Todd Cordell: P3 New Jersey Devils @ New York Islanders: Five things to watch

Severson has never been great defensively and tends to get exposed often. Frustrating to watch because you know the talent is there for a top 4 defensemen but he needs to show more consistency.

Ty Smith gives me hope for the future of this D core if he can compliment Butcher and Vatanan.

I thought Seney was a winger.

It's disappointing to read that you don't think Mirco Mueller is any good. Was hoping he'd step up and at least look good in the preseason. We really need him or Santini to pan out.

It's disappointing to read that you don't think Mirco Mueller is any good. Was hoping he'd step up and at least look good in the preseason. We really need him or Santini to pan out.
- Queenie_5_hole

I really do not want Micro being judged just yet. Not until he gets more steady playing time and with confidence. I believe he is better than most say. Defense men develop later than forwards. Give him a chance, if he doesn't improve with steady time, well then I'll agree. Same goes for Santini, I think Santini is Top 4 material, same deal.

Zacha needs to impose himself in order to get more shots. What hurts his game the most is that he doesn't make enough space for himself out there, whether it's using his linemates to do so, or beating defensemen or the other center in puck battles...

Working on your shot is fine, but if I'm coaching you, I want you to work on your foot speed and grind, because shots in the NHL are earned by doing other good things on the ice, and he hasn't done enough of that.

Hischier, for example, got a lot of shots last year because he already does all of the things you want to see Zacha do; he knows how to make space for himself. But Hischier's shot isn't lethal, yet.

Hischier had 180 shots last year and a lot of them were really good ones. Zacha, in comparison, had 112 (and probably a lot of throw-aways given his shot is a pretty hard one). Suppose you balance their TOI, which is probably 3 mins a game (edit: less than 2, but Hischier gets almost double PP time), that 112 isn't getting much higher.

It's disappointing to read that you don't think Mirco Mueller is any good. Was hoping he'd step up and at least look good in the preseason. We really need him or Santini to pan out.
- Queenie_5_hole

He had a good world championship so I'm hoping he builds off of that.

He had a good world championship so I'm hoping he builds off of that.
- Pomegrant

Me too. That's why I found the unimpressive preseason game a little disappointing.

It's just one game.... we'll see.

Me too. That's why I found the unimpressive preseason game a little disappointing.

It's just one game.... we'll see.
- Queenie_5_hole

Him and Severson did not mesh well together at all. That was not a good look.

one would like to believe playing with the competitive Quenneville and Andersen will spark Zacha. or maybe he sparks himself.. since he's a 6th overall pick and all.. not that that matters..
anyway.. how bout that Islanders 2nd line?? holy hits! Nice to see Bernier and Sislo still around lol.

last call, then I'll stop, I promise.

...........Anyone looking to join another fantasy league? I have a few openings. No keepers or money. 20 teams and large rosters, so the draft is lengthy and can really define your season. Stats include the regular, plus hits/blocks/faceoffs won.

Live random order snake draft is Friday the 28th at 9pm EST. Message me if you're interested.

Zacha-Quenneville looking good together on this 4v4.

Getting a lot of penalty kill practice at least...

Zacha-Quenneville looking good together on this 4v4.
- Pomegrant

Busts

uh this Gabriel guy is a (frank)ing moron. hope he doesn't get a whiff of the line up.

This is a pretty terrible game though. Not many positives to take away from it.

uh this Gabriel guy is a (frank)ing moron. hope he doesn't get a whiff of the line up.

This is a pretty terrible game though. Not many positives to take away from it.
- Pomegrant

Pretty sure he played himself right back into the A with that performance would of liked to see him and martin go or at least gryba

so? how'd they look? how was Zacha, Quenn, McLeod.. and Severson? At least we got some more shots though.

so? how'd they look? how was Zacha, Quenn, McLeod.. and Severson? At least we got some more shots though.
- MartysBetter88

flow of the game was terrible because way too many penalties. they were good 5v5 and controlled a lot of the play but could never get into a good rhythm.

Zacha was strong on the puck and went to the net a lot, it was promising so hopefully he builds on that. Quenn looked good. I haven't been that impressed with McLeod. If he's not skating he doesn't seem to have a lot of impact at all.

Some of the other guys like Pietila and Seney look like they really want to crack the line up. have been playing hard.