Sam Woo: Lightning Struck Five Times, Jack Hughes Is Mr. Turnover

The good news is this can be corrected and he is still young.

Yeah with the right coaching. If Jack's mistakes keep occurring during the season then the message from the coaching staff isn't getting through. Get rid of this deadbeat coaching staff and hire some guys who will hold these guys accountable for their countless mistakes.

No mention of goaltending at all, really? Did you watch the game? That's the sole reason the team lost....again. How are you going to write a game recap and not mention the biggest takeaways? Goaltending sucked and Mercer had probably his best game of the season playing in a top 6 wing spot, something to actually look into doing more. Instead you decide to waste energy writing about how the best player on the team turned the puck over, which literally had no impact on the end result. Nice writing. Brutal tbh

No mention of goaltending at all, really? Did you watch the game? That's the sole reason the team lost....again. How are you going to write a game recap and not mention the biggest takeaways? Goaltending sucked and Mercer had probably his best game of the season playing in a top 6 wing spot, something to actually look into doing more. Instead you decide to waste energy writing about how the best player on the team turned the puck over, which literally had no impact on the end result. Nice writing. Brutal tbh
- vlongo4419

Have you ever been reading these blogs? It’s always been brutal writing.

Have you ever been reading these blogs? It’s always been brutal writing.
- Banana_Hammock

Honestly true. I shouldn't be shocked

I thought the boys played alright. Hughes is going to have growing pains. But loved what I saw against back to back Stanley cup champions. He didn’t get credit for that Mercer goal. But what a heads up play. Well done. Good hustle.

Tampa bay is not a good team. Tampa is a great team. Closest thing to a dynasty we have today in the NHL. No Hamilton, no Bratt and a triple A goalie.

If we had even decent goaltending. We would have beaten them, or at the very least left with a point in OT.

That is the story of last night plain and simple.

Don’t talk smack on my boy Hughes again. I have kept my mouth shut with your poopty writing. But you start going at Hughes I’ll start exposing your poopty writing.

Jack turns the puck over a lot because he has the puck a lot. He also gets the puck for himself at elite rates too. Giveaways as a raw stat doesn't paint an accurate picture of what is happening in the game.

Jack turns the puck over a lot because he has the puck a lot. He also gets the puck for himself at elite rates too. Giveaways as a raw stat doesn't paint an accurate picture of what is happening in the game.
- Pomegrant

This right here. Look at the giveaway/turnover leaders every season. It's typically the best players in the league/best players on their own team lol, because they have the puck on their stick more than anybody else. Hard concept for some people to grasp I guess, idk

Like last season, in the top 25 in turnovers includes the likes of Matthews, Marner, Crosby, Draisaitl, Gaudreau, Aho, Tkachuk, ect. 2 seasons ago the 25 included Barzal, Draisaitl, Pasta, McDavid, Gaudreau, Marchand, Panarin, Larkin, ect.

Hughes will pretty much always be up there because when he is on the ice, the puck is his. The game goes through him. And as much as he is turning it over, his defensive stick is among the best in the league. Tied for 3rd in the league in takeaways last season only behind Stone and Draisaitl, and this year he is 3rd in the league in takeaways per minutes played(can't use totals because he missed a lot of games) only behind Stone and Pietrangelo.

I'll give you a 7th round pick and a signed Yakupov 8x10 for Hughes

This right here. Look at the giveaway/turnover leaders every season. It's typically the best players in the league/best players on their own team lol, because they have the puck on their stick more than anybody else. Hard concept for some people to grasp I guess, idk

Like last season, in the top 25 in turnovers includes the likes of Matthews, Marner, Crosby, Draisaitl, Gaudreau, Aho, Tkachuk, ect. 2 seasons ago the 25 included Barzal, Draisaitl, Pasta, McDavid, Gaudreau, Marchand, Panarin, Larkin, ect.

Hughes will pretty much always be up there because when he is on the ice, the puck is his. The game goes through him. And as much as he is turning it over, his defensive stick is among the best in the league. Tied for 3rd in the league in takeaways last season only behind Stone and Draisaitl, and this year he is 3rd in the league in takeaways per minutes played(can't use totals because he missed a lot of games) only behind Stone and Pietrangelo.
- vlongo4419

Probably cause the team has been shiet and everyone is just negatively thinking. Or devils fans are just very uneducated in a hockey sense.

People are too worried about the stats, or lack thereof, and don't notice the good that players (Like Nico) off the puck.

Hard to get excited about this season but having 2 ppg players on your team is amazing (both 23 or younger). Now to see if management can build around them.

Probably cause the team has been shiet and everyone is just negatively thinking. Or devils fans are just very uneducated in a hockey sense.

People are too worried about the stats, or lack thereof, and don't notice the good that players (Like Nico) off the puck.

Hard to get excited about this season but having 2 ppg players on your team is amazing (both 23 or younger). Now to see if management can build around them.
- justTHEtip1220

Fans were saying Nico's a bum even after he had an 11 game point streak. Or that he's a bad captain despite playing against top comp every night and being a key piece of one of the league's best penalty kills. I don't know what the fans are even really looking for when they are critical of Jack and Nico because they are the few positives on this poop team.

Fans were saying Nico's a bum even after he had an 11 game point streak. Or that he's a bad captain despite playing against top comp every night and being a key piece of one of the league's best penalty kills. I don't know what the fans are even really looking for when they are critical of Jack and Nico because they are the few positives on this poop team.
- Pomegrant

What is miserable cucks....

Fans were saying Nico's a bum even after he had an 11 game point streak. Or that he's a bad captain despite playing against top comp every night and being a key piece of one of the league's best penalty kills. I don't know what the fans are even really looking for when they are critical of Jack and Nico because they are the few positives on this poop team.
- Pomegrant

It's actually crazy to me too because I see people say he stagnated or hasn't improved since his rookie season. Which blows my mind. He put up 20 goals and 52 points as a rookie playing with MVP Taylor Hall and essentially peak level 25 goal scorer Kyle Palmieri in his career best goal pace season. This year he's outperforming that(24 goal, 57 point pace) playing all year carrying a combination of 4th liners and Zacha as his most common linemates. Like people need to put things into perspective. That's actually impressive to me. Not to mention he's having the best defensive impact of his career this year.

I can now be pretty confident in saying that I believe Nico can absolutely be a 65 or point guy, or slightly better, if we actually got him help and gave him competent top 6 wingers to play with.

It's actually crazy to me too because I see people say he stagnated or hasn't improved since his rookie season. Which blows my mind. He put up 20 goals and 52 points as a rookie playing with MVP Taylor Hall and essentially peak level 25 goal scorer Kyle Palmieri before he fell off a cliff. This year he's outperforming that(24 goal, 57 point pace) playing all year carrying a combination of 4th liners and Zacha as his most common linemates. Like people need to put things into perspective. That's actually impressive to me. Not to mention he's having the best defensive impact of his career this year.

I can now be pretty confident in saying that I believe Nico can absolutely be a 65 or point guy, or slightly better, if we actually got him help and gave him competent top 6 wingers to play with.
- vlongo4419

Couldn't agree more. Nico is doing everything he can, and more, with the linemates he gets on a nightly basis. I've been wondering if Nico and Mercer would be good together, both are great all around players that are willing to get the the dirty areas. Hughes/Bratt as a scoring line, then Nico/Mercer as a defensive shutdown line that can provide offense is a promising top 6. The issue is finding a third player for either line, Holtz is looking like he would be able to play on either of those lines.

It's actually crazy to me too because I see people say he stagnated or hasn't improved since his rookie season. Which blows my mind. He put up 20 goals and 52 points as a rookie playing with MVP Taylor Hall and essentially peak level 25 goal scorer Kyle Palmieri in his career best goal pace season. This year he's outperforming that(24 goal, 57 point pace) playing all year carrying a combination of 4th liners and Zacha as his most common linemates. Like people need to put things into perspective. That's actually impressive to me. Not to mention he's having the best defensive impact of his career this year.

I can now be pretty confident in saying that I believe Nico can absolutely be a 65 or point guy, or slightly better, if we actually got him help and gave him competent top 6 wingers to play with.
- vlongo4419

Maybe I'll get poop for comparing Nico to Bergeron but their early careers have been similar in that they both highly regarded prospects that had some injury problems early on and were criticized because of it. Nobody would argue against the importance of Bergeron's defensive play and his point contributions have increased again since giving him great players to play with.

Even during Bergeron's down offensive years nobody would argue that he wasn't a top centerman for his team and I don't see why it's different for Nico.

Maybe I'll get poop for comparing Nico to Bergeron but their early careers have been similar in that they both highly regarded prospects that had some injury problems early on and were criticized because of it. Nobody would argue against the importance of Bergeron's defensive play and his point contributions have increased again since giving him great players to play with.

Even during Bergeron's down offensive years nobody would argue that he wasn't a top centerman for his team and I don't see why it's different for Nico.
- Pomegrant

I would say it's a fair comparable in terms of style, always thought Bergeron would be Nico's ceiling

Maybe I'll get poop for comparing Nico to Bergeron but their early careers have been similar in that they both highly regarded prospects that had some injury problems early on and were criticized because of it. Nobody would argue against the importance of Bergeron's defensive play and his point contributions have increased again since giving him great players to play with.

Even during Bergeron's down offensive years nobody would argue that he wasn't a top centerman for his team and I don't see why it's different for Nico.
- Pomegrant

Because Nico was a 1st overall pick. I honestly think that's the only reason. If he was just a top 10 pick would anybody be giving him poop? I highly doubt it. Let's say Zacha could actually play center and is doing exactly what Nico does, i bet people would love him. It's just that strange aura that 1st overall picks get, where if they aren't a superstar and the best player on their team then they're a bum/bust.

Because Nico was a 1st overall pick. I honestly think that's the only reason. If he was just a top 10 pick would anybody be giving him poop? I highly doubt it. Let's say Zacha could actually play center and is doing exactly what Nico does, i bet people would love him. It's just that strange aura that 1st overall picks get, where if they aren't a superstar and the best player on their team then they're a bum/bust.
- vlongo4419

Sports fans can't possibly grasp hindsight bias and sunk cost fallacy. They also blame the players for their draft position rather than the teams drafting them, so some kind of brand loyalty problem as well.

The point that I keep making is if Nico isn't good enough to be 1st overall, who in that draft class would have been and why would the team ever pick them. There were no Devils fans saying we should take Cale Makar over Hischier or Nolan so why is anybody mad. Nolan Patrick is clearly a bust and that was the only guy that people were thinking of taking over Nico. So even toying with hindsight bias Nico was the pick.

It's also weird that fans just love Zacha now because he had one decent season where he got lucky and scored more goals than normal (even if it really wasn't a lot anyway...) and then instantly regressed to his normal self. Fans were super critical of him until they decided it was time to be critical of Nico, then Jack.

I'll give you a 7th round pick and a signed Yakupov 8x10 for Hughes
- ChonDerry

Up it to a limited edition Evander Kane vaccine card and we got a deal.

Frank Seravalli hints at the Devils interest in Brock Boeser, and mentions that the Devils and Canucks have gone well down the path of Boeser trade talks in the past. Never said if it was this current regime or the previous one though.

Frank Seravalli hints at the Devils interest in Brock Boeser, and mentions that the Devils and Canucks have gone well down the path of Boeser trade talks in the past. Never said if it was this current regime or the previous one though.
- vlongo4419

I wonder what the ask would be

Just looking at the counting stats
43gp 14goals 13 assists for 27 points

I know there were rumors of Vancouver being interested in zacha

Zacha and a 2nd?

I wonder what the ask would be

Just looking at the counting stats
43gp 14goals 13 assists for 27 points

I know there were rumors of Vancouver being interested in zacha

Zacha and a 2nd?
- dmarsden2988

Not sure. I assume Boeser is more expensive than Garland, and the rumored cost of Garland would be something like Zacha, a 2nd or 3rd, and a B prospect like Bahl. So I assume Boeser would cost Zacha, a 1st, and a prospect. Maybe something else as well depending on the prospect. Maybe eat a contract to pay less.

I lowkey would prefer Garland over Boeser tbh, but really like both players. Either guy would be a welcomed addition to the top 6.

I wonder what the ask would be

Just looking at the counting stats
43gp 14goals 13 assists for 27 points

I know there were rumors of Vancouver being interested in zacha

Zacha and a 2nd?
- dmarsden2988

On a pure talent basis this might be fair (up to Canucks to decide), BUT, Boeser has had an injury plagued career and is qualifying offer is around $7.5 million at the end of the season; not sure he is worth those $s.

On a pure talent basis this might be fair (up to Canucks to decide), BUT, Boeser has had an injury plagued career and is qualifying offer is around $7.5 million at the end of the season; not sure he is worth those $s.
- redmonsters

This is why I would slightly prefer Garland. On a better/cheaper contract and doesn't carry the injury history that Boeser does. His underlyings are all better too. But Boeser would be nice too, all he does is score goals when he's healthy. Averaging 31 goal and 65 point paces throughout his career. Both guys would be a big boost to our top 6 though, so I won't complain if we got either one. Just give me one please Fitz lol.

I wonder what the ask would be

Just looking at the counting stats
43gp 14goals 13 assists for 27 points

I know there were rumors of Vancouver being interested in zacha

Zacha and a 2nd?
- dmarsden2988

His counting stats can be split too. Before the coaching change he had 4 goals and 10 points in 22 games, but after Boudreau came in and started using him correctly he has 10 goals and 17 points in 21 games. So he's been a lot better recently