Todd Cordell: G3 New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers: Simmonds returns

Hi Todd,

I'm not going to disagree with your take on Simmonds during his overall time with Philly. But for the last 1 1/2 years here, he was a shell. He didn't engage physically, he was wildly inconsistent in his goal scoring, and he seemed very passive overall.

Again, loved the guy and he's also a great person off the ice, but the player he was last season was a long way off from the first 6 years here. But he deserves all of the accolades he will receive tonight.

5-0 Devils. Totally out shooting the Flyers as well.

This is the game that will erase the first two.

This should be the last time both Rooney and Hayden play over Zacha and Boqvist.

This should be the last time both Rooney and Hayden play over Zacha and Boqvist.
- willschulme

please let this be. it makes no sense. I get he's trying to change things up.. but Zacha and Boqvist were a part of the solution.

please let this be. it makes no sense. I get he's trying to change things up.. but Zacha and Boqvist were a part of the solution.
- MartysBetter88

What if they were sitting because of a potential trade? That seems to be a more logical answer than rooney being better?

Zacha and Boqvist haven't even been bad. It's just that you have to be "tough" against the Flyers because reasons.

What if they were sitting because of a potential trade? That seems to be a more logical answer than rooney being better?
- Leniwm1

It's because Hayden and Rooney can play a physical game. I think Hynes thinks our loss in Buffalo was because we didn't throw enough hits and not because we got piss poor play from every position. Consciously icing a worse lineup because you want more grit/60 is an ancient way of thinking and I'm surprised to see it from such a young coach. We're a few bad games from scratching Hughes.

I think it's more Hynes being desperate for ANYTHING to change what we saw in the last game.
but neither Boqvist or Zacha were the problem.. but they're the "4th line" and easiest to scratch without offending anyone else.
stupid. Wood sucks and Boqvist has potential. Wood has size and speed which helps,.. and he can get to the net.. but there's a goalie in the net, and you have to get the puck past him, which Miles can't do, due to a below-average shot to do it on his own, and below-average IQ to do it through teammates. Boqvist lacks in size but it's hard to be a dumber NHL forward than Wood.. for those at the NHL level, because obviously I'm a dumber player than Wood lol.
Maybe Hynes wants more "jam", as Zacha is a bit soft.. but he's smart and gets the job done. Rooney is.. Rooney.

whatever.

What remains most important is the other 3 lines.

We gotta see the top line be able to hold it down on both ends and not give the puck away- mostly Gusev being able to both create while being supported defensively.

We gotta see if the Zajac line can create offensive, despite Zajac not really being an offensive center.

We gotta see the Hughes line not be a train wreck defensively.. and by that I mean Coleman and Simmonds gel enough with Hughes to cover up for him being lost without the puck and overestimating what he can do with the puck. We gotta see Hughes be even a little more competent on both ends.. mmaybe his linemates can help.. though I still think Simmonds skates like he's 70.

We gotta see if the new D pairs can hold it down. I feel pretty confident they will and Cory will be ok.

trade for Frolik. ..because he's an experienced winger that doesn't skate like he's 70 and can be put on any line without making it a liability and not sacrificing a ton offensively, giving us greater flexibility and stability to find combos that work... and he's better than Simmonds, Hayden, Wood, Rooney, Boqvist, Zacha.. and Hughes. He's not amazing, but averages just less than a point every other game, is 31 y/o, and not tiny, which helps to a degree. Flames are right against the cap, and he's in the final year of his 4,300,000 cap hit. Sure, I'd rather use that cash on a dman, but Frolik would help stabilize the offense.

5-0 Devils? Tanner? Is that you?

I think it's more Hynes being desperate for ANYTHING to change what we saw in the last game.
but neither Boqvist or Zacha were the problem.. but they're the "4th line" and easiest to scratch without offending anyone else.
stupid. Wood sucks and Boqvist has potential. Wood has size and speed which helps,.. and he can get to the net.. but there's a goalie in the net, and you have to get the puck past him, which Miles can't do, due to a below-average shot to do it on his own, and below-average IQ to do it through teammates. Boqvist lacks in size but it's hard to be a dumber NHL forward than Wood.. for those at the NHL level, because obviously I'm a dumber player than Wood lol.
Maybe Hynes wants more "jam", as Zacha is a bit soft.. but he's smart and gets the job done. Rooney is.. Rooney.

whatever.

What remains most important is the other 3 lines.

We gotta see the top line be able to hold it down on both ends and not give the puck away- mostly Gusev being able to both create while being supported defensively.

We gotta see if the Zajac line can create offensive, despite Zajac not really being an offensive center.

We gotta see the Hughes line not be a train wreck defensively.. and by that I mean Coleman and Simmonds gel enough with Hughes to cover up for him being lost without the puck and overestimating what he can do with the puck. We gotta see Hughes be even a little more competent on both ends.. mmaybe his linemates can help.. though I still think Simmonds skates like he's 70.

We gotta see if the new D pairs can hold it down. I feel pretty confident they will and Cory will be ok.

trade for Frolik. ..because he's an experienced winger that doesn't skate like he's 70 and can be put on any line without making it a liability and not sacrificing a ton offensively, giving us greater flexibility and stability to find combos that work... and he's better than Simmonds, Hayden, Wood, Rooney, Boqvist, Zacha.. and Hughes. He's not amazing, but averages just less than a point every other game, is 31 y/o, and not tiny, which helps to a degree. Flames are right against the cap, and he's in the final year of his 4,300,000 cap hit. Sure, I'd rather use that cash on a dman, but Frolik would help stabilize the offense.
- MartysBetter88

You guys really that down on Wood?

You guys really that down on Wood?
- jmatchett383

I'm trying to like him. I keep reminding myself of the 4 scoring chances he had in game 1. But I'm just so used to him skating fast to the net and turning the puck over by either crashing into the goalie, crashing into the boards, or getting stripped.

I'm trying to like him. I keep reminding myself of the 4 scoring chances he had in game 1. But I'm just so used to him skating fast to the net and turning the puck over by either crashing into the goalie, crashing into the boards, or getting stripped.
- MartysBetter88

He just always stood out to be. Like I said, he reminded me of Randy McKay (in a bad way, as a Flyers fan). Not a huge guy or a big-time scorer, but a guy who can give you some secondary scoring pop and can throw if need be.

my guess is both goalies play like poop and the team with the better PP wins

I'm trying to like him. I keep reminding myself of the 4 scoring chances he had in game 1. But I'm just so used to him skating fast to the net and turning the puck over by either crashing into the goalie, crashing into the boards, or getting stripped.
- MartysBetter88

He got set up for a ton of prime scoring chances and failed to convert on all of them. He's just a 3-4th line tweener.

He got set up for a ton of prime scoring chances and failed to convert on all of them. He's just a 3-4th line tweener.
- Pomegrant

Most (MOST) 3rd/4th line tweeners don't have a 19-goal NHL season on their resume.

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Most (MOST) 3rd/4th line tweeners don't have a 19-goal NHL season on their resume.
- jmatchett383

He's more of a David Clarkson than anything.

He's more of a David Clarkson than anything.
- Pomegrant

Totally get that but Clarkson was a little better at everything except speed.
I think the problem for Wood is he just doesn't have great hands. And for that matter not much vision on plays. It's the same Wood vs. everyone attack that ends in a bad angle shot.

That said, I think he's a great guy to have on a 4th line other then salary cap issues.
a Wood-Zacha-Boqvist line to me looks dangerous. A Wood-Rooney-Hayden line looks like it won't be productive.

He just always stood out to be. Like I said, he reminded me of Randy McKay (in a bad way, as a Flyers fan). Not a huge guy or a big-time scorer, but a guy who can give you some secondary scoring pop and can throw if need be.
- jmatchett383

It sucks because he plays hard and doesnt take shifts off. But his skill is lacking.

Why is Boqvist not in the lineup again? What's the point of keeping him around if he's going to watch from the suites? 🙄

Why is Boqvist not in the lineup again? What's the point of keeping him around if he's going to watch from the suites? 🙄
- Devils4ever

I think there was a Chris Ryan article talking about the line changes, and it noted that for Boqvist its just all about managing him and keeping him fresh throughout the season, and not letting the same thing that happened to Bratt happen to him. Not sure if people remember but Bratt ran out of gas and hit a huge wall down the stretch in his rookie year, so it makes sense not wanting that to happen to Bo. He'll probably be in tomorrow if any changes are made from tonight, Hynes has had noting but praise for him so far

Maybe Hynes is trying to speed up his firing with the 4th line lol

The line-up today, especially the "4th-line", sounds like desperation on Hynes' part.

Hynes (and us, the fans) have to stop worrying about defining a 4th-line. Just put the best players on the roster and play them according to the situation. Hischier and Zajac lines can play all the defensive minutes if needed.

I'd rather see a skilled line than a heavy unskilled line that will eat up 4th-line minutes.

I can live with Hall-Hischier-Gusev. I'd rather see a line of Boqvist-Zacha-insert RW eat up 4th line minutes instead of Wood-Rooney-Hayden. Good god, Wood should sit out instead of Boqvist or Zacha. Maybe that will motivate him again.

I think there was a Chris Ryan article talking about the line changes, and it noted that for Boqvist its just all about managing him and keeping him fresh throughout the season, and not letting the same thing that happened to Bratt happen to him. Not sure if people remember but Bratt ran out of gas and hit a huge wall down the stretch in his rookie year, so it makes sense not wanting that to happen to Bo. He'll probably be in tomorrow if any changes are made from tonight, Hynes has had noting but praise for him so far
- vlongo4419

Okay, I can understand that.