Todd Cordell: Lightning 5, Devils 1: Five observations from yet another loss

DOOMED

For the third time in as many tries, the Devils were completely out-classed by the Bolts losing by 3+ goals yet again.

Well let's hope we don't face them in the playoffs!

To me Shero has an absolutely disastrous off season, so nothing that is happening surprises me at all...better luck next year I guess!

To me Shero has an absolutely disastrous off season, so nothing that is happening surprises me at all...better luck next year I guess!
- RussH1964

What could he have done differently? He let a bunch of dead weight go and didn’t sign any of the junk that was available.

Well let's hope we don't face them in the playoffs!
- FAZOOL

I don't think we'll have problem facing anybody in the playoffs this year.

I fully expect the Devils to make a Florida Panthers like run near the end of the season only to just miss out and screw up their draft selection. It's that type of year.

Im pretty Shero already said we still rebuilding so his lack of off season additions doesnt matter. What if his goal is to try to get another top pick? He certainly wouldnt say that to fan base but his actions prove it. If thats the case, why are we all complaining about these losses. Let them pile up I say and get hughes.

most top teams are successful because a few top picks.

I hear that Jack Hughes guy plays some good hockeyball

I guess its time to start plaing fantasy GM to have any fun this season.i think retaing some salary Zajac might be a valuable piece. Also Mojo and others might bring something, Hopefully a change of scenery prospect than picks. Lottery makes Draft a crapshoot so can't count on anything there yet. Thinking Vatanen, Severson, Butcher and Mueller make good statt at building a defense, but still need #1. And Smith is coming as well. Love to hear other's ideas.

What could he have done differently? He let a bunch of dead weight go and didn’t sign any of the junk that was available.
- shvingter88

Exactly. With what was out there I can't imagine the team would be much better, they'd just be in worse shape cap-wise. I'm not blaming Shero for this disappointing start.

Todd Cordell: Lightning 5, Devils 1: Five observations from yet another loss
- Todd.Cordell

It's getting really frustrating to follow and watch this team on a consistent basis. I cannot, for the life of me, understand the decisions this coaching staff is making.

How, against the league's most proficient offense, do you decide to skate one less forward? And you can tell me the plan was to double shift hall, but there is still no reason to dress an extra d-man when you already have scoring issues.

Why Ben Lovejoy continues to dress is beyond me. Santini, even if not healthy or conditioned, or Gryba are both better options. His failure to make a 10-ft pass to Hall led to Hall's benching and, more importantly, a TB goal. Lovejoy is like the coaches son we've all played with--we know he doesn't really deserve to be on the team, we don't show him up because we know he's a favorite amongst higher powers, but we know he's out of place on the roster.

Enough with Kinkaid. He's a decent backup, nothing more, nothing less. That Kucherov goal was absolutely stoppable, and on a nightly basis he gets burned because he's off his angle or out of position. I'd rather see Schneider struggle to find his game than continue playing Kinkaid.

A little game here...

Who is one or two players you absolutely thought Lou was gonna get during his tenure. Not who you wanted, but thought based on rumors, needs etc.

I always thought:

Rob Blake instead of Colorado.
Amonte
Selanne before second Anaheim stint.

A little game here...

Who is one or two players you absolutely thought Lou was gonna get during his tenure. Not who you wanted, but thought based on rumors, needs etc.

I always thought:

Rob Blake instead of Colorado.
Amonte
Selanne before second Anaheim stint.
- Leniwm1

Lou never got big named UFAs. Better question is who were you most surprised he DID acquire? I'd say it'd be between Gilmour, Mogilny, Kovalchuk, and Lemieux (the second time). I'll also admit I grew up in the 90s and I realize Fetisov, for political reasons, is probably the best answer.

Lou never got big named UFAs. Better question is who were you most surprised he DID acquire? I'd say it'd be between Gilmour, Mogilny, Kovalchuk, and Lemieux (the second time). I'll also admit I grew up in the 90s and I realize Fetisov, for political reasons, is probably the best answer.
- jersey1414

I should be more specific and say trade deadline deals.

I should be more specific and say trade deadline deals.
- Leniwm1

LOL, take out Fetisov and those were all deadline (or close to it) deals. Or at least beyond mid-season.

Lou never got big named UFAs. Better question is who were you most surprised he DID acquire? I'd say it'd be between Gilmour, Mogilny, Kovalchuk, and Lemieux (the second time). I'll also admit I grew up in the 90s and I realize Fetisov, for political reasons, is probably the best answer.
- jersey1414

Jamie Langenbrunner, although I was livid he moved Jason Arnott and Randy McKay to get him (and Joe Nieuwendyk).

Stephane Richer.

Bernie Nichols.

Lyle Odeline? (frank)ing LOVE Lyle Odeline.

Shero Had an Absent off season . We lost Maroon ,Grabner and Moore
Not sure we wanted Moore or Grabner but Maroon would have been nice .JVR would have been an upgrade.

He has traded for Palmieri , Hall , Vats , Mojo , Mueller , Cory,Maroon , Grabner


Signed Lovejoy , Boyle , Butcher , Yako , Noesen ,Stafford ,Greene

And we drafted Nico ,Bratt , Zacha ,Coleman , Zajac , Severson , Kinkaid ,Seney , Wood .

This year he signed a bunch of AHl players . Gabriel ,Tagradi , Gryba and VAKO
Yako only one to make the team.

Traded for NONE . After seasons of getting a established player to rebuild ( one a year ) this year traded for no one ...

2019-NONE
2018 Marron ,Grabner , Lack
2017 MOJO , Vatanen , Mueller
2016 Taylor Hall , Pelly smith , Stempniak
2015 Palmieri

What could he have done differently? He let a bunch of dead weight go and didn’t sign any of the junk that was available.
- shvingter88

Maybe sign John Tavares. He seems pretty good.
More realistically, Calvin DeHaan and a real insurance goalie like Curtis McElhinney or Robin Lehner instead of Eddy Lack would have been nice. Instead we have Captain Inconsistent KK and Cory 'what recovery' Schneider.

I'm not killing Shero, but we are 2nd to last in payroll and operating like a small market team. I know people like to argue he was smart but the cap space is useless and he could have signed guys even to be tradable assets. We did dinky do and now we stink.

Clearly letting John Moore go was the back breaker because we can't win in OT. KIDDING.

People mad about not spending money in free agency are idiots. The real way to use cap space is to eat bad contracts from other teams in exchange for draft picks. The problem is that they keep increasing the cap so these teams with their gigantic bloated rosters get to resign all of their players.

Which of the free agent signings that people were mad we didn't get are even doing well?

People mad about not spending money in free agency are idiots. The real way to use cap space is to eat bad contracts from other teams in exchange for draft picks. The problem is that they keep increasing the cap so these teams with their gigantic bloated rosters get to resign all of their players.

Which of the free agent signings that people were mad we didn't get are even doing well?
- Pomegrant

I agree with you, BUT the higher the cap goes that extra $$ will just go to the MAthews and Laines of the world.

Maybe sign John Tavares. He seems pretty good.
More realistically, Calvin DeHaan and a real insurance goalie like Curtis McElhinney or Robin Lehner instead of Eddy Lack would have been nice. Instead we have Captain Inconsistent KK and Cory 'what recovery' Schneider.

I'm not killing Shero, but we are 2nd to last in payroll and operating like a small market team. I know people like to argue he was smart but the cap space is useless and he could have signed guys even to be tradable assets. We did dinky do and now we stink.

Clearly letting John Moore go was the back breaker because we can't win in OT. KIDDING.
- Queenie_5_hole

The bright side is that we can land a very good player in the draft if we can pick in the top 5. 🤷🏻‍♂️

What could he have done differently? He let a bunch of dead weight go and didn’t sign any of the junk that was available.
- shvingter88

Agreed. He did nothing to a group that never belonged in the playoffs. no point shooting for 6th in the east when hughes is looming in the distant.

I fully expect the Devils to make a Florida Panthers like run near the end of the season only to just miss out and screw up their draft selection. It's that type of year.
- devilspep

pessimistic in all the worste ways. Just pray we finish last, or win the cup please

I guess its time to start plaing fantasy GM to have any fun this season.i think retaing some salary Zajac might be a valuable piece. Also Mojo and others might bring something, Hopefully a change of scenery prospect than picks. Lottery makes Draft a crapshoot so can't count on anything there yet. Thinking Vatanen, Severson, Butcher and Mueller make good statt at building a defense, but still need #1. And Smith is coming as well. Love to hear other's ideas.
- redmonsters

Well...Bobrovsky, panarin, Simmonds, stone, Karlsson will be a solid start. With Hughes, Hisch, Zacha rounding off a young C core.