Sam Woo: Hughes’ Mistakes Costly For Devils

he's young, the season doesn't matter, let him learn from his mistakes. athletes are humans too

Obviously we had some bad goals against from turnovers and bad goaltending but in general that game was really well played given the circumstances of being on a back-to-back. There were stretches of the game where they did a good job sustaining offensive pressure and the overall structure was good. Those are the kind of losses where you can still see the team progressing in the right direction rather than just looking directionless.

he's young, the season doesn't matter, let him learn from his mistakes. athletes are humans too
- Eklblad

Couldn't agree more!

They should have all the team's top prospects in top roles for the rest of the season. We're not gonna make the playoffs this year, we never were. Let the young guys play HEAVY mins in the NHL for now. It only hurts when they're stuck on the bottom line in NJ. Sell what you can at the deadline and ACTUALLY DEVELOP these kids for once!

he's young, the season doesn't matter, let him learn from his mistakes. athletes are humans too
- Eklblad

Even Hughes has discussed the fact that he is nowhere near the player he wants to be in the next 2-3 years time. It is obvious the guys vision is next level, just needs to continue to add strength each offseason and work on his puck protection skills. His high end talent is starting to show, but hopefully he learns to play a 200' game in less time than it took Ovi.

Obviously we had some bad goals against from turnovers and bad goaltending but in general that game was really well played given the circumstances of being on a back-to-back. There were stretches of the game where they did a good job sustaining offensive pressure and the overall structure was good. Those are the kind of losses where you can still see the team progressing in the right direction rather than just looking directionless.
- Pomegrant

That goal off of Hughes turnover was a weak one for sure. A right shot driving the right wing should not score a far side blocker unscreened from that far out. That was the game right there.

Ah damn tomorrow's game is ESPN+/HULU. Well that sucks. Atleast it won't be Leah Hextall, I guess.

Ah damn tomorrow's game is ESPN+/HULU. Well that sucks. Atleast it won't be Leah Hextall, I guess.
- vlongo4419

I like Leah Hextall.

Ah damn tomorrow's game is ESPN+/HULU. Well that sucks. Atleast it won't be Leah Hextall, I guess.
- vlongo4419

nhl66.ir <<<< thank me later

nhl66.ir <<<< thank me later
- Eklblad

the secret is out!!!! Seriously though, screw ESPN asking to pay to watch my local team (I do that already with MSG). I understand paying for out of market games, but not local.

That goal off of Hughes turnover was a weak one for sure. A right shot driving the right wing should not score a far side blocker unscreened from that far out. That was the game right there.
- bikeguy99

Agreed and they were shooting there all night, obviously the book is out on Gillies.

nhl66.ir <<<< thank me later
- Eklblad

Will be the same. NHL66.ir will have that game with the ESPN announcers because it's the national game. Been using that site for years

I'm fine with losing games because Gillies sucks since he isn't part of the future. Let Blackwood heal up and get the rest and practice he needs so he can try to salvage his season. We need to see if he can improve so we can figure out our future goaltending situation.

I'm fine with losing games because Gillies sucks since he isn't part of the future. Let Blackwood heal up and get the rest and practice he needs so he can try to salvage his season. We need to see if he can improve so we can figure out our future goaltending situation.
- Pomegrant

I'd be fine with shutting him down for the rest of the season tbh, and give him until next training camp to fully heal and get out of his own head. Remember, this is apparently still an issue stemming from his offseason heel surgery. Hopefully he will be able to get back to any kind of "fine" form and Bernier has no post hip surgery issues. But both guys are under contract next year, they aren't going anywhere so there's not much we can do tbh. That will be our goalie tandem next season. It really feels like the goaltending future of this team is currently riding on if one or both of Schmid/Daws can continue developing and eventually be the guy after next season.

I'd be fine with shutting him down for the rest of the season tbh, and give him until next training camp to fully heal and get out of his own head. Remember, this is apparently still an issue stemming from his offseason heel surgery. Hopefully he will be able to get back to any kind of "fine" form and Bernier has no post hip surgery issues. But both guys are under contract next year, they aren't going anywhere so there's not much we can do tbh. That will be our goalie tandem next season. It really feels like the goaltending future of this team is currently riding on if one or both of Schmid/Daws can continue developing and eventually be the guy after next season.
- vlongo4419

Any ETA on Berniers return? It would be nice to showcase him as potential trade bait. I agree about resting Blackwood, he doesn't have to prove anything right now so getting him 100% should be a priority, and we can see what Daws and Schmid can bring to the table as a backup.

Any ETA on Berniers return? It would be nice to showcase him as potential trade bait. I agree about resting Blackwood, he doesn't have to prove anything right now so getting him 100% should be a priority, and we can see what Daws and Schmid can bring to the table as a backup.
- bikeguy99

He's done for the year. He should be back next season if his recovery goes as planned. Hopefully he can return to form but we already saw what hip surgery can do to a goalie when Schneider had his issues, so im not particularly hopeful.

He's done for the year. He should be back next season if his recovery goes as planned. Hopefully he can return to form but we already saw what hip surgery can do to a goalie when Schneider had his issues, so im not particularly hopeful.
- vlongo4419

How many goalies have had hip surgery and come back okay? It can't be many.

How many goalies have had hip surgery and come back okay? It can't be many.
- Pomegrant

I'm not sure tbh. I never really dove into it but a couple that come to mind right away are Pekka Rinne, Thatcher Demko, and UPL. They recovered fine. But we gotta factor in that Bernier is now 33, 34 by the start of next season, so im not optimistic he'll be at the level we expected when he was signed unfortunately. Who knows though, we just gotta wait and see.

Also in regards to the post, Hughes did factor into 2 or even all 3 of the goals against but im totally fine with that. I'll accept his mistakes when he dominates as much as he does when hes on the ice, which he also did in both of the games this weekend. Thats the type of player he is, and i love it.

Lets go game by game this weekend. Even factoring in those mistakes, in the Canes game with Hughes on the ice the scoring chances were 16-3 Devils and high danger attempts were 7-1 Devils at all strengths. Lead the team in both. Dominated against one of the best defensively structured teams in the league. Against LA, scoring chances were 11-9 Devils and high dangers attempts were 3-1 Devils, again among team leader in both. So in his "bad" game he is still tilting the ice in the Devils favor essentially shift after shift. This kid is going to be a superstar, and is already a star in the making.

So does he need to be smarter about drop passes/trying to make too much happen by the bluelines? Sure, and im sure he knows that, but i dont want him reigning anything back whatsoever when it comes to him trying to make things happen. I'll take the mistakes that happen when he is generating/driving so much of this teams offense almost single-handedly most nights.

Not worried about these mistakes from Hughes. He’s been our best player and is in what’s kind of his 2nd and a half season.
In other news, the Rangers have a goalie.

Will be the same. NHL66.ir will have that game with the ESPN announcers because it's the national game. Been using that site for years
- vlongo4419

Years? This is the first I’ve seen it. I still try to get atdhe to work from time to time.

Years? This is the first I’ve seen it. I still try to get atdhe to work from time to time.
- MartysBetter88

Yeah that site has been around for awhile, but nobody seems to know about it for some reason. Anytime someone asks me what sites i use i always say nhl66 and onhockey, and nobody has ever heard of nhl66 lol

BRatt has been our best PLAYER ALL YEAR.

HUGHES WILL EARN..

https://twitter.com/money.../1485977650271297546?s=21

Blackwood has finally been placed on IR. Akira Schmid has been recalled

Hopefully the team actually keeps him out for a while, and doesn't rush him again.