Constantly doubting Hughes or being down on him and thinking he will be anything but elite is a very weird hill to die on. Jack is the very least of the worries of this team going forward. Anybody who says otherwise either doesnt watch him on a nightly basis or refuses to believe the analytics mean anything. Or theyre just trolling.
- vlongo4419

It's the fans who just look at the counting totals and don't see huge numbers so they think he is bad. This is the same thing that happened with MacKinnon where he had no players around him so after a couple of "bad" seasons everybody was saying he was a bust.

Jack has been dominating the past couple of games (even last night) just he doesn't have points to show for it because he's playing with two rookies who don't really score as a pass first player. He'll work on his shot too so he'll start converting more. The Jack hate is exclusively by idiots.

-_- i'm not saying Hughes is bad.. I've mentioned a few times about his positive development this season. I'm just apprehensive. Our whole organization is a big *fingers crossed* because we have nothing but unproven kids that **should** develop into good-great players. It's not like we have even 1 guy that is currently at a franchise level for us to fall back on.. they're all developing hopefully into that but we won't know until it happens. Gotta wait and see. I don't think I'm as sold on any of our guys turning into superstars or stars as some of you come across. I hope that happens, but I'm hesitant to be confident until it does. Maybe that's rooted in me not personally being along the journey of other teams' studs from draft date to stardom.. or that when we drafted these guys they weren't on a Crosby etc level. The 1st overall is always hyped by the media... Nuge was hyped by the media and he's just.. a good player but that's it. I'm nervous of that possibility and remain 50/50 on the guys we have. I don't mean to come across as negative as much as questioning and what I've described here.

-_- i'm not saying Hughes is bad.. I've mentioned a few times about his positive development this season. I'm just apprehensive. Our whole organization is a big *fingers crossed* because we have nothing but unproven kids that **should** develop into good-great players. It's not like we have even 1 guy that is currently at a franchise level for us to fall back on.. they're all developing hopefully into that but we won't know until it happens. Gotta wait and see. I don't think I'm as sold on any of our guys turning into superstars or stars as some of you come across. I hope that happens, but I'm hesitant to be confident until it does. Maybe that's rooted in me not personally being along the journey of other teams' studs from draft date to stardom.. or that when we drafted these guys they weren't on a Crosby etc level. The 1st overall is always hyped by the media... Nuge was hyped by the media and he's just.. a good player but that's it. I'm nervous of that possibility and remain 50/50 on the guys we have. I don't mean to come across as negative as much as questioning and what I've described here.
- MartysBetter88

I get that. I mean I’m very confident Jack has some very high to elite level skills because they are on display every game. The apprehension for me is will he be able to grow to the point where that becomes strong counting stat production. Obviously we need to get him wingers. I have similar feelings about Nico, but I have more doubt about how high end his skills are. Not saying he’s not a legit player. It’s just is he really going to be a top level player.

Part of the problem is this organization insists on pimping everyone from day 1 as the next great player. They did this with Zacha. They sold Jack from the draft as the guy that Hall would finally feed off of and want to be playing with. Larson was the next great Devil defender.... before him Gelinas was the blue line shot monster we needed. Etc. etc. etc. So I understand being apprehensive about these guys.

No Bratt and still no Zacha on the ice for morning skate

No Bratt and still no Zacha on the ice for morning skate
- vlongo4419

Both are confirmed day to day and not available tonight

Both are confirmed day to day and not available tonight
- vlongo4419

game over then.

Both are confirmed day to day and not available tonight
- vlongo4419

Just watched Amanda Stein on NJD TV. Absolutely no info on what happened to either of them.

Just watched Amanda Stein on NJD TV. Absolutely no info on what happened to either of them.
- Queenie_5_hole

Yeah all we know is Zacha took a faceoff then immediately skated off gingerly. Last update was that he had imaging done 2 days ago. For Bratt, he got hurt blocking a shot and went down the tunnel, but finished the game. I assume it swelled up or something along those lines

Both are confirmed day to day and not available tonight
- vlongo4419

Confirming full Tank Mode.

What a start.

What a start.
- rmdevil313

X2

We're just in full tank mode now. Lotto pick here we come.

Hard to tell if the devils are tanking for just that bad?

Hard to tell if the devils are tanking for just that bad?
- devfan30

Both

Before the devil's were competitive even while losing, now it's lucky if we only lose by 3 it seems

Can't he good for blackwood's confidence having a 3+ GAA and sub .900 save %

Not blaming him but it takes it's toll

That might have been our worst period all season.

Guess everyone has just mailed it in. Go down 3-0 and nothing from Ruff, no timeout or goaltending change. Tank on i guess

We're still leading the league in being the youngest team. That and $11 will get us a beer at the Rock.

Sabres up 3-1, with the way we are playing we may catch them. Devs body language is awful.

We're still leading the league in being the youngest team. That and $11 will get us a beer at the Rock.
- WayneZ

Gonna need something stronger to watch this poop show

Gonna need something stronger to watch this poop show
- RubberBiscuitz

Yep. Finished the beer and on to scotch..

I try so hard to celebrate the moral victories and not vomit in my mouth when they talk about us as a young juggernaut getting ready to explode onto the scene but, it has gotten old year in and year out. I get that it is Dano, Sal, Cangy and teams job to hype the team and sell the fans on the future but, we're god awful and I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. We legit do not have a single player that is anywhere near a point per game level. I've been a fan since the mid-80s and I'll continue to be a fan but it is hard to not call a turd a turd.

Ok Fitz, this team is now fully stripped down to rookies, prospects, draft picks. When do we see greener pastures? Asking for an impatient friend.

Travis Zajac in an Islander jersey is one of the strangest things I’ve seen.

I miss the days when Gretzky was on the rangers and these scores were justified.

They need Erika back

Icing on the power play sums up this game.