OT: NJ Devils 2023-2024 Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
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What will happen first, I wonder, Lindy sits Smith as a healthy scratch, or GM Fitzgerald fires Lindy because you can't fire all the players.
From yet another too many men penalty, this game is 4-0 Detroit, and thus over this year. Once again there is a lack of attention to detail and grit.
Oh in closing I think neither happens. Ruff loves Smith, Fitz loves Ruff, and Harris and Blitzer love owning teams more than winning.
WELCOME TO PARADISE!
From yet another too many men penalty, this game is 4-0 Detroit, and thus over this year. Once again there is a lack of attention to detail and grit.
Oh in closing I think neither happens. Ruff loves Smith, Fitz loves Ruff, and Harris and Blitzer love owning teams more than winning.
WELCOME TO PARADISE!
I agree and fear we’re right..oh well, it’s only sports.
(PS: continued success to you on your recovery!)
Thank You very much, I appreciate it!
I'm close to saying ownership should fire Fitz, if he refuses to fire Ruff. This team is a chore to watch.
Fitz has given ownership a team of “star players” that are selling tickets. I think ownership is happy with that, unfortunately.
Boy oh boy, was that fun? There is something systemically wrong with this team. The goaltending is obviously horrid. Endless defensive breakdowns. Lack of attention to detail. But I’m going to continue banging the drum against Ruff. They’re 17 games into the season and have played ONE complete game to date. ONE. Even in the 6-2-1 start, they went MIA for sustained stretches or spotted teams big leads that they had to claw back from. They’re flat almost every night. (16 shots against a team that just got back from Europe for a week??). They are 31st in 5v5 goal differential. Only the ‘on pace for record futility’ Sharks are worse.
Lindy Ruff was NEVER a fit here. He was kicked to the curb by the NYR after horrific defensive systems, but he was seen as good enough to coach the baby-Devils. After putting together the worst 2 seasons since the Mickey Mouse days, he was bailed out by career years from nearly everyone on this team last year. That 13-game streak last Fall saved his career. Even as last season progressed, his lineups and overall personnel management were baffling. The first two games of the Ranger series still blow my mind. Playing Brendan Smith because he was a “former Ranger.” It continues again this year. There’s no one in Utica that can give better minutes than a Willman, Bastian etc? Or a body that can keep them from having to play 11/7? He admittedly was done no favors by Tom “we’re content” Fitzgerald on the goaltending front. But he’s 106-106-25 in 3+ seasons here. Now 8-8-1 this year. Injuries or not, does anyone believe this is a .500 team? Lose at home to Columbus on Friday night and see what Saturday’s crowd brings him.
End rant.
Lindy Ruff was NEVER a fit here. He was kicked to the curb by the NYR after horrific defensive systems, but he was seen as good enough to coach the baby-Devils. After putting together the worst 2 seasons since the Mickey Mouse days, he was bailed out by career years from nearly everyone on this team last year. That 13-game streak last Fall saved his career. Even as last season progressed, his lineups and overall personnel management were baffling. The first two games of the Ranger series still blow my mind. Playing Brendan Smith because he was a “former Ranger.” It continues again this year. There’s no one in Utica that can give better minutes than a Willman, Bastian etc? Or a body that can keep them from having to play 11/7? He admittedly was done no favors by Tom “we’re content” Fitzgerald on the goaltending front. But he’s 106-106-25 in 3+ seasons here. Now 8-8-1 this year. Injuries or not, does anyone believe this is a .500 team? Lose at home to Columbus on Friday night and see what Saturday’s crowd brings him.
End rant.
I wouldn't go that far, in my opinion this team is still developing and their window of really being a true Cup contender is probably a couple more years and a goaltender away when Luke Hughes and Nemec are legit NHLers. I wasn't sure about Fitz at first and wasn't happy with the Shero firing, but Fitz set this team up to be pretty good for a while.
Unrelated--I wasn't able to see this game but caught some highlights (if you can call them that)...during the broadcast did they mention a reason for wearing the black helmets with the white jerseys?
Give your thoughts Ron, will this team make the playoffs with this current roster?
10 points behind the Rags already.
If you remember, December of last season was terrible. Not many wins that month. They ended up losing the division by ONE point. Maybe, and I hope that this is the case, this current month is last year's December. As far as the number of points behind the rags, it is not important at this point IMO. TOOOOOO early to be concerned about the # of points out of 1st and a playoff spot.
All about being hot at the end of the season.
The current roster definitely has the potential to be a playoff team. There is a reason they were picked as cup contenders by some in the preseason.
Just have to put it all together. Will they? No clue. But to write off a team of this skill level in November is silly,
Most definitely. Heck Harris is trying to get hot water to FEDEX Field for his football team 😆.
A new ruling let's teams decide what they want to wear, as long as it doesn't look the same as the home team.
Another very measured response, I agree. I'm just tired of watching this over and over without any changes. I guess if I owned a team, I'd be more like George Steinbrenner than Art Rooney 😆.
Happy Thanksgiving ALL Hockey Fans. Be happy, our Devils can't lose today!
Ah alright so it was just for the sake of trying a different look. I was kinda hoping there was a more interesting backstory. For example, a few days ago there was an ECHL team that had to start the game wearing the opposing team's practice jerseys because their own jerseys didn't get to the arena on time. I'm not sure how I feel about the black helmets with white jerseys. Initially I'm opposed to it because I'm a traditionalist and tend to hate any tinkering with the uniforms, but on the other hand it does look pretty good matching the shoulders. I just hope they someday go back to the jersey design used from 1992 to 2017 with the stripes on the bottom and the sleeve stripes not all being the same width.
We couldn’t stand Ruff when he was coaching the Rangers, because he was coaching the defenseman and his teams had never been known for their good defense.
When the Devils hired him I thought it was a good move because so many of your best young players then were on offense, and Ruff teams have always thrived on offense.
As an outsider that appears to have worked, but now the Devils need to tighten up on defense and you have so many great young players on defense, so they should probably be looking for someone with a good defensive system for the next phase.
Yes exactly, but Fitz is a Ruff fanboy, who stopped looking for a coach as soon as Ruff became available. This is why Lindy has lasted this long. I consider how easy it would be to try someone else, say Kevin Dineen, but Fitz has his blind spot. You can't fire all the players, and besides the NHL has the book on the Devils.
It is fitting LOL, this Devils team is being trapped to death. Teams went to school on last season's Carolina series. That is pester this soft Devils team all over the ice, play the 1/3/1 lockdown defense, and stay out of the penalty box, because this year's Devils suck 5 on 5. As well as having no pushback. Do whatever to one of our star's and don't worry you will have to answer.
I would look to trade Hamilton and some of our other good prospects for a good goalie and defense. Something like Hamilton to Calgary for Zadorov and Tanev. For a goalie, maybe something like Holtz and Nemec for Askorov. As it is hard to get a goalie. Schmid should be in Utica, and Keith Kincaid or the former Maple Leaf should be called up. Sadly for Devils fans I don't see anything like this happening.
Your Rangers look great, I'm a big fan of Shesterkin. With astute moves like bringing in Quick, you might be really happy at the end of the year!
I can definitely understand Devils’ fans frustrations with Ruff, because we went through it with Gallant last year. You know the coach you have isn’t a guy who is capable of achieving the ultimate goal, and you have to watch the team wasting time and games (and a whole playoff year in the Rangers’’ case) until they get rid of him and you can get a better coach.
I always am honest with my opinions, even when I hate what I'm thinking. Hey a lot of times I say something so it will not happen. This is my hope!
#YES!I just hope they someday go back to the jersey design used from 1992 to 2017 with the stripes on the bottom and the sleeve stripes not all being the same width.
I still have my CCM Center Ice authentic from 95.🙂
The only alternate should be the old, old ones. 🟢🔴
These are the type of starts in the past (NHL) that have led to Stanley Cups or at least trips to the finals.
1 hot goalie
1 defenseman
1 hot goalie
1 defenseman
Fire Lindy chants will get LOUD today if the blue jackets take the lead.
Another sellout crowd expected today , fans have been great this season based on the numbers and very patient so far
Another sellout crowd expected today , fans have been great this season based on the numbers and very patient so far
Hamilton is a good offensive defenseman, but his defensive game leaves something to be desired. IF, and I say that because they are neither abundant nor cheap, you can trade Hamilton and a prospect or pick for a shut down D, that would help a lot.
Looks like Luke Hughes can fill the offensive left behind from Hamilton.
Schmid earned the start next game. The net should be his.
Losing to the bj's should be rock bottom! The league has adjusted, the Devils need to adjust.
There is no more excuses, changes must be made, if current management refuses, than start the change there.
Why is Nemec still in Utica? Luke Hughes is our best current defender, and the d-man I wanted with that pick ( Jircik) played well for Columbus today.
Losing to the bj's should be rock bottom! The league has adjusted, the Devils need to adjust.
There is no more excuses, changes must be made, if current management refuses, than start the change there.
Why is Nemec still in Utica? Luke Hughes is our best current defender, and the d-man I wanted with that pick ( Jircik) played well for Columbus today.
8-9-1 off a loss to one of the worst teams in hockey. Devils are playing their way into that conversation. Lindy’s solution? Play Brendan Smith as a forward.
Brendan Smith is textbook example of how a mediocre to below mediocre player can add 4-7 years to his career through a couple of strong playoff games.
Guy was sent to the minors right after his UFA deal in NY. He shouldn't be playing in this league.
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