Roger Mussa: Game 1 - First impressions

Love Zajac, but he can't be out there in OT. Not sure how Zajac got two shifts in OT and Gusev 0. I thought Ty Smith looked out of place. Other than his goal he had bad turn overs in our zone that were simple plays. He took a shot on blackwood last night. I thought he was shaky, but only game 1. He has the talent and I hope the devils stick with him all season so he can get these nerves out of the way. Murray excites me. He is something we have not had in a long time. I just thought he was perfect last night. With his positioning, passing, he held the point. I am really excited about him and hope he stays healthy.

Love Zajac, but he can't be out there in OT. Not sure how Zajac got two shifts in OT and Gusev 0. I thought Ty Smith looked out of place. Other than his goal he had bad turn overs in our zone that were simple plays. He took a shot on blackwood last night. I thought he was shaky, but only game 1. He has the talent and I hope the devils stick with him all season so he can get these nerves out of the way. Murray excites me. He is something we have not had in a long time. I just thought he was perfect last night. With his positioning, passing, he held the point. I am really excited about him and hope he stays healthy.
- Htowntigers89

Zajac almost had that rebound when he crashed the net in OT off Hughes' rush.

Smith looked out of place but heads up and some confidence. That I liked.

Murray, also standing up to his teammates, looked fine.

Zajac was out there because GUSEV had a terrible game ....
You have to defend also....Yes even in OT .

Shak ,Hughes, Boquist ,Kulikov looked very good....

Smith got a goal but everytime him and Tennyson got on the ice we were pinned in our zone.

Need Nico , Bratt and Vats in... that will help....
Kuonnenen , and Tennyson go out .
WHOM ELSE??? BASTIAN OR MCLEOD??? NEED BOTH ...

Trade Butcher..... please......

Boquist -Nico -Johnsson
Bratt -Zacha - Gusev
Shak- Hughes- Palmieri
Wood -Zajac - Bastain/Mcleod
----
Murray-PK
Kulikov -Severson
Smith -Vats

Granted I only watched the first 2 periods and then caught the highlights this morning (living in the UK and having early morning meetings isn't best for staying up)

I thought kouk looked out of place

There were times early on that Smith looked a littler nervous and hesitant but seemed to get better

Hughes will improve but want to see more from him, didn't seem to generate much other than a couple chances

Palms I thought was invisible other than his turnover that lead to the first goal

Wood is well wood

Special teams were a disaster

C'mon Roger, you didn't address the talking points this comments section yearns to hear. For all future articles please make sure to mention:
1. Jack Hughes is a bust
2. Pavel Zacha should be a 4th line center at best
3. Ownership is cheap refuses to bring in seasoned veterans to make this a winning franchise
4. Lindsey Vonn & Instagram ruined PK Subban
5. Nico is a 3rd line center on every other franchise roster
6. Ty Smith will be lucky to be a 3rd line Dman
7. Ruff better put Gusev/Bratt/Zacha on the same line!

Appreciate you just getting these points out of the way to start every article so they aren't labored over in the comments section.

How did Johnsson look to yawl?

Trade Butcher..... please......

Boquist -Nico -Johnsson
Bratt -Zacha - Gusev
Shak- Hughes- Palmieri
Wood -Zajac - Bastain/Mcleod
----
Murray-PK
Kulikov -Severson
Smith -Vats
- thechezman

Trade Jack, Butcher, 1st to CBJ for PLD

How did Johnsson look to yawl?
- HenryHockey

Not impressive. Mostly I was surprised how much he got pushed around. I don't know him from before but thought he was supposed to be like Blake Coleman.

But it's one game and playing the big bad bruins to start the season probably isn't the best way to evaluation people.

Zajac was out there because GUSEV had a terrible game ....
You have to defend also....Yes even in OT .

Shak ,Hughes, Boquist ,Kulikov looked very good....

Smith got a goal but everytime him and Tennyson got on the ice we were pinned in our zone.

Need Nico , Bratt and Vats in... that will help....
Kuonnenen , and Tennyson go out .
WHOM ELSE??? BASTIAN OR MCLEOD??? NEED BOTH ...

Trade Butcher..... please......

Boquist -Nico -Johnsson
Bratt -Zacha - Gusev
Shak- Hughes- Palmieri
Wood -Zajac - Bastain/Mcleod
----
Murray-PK
Kulikov -Severson
Smith -Vats
- thechezman

I didn't think Tennyson was that terrible but Ty Smith needs a strong partner. Vats has his issues but he's a pretty good player. So I'm feeling a little optimistic about the defense since Kulikov and Murray looked good.

I didn't think Tennyson was that terrible but Ty Smith needs a strong partner. Vats has his issues but he's a pretty good player. So I'm feeling a little optimistic about the defense since Kulikov and Murray looked good.
- Queenie_5_hole

I would like to see Butcher replace Kulikov and Vats replace Tennyson. I believe Ty could be a better version of Butcher, but he needs some time to acclimate. Trade bait one day?

Any word on Bratt/Vats visa?????

Not necessarily a massive takeaway from last night, but something I'd like to get others opinion on: Jack Hughes in the shootout.

I totally understand his style, the way he manipulates his stick and edges to make those type of attempts work (in the past and just generally speaking as well), but I feel he needs somebody to tell him that he needs to become the closer of our team and make it a priority to become that in the shootout.

He now has 10 attempts (scoring on 2) in the shootout over 62 games played. Obviously you have to get to the shootout (and be picked) to have an attempt but that's an awful lot in that short of a sample size and it goes to show how many attempts he is going to get throughout his career.

I'm not going to be somebody who pretends to know better than Hughes on what to do, but last year he put together some pretty bad attempts and last night wasn't any better. Guys like Zach and Kovy (granted two GREATS when it comes to the shootout, but still Jack is a #1 pick) took it very serious and developed an arsenal of moves that worked and could be rotated depending on what the goalie is doing.

Hopefully Hughes can take a note out of their book considering the extra point is going to be on his stick alot more than other players throughout his career.

Put up <20 shots in regulation, Blackwood looked elite, sounds just like last seasons games.

Not necessarily a massive takeaway from last night, but something I'd like to get others opinion on: Jack Hughes in the shootout.

I totally understand his style, the way he manipulates his stick and edges to make those type of attempts work (in the past and just generally speaking as well), but I feel he needs somebody to tell him that he needs to become the closer of our team and make it a priority to become that in the shootout.

He now has 10 attempts (scoring on 2) in the shootout over 62 games played. Obviously you have to get to the shootout (and be picked) to have an attempt but that's an awful lot in that short of a sample size and it goes to show how many attempts he is going to get throughout his career.

I'm not going to be somebody who pretends to know better than Hughes on what to do, but last year he put together some pretty bad attempts and last night wasn't any better. Guys like Zach and Kovy (granted two GREATS when it comes to the shootout, but still Jack is a #1 pick) took it very serious and developed an arsenal of moves that worked and could be rotated depending on what the goalie is doing.

Hopefully Hughes can take a note out of their book considering the extra point is going to be on his stick alot more than other players throughout his career.
- SteveJ123

I think you have a very valid point, one that is applicable to a number of young Devs, but Jack in particular.

tedenby reference makes me feel ill....

Put up <20 shots in regulation, Blackwood looked elite, sounds just like last seasons games.
- rmdevil313

Sounds like games since 2014.

How did Johnsson look to yawl?
- HenryHockey

Eh, he was pushed around. Fast but wasn't able to translate his speed onto the ice.

Not necessarily a massive takeaway from last night, but something I'd like to get others opinion on: Jack Hughes in the shootout.

I totally understand his style, the way he manipulates his stick and edges to make those type of attempts work (in the past and just generally speaking as well), but I feel he needs somebody to tell him that he needs to become the closer of our team and make it a priority to become that in the shootout.

He now has 10 attempts (scoring on 2) in the shootout over 62 games played. Obviously you have to get to the shootout (and be picked) to have an attempt but that's an awful lot in that short of a sample size and it goes to show how many attempts he is going to get throughout his career.

I'm not going to be somebody who pretends to know better than Hughes on what to do, but last year he put together some pretty bad attempts and last night wasn't any better. Guys like Zach and Kovy (granted two GREATS when it comes to the shootout, but still Jack is a #1 pick) took it very serious and developed an arsenal of moves that worked and could be rotated depending on what the goalie is doing.

Hopefully Hughes can take a note out of their book considering the extra point is going to be on his stick alot more than other players throughout his career.
- SteveJ123

The shootout was 110% horrible - everyone

Trade Jack, Butcher, 1st to CBJ for PLD

- HenryHockey

Take out Jack and you got a deal.

C'mon Roger, you didn't address the talking points this comments section yearns to hear. For all future articles please make sure to mention:
1. Jack Hughes is a bust
2. Pavel Zacha should be a 4th line center at best
3. Ownership is cheap refuses to bring in seasoned veterans to make this a winning franchise
4. Lindsey Vonn & Instagram ruined PK Subban
5. Nico is a 3rd line center on every other franchise roster
6. Ty Smith will be lucky to be a 3rd line Dman
7. Ruff better put Gusev/Bratt/Zacha on the same line!

Appreciate you just getting these points out of the way to start every article so they aren't labored over in the comments section.
- ShoresideDevil

Guess we’re moving to Quebec.

Sounds like games since 2014.
- Pomegrant

I'm really excited for the afternoon game. Gets the loss out of the way early.