It will be nice to have a coach that believes in DW's "meritocracy" philosophy, and will not be afraid to healthy-scratch an under working veteran. Nothing gets a veteran's head on straight better than watching from the press-box. I'm also hoping he's not afraid to bag-skate the team after a dismal showing vs a bottom-feeder.

I think there could be a deal had with San Jose and Ottawa with Anderson or Lehner landing with them.

If a bigger deal was made then names like Hoffman, Cowen (fit the defensive depth), and Zibanejad (if a big forward came back)
- AlfieisKing

Alright, alright... You push a hard bargain but here we go...

It's gonna be Craig Anderson, Eric Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson's ghost, and all the burnt Heatley jersies you can find in Ottawa for Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl.

I'm glad we could work out a deal.

No way, got our shootout specialist in Donskoi, Hertl will only get better, now in his second season post - surgery. I would like to see no 1st round pick trades for 5 yrs. Oshie is a total no-show in the playoffs. There may be a trade for a top 4 d, but I'm thinking Johnny Oduya signing more likely. Add in DeMelo on the Cuda shuttle & D is good to go. Braun will bounce back this yr imho, and Irwin will probably be re-signed, & hope will be he plays like he finished the season.
- Sharx1

Oduya no way man, old & will only be declining not worth it in my opinion. I sure hope Irwin doesn't get resigned (frank) that. Don't be mesmerised by how he finished, we made that same mistake with Demers don't need to repeat it.

Trade for a top 4 defenseman is pretty tough to make that one happen, team usually aren't looking to trade top 4 defensemens unless it's a salary dump.

It's a fair trade with the Blues though just sayin.......you can hate on Oshie but he's a dam good player.

Don't you guys find it interesting that an OVERWHELMING amount of Devils followers (these guys know their hockey) can't stop talking about how tough this is going to be on our younger players?

Now with that question posed... DW has this big plan in his head, a plan that fans are buying into now that we missed the playoffs, that we are going to stay a young and developing team for at least two more seasons (based on current roster and DW's normal free agency scheme, which is "do nothing and like it, fans").

How can you guys be so excited and supportive of a coach and a GM who have track records that are two trains that didn't even leave the same station to begin with and are going in opposite directions?

Tim, I have liked your work here on this site because it wasn't always teal rainbows and butterflies, but you also weren't at all like the bitter and annoying Ryan Garner who could never give the Sharks the praise they deserved from 06-11. You have been an excellent balance of calling out faults in the team but also having reasonable insights and praising the team for certain things.

I want to know how you see this as a good fit for a young and developing team, when they hired a coach who's NUMBER 1 complaint from a fan-base as knowledgeable as New Jersey, is that he is just terrible with young and developing players? I don't just say "yeah he mismanaged Adam Larsson". There is way more to it than that and everyone here knows it.

DW is just lost and it is way past his time here in San Jose. Proof of this is the coach choice he made in a very deep coaching pool to choose from. Very frustrating times ahead with this guy at the helm of this team. Can't support it anymore, going to watch the games only on their terrible TV contract next season.
- mxgsfmdpx

You're just a hater bro........i think whoever was brought in as a coach you would've complained about................why don't we wait until he coaches some games before we start ripping on DeBoer.

He is Todd McLellan light, said that in the original thread...

This is just one example of what will frustrate us to no end for the next couple seasons.
- mxgsfmdpx

DeBoer can make in game adjustments which is a big plus, something we badly needed in a coach, that was always McLellan's problem & the Oilers will find that out soon enough & will drive them crazy.

You're just a hater bro........i think whoever was brought in as a coach you would've complained about................why don't we wait until he coaches some games before we start ripping on DeBoer.
- SJSharks39

Not just a hater. Just a realist, who's watched way too many Jersey games (best friend is a Devils fan who now lives here in the Bay).

I would have been happier with a few other coaches that were available, but PD certainly isn't the worst choice; just a very confusing one to me based on his track record and what DW's vision is for the team moving forward.

It will be nice to have a coach that believes in DW's "meritocracy" philosophy, and will not be afraid to healthy-scratch an under working veteran. Nothing gets a veteran's head on straight better than watching from the press-box. I'm also hoping he's not afraid to bag-skate the team after a dismal showing vs a bottom-feeder.
- Sharx1

No doubt........you hear that Marleau.

Not just a hater. Just a realist, who's watched way too many Jersey games (best friend is a Devils fan who now lives here in the Bay).

I would have been happier with a few other coaches that were available, but PD certainly isn't the worst choice; just a very confusing one to me based on his track record and what DW's vision is for the team moving forward.
- mxgsfmdpx

Well i'm sure they talked about the direction of the team with him............Wilson wouldn't have hired him. Also Robinson has worked with DeBoer & wouldn't have signed off on it if he was so bad for team.

Don't you guys find it interesting that an OVERWHELMING amount of Devils followers (these guys know their hockey) can't stop talking about how tough this is going to be on our younger players?

Now with that question posed... DW has this big plan in his head, a plan that fans are buying into now that we missed the playoffs, that we are going to stay a young and developing team for at least two more seasons (based on current roster and DW's normal free agency scheme, which is "do nothing and like it, fans").

How can you guys be so excited and supportive of a coach and a GM who have track records that are two trains that didn't even leave the same station to begin with and are going in opposite directions?

Tim, I have liked your work here on this site because it wasn't always teal rainbows and butterflies, but you also weren't at all like the bitter and annoying Ryan Garner who could never give the Sharks the praise they deserved from 06-11. You have been an excellent balance of calling out faults in the team but also having reasonable insights and praising the team for certain things.

I want to know how you see this as a good fit for a young and developing team, when they hired a coach who's NUMBER 1 complaint from a fan-base as knowledgeable as New Jersey, is that he is just terrible with young and developing players? I don't just say "yeah he mismanaged Adam Larsson". There is way more to it than that and everyone here knows it.

DW is just lost and it is way past his time here in San Jose. Proof of this is the coach choice he made in a very deep coaching pool to choose from. Very frustrating times ahead with this guy at the helm of this team. Can't support it anymore, going to watch the games only on their terrible TV contract next season.
- mxgsfmdpx

I'm with you that Wilson is past his time in San Jose, I've tried to fire him many times over the course of the season.

With DeBoer in New Jersey I think he was trying to make lemonade with a lemon. I think he thought the team was capable of more than they actually were and he got caught up trying to get the best out of that roster that he could by applying a solid possession system. I'm going to use Larsson so this doesn't turn into a book - and because I think he's the root behind the Gelinas misuse as well.

Sticking with the possession theory, in Larsson's rookie year, DeBoer's first in Jersey, he led the team in 5v5 TOI avg, was given positive zone starts and finished an average possession player on the team.

In 2012-2013 Adam Larsson was the 2nd worst possession defender on the team with a -7.56 CF%rel and he still played the 4th most 5v5 minutes on average. Probably contributing to his poor possession numbers was he was a 19 year old with a negative zone start relative to the team. It seems DeBoer thought it to be a good idea to give him an increased role.

In 2013-2014 DeBoer deployed Larsson in more favorable zone start scenarios and was rewarded with a great increase in his possession numbers - to the tune of second best on the team. His ice-time increased at 5v5 from 12/13 and he almost played as much as Bryce Salvador - who, yes, he should have been playing much more than - and finished 5th on the team in 5v5 avg TOI. A player that passed him in TOI that season was a 21 year old Jon Merrill.

So, to me, it seems like DeBoer's usage of Larsson in 2012-2013 soured him on the defender because he didn't hit his expectations and maybe he thought he was giving him too much, too soon. When he adjusted him for the next season he responded well, though he was still not getting the ice-time he should have been getting. I thin the Larsson situation for DeBoer rubbed off down to Gelinas and that's where his lack of trust in the young guys comes from.

Did he mismanage the two of them? Yeah, I think he did, but he also had his reasons that can be backed up by the full history of the players, more specifically Larsson. What will he do in San Jose with younger players? I think that's up to the younger players to prove to their new coach that they belong on the ice. DeBoer is a smart guy and he's a good coach, most of the comments I see about DeBoer from Jersey fans across the old interweb is that he can be frustrating but most still liked him overall.

Everybody 1pm pacific time DeBoer press conference be sure to watch if you can.

Don't you guys find it interesting that an OVERWHELMING amount of Devils followers (these guys know their hockey) can't stop talking about how tough this is going to be on our younger players?

Now with that question posed... DW has this big plan in his head, a plan that fans are buying into now that we missed the playoffs, that we are going to stay a young and developing team for at least two more seasons (based on current roster and DW's normal free agency scheme, which is "do nothing and like it, fans").

How can you guys be so excited and supportive of a coach and a GM who have track records that are two trains that didn't even leave the same station to begin with and are going in opposite directions?

Tim, I have liked your work here on this site because it wasn't always teal rainbows and butterflies, but you also weren't at all like the bitter and annoying Ryan Garner who could never give the Sharks the praise they deserved from 06-11. You have been an excellent balance of calling out faults in the team but also having reasonable insights and praising the team for certain things.

I want to know how you see this as a good fit for a young and developing team, when they hired a coach who's NUMBER 1 complaint from a fan-base as knowledgeable as New Jersey, is that he is just terrible with young and developing players? I don't just say "yeah he mismanaged Adam Larsson". There is way more to it than that and everyone here knows it.

DW is just lost and it is way past his time here in San Jose. Proof of this is the coach choice he made in a very deep coaching pool to choose from. Very frustrating times ahead with this guy at the helm of this team. Can't support it anymore, going to watch the games only on their terrible TV contract next season.
- mxgsfmdpx

In reality he was mixed with his young players. Henrique was trusted with the top line when Zajac went down with an Achilles injury. Merrill got lots of playing time when he arrived in the NHL. Gelinas has been great on the PP, but has struggled 5 vs 5 and his time did not increase when PDB was let go. The only real head scratcher was the way he handled Larsson who has flourished under Lou, Stevens and Oates. The real knock on PDB is he refuses to hold vets accountable. Salvador was terrible at the beginning of the year, yet Pete just kept handing him minutes, including a ton of time when others deserved it more.

Overall decent coach, who makes some questionable personnel decisions. You should like his system. As was mentioned in this article, the last time he had this much talent on a team he brought them all the way to a game 6 in a cup final. Jacques LeMaire couldn't have coached this pat years Devils roster to the playoffs.

In do not like this coaching hire for SJ.

DeBoer's personal decisions in NJ were mind boggling. He has his pets & if they go out & due what he asks, makes the effort he demands regardless of the results, they play win or lose. He doesn't let young players play. God forbid Torres is healthy next season or DeBoer will have him on 1 of the PP units all year standing in front of the net making virtually no contribution. See Bernier, Zajac, etc in NJ.

I thought SJ was transitioning to youth? This does not bode well for the likes of Hertl, Nieto, Karlsson, Tierny, Mueller or Goldobin. Now for Smith, Torres & Brown they are going to think they died & went to heaven.

The only thing I can say is thank God that SJ has Thornton, Marleau, Couture, Pavelski, Burns, Vlasic, Wingels & Braun as their numbers might actually increase as they will all play a ton. Although that may be tempered by the dull system DeBoer likes to play. Fancy stats are far from perfect. They have their value when extrapolated with other data but everyone likes to quote his possession stats but unless I am mistaken games are still decided by the team that scores the most goals.

In do not like this coaching hire for SJ.

DeBoer's personal decisions in NJ were mind boggling. He has his pets & if they go out & due what he asks, makes the effort he demands regardless of the results, they play win or lose. He doesn't let young players play. God forbid Torres is healthy next season or DeBoer will have him on 1 of the PP units all year standing in front of the net making virtually no contribution. See Bernier, Zajac, etc in NJ.

I thought SJ was transitioning to youth? This does not bode well for the likes of Hertl, Nieto, Karlsson, Tierny, Mueller or Goldobin. Now for Smith, Torres & Brown they are going to think they died & went to heaven.

The only thing I can say is thank God that SJ has Thornton, Marleau, Couture, Pavelski, Burns, Vlasic, Wingels & Braun as their numbers might actually increase as they will all play a ton. Although that may be tempered by the dull system DeBoer likes to play. Fancy stats are far from perfect. They have their value when extrapolated with other data but everyone likes to quote his possession stats but unless I am mistaken games are still decided by the team that scores the most goals.
- striker777

Again lets wait on the ripping DeBoer until he actually coaches some games, jesus (frank)ing christ.

I'm with you that Wilson is past his time in San Jose, I've tried to fire him many times over the course of the season.

With DeBoer in New Jersey I think he was trying to make lemonade with a lemon. I think he thought the team was capable of more than they actually were and he got caught up trying to get the best out of that roster that he could by applying a solid possession system. I'm going to use Larsson so this doesn't turn into a book - and because I think he's the root behind the Gelinas misuse as well.

Sticking with the possession theory, in Larsson's rookie year, DeBoer's first in Jersey, he led the team in 5v5 TOI avg, was given positive zone starts and finished an average possession player on the team.

In 2012-2013 Adam Larsson was the 2nd worst possession defender on the team with a -7.56 CF%rel and he still played the 4th most 5v5 minutes on average. Probably contributing to his poor possession numbers was he was a 19 year old with a negative zone start relative to the team. It seems DeBoer thought it to be a good idea to give him an increased role.

In 2013-2014 DeBoer deployed Larsson in more favorable zone start scenarios and was rewarded with a great increase in his possession numbers - to the tune of second best on the team. His ice-time increased at 5v5 from 12/13 and he almost played as much as Bryce Salvador - who, yes, he should have been playing much more than - and finished 5th on the team in 5v5 avg TOI. A player that passed him in TOI that season was a 21 year old Jon Merrill.

So, to me, it seems like DeBoer's usage of Larsson in 2012-2013 soured him on the defender because he didn't hit his expectations and maybe he thought he was giving him too much, too soon. When he adjusted him for the next season he responded well, though he was still not getting the ice-time he should have been getting. I thin the Larsson situation for DeBoer rubbed off down to Gelinas and that's where his lack of trust in the young guys comes from.

Did he mismanage the two of them? Yeah, I think he did, but he also had his reasons that can be backed up by the full history of the players, more specifically Larsson. What will he do in San Jose with younger players? I think that's up to the younger players to prove to their new coach that they belong on the ice. DeBoer is a smart guy and he's a good coach, most of the comments I see about DeBoer from Jersey fans across the old interweb is that he can be frustrating but most still liked him overall.
- Tim Chiasson

And that's what matters.

I would be shocked if SJ misses the playoffs again next season, regardless of DeBoer. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out how it happened last season with the roster SJ had. I chalk it up to the Wilson situation with Thornton & Marleau & the west being so tough. I just can't figure it out any other way.

I'm not ripping DeBoer. Like anyone I'm entitled to my opinion, for jesus (frank)ing christ!

Everybody 1pm pacific time DeBoer press conference be sure to watch if you can.
- SJSharks39

I Hear they're going to sign john scott and give him the captaincy at this conference

I would be shocked if SJ misses the playoffs again next season, regardless of DeBoer. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out how it happened last season with the roster SJ had. I chalk it up to the Wilson situation with Thornton & Marleau & the west being so tough. I just can't figure it out any other way.

I'm not ripping DeBoer. Like anyone I'm entitled to my opinion, for jesus (frank)ing christ!
- striker777

No you're ripping him, but whatever. You can (frank) off though.

That ones for you Sharksdivision.

SJSharks39.

You should try & be civil. Telling someone to (frake) off on an open forum will get you suspended.

So tired of reading this, get over it guys. Larsson is either able to play at a NHL level or hes not. Tmac did the same thing with Mueller. It happens...

SJSharks39.

You should try & be civil. Telling someone to (frake) off on an open forum will get you suspended.
- striker777

Yeah if you're a taddle tell & cry baby & hit the report button..........some people take stuff to serious i hope you're not one of them i guess i'll find out huh?.

I think there could be a deal had with San Jose and Ottawa with Anderson or Lehner landing with them.

If a bigger deal was made then names like Hoffman, Cowen (fit the defensive depth), and Zibanejad (if a big forward came back)
- AlfieisKing

OMFG everyday with the Anderson crap, we want to go younger on the tender tip not the ready to retire tip...

I got tired of wanting to throw up every time I came on here.
- Tim Chiasson

OMFG everyday with the Anderson crap, we want to go younger on the tender tip not the ready to retire tip...
- BeastModeS62

Watch out Alfies a little taddle tell.

Hey Tim i've worked out a deal with some of the Blues fans......2016 1st & Hertl for Oshie, Rattie & 2016 2nd....What do you think?
- SJSharks39

Not ready to give up Hertl. I do like TJ though.

Not ready to give up Hertl. I do like TJ though.
- BeastModeS62

I hear ya, i'd do a 2016 1st for Oshie though.