Todd Cordell: G56 New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers: Five things to watch

Nico is going to be a beast when he puts on more muscle/weight. He gets the chances, but gets knocked off the puck very easily right now.

Nico is going to be a beast when he puts on more muscle/weight. He gets the chances, but gets knocked off the puck very easily right now.
- RubberBiscuitz

I agree. He's never going to be bulky, obviously, but when he can fight through contact a little better and get some more zip on his shot, he'll be nearly impossible to defend.

Just seeing Stafford on the second line and Hayes on the fourth makes me ill. This is not a good lineup.

I agree. He's never going to be bulky, obviously, but when he can fight through contact a little better and get some more zip on his shot, he'll be nearly impossible to defend.
- Todd.Cordell

Compared to the beginning of the season he seems to have adjusted a little bit. He was getting thrown around even more.

Also, while even a struggling Cory gets the nod over the rest, who should be starting? Lack might have been better then KK, but not exactly confidence inspiring. Appleby only got the one start (also a loss) but seemed fairly solid.

Just seeing Stafford on the second line and Hayes on the fourth makes me ill. This is not a good lineup.
- redmonsters

I was thinking the same. Wish we had ponied up some cash for Radulov. He's really the RW we need.

I agree Todd, without Cory this team will be out of the playoffs and looks like a bottom 6 team instead of a playoff team. Reality has finally setting in with this team. The lucky/timely goals we were getting from unexpected players like Bratt, Gibbons, Boyle etc have dried up. With the injuries and certain players not playing up to their level the best thing now might be looking towards the future again. Look to move players like Moore, Lovejoy, Boyle or/and Zajac/Greene if we retain some of their salary. If Cory comes back and plays well before the deadline, I would look to see what we could get for him. This team is farther off then I believe. The good start might have fooled us but this team is on the right track with Shero and in a few years we could be competing for real.

@Gambi99 - you have taken a really pessimistic view there. I think the team blossomed a little early in the rebuild and reset some expectations. As perhaps reality sets in, it sucks for fans who got a taste of winning. Having said that, trading Corey seems overly drastic. This team can be cup contenders in two years. Trusting the process and Shero's trades hopefully pays off.

@Gambi99 - you have taken a really pessimistic view there. I think the team blossomed a little early in the rebuild and reset some expectations. As perhaps reality sets in, it sucks for fans who got a taste of winning. Having said that, trading Corey seems overly drastic. This team can be cup contenders in two years. Trusting the process and Shero's trades hopefully pays off.
- redmonsters

This is pretty dead on. No one can really be disappointed with Butchers rookie year, Bratt was a 2016 6th round pick and is producing on the top line and Nico stepping right in off his draft year as a #1C is a bonus.

Team is a long way from competing, but there’s definitely more positives then in recent memory. Real nice touch that with Conte out the team is drafting better.

DOOMED

This is pretty dead on. No one can really be disappointed with Butchers rookie year, Bratt was a 2016 6th round pick and is producing on the top line and Nico stepping right in off his draft year as a #1C is a bonus.

Team is a long way from competing, but there’s definitely more positives then in recent memory. Real nice touch that with Conte out the team is drafting better.
- smellmyfinger

This season has been a huge success for where the team is at, them making the playoffs would be a bonus. The Taylor Hall we all hoped we were getting arrived. Hischier, Zacha, Bratt, Wood, Butcher, and Coleman are solid to great young players with tons of room to grow. Everything isn't perfect but this is easily the most optimistic outlook the Devils have had since Kovalchuk left. Things could be much worse.

@Gambi99 - you have taken a really pessimistic view there. I think the team blossomed a little early in the rebuild and reset some expectations. As perhaps reality sets in, it sucks for fans who got a taste of winning. Having said that, trading Corey seems overly drastic. This team can be cup contenders in two years. Trusting the process and Shero's trades hopefully pays off.
- redmonsters

I agree they blossomed a little earlier then most expected but what i'm saying is lets not get fooled here and make a trade for "this" year and trade a younger piece/pick for a run this year. Stay the course what Shero built and build with the future in mind. As for Cory, I just feel his age doesn't fit with this team going forward but yes if the Devils are competing next year then he's fine and you need him but realistically I feel the Devils are more then a year or two away and by then he'll be in his mid 30's. Maybe I'm just used to Marty and when he came up, the Devils already had the pieces in place and he was able to grow with the team while now we are rebuilding with a 31yr (soon to be 32) old goalie and still need a few more years of the rebuild.

Kind of a must win game given how we are plummeting in the standings

After trading Rico and then having Mojo go down (probably for the rest of year) and Boyle about to miss time it really thins out an already talent starved offense. That 4th line is dismal at best.

hey guys

Nico is going to be a beast when he puts on more muscle/weight. He gets the chances, but gets knocked off the puck very easily right now.
- RubberBiscuitz

balls

thats a bad NJ 4th line .ouch.

After trading Rico and then having Mojo go down (probably for the rest of year) and Boyle about to miss time it really thins out an already talent starved offense. That 4th line is dismal at best.
- hockeybocc

Don't mind Boyle missing time he's been kind of invisible lately, maybe Lappin can add a spark to that line.

I agree they blossomed a little earlier then most expected but what i'm saying is lets not get fooled here and make a trade for "this" year and trade a younger piece/pick for a run this year. Stay the course what Shero built and build with the future in mind. As for Cory, I just feel his age doesn't fit with this team going forward but yes if the Devils are competing next year then he's fine and you need him but realistically I feel the Devils are more then a year or two away and by then he'll be in his mid 30's. Maybe I'm just used to Marty and when he came up, the Devils already had the pieces in place and he was able to grow with the team while now we are rebuilding with a 31yr (soon to be 32) old goalie and still need a few more years of the rebuild.
- Gambi99

Who do you think is going to step in and replace him over the next few years? I am honestly intrigued by all of the people saying to ship out Cory.

Who do you think is going to step in and replace him over the next few years? I am honestly intrigued by all of the people saying to ship out Cory.
- njdallday

I think we've pretty much proved this team doesn't even have a good backup at this point. I mean Lack and Appleby probably should get another look before drawing that conclusion but still it's impossible to have confidence in any of these guys going forward.

I think we've pretty much proved this team doesn't even have a good backup at this point. I mean Lack and Appleby probably should get another look before drawing that conclusion but still it's impossible to have confidence in any of these guys going forward.
- Queenie_5_hole

That is my point. Also Cory does not have a million miles on him at his age either. Note also that we will not get a huge haul for him in a trade. That is just a fact. People need to get over this idea that we will be able to compete with anyone else we have.

4-3 ot Flyers


DOOMED

4-3 ot Flyers


DOOMED
- shvingter88

Yes!!!! Point!!!!

Yes!!!! Point!!!!
- smellmyfinger

We’re about to go on a stretch of only getting one point