Lines in warmups:

Kuokkanen-Hughes-Sharangovich
Wood-Nico-Bratt
Johnsson-McLeod-Merkley
Maltsev-Boqvist-Thompson

Smith-Subban
Murray-Sevo
Siegenthaler-Butcher

Mac
- vlongo4419

Im hoping with Wood on Nico's line it'll stop Nico from playing the Zajac style and let him get more free to make plays. Its nice that Nico isn't afraid of getting in the dirty areas but he has too much offense to waste it on that style of game.

Nothing surprising but Fitz on the pregame show said Holtz will start with some games in Bingo when he eventually gets over here, still no timetable. Also said Foote has earned some games with the big club at some point before the season ends

Lines in warmups:

Kuokkanen-Hughes-Sharangovich
Wood-Nico-Bratt
Johnsson-McLeod-Merkley
Maltsev-Boqvist-Thompson

Smith-Subban
Murray-Sevo
Siegenthaler-Butcher

Mac
- vlongo4419

Half the forwards could easily be in the minors. Gotta add some nhl talent.

This team needs goal scorers in the worst way. Once again we're the better team so far in the game, and yet we're still losing. And being shut out for that matter. Has happened too often this season.

This team needs goal scorers in the worst way. Once again we're the better team so far in the game, and yet we're still losing. And being shut out for that matter. Has happened too often this season.
- vlongo4419

We need Zacha to return to save the day.

We need Zacha to return to save the day.
- MartysBetter88

And while we’re on it, where’s the scoring from Wood? Haven’t beat that dead horse in a while

And while we’re on it, where’s the scoring from Wood? Haven’t beat that dead horse in a while
- Crushers68

He’s busy scoring more off-ice than on ice. .. that looks dumber typed out than it sounded on my head lol

Yeah im ready to see Foote up now, and hopefully get Holtz over for a few games soon.

Siegenthaler with a decent game though! Nice of him to step in after not playing for a month and only playing like 7 games over the last year and change and not seem out of place

Well that sucked.

Well that sucked.
- rmdevil313

Yes it did. Do not over react and let the prospects stay the course.

This teams home/road split is actually wild. Is the Pru the new House of Pain for this team?

4-16-3 record at home, and 10-5-3 record on the road.

.877 save% and 7% shooting% at home vs .915 save% and 10.1% shooting% on the road

Such a really weird thing, theres honestly no explanation for it

I'd offer one deal to Columbus, if our top pick is OUT of the top 3. If its top 3, we keep it.

Offer that pick, Butcher, Mercer and some clown in Bing. Throw in in a second rounder as well.
- Leniwm1

I would rather we draft our own bum

I would rather we draft our own bum
- shvingter88

At the top of the draft (say 1-7) there are some real good D prospects and wingers. I would draft if we are in that range.

We need Zacha to return to save the day.
- MartysBetter88

If Zacha is our saviour..... Doomed.

This teams home/road split is actually wild. Is the Pru the new House of Pain for this team?

4-16-3 record at home, and 10-5-3 record on the road.

.877 save% and 7% shooting% at home vs .915 save% and 10.1% shooting% on the road

Such a really weird thing, theres honestly no explanation for it
- vlongo4419

Looking at the roster, it's no surprise we are struggling to score. Sharangovich and Wood are our two most aggressive forwards. Happy to see the Devs show some compete out there and drop the mitts tho. If you are going to be a losing team, may as well be a team that goes down fighting.

not to sound doom and gloom again.. ....but .. i mean every year we're drafting near the top there isn't a generational player available.. or even someone on a Sedin level. Now we'll pick top 5.. and it's a crapshoot, just like it was a crapshoot between Nico and Nolan, Hughes and Kakko because they were both "really good". Kind of annoying after a while. Give me a MacKinnon, a Matthews, a Scheifele, heck even a Marner. -_-

.. and maybe we have those already but just don't see them yet. or maybe it would be nice that when we're actually picking that the guys are already projected to be stellar franchise players. would be nice.

just 2 points away from 2nd (3rd) overall.. in a crapshoot draft.

not to sound doom and gloom again.. ....but .. i mean every year we're drafting near the top there isn't a generational player available.. or even someone on a Sedin level. Now we'll pick top 5.. and it's a crapshoot, just like it was a crapshoot between Nico and Nolan, Hughes and Kakko because they were both "really good". Kind of annoying after a while. Give me a MacKinnon, a Matthews, a Scheifele, heck even a Marner. -_-

.. and maybe we have those already but just don't see them yet. or maybe it would be nice that when we're actually picking that the guys are already projected to be stellar franchise players. would be nice.

just 2 points away from 2nd (3rd) overall.. in a crapshoot draft.
- MartysBetter88

Maybe it sucks that there's no elite talent or maybe its a godsend. Would you rather have your teams cap tied to 3-4 elite players and filled with garbage or would you rather have a team built around 6-10 studs with great depth? And call me crazy or optimistic but Hughes is going to be a elite, don't understand how people can't see that

not to sound doom and gloom again.. ....but .. i mean every year we're drafting near the top there isn't a generational player available.. or even someone on a Sedin level. Now we'll pick top 5.. and it's a crapshoot, just like it was a crapshoot between Nico and Nolan, Hughes and Kakko because they were both "really good". Kind of annoying after a while. Give me a MacKinnon, a Matthews, a Scheifele, heck even a Marner. -_-

.. and maybe we have those already but just don't see them yet. or maybe it would be nice that when we're actually picking that the guys are already projected to be stellar franchise players. would be nice.

just 2 points away from 2nd (3rd) overall.. in a crapshoot draft.
- MartysBetter88

I mean Hughes is on the same path as Scheiffele and MacKinnon. Schieffele didn't "break out" until year 3(5 years after he was drafted, since he didnt play in the NHL in his d+1 and d+2) and Mack didn't fully boom until year 5. Hughes was literally projected to be a franchise player and hes looking like he fully will be. Once again, since you clearly dont understand, the issue isn't our franchise centers. It's the players surrounding them. Zero goal scorers, or even forwards in general, that are actual top 6 talents, besides mayne Bratt and hes obviously not a goal scorer. Kuokkanen and Sharangovich are fine players, playing above expectation even, but they're 3rd liners. And thats who Hughes is playing with. Thats the issue.

As for this draft, we were expected to be bad and we're getting a good player again. So whatever. Hopefully its one of the top 3 D, but there's good forwards too.

not to sound doom and gloom again.. ....but .. i mean every year we're drafting near the top there isn't a generational player available.. or even someone on a Sedin level. Now we'll pick top 5.. and it's a crapshoot, just like it was a crapshoot between Nico and Nolan, Hughes and Kakko because they were both "really good". Kind of annoying after a while. Give me a MacKinnon, a Matthews, a Scheifele, heck even a Marner. -_-

.. and maybe we have those already but just don't see them yet. or maybe it would be nice that when we're actually picking that the guys are already projected to be stellar franchise players. would be nice.

just 2 points away from 2nd (3rd) overall.. in a crapshoot draft.
- MartysBetter88

I hear ya. While we do have a great Tendy prospect, and Nico/Hughes may become a lethal 1/2 punch down the middle, we certainly aren't seeing the results yet. Mercer is killing it, Holtz still has lots to prove, but some quality RW prospects for sure. Aside from Smith and Severson, we don't have good D.

At the end of the day, our veterans and guys logging the most minutes are to blame. PK has been a nightmare. Say what you want about how much he improved from last season, but his play has not been anywhere near good enough to compete on a nightly basis. Same goes for our LW's. Johansson/Zacha simply aren't top 6 LW's, and it became abundantly clear throughout the season. Wood does more in his 12 minutes per night than any other forward seems to do on this squad. Our most experienced Vets simply weren't good enough.

not to sound doom and gloom again.. ....but .. i mean every year we're drafting near the top there isn't a generational player available.. or even someone on a Sedin level. Now we'll pick top 5.. and it's a crapshoot, just like it was a crapshoot between Nico and Nolan, Hughes and Kakko because they were both "really good". Kind of annoying after a while. Give me a MacKinnon, a Matthews, a Scheifele, heck even a Marner. -_-

.. and maybe we have those already but just don't see them yet. or maybe it would be nice that when we're actually picking that the guys are already projected to be stellar franchise players. would be nice.

just 2 points away from 2nd (3rd) overall.. in a crapshoot draft.
- MartysBetter88

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I mean Hughes is on the same path as Scheiffele and MacKinnon. Schieffele didn't "break out" until year 3(5 years after he was drafted, since he didnt play in the NHL in his d+1 and d+2) and Mack didn't fully boom until year 5. Hughes was literally projected to be a franchise player and hes looking like he fully will be. Once again, since you clearly dont understand, the issue isn't our franchise centers. It's the players surrounding them. Zero goal scorers, or even forwards in general, that are actual top 6 talents, besides mayne Bratt and hes obviously not a goal scorer. Kuokkanen and Sharangovich are fine players, playing above expectation even, but they're 3rd liners. And thats who Hughes is playing with. Thats the issue.

As for this draft, we were expected to be bad and we're getting a good player again. So whatever. Hopefully its one of the top 3 D, but there's good forwards too.
- vlongo4419

Niko and Hughes are a fantastic 1-2 punch down the middle. Ty Smith will be a first pair defenseman. Devils need scoring wingers on the Hughes and Niko lines. The team is young, but drafting in the mid rounds are super important as we know top 3 picks are not always generaitonal. See Laf, Kakko, Hughes, Niko, Eichel, etc

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- Pomegrant

Fair enough

Maybe it sucks that there's no elite talent or maybe its a godsend. Would you rather have your teams cap tied to 3-4 elite players and filled with garbage or would you rather have a team built around 6-10 studs with great depth? And call me crazy or optimistic but Hughes is going to be a elite, don't understand how people can't see that
- justTHEtip1220

Teams with 3-4 elite players usually find ways to win. Worked out well for the Penguins. I surly hope we have 6-10 studs with great depth, and I hope Hughes ends up being elite. I think he can be very good/B+ level. I have less confidence for more than that but am still hopeful.

Teams with 3-4 elite players usually find ways to win. Worked out well for the Penguins. I surly hope we have 6-10 studs with great depth, and I hope Hughes ends up being elite. I think he can be very good/B+ level. I have less confidence for more than that but am still hopeful.
- MartysBetter88

Hughes is already entering elite territory, there shouldnt even be a question of that after how hes played this season. He's among the best of the best in most underlying numbers among centers in the league. He dominates and carries his linemates no matter who he is put with, and is the best forward night in and night out. The points will come.

Its fair to question everything else if you truely want to be doom and gloom. Holtz, Foote, and Mercer are expected to be good and be goal scorers, but we never know until they start playing. After Ty, we have nothing guaranteed on the back end. We know Mack is legit, but if something happens to him we have absolutely nothing behind him and the system is pretty bare(maybe Daws can be a decent backup eventually?). All of those are legit question marks and concerns, but theres still hope and a light at the end of the tunnel, atleast in terms of forwards coming.

This season in actuality has been a success(if your pre-season expectations were realistic, which is that this season was a true development year and nothing else) just based on the growth of the young players. Multiple times in offseason posts here i, and other realistic fans, considered a successful year being the young kids taking a step forward, continue to grow and play well, and still ending up with a top 10 pick. Thats exactly how it is playing out, honestly even moreso than some expected. The future is bright

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.

Hughes is already entering elite territory, there shouldnt even be a question of that after how hes played this season. He's among the best of the best in most underlying numbers among centers in the league. He dominates and carries his linemates no matter who he is put with, and is the best forward night in and night out. The points will come.

Its fair to question everything else if you truely want to be doom and gloom. Holtz, Foote, and Mercer are expected to be good and be goal scorers, but we never know until they start playing. After Ty, we have nothing guaranteed on the back end. We know Mack is legit, but if something happens to him we have absolutely nothing behind him and the system is pretty bare(maybe Daws can be a decent backup eventually?). All of those are legit question marks and concerns, but theres still hope and a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of forwards coming. This season in totality has been a success, if your pre-season expectations were realitic(which is that this season was a true development year and nothing else), just based on the growth of the young players. The future is bright

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

maybe 6-10 is a stretch but I feel the devils aren't too far away.

Hughes - going to be elite
Nico/Smith/Blackwood - on the way to being studs
Holtz/This years top pick - hopefully at least 1 develops into stud

That's 5 right there, and 6 if both holtz and this years pick develop into studs

That's not even mentioning some of the other prospects to fill into those depth roles and compete for more - plus more depth really ups the play in practice and games which was something that was really lacking in the devils system until recently

Once these guys develop some more NJ will be a pretty attractive team for say a 28 year old player entering UFA. This is when you spend that extra money and bring in a top 4 dman and top 6 forward. I don't see management rushing into anything as they are building a team that can compete for 10+ years