GDT: Senators @ Devils, 7:00 pm Maybe Eight Isn’t Enough

[mfitz804]

10 minutes ago, MB3 said:

Situationally -- like late in OT when you have a powerplay and every second counts -- faceoffs are important. I will never complain about Haula or McLeod being on the ice in those situations where you need a draw.

Over the course of a game, a week of games, a month of games like we have so far, the positives of having Haula win 61% of the faceoffs does not outweigh the negatives of Haula whiffing on 4 grade-A chances per night. 

Just for fun: top line centers average ~10 faceoffs per game. On average, Haula will go 6-4 and Jack will go 4-6. Eric Haula, despite being fed like a fat kid at a birthday party, has 0 goals. Goose egg. That valuable ice time with our best passers and best playmakers shouldn't be given to an offensive black hole because over a 60 minute hockey game he'll win 2 more faceoffs. 

Jack isn’t at 40%. He’s been closer to 30% this season than 40%, just got over 35% last game. 

I’m not saying I agree with him on that line, I don’t. But as to reasons why, that’s why. Jack sucks at faceoffs.

[mfitz804]

2 minutes ago, MB3 said:

Simple solution! Escort Boqvist to the nearest exit and push him forcefully though, and then let Holtz cook with Mercer and Haula. 

Agreed, it’s time for Boqvist to take his giant forehead somewhere else. I mean, could Holtz possibly be worse? I am not sure he can, and with some experience, he could be exceedingly better. 

It’s really the only choice since I don’t think the BMW line (still hate it) is going anywhere, and Zetterlund and Tatar have made their cases to stay in the lineup. 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 minute ago, MB3 said:

Simple solution! Escort Boqvist to the nearest exit and push him forcefully though, and then let Holtz cook with Mercer and Haula. 

The coaching staff clearly doesn't think Holtz is ready yet.  But they're clearly doing everything that they can to feel comfortable enough to put him in.  Love that Brylin is apparently working with him during practices and watching film with him:

Devils’ Alexander Holtz still gunning for regular lineup spot: ‘I want to get back in’ (msn.com) 

Staying in New Jersey has been a “valuable experience,” according to Holtz. He’s gaining knowledge from coaches like three-time Stanley Cup champion Sergei Brylin, who gives him almost daily feedback. Holtz and Brylin don’t sit next to each other in the press box – Brylin’s eye-in-the-sky coach’s box is adjacent to the player’s box – but he still mentors Holtz during “extensive film sessions” on non-game days and in drills before practices.

“I think the practice time has been very valuable,” Holtz said. “Obviously you want to be with the guys and play games, but we’re one of the best teams in the league. You need to fight for a spot every day.”

Off the ice, Holtz is meshing well with his teammates. He bested his team in a FIFA 23 video game tournament while the Devils were on a three-game Western Canadian road trip and he’s proud to see their division-leading progress through 13 games.

“The team’s doing really well,” he said. “Like I said, we’re at the top of the league and we’re performing well.”

But if Holtz wants to etch his name back in the lines, he’ll need to show Ruff that he’s improving. The Devils’ hot start stems from their fast pace, offensive dominance and pesky defense, so Holtz must quickly fix his skating and two-way abilities in order to get another shot.

“There’s areas that we keep working with Alexander Holtz in,” Ruff said. “The areas I’ve mentioned before: the pace, the wall play, details in coverage. The drill we did today was just coverage drills and awareness of where you need to be at what time.”

[MB3]

5 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

He’s been closer to 30% this season than 40%, just got over 35% last game. 

Since pedantry is built-in to our "will they won't they fvck eachother eventually" relationship, this sentence makes me smile. 

[Devil Dan 56]

16 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

 

“There’s areas that we keep working with Alexander Holtz in,” Ruff said. “The areas I’ve mentioned before: the pace, the wall play, details in coverage. The drill we did today was just coverage drills and awareness of where you need to be at what time.”

Did Severson and Smith do this drill? That could be helpful

[eaglejelly]

1 hour ago, Satans Hockey said:

With all the betting ads they have been shoving in our faces for years now he's probably a degenerate gambler won money on the game lol... 

Is that Stan Fischler?

[mfitz804]

55 minutes ago, MB3 said:

Since pedantry is built-in to our "will they won't they fvck eachother eventually" relationship, this sentence makes me smile. 

Right. Before last game, he was at 32-33%, which is closer to 30% than 40% for the other 11 games. 

Also, nobody here would ever bet on "won't they". 

Edited November 11, 2022 by mfitz804

[MB3]

20 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

Right. Before last game, he was at 32-33%, which is closer to 30% than 40% for the other 11 games. 

Also, nobody here would ever bet on "won't they". 

ACKSHUALLY he was 36.7% up until his bad game in the dot against McDavid in Edmonton, so I would say he was closer to 40% until he briefly dipped below 35% before regaining his true form and being ever so slightly closer to 40%.

also I love you

[mfitz804]

9 minutes ago, MB3 said:

ACKSHUALLY he was 36.7% up until his bad game in the dot against McDavid in Edmonton, so I would say he was closer to 40% until he briefly dipped below 35% before regaining his true form and being ever so slightly closer to 40%.

also I love you

Ok, both 36.7 and 35.5 suck balls, so Jack still sucks balls at faceoffs. 

You complete me. 

[Jerrydevil]

14 hours ago, Rob_Ottawa said:

It's not just about goals with Haula. He seems to have helped with improving faceoffs and he works hard every game unlike Zacha.

My friend in Massachusetts said Zacha has been "okay" but is a "frustrating player" because he "disappears for long stretches."

I said, "I know what you mean."

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 minute ago, Jerrydevil said:

My friend in Massachusetts said Zacha has been "okay" but is a "frustrating player" because he "disappears for long stretches."

I said, "I know what you mean."

You could've just gone with "Yep", or "Duh", heh heh

[MB3]

51 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

Ok, both 36.7 and 35.5 suck balls, so Jack still sucks balls at faceoffs. 

You complete me. 

We agree that both 36.7 and 35.5 are closer to 40 than 30 though, right? 

I’d let you sleep with my wife.

[mfitz804]

3 minutes ago, MB3 said:

We agree that both 36.7 and 35.5 are closer to 40 than 30 though, right? 

I’d let you sleep with my wife.

They are. I just checked his face off percentage a game or two ago and it was under 33%. maybe it was 3 games ago and not two, I don’t know. It doesn’t make him suck at it any less at 36.7%.

I am insulted that you are looking to pass me off already. I thought I meant something to you.

 

[MB3]

39 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

They are. I just checked his face off percentage a game or two ago and it was under 33%. maybe it was 3 games ago and not two, I don’t know. It doesn’t make him suck at it any less at 36.7%.

I am insulted that you are looking to pass me off already. I thought I meant something to you.

 

you mean everything to me 

[mfitz804]

3 hours ago, MB3 said:

you mean everything to me 

Last time I ever let a guy wax my balls on a first date. 

[Devils01]

Wow 2 snipes by Jack and Hamilton

LETSSS GOOOO

[mfitz804]

7 minutes ago, Devils01 said:

Wow 2 snipes by Jack and Hamilton

LETSSS GOOOO

 

[Devils01]

6 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

 

Wrong thread lol