he will come back next year and be pissed off and hell bent on making the team.

It is disappointing but hes only 19 years old so its not like he's a lost cause. D men take more time as we all know anyway. Its a position that takes a high level of hockey IQ to be proficient at. Sometimes I think we forget that the NHL is the most competitive hockey league in the world and write people off or at least overly disparage them when they don't make an immediate significant impact. I think he will be fine. Hopefully this will light a fire and he will come back next year and be pissed off and hell bent on making the team.
- TRDevil

Absolutely agree.