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well 1/4 of the way in (though it should be more like 1/3.. but Covid)..
Is Blackwood our best player? seriously. We have some good forwards, some guys get hot, some guys get cold.. but we can count on Blackwood for solid starts 90% of the time, especially considering the defense is just average and he's still so young. It's a beautiful thing. What a relief having a goalie of the future.
Hughes has of course taken a big step forward, and we at least have the proof (instead of rational hope) that he is an NHL player, and a decent one at that who should turn into a very good-great one.
Smith has so far proven to be an NHLer. I was a little nervous, but this is another sigh of relief. He and Hughes should continue to develop, but we at least know they can play.
Wood. What a surprise. He can hockey. He's being used in the right role and is embracing it and producing without being a liability. He's cut down on them penalties I think too.
Zacha. Freaking Zacha. You make your own luck.. put yourself in the positions to succeed.. and he's doing it. He's not flashy, not dominating, but contributing to more goals for than against.
Zajac hasn't fallen off a cliff. He's still a useful piece and worth having on the roster. We'll see how he finishes out if they bring him back on a 1 year deal.
Johnsson has stepped up after a concerning weak start. He's playing with some jam and being part of the success instead of the problem.
McLeod, Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Bastian- all good things. None of them are lighting it up, but they're not expected to. They're holding their own as NHL rookies (if McLeod is considered one?), and that's just fine.
Palmieri I feel is coming around. He's been better the past few games, but enough to keep him for this upcoming wave of finally being a playoff team? Just turned 30.. and should have a few more years left of good hockey. I'm holding out reservations until we get to half way. I think the Zacha-Hischier-Bratt line will start seeing top D and this may free up the Hughes line, assumingly with Palmieri on his wing. Management may see that as Holtz's spot.. though it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Holtz played his rookie season with Zajac. Can always swap Holtz and Palmieri.
Gusev...... idk what is up with this guy. I'm not a big x's and o's person. I've read people say he doesn't fit the system. He's not the fastest skater, but he should be able to get to spots to get his shot off. 28 years old.. tough call on what to do with him.
Can't say much about Nico since he just resumed playing after so long away, but as I've previously stated- the dude better live up to this massive contract the Devils graciously gifted him. I'm hoping it comes, but I'm waiting to see any kind of performance from a 7.25m center in his prime. So far in his super-young career, he's looked like a guy that should be making mid 4, maybe 5. Rooting hard for him.
Murray is my boy. Subban has earned some respect. Vatanen .. I'm giving him time. Severson is getting it done. Kulikov.. solid.
Idk what the PK units look like... but how bout.. Murray-Severson PK1, Vatanen-Kulikov PK2? ..since that 2nd pair is already getting familiar with each other at evens.. just keep them together. Put Zacha and Hischier as PK1 since they're on the same line at evens anyway, and Zajac and Palmieri PK2.. since it's Zajac, and Palms is a vet.
Idk what the PK lines are like now, but this makes beyond the most sense. Put guys together that can PK, AND are already playing well together at evens. At least take the chemistry guesswork out of the equation.
Ruff has surprised me, I gotta admit.. and I'm happy to be wrong. Will he take us to a Cup? Remains to be seen, but I'm at least not so down on him. The players seem to like him.
I just can't wrap my mind around how terrible the PK and PP are. We're fully healthy, so lets give it another quarter of a season and see how they do. PLAY MY PAIRS. Zacha-Hischier is a no-brainer.. Zajac and anyone is money. |
