Todd Cordell: Devils 2, Jets 1: Jesper Boqvist SZN is upon us

Todd, how about a take on whether Tennyson is the worst dman the Devils have iced in years. I say yes, and I couldn’t stomach Moore or Lovejoy.

I agree with the Hischier / Hughes line take. Nico did look great yesterday on the top line, but he's also looked great the prior few games playing with other guys. He's at the point where I'm confident you can put him anywhere and he will be good.

Hughes on the other hand is still 18 and needs more sheltering. He has looked good with Hall and Palmieri so they should just go back to that, with occasionally subbing in Nico for Hughes at dicey points of the game.

What's less clear is what to do when Bratt is back. Boqvist has played well enough to stay in, and Bratt was playing great before he got banged up. Do they take out Gusev again? I know he's been a liability 5v5 but his skill set is something I think is valuable to the team. Then the next obvious guy to take out is Rooney, but I'm not sure who you put on the fourth line then. Maybe Coleman and go back to Zajac and the Jespers from preseason:

Hall - Hughes - Palmieri
Zacha - Nico - Gusev
Boqvist - Zajac - Bratt
Wood - Coleman - Simmonds

Don't hate that.

The team definitely could use a trade for a solid bottom-pairing d-man.

I agree with the Hischier / Hughes line take. Nico did look great yesterday on the top line, but he's also looked great the prior few games playing with other guys. He's at the point where I'm confident you can put him anywhere and he will be good.

Hughes on the other hand is still 18 and needs more sheltering. He has looked good with Hall and Palmieri so they should just go back to that, with occasionally subbing in Nico for Hughes at dicey points of the game.

What's less clear is what to do when Bratt is back. Boqvist has played well enough to stay in, and Bratt was playing great before he got banged up. Do they take out Gusev again? I know he's been a liability 5v5 but his skill set is something I think is valuable to the team. Then the next obvious guy to take out is Rooney, but I'm not sure who you put on the fourth line then. Maybe Coleman and go back to Zajac and the Jespers from preseason:

Hall - Hughes - Palmieri
Zacha - Nico - Gusev
Boqvist - Zajac - Bratt
Wood - Coleman - Simmonds

Don't hate that.

The team definitely could use a trade for a solid bottom-pairing d-man.
- MannySilvers

I agree on the Hughes/Nico point. Also, I like those lines.

Don't forget Miles Wood. He has been playing really well the past couple of games

To hold the Jets offense to one goal?!

And Simmonds is awesome, he's the only guy that is actively sticking up for his teammates. He is the new Boyle.

Looks like Baldy finally has them playing as a team. Lets nuke canada!

To hold the Jets offense to one goal?!

And Simmonds is awesome, he's the only guy that is actively sticking up for his teammates. He is the new Boyle.
- Leniwm1

Palmieri has too. I just don’t want Palmieri doing it if someone’s going off the ice for a roughing, fighting or misconduct, I want it to be Simmonds or Hayden, not our top RW.

I agree with that. Boneheaded 17 minutes in penalties.

Todd, how about a take on whether Tennyson is the worst dman the Devils have iced in years. I say yes, and I couldn’t stomach Moore or Lovejoy.
- smellmyfinger

You put him below Lovejoy? 😳

You put him below Lovejoy? 😳
- Wildschwein

Sadly, yes.

Hall - Hughes - Palmieri
Zacha - Nico - Gusev
Boqvist - Zajac - Bratt
Wood - Coleman - Simmonds

I like the Zacha-Hischier-Bratt combo a lot. They're really good friends off the ice and that friendship shows the chemistry on the ice.

Hynes may just force Boqvist and Gusev to share ice time. I think one of them should be with Zajac and Coleman. I wouldn't mind Coleman as a center, but Zajac will get crushed in defensive responsibilities if he's with any combination of Boqvist, Gusev, or Bratt. He really needs Coleman or Simmonds on one of the wings.

Now if you put Coleman with Boqvist and Gusev and give them soft minutes, I can be down with that.

Sadly, yes.
- smellmyfinger

Damn. That’s some elite level dislike.

Damn. That’s some elite level dislike.
- Wildschwein

On a team where you figure Carrick could be easily replaced he is proving that wrong. I’d like to see them bring up Joe Morrow just to have a look, he can’t be worse.

On a team where you figure Carrick could be easily replaced he is proving that wrong. I’d like to see them bring up Joe Morrow just to have a look, he can’t be worse.
- smellmyfinger

We are getting scandella, for hall

Buffalo have a surplus of top dmen that the devils need

-garth

We are getting scandella, for hall

Buffalo have a surplus of top dmen that the devils need

-garth
- dmarsden2988

Devils been sending scouts to the Sabre games for about a week or something like that.

Mueller looked worse to start the year and I'd be okay if we never saw him again.

Also, back to back tomorrow and Friday making it 3 games in 4 days after having 1 game in 11 days. What is this schedule?

Mueller looked worse to start the year and I'd be okay if we never saw him again.

Also, back to back tomorrow and Friday making it 3 games in 4 days after having 1 game in 11 days. What is this schedule?
- Pomegrant

Is Mueller worse then Tennyson? Serious question.

I still think the real problem is the defensive system. Even giving up just one goal I didn't feel confident at all about how they played. Meaning on D.

Like what I see from Boqvist. He's got a little jam to him and not pushed around like Goose and Hughes.

Is Mueller worse then Tennyson? Serious question.

I still think the real problem is the defensive system. Even giving up just one goal I didn't feel confident at all about how they played. Meaning on D.

Like what I see from Boqvist. He's got a little jam to him and not pushed around like Goose and Hughes.
- Queenie_5_hole

I notice that about Boqvist as well. He can throw his weight around a bit, and isn't bumped off the puck easily. I see Filip Forsberg-esque potential - obviously it's early and we'll have to see, but he's an exciting player.

I like your line combos...seems to make sense. I wonder if Hynes will eventually assemble this.

Is Mueller worse then Tennyson? Serious question.

I still think the real problem is the defensive system. Even giving up just one goal I didn't feel confident at all about how they played. Meaning on D.

Like what I see from Boqvist. He's got a little jam to him and not pushed around like Goose and Hughes.
- Queenie_5_hole

I'm not sure, I'm thinking that he might be but it's hard to tell. They are both 7th defensemen at best.

Last night we got some big stops from Blackwood, for sure. But in zone coverage was better, but not perfect. Very much a work in progress, but it's nice to see improvements.

I agree with Manny. These should absolutely be the lines. At the end of the day.. GOOD FOR ZACHA! He's no world-beater, but he's taken another step forward, and is worth the minutes he gets. Good to see him getting useful 2nd line minutes instead of 4th line C. Swap Gusev and Bratt as needed, but I don't think anything else needs to be adjusted. It makes too much sense to keep Hughes with Hall and put Nico and Zajac with the less defensive wings.

Hall - Hughes - Palmieri
Zacha - Nico - Gusev
Boqvist - Zajac - Bratt
Wood - Coleman - Simmonds

I get the feeling the Devils are in on Scandella. The team can't hold leads - they want a guy who does it better than what they have now.

It's not going to be with Sheary for Hall, that's ridiculous. If Mark Stone got Ottawa Brannstrom, NJ isn't getting two roster players.

I have no idea who'd be bait on the Devils, but if it's a Henrique for Vatanen type of swap, then it might cost the Devils a forward the fans won't like departing with.

I'm not sure, I'm thinking that he might be but it's hard to tell. They are both 7th defensemen at best.

Last night we got some big stops from Blackwood, for sure. But in zone coverage was better, but not perfect. Very much a work in progress, but it's nice to see improvements.
- Pomegrant

You'd think considering Greene, PK, Vats, Severson and Butcher are legit guys we wouldn't have a problem filling a good third pairing guy; but here we are.

I have to think Ray could swing a trade for a really solid third pairing guy without it costing too much.

You'd think considering Greene, PK, Vats, Severson and Butcher are legit guys we wouldn't have a problem filling a good third pairing guy; but here we are.

I have to think Ray could swing a trade for a really solid third pairing guy without it costing too much.
- Queenie_5_hole

Yeah, it's just tough. Our top 4 defense is solid, but we don't have one of those guys who can play 25 minutes a night so our bottom pair is going to get real minutes and unfortunately our worst guy doesn't do us favors. Something needs to be done.