Todd Cordell: Senators 7, Devils 3: Five observations from a dreadful showing in Ottawa

Todd Cordell: Senators 7, Devils 3: Five observations from a dreadful showing in Ottawa
- Todd.Cordell

I have one observation..WE STINK

When Schneider is in goal, the defence is completely disjointed in front of him: no confidence whatsoever. One has to be active: either the defence has to cut off passing lanes and the goalie address the shooter, or the defence addresses the shooter and the goaltender sinks back in... no consistency in that department. The first four goals were caused by beer hockey defence because the guys don't know what to do in front of him. As soon as Kinkaid was out there: they coordinated a lot better... the fifth goal was a fluke, but the game was a lot closer.

Whatever Schneider's issues are with the defence or vice versa, they have to pounce on and get on top of, because it looked exposed last night.

The bottom nine looks thin: the team's depth just isn't looking good. The team has to solve that open center slot left by Zacha being sent down and immediately. If it's not Quenneville, it's probably going to be through trade. Truth be told, though: I'd like to see Q get about 15-20 more games there before they go the trade route if they can hold it at around a true 500 record (W>L+OT+SO) - at least they win with him in the line-up. If he's your zero point albatross, then you don't send your albatross away.... keep him around.

It was like the Tampa game all over again, what a sh!t show!

Thanks for the write up Todd - although I prefer not to relive last night's abomination. This team certainly has a Jekyll and Hyde type feel to it. Will the real NJ Devils, "please stand up...please stand up"

When Schneider is in goal, the defence is completely disjointed in front of him: no confidence whatsoever. One has to be active: either the defence has to cut off passing lanes and the goalie address the shooter, or the defence addresses the shooter and the goaltender sinks back in... no consistency in that department. The first four goals were caused by beer hockey defence because the guys don't know what to do in front of him. As soon as Kinkaid was out there: they coordinated a lot better... the fifth goal was a fluke, but the game was a lot closer.

Whatever Schneider's issues are with the defence or vice versa, they have to pounce on and get on top of, because it looked exposed last night.

The bottom nine looks thin: the team's depth just isn't looking good. The team has to solve that open center slot left by Zacha being sent down and immediately. If it's not Quenneville, it's probably going to be through trade. Truth be told, though: I'd like to see Q get about 15-20 more games there before they go the trade route if they can hold it at around a true 500 record (W>L+OT+SO) - at least they win with him in the line-up. If he's your zero point albatross, then you don't send your albatross away.... keep him around.
- archromat

I was gonna post something similar. Seems like even last yr the team sucked with Cory in net. Weird poop, not sure what is going on.

Quenville for Assistant?

Tank for Hughes? We are in dire need of another allstar offensively and defensively we need an allstar plus another good defenseman. Green and Lovejoy need to go. We could also use Bratt right about now.

I was gonna post something similar. Seems like even last yr the team sucked with Cory in net. Weird poop, not sure what is going on.

Quenville for Assistant?
- Leniwm1

I guess it's akin to pitchers not getting run support. Remember Johan Santana on the Mets? Guy never got any support.

Tank for Hughes? We are in dire need of another allstar offensively and defensively we need an allstar plus another good defenseman. Green and Lovejoy need to go. We could also use Bratt right about now.
- Devils4ever

Players dont tank. They want to win and get pts because thats what they get paid off of when new contracts are needed.

Tanking comes from Shero and selling off the guys that contribute to cause the wins to happen.

So unless Shero trades 2/3 of the top line, Cory, Greene, Zajac, then no tanking will occur, ON PURPOSE.

But what we have seems to be a tanking because we suck!

Players dont tank. They want to win and get pts because thats what they get paid off of when new contracts are needed.

Tanking comes from Shero and selling off the guys that contribute to cause the wins to happen.

So unless Shero trades 2/3 of the top line, Cory, Greene, Zajac, then no tanking will occur, ON PURPOSE.

But what we have seems to be a tanking because we suck!
- Leniwm1

I said that half jokingly. The players obviously wont tank and I dont think we are selling. But by the looks of it's ,even though it's still early, we may not make the playoffs this year. If they realize half way through that we arent making it then maybe they should strongly consider trying for a top pick. We also dont have a goalie in the system to look forward to so idk how that's going to look in a few years. Cory isnt going to be good enough to be a starter in a few years and KK isnt a starter. We may be in trouble.

I said that half jokingly. The players obviously wont tank and I dont think we are selling. But by the looks of it's ,even though it's still early, we may not make the playoffs this year. If they realize half way through that we arent making it then maybe they should strongly consider trying for a top pick. We also dont have a goalie in the system to look forward to so idk how that's going to look in a few years. Cory isnt going to be good enough to be a starter in a few years and KK isnt a starter. We may be in trouble.
- Devils4ever

Shero needs to find out if Hall wants to stay otherwise ship him out ASAP for a kings ransom. Imagine an MVP entering his prime? 2 1sts, 1 top prospect, and some other poop at least.

Might as well give Yokalev a game at this point instead of him riding the bench. Sit mueller cause I don’t think I’ve seen someone turn the puck over more than he did yesterday.

When’s the last time Wood has gotten a point. Guy gets a new contract and disappears. The only secondary scoring if seems is Zajac and Coleman. Might as well roll

Hall-Nico-Palm
Coleman-Zajac-Mojo
Boyle-dea-Anderson
Wood-Seney-Stafford

That bottom 9 is a disaster

Just some random thoughts:
The devs have some real nice pieces, just not enough, just enough to hide the blemishes most times.
Bratt is not the savior I don't even know if he is a good complimentary piece.
Perhaps the problem was not Zacha, but the players around him.
Goaltending can only be as good as the D lets it be. Face it we have som nice second and third pairings but no true first line Dmen.
Nico really needs to bury some of his chances. Leading the team in high danger shots is meaningless unless he starts burying some of them.
The team is at an inflection (vocab word of the day) point. Either need to go all for playoffs or start developing rteam more, what I mean is no more Stafford, Lovejoy, etc.
Back to beer. If only I had the Giants to root for. NY sucks for sports right now.

Just some random thoughts:
The devs have some real nice pieces, just not enough, just enough to hide the blemishes most times.
Bratt is not the savior I don't even know if he is a good complimentary piece.
Perhaps the problem was not Zacha, but the players around him.
Goaltending can only be as good as the D lets it be. Face it we have som nice second and third pairings but no true first line Dmen.
Nico really needs to bury some of his chances. Leading the team in high danger shots is meaningless unless he starts burying some of them.
The team is at an inflection (vocab word of the day) point. Either need to go all for playoffs or start developing rteam more, what I mean is no more Stafford, Lovejoy, etc.
Back to beer. If only I had the Giants to root for. NY sucks for sports right now.
- redmonsters

My only rebuttal to this is that Nico is only on his 2nd season. Hes only going to get better. Hes definitely not a problem, long term at least. We need a true #1 defenseman and another 1 or 2 Hall caliber players.

My only rebuttal to this is that Nico is only on his 2nd season. Hes only going to get better. Hes definitely not a problem, long term at least. We need a true #1 defenseman and another 1 or 2 Hall caliber players.
- Devils4ever

If Butcher played like Butcher of last yr from the start we'd be in better shape.
KK played awesome most of the time.
Seems like Sev and Butcher like to take turns who plays well. If all the important people were playing their game we'd be unreal.

Last seasons preseason gave me much confidence and it carried through. When the team was down by 3, they always came back. I don't have any of those vibes with this team. Its the Devils of old, get behind in the game and we are screwed.