I'm cool with it, I enjoy goals.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I enjoy goals for....

I appreciated the viewpoint on the goals against but lets be honest here. The things pointed are the difference to winning and losing. A misplayed puck in the corner is because of pressure from the opponent. Nash pressured the puck to be misplayed, it wasn't an unforced error where he just idiotically threw it out to the Ranger pointman. And Mueller isn't the worst offensive player on the team. He was signed and brought in specifically for his ability on the powerplay. Yes the Devils had pretty good coverage on that goal but the lateral pass that was made was better. It was also on the powerplay and that means someone had to cover 2 options. The lateral pass was one option but he also needed to defend against the pass to the top of the umbrella which would have also yielded a good shot from the high slot/point. The OT goal was scored because Kreider's size and speed dictates the opponent to generally back up a bit or double team him. The coverage was made to play Kreider's potential scoring threat. Kreider just happened to make an even better play to fool the Devils by making a brilliant drop pass after recognizing the double teaming. To think all 3 goals shouldn't have happened, well thats basically saying if teams played flawlessly, there should never be any goals. The 3 goals were scored not by flukes, but by a combination of defensive errors usually caused by pressure and by offensive plays that were better than the defensive ones. That pretty much is how hockey works...

And just to add to that, Hockey dynamics is created in way so that scoring possible and probable. Thats why there are 3 forwards and 2 defenseman. When teams play lights out, they are beating the odds against them.

I appreciated the viewpoint on the goals against but lets be honest here. The things pointed are the difference to winning and losing. A misplayed puck in the corner is because of pressure from the opponent. Nash pressured the puck to be misplayed, it wasn't an unforced error where he just idiotically threw it out to the Ranger pointman. And Mueller isn't the worst offensive player on the team. He was signed and brought in specifically for his ability on the powerplay. Yes the Devils had pretty good coverage on that goal but the lateral pass that was made was better. It was also on the powerplay and that means someone had to cover 2 options. The lateral pass was one option but he also needed to defend against the pass to the top of the umbrella which would have also yielded a good shot from the high slot/point. The OT goal was scored because Kreider's size and speed dictates the opponent to generally back up a bit or double team him. The coverage was made to play Kreider's potential scoring threat. Kreider just happened to make an even better play to fool the Devils by making a brilliant drop pass after recognizing the double teaming. To think all 3 goals shouldn't have happened, well thats basically saying if teams played flawlessly, there should never be any goals. The 3 goals were scored not by flukes, but by a combination of defensive errors usually caused by pressure and by offensive plays that were better than the defensive ones. That pretty much is how hockey works...

And just to add to that, Hockey dynamics is created in way so that scoring possible and probable. Thats why there are 3 forwards and 2 defenseman. When teams play lights out, they are beating the odds against them.
- xcheckmajor

I'm sorry but zidlicky's turnover was really bad. All he had to do was chip it up the boards but he second guessed himself and tried to get cute and got burned. You cannot make those type of plays when we are up by 1 goal

I appreciated the viewpoint on the goals against but lets be honest here. The things pointed are the difference to winning and losing. A misplayed puck in the corner is because of pressure from the opponent. Nash pressured the puck to be misplayed, it wasn't an unforced error where he just idiotically threw it out to the Ranger pointman. And Mueller isn't the worst offensive player on the team. He was signed and brought in specifically for his ability on the powerplay. Yes the Devils had pretty good coverage on that goal but the lateral pass that was made was better. It was also on the powerplay and that means someone had to cover 2 options. The lateral pass was one option but he also needed to defend against the pass to the top of the umbrella which would have also yielded a good shot from the high slot/point. The OT goal was scored because Kreider's size and speed dictates the opponent to generally back up a bit or double team him. The coverage was made to play Kreider's potential scoring threat. Kreider just happened to make an even better play to fool the Devils by making a brilliant drop pass after recognizing the double teaming. To think all 3 goals shouldn't have happened, well thats basically saying if teams played flawlessly, there should never be any goals. The 3 goals were scored not by flukes, but by a combination of defensive errors usually caused by pressure and by offensive plays that were better than the defensive ones. That pretty much is how hockey works...

And just to add to that, Hockey dynamics is created in way so that scoring possible and probable. Thats why there are 3 forwards and 2 defenseman. When teams play lights out, they are beating the odds against them.
- xcheckmajor

3 offensive players: left wing, center, right wing
3 defensive players: left defenseman, right defenseman, goaltender

I'm sorry but zidlicky's turnover was really bad. All he had to do was chip it up the boards but he second guessed himself and tried to get cute and got burned. You cannot make those type of plays when we are up by 1 goal
- BDizzlez

The rangers speed causes those types of situations a lot. A player thinks they have more time thanthey really do to make a play.

We are not a Playoff Team. We are what our record says...a .500 team.
- Crushers68

actually, we're on a 95 point pace, which should equal a playoff birth.

The rangers speed causes those types of situations a lot. A player thinks they have more time thanthey really do to make a play.
- rangerdanger94

or it was Zidlicky being Zidlicky. I know you love your mighty morphin power rangers, but that was typical Zidlicky.

Feeling provacative today so food for thought-

Deboer has been behind the bench for six years now, and made the playoffs once. That year, he had Parise on one wing and Kovalchuk on the other. Additionally, a lot of notable prospects have crashed and burned under his tutelage. Begin butthurt.
- TheJerseyDevil1

I love how you phrase this to make anyone who disagrees with you seem irrational.

Perhaps signing Martin wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Martin-Larsson would be a steady pairing, theoretically.. and have Merrill-Gelinas.
Unless we wana go with Helgeson or Santini?

Oh how I wish we could've dumped both pylons and kept why was a very steady dman in Fayne. Imagine our D minus Salvador and with Fayne. I bet we have another 2 points.

Perhaps signing Martin wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Martin-Larsson would be a steady pairing, theoretically.. and have Merrill-Gelinas.
Unless we wana go with Helgeson or Santini?

Oh how I wish we could've dumped both pylons and kept why was a very steady dman in Fayne. Imagine our D minus Salvador and with Fayne. I bet we have another 2 points.
- MartysBetter88

Martin isn't coming back but oduya is

Martin isn't coming back but oduya is
- shvingter88

And if he replaced Sal I would be ecstatic.

I love how you phrase this to make anyone who disagrees with you seem irrational.
- CaptCrankypants

You must just be butthurt. He said so after all.

I've only been writing here for a few years and it's not like it says my name at the start of the article haha
- Todd.Cordell

Shut up Tucker

Shut up Tucker
- bobert836

Yeah Toad, c'mon now

Martin isn't coming back but oduya is
- shvingter88

I agree. I heard he wants to go to l.a

Minnesota's Coyle extension will be a steal in a year or two. Reminds me of McDonagh's retarded decision to sign away his prime at half his value.

Why do all the teams I hate get their players so cheap?

Minnesota's Coyle extension will be a steal in a year or two. Reminds me of McDonagh's retarded decision to sign away his prime at half his value.

Why do all the teams I hate get their players so cheap?
- TheJerseyDevil1

With our luck Severson will ask for the moon on his deal. How about a Larsson for Baertschi trade ? They where both drafted in 2011 and both have failed to stay in the line ups. I think it would be good for both teams and both players to get a change of scenery and Sven can play all year in Albany with Boucher and Matteau where as Larsson would have to clear waivers to be sent down.

With our luck Severson will ask for the moon on his deal. How about a Larsson for Baertschi trade ? They where both drafted in 2011 and both have failed to stay in the line ups. I think it would be good for both teams and both players to get a change of scenery and Sven can play all year in Albany with Boucher and Matteau where as Larsson would have to clear waivers to be sent down.
- blizzzard

Here is my Larsson trade proposal. Larsson and Merril for Hall. I can dream right? On a more serious note Sven is about the type of guy we can get for Larsson now thanks to killing his value.

Here is my Larsson trade proposal. Larsson and Merril for Hall. I can dream right? On a more serious note Sven is about the type of guy we can get for Larsson now thanks to killing his value.
- NickA

He still could be a hell of a player and we will have a bigger need for a guy to step in and play big minutes up front in a year or two a lot more then we will on the back end. I would also say that with Bennett and Monahan and johnny hockey and arnold and who ever else they stock up with in this years draft and if that one kid they went way off the board for a few years back that they can afford to part with a forward prospect in return for a defense man who could still be a heck of a player.

Here is my Larsson trade proposal. Larsson and Merril for Hall. I can dream right? On a more serious note Sven is about the type of guy we can get for Larsson now thanks to killing his value.
- NickA

lol yea def dreaming with the Hall proposal he won't be going anywhere. They do have Nurse and Klefbom coming up and one other guy I can't think of so I think they need that young #1-2 guy now not a potential #1-2 guy. What makes the most sense would be for the Oilers and Coyotes to get together on a trade. Something like Eberle for Yandle

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ponds_to_his_critics.html

One thing I always notice about good teams in the NHL is their ability to consistently make tape to tape passes. It is something I saw a lot of in the first three games this season that I haven't noticed as much in these past three. These past few games there were a lot of passes into the feet or one or two strides out of the players reach which halts any momentum that is developing.

Cammi, Zajac, Jagr, Elias, Havlat, Henrique, Clowe, Severson, Merrill, Greene, even Larsson (most of the time) seem to pass the puck proficiently. The rest of the team could use some work.

I wonder if having someone like Severson come in that is comfortable making dynamic passes in tight spots, makes other players which are not as skilled (Zid) think they can get away with those type of plays. "Hey if a 20 year old kid can do it".... oops.

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ponds_to_his_critics.html
- TheJerseyDevil1

“I think we pride ourselves here on playing the guys that we feel can help us win, regardless of their birth certificate or age,” DeBoer said. “Coaches at this level, that’s what we do. We’re not opposed to playing young guys, as you can see by (Adam) Henrique and (Damon) Severson and some of the guys that have come in.

Keep telling yourself that Petey eventually someone will believe you... Right?

What a complete joke this guy is you don't need a physical presence on the pk you need guys who are positionally sound which Salvador is the furthest from it. No Devils fan anywhere cares about wtf Sal says in the room the guy is a hack and shouldn't be played.Henrique has been in the league almost 5 years so I mean he might be young but he isn't some guy who doesn't know how things work. Also veteran presence Sorry what about the other 90% of the team? They don't bring that? I mean they are all over 30 I would hope they bring that. Bottom line his if your a fan you don't understand and that's ok because that's why the coaches are here.....

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ponds_to_his_critics.html
- TheJerseyDevil1

I am getting tired of hearing the "Veteran presence" bit. Sure Veteran presence but, half of the D? Greene, Zid, Sal - that's half. Half is not a presence it's half, as in 50%.

Sounds like Pete is not all that impressed with his comments though. "He is doing his best" basically is saying yeah I know he sucks.

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ponds_to_his_critics.html
- TheJerseyDevil1

I think Sal playing is a decision that comes from Lou. Everytime DeBoer is asked about Sal he brings up poop like intangibles, character, "he's our captain", etc. Never talks about his actual play.