Todd Cordell: Devils 4, Rangers 2: Hall, Hughes steal the show

Todd Cordell: Devils 4, Rangers 2: Hall, Hughes steal the show
- Todd.Cordell

This team is so much faster!!!! Very exciting. If the group can stay relatively healthy, I see the devs in the playoffs. Doubt Hall will lead the pack by more than 30 points this season. Nico/Hughes/Gusev all look like 70+ point players at the moment.

Flagged a post in the last blog scrolling down on accident lol

What did you think of the Subban Greene pairing, Todd?

I can't wait for October 4th!

I can't wait for October 4th!

Anyone know the lines for the devils and Islanders for tonight?

Anyone know the lines for the devils and Islanders for tonight?
- dmarsden2988

https://twitter.com/amand...tatus/1175417710307676160

Devils' Lineup vs Islanders:

Gusev - Hischier - Bratt
Boqvist - Maltsev - Bastian
Wood - Rooney - Hayden
Baddock - Seney - Zetterlund

Butcher - Vatanen
Smith - Severson
White - Carrick

Schneider
Cormier

Really interested to see whether they ultimately start Nico or Jack with Hall and Palmieri. You could make the case for either...also knowing Hynes it'll get switched around a lot. Second game tonight that Nico and Gusev are together so hopefully they can create some chemistry.

McLeod has upside and i think with his speed and some seasoning he can be a good bottom 6 offensive presence. However, sticking him with Studenic and Anderson isn’t doing him any favors either. Also, he’s the only one on his line in his last 2 games that was a threat offensively.
Throw him in the regular lineup with some decent NHL talent and I think he will shine in his own way. Not saying the kid is gonna pot 30G from the 3rd or 4th line, but i think he could be a 20G, 45-50 pt guy with the right pieces and his deficiencies won’t be such a big deal. That’s a nice contribution from a bottom 6 guy. He definitely won’t challenge for top 6, but if the injury bug bites I wouldn’t be shocked to see them try McLeod out in top 6 as a fill-in. He’s got skill and talent, but he’s still maturing and i think that deserves a a chance to develop. I could see him not making the roster this year because of the depth, but i think next year and beyond he’ll be in the NHL. If not in NJ, then somewhere.

https://twitter.com/amandacstein/status/1175417710307676160
- Pomegrant

Thanks!

McLeod has upside and i think with his speed and some seasoning he can be a good bottom 6 offensive presence. However, sticking him with Studenic and Anderson isn’t doing him any favors either. Also, he’s the only one on his line in his last 2 games that was a threat offensively.
Throw him in the regular lineup with some decent NHL talent and I think he will shine in his own way. Not saying the kid is gonna pot 30G from the 3rd or 4th line, but i think he could be a 20G, 45-50 pt guy with the right pieces and his deficiencies won’t be such a big deal. That’s a nice contribution from a bottom 6 guy. He definitely won’t challenge for top 6, but if the injury bug bites I wouldn’t be shocked to see them try McLeod out in top 6 as a fill-in. He’s got skill and talent, but he’s still maturing and i think that deserves a a chance to develop. I could see him not making the roster this year because of the depth, but i think next year and beyond he’ll be in the NHL. If not in NJ, then somewhere.
- FLdevilsFAN

I think if the devils can make a trade for a Dman and include wood in the deal than McLeod has a chance of replacing him.

I think if the devils can make a trade for a Dman and include wood in the deal than McLeod has a chance of replacing him.
- dmarsden2988

Lets see Mcleod produce at the nhl level before we are declairinh him a replacement for a guy who has produced at the nhl level and please lets not take a tougher guy out of the line up to make it softer. Mcleod literally looked like he was going to cry after the dust up with brown at the end of last season I dont think getting rid of Wood to make room for a soft player with 0 nhl goals just because he has had an ok pre season is a good way to build sucess.

Studenic did nothing to impress me. Maybe he had something to do with the downside of McLeod last night.

Either way, he'll get at least 25 NHL games with all the injuries, and will get lots of time in the A, which I think is perfect for him.

I forgot we even had a game tonight. Look at this lineup.. and knowing we iced an entirely different lineup last night. We really do have a great deal of depth.

So tonight we'll get to see what Wood-Rooney-Hayden bring to the table as the 3rd line.

Also curious to see Butcher get top minutes with Vatanen, and how Smith-Severson look together and individually.

Devils' Lineup vs Islanders:

Gusev - Hischier - Bratt
Boqvist - Maltsev - Bastian
Wood - Rooney - Hayden
Baddock - Seney - Zetterlund

Butcher - Vatanen
Smith - Severson
White - Carrick

Schneider
Cormier
- LenapeDevil

Bastian is an interesting pick on the right side of that line, I could see Zetterlund winding up on that line at some point tonight.

Bastian is an interesting pick on the right side of that line, I could see Zetterlund winding up on that line at some point tonight.
- smellmyfinger

Had a lot of hope for Zetterlund before the injury. Hope he gets some good minutes so we can see what he's got.

Boqvist

Boqvist
- dmarsden2988

Can we just dress 14 forwards and make Butcher, PK, Severson and Vatanen play 30 minutes each every night?

I think we all knew that Gusev was going to be a good playmaker coming in, but the guy can shoot the puck too. This guy is the real deal.

Gotta say. not a fan of Hayden. As a callup he's whatever but I'll be disappointed if he's one of the last 23.

Gotta say. not a fan of Hayden. As a callup he's whatever but I'll be disappointed if he's one of the last 23.
- rmdevil313

Agreed, and if we keep a 4th line grinder type wing, I’d prefer it be Bastian.

I think we all knew that Gusev was going to be a good playmaker coming in, but the guy can shoot the puck too. This guy is the real deal.
- Pomegrant

He's a prototypical super skilled Russian. Can do everything really well with the puck.

Agreed, and if we keep a 4th line grinder type wing, I’d prefer it be Bastian.
- smellmyfinger

Aren't they interchangeable? I really don't see the upside of either at this point.

Agreed, and if we keep a 4th line grinder type wing, I’d prefer it be Bastian.
- smellmyfinger

I still believe in wood but agreed. Bastian doesn't seem 5 steps behind the play.