Todd Cordell: Oilers 4, Devils 3: Special teams undo an otherwise strong performance

Two weeks ago in your Metro predictions you said the Devil’s are “ the most improved team in the league”. You also predicted them to be a playoff team finishing ahead of the Flyers. Is it to early to revise those predictions Todd? The Devils look totally lost to me.

Todd Cordell: Oilers 4, Devils 3: Special teams undo an otherwise strong performance
- Todd.Cordell

I'm perplexed at the handling of the lineup thus far. Granted it's early, but I don't see value in playing Wood over Boqvist, I don't understand Bratt's lack of playing time, and I still need to know what Hynes was thinking earlier this year when he paired Mueller with Severson. Also, how he let the McDavid line go against Mueller and Carrick so often last night is mind blowing and that is 100% on the coaches.

This team has absolutely zero chemistry right now. There is no sustained offensive pressure and the special teams are a disaster. Throw in a lack of discipline and they're lucky to have 2 pts!

Fire Hynes.

Two weeks ago in your Metro predictions you said the Devil’s are “ the most improved team in the league”. You also predicted them to be a playoff team finishing ahead of the Flyers. Is it to early to revise those predictions Todd? The Devils look totally lost to me.
- Djapana

I think they played really well last night but, yeah, it's hard to argue with four losses and poor showings in three of four games. I'm not ready to jump ship yet but not looking great thus far

If last night is a sign of things to come then they can turn this around. Unfortunately their next game is @ Boston and I simply have zero faith they'll win that one...

Peeling off four straight losses to start the year is tough no matter what, but its the way they have lost these games that is particularly demoralizing. All of the problems that killed them last year: frequent and unnecessary penalties, soft defense, uneven contributions (the list doesn't end there), all are still very clearly present on this team. I think they were really banking on Smith being ready this year, the defense is crying out for puck movers to help them break out of the zone, and his pre-season showing may end up being one of the biggest disappointments about this season.

One last rant: I don't care if he told Hynes to go F his own face, there is never, never a situation where Rooney/Hayden should be in this lineup over Boqvist.

Is it safe to say 2018 was an abberation?

I'm actually somewhat content with yesterday. There are still some glaring problems, but it looked like progress. I'm happy with Hughes. I'm happy with Gusev. It's the first sign of actual meshing.

On McDavid's tying goal, the teams were coming out of a timeout (taken by Edmonton). Why on earth did Hynes send out Mueller and Vatanen? Naturally McDavid gets behind Mueller unchecked to tap in the goal.

The biggest problem to start the season has been Hynes.

Also, please no more Wood. No more Rooney. Let Boqvist play or send him back to Sweden. Otherwise what's the point?

Moving in the right direction. Keep the faith, no need to get discouraged.

BTW - who's bright idea was it to have the POS #99 in the broadcast booth last night? I STILL REMEMBER!

Moving in the right direction. Keep the faith, no need to get discouraged.

BTW - who's bright idea was it to have the POS #99 in the broadcast booth last night? I STILL REMEMBER!
- Crushers68

Are you referring to a certain Disney reference?

maybe prepping for Boston will force them to be better against such a solid team?? What I'd give for our group to play with that kind of structure Boston has been known for.

Very interesting comments. I watched the game special teams killed the Devils and player utilization by Hynes was not good. He was clearly outcoached in this one. The 99 comment is true, what does he have to do with Devils hockey. Bratt should be top six only, Wood and Rooney have to be sat down, and special teams are leaving Blackie and Schneids in no mans land. Lets go Flyers and yes I hope the Devs can turn it around, I really like them.

I don't mind the experimentation, and I like having Hischier, Hall, Palmieri to put a steady force out there while the rest of the lines are experimented with until another good combination is found.

The dynamic built around Hughes is that he should be playing with guys who give him space, because the more he has the puck, the more likely it's going to end up in the back of the net. Zacha was perfect for this. Simmonds is supposed to be a finisher, but he's not quite Palmieri. I hope he can shoot with a bit more lethality. Nice to see Severson can still finish - maybe he should become a winger.

I think last night just reinforced the pieces are there but the coaching staff is just more of the same garbage. Time to move on from Nesreddine and Hynes.

I mean obviously we will eventually win a few games but they style of play and the system just aren't helping.

Are you referring to a certain Disney reference?
- RafiDRW

Indeed!

I don't mind the experimentation, and I like having Hischier, Hall, Palmieri to put a steady force out there while the rest of the lines are experimented with until another good combination is found.

The dynamic built around Hughes is that he should be playing with guys who give him space, because the more he has the puck, the more likely it's going to end up in the back of the net. Zacha was perfect for this. Simmonds is supposed to be a finisher, but he's not quite Palmieri. I hope he can shoot with a bit more lethality. Nice to see Severson can still finish - maybe he should become a winger.
- archromat

so then..

Hall-Hischier-Bratt/Palmieri
Zacha-Hughes-Palmieri/Coleman
Gusev-Zajac-Coleman/Bratt
Boqvist-Rooney-Simmonds

there ya go. Hynes can stick with that and simply flip the RWs around.. while keeping everything else the same. So he can play his little game, while at least enabling some chemistry to develop. I think Gusev NEEDS to be with Zajac for the defense, and Hughes really needs Zacha for the same while also being able to benefit from some of his smarts on offense.

Palmieri on line 1 to give us the steady line that WORKS. Palmieri on line 2 to give Hughes a RW that's good on the boards AND gifted offensively.
Bratt on line 1 if Palmieri is on line 2.. Bratt should avoid line 2 due to not being able to make much space for Hughes.. Bratt on line if we want to put Coleman with Hughes and keep Palmieri on line 1.

there ya go. solved it. simplified it. do this.

i was doing some tinkering (maybe 5 minutes). I thought of these fwd lines. What do you think?:

Hall - Nico - Bratt
Hughes - Zajac - Palms
(Gives Hughes the ability to acclimate to the pro game without the pressure of playing Center right away)
Gusev - Zacha - Boqvist
Coleman - Bastian/Rooney - Simmonds

Is it safe to say 2018 was an abberation?
- BINGO!

Unless Hall can somehow carry this poopshow on his back again this year then yes, that was definitely an aberration.

BTW - who's bright idea was it to have the POS #99 in the broadcast booth last night? I STILL REMEMBER!
- Crushers68

Had season tickets in those days, was at the game when he first came back after the MM comment. He wasn't far off in his assessment, we were quite awful back then. Those were some rough times.

I was at that game.
- FAZOOL

1983. I remember it like it was yesterday. Was a sophomore at Seton Hall. What a trouncing we took. I think we gave up 12 or 13 goals?

Two weeks ago in your Metro predictions you said the Devil’s are “ the most improved team in the league”. You also predicted them to be a playoff team finishing ahead of the Flyers. Is it to early to revise those predictions Todd? The Devils look totally lost to me.
- Djapana

Don't get too cocky fella, that is the absolute best way to end up with another injured goalie and sad faces for the year. Glad to see you guys competitive again, but in hockey having too much fun with other teams problems always seems to bite you in the ass.

Don't get too cocky fella, that is the absolute best way to end up with another injured goalie and sad faces for the year. Glad to see you guys competitive again, but in hockey having too much fun with other teams problems always seems to bite you in the ass.
- TRDevil

And the flyers have played two teams who have yet to win a game...so I would wait til they played a team that's good

I don't think we'll win a game this season.