Todd Cordell: Five takeaways from the Devils' convincing win over the Capitals

Blandisi left out in the cold, sad really

Opening night lineup from what I think will happen

Hall-zacha-palms
Johanson-hischier-stafford
Bratt-henrique-quinville
Wood-boyle-blandisi
Noesen

Greene severson
Lovejoy Moore
Mueller butcher
Santini prout as extras

I think santini should be in but they won't take Lovejoy out and Moore will be in and with butcher he brings offense which they need from the back

This is very exciting!

Hischier was electric and Zacha continues to do well on the top line. That's all you need to see from preseason. They'll head into the season with a lot of confidence.

Blandisi left out in the cold, sad really
- cu45161

Not following you on this. Did they send him down or because he wasn't on the roster for last night's game?

If it's from the roster, I think Coleman and Rooney have almost no chance of sticking.

Anyone know how Nolan Patrick is doing in Philly? I haven't seen much on him.

The opening line up, I would like to see, I know no one eles does and I know it won't happen i'm just saying what I would like.

Hall-Zacha-Palmieri
Henrique-Hischier-Johanson
Bratt-Blandisi-Stafford
Wood-Quinville-Noesen


Greene-Santini
Mueller-severson
Butcher-Prout
as extras Lovejoy Moore

Todd Cordell: Five takeaways from the Devils' convincing win over the Capitals
- Todd.Cordell

I'm going to stir the pot early, before we've seen any regular season results, and say this is why I'm a firm believer that this team is better without Zajac. Look at the construction of this roster. With the exception of Boyle, who's a 4C and PK guy, this team is being built around speed and offensively ability. Zajac simply doesn't fit that mold.

Not following you on this. Did they send him down or because he wasn't on the roster for last night's game?

If it's from the roster, I think Coleman and Rooney have almost no chance of sticking.

Anyone know how Nolan Patrick is doing in Philly? I haven't seen much on him.
- Queenie_5_hole

he has 2 assists in 5 games, +3

he has 2 assists in 5 games, +3
- Velcro300

Bust

I'm going to stir the pot early, before we've seen any regular season results, and say this is why I'm a firm believer that this team is better without Zajac. Look at the construction of this roster. With the exception of Boyle, who's a 4C and PK guy, this team is being built around speed and offensively ability. Zajac simply doesn't fit that mold.
- jersey1414

Zajac would be a perfect 3rd line center and that's where I'm hoping he ends up next season if Zacha and Hischier can step up this season and grand the 1 and 2 center spots, having Zajac on the 3rd line would be ideal he can win face offs and he wouldn't be playing over his head and best of all we would still have him to play on the PK

Not following you on this. Did they send him down or because he wasn't on the roster for last night's game?

If it's from the roster, I think Coleman and Rooney have almost no chance of sticking.

Anyone know how Nolan Patrick is doing in Philly? I haven't seen much on him.
- Queenie_5_hole

Seems the Flyers think highly enough of him that the speculation is he will be the 2C and Giroux will be moved to LW.

I'm going to stir the pot early, before we've seen any regular season results, and say this is why I'm a firm believer that this team is better without Zajac. Look at the construction of this roster. With the exception of Boyle, who's a 4C and PK guy, this team is being built around speed and offensively ability. Zajac simply doesn't fit that mold.
- jersey1414

You can argue Zajacs term on his contract is bad, you can’t make the argument that NJ is better off without him. He consistently puts up 45ish points while playing against the opponents best and a lot of PK minutes. He’s a 2C, and the team will be better with him.

Seems the Flyers think highly enough of him that the speculation is he will be the 2C and Giroux will be moved to LW.
- smellmyfinger

I wonder how much of that has to do with Giroux's struggles. Besides all his talent, Patrick seems like bull compared to Claude.

You can argue Zajacs term on his contract is bad, you can’t make the argument that NJ is better off without him. He consistently puts up 45ish points while playing against the opponents best and a lot of PK minutes. He’s a 2C, and the team will be better with him.
- smellmyfinger

Faceoffs I'll concede. But this notion that he's some sort of shutdown center simply isn't true. Just because he "plays against other top forwards" doesn't mean he gets that label. Last time I checked, Crosby, Giroux, Ovechkin, etc. have never had issues scoring against us.

This could be an exciting season to watch for a change

I'm going to stir the pot early, before we've seen any regular season results, and say this is why I'm a firm believer that this team is better without Zajac. Look at the construction of this roster. With the exception of Boyle, who's a 4C and PK guy, this team is being built around speed and offensively ability. Zajac simply doesn't fit that mold.
- jersey1414

Seems a bit like the wrong conclusion. Hall had his best results playing with Travis, not one of the other centers who are faster (although admittedly I'm not sure how much faster Henrique, for example, is.

So far it looks as if we made the right choice with Nico.

cant believe Kerfoot and butcher are going to be co rookies of the years

I gotta say this... seeing these preseason games, i think the devils are better then what people are prediciting.... everything is clicking.. its sort of a shame that only 12 forwards can only play in a game and only 6 dman can play in game.. jeejeje... im ready for this season.. by the way, loved the schelacking we gave ottowa and washington jejeej

You can argue Zajacs term on his contract is bad, you can’t make the argument that NJ is better off without him. He consistently puts up 45ish points while playing against the opponents best and a lot of PK minutes. He’s a 2C, and the team will be better with him.
- smellmyfinger

In a perfect world we trade Zajac+ for a top2 Dman. Probably have to keep some salary, but it will never happen.

cant believe Kerfoot and butcher are going to be co rookies of the years
- DDM-Coga

More like Butcher and Hischier

Faceoffs I'll concede. But this notion that he's some sort of shutdown center simply isn't true. Just because he "plays against other top forwards" doesn't mean he gets that label. Last time I checked, Crosby, Giroux, Ovechkin, etc. have never had issues scoring against us.
- jersey1414

Over the past three years, while the Devils have been doormats, he has started between 55% and 58% of his shifts in the defensive zone, averaged over 2:30 minutes a night short handed and has a better than 2-1 takeaway- giveaway ratio.

In each of the past two seasons he has had the Devils 3rd highest amount of points, the assessment that he is somehow a liability is just plain wrong.

Seems the Flyers think highly enough of him that the speculation is he will be the 2C and Giroux will be moved to LW.
- smellmyfinger

nahhh

Not following you on this. Did they send him down or because he wasn't on the roster for last night's game?

If it's from the roster, I think Coleman and Rooney have almost no chance of sticking.

Anyone know how Nolan Patrick is doing in Philly? I haven't seen much on him.
- Queenie_5_hole

He is good