Todd Cordell: The New Jersey Devils have reached rock bottom

They just need to make a coaching change. I know seemingly everyone around the Devils, and even the league at large, thinks that Hynes is a great coach - and maybe he is - but at a certain point clearly the message isn't getting through. Sometimes a good coach just loses the room. Sometimes their message just gets stale. Hynes has been the Devils' coach for a long time for NHL standards, I don't see how you could reasonably expect him to turn this thing around at this point. And I don't even mean turn this season - which baring a miracle is already lost - around, I mean turning the trajectory of the franchise around.

Shero got fired from Pittsburgh for his refusal to fire Bylsma. At least in that scenario, Bylsma had won them a Cup a few years earlier. Hynes does not have that going for him. I think Shero has largely done a great job as GM since taking over in 2015, but if he absolutely refuses to make a coaching change, that stubbornness could eventually cost him his job as well...

Its not that he has built a team that lacks talent but I do think the team isnt built properly.

How many other teams are relying on such tiny forwards to be their core group ?

I think the make up of the team isnt balanced enough and by that I mean we have about 6 players with similiar attributes and builds that prevent them from playing in all areas of the offensive zone.

That doesnt mean they arent good and should just be traded away for nothing but can you seriously expect to have guys like Bratt, Gusev, Boqvist, Hughes to be our go to's and not expect to have trouble doing what you want with the puck.

That leaves Hall, Hischier, Palms ( one line ) that can be dispursed through out and not get pushed all over and the rest that can are onto our second tier of players like Zajac, Coleman and Zacha.

Its not that he has built a team that lacks talent but I do think the team isnt built properly.

How many other teams are relying on such tiny forwards to be their core group ?

I think the make up of the team isnt balanced enough and by that I mean we have about 6 players with similiar attributes and builds that prevent them from playing in all areas of the offensive zone.

That doesnt mean they arent good and should just be traded away for nothing but can you seriously expect to have guys like Bratt, Gusev, Boqvist, Hughes to be our go to's and not expect to have trouble doing what you want with the puck.

That leaves Hall, Hischier, Palms ( one line ) that can be dispursed through out and not get pushed all over and the rest that can are onto our second tier of players like Zajac, Coleman and Zacha.
- Devilish4

The detroit years of datsyuk and Zetts were a small group. But they dominated because puck control. Devils have no puck control or a system that promotes puck control.

I'm not saying the roster is perfect but Hall-Hischier-Palms is playing like dog poop and they have a pretty good track record. Something is seriously wrong with this club.

I can't believe it's every player. Taylor Hall looks like he doesn't know how to play hockey anymore. PK Subban looks lost. He won a Norris and now he doesn't know how to play defense at all? Get outta here.

It's time for a change and there is really NOTHING in 5 years of HYNES & NESREDDINE that indicates they are the answer. It looks like they're the problem. I could be wrong. But what else can you do?

Time to make a move.

We have reached that point now. Hynes needs to go. The only reason I see him staying is if Hall wants him there and Hall resigns.

The detroit years of datsyuk and Zetts were a small group. But they dominated because puck control. Devils have no puck control or a system that promotes puck control.
- Leniwm1

I just find it hard to believe the NHL is at a point yet where you can win with 5 of youre top 6 forwards being 5 foot 10 and 170lbs.

As fast and skilled as they might be they arent strong enough to set up and hang around in the offensive zone as we are not just going in and scoring on one and done plays.

I just find it hard to believe the NHL is at a point yet where you can win with 5 of youre top 6 forwards being 5 foot 10 and 170lbs.

As fast and skilled as they might be they arent strong enough to set up and hang around in the offensive zone as we are not just going in and scoring on one and done plays.
- Devilish4

Im with you. I'd stock up on big swedes. I'd have a team full of Leclairs.

Im with you. I'd stock up on big swedes. I'd have a team full of Leclairs.
- Leniwm1

Im sure this will be taken wrong but just because a player stands over 6 feet tall doesnt mean he cant be a good player somehow ppl have got it in their heads that size has nothing to do with it but it does. aggression might not but size does.

If you got two equally skilled players playing a game of keep away the larger player should have his way if they are truly equally skilled.

Why is he and his crew not gone yet?

Yeah, a difference of three inches in height is the make or break for whether a player can be good or not.

Imagine being this stupid. I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted Patrick Kane on your team at any point because he's 5'10" and skinny.

Size means nothing in hockey. Absolutely nothing. If you are 30lbs stronger than the other guy and he tries to hit you while youre not off-balance...size meams nothing. If you try to push a smaller player off the puck and have a 30lb strength and size advantage...its no advantage and means nothing. Duh. Get with the times.

Cordell: Devils have hit rock bottom.

Hynes: Hold my beer.

Has anyone done research as to who is available as coach? Idk who is around anymore.

Yeah, a difference of three inches in height is the make or break for whether a player can be good or not.

Imagine being this stupid. I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted Patrick Kane on your team at any point because he's 5'10" and skinny.
- Pomegrant

How can you call someone stupid and not get anything that they said ???

If there was a player as skilled as Kane but 6'3 he wouldnt be able to do a single thing more ? How stupid are you boss???

Yeah, a difference of three inches in height is the make or break for whether a player can be good or not.

Imagine being this stupid. I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted Patrick Kane on your team at any point because he's 5'10" and skinny.
- Pomegrant

Can youre entire team be 510 and skinny ? Love to see that...

Has anyone done research as to who is available as coach? Idk who is around anymore.
- Leniwm1

At this point does it really matter?

Yeah, a difference of three inches in height is the make or break for whether a player can be good or not.

Imagine being this stupid. I'm sure you wouldn't have wanted Patrick Kane on your team at any point because he's 5'10" and skinny.
- Pomegrant

You have got to be like 5' 5 cause there isnt a person on this site who gets saltier when someone says they would like a larger player wether it be one with skill or grit you just hate large ppl with everything in you that you literally wish the nhl would rid itself of anyone over 6'2

You would never want Mario or Mats on youre team because they are large and could do everyrhing the little guys could.

Put Fitz behind the bench for the rest of the year. Once this awful season is over then a real coaching search can begin. The team is lost, the message that Haynes is delivering is dead. Shero has to fire him today or it's going to be an ugly night at the Rock tonight. Hall better get use to a lot of booing because Haynes still coaching deserves booing from warmup till final horn!!!!

How can you call someone stupid and not get anything that they said ???

If there was a player as skilled as Kane but 6'3 he wouldnt be able to do a single thing more ? How stupid are you boss???
- Devilish4

Go through the league and track points by height to prove that height matters in terms of scoring. The thing is, I know you won't do it so you can't prove your point.

There are tough players at all heights in the league. Marchand is a star player but a small guy. Devils have Coleman who plays tough but put up points. Why is being a short not a problem for them? McDavid and Draisaitl are both over 6', best offensive players in the game but don't play tough at all, Kane and Kucherov also some of the best offensive players in the league but under 6', also don't play tough.

Can youre entire team be 510 and skinny ? Love to see that...
- Devilish4

No, that's not what I'm saying. You shouldn't discredit a player based on their height. You should use other factors to determine quality because height isn't a real metric.

You have got to be like 5' 5 cause there isnt a person on this site who gets saltier when someone says they would like a larger player wether it be one with skill or grit you just hate large ppl with everything in you that you literally wish the nhl would rid itself of anyone over 6'2

You would never want Mario or Mats on youre team because they are large and could do everyrhing the little guys could.
- Devilish4

lol, brainlet gets mad when he has to actually think. keep trying grandpa.

Go through the league and track points by height to prove that height matters in terms of scoring. The thing is, I know you won't do it so you can't prove your point.

There are tough players at all heights in the league. Marchand is a star player but a small guy. Devils have Coleman who plays tough but put up points. Why is being a short not a problem for them? McDavid and Draisaitl are both over 6', best offensive players in the game but don't play tough at all, Kane and Kucherov also some of the best offensive players in the league but under 6', also don't play tough.
- Pomegrant

I dont recall saying we need to he tougher but you keep saying tougher ? I said our skill guys could be larger that has nothing to do with their aggressiveness or willingness to muck it up. Im saying we have to many guys who are the same height and weight being forced to the outsides of the ice because they arent or havent been able to get into the danger areas. I not once said or players suckes and it was because they were to small I said its proving very hard to win when 4 of youre 12 forwards arent able to play in dangerous areas of the rink because they are to timid or just cant physically get there.

As for that stat you want me to look up it has nothing to do with my point if you have patrick kane and you cloned him to be 6'4 there isnt a thing the real kane could do so no subtracting youre talented guys for players that stand taller wont do anything unless those larger players are just as talented.

No, that's not what I'm saying. You shouldn't discredit a player based on their height. You should use other factors to determine quality because height isn't a real metric.


lol, brainlet gets mad when he has to actually think. keep trying grandpa.
- Pomegrant

You called me stupid right off the bat then complain like how the hell did you expect that to be met.

You literally cant help yourself when someone says we could use some more size and apparently to you that is just false because its impossible to upgrade youre size with out decreasing youre skill because like you said if you arent 510 abd patty kane you arent a hockey player.

You called me stupid right off the bat then complain like how the hell did you expect that to be met.

You literally cant help yourself when someone says we could use some more size and apparently to you that is just false because its impossible to upgrade youre size with out decreasing youre skill because like you said if you arent 510 abd patty kane you arent a hockey player.
- Devilish4

It's okay, I know thinking is hard for you. Just breathe and it will be okay, boomer. Just take a nap or go outside and yell at the clouds.

No, that's not what I'm saying. You shouldn't discredit a player based on their height. You should use other factors to determine quality because height isn't a real metric.


lol, brainlet gets mad when he has to actually think. keep trying grandpa.
- Pomegrant

And you accuse me of the exact same thing you did.

Thats not what youre saying but im saying I wouldnt want patty Kane on my roster because some how I said you cant win with a single player under 6 foot on youre team? obviously you can have all different shapes of players and be successfull but that doesnt mean their cant be poor recepies like to many of one type and that there shouldnt be a balance throughout youre roster. Ours doesnt seen very balanced right now.