Devils 2018-2019 news and notes thread

[Jerzey]

7 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

I’m guessing Nico was in Hynes’ doghouse over the Patrick goal. 

That’s what I thought too. I guess it’s early enough in the season to where Hynes can get away with that. 

[NJDevils1214]

1 minute ago, Jerzey said:

That’s what I thought too. I guess it’s early enough in the season to where Hynes can get away with that. 

I thought Nico was getting outworked, not that the rest of the team was having a great game either but maybe Zacha's size was part of the decision.

[mfitz804]

Pavel Zacha: 146 games, 16 goals, 35 assists (0.35 PPG)

Mattias Tedenby: 120 games, 10 goals, 20 assists (0.25 PPG)

Jacob Josefson (as a Devil): 276 games, 18 goals, 42 assists (0.22 PPG)

So he's got that going for him thus far, anyway. 

[sundstrom]

3 hours ago, Jerzey said:

That’s what I thought too. I guess it’s early enough in the season to where Hynes can get away with that. 

actually the top line was getting harrased by provorov so it was an attempt to split the two best play drivers (nico and hall)

[nessus]

The way that Hynes has handled Zacha has been kind of puzzling. On one hand, Zacha has consistently been the second line center, and on rare occasions he's even been the first line center. Zacha has been placed with bad linemates in the past, but he has lately had pretty solid linemates and hasn't been the guy you'd expect to carry his line. Hynes by no means gave him the DeBoer treatment. On the other hand, Zacha never gets rewarded for good play. He never gets powerplay time, and he's consistently among the last few forwards in minutes played per game. It also seems that no one gets benched quite as often as Zacha does.

I feel that Zacha was very far from being a top 6 player when he came into the league, but Hynes assigned him that type of role. And it was either that or press box. Zacha had not truly dominated in any league for quite a while. Then you've got guys like Marner and Rantanen from that same draft that became top level players in their respective leagues before becoming full time NHL players (and really good ones right out of the gate). I felt as though Zacha came into the league and all of these responsibilities of a true top 6 forward were loaded on him. A player who has never proven that he has his game fully figured out simply cannot be expected to be that all-around dependable player that we wanted out of him.

We had this streaky, talented player who was unrefined and still working on discipline, consistency, and his defensive game who gets thrown into the NHL before ironing all these things out. If he had a role similar to what rookie Miles Wood or Blake Coleman had, maybe he could have pieced his game together without being scrutinized in the way that he has been. Instead, he's playing timidly and without any confidence on most nights. It's exactly what you'd expect from a player in these circumstances.

Now, I won't say that Zacha's accomplishments have not been disappointing to this point. But I really think that there have been some serious errors in his development that have led to him stalling and struggling in the way that he has. I refuse to believe that Zacha is anywhere near his ceiling right now, but I'm definitely not seeing much progress since last year so far.

[mfitz804]

7 hours ago, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

In Pavel Zacha’s age 18, 19, and 20 year old seasons he logged 51 points in 140 games. 

Can you name other Devils players who logged 51 points as a Devil before their 21st birthday? I’ve got a feeling he’s in some pretty decent company, and I don’t think that company includes Tedenby or Josefson. I can tell you that one of the best players on our team in Kyle Palmieri didn’t get his 50th point until the end of his age-22 season. 

I don’t think Zacha was ready his first full season here. Physically, mentally, he just wasn’t. A big part of his game is size. There isn’t a non-superstar 20 year old in the NHL that’s going to muscle grown fvcking men out of the way. There just isn’t. 

I don’t think Pavel zacha will be a superstar, but I’ll say it until I’m blue in the fvcking face: you are an imbecile if you are ready to give up on a player before his 23rd birthday (let alone his 22nd!); especially if that player relies so heavily on size as part of his game. I really have to know; how many of you guys gave up on Larsson so early in his career? 

And I like you Fitz. I mean you’re one of the few people left here to I actively look for when they post. But this is borderline stalking how much you talk sh!t about this kid. Maybe he doesn’t pan out; maybe he really is a bust. But it is still at least two-year too early to say that. And you’re not the only one, you’re far from it, but you definitely serve as the ring leader to this sh!tcircus.

I’ve said before, I haven’t given up on him, I’m just pointing out things that I realize. I’ve specifically said that on multiple occasions. Maybe he’ll be great one day. Maybe he won’t. I hope he will. 

Personally, I think he should’ve been in the AHL the first year. He was rushed to the NHL and it did not benefit him. 

But for as much sh!t as I talk (and it’s a message board, it’s kind of how it works), there’s an equal number of people who look at Zacha’s performance game in and game out and talk about how great he played, while scoring zero points and never accomplishing much of anything. 

Ok, so it’s 2 years too early. I’ll recap with you in April when he turns 22 and it’s only 1 year too early. That time is going to run out eventually, we’ll see where he is. 

[Jerzey]

The Devils hands were tied when it was time for Zacha to move on from Sarnia. Unfortunately he only played two years in Sarnia so he was not AHL eligible until he turned 20 years old. So it was either leave him in Sarnia as an overager or straight to the Devils. Hindsight tells us we probably should have left him in Sarnia for one more year. 

 

Players drafted and playing for CHL teams are ineligible to play in the professional minor leagues (AHL, ECHL) until they are 20 years old (by December 31st of that year) or have completed four years in major juniors. A perfect example of this is Jared Knight, this year. Knight won't turn 20 until January 16, 2012. He's already completed two years in juniors, playing his third in London this season. If things continue along their course, and Knight does not make the NHL Bruins for the 2011-2012 season, he'll have to play that year in London as well, and will be eligible for AHL play in 2012-2013. Barring CHL involvement, players have to be 18 by September 15 to be eligible for the AHL at all.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.stanleycupofchowder.com/platform/amp/2012/8/1/3213217/bruins-nhl-chl-ahl-agreement-CBA-talks-2012

Edited October 23, 2018 by Jerzey

[mfitz804]

8 hours ago, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

In Pavel Zacha’s age 18, 19, and 20 year old seasons he logged 51 points in 140 games. 

Can you name other Devils players who logged 51 points as a Devil before their 21st birthday? I’ve got a feeling he’s in some pretty decent company, and I don’t think that company includes Tedenby or Josefson. I can tell you that one of the best players on our team in Kyle Palmieri didn’t get his 50th point until the end of his age-22 season. 

I don’t think Zacha was ready his first full season here. Physically, mentally, he just wasn’t. A big part of his game is sized I like you Fitz. I mean you’re one of the few people left here to I actively look for when they post. But this is borderline stalking how much you talk sh!t about this kid. Maybe he doesn’t pan out; maybe he really is a bust. But it is still at least two-year too early to say that. And you’re not the only one, you’re far from it, but you definitely serve as the ring leader to this sh!tcircus.

I went looking for one of your posts to make a joke, and I found this gold instead:

On 4/3/2018 at 7:41 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

Dear Zacha;

enjoy the pressbox

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:42 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

I loved Zacha but I am TIRED of him playing disinterested out there. 

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:45 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

Hard to feel good about the end of that period. Time for Zacha to grow the fvck up or get the fvck off my team.

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:46 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

Nobody is at fault except Zacha. 

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:51 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

“Devils vs Rangers” <> “Relax”.

i can’t do both I’m sorry :/. Should be 3-0 without Zacha being a stupid fvck

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:52 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

I’ve been this forums BIGGEST Zacha supporter. I don’t think anyone would deny that. But I’m DONE with his lazy sh&#33;t play. Don’t care how much talent you’re supposed to have; if you’re lazy you can fvck off

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:55 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

When will he? This is his second full professional season. He’s been to 3 training camps. He’s making plays that Nico wouldn’t even make at the end of a 3 minute shift. He’s lazy. Very, very fvcking lazy. 

He makes the kind of moves where you’d be “eh that’s fine I guess” if he was potting 40 goals a year. But he’s not! Low effort can’t come EVER from a guy who’s a borderline at-best NHLer.

 

On 4/3/2018 at 7:59 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

Lmao no, McLeod isn’t ready. But MoJo might be. And if he’s not, Bratt.

if you could scratch a player in-game I’m pretty sure we’d see Zacha in a suit for the 2nd.

 

[NJDfan1711]

21 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

I went looking for one of your posts to make a joke, and I found this gold instead:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy sh&#33;t that was all in one day? lol Jesus.

[mfitz804]

 I guess he had a bad day.

[Crisis]

27 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

 I guess he had a bad day.

Zacha or KitB?

[mfitz804]

20 minutes ago, Crisis said:

Zacha or KitB?

Both, I'd imagine. 

[Nicomo]

[mfitz804]

I was looking for stuff like this, re: who is and is not a stalker:

On 4/1/2018 at 9:37 PM, Kinkyisth3b3st said:

Taylor Hall could literally do anything he wants with my body

And my witty reply:

On 4/1/2018 at 9:40 PM, mfitz804 said:

And he doesn’t even have to take you to Chipotle first. 

 

 

[Satans Hockey]

I like Zacha, he's still only 21 so I have a hard time calling him a bust already. He's had a bunch of scoring chances this year and the puck just didn't go in. Hopefully he finally gets one soon and goes on a hot streak. 

[NJDfan1711]

To me Zacha suffers from a lack of identity.  I feel like he doesn't know what type of player he is, which makes it hard for the rest of us to know as well.  You see his style of play and you'd think his size lends him to be someone who wins faceoffs, battles in the corners - then you see his smarts and you see him being a fore-checking type and a defensive specialist, someone who kills penalties - then you see his skill from time to time, and you think he's someone who can make moves, create space, and be a playmaker - then you see his lack of finish and inability to score, and often times what appears to be lethargic body language, and you think he's nothing more than a busted somewhat-high draft pick.  

I feel like there's 4 different types of players in him and not one has emerged to the forefront yet.  There's still time, but he's sort of descending into a mixed-bag type player who may never fully realize his potential in any given area.

[mfitz804]

30 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

I like Zacha, he's still only 21 so I have a hard time calling him a bust already. He's had a bunch of scoring chances this year and the puck just didn't go in. Hopefully he finally gets one soon and goes on a hot streak. 

That’s the thing about this message board. I didn’t call him a bust, I compared his stats to those of two busts. He’s barely ahead of them. 

Yet when you say something negative, people here automatically say he’s too young to be considered a bust, and he’s just about to get hot. Based on what?? I feel like we’ve been saying he’s just unlucky and it’s only a matter of time before scoring chances turn into goals for the past 3 seasons. 

And again, maybe he will turn it around. But there’s an equal chance and equal evidence that he won’t. 

[MadDog2020]

 

[NewarkDevil5]

Hadn't seen this article posted yet. Kinkaid's a funny bird:

https://sports.yahoo.com/fueled-confidence-pretzels-keith-kinkaid-233923028.html

Quote

Ten minutes into the third period on Oct. 14, the New Jersey Devils were nursing a 3–2 lead over San Jose when goalie Keith Kinkaid snared a slapshot for his 30th save, prompting a television timeout. As the ice crew at Prudential Center began its dry scrape, Kinkaid quickly skated to the home bench at Prudential Center and placed a drive-thru order with backup Eddie Lack.

“Hey, I’m kind of hungry,” Kinkaid said. “Can I get my pretzel?”

Lack nodded, unsurprised at the request.

 

[MadDog2020]

 

[Jerzey]

What about Zajac though?

[MadDog2020]

 

1 minute ago, Jerzey said:

What about Zajac though?

I guess it’s a good sign he wasn’t put on IR....

[DevsMan84]

12 minutes ago, MadDog2020 said:

 

I guess it’s a good sign he wasn’t put on IR....

That's how I am taking it.  Appears to be day to day at the moment.

[Satans Hockey]

21 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

That’s the thing about this message board. I didn’t call him a bust, I compared his stats to those of two busts. He’s barely ahead of them. 

Yet when you say something negative, people here automatically say he’s too young to be considered a bust, and he’s just about to get hot. Based on what?? I feel like we’ve been saying he’s just unlucky and it’s only a matter of time before scoring chances turn into goals for the past 3 seasons. 

And again, maybe he will turn it around. But there’s an equal chance and equal evidence that he won’t. 

Based on absolutely nothing, I'm just hoping it happens and it's what I want to see lol I totally get the comparisons and I do find it warranted at times though. 

Edited October 23, 2018 by Satans Hockey

[Satans Hockey]

8 minutes ago, DevsMan84 said:

That's how I am taking it.  Appears to be day to day at the moment.

Definitely, if it was much worse I really doubt we wouldn't have heard about it already.