So what would you guys think of giving Smith some time in the AHL to try to regain form? He's been brutal so far this year, and idk if it's worth it letting him try to play himself out of it when he is flat out costing this team points at times. He's playing with zero confidence and almost looks scared at times. I have no idea what the best option is for him honestly

Colton White deserves time over him at this point, and i'd even give Walsh a call up and give him a look.
- vlongo4419

Ty obviously has been horrible, but there is something to say about the coaching staff here in which they aren't really able to teach players to be better. Probably because the systems aren't very good.

White has been fine. Or call anybody up and see what they can do. I think some time in the AHL for Ty might help him because he needs games to figure it out but we're losing very winnable games because of his poor play.

I like the penguins strategy better. Tank for good draft picks
- devils2929

Yeah that works for me! Devils were too stupid back in 1984 to lose a late season game against the Pens to get Lemieux!

yeah, that's how it works. you draft players and you hope for them to be good. you sign players to contracts hoping they're going to live up to them.

I know you're not working with a lot upstairs and this is the best you can do, but your strategy of hoping you'll say something intelligent just isn't working.
- Pomegrant

Fine Cletus if you think paying Hughes and Hirshier a combined $15.25 million for the next 5 years with their production so far is a winning strategy, good luck!

Ty obviously has been horrible, but there is something to say about the coaching staff here in which they aren't really able to teach players to be better. Probably because the systems aren't very good.

White has been fine. Or call anybody up and see what they can do. I think some time in the AHL for Ty might help him because he needs games to figure it out but we're losing very winnable games because of his poor play.
- Pomegrant

Yeah agree, the coaching staff has done this team no favors for the most part. The PK has atleast turned things around but I'm incredibly shocked Recchi is still here with how consistently bad the pp has been. I was willing to give him a pass last season with no practice, ect, but it's unacceptable at this point.

It really puts a ton of unecessary pressure to need to be almost perfect at evenstrength every night because you know you arent going to get anything from a man advantage. Fixing our power play to be atleast league average would solve a lot honestly.

Yeah agree, the coaching staff has done this team no favors for the most part. The PK has atleast turned things around but I'm incredibly shocked Recchi is still here with how consistently bad the pp has been. I was willing to give him a pass last season with no practice, ect, but it's unacceptable at this point.

It really puts a ton of unecessary pressure to need to be almost perfect at evenstrength every night because you know you arent going to get anything from a man advantage. Fixing our power play to be atleast league average would solve a lot honestly.
- vlongo4419

I saw some stat in which we've scored seven power play goals and have conceded three shorthanded goals which really hammers home how incompetent Recchi has been. With Jack back last night the powerplay "structure" is clearly just give the puck to Jack because he's the only one that can gain the zone and let him do whatever he wants. Which is a fine strategy if your powerplay is poop but with the compliment of players we have our powerplay shouldn't be poop.

At least the penalty kill is good, it just took time for the players to learn the new system they put in place. But for sure the 5v5 play suffers because there is no room especially when our offensive scheme is to play fast off the rush which requires our defense to engage. I'm fine with aggressive play 5v5 but you know that you're going to give up chances playing this way which we cannot afford to be doing right now.

The Devils have signed Shakir Mukhamadullin to his ELC and "loaned" him back to Ufa in the KHL for the rest of the season. I guess this means he's coming over next season and will be at camp, and should kill the rumors of him trying to re-sign over there?

Yeah that works for me! Devils were too stupid back in 1984 to lose a late season game against the Pens to get Lemieux!
- stevens87

"You play to win the game"-Herm Edwards

@samikasan
#NJDevils lines:

Hughes - Hischier - Zacha
Johnsson - Mercer - Bratt
Kuokkanen - Sharangovich - Tatar
Vesey - McLeod - Bastian

Those were initial rushes. The bottom two lines also had Geertsen and Boqvist jumped in on occasion.

Hughes back on wing because reasons.

Hughes back on wing because reasons.
- Pomegrant

So frustrating. I just don't understand

Hughes back on wing because reasons.
- Pomegrant

I know they said yesterday about faceoffs but this makes no sense

I think the whole faceoff thing is really overblown. If faceoff win percentage impacted play so much why don't you see huge scoring rates after defensive zone faceoffs. It's really just results oriented thinking in which losing faceoff bad so we should try to win them. Also, the difference between "good" and "bad percentages is 45 and 55 percents which are basically coin flips anyway. Yeah, if you're operating sub 40% then you're bad and need to work on it but why is there this huge perception that faceoffs are some kind of make or break thing for teams.

So what would you guys think of giving Smith some time in the AHL to try to regain form? He's been brutal so far this year, and idk if it's worth it letting him try to play himself out of it when he is flat out costing this team points at times. He's playing with zero confidence and almost looks scared at times. I have no idea what the best option is for him honestly

Colton White deserves time over him at this point, and i'd even give Walsh a call up and give him a look.
- vlongo4419

I was thinking Walsh has looked good at Utica and should get a look soon. White has been serviceable.

Smith has been terrible. Only issue with Walsh is whether you are big on shooting handedness, a line up of Hamilton, Graves, Severson, Subban, Siegnethaler and Walsh gives you 4 right hand shots.

The Devils have signed Shakir Mukhamadullin to his ELC and "loaned" him back to Ufa in the KHL for the rest of the season. I guess this means he's coming over next season and will be at camp, and should kill the rumors of him trying to re-sign over there?
- vlongo4419

I'd have to think Luke signs his ELC rather than going back for a sophomore season at the end of the season as well. Starting to get real crowded. Hope Fitz is monitoring the market for a cap strapped team looking to exchange a goal scorer for a handful of prospects on cheap cap hits.

I know they said yesterday about faceoffs but this makes no sense
- dmarsden2988

I think its more about not overstressing his shoulder right away rather than ability level. There was a point where Shara got thrown out of a faceoff and Kuokkanen stepped in not Jack and I can't imagine him being better. Could just be an uncomfortable situation until he builds his strength back up.

I think the whole faceoff thing is really overblown. If faceoff win percentage impacted play so much why don't you see huge scoring rates after defensive zone faceoffs. It's really just results oriented thinking in which losing faceoff bad so we should try to win them. Also, the difference between "good" and "bad percentages is 45 and 55 percents which are basically coin flips anyway. Yeah, if you're operating sub 40% then you're bad and need to work on it but why is there this huge perception that faceoffs are some kind of make or break thing for teams.
- Pomegrant

For what its worth, I could have sworn I read a 31 thoughts by Freideman and Matt Cane had a quote saying he's learning a lot more about faceoffs. So its possible the team has analytics that says otherwise. I can't find the link though, so its possible I am remembering wrong.

For what its worth, I could have sworn I read a 31 thoughts by Freideman and Matt Cane had a quote saying he's learning a lot more about faceoffs. So its possible the team has analytics that says otherwise. I can't find the link though, so its possible I am remembering wrong.
- rmdevil313

I'd love to read some analysis of faceoffs.