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OT: NJ Devils 2024-2025 Thread

Dawson is a top 6 forward. If the Devils are unwilling to play him there, trade him before you tank his value. If done I believe he could break out like Kaapo Kaako did with Seattle.

He is much more a natural Top 6 forward than either Palat or Noeson, even with both playing better.
 
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Elliott’s reports that #NJDevils have “zero interest” in dealing Simon Nemec and plan to reset next fall, expecting that his injury in August set him back this year. The plan is to have him reset with the team come next fall.
 
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Dawson is a top 6 forward. If the Devils are unwilling to play him there, trade him before you tank his value. If done I believe he could break out like Kaapo Kaako did with Seattle.

He is much more a natural Top 6 forward than either Palat or Noeson, even with both playing better.
He really hasn't done much the last 2 years to suggest he should play higher in the lineup.

But what Keefe has done this year is use him pretty heavily as a defensive fwd, and he's played that role to good results.

Moving Timo and his offensive play driving ability down to the 3rd line could, and game 1 suggests it will, lead to better offensive results for Mercer.

Keefe has shown a want to keep lines together for stretches so I imagine we see Timo and Mercer together for a stretch. I'd include Dowling in there but when Haula gets back I imagine he gets that spot.
 
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He really hasn't done much the last 2 years to suggest he should play higher in the lineup.

But what Keefe has done this year is use him pretty heavily as a defensive fwd, and he's played that role to good results.

Moving Timo and his offensive play driving ability down to the 3rd line could, and game 1 suggests it will, lead to better offensive results for Mercer.

Keefe has shown a want to keep lines together for stretches so I imagine we see Timo and Mercer together for a stretch. I'd include Dowling in there but when Haula gets back I imagine he gets that spot.
Yes it is the chicken or egg debate. Mercer will ultimately be better in an offensive role on a scoring line, but you need to leave him there through the growing pains. The NJD have been impetuous, even before General Keefe.

I haven't posted about this but a huge irritant to me is playing Timo Meier on his off wing. Yes he can play LW, but not as well. In San Jose he became a star by playing RW and being on PP1, another spot the Devils don't play him in. Looking back at LY scoring spurt, we finally put him in his tradition roles and he went off. I'm a Keefe fan, but he needs to rethink his use of Timo. In closing we haven't scored 5 goals in a game for a long time. Keep these lines overall.
 
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Yes it is the chicken or egg debate. Mercer will ultimately be better in an offensive role on a scoring line, but you need to leave him there through the growing pains. The NJD have been impetuous, even before General Keefe.

I haven't posted about this but a huge irritant to me is playing Timo Meier on his off wing. Yes he can play LW, but not as well. In San Jose he became a star by playing RW and being on PP1, another spot the Devils don't play him in. Looking back at LY scoring spurt, we finally put him in his tradition roles and he went off. I'm a Keefe fan, but he needs to rethink his use of Timo. In closing we haven't scored 5 goals in a game for a long time. Keep these lines overall.
Mercer's most common linemate this season is Nico, to meh results. Last year his numbers with Nico were not good as well. 2 years ago they were very good.

So they were good at one time, but a pretty long stretch of not good.

His numbers with Hughes are typically good but if Keefe wants to use him in a more defensive role, then he won't be on Hughes's line.

But after last night we are going to see Meier Dowling Mercer for a stretch.
 
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Mercer's most common linemate this season is Nico, to meh results. Last year his numbers with Nico were not good as well. 2 years ago they were very good.

So they were good at one time, but a pretty long stretch of not good.

His numbers with Hughes are typically good but if Keefe wants to use him in a more defensive role, then he won't be on Hughes's line.

But after last night we are going to see Meier Dowling Mercer for a stretch.
Yes, as it should be.
 
7 games in the next 2 weeks and then 2 week break for the 4 nations tourney. Devils next game would be Feb 22nd vs Dallas
 
Reportedly in a 3 way trade Carolina is close to obtaining Mikko Rantanan from Colorado, and Taylor Hall from Chicago. I haven't heard what Carolina is giving up. Stay tuned.
 
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Trade call underway now. Full deal:

To #RaiseUp : Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall

To #GoAvsGo : Martin Necas, Jack Drury, 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick (all from Carolina)

To #Blackhawks : 2025 3rd Round Pick (their own returned from Carolina), 50% of Rantanen’s salary
 
Trade call underway now. Full deal:

To #RaiseUp : Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall

To #GoAvsGo : Martin Necas, Jack Drury, 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick (all from Carolina)

To #Blackhawks : 2025 3rd Round Pick (their own returned from Carolina), 50% of Rantanen’s salary
Taylor Hall keeps getting tossed around. Poor guy. Just shows you can be a pretty spectacular player and still have a pretty unstable life in the pros.
 
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Trade call underway now. Full deal:

To #RaiseUp : Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall

To #GoAvsGo : Martin Necas, Jack Drury, 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick (all from Carolina)

To #Blackhawks : 2025 3rd Round Pick (their own returned from Carolina), 50% of Rantanen’s salary
Necas has always been a thorn in our side but Rantanen is a helluva get for them for at least this year. It'll be interesting if they can resign him.
 
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Now with Colorado, we see that little bish Necas one more time. I hope the Devils let Timo deck him.
 
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Happy Ice Hockey GIF by NHL
 
That was way more stressful than it should have been. Good to see Jack get the winner. Other than that he seemed like a non-factor in the game however.
 
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That was way more stressful than it should have been. Good to see Jack get the winner. Other than that he seemed like a non-factor in the game however.
Non - factor . I believe he was on the ice for all 3 Montreal goals and I know he turned the puck over at the point on first goal . He was dreadful but I’ll give him a break bc they got 2 points
 
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Captain Nico day to day, after opposition thuggery IMHO. It is time to unleash Kurtis MacDermid. I volunteer to pay his fine.

Earlier in the season we led the NHL in fighting majors, now we're near the bottom. First Marky now Nico, what are we waiting for Jack to be driven into the boards and get a career ending injury? The NHL will not protect our players. We MUST make opponents who are inclined to do dangerous or outright dirty "stuff" pay and send the message that thus will not be tolerated!

Unleash BIG MAC
 
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Can someone please explain to me why Hamilton is on the ice in OT. Slow & wants to shoot as soon as he touches the puck.
 
Can someone please explain to me why Hamilton is on the ice in OT. Slow & wants to shoot as soon as he touches the puck.
Because if you don't have a legit scoring threat as your third man on 3 on 3 the other team will double team jack or nico.
 
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No Hischier tonight. Halonen called back up. That bottom 6 😬

Palat Hughes Bratt
Meier Mercer Noesen
Cotter Dowling Halonen
Tatar Lazar Bastian

Dillon Hamilton
Siegenthaler Kovacevic
Hughes Pesce

Allen
Poulter
 
No Hischier tonight. Halonen called back up. That bottom 6 😬

Palat Hughes Bratt
Meier Mercer Noesen
Cotter Dowling Halonen
Tatar Lazar Bastian

Dillon Hamilton
Siegenthaler Kovacevic
Hughes Pesce

Allen
Poulter
That went about as well as expected.

This team is begging for a shakeup. Center depth, the bottom 6 and that Hughes/Pesce D-pairing are all real issues that need to be dealt with. Now 4 wins in 14 games since reaching their high water mark of 24-11-3 on 12/23. The Caps are pulling away with the division lead, the Canes just bolstered their lineup, and both the Jackets and Rags are creeping up with their recent strong play (and multiple games in hand). Not that I want a panic move, but Fitz watched as this team circled the drain for 2 months last year before doing anything. We're already a month into the lousy play this year.

5 games left ahead of the 2-week break for this dopey tournament:

PHI
@BUF
@PIT
VGK
@MTL

I want no less than 7 pts.
 
Sadly Fitz doesn't have a proactive bone in his body.

Blitzer and Harris care about acquisitions, not winning championships.

What happened to heavier, edgier, more violent? This team has stopped hitting and protecting one another. Fights not Hugs.

Why did we sign Big Mac to not Play him? Against the Flyers no less. Seeler should have had his ass kicked!

Timo's goal was with him on RW. If Keefe doesn't know Fitz should tell him about his March under Green. Unless Keefe doesn't have autonomy like Ruff. Either way this square peg in a round hole is frustrating.

We are now in Metro 3rd. Columbus, Philadelphia, and NYR are playing better and within 10 points. Forget just Fitz, if this team doesn't snap out of this and make the playoffs, there should be a house cleaning. Sadly ownership will not do anything.
 
Hired a coach who collapsed in the playoffs every year in Toronto
Maybe Qweefe just wants to collapse before playoffs begin this year
 
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