Todd Cordell: It's time to move Jack Hughes back to center

I would leave the Zacha/Goose/Bratt line alone as #2 and move Hughes down to the 3rd line center but put Anderson and either McLeod/Merkley(if called up)/Koukkanen on the other side and move Zajac to the 4th line with Wood.

He looked awful last night

Fitz and Nas are making a case to extend their jobs, so that and Binghamton’s push is why we’re not seeing all the prospects we want up and off the 4th line

#Bust

I’m merely using reverse psychology here so he magically starts getting godly because I own him in two dynasty leagues 😭

Echo everything Todd wrote here. I really don't understand what they are doing with him. He looks lost and ineffective out there, and seems to be getting asked to do all of the things that his game does not jive with at all (digging in on board battles, hanging around the outside, taking shots from distance). For either course of action, be it prioritizing his development or legitimately trying to win as many games as possible down the stretch, it makes no absolutely sense to use him in a way that basically means they are playing 4 on 5 when he is out there.

Its less of an indictment of Fitzgerald, but if this is the way that Nas would plan to coach the team going forward, every single person in the front office should be fired if they give him a permanent deal.

praying for OT - LA vs. Ott.

praying for OT - LA vs. Ott.
- redmonsters

same for CHI/SJS. Every Ducks game is also big. Never thought I'd be scoreboard watching for 3 1st rd draft picks.

really it's more important for the Kings to keep winning. They just aren't nearly as poopty of a team as Ottawa so if they keep gaining points we can drop below them, especially with the strength of our schedule remaining.

Practice lines today:

Wood-Nico-Palms
Bratt-Zacha-Goose
Kuokkanen-Hughes-McLeod
Rooney-Zajac-Anderson

Hayden skated as the extra

Mueller-PK
Mermis-Severson
Carrick-Tennyson

Feel free to trade jack over to the Canucks for peanuts to play with his bro👍

Practice lines today:

Wood-Nico-Palms
Bratt-Zacha-Goose
Kuokkanen-Hughes-McLeod
Rooney-Zajac-Anderson

Hayden skated as the extra

Mueller-PK
Mermis-Severson
Carrick-Tennyson
- vlongo4419

Wow! That's... not bad.

Practice lines today:

Wood-Nico-Palms
Bratt-Zacha-Goose
Kuokkanen-Hughes-McLeod
Rooney-Zajac-Anderson


- vlongo4419

About time they put Kuokkanen with Hughes. All McLeod has to do is get to the net or find an open spot to receive a pass. I'd actually prefer Anderson with Hughes but let's see how this goes.

Anyone else notice that Bratt is getting a little too cocky with the puck. I'm glad he's aggressive out there, but I feel he's going to be another player on this team that's going to try to do too much (see PK Subban and Wood).

The next coach has to manage the players and let them play on their strengths. Too many times this season I've seen "Superman" style of play, especially when trying to move the puck out of the D-zone. He (or she) needs to settle players down and emphasize consistency. I think that's what is truly hurting this team.

Top needs for next season:

1. A veteran winger for Jack Hughes. Either LW or RW. Just someone who consistently hits the 20 goal mark (Hoffman or Toffoli).

2. LD...badly (but not as badly as a linemate for Jack). Maybe Krug?

3. Veteran goalie but don't overpay!

Next year

Gusev-Hischer-Palms
Kuokkanen-Hughes-FA
Bratt-Zacha-(one of Wood, McLeod, Seney, Bastian)
Merkley-Zajac-Anderson

FA-Subban
Smith-Severson
Butcher-Carrick/Mueller....(maybe Bahl with Butcher playing right-side)


The Devils will have to keep Mueller, Wood, McLeod, Seney, and Bastian just so they can expose them in the expansion draft. Gusev and Palms would be UFAs so maybe they make a "gentleman's agreement" and sign after the expansion draft.

Looking at Bastian's play in Bing, I think he surpassed his buddy McLeod on the depth chart and is a natural RW. I think he's earned a callup more than McLeod. But hopefully McLeod can find a way to start producing now that he's given some talent to play with besides Hayden and Rooney.

Looks like Nas got the message, but the worrisome part is that it took this long for him to see what everyone else had already seen for a while. No matter how many points they’ve earned since Nas took over, he cannot be the coach of this team next year. They’ve improved because of Blackwood. That’s pretty much it. Defense still is horrible, and the team is a turnover machine. It wasn’t but 10 games ago that he was making Bratt a healthy scratch the day after a game winning goal.

The Hughes on wing experiment never made sense to begin with. He’s an 18 year old kid that needs to grow into his body…so why put an already undersized kid on wing?
Also, why not give him time between Bratt and Goose. That line has been humming because of those two, not anything special that Zacha brings. Play Hughes with wingers who can finish. Jack suffered all season dishing passes to Simmonds or Wood only to see them miss the net, hit the goalie in the logo, or fan on the shot. Only chance Jack had with Goose was in the beginning of the season before Gusev got a feel for the NHL. It’s past time Hughes got to center wingers who can keep up with his speed (Bratt) and who can compliment his playmaking ability (Goose).

Last note, glad to see Rooney is still getting the playing time he most assuredly deserves. He had a 2 on 1 last night and chose to shoot instead of pass. No problem with taking the shot, except that he missed the net. Womp womp. That guy is an absolute plug.

Rather bratt be cocky than timid, we have enough of those players already

About time they put Kuokkanen with Hughes. All McLeod has to do is get to the net or find an open spot to receive a pass. I'd actually prefer Anderson with Hughes but let's see how this goes.

Anyone else notice that Bratt is getting a little too cocky with the puck. I'm glad he's aggressive out there, but I feel he's going to be another player on this team that's going to try to do too much (see PK Subban and Wood).

The next coach has to manage the players and let them play on their strengths. Too many times this season I've seen "Superman" style of play, especially when trying to move the puck out of the D-zone. He (or she) needs to settle players down and emphasize consistency. I think that's what is truly hurting this team.

Top needs for next season:

1. A veteran winger for Jack Hughes. Either LW or RW. Just someone who consistently hits the 20 goal mark (Hoffman or Toffoli).

2. LD...badly (but not as badly as a linemate for Jack). Maybe Krug?

3. Veteran goalie but don't overpay!

Next year

Gusev-Hischer-Palms
Kuokkanen-Hughes-FA
Bratt-Zacha-(one of Wood, McLeod, Seney, Bastian)
Merkley-Zajac-Anderson

FA-Subban
Smith-Severson
Butcher-Carrick/Mueller....(maybe Bahl with Butcher playing right-side)


The Devils will have to keep Mueller, Wood, McLeod, Seney, and Bastian just so they can expose them in the expansion draft. Gusev and Palms would be UFAs so maybe they make a "gentleman's agreement" and sign after the expansion draft.
- CardiffGiant

I love Kookie but it’s kind of a stretch to pencil him in as a top-6 winger

I love Kookie but it’s kind of a stretch to pencil him in as a top-6 winger
- FinnGod

On the devils? Might as well use permanent marker

I love Kookie but it’s kind of a stretch to pencil him in as a top-6 winger

Fair enough. I figure 2nd and 3rd line are really interchangable. Some nights, Hughes line plays 2nd and other nights it's the Zacha line. Basically I'd just like to see what Kookie can do with Hughes. Bratt is shooting more so maybe try him with Hughes, though I think both of them will want to drive play on the offensive zone so that might be a problem.

Guess its officially Reilly Walsh watch on now? Harvard has barred its athletic teams from competing in sports for the foreseeable future, and the hockey team is forfeiting their best of 3 ECAC quarterfinal this weekend so their season is over. Guess its time to wait and see if we can convince Walsh to sign now

Guess its officially Reilly Walsh watch on now? Harvard has barred its athletic teams from competing in sports for the foreseeable future, and the hockey team is forfeiting their best of 3 ECAC quarterfinal this weekend so their season is over. Guess its time to wait and see if we can convince Walsh to sign now
- vlongo4419

Since our defense is a poop-show right now, I would hope the team could lure him into signing by guaranteeing that he would get to play right away.

Since our defense is a poop-show right now, I would hope the team could lure him into signing by guaranteeing that he would get to play right away.
- Pomegrant

Rather he went to the Bing and experienced winning, possible playoffs plus $.

Since our defense is a poop-show right now, I would hope the team could lure him into signing by guaranteeing that he would get to play right away.
- Pomegrant

He'd likely get put in Binghamton to play a big role and help their playoff push and give him some pro experience there before throwing him right into the NHL. But they can try to convince him that he has a chance to make the team out of camp next season with the multiple glaring holes on our blue line for sure though. Pressure on Fitz to get him signed though, because he's likely gone if he goes back for his senior year.

Debrincat for Hughes so you can have your Top 6 winger

On the devils? Might as well use permanent marker
- dmarsden2988

Okay sir that was funny^ Well played, you win.

Practice lines today:

Wood-Nico-Palms
Bratt-Zacha-Goose
Kuokkanen-Hughes-McLeod
Rooney-Zajac-Anderson

Hayden skated as the extra

Mueller-PK
Mermis-Severson
Carrick-Tennyson
- vlongo4419

There is no hope of winning until Fredrik Claesson is back in the lineup.