Sam Woo: Devils' Special Teams Will Be Key To Success

Sam Woo: Devils' Special Teams Will Be Key To Success
- SamuelPWoo

This is why I was critical of Ruff. Coaching can have the strongest influence on special teams, and simply getting the guys to prove that they care about winning. With us being bottom 5 in PK, PP, hitting, shot blocking and fighting, I felt Ruff could have done a much better job impacting those glaring weaknesses. Ruff should have a very short leash going into this season. I don't care that this team lacked depth and high end talent, you can still block shots and show some discontent when losing and we simply didn't.

Now that we have added some absolute cannons on the back-end with Graves and Hamilton, we should see a more potent power play I hope. It should also be safe to assume that one of our many high end prospects should have a great rookie season. Whether that is Holtz, Mercer, Foote, is yet to be determined, but along with a healthy Hischier and newly acquired Tatar, we really don't have any excuses this season.

This is why I was critical of Ruff. Coaching can have the strongest influence on special teams, and simply getting the guys to prove that they care about winning. With us being bottom 5 in PK, PP, hitting, shot blocking and fighting, I felt Ruff could have done a much better job impacting those glaring weaknesses. Ruff should have a very short leash going into this season. I don't care that this team lacked depth and high end talent, you can still block shots and show some discontent when losing and we simply didn't.

Now that we have added some absolute cannons on the back-end with Graves and Hamilton, we should see a more potent power play I hope. It should also be safe to assume that one of our many high end prospects should have a great rookie season. Whether that is Holtz, Mercer, Foote, is yet to be determined, but along with a healthy Hischier and newly acquired Tatar, we really don't have any excuses this season.
- bikeguy99

I think it's mainly the assistant coaches that handle the special teams and also last year due to Covid and new coaches there was less time to practice and during the season they played almost everyday it seemed with few practices

Will be interesting this year with time to practice and also with more offensive weapons

This is why I was critical of Ruff. Coaching can have the strongest influence on special teams, and simply getting the guys to prove that they care about winning. With us being bottom 5 in PK, PP, hitting, shot blocking and fighting, I felt Ruff could have done a much better job impacting those glaring weaknesses. Ruff should have a very short leash going into this season. I don't care that this team lacked depth and high end talent, you can still block shots and show some discontent when losing and we simply didn't.

Now that we have added some absolute cannons on the back-end with Graves and Hamilton, we should see a more potent power play I hope. It should also be safe to assume that one of our many high end prospects should have a great rookie season. Whether that is Holtz, Mercer, Foote, is yet to be determined, but along with a healthy Hischier and newly acquired Tatar, we really don't have any excuses this season.
- bikeguy99

very well said

I'd like to see them featuring Yegor's shot a bit more. Maybe even establish him in Ovechkin's office. That kid has a heavy shot and he gets it off quickly and accurately. I think with Hamilton, Smith, PK, and Graves on the point we've got that covered but with teams all collapsing into the crease if you're relying on point shots for PP goals, you're in a bad spot.

I think it's mainly the assistant coaches that handle the special teams and also last year due to Covid and new coaches there was less time to practice and during the season they played almost everyday it seemed with few practices

Will be interesting this year with time to practice and also with more offensive weapons
- dmarsden2988

Covid, contracts, delays/ no practices all played a part in any progress all season especially the beginning of the season. I still don't believe that Nasreddine should be running our D. he has proven that over and over and my prediction is that he will be gone by years end.
What has been and still is a fear is our toughness. Many games last year if not all, the team did not look angry when losing or even ready to stand up for each other . That needs to change.

There will be no success


DOOMED

Woooooo!!! Two tiny paragraphs on the devils special teams... you are an atrocious blogger. No wonder you’re trolled as often as you’re.... you are atrocious Sam Woo, holy frank!!!

There will be no success


DOOMED
- shvingter88

we're never going to win a game ever again.

we're never going to win a game ever again.
- Pomegrant

Might win a couple... definitely never see a reputable blog though.

I think it's mainly the assistant coaches that handle the special teams and also last year due to Covid and new coaches there was less time to practice and during the season they played almost everyday it seemed with few practices

Will be interesting this year with time to practice and also with more offensive weapons
- dmarsden2988

So what can Ruff be held accountable for? If we put out another soulless performance can we blame the equipment managers? Ruff has ultimate say, and control, and the team lacked motivation. I am not saying we deserved more points, but we could have made teams earn their points the hard way. Anaheim and Ottawa were two teams that went down swinging, and I respected that far more than the product we put on the ice. Bastian and Palms were two of our most physical players, and they are no longer with the club. Hopefully Ruff turns it around, but I want to see discontent in our losses, and major improvements on special teams.

I'd like to see them featuring Yegor's shot a bit more. Maybe even establish him in Ovechkin's office. That kid has a heavy shot and he gets it off quickly and accurately. I think with Hamilton, Smith, PK, and Graves on the point we've got that covered but with teams all collapsing into the crease if you're relying on point shots for PP goals, you're in a bad spot.
- WayneZ

I agree. Yegor is the top sniper following Palms departure, and with the additions on D, we should have a well spread out shooting threat to keep the opposition guessing.

Recollecting that Recchi is still coaching our PP 😭