Leaderboard

I don’t understand why it took 50 games into the season for McGill to finally start putting an emphasis on this in practice.

I take back every negative thing I ever said about Dougie. His defensive lapses are totally worth what he brings with that shot. I miss him so much.

I know it will never happen but when Seigenthaler and Smith come back, based on performance, Hatakka has to be higher in the pecking order than both Smith and bAHL, right? Miller coming back and Hataaka drawing into the lineup has given us a really stable pairing. I hope the old man doesn't f with that.

The Whalers jersey is a 10 out of 10.

So Lindy starts Vanecek coming off possibly the worst game of his career and to absolutely no one’s surprise he gives up a terrible goal in OT that costs them the 2nd point. We were also treated to Jack playing wing, Timo on the wrong side, and Holtz on the 4th line…Again. And it seems no matter who runs the PP (Brunette, Recchi, Green, etc) it continues to underperform despite being absolutely stacked with offensive talent. Maybe there’s a common denominator here… I’m just so fvcking done at this point. This team is cooked. They’re absolutely not making the playoffs. And that is nothing short of a catastrophic failure. Sleepy Fitz got his extension and went on an extended vacation. What an absolute disaster of a season.

I was at that game.

I know it's blown up in his face but I will say I agreed that it was the right move to go into this season with a tandem of his 30 game winner and a young guy who absolutely shut down the Rangers. In hindsight, I think Fitz f'ed up by not signing another veteran to stash in Utica in case this situation with the goalies happened, especially once Daws went under the knife in early summer. I realize any goalie willing to sign to start the year in Utica probably wasn't going to be our savior, but at least it would have given us another serviceable option and this might be a slightly less desperate situation. I'm pretty bullish on most of what Fitz has done as GM for us but we've now had 2 out of the last three seasons be completely sabotaged by beer league level goaltending. The Corey Crawford thing probably couldn't have been foreseen but you just can't be pissing away whole seasons like this. I'm not sure any other GM is going to throw him a lifeline yet this season that doesn't have some insane price attached to it but he needs to get this sh!t figured out before next year or I will really start to lose faith in him to get us where we want to go.

The hate and anger I carried about '94 was all released in a single moment. I don't really give a sh!t about it anymore, especially with the embarrassing way that franchise carries on like the '94 stanley cup was somehow superior to all the other cup winners.

It would be nice if Lindy would show that kind of emotion.

That’s a cool trivia question. I knew about Dineen but I had no idea the same guy scored the last goal against the Whalers and the first against the Canes. Trying to remember Tampa players from the mid 90s…

Missing 2 top 4 d, and playing 2 rookies. Yet the coaches have done nothing (before last night) to tighten up the defensive system to make things any easier for them.

If Ruff is fine keeping our highest paid forward on his off wing just cause he wants Toffoli to fit in, then he is dumber than we all think (man I keep saying that phrase a ton about this coach, weird). one has a guaranteed future here, the other is playing for his next contract. He cannot possibly be doing a big brain move of “I’m going to play him where he’s best to showcase him,” 3LR isn’t that smart. the fact he maintains he is the smartest man in the locker room and not matching Jack’s speed with more speed is also damning. Sure, give Jack Haula to be “responsible” on defense. Now you double down and strap a slower Toffoli to his wing and all teams have to do is cue to Jack, force him INTO coverage when he breaks out all alone with his wingers trailing, and boom, turnover. You could see it from about midway through the second, Jack being about two strides ahead of his partners, then Jack tries to do too much and goes right into the defensive triangle. They were really only effective when they had established the zone. but we don’t adjust when it’s painfully obvious to the armchair coach. We keep forcing the same system. the only true adjustment into last night was they finally collectively showed some responsibility in the defensive zone. No fewer than two shots got through VV and the defenders cleared them from the crease. Rebounds were mostly cleaned up by them as well. we also ran into a guy who channeled the ghost of Jaques Plante last night so that sure didn’t help. sorry, I’m ranting again…

Agreed. I’ve said this a few times. His lack of any speed at all just doesn’t mesh with the rest of the group. He picked off a pass it OT that looked like it was going to lead to a prime chance but he can accelerate and just looked stuck in molasses. Also, you have to think his presence is a big reason why our top paid forward is constantly forced to play his off wing. Just trade him or let him walk this summer and sign another top 9 Left wing in cases Holtz falters in a bigger role.

I just can’t get over the fact that they had 4 PP’s and a 3-on-3 and couldn’t score a single fvcking goal. That’s not a goalie problem.

Jack really really needs to play with wingers who can separate from their defenders with speed. Toffoli is not that guy. And this is some streak for him. Take away the Vegas game and the meaningless goal the game before that, and he’s been a big empty zero for a long time now.

Perfect. Thanks ✊️ I came to US in December 1994 and lived in Brooklyn, NY since day one. I can't even remember how I got attracted to Devils, but I always hated Rangers...go figure. I still remember the Detroit - Colorado battles...two great teams of late 90s, but Devils is my team forever.

I just had a real diva moment. Now I am calmed down. I am so fcking tired of losing to the Canes.

Would love to get the second one.

A much deserved point. They earned the hell out of this one

Vanecek is having a hell of a game so far. I know most people aren’t into these, but I love low scoring, high intensity games

Yes, he’s been a bright spot since his call-up.

This Hatakka has been really solid. How awesome would it be if he could turn into a solid bottom pairing guy

The lack of offense is frustrating, but the Devils’ effort and intensity have been great.

I’m not gonna lie, was not expecting this tonight.

This pace has been blindingly fast

Nice to see the team throwing the body for a change

Damn Bratt. Another gear.

I’ve not posted here that long, so I can’t speak to how things were pre-2023-24, but I’ve generally enjoyed the discussion, even with the Devils struggling. People have been crankier of late, but I’d rather that than no interest at all.

He wouldn’t even have to throw them hard under the bus for me to stop griping against him, but stop feeding us sh!t and telling us it’s ice cream.

Dano is a company man through and through, I really wish they would just stop pretending the viewers are idiots and speak objectively

I wanna say he had hip issues? But if he’s willing to come here and play, I’m literally for everything including a shooter tutor being strapped to the goal in place of VV

Yeah I like Fitz in general but man he really gets quiet when things don’t go according to plan.

Actually, I feel like everyone here loves (and at times hates) this team as much as I do, so I know that at least here, I have company who understands. Been one long friggin’ season.

As if this season couldn’t get any weirder, the folks running the Devils’ official website have apparently lost their minds.

And see I’m the opposite. I think he’s been very good defensively (along with Marino) for a while now. He made a great play on Aho tonight. Which he seems to do to the other team’s best player at least once or twice a night lately.

Tough loss. To be fair, they had their chances. VV's rebound control is awful, but he did all he could. The offense couldn’t win it for him.

They played well but for fvcks sake man...couldn't score a single goal on a guy that would be fighting for a backup job on any other team.

Just got caught up. Super entertaining game but we need the second point. We're well past the point in the season where just getting a loser point helps us.

Come on boys, would be awfully nice to get a PPG and give VV goal support, as is tradition. for once he’s holding up his end of the bargain.

Vanacek has turned into Ron Hextall

The Hartford Civic Center was actually a good place to watch a hockey game. A shame they moved to NASCAR land.

Canes had 17 giveaways in that period?! Wow

If they lose tonight….. Fitz make a fvckin move already. If Fitz does NOTHING if they lose tonight, you know Fitz is ok with punting on the 2023-24 season.

Bastian puts himself offsides on an odd man rush. Lindy will yell at Holtz

Grandpa doing some kind of slurred speech behind the net and is mad at someone. Probably Holtz or Hataaka

Does anyone in this organization face accountability? Besides Holtz?

If he weren’t an original Devil and part of their Stanley Cup teams, I probably wouldn’t like Dano. He’s too willing to make excuses for mistakes he’d never have tolerated from himself or his teammates as a player.

I’ve come to the realization there obviously aren’t any moves to be made atleast reasonable ones at this point. Teams know the deal and they’re all looking to cash in. Now if you’re talking about the choice of who is in net currently, yea i dont know… that’s what the coach gets paid to decide I guess.