Josh Biringer: PG 5: Devils Take the Rangers 5-2

Does Holtz stay on the 2nd line. I think the deadlier top 6 is Mercer on the wing on the 2nd line. and Holtz down to the 3rd

Does Holtz stay on the 2nd line. I think the deadlier top 6 is Mercer on the wing on the 2nd line. and Holtz down to the 3rd
- Devils91

I think that holtz plays well with meier and nico and having mercer on the 3rd line brings more depth across the lines

Have to see how holtz starts and if he produces

Some tidbits from Lindys presser today:

-He loves how Bratt has come into camp, and really likes what Lazar has done so far.

-Wants Nosek to take PK time away from Nico, so Nico can get can more opportunities immediately after the kill.

-Really likes how supportive of a player Toffoli is, particularly on the PP. And likes the idea of having a RHD(Dougie) QB one PP and throwing a different look of having a LHD(Luke) QB the second unit.

-Very happy with how Bahl has played.

-Thinks Jacks shot has improved even more from last season.

Some tidbits from Lindys presser today:

-He loves how Bratt has come into camp, and really likes what Lazar has done so far.

-Wants Nosek to take PK time away from Nico, so Nico can get can more opportunities immediately after the kill.

-Really likes how supportive of a player Toffoli is, particularly on the PP. And likes the idea of having a RHD(Dougie) QB one PP and throwing a different look of having a LHD(Luke) QB the second unit.

-Very happy with how Bahl has played.

-Thinks Jacks shot has improved even more from last season.
- vlongo4419

Basically its cup or bust.
We have the pieces, no excuses.

Basically its cup or bust.
We have the pieces, no excuses.
- Leniwm1

Yep, I can get behind that. Personally I think anything less than a conference finals appearance will be a disappointment. But this team has obvious potential weaknesses that could end up holding them back. Everybody has the same question marks about this team, and thats goaltending and 3rd pair D.

I personally have confidence in Vanecek and Schmid, but i completely understand why a lot of people arent fully confident about it. Let's hope the work Vanecek did with a mental coach this offseason helps.

Can we please stop pretending that Smith or Miller are acceptable 6th D men? They have been AWFUL (Smith last year and this preseason). Nemec deserves a shot at playing meaningful NHL hockey.
The only other thing I see the team in need of his more physical play from McLeod, Bastian, & Bahl. Meier needs to be that gritty skilled guy that is physical and gets under opponents skin.
Thank you Fitz!

Cup or Bust? Sure we look good on paper but please settle down.....there's 82 games to get through and we haven't stepped on the ice for game 1 yet.

Like the old joke about the Rangers says:

"How are the Rangers and the Titanic alike?"

...........they both looked great, until they hit the ice.

Well, we haven't hit the ice yet either so for me, I am tempering expectations and hope I'm happily surprised.

Definitely not cup or bust. In a year or 2 I would agree

Yep, I can get behind that. Personally I think anything less than a conference finals appearance will be a disappointment. But this team has obvious potential weaknesses that could end up holding them back. Everybody has the same question marks about this team, and thats goaltending and 3rd pair D.

I personally have confidence in Vanecek and Schmid, but i completely understand why a lot of people arent fully confident about it. Let's hope the work Vanecek did with a mental coach this offseason helps.
- vlongo4419

If the devil's end up playing the canes in the 2nd round it will be difficult just because the canes are so deep and are a cup favorite

Can we please stop pretending that Smith or Miller are acceptable 6th D men? They have been AWFUL (Smith last year and this preseason). Nemec deserves a shot at playing meaningful NHL hockey.
The only other thing I see the team in need of his more physical play from McLeod, Bastian, & Bahl. Meier needs to be that gritty skilled guy that is physical and gets under opponents skin.
Thank you Fitz!
- devildogs13

While excited about nemec and believe he can be impactful, having 2 rookies may not be the best route especially if it means less ice time

And bahl has looked good but wouldn't feel confident right now with pairing him with a rookie

Can we please stop pretending that Smith or Miller are acceptable 6th D men? They have been AWFUL (Smith last year and this preseason). Nemec deserves a shot at playing meaningful NHL hockey.
The only other thing I see the team in need of his more physical play from McLeod, Bastian, & Bahl. Meier needs to be that gritty skilled guy that is physical and gets under opponents skin.
Thank you Fitz!
- devildogs13

You can do a hell of a lot worse than Smith as your 6th or 7th D. Outside of taking stupid penalties he's been more than acceptable for that role. He was perfectly fine last season, and honestly in the regular season he was quite good in that role. Miller is coming off an outstanding season where most of it was played on the top pair against elite competition. We shouldn't expect him to repeat that, and he shouldn't need to here, but he should be fine getting 3rd pair minutes and PK time. They're going to rotate on that 3rd pair all year, and that's been the plan ever since he was traded for in July.

Nemec will get games this year but he isn't ready to have a full time spot, especially not when there's already another rookie on the blue line who is going to go through the same growing pains. His preseason has been a total mixed bag. He's had some great moments with the puck on his stick, but some absolutely horrible defenses lapses where he just running around like a chicken with his head cut off in the D-zone. He needs more time in the AHL playing big minutes and learning to play defense, not spending half of his time up here sitting in the press box. Fitz won't make the Holtz mistake again.