Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: On Boucher, Matteau & Schneider

Is it possible that Schneider could win Hart but Holtby Vezina?

It wouldn't make sense... but the way they rate the Hart, it usually ends up being the guy that's the biggest part of his team's success, and gotta say that's Schneider, even though Holtby is going to be challenging Brodeur's wins in a season record.

The caps would still win without Holtby, just not as often... without Schneider, we'd be drafting top 4... though credit goes to our top pairing as well.

Any goalie who sees as much goal support as Holtby does should absolutely not be in the running for Hart. He still isn't even the best player on there team. Switch Ovie with an average player and they are no where near first place but switch Holtby with an average goalie and I find it hard to believe they still wouldn't be near the top of the league and if not still the top of the eastern conference.

Also I don't see why they wouldn't have been kicking tires on Matteau's value long ago so if he does get sent down I wouldn't be shocked at all if he cleared. His development is all but stumped and if he can't crack a team that is in the basement for offence what would any other team see in him?

I understand the premise of cutting bait on Matteau. My question is how did we get to this point? Why is Kennedy getting minutes? Gionta and Tootoo? None of these players are in NJ's long range plan. Matteau has gotten into 20 games this year, with limited minutes and mostly on third/fourth lines. I am not saying I am a great talent evaluator of the NHL, but it seems to me we are wasting a potential asset by completely misusing him. They have destroyed any trade value he may have had before the start of the season.

Matteau and Santini will be Rangers, book it

I should've been there

Matteau and Santini will be Rangers, book it
- Senor_Elias

Matteau can be and it wouldn't hurt one bit. At the start of the year it seemed like this was gonna be Santini's last year in BC, which would mean the Devils would own his rights.

Was looking at some stats and the Devils have the 2nd least amount of goals scored, but PHI and ANA have 3 games at hand.

However, we have the 5th best defense in the league. And three of the teams ahead of us have three games at hand and the other one game at hand. So, we could possibly be the best or 2nd best defense in the league at the end of the year, which would mean Schneider would get the Jennings trophy and that could lead to the Hart.

I understand the premise of cutting bait on Matteau. My question is how did we get to this point? Why is Kennedy getting minutes? Gionta and Tootoo? None of these players are in NJ's long range plan. Matteau has gotten into 20 games this year, with limited minutes and mostly on third/fourth lines. I am not saying I am a great talent evaluator of the NHL, but it seems to me we are wasting a potential asset by completely misusing him. They have destroyed any trade value he may have had before the start of the season.
- redmonsters

we got to this point with, "status quo".

I think we have to make the playoffs for Schneider to be in discussion for the Hart. Otherwise, just another great goalie on a bad team not willing them to a playoff spot.

I think we have to make the playoffs for Schneider to be in discussion for the Hart. Otherwise, just another great goalie on a bad team not willing them to a playoff spot.
- MartysBetter88

True, a thing that hurts us is the amount of games played more then PIT. They lost last night and play tonight to make it within one game, but then we played SAT and SUN to push it back to three.

I looked at the standings and Boston could be a team we leap frog over, they have 2 at hand, but play tonight and play both day son the weekend to keep us within one game.

Matteau and Santini will be Rangers, book it
- Senor_Elias

This is Santini's last possible year at college is it not ? Has he announced anything that would have us poopting our pants about him maybe not signing with us or is that just speculation lol ? I couldn't give two poops about Matteau but if Ray doesn't get Santini and Wood signed he can (frank) right off lol

True, a thing that hurts us is the amount of games played more then PIT. They lost last night and play tonight to make it within one game, but then we played SAT and SUN to push it back to three.

I looked at the standings and Boston could be a team we leap frog over, they have 2 at hand, but play tonight and play both day son the weekend to keep us within one game.
- Devils9503

Should of been pursuing offensive help long ago. We are going to do absolutely nothing but have a crap draft position. Its so frustrating to think about and it's a shame because under normal circumstances ( where we don't miss the play offs and pick 30th and 29 and not at all in a 5 year span ) this would be by all means a successfull season, but it won't be. It will be one more year we miss out on elite talent and stay completely mediocre.

Should of been pursuing offensive help long ago. We are going to do absolutely nothing but have a crap draft position. Its so frustrating to think about and it's a shame because under normal circumstances ( where we don't miss the play offs and pick 30th and 29 and not at all in a 5 year span ) this would be by all means a successfull season, but it won't be. It will be one more year we miss out on elite talent and stay completely mediocre.
- blizzzard

With your Santini comment, I don't think so, and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't sign with us, there's room for him.

While the drafting position is important to a degree, it depends on who is at our position and who we pick. We got guys like Henrique, Blandisi, and Palmeiri on the roster going forward. And we have Zacha, Q, and Wood, as prospects that could IMO be top 6 guys. I could care less what Zacha is doing production wise in juniors, because even though it nice he's a ppg player, that's not gonna define his NHL career. Blandisi didn't click until last year. And Q and Wood are doing good. A guy like Debrincat will most likely be available because of his size and he has a ton of offensive skill. So, while I would like a Matthews or Clayton Keller in the top 10, Debrincat among others are also gonna be good picks. Remember Larkin was the 15th pick in 2014 and he's a 19 year old center on DET's top line.

I'm not sold on needing a top 10 pick to make this franchise successful going forward. Every year there are very high quality players that fall outside of that range, it's a matter of us picking the right one. It's obviously easier said than done, but its what needs to be done moving forward. It will be interesting to see the new regime make its mark on the draft this year. Cory will keep us out of the bottom for years to come lmao

With your Santini comment, I don't think so, and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't sign with us, there's room for him.

While the drafting position is important to a degree, it depends on who is at our position and who we pick. We got guys like Henrique, Blandisi, and Palmeiri on the roster going forward. And we have Zacha, Q, and Wood, as prospects that could IMO be top 6 guys. I could care less what Zacha is doing production wise in juniors, because even though it nice he's a ppg player, that's not gonna define his NHL career. Blandisi didn't click until last year. And Q and Wood are doing good. A guy like Debrincat will most likely be available because of his size and he has a ton of offensive skill. So, while I would like a Matthews or Clayton Keller in the top 10, Debrincat among others are also gonna be good picks. Remember Larkin was the 15th pick in 2014 and he's a 19 year old center on DET's top line.
- Devils9503

There are players close to Larkin every year the problem is we are never the team landing these kids who seemingly come out of no where to dominate and I believe there was an article that showed that Blandisi was a productive player throughout his jr career or at least comparable to other good nhlers chl career even with the limited games due to sickness but absolutely tore it up his final two or maybe just final year. It also took us how long to hit on a player like Blandisi ? I wouldn't bank on it happening again for a bit. The argument for Zacha really works either way and you are right about we don't need to worry about him right now but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be checking in and seeing what is numbers look like that is a big part of what they use to draft most normal sized players by there isn't maybe players 6'3 in jr's that you see scouts say he has all the talent in the world he just doesn't put up points like someone with that much talent. Lot's can happen from now till the draft and we could yet win a lottery pick and that would be awesome so I'm not in panic mode yet but that doesn't mean I won't worry about it at all lol I would will also worry less the day Santini and Wood ink their contracts with us

I'm not sold on needing a top 10 pick to make this franchise successful going forward. Every year there are very high quality players that fall outside of that range, it's a matter of us picking the right one. It's obviously easier said than done, but its what needs to be done moving forward. It will be interesting to see the new regime make its mark on the draft this year. Cory will keep us out of the bottom for years to come lmao
- SteveJ123

Yeah but if you're drafting past 5th overall, you better get out your deck of Tarot Cards...

In ten years of drafting at those levels, we're statistically "likely" to pick up an all star player.

I'd put the chances of Schneider winning a Hart somewhere around zero. Since expansion the Hart went to a goaltender just 4 times. Twice to Hasek, once to Theodore once and then Price last year. Each time the team made the playoffs and twice the team won their division. Kane is probably a shoo-in at this point anyhow.

No matter how good of a season Crawford or Schneider are having, Holtby is going to set the single season wins record which should make him a lock for the Vezina. Plus Holtbys stats are just as good as Schneider and Crawford this year.

DOOMED

This is Santini's last possible year at college is it not ? Has he announced anything that would have us poopting our pants about him maybe not signing with us or is that just speculation lol ? I couldn't give two poops about Matteau but if Ray doesn't get Santini and Wood signed he can (frank) right off lol
- blizzzard

He's a Junior so he has one more year and if he stays he will be a UFA and sign with the Rags because we are DOOMED

He's a Junior so he has one more year and if he stays he will be a UFA and sign with the Rags because we are DOOMED
- Senor_Elias

Got to give him the biggest signing bonus we have ever handed out to convince him not to go back lol

DOOMED
- shvingter88

I'm doomed for my Chem test tomorrow lmao

I'm doomed for my Chem test tomorrow lmao
- blizzzard

School is for fools

I'd put the chances of Schneider winning a Hart somewhere around zero. Since expansion the Hart went to a goaltender just 4 times. Twice to Hasek, once to Theodore once and then Price last year. Each time the team made the playoffs and twice the team won their division. Kane is probably a shoo-in at this point anyhow.

No matter how good of a season Crawford or Schneider are having, Holtby is going to set the single season wins record which should make him a lock for the Vezina. Plus Holtbys stats are just as good as Schneider and Crawford this year.
- smellmyfinger

You're right, it tends to only default to goalies if no player stands out above the rest.