I totally understand this opinion and I don’t blame you or anyone for feeling that way. Winning sure feels better than losing.

And I’m definitely in the minority for
- devils_mike[sort of] disagreeing. My stance is I’d rather be a last place team who works hard every night vs the team we are right now which is one that has shown they can win when they feel like putting in the work. That’s a work ethic problem, not a talent problem like we’ve had in other years. But talent only gets you so far. Look at the Oilers this year.

Again I recognize, my opinion is the minority here and most are Happy because we’ve been so horrible for so many years. But to me those years, we didn’t have a ton of talent. Now we do. So accepting less when they’ve shown they can do more isn’t ok with me.

I get that in theory it's better to come in last place and have a great shot at drafting a franchise player than it is to miss the playoffs by a few points, but I also think there is seriously something to be said for a young team to have some success and play in a lot of meaningful games, even if it means missing the playoffs by a bit.

I get that in theory it's better to come in last place and have a great shot at drafting a franchise player than it is to miss the playoffs by a few points, but I also think there is seriously something to be said for a young team to have some success and play in a lot of meaningful games, even if it means missing the playoffs by a bit.
- MannySilvers

What is seldom mentioned or discussed is the middle ground between rebuilding and being an actual contender. It is unrealistic to think you can either tank or compete. Things of significance happen over time. I am totally okay with progress over time. There are so many young players here, if played right this will be a team that is good for more than a few years.

What is seldom mentioned or discussed is the middle ground between rebuilding and being an actual contender. It is unrealistic to think you can either tank or compete. Things of significance happen over time. I am totally okay with progress over time. There are so many young players here, if played right this will be a team that is good for more than a few years.
- TRDevil

That’s a very fair point, indeed, that you don’t go from being the worst to a contender without steps in between and maybe these are the middle steps. I could very easily be overly cautious and/or critical in that regard - I’m definitely willing to admit that.

I think what worries me is that it’s easy to fool oneself in assuming you’re getting better when you’re actually not. Again, take a look at Edmonton for the past couple years. So many top players and so much talent and people mostly said the same things: they are a young team, they are learning, they’ll figure it out, etc and they never really did (and still haven’t.)

So I can accept that my worry may be over- exaggerated, but I think it’s also fair to be wary of accepting what “appears” to be progress as proof of actual progress.

And for the record - I very much appreciate the good hockey talk and civil agreements/ disagreements of opinions. Can’t always get that without it going sour, so thank you, friends!

That’s a very fair point, indeed, that you don’t go from being the worst to a contender without steps in between and maybe these are the middle steps. I could very easily be overly cautious and/or critical in that regard - I’m definitely willing to admit that.

I think what worries me is that it’s easy to fool oneself in assuming you’re getting better when you’re actually not. Again, take a look at Edmonton for the past couple years. So many top players and so much talent and people mostly said the same things: they are a young team, they are learning, they’ll figure it out, etc and they never really did (and still haven’t.)

So I can accept that my worry may be over- exaggerated, but I think it’s also fair to be wary of accepting what “appears” to be progress as proof of actual progress.

And for the record - I very much appreciate the good hockey talk and civil agreements/ disagreements of opinions. Can’t always get that without it going sour, so thank you, friends!
- devils_mike

I would imagine everyone here is a little worried that it looks like we are getting better but in reality we are just different and lucky.

Nico, Bratt, Butcher, Hall, and company are all pretty affirmative signs of getting better though.

For the latter point, hell yeah. The more discourse the better the discussion so let's here it from all you Devils fans. Please don't be shy!!! FYI we are all idiots so (frank) it!! Say what you want

I don't know about everyone else but I don't mind long posts. If I don't care for it I just won't read it.

Post away brother. If anyone is mad or irritated about things they don't care for, like an obnoxiously long post, but absolutely have the option to ignore said thing, they are stupid, irrelevant, and they can (frank) right off.

This team is halfway to being decent, but still has to pick up the rest of the pieces/ability/synergy to be a real threat and it will take time. There will be a lot of banter in between here and there, and I like to read all the posts and learn what everyone thinks. Even devfan30. He might be a certain way but he still has an opinion. I disagree but who cares.

I know there are way more people who read this than comment. I read the blog for 3 years before I even joined. The peanut gallery and smarmy insulting bs comments inhibit people sharing their thoughts and it's a shame. I don't remember anyone ever getting a medal for 'the best' or 'most informed' hb comments so I don't know why mother(frank)ers get so high horsey on here. Its a hockey blog and kind of a lousy one at that. If more people commented it would be better.

Just my thoughts on that matter.
- TRDevil

I don't mind people that may have an issue with my essays. I don't recall anyone whining on here about it anyway. My comment was more for my own personal well-being lol, to not spend over 20 minutes sitting here typing about something relatively meaningless lol. Half of my life has turned into typing due to my job; pretty sure that's why the essays have disappeared. I just don't have the energy for it anymore lol.