But he was coming off a nice break. Not sure when their next game is but im sure its not today.
And as mentioned he’s a horse.
OT: NJ Devils 2023-2024 Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
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And as mentioned he’s a horse.
The HC hasn't been questioned on this enough. Meier, a career RW, had averaged 30 goals/year over the last 6 seasons prior to this one. Fitzgerald made him their highest paid forward at nearly $9M AAV. So Ruff plays him on the 3rd line on his off wing? It makes no sense.
Last on the team in 5v5 ice time again last night with 7:29. Took 4 shifts in the 3rd period.
It is maddening, but no one in management is concerned about their job security. So we unfortunately get what we get.
If they played him in the right spot and his health was where it was with SJ, he would be fine.
Given the forward talent on the Devils versus the Sharks it stands to reason his numbers would be lower. Also it takes time to get acclimated with a new team.
These are the reasons Timo time hasn't been as impressive so far!
It is also an example why I come down on management as hard as I do. You can't fire the players, so rightly or wrongly a coach may be the scapegoat. With Harris and Blitzer in 💘 with Tom Fitzgerald, and Fitz in 💘 with Lindy Ruff, there is no concern or since of urgency because NO ONE is scared of losing their job. This permeates the whole franchise down to the players!
Given the forward talent on the Devils versus the Sharks it stands to reason his numbers would be lower. Also it takes time to get acclimated with a new team.
These are the reasons Timo time hasn't been as impressive so far!
It is also an example why I come down on management as hard as I do. You can't fire the players, so rightly or wrongly a coach may be the scapegoat. With Harris and Blitzer in 💘 with Tom Fitzgerald, and Fitz in 💘 with Lindy Ruff, there is no concern or since of urgency because NO ONE is scared of losing their job. This permeates the whole franchise down to the players!
I've heard this critique recently, but he supposedly played mostly left last year in SJ.
Agree, he's been lousy this year. Granted he's been banged up.
There was talk last year that he need's to be the driver of his own line as well. I'm not sure about that, but that argument was out there.
Timo grades an F so far as a Devil.
Good news is he can still be a driving force the rest of this season.
Good news is he can still be a driving force the rest of this season.
It hasn't yet though. But perhaps that is due to being banged up.
Really good #'s with Nico, not so good away from him.
Tonight's line rushes:
Palat - Hischier - Bratt
Meier - Haula - Mercer
Toffoli - Hughes - Holtz
Lazar - Nosek - Bastian
Bahl - Nemec
Hughes - Marino
Hatakka - Miller
Vanecek
Daws
Now that's a top 9!
No sooner had I typed this that I see Lindy says that 3rd line " definitely might not be a line" tonight. We all know what that means. Looking forward to Nate Bastian on Jack Hughes' wing and Holtz getting a couple laps in.
Palat - Hischier - Bratt
Meier - Haula - Mercer
Toffoli - Hughes - Holtz
Lazar - Nosek - Bastian
Bahl - Nemec
Hughes - Marino
Hatakka - Miller
Vanecek
Daws
Now that's a top 9!
No sooner had I typed this that I see Lindy says that 3rd line " definitely might not be a line" tonight. We all know what that means. Looking forward to Nate Bastian on Jack Hughes' wing and Holtz getting a couple laps in.
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Unfortunately, this HC doesn't believe in merit based lineups.
To be fair, this was from 2+ months ago. I don't know if I'd go so far as to grade him an F in his Devils tenure to date.
Last year, he had 9 goals in 21 regular season games (35 goal pace) and was a beast on the PP. In the playoffs, he struggled to score, but led the team in shots and hits. He was the ONLY one that bodied anyone in that Ranger series before Trouba blew him up in G7.
This year, the injuries have obviously curbed him. Ruff admitted they rushed him back after the lower body injury in Nov/Dec. The second injury which was rumored to be his groin area (and no, not the muscle) slowed his ability to skate. Couple this with the lines always being in a blender due to injury/incompetence, I don't necessarily blame him for not getting untracked.
I give him an Incomplete grade so far. When he's right, the guy is a bull and we'll need him down the stretch.
I know this is in jest, and I don't want Bastian with Hughes, but Bastian has been really good the past 20-25 games.
The early season struggles are behind us.
Is Holtz being showcased to Calgary?
I hope not. We already gave them a younger budding sniper in Sharongovich
We have $7.4M of cap space. I guess we are just waiting as long as we can to decide
1. Use it to sign a piece that doesn't have a ton of value from a team just happy to unload a player with 0-1 years left to save actual money
2. Trade for a valuable piece and trading back something with value
3. If we are sellers (extremely unlikely)
I know the small sample size here is in favor of not trading young guys to win now. I'd think people would then be in Camp 1.
Don't think there is a ton of Camp 1 for D and G but plenty of Fs.
1. Use it to sign a piece that doesn't have a ton of value from a team just happy to unload a player with 0-1 years left to save actual money
2. Trade for a valuable piece and trading back something with value
3. If we are sellers (extremely unlikely)
I know the small sample size here is in favor of not trading young guys to win now. I'd think people would then be in Camp 1.
Don't think there is a ton of Camp 1 for D and G but plenty of Fs.
Trey Matthews on the Locked on Devils Podcast today talked about the possibility of a Devils/Flames trade.
Key takeaways are- Fitz has NO interest in Tanev because he would be a rental.
The Devils are looking at Markstrom though. He highlighted the old trade proposal of Tanev/Markstrom for Holtz and a 1st Round Pick in '24.
I hate any deal like this for these reasons, (1) Markstrom's age 34 and injury history. (2)However there is more, part of the Timo trade was our 2nd Round pick this year. This means we would have no picks in the first two rounds. Now if Fitz does this, or similar trade, he could get a 1st Round Pick for Tiffoil.
Key takeaways are- Fitz has NO interest in Tanev because he would be a rental.
The Devils are looking at Markstrom though. He highlighted the old trade proposal of Tanev/Markstrom for Holtz and a 1st Round Pick in '24.
I hate any deal like this for these reasons, (1) Markstrom's age 34 and injury history. (2)However there is more, part of the Timo trade was our 2nd Round pick this year. This means we would have no picks in the first two rounds. Now if Fitz does this, or similar trade, he could get a 1st Round Pick for Tiffoil.
Tanev isn’t that physical.
That would be the worst trade imaginable
These sources are either Flames fans or Fitzgerald is dumber than I thought
That would be the worst trade imaginable
These sources are either Flames fans or Fitzgerald is dumber than I thought
Ya, I see that price tag for a 34 year old goalie with that cap hit as way too high.
And I doubt we would make that trade then turnaround and trade Toffoli.
Holtz and 3rd maybe. Not that I'd do that either, but makes much more sense then Holtz and a first.
Looks like that 3rd line might be a line. Or at least Hughes with Holtz.
Part of the potential trade? Have Holtz thrive next to Hughes while Calgary scouts look on? I hope not.
I hope it is not seriously considered! Only give up Holtz, and/or a 1st Round Pick for a mid-20 something good starting goalie or 1st pair big strong defenseman.
I don't even think I'd do it for a goalie. Hamilton Hughes and Nemec are going to command a ton of d-man cap space, really can't afford another 1st pair d-man.
It would have to be for that mid 20 high goalie.
We gave up a player, Zetterlund who is making a stronger impact for his team than Timo has for us. Plus a very promising young defenseman and a 1st round pick.
A disaster of a deal for NJ.
Nico didn’t lift the puck on a golden chance.
Markstrom was excellent - as I had predicted.
But as usual , Vitek let’s in a few softies and deflates the team
Once again this team shows itself to play up or down to the competition!
Normally the GM would look at the HC by this point, and make a change. Just like Edmonton did to great success earlier in the season.
Even though Ruff has lost his fastball, Fitz can't get past being a Ruff fanboy. You can't fire the players, so you have this lost year, that could have been salvaged with proper leadership.
However Fitz has shut this year down, just like he shut the coaching search down, as soon as his hero became available!
Normally the GM would look at the HC by this point, and make a change. Just like Edmonton did to great success earlier in the season.
Even though Ruff has lost his fastball, Fitz can't get past being a Ruff fanboy. You can't fire the players, so you have this lost year, that could have been salvaged with proper leadership.
However Fitz has shut this year down, just like he shut the coaching search down, as soon as his hero became available!
Just a very disheartening loss last night. With each passing game, I'm starting to side with Proud that this team just doesn't have it this year. The inability to play a complete game is maddening. This mediocre Calgary team came into their building and had counters to every punch NJ landed - make it 11 wins in 25 games at home.
I don't know what you do if you're Fitz at this point. The time to make a change in goal or behind the bench was a month ago. That said, the only trade I'd make is for a goaltender, though he'll probably have to overpay. They'll need one next year anyway and this Summer's UFA goalie market is lousy. But I'd forget about a rental defensemen or center. No reason to give up future assets now to help limp this team to the playoffs for the privilege of getting freight-trained by the Bruins or Rags.
My fear is two-fold:
1) Fitz does come out of hiding to make a major deadline move (Holtz/Mercer/Casey) only to still miss the playoffs
2) Fitz gives Ruff a pass because of the injuries/goaltending and runs it back with him in '24-25
I don't know what you do if you're Fitz at this point. The time to make a change in goal or behind the bench was a month ago. That said, the only trade I'd make is for a goaltender, though he'll probably have to overpay. They'll need one next year anyway and this Summer's UFA goalie market is lousy. But I'd forget about a rental defensemen or center. No reason to give up future assets now to help limp this team to the playoffs for the privilege of getting freight-trained by the Bruins or Rags.
My fear is two-fold:
1) Fitz does come out of hiding to make a major deadline move (Holtz/Mercer/Casey) only to still miss the playoffs
2) Fitz gives Ruff a pass because of the injuries/goaltending and runs it back with him in '24-25
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