Speaking of, watching Palmieri getting fed these shots on the circle I miss that cannon Kovy had.
- Mr.Bobby

Me too. Kovy's shot was so hard and accurate. Every time he shot you felt that it was going in.

That's a tough pill to swallow
- willschulme

Tampas a great team. I saw a lot of more encouraging signs tonight than opening night. Especially getting more pucks on net. I don't know if I'm the only one, but I get real nervous every time Lovejoy has the puck.

Me too. Kovy's shot was so hard and accurate. Every time he shot you felt that it was going in.
- Pomegrant

Even just when Kovy had the puck on his stick it was electric, I'm probably not being fair, but I just don't get the same feeling watching Hall.

remember when we got Kovalchuk? guy didn't know how to play defense at all.
- Pomegrant

Kovalchuk made up for it by dominating the puck for entire shifts in the offensive zone. Hall is a dynamic offensive player in other ways but not that way. And honestly I think Kovalchuk, as below average as he was, was better defensively on day 1 for the Devils than Hall is right now.

I could see learning a new system being part of it, but the guy doesn't move his feet in the defensive zone enough. He's too stationery. I don't think he's going to get that much better without a lot of work. Also, the Devils were still a defensive-minded team when Kovalchuk came here, so it was easier for him to get better. Now, they're not a defense-first team.

I hope I'm wrong, but I think this is going to be a long year. I was a little optimistic in the preseason, but seeing this team at regular season speed, they're not good. They don't have enough creativity and puck possession to offset the defensive weaknesses.

Even just when Kovy had the puck on his stick it was electric, I'm probably not being fair, but I just don't get the same feeling watching Hall.
- Mr.Bobby

Hall is a different player. Give him time and he'll start to show why he's so good.

Tampas a great team. I saw a lot of more encouraging signs tonight than opening night. Especially getting more pucks on net. I don't know if I'm the only one, but I get real nervous every time Lovejoy has the puck.
- Mr.Bobby

Putting what you said another way, it's a huge difference playing with Letang and playing with Moore. With Letang, who dominates the puck offensively and is better defensively than earlier in his career, Lovejoy could do what he's good at. Concentrate on positioning and making simple plays with the puck. On NJ, he's going to have much less time and space to do those simple things. He's good defensively, he works hard, he's involved and he's a good PK guy. But the deficiencies, they're going to show up more with the Devils than they did in Pittsburgh.

Hall is a different player. Give him time and he'll start to show why he's so good.
- Pomegrant

In terms of positives, he made several terrific passes and was in position to snipe the puck quite a few times. With a few breaks he'd have a couple of goals already. I think the no points thing is misleading from the standpoint that he generated a lot of scoring chances in the first two games. Tonight particularly.

And the Devils played two strong, mobile teams with several good offensive d-men. Hopefully they'll be better than I think. It's tough to judge with all the new players. But you do have to wonder if they're going to give up 33-35 shots a game with this personnel, playing the way they play.

I think you're jumping to a lot of conclusions for the second game of the season.

Hall is a different player. Give him time and he'll start to show why he's so good.
- Pomegrant

Oh I get it, Hall is speed and finesse, Kovy was speed and power.

I think my biggest concern with Hall is him fitting into a very structured system and being successful, whereas a guy with Kovys size, speed, shot and skill set can fit into just about any system.

Not being a downer, but this devils teams doesn't seem to great by this leagues standard. They look abysmally slow and I am scared when the puck is in transition every time because I feel like they get out skated on way too many zone entries. I know they played 2 very solid teams, but that just seems to be the case so far. Idk if anyone feels like there's pressure to make the play offs, but I feel like a high draft pick is our fate this season. Hopefully we can acquire more speed on the backend through trades or signing and in a few years some of these younger forwards we have will mature. Just really have a feeling this is gonna be a very rough season.

Putting what you said another way, it's a huge difference playing with Letang and playing with Moore. With Letang, who dominates the puck offensively and is better defensively than earlier in his career, Lovejoy could do what he's good at. Concentrate on positioning and making simple plays with the puck. On NJ, he's going to have much less time and space to do those simple things. He's good defensively, he works hard, he's involved and he's a good PK guy. But the deficiencies, they're going to show up more with the Devils than they did in Pittsburgh.
- BarryB1124

I know he scored tonight, but Moore often makes me nervous as well.

Seemed like the puck was rolling on its edge a lot tonight. Definitely had a better night in terms of getting into scoring position. Hopefully the rust comes off this Tuesday and we can start making some plays look a bit more crisp and hope it leads to better results

Not being a downer, but this devils teams doesn't seem to great by this leagues standard. They look abysmally slow and I am scared when the puck is in transition every time because I feel like they get out skated on way too many zone entries. I know they played 2 very solid teams, but that just seems to be the case so far. Idk if anyone feels like there's pressure to make the play offs, but I feel like a high draft pick is our fate this season. Hopefully we can acquire more speed on the backend through trades or signing and in a few years some of these younger forwards we have will mature. Just really have a feeling this is gonna be a very rough season.
- sendingSTRENGTH

I don't know what everyones expectations where this season, but I was fully expecting a bottom five team. Not because I think they are being mismanaged, but because they need time.

Zacha is going to need to develop and they are going to have to address the defense, and this offseason should have much better UFA options to address it.

I really didn't thunk the expectations were adding Hall to a league worst offense and putting together a patchwork defense was going to catapult them into contention.

Rays made some good moves need to have some patience.

I don't know what everyones expectations where this season, but I was fully expecting a bottom five team. Not because I think they are being mismanaged, but because they need time.

Zacha is going to need to develop and they are going to have to address the defense, and this offseason should have much better UFA options to address it.

I really didn't thunk the expectations were adding Hall to a league worst offense and putting together a patchwork defense was going to catapult them into contention.

Rays made some good moves need to have some patience.
- Mr.Bobby

You never know, I was more glass half empty going into the season but crazier things have happened. I'm not upset with their direction by any means, I agree that it's not that they are a bad team, they are just rebuilding.... John Hynes' system is still brand new considering all the new players. I've enjoyed shero's moves. He seems very active in trying to find the right pieces by trading our wrong pieces, that seems smart to me. I'm just saying as much as you can say we lost to some great teams, I think it's obvious we have some glaring flaws. All I think we can really hope for is to get some chemistry with hall and henrique on the top line and hope they can be successful and find out who on this younger core can be comfortable in hynes' system, If we can use our prospect pool and year to develop players like zacha speers and wood and then use free agency to assess d needs and gear up for next year with a high draft pick, Id be more than happy with that

Zacha needs to be sent back to juniors.

I look at Zacha's situation like how the Jets handled Mark Scheifele. Scheifele was sent back the year he was drafted and the year after, then had a good rookie and sophomore year and now look at him, he had 29 goals and 60 points last year.

Speers also needs to be sent back. Long term is more important then this year.

Hopefully santini draws into the line up next game

After two games I have quite a few thoughts.

1. I now understand all the feedback about the Lovejoy signing. The guy is playing like a borderline 6th d and he's supposed to be our #3?! Ugh. 3 years of this guy too!
2. Same old story with Cory. The guys still getting shelled every game and standing on his head. Only reason we had a chance on both nights.
3. Hall isn't being utilized properly. I guess he's still adjusting to the new team, but he doesn't look too comfortable to me. Let him get some chemistry with rico going.
4. Send Speers back to jrs and get boucher in the lineup. This lineup needs all the firepower it can get. Speers will be good one day, but that day ain't today. Let's let the kid develop and not shatter his confidence.
5. Send Santini to Albany if you plan on scratching him Hynes.
6. I see why Shero signed Gazdic now, this team is soft as charmin tissue!
7. That's it, that's all. Let's go Devils!

I mean.. I did think we'd at least be more formidable, but I'm also fully aware that more than half of this team wasn't on the starting roster last year. I'll give them 10 games before I start making my judgments.

YES, Lovejoy IS that bad individually. Zero surprise factor with that.

I'd feel totally fine about all this if Schneider was even just 3 years younger.

IF we end up with a top 5 picks, it'll still probably be at least another year before he's contributing. By that time Cam will be slowing down too.

idk guys.. we just may never contend for the Cup ever again lol.

I think you're jumping to a lot of conclusions for the second game of the season.
- Pomegrant

DOOMED

He is no mcjesus or Mathews but I really like this years projected first overall! Still plenty of games to play though and I still think this team will fight till the end.

If they can play like they did in the first period against TB for a full 60 min they will be a hard team to beat. They came out playing hard and it showed.