Devs3cups

Fitz has been GM for less than 2 years. This honestly seems premature to me. Him keeping the coaching staff would make me question him, but I'd still be far from wanting him fired. People want to hold the goaltending against him, but he's tried to fix it for 2 years in a row, and it (miraculously) blew up in his face twice. The goaltending market was f*cked this year and people would've been just as pissed if he gave up major assets for a stopgap goaltending solution. In less than a year, he basically revamped the whole D with Hamilton, Siegenthaler and Dougie. Hamilton getting injured sucked and definitely impacted his play, but at the start of the year he was great. Siegenthaler was one of the top defensive d-men in the league this season and a shrewd move. Graves is a fine top-4 guy. The team is fine offensively, we're extremely good off the rush and scoring goals is not a problem (even with a sh!tTY PP). Sure, we could use more weight in general to score more off the cycling/zone pressure, and from what Marty/Fitz are on record of saying, this should be addressed. With proper goaltending, this team would've most likely been a bubble team, which is pretty much where we thought they'd be to start the season. Fitz has also drafted pretty well, especially in regards to Mercer and Muk (Holtz and Luke were obvious picks). Stillman is sort of questionnable, but I think he could be a good bottom-6 guy for us eventually. In all honesty, I think we should move on from the coaching staff, especially considering we know Ruff isn't the "coach of the future". Will they be gone? Who knows, maybe Fitz puts as much stock as we do in the goaltending as we do and is willing to give Ruff another shot after fixing the goaltending. The offense has been fine with Ruff. To me, the PP is inexcusable though, as is the defensive system. That has to be addressed imo. I wouldn't put Fitz's job at risk though. I honestly believe Fitz's moves and decisions have been pretty darn good, and he seems to have a good vision/plan as to how to build this team. Wanting to can him after less than 2 years at the helm and the moves he's made seems to me like impatience with winning, which is a fine way to feel, more so than what he's actually accomplished as a GM, which is pretty good in less than 2 years.

He’s an interesting prospect for sure. With Fitz’s talk about getting bigger, interior forwards in the pipeline, I could see Fitz going for Cutter Gauthier (badass name by the way). Great goalscoring ability, compete level, drives the net hard, has skill and goes hard in the corners. He’s the most “Tkachuk-esque” as it gets from what I’ve seen this draft. A nice mix of skill and grit. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/526094/cutter-gauthier

One thing that I think we need to keep in mind is that the fact we're likely getting a top-7 pick this season is absolutely gravy. In normal circumstances (ahem, average goaltending, ahem), we're most likely drafting around 12th-14th overall. Getting another top tier high first round selection is a bonus, we shouldn't even be there, this team isn't as bad as their record. It's unfortunate if we don't get one of the 2 RD, but that's how I see it right now.

That's a bad goal on Daws.

That's just your brain repressing the horrible sight of Trav in an Isles jersey, don't worry

And this is extremely encouraging. We're seeing this core progressing and building chemistry.

Colorado has no problem winning in back to backs. They were 6-0-1 before last night.

He’s 4th all-time right now at 1.152, right under Rantanen who is at 1.154. In goals, he’s 1st at .606. 2nd is Spezza at .512.

He’s actually having a top 5 season all-time in terms of PPG in the AHL for players in their 19 year old season. In terms of Goals per game? He’s 1st all-time.

I saw him dig for the puck there, he pulled back and it went in. I thought it might be his goal. Good for him! Go to the dirty areas and keep it going!

Michigan ended their regular season last night. Here's Hughes statline for the season. Luke Hughes, D, Fr 34 16 16 32 0.94 Pt./G 82 SOG 19.5 Sh% 10 PIM GWG 0 PPG 3 SHG 0 +22 I mean, what a great season for Luke. Over 0.75-0.80 PPG for a freshman d-man is great. 0.94 PPG with barely any PP time, with mostly primary points. He honestly exceeded my expectations. The future is bright for him. We've got a good one, folks. Edit: Also, most points in the whole NCAA by a d-man. As a freshman. Impressive.

I believe he is the youngest d-man though.

Can't be understated how the goaltending affects this. As I said, it's absolutely brutal. Might be the worst stretch we've ever seen. Goals above expected is horrendous. Also, our PK, which Nas is responsible for, has greatly improved. Again, I don't want to seem like I love Nas lol, if he doesn't come back, I won't be sad lol. Just saying that he's not ONLY bad.

Absolutely agreed. From what we've heard, looks like Mac's heel was still injured when he played this season, so I'm willing to give him some slack. Let's hope he can comeback strong next year after some much needed rest. I also hope Bernier will be able to come back.

This team was in the playoffs because of most likely the best season from a Devils' forward ever. Hall had over 40 points more than our second scorer, it was, quite literally a one man job. I don't think it could've been built on in any way. You're 100% allowed to be unhappy with the team's situation though. I don't usually comment on this subject but I will say our cupboard was not only bare, it was EXTREMELY weak. We now have assets and good prospects to be able to make some moves and grow as the youngest team in the league. I have a hard time seeing how any fan wouldn't be somewhat optimistic for the future of the team when we see the steps that players like Hughes, Nico and Bratt have taken respectively and various categories, the addition of an elite #1 d-man, prospects like Mercer, Rango, Holtz, L. Hughes, Gritsyuk, Mukhamadullin, Zetterlund, etc. This team has some problems, that's for sure. We're also generating offense 5-on-5 at a top 10 clip, have a great PK, and an average defence and that's with the youngest team in the league. Our real problem is goaltending, it can't be understated. I'm definitely optimistic about the future, but I wouldn't say you aren't allowed to be unhappy, not at all. I understand it's frustrating to lose. I just think context is important. But I wouldn't want to tell disappointed fans that they can't be and I apologize if that's how my posts came across.

Exactly. You hit the nail on the head. As I said in the TBL @ NJ GDT, this team's biggest issue is ABSOLUTELY goaltending this season. It's incredibly bad, and Schneider's last stint here is incredible compared to what we've gotten. Sub .900% SV% is absolutely insane. The Goals above expected is also laughable. They simply can't stop a beachball. Jon Gillies has given up 3 or more goals in 10 of his 12 starts with us. Even with below average defence, that shouldn't happen. That's what happens when you're 2 goalies get injured and you have to play a ECHLer and 2 young AHLers who are very promising, but who were playing in Germany and the USHL last season.

Yes, the end result is the same. I just don't think we can understate the effects of goaltending on this team. Our team generates offense 5-on-5 at a top 10 level. Our defence is slightly above average, our PP is getting better, our PK is very good. The one point that is holding us back this season is goaltending. There is no way to spin it otherwise, it's otherworldly bad. I saw somewhere on Twitter that with only average goaltending, we'd have 5-6 more wins, which would put us on the bubble, exactly where most of us thought we would be. We are better in many metrics than let's say, the Rangers, that barely generate any offense 5-on-5, but they have absolutely ELITE goaltending. Sub .900% goaltending across the board is absolutely brutal, any way you want to slice it. Gillies has allowed 3 goals or more in 10 of his 12 starts here. It's horrible. This might be the worst goaltending stretch this franchise has seen. With that being said, I'm sure Fitz will look to improve it in the off-season. No goalie can be acquired right now, in season, at a reasonable price that can significantly move the needle. I'd be very surprised if it's not addressed in the off-season. As for the staff, I absolutely agree with you. I'd be shocked if the staff is back next year and if they are, I'd really like to hear Fitz on that. I feel he wants to keep a certain stability until the end of the season, but they'll get canned in the off-season. Nas is getting a bad rep here, but the PK is excellent this season and the improvements of D-men like Siegenthaler show me that maybe he can help defensively. With that being said, I won't be that upset if he's let go. Recchi and Ruff can go though. The PP is ass and it shouldn't be with the skill we have on the first unit. I also believe Ruff's system is not intuitive at all and complicated for our young team, which creates missed assignments and defensive struggles. He also doesn't seem to adapt his system at all. I also don't like his TOI disparities most games.

The only move I had question marks about was the Tatar signing. He was clearly a last resort sort of signing after Fitz couldn't get something done for Saad/Tarasenko. The Bernier move was great imo, but absolutely blew up in our face. No one could've predicted our 2 starting goalies would get injured. That doesn't usually happen, like at all. I don't think that should be used to discredit Fitz. I understand others see it differently though.

I understand all this. I don't see them as moot points, since Fitz was in the conversations for those players, if he was just staying pat, as that seems to be the issue here, he wouldn't even look to add those players. If you want to discredit Fitz for every single move he made, which is basically what you did in your post, you'll most likely do it with every single move he makes. If we get Boeser for example, it'll be because the market was favorable and he has a down season, so he shouldn't get credit. Most hockey moves are for certain reasons that can be explained and used to discredit the GM. Hall only came here because things weren't working out in Edmonton, and the Oilers desperately needed young d-men, hence Shero shouldn't get credit for the Hall trade. Let's not forget that Peter Chiarelli is a bad GM, so that move was a lightning-strike kind of move, once in a decade trade, Shero shouldn't get any credit. Siegenthaler was a low-risk move, so Fitz shouldn't be given credit for the trade. I just don't see how that view of moves makes sense. Maybe we just see that point differently. The other thing I'd like to ask you is why do you stick on in-season moves? Our team is young and is not in a position for playoffs or contention. Why not wait for the off-season to look for moves, when more players are available and usually at cheaper prices? I'd like to understand your point a bit more on that front.

I absolutely agree with your definition of Fitz job here. Fitz has tried to improve the team though, that's the part I don't get with the narrative. Most big hockey deals happen in the off-season, not usually at the deadline. He brought in a 1B goalie to back up Mac, since that was a problem. Unfortunately it blew up in our faces, but that wasn't really predictable. He brought in a top-6 winger in Tatar and was reported to be in the hunt for Tarasenko and Saad. Tatar hasn't worked out as much as expected, but he's still on pace for 35 points and is only a 2 year stop gap signing. He also brought in Hamilton, who is a top 5-10 d-man in the league and was on pace for the best season by a Devils defenceman in years. He traded for a top-4 d-man in Graves and a top-6 forward in Mango. He also did an underrated trade for Siegenthaler, who has proven to be one of the best defensive d-man in the whole league this season. Those all look like moves to try to improve the team to me. Look, I understand it's frustrating, and I'm as tired of the losing as anyone. But context is important and I don't see any of this as standing pat and doing nothing. Fitz clearly has a vison and is active.

Realistically, what is there to salvage? This team wasn't making the playoffs, regardless. I just wonder if sending assets to save anything right now is the best thing to do. Of course, if there's a good hockey trade to make, you make it. Boeser is linked to us and could greatly improve our top-6. I just wonder what realistic moves could be done to truly salvage the season. Vancouver fired their coach, they're still 6 points out from the 2nd Wild Card spot. When we were close to a playoff spot in '17-'18, Shero did make moves to help this team, it didn't give positive results in the end. I think Fitz sees this team as very young and in progress and just doesn't want to do a move to do a move, but I'm convinced he's listening and looking around. You don't do the moves he did this summer if you don't want to improve this team quickly and if you want to stay pat imo. I have confidence Fitz has a vision.

Jack really got robbed twice in less than 24 hours lol We really can't have nice things lol

His playmaking abilities have always been underrated I feel. Sure his shot is definitely his biggest strength, but he isn't a "Laine" type prospect that's only goal scoring. That pass was sick!

Holtz is showing GREAT signs. He's still so young too, just turned 20 a week ago. Encouraging for sure.

Didn’t know that, would be a weird move by Vancouver, especially considering they signed him this summer.