Todd Cordell: Bruins 5, Devils 1: Overmatched

Mackenzie Blackwood had an off game


Did you watch the game? He bailed the team out many time on terrible plays.

Hynes invented a new form of play. We now have the forward running a dump, but don't chase offense. Team is a giveaway machine and sure the Bruins deserve some credit because they are a great team but really WTF?

Also love how everyone backs off and doesn't hit anyone. Are they so afraid of #63 that they never get in his face a drop?

And Todd, love you and no offense but is it shocking Blackwood had a rough night? He's only an NHL starter because he's better then what's left of Cory. But he's a kid and we are rushing him to shoulder this load. It's INSANE to think he's going to hold up under this onslaught. The "defensive" scheme in front of him is trash. So how do we fix it? Bring in Louis Dominique because getting some LEGIT help wasn't an option.

This coaching staff is indefensible. This is the same garbage for years. I got comp tickets to this game and still felt ripped off. Thank God for the Pastrami at Hobbie's Deli or I'd never (frank)ing go to Newark again. This is BULLpoop!

So can we start some important talk about where Taylor Hall is signing next year or when the trade is coming? Have we destroyed all his value yet?

Is it draft lottery odds times and too early to talk prospects? Can we gamble on if we can maintain fewest ROWs all year?

This season is over. THANK JESUS I DIDN"T BUY A TICKET PACKAGE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THIS FRAUD TEAM A DIME!

Are we going to send someone else behind the bench to help Fitzpatrick now? Maybe bring back RYAN CLOWE because that POS signing did so much to make this a better franchise? Good thing we don't need someone like Scott Stevens because obviously we know defense better. Only the only defending going in NJ is defending a coach totally overmatched on this level.

I was very anti-trade Hall before the season began but now really think they have no choice but to move him. Not because of his performances or anything he has said, but last night's game, along with countless others this year demonstrated that this team is still nowhere close to being any sort of a legitimate contender. There's no point in locking him down for big money and having him burn the last few years of his prime on a team that won't be making any noise.

I'd honestly also throw a pick into the trade if it meant we could get back a legitimate top-2 cornerstone on defense.

So can we start some important talk about where Taylor Hall is signing next year or when the trade is coming? Have we destroyed all his value yet?

Is it draft lottery odds times and too early to talk prospects? Can we gamble on if we can maintain fewest ROWs all year?

This season is over. THANK JESUS I DIDN"T BUY A TICKET PACKAGE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THIS FRAUD TEAM A DIME!

Are we going to send someone else behind the bench to help Fitzpatrick now? Maybe bring back RYAN CLOWE because that POS signing did so much to make this a better franchise? Good thing we don't need someone like Scott Stevens because obviously we know defense better. Only the only defending going in NJ is defending a coach totally overmatched on this level.

It is just such a shame that the season and the conversation has turned in to this. Not that I or most of us thought they would run away with the season, but for the Love this looks worse that the Tootoo Ruttu Zubrus days....

When hall gets traded please go back to Zacha-Nico-Bratt

So can we start some important talk about where Taylor Hall is signing next year or when the trade is coming? Have we destroyed all his value yet?

Is it draft lottery odds times and too early to talk prospects? Can we gamble on if we can maintain fewest ROWs all year?

This season is over. THANK JESUS I DIDN"T BUY A TICKET PACKAGE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THIS FRAUD TEAM A DIME!

Are we going to send someone else behind the bench to help Fitzpatrick now? Maybe bring back RYAN CLOWE because that POS signing did so much to make this a better franchise? Good thing we don't need someone like Scott Stevens because obviously we know defense better. Only the only defending going in NJ is defending a coach totally overmatched on this level.
- Queenie_5_hole

All of our skilled players are either adjusting to the nhl ( Hughes, Gusev, Boqvist ) or are carrying to much weight ( Nico, Pavs, Hall and Palms ) sheltering players. They are all also very light on pucks with the exception of a couple.

The rest of our players with any size are plugs ( Wood, Simmonds, Mueller , Hayden, Tennyson ) and are spread through out the line up. We need some guys in the realm of 6'2 and 200 lbs with skill to dig pucks out and battle.

If there is one thing I have noticed is this team is still soft as crap and play with no emotion or passion. Simmer makes contact only when its not possible to avoid and the rest of the time he is shooting the poop with old buddies.

Any one else wonder whats up with Subban? I swear he skates around chasing players in our end just trying to punch them in the back.

Team is a mess right now but the guys I thought where going to bring the electricity arent.

Bad practice equals bad games, that is the biggest reason i can find why this team is so bad. It's obvious this team is not buying into whatever Hynes and that staff are selling. Please move on from these clowns now.

All of our skilled players are either adjusting to the nhl ( Hughes, Gusev, Boqvist ) or are carrying to much weight ( Nico, Pavs, Hall and Palms ) sheltering players. They are all also very light on pucks with the exception of a couple.

The rest of our players with any size are plugs ( Wood, Simmonds, Mueller , Hayden, Tennyson ) and are spread through out the line up. We need some guys in the realm of 6'2 and 200 lbs with skill to dig pucks out and battle.

If there is one thing I have noticed is this team is still soft as crap and play with no emotion or passion. Simmer makes contact only when its not possible to avoid and the rest of the time he is shooting the poop with old buddies.

Any one else wonder whats up with Subban? I swear he skates around chasing players in our end just trying to punch them in the back.

Team is a mess right now but the guys I thought where going to bring the electricity arent.
- Devilish4

The thing is you can't treat the symptoms and wonder what's up with the individual players. You need to change how they are playing as a team. Does it not seem odd that everyone who plays pretty good hockey (specifically defense) ends up playing like vomit in NJ?

Sure the mix of players might not be ideal but there are some really good pieces on this team; and even they can't perform well.

Taylor (frank)ing Hall can't play hockey anymore. Taylor Hall. In NJ. With Hynes and Nesreddine has lost it.

The thing is you can't treat the symptoms and wonder what's up with the individual players. You need to change how they are playing as a team. Does it not seem odd that everyone who plays pretty good hockey (specifically defense) ends up playing like vomit in NJ?

Sure the mix of players might not be ideal but there are some really good pieces on this team; and even they can't perform well.

Taylor (frank)ing Hall can't play hockey anymore. Taylor Hall. In NJ. With Hynes and Nesreddine has lost it.
- Queenie_5_hole

I would love to hear Kennys off the record take on why Stevens isnt in the organization. It cant be because he doesnt want to be and he shows on the nhl network he knows what the (frank) hes talking about positionally so it has to be that hole pittsburgh click.

I aslo feel like when we snuck into the dance we played a fast paced always going forward style and now we are constantly stopping and pausing and passing it back and its just crap but that might be because half our players wont go anywhere near puck battles.

When hall gets traded please go back to Zacha-Nico-Bratt
- Senor_Elias

At this point, I kinda agree. I would like to see Boq and Gus get some more TOI. At the 20 game mark in this season, we are looking at an uphill battle, and have not shown much reason for hope. Essentially, to get to 96 points (still not a guarantee for a wildcard), we would need 74 points in 62 games. That would look something like a 35-21-6 record to close out the season. With Philly holding the last wildcard spot and currently pacing for 98 points, and the Leafs/Lightning currently competing from the outside, I do not like our odds one bit.

If Hall is not near a reasonable extension, He NEEDS to me moved sooner than later. Vats and Simmonds would likely fetch decent returns as well, especially if salary is retained.

Mackenzie Blackwood had an off game


Did you watch the game? He bailed the team out many time on terrible plays.
- canadianwhiskey

Agreed. P.K. is currently on pace for 21 points and a -40. For a 9M D man with little defensive capabilities, he'd better start putting up some points. I was a fan of the trade at the time, but yikes, this looks bad now.

Agreed. P.K. is currently on pace for 21 points and a -40. For a 9M D man with little defensive capabilities, he'd better start putting up some points. I was a fan of the trade at the time, but yikes, this looks bad now.
- bikeguy99

The plus is still that we gave up basically nothing of value and it's only costing us money. Can you imagine this D without PK? I mean I guess we could have signed Gardiner or picked up someone else but still.

What I'm amazed about is how bad PK's shot is. Give the guy credit he loves to tee it up. But it sure seems like he hits glass more then being on goal.

Speaking of, while I'm on the trade Taylor bandwagon (just so he can stop pouting) we sure as poop better try to resign Sami Vats.

I think it is time for everyone to realize this is not just a player problem. The coaching on this team is bad, real bad. From what I hear about Shero he won't fire a coach mid-season. So we are going to suffer many more games like this. I have been and always will be a Die Hard Devils fan even the 80's got better eventually.

The plus is still that we gave up basically nothing of value and it's only costing us money. Can you imagine this D without PK? I mean I guess we could have signed Gardiner or picked up someone else but still.

What I'm amazed about is how bad PK's shot is. Give the guy credit he loves to tee it up. But it sure seems like he hits glass more then being on goal.

Speaking of, while I'm on the trade Taylor bandwagon (just so he can stop pouting) we sure as poop better try to resign Sami Vats.
- Queenie_5_hole

Yeah before this season I was indifferent on letting Vatanen walk because he seemed redundant, but man, he's our best defender most nights.

The coaching staff is done mentally. What do you think practices are like? There's NO optimism, just stress and negativity. There's no PLAN, and MINIMAL hope. .. just apathy. You can see it in Hynes, and that is everything for the players.

This is why we need to move on from Hynes. smh. . Give this team structure, a more positive and competent voice and identity.. they have none of that right now, and I don't see how they can get it back without a new voice.

The coaching staff is done mentally. What do you think practices are like? There's NO optimism, just stress and negativity. There's no PLAN, and MINIMAL hope. .. just apathy. You can see it in Hynes, and that is everything for the players.

This is why we need to move on from Hynes. smh. . Give this team structure, a more positive and competent voice and identity.. they have none of that right now, and I don't see how they can get it back without a new voice.
- MartysBetter88

I coach PeeWee hockey and one thing I noticed is all of the coaches interact with the players. In our case it's kids and they need our guidance, reinforcement, praise and teaching. Obviously NHL pros are a completely differently level. BUT I am always amazed how little Hynes seems to interact with the players and doesn't really seem that involved in the game.

Obviously I don't really know what Hynes is like or what's going on at the bench. It's just an observation.

I coach PeeWee hockey and one thing I noticed is all of the coaches interact with the players. In our case it's kids and they need our guidance, reinforcement, praise and teaching. Obviously NHL pros are a completely differently level. BUT I am always amazed how little Hynes seems to interact with the players and doesn't really seem that involved in the game.

Obviously I don't really know what Hynes is like or what's going on at the bench. It's just an observation.
- Queenie_5_hole

Excuse me but Peewee is offensive, and so is midget

In case you are not with the times, they have decided those categories among others will no longer be used for kids leagues, they will now be aged based

https://www.espn.co.uk/nh...-divisions-more-inclusive

Excuse me but Peewee is offensive, and so is midget

In case you are not with the times, they have decided those categories among others will no longer be used for kids leagues, they will now be aged based

https://www.espn.co.uk/nh...-divisions-more-inclusive
- dmarsden2988

I don't know if your joking about being offended, but that's what they're still calling them here (Northern Jersey) and I didn't pick it out. That said the U age designation such as U12 is better because it actually means something helpful. That said, we technically go by birth year and not age; which is similar but not that same.

I don't know if your joking about being offended, but that's what they're still calling them here (Northern Jersey) and I didn't pick it out. That said the U age designation such as U12 is better because it actually means something helpful. That said, we technically go by birth year and not age; which is similar but not that same.
- Queenie_5_hole

I was joking about being offended

I have been a Devils fan since 93. I was psyched for this season. It looked like the long term rebuild plan was a plan and it was time to make a move. Unfortunately, things haven't worked out.

I am not a Hynes fan or hater. Something has to be done. 'The fish stinks from the head.' This team on paper has talent. Yes it has holes. But there is no way we should be giving up so many leads.

The team was built to be fast, attacking and supportive. I have only seen flashes of that. I have been to a couple of games this year and watched most. Last night I only saw Andy Greene's post game interview.

He looks like a dispirited defeated man. He had his baseball cap pulled down over his eyes. His only move to adjust the cap was to pull it lower.

The interview went like this. blah, blah blah...system...blah blah blah...process...blah blah work together....blah blah blah.

He didn't believe a word he was saying. It was the same retread crap that Hynes says in his post games.

Hynes is not an inspirational leader or a tactical genius. I'm not sure what Ray sees or ever saw in him. If this season is a lost cause what harm is there in bringing in an inspirational coach who can fire the team up and give them a 'we have nothing to loose, us against the world' attitude?

Many of our young guys were leaders who won at lower levels. Why not harness that winning pedigree before it is ground out of them?

The plus is still that we gave up basically nothing of value and it's only costing us money. Can you imagine this D without PK? I mean I guess we could have signed Gardiner or picked up someone else but still.

What I'm amazed about is how bad PK's shot is. Give the guy credit he loves to tee it up. But it sure seems like he hits glass more then being on goal.

Speaking of, while I'm on the trade Taylor bandwagon (just so he can stop pouting) we sure as poop better try to resign Sami Vats.
- Queenie_5_hole

Again, I liked the trade at the time. But in hindsight, I would happily trade P.K for Gardiner today! Plus we would have a 2nd and Walsh still in the system. Hindsight is always 20/20, and Gardiner has identical numbers, but 4M is what a 4D is signing for these days. P.K. is the 3rd highest paid D in the league. I have always liked Vats, but if we aren't going to use him properly, then trade the guy. We can always call up Morrow/Jacobs if we need a guy to play 9 minutes a night. Both are better than Tenneyson.

And ya, this squad isn't looking like a contender (which is just fine), so either ink him to a 5 year, 11.5M AAV extension, or move the kid to keep this rebuild in full motion. Lots of high end talent to be excited about.

I was joking about being offended
- dmarsden2988

I'm offended.