i'll get ripped to shreds for this, but lou might need to go sometime soon. how many times can we blame coaches before we blame the gm?
Well, he did put this team together. Fully healthy, it's a playoff team but not one capable of much damage..
The defense has gotten progressively worse over the years and nothing has really been done to address the lack of a true #1 d-man. I'm not saying they're easy to get, but there have been options. Visnovsky, pronger, etc have been traded. Liles would've been a nice #2 to add.
If the Devils hadn't lost 4 games due to shorthanded goals this would be our 12th regulation loss. Instead we lost 4 in regulation directly to shorthanded goals with a chump team with Coach Macloser on the staff being the last, and most recent.
We had 3 PP's tonight. One we scored our only goal of the night right after giving up a decent shorthanded scoring chance to Boston, and a shorthanded breakaway stopped by Marty in the second PP, and an unofficial shorthanded goal right after the PP expired. The 3rd PP we had was just whatever.
Damn. I was hoping that he might be a nice little under-the-radar acquisition for my Bruins down the road for depth on D. Looks like Devils fans know what they have there.
Wasn't sarcasm. Maybe I'm just able to see through the crap sometimes, but I liked Fayne a lot. Could be a real solid (if unspectacular) defenseman for some time. Nice work by your scouts.
Yep, we are well aware that he is a solid middle pairing defenceman for the future. Not bad for a fifth round pick that nobody had heard of two years ago.
However, we just disagree about the 4th line. Of course the top line has to be better, and it'd sure be nice to have a somewhat healthy D for once. That said, I am of the mind that the 4th line can actually influence a game. Sometimes significantly. It allows the top lines to be rested a bit more. It allows your top players to take a rest on the PK. It can produce important points. It can be the deciding factor in a game. This is especially true in the playoffs IMO.
First, nuance is often lost on a message board. I'm not suggesting that a fourth line doesn't matter. Nor that it cannot impact a game. Many times, I've stated that it's explicit purpose is to change the tempo of a game, with a physical shift, even a fight. Where I differ is with those who believe that a fourth line needs to produce any offense, or that fourth line players should be comprised of "more complete" players who are equally competent in every zone and facet of the ice. For that is precsiely why they are fourth liners - they are flawed. So the navel gazing over team XYZ's five minute players being better than NJD's is misguided, IMO. I'm more concerned why Parise, Kovalchuk and Elias got thoroughly outplayed by the likes of Horton, Marchand, Bergeron, et al. But that's me.
Now, I'll hapily concede the defensive flaws of NJD's 4th line. But the extremsim that "they bring nothing to the ice"? Sorry, that's silly and kind of hard to even engage with such. No, they each bring a very limited quality to the ice. Just as Zharkov or the whipping boy suddenly turned fourth line savior, Palmieri, would.
Finally, with regard to your point about their impact in the playoffs: we couldn't disagree more. HF mythology: depth wins you the Cup. Certainly it is needed. But the reality is this: your best players outplaying opponent's best wins you playoff games and the Cup. I've seen it for multiple decades, without exceptions. You can head into the post season with the bestest bottom six forwards ever. Give me a top line playing at its best, a modest 2nd line and absolutely nothing else...and I'll kick your team's ass.
Devils were kicking NYR's spring of '06, up 2-0 in the series. NYR fan on HF: "at least our fourth line is playing real well." I laughed. That was proof positive the series was over.
As you said, we simply see different things when it comes to this topic. Not necessarily challenging your call for a change in personnel (I'm agnostic on the topic and regardless, it's near the bottom of my list of concerns about NJD at the moment.) Just in the (non-) impact of such a move.
Damn. I was hoping that he might be a nice little under-the-radar acquisition for my Bruins down the road for depth on D. Looks like Devils fans know what they have there.
Wasn't sarcasm. Maybe I'm just able to see through the crap sometimes, but I liked Fayne a lot. Could be a real solid (if unspectacular) defenseman for some time. Nice work by your scouts.
No, you can't have him. Parise either.
I'm really disappointed in the teams effort tonight. Kinda sad for fans of both sides to have to witness it, but I'm sure you guys don't feel too bad about it You got a damn strong team again this season. No reason they can't repeat.
I've never been so at peace with a blow out than I have with this. Take from this game the realization of what it takes to be a winner and move on. Work on beating the teams that we have a chance against haha.
this. i expected a loss, hoped not to get blown out. didn't work that way but it's not the end of the world. i think we might get fired up from this a bit. at least i hope.
However it's refreshing to get a good beating by a team that's actually GOOD or should I say GREAT unlike the chumpness the Avs were playing like at the team they killed us.
That's the only solace.
Though last time the Devils lost 6-1 to the Avs they lost their second game in a row also at that time, and lost 2 more straight after that. Can't afford that right now.
People need to realize that these games will happen in a season and you can't get rid of half the team and the coach after a bad loss. To be honest, I don't think a healthy Zajac and Volchenkov would have made a big enough difference in this game (maybe the Devils lose 6-2 or 5-2 instead?).
At least this loss came against a team that has been blowing out nearly every team in the league since November. This game was pretty much a typical Boston Bruins game.
Can't dwell on this. Have to watch film, fix mistakes, and move on.
First, nuance is often lost on a message board. I'm not suggesting that a fourth line doesn't matter. Nor that it cannot impact a game. Many times, I've stated that it's explicit purpose is to change the tempo of a game, with a physical shift, even a fight. Where I differ is with those who believe that a fourth line needs to produce any offense, or that fourth line players should be comprised of "more complete" players who are equally competent in every zone and facet of the ice. For that is precsiely why they are fourth liners - they are flawed. So the navel gazing over team XYZ's five minute players being better than NJD's is misguided, IMO. I'm more concerned why Parise, Kovalchuk and Elias got thoroughly outplayed by the likes of Horton, Marchand, Bergeron, et al. But that's me.
Now, I'll hapily concede the defensive flaws of NJD's 4th line. But the extremsim that "they bring nothing to the ice"? Sorry, that's silly and kind of hard to even engage with such. No, they each bring a very limited quality to the ice. Just as Zharkov or the whipping boy suddenly turned fourth line savior, Palmieri, would.
Finally, with regard to your point abou their impact in the playoffs: we couldn't disagree more. HF mythology: depth wins you the Cup. Reality: your best players outplaying opponents best wins you the playoff games and Cups. I've seen it for multiple decades, without exceptions. YOu can head into the post season with the bestest bottom six forwards ever. Give me the better line, a modest 2nd line and absolutely nothing else...and I'll kick your team's ass.
Devils were kicking NYR's spring of '06, up 2-0 in the series. NYR fan on HF: "at least our fourth line is playing real well." I laughed. That was proof positive the series was over.
As you said, we simply see different things when it comes to this topic. Not necessarily challenging your call for a change in personnel (I'm agnostic on the topic and regardless, it's near the bottom of my list of concerns about NJD at the moment.) Just in the (non-) impact of such a move.
Fair enough. We've beaten this topic to death and I don't think we need to go any further. I'll just say I don't believe changing the 4th line is the solution to the problems in NJ. It would be small step in the right direction, IMO, and one that's easily made. It's annoying believing your team has better players playing in their minor league system than the guys currently on the big club.
I was starting to ask this question last year. I still don't think MacLean was given a fair shake yet. He had his hands tied last year, and much of that was LOU's fault.
THERE I SAID IT!
::::FLEES::::
LOL you better run. Loved JMac. That said he was as worthless as teets on a Boarhog for a head coach.
Winnipeg lost tonight, but they got Toronto tomorrow night. Both teams are a point behind us. Let's just hope whoever wins does it in regulation, and not give the other team a point.
Blowout loss to the defending champs who have now won 22 of their last 26? Right, off with Lou's head.
Unlike the Ottawa game, this is a team that is head and shoulders above where we are in terms of almost every facet of the game. It is a difficult thing to come to grips with, but it is the reality of the situation.
also, the fourth line could go scoreless the whole season for all i care. i just want them to forecheck well. look at the best teams and in almost every case the 4th line can keep the other team in their own end, make them work harder, and not give them a chance to score. there's a reason the 4th line is often called an "energy" line, and that's because the best ones play up tempo and take it to their opponents. right now ours doesn't do that. every couple of games janssen or boulton might fight, and when carter is there he might make an individual effort, but otherwise they can't get anything done. they don't have the speed or size to make up for their lack in puckhandling ability, and thus get run out of the offensive zone every time they get there.
I might get roasted for this but I do not want Brodeur to be our #1 next season. Sorry.
nobody should blast you for that. marty is 40 yrs old he may not even be playing beyond this season
the devils have a gigantic hole to fill in the goaltending position in the very very near future.
if this team is serious about success which they are, marty will most likely if anything be the teams back up goaltender next season at a reduced salary.
i would sign ryan miller to a 2-3 yr deal with marty as back next season
You got a damn strong team again this season. No reason they can't repeat.
