Todd Cordell: Coleman - Zajac - Noesen were one of the league's best defensive trios

Hopefully this means Zajac is off the PP and he can focus on defense. BUt even with the team we got, I'm super excited!

Zacha needs to center the 2nd PP to grow.

Only reason I can think they had zajac and Boyle on the PP was for winning faceoffs.

That pretty much leaves Wood on the 4th line (assuming 2nd line of mojo/Zacha/Bratt) and I’m not really sure if I like that.

Keep this line
Wood and Bratt are the wild cards.

Hall-Nico -Palmieri
Mojo- Zacha - Bratt/ Quenneville
Wood - Boyle - Anderson
Coleman -Zajac - Noesen

Do you think Hall and Nico have been playing in the off season together, developng more chemistry and trying out new stuff?

Do players bother about that stuff in off season?

Also, is it ok that Greene, in such decline, is still captain? Shouldn't a captain be a little more useful? Perfect time to give it to Hall, right before new contract and such.

He is no where near as bad as Salvador was for his entire captaincy. That was literally given to him after putting up career numbers in the play offs ( past the age of 35 ) and was never going to happen again. Would of been nice to let another team reward him for play they would never get from him again.

IMO the captain does not have to be the best player. He should be the hardest worker and a guy that is respected the locker room. Not saying Hall should not be the captain eventually but I have no problem with Greene being the captain until his contract expires.

Lines I would try the following:

Hall Nice Bratt (they had chemistry to start the season - if it doesn't click you can change)

Mojo Zacha Palmeri (Give Zacha offensive wingers and hope he can be the player we hope for)

Wood Zajac (Q or Anderson) (Zajac has more Offensive skill than Boyle, if it doesn't work switch Zajac and Boyle)

Coleman Boyle Noesson (Rather Zajac with offensive players but if doesn't work switch back)

I know everyone hates Zajac but I think Devils are better with him than without him.

Loved the action Wood, Zacha and Palmeri were able to create last year.

MoJo-Hischier-Hall
Wood-Zacha-Palmeri
Coleman-Zajac-Noesen
JQ/Anderson-Boyle-Bratt

Bratt's ceiling probably shakes out somewhere in the middle of who he was in the first half vs the second (and they have to find a way to get him going because he should not have even been on the team in the second half). I think it'd be interesting to see how useful/effective he can be in a depth scoring role instead of trying to bang around against top pairings.

Loved the action Wood, Zacha and Palmeri were able to create last year.

MoJo-Hischier-Hall
Wood-Zacha-Palmeri
Coleman-Zajac-Noesen
JQ/Anderson-Boyle-Bratt

Bratt's ceiling probably shakes out somewhere in the middle of who he was in the first half vs the second (and they have to find a way to get him going because he should not have even been on the team in the second half). I think it'd be interesting to see how useful/effective he can be in a depth scoring role instead of trying to bang around against top pairings.
- Cmor11794

Bratt was lost in the second half because he was shuffled around when Zajac returned. He plays very good when the players around him are very good. He didnt put up many points the second half but he was effective and the opposition couldnt leave him alone. This showed when he was paired back up with Hall/Nico for a brief time.

Also I said this awhile ago (dont know how true it is), but many people said Bratt was afraid of getting injured so he did not attack as much.

Also I said this awhile ago (dont know how true it is), but many people said Bratt was afraid of getting injured so he did not attack as much - RubberBiscuitz

Can you provide sources for this, I'm not questioning the legitimacy of what you said, I would just like to see your proof.

I think people are way to confident on Zacha playing center and Muller starting for the devils next year, anything can happen in camp, let alone during the season.

Keep an eye on Yegor Sharangovich

Can you provide sources for this, I'm not questioning the legitimacy of what you said, I would just like to see your proof.
- cu45161

Ill see if i can find something. I think it was on reddit and Chico would say it some times on the radio (not that he was afraid). He talked about Bratt giving up the puck very easily when players would come close to him instead of using his speed to blow past them.

Hall Nico Palmieri
Wood Zacha Mojo
Coleman Zajac Noesan
Bratt Boyle Whoever wins this spot

What I would go with and just switch around Wood and Bratt based on whose playing better.

We have two lines we can keep together. It's the other two lines that are hard to figure out.

I think people are way to confident on Zacha playing center and Muller starting for the devils next year, anything can happen in camp, let alone during the season.

Keep an eye on Yegor Sharangovich
- cu45161

They were always playing him at center, even when he wasn't that good. Now that he's emerged as a good forechecker and has roughly 2 years NHL experience at the role, it's a pretty safe assumption.

Loved the action Wood, Zacha and Palmeri were able to create last year.

MoJo-Hischier-Hall
Wood-Zacha-Palmeri
Coleman-Zajac-Noesen
JQ/Anderson-Boyle-Bratt

Bratt's ceiling probably shakes out somewhere in the middle of who he was in the first half vs the second (and they have to find a way to get him going because he should not have even been on the team in the second half). I think it'd be interesting to see how useful/effective he can be in a depth scoring role instead of trying to bang around against top pairings.
- Cmor11794

Move hall to right?

Do you think Hall and Nico have been playing in the off season together, developng more chemistry and trying out new stuff?

Do players bother about that stuff in off season?

Also, is it ok that Greene, in such decline, is still captain? Shouldn't a captain be a little more useful? Perfect time to give it to Hall, right before new contract and such.
- Leniwm1

Hall and Nico probably weren’t even on the same continent during the off-season. It’s fine. Most pros don’t practice with their teammates during the offseason.

Andy Greene is our Captain because of the type of person and leader he is. Not because of the quality of his play. If Hall resigns he’ll eventually be captain. But we are not stripping Greene of his captaincy.

Hall and Nico probably weren’t even on the same continent during the off-season. It’s fine. Most pros don’t practice with their teammates during the offseason.

Andy Greene is our Captain because of the type of person and leader he is. Not because of the quality of his play. If Hall resigns he’ll eventually be captain. But we are not stripping Greene of his captaincy.
- Queenie_5_hole

But then dont you fall into this thing where you want him to walk the walk? Like how can he be like, hey boys, we gotta play better, etc., when he causes quite a few problems all by himself.

Im sure he's a great guy and all, but... I think the team knows who the leader are, Zaj, Greene,. etc. I think they should retool the C' and A's to the future of this team so they can get used to the leadership role, while the old men can still lead without the letters. This is assuming the kids show qualities to wear the letter, otherwise scrap the idea.

But then dont you fall into this thing where you want him to walk the walk? Like how can he be like, hey boys, we gotta play better, etc., when he causes quite a few problems all by himself.

Im sure he's a great guy and all, but... I think the team knows who the leader are, Zaj, Greene,. etc. I think they should retool the C' and A's to the future of this team so they can get used to the leadership role, while the old men can still lead without the letters. This is assuming the kids show qualities to wear the letter, otherwise scrap the idea.
- Leniwm1

If we are worried about the leadership then just know we got a few former jr captains in the system ( Speers and McLeod come to mind ).

I havent seen Joey Anderson play but would Palms be a pretty accurate comparision for his style of play? Im not saying his ceiling is that high but do they play a similar brand of hockey?

I havent seen Joey Anderson play but would Palms be a pretty accurate comparision for his style of play? Im not saying his ceiling is that high but do they play a similar brand of hockey?
- Shampoo

Johan franzen