Roger Mussa: Holtz officially a Devil!

Party time!!!

Who?

Who?
- ChrisMS

You’re on the Internet. Do some research you ignorant troll.

Very excited to accelerate the demise of our bust.

Is Drouin considered a bust?

Who? - ChrisMS

Can’t be that exciting of a prospect if no one has heard of him.

Very excited to accelerate the demise of our bust.
- shvingter88

at least he's with the 5-10-6 Bing Devils.. who's leading scorer was Foote and isn't there anymore lol. But at least he'll face weaker competition than the train wreck up here. Definitely the best route I think with the AHL.

Thompson was sent down to Bingo today, per the AHL transaction wire, so maybe he centers Holtz. If they don't plan on having Thompson play center then i hope we send Boqvist down to center Holtz, because there's not much center talent down there

Throw out a line of Greer-Boqvist/Thompson-Holtz to start. And I assume Foote goes back down after a couple more games so he doesn't burn an ELC year, so throw Foote on the left wing on that line when hes back there

Is Drouin considered a bust?
- Leniwm1

hmmmmm good question.

Id say he hasn't lived up to his lofty expectations.
Bust, I don't think is the case.

at least he's with the 5-10-6 Bing Devils.. who's leading scorer was Foote and isn't there anymore lol. But at least he'll face weaker competition than the train wreck up here. Definitely the best route I think with the AHL.
- MartysBetter88

100%

at least he's with the 5-10-6 Bing Devils.. who's leading scorer was Foote and isn't there anymore lol. But at least he'll face weaker competition than the train wreck up here. Definitely the best route I think with the AHL.
- MartysBetter88

Can't believe the Devils are leaving the Bing after this season. Sounds like they might partner with Utica.

The Devils AHL team has now been in Utica, Albany (twice?), Lowell, and the Bing. Wish we could get them to play somewhere closer.

Holtz disappointed me at the last world juniors tournament. Of all the Top 10 players that attended from last years draft, he was the least impressive. You can't judge a player solely on a single tournament but, he then went back to Djurgårdens and posted a mere 7 goals and 18 points in 40 games, which isn't exactly stellar. Hopefully it is just growing pains and he can bring that elite level shot he is lauded for to give Nico/Jack a sniper to feed. With our luck, he'll turn out to be the next Bergfors or Tedenby.

I thought both Mercer and Mukhamadullin were more noticeable and effective in that particular tournament.

You’re on the Internet. Do some research you ignorant troll.
- Queenie_5_hole

Haha. I guess it has been that kind of season....

I thought both Mercer and Mukhamadullin were more noticeable and effective in that particular tournament.
- WayneZ

Shak led the Russians in TOI and looked very good throughout. Hopefully missing the bulk of this season didn't set back his development too much.

Mercer played a heavily sheltered role, often the 13th forward for Canada. Despite that, he put up great numbers and played mistake free hockey. It would have been nice to see him play even more, but that roster was crowded.

Holtz played good, but not great for Sweden in the world Juniors. Mind you, it was only 5 games. It is somewhat concerning that his stats have not elevated one bit in his second full season in the SHL, so lets hope bringing him to the smaller ice surface, with an intense schedule and tempo is the boost he needs to better understand what it will take to be an impact player over here. I am not writing him off at all, but he needs a major shakeup in his hockey life and hopefully this is it.

Holtz disappointed me at the last world juniors tournament. Of all the Top 10 players that attended from last years draft, he was the least impressive. You can't judge a player solely on a single tournament but, he then went back to Djurgårdens and posted a mere 7 goals and 18 points in 40 games, which isn't exactly stellar. Hopefully it is just growing pains and he can bring that elite level shot he is lauded for to give Nico/Jack a sniper to feed. With our luck, he'll turn out to be the next Bergfors or Tedenby.
- WayneZ

He was playing in a man's league and wasn't given the minutes or teammates to succeed with. And in a team that apparently isn't one of the better teams in the SHL.

When he was playing with good line mates he produced. The SHL isn't a high scoring league

We will see how he plays and adjusts to a smaller rink

Shak led the Russians in TOI and looked very good throughout. Hopefully missing the bulk of this season didn't set back his development too much.

Mercer played a heavily sheltered role, often the 13th forward for Canada. Despite that, he put up great numbers and played mistake free hockey. It would have been nice to see him play even more, but that roster was crowded.

Holtz played good, but not great for Sweden in the world Juniors. Mind you, it was only 5 games. It is somewhat concerning that his stats have not elevated one bit in his second full season in the SHL, so lets hope bringing him to the smaller ice surface, with an intense schedule and tempo is the boost he needs to better understand what it will take to be an impact player over here. I am not writing him off at all, but he needs a major shakeup in his hockey life and hopefully this is it.
- bikeguy99

Pavel Zacha put up 5 goals in 5 games at the WJC-18! Just saying for whatever that's worth; which is likely nothing.

I think we just need to give Holtz some time to adjust to North American hockey and let him develop. The counting stats from other leagues is not particularly reliable and he has some great skills. I just hope the Devils don't rush him into NHL action.

Can't believe the Devils are leaving the Bing after this season. Sounds like they might partner with Utica.

The Devils AHL team has now been in Utica, Albany (twice?), Lowell, and the Bing. Wish we could get them to play somewhere closer.
- Queenie_5_hole

I think this is our second go around with Utica, weren't we affiliated with them in the late 80's early 90's?

Pavel Zacha put up 5 goals in 5 games at the WJC-18! Just saying for whatever that's worth; which is likely nothing.

I think we just need to give Holtz some time to adjust to North American hockey and let him develop. The counting stats from other leagues is not particularly reliable and he has some great skills. I just hope the Devils don't rush him into NHL action.
- Queenie_5_hole

Exactly. I'd put more thought into his complete season with his actual team vs a quick WJC tournament. It would have been nice to see more from Holtz, but it is what it is.

As for Zacha, that was the U18 tournament not the U20. The U20 WJC he did his usual 1 point in 3 games. He was also the only OHL'r to go in the first round of the draft with a ppg below 1 (including defense).... I've said it several times, he has never been an offensive threat. Not his fault we drafted him at 6th. This was a "my-bad" made by the scouting department who saw a guy who looked physically NHL ready and had a great IQ for the game.

I'm certainly not writing off a prospect that hasn't had a single AHL/NHL level practice. As an organization though NJ has a terrible track record of both drafting and developing players, so it is concerning to not see him shining in the SHL or the juniors. More often that not we're dragging ill prepared children into the league and doing significant damage to their growth, as was the case with Hughes in his rookie season. Kid had no right to be playing in the NHL. Hopefully they don't do the same to Holtz.

Holtz disappointed me at the last world juniors tournament. Of all the Top 10 players that attended from last years draft, he was the least impressive. You can't judge a player solely on a single tournament but, he then went back to Djurgårdens and posted a mere 7 goals and 18 points in 40 games, which isn't exactly stellar. Hopefully it is just growing pains and he can bring that elite level shot he is lauded for to give Nico/Jack a sniper to feed. With our luck, he'll turn out to be the next Bergfors or Tedenby.
- WayneZ

You do know he was hurt at the WJC right? He was playing through a back injury. Thats why he missed some time after returning to Djurgardens after the tournament

He didn't put up points the 2nd half of the season because their coach is horrible. He started to slump after he returned from his injury, also due to the fact that his center got hurt, so the coach dropped him to the 4th line playing with guys who had a combined 2 points at the time and his ice time dropped significantly. Instead of letting him battle through it and get out of the slump, they put him in a position to continue to fail. Thats the worst way to handle it. And that lasted until the end of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs where he played like 4 minutes. Then when Djurgardens back was against the wall the coach put him back into a top 6 role for the final 2 games and Holtz led the team in points in the playoffs

Essentially the same thing happened to Dominic Bokk, pretty highly touted Canes prospect. He was loaned to Djurgarden when the season started and he was invisible. The canes ripped him out of there to go play in the AHL and hes been much better since getting out of there

I don't know how true it is but, I hear younger aged players in that league don't get near as much veteran players ( that part I believe is true anywhere ) and combine that with his line mates getting hurt in the beginning of the year when he was off to a good start. then was thrown on to the 4th line after that. Now if he is the player I hope he is why wasn't he good enough to force his way to more playing time and better line mates or elevate his other line mates is odd to me. only time will tell, finger crossed.

Ty Smith wont play tonight, hes day to day with an upper body injury. Butcher goes in for him.

Blackwood is also out tonight with an upper body injury sustained in the Rangers game

Both Zacha and Bratt joined morning skate late, but wont play tonight

Ty Smith wont play tonight, hes day to day with an upper body injury. Butcher goes in for him.

Blackwood is also out tonight with an upper body injury sustained in the Rangers game

Both Zacha and Bratt joined morning skate late, but wont play tonight
- vlongo4419

Lord help us... or at least the hockey gods...