Todd Cordell: On Zacha's improving play and Butcher's unwillingness to shoot

Todd Cordell: On Zacha's improving play and Butcher's unwillingness to shoot
- Todd.Cordell

Zacha is doing great considering the role he was thrust into. You would assume a more experienced centre like Henrique, or Johansson would be given the 1C role but Zacha was the guy who stepped up. As for Butcher, I am fine with him not firing the puck. Whatever he is doing is working so keep it up. And Wood has been a beast in every game ive had the chance to watch. Lots of positives with this group.

Winning these games early in the season should really help build confidence. I see this team getting nothing but better as the season goes on.

I'm not sold on Zacha just yet but he has certainly done a decent job in a bigger role. It's easy to forget he's only 20 and is still developing.

No complaints about Will Butcher at all but it's surprising he has more assists than shots on goal.

I'm not sold on Zacha just yet but he has certainly done a decent job in a bigger role. It's easy to forget he's only 20 and is still developing.

No complaints about Will Butcher at all but it's surprising he has more assists than shots on goal.
- Queenie_5_hole

The good thing right now is we have Nico who will be our future #1 center and the pressure of becoming our top line center is off of zachas shoulders I have complete faith he can become a solid 2nd line center and with Zajac bound to be our 3rd line center in the future this team will be very deep down the middle

The Devils stink at faceoffs. Just a statement. Way under 50% across the board.

The Devils stink at faceoffs. Just a statement. Way under 50% across the board.
- SnipeDevil6

Most of the time faceoffs don't matter. Just in important spots. Win those and you're good.

The Devils stink at faceoffs. Just a statement. Way under 50% across the board.
- SnipeDevil6

Also have taken the 6th least faceoffs in the league at 650, we’ve won 301 out of 650 while Tampa Bay the best team in the league right now has only won 407 out of 827 wouldn’t read too much into our faceoff wins right now have a lot of rookies taking draws going to take some time for Nico and Zacha

Most of the time faceoffs don't matter. Just in important spots. Win those and you're good.
- tomburton99

Boyle will fix it anyway, right?!

Zacha is doing great considering the role he was thrust into. You would assume a more experienced centre like Henrique, or Johansson would be given the 1C role but Zacha was the guy who stepped up. As for Butcher, I am fine with him not firing the puck. Whatever he is doing is working so keep it up. And Wood has been a beast in every game ive had the chance to watch. Lots of positives with this group.
- bikeguy99

The youngest of them all, Nico, took that role, for now.

I'm not sold on Zacha just yet but he has certainly done a decent job in a bigger role. It's easy to forget he's only 20 and is still developing.

No complaints about Will Butcher at all but it's surprising he has more assists than shots on goal.
- Queenie_5_hole

good point. he's only 20, he's only 20. everything will be fine.

Thanks Todd. Always enjoy your insights on the Devils

good point. he's only 20, he's only 20. everything will be fine.
- MartysBetter88

If his assist on the Hayes goal is any indication, he'll be more than fine given time

Getting the puck on net is never a bad play

Become a PP QB before making these assertions. That's like telling an NFL QB that it's "never a bad play" to throw the ball down the field.

Yes it can be a bad play: it can surrender possession on a terrible scoring chance; You can shoot it high and wide and get the puck out of their end without even having the defensemen have to clear it, and there's no chance for an icing; you can toss one into the goalie's glove and completely kill your momentum; you can shoot it into a shot blocker and he can kick it forward and earn a break-away; you can deny your forwards any puck possession.

Let the PP QB do his thing. He'll shoot when they cover the passes; he'll pass when they cover the shot. NJ's power play is 5th in the league, and dude is playing PPG+. If he ends the season with 0 goals and 89 assists, I'm happy for him.

The youngest of them all, Nico, took that role, for now.
- Leniwm1

Exactly, centre is crowded. makes you wonder who will be deemed expendable. I'm sure Shero has something in the works.