I see a lot of fans complaining that NJ didn't acquire some hotshot superstar in the offseason and believe that the Devils are going to fail because of that. Honestly, that's already flawed thinking considering that having superstar players definitely does not automatically mean you're going to have success on the ice. The biggest thing for this team is how well they adjust to and play in Keefe's system. One of the things that also contributed to the Devils struggling towards the end of the 22/23 season and onwards into the 23/24 season was other teams figuring out Ruff's system and the young players not having the experience to adjust and the coaching itself not making the proper adjustments to counter how teams were playing against them. It's not all a matter of the players on the ice, coaching is going to be a key part of their success. I know that sounds very obvious, but it's often something that gets overlooked when fans are so focused on the makeup of the roster.
Agree, all star teams do not win cups or the Rangers would have gotten a bunch in the late 90's early 2000's and the Oilers and Leafs would be winning all the recent cups. The top 6 made it to the playoffs with Tatar, not that the off season is over since it is only July. Stefan Noesen can be slotted in the top 6 as needed if the other team is running Jack Hughes or Hischer. It is not fantasy hockey you need all roles to be good. Got tougher and sounder defensively which were the teams biggest weaknesses last season.
Love it, I’m going with some bold takes this year. Kovacevic had really good numbers on a terrible Montreal team and I like him a lot. Very tough. Pesce and Hamilton have played together and Pesce is comfortable on either side, Canes were just so stacked, he never needed to do it. Also, Hughes plays well with speedy players, but he needs size with him- in recent years, we haven’t found many that mesh well with him. I’d like to see Siegenthaler, Nemec and Kovacevic rotating in. Bratt and Hughes create some magic, but due to their size, have shown getting beaten down. I’d like to see a fast, net-front presence with him and have more of a 2A and 2B line combo. Bratt-Hischier-Meier is a true number 1 in my opinion that have all of the elements we need to win. I also think we have 7 D we can rotate nightly. I like MacDermid in as well just to help keep lines honest and kind of have an 11 forward even group with a situational MacDermid in there playing sub 10 mins. There’s always injuries and we can also count on our extras playing 50-60 games which I do in Foote abd Bastian. 1 Bratt-Hischier-Meier (maybe a top 5 line in NHL) 2 Cotter-Hughes-Mercer (Cotter bringing speed, physicality and net front allowing others to play their game) i can see cotter get 20 goals with Hughes Palat-Haula-Tatar (veteran depth scoring line that’s edgy and skilled ) Hughes/Bratt/Hischier (Hischier would move Lazar to wing) -Lazar-Noesen Can both score and bring physicality. Creates space for our most gifted offensive players. Pesce-Hamilton Hughes-Kovacevic Dillon-Nemec Siegenthaler (rotates in bottom 2 pairings) This would make us so balanced and hard to play against.. again to read easily Bratt-Hischier-Meier Cotter-Hughes-Mercer Palat-Haula-Tatar Hughes/Bratt/Hischier-Lazar-Noesen Pesce-Hamilton Hughes-Kovacevic Dillon-Nemec siegenthaler (D pairings can be put in a blender and disperse minutes) Markstrom Allen …i think as unconventional as this looks, would be a nightmare to match up with, as we have size, skill, speed and leadership throughout with no holes
Every season Dougie mails in defense half the year. He shows up defensively in big games and always brings it offensively. I noticed this in prior seasons. He's not bad defensively when he plays harder when it counts more
Fun Fact - Dougie STINKS defensively and is the softest 6'6 NHL player Ive ever seen. NJ was the only team dumb enough to sign Dougie, a complimentary journeyman as THe GUY. Dougie is not nor has ever been the guy. Dougie is an offensive complimentary defenseman that NJ is paying a clear cut number #1. Fact is, NJ still does not have a legitimate number 1 defenseman.
Palat was the 1st line LW in Tampa during their cup runs. He wasn't playing there for his scoring touch, as his career high is 61p back in 2015. If Palat is winning board battles, and recovering pucks, then he is doing his job. He has had a lengthy offseason for the first time in almost 10 years. You never know.
We absolutely should have let him go. He wanted term and the team had little cap space ending last season because of the Bratt extension. This summer is a different story with expiring contracts
Remember Palat is not getting his full 6mill this year due to performance bonuses. He will only make 3 mill if he doesn’t do well. If he expects to make his full salary he will play better.!
@@Regurgitator85 went to every game in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. My dad has had season tickets for 25+ years. You don’t have to believe me - Justin
I disagree that the team is stacked. When you have to put bums like Palat & Tatar in the top 6. This offseason needed more emphasis on actual talent & less emphasis on size. Just brought in a bunch of slightly above average players because they are tall. I'm expected to believe that this is going to transform everything from the disaster we saw last season into a top contender? I don't think so. I would give Fitz a C grade for his work during the offseason. Lots of old & mediocre talent brought here. I'm not excited about seeing any of the new additions to be honest. Should have gotten a legit top 6 forward. He failed.
Your not supposed to stack 6 top six players you run 5 staple top 6. The odd one out is a spot for guys playing well to move up. It gives insensitive for the bottom six to play hard. We still have 5 mill to play with if it becomes an issue. We don’t have the money to bring in another top six. Simon and Luke are getting 💰 asap. Stop being so narrow sighted.
The top 6 got WORSE. Tatar is a garbage signing and Fitz just replace Toffoli with Tatar for the top 6 🤡 Huge downgrade. Palat is garbage. Tatar is garbage.
I see a lot of fans complaining that NJ didn't acquire some hotshot superstar in the offseason and believe that the Devils are going to fail because of that. Honestly, that's already flawed thinking considering that having superstar players definitely does not automatically mean you're going to have success on the ice. The biggest thing for this team is how well they adjust to and play in Keefe's system. One of the things that also contributed to the Devils struggling towards the end of the 22/23 season and onwards into the 23/24 season was other teams figuring out Ruff's system and the young players not having the experience to adjust and the coaching itself not making the proper adjustments to counter how teams were playing against them. It's not all a matter of the players on the ice, coaching is going to be a key part of their success. I know that sounds very obvious, but it's often something that gets overlooked when fans are so focused on the makeup of the roster.
@@WaltBTB I agree 100%. -Daniel
Cmon bruh. Back in reality, the top 6 got WORSE.
Toffoli was replaced with Tatar which is terrible
Agree, all star teams do not win cups or the Rangers would have gotten a bunch in the late 90's early 2000's and the Oilers and Leafs would be winning all the recent cups. The top 6 made it to the playoffs with Tatar, not that the off season is over since it is only July. Stefan Noesen can be slotted in the top 6 as needed if the other team is running Jack Hughes or Hischer. It is not fantasy hockey you need all roles to be good. Got tougher and sounder defensively which were the teams biggest weaknesses last season.
tatar mercer hischier line went nuts in 22-23, look up their stats@@yoholmes273
@@yoholmes273doesn’t matter!
The under-the-radar shrewd move was getting Kovacevic to anchor the third pairing. Devils fans will come to appreciate his steady and reliable game. 👍
@@kenmacleod7225 Agree 1000%. I think he’s easily cracking the Opening Night lineup (maybe even Top 4) on almost any team. - Daniel
Let's Go Devils 😁
Love it, I’m going with some bold takes this year. Kovacevic had really good numbers on a terrible Montreal team and I like him a lot. Very tough. Pesce and Hamilton have played together and Pesce is comfortable on either side, Canes were just so stacked, he never needed to do it. Also, Hughes plays well with speedy players, but he needs size with him- in recent years, we haven’t found many that mesh well with him. I’d like to see Siegenthaler, Nemec and Kovacevic rotating in. Bratt and Hughes create some magic, but due to their size, have shown getting beaten down. I’d like to see a fast, net-front presence with him and have more of a 2A and 2B line combo. Bratt-Hischier-Meier is a true number 1 in my opinion that have all of the elements we need to win. I also think we have 7 D we can rotate nightly. I like MacDermid in as well just to help keep lines honest and kind of have an 11 forward even group with a situational MacDermid in there playing sub 10 mins. There’s always injuries and we can also count on our extras playing 50-60 games which I do in Foote abd Bastian.
1 Bratt-Hischier-Meier (maybe a top 5 line in NHL)
2 Cotter-Hughes-Mercer (Cotter bringing speed, physicality and net front allowing others to play their game) i can see cotter get 20 goals with Hughes
Palat-Haula-Tatar (veteran depth scoring line that’s edgy and skilled )
Hughes/Bratt/Hischier (Hischier would move Lazar to wing) -Lazar-Noesen
Can both score and bring physicality. Creates space for our most gifted offensive players.
Pesce-Hamilton
Hughes-Kovacevic
Dillon-Nemec
Siegenthaler (rotates in bottom 2 pairings)
This would make us so balanced and hard to play against.. again to read easily
Bratt-Hischier-Meier
Cotter-Hughes-Mercer
Palat-Haula-Tatar
Hughes/Bratt/Hischier-Lazar-Noesen
Pesce-Hamilton
Hughes-Kovacevic
Dillon-Nemec
siegenthaler
(D pairings can be put in a blender and disperse minutes)
Markstrom
Allen
…i think as unconventional as this looks, would be a nightmare to match up with, as we have size, skill, speed and leadership throughout with no holes
Keep up the good work youngbulls. 👹🤝
@@Manny0404 appreciate the support!
Great listen!
LFGD 💥 another great listen! Thanks again guys!
Good podcast guys. This was my first listen but I enjoyed the commentary, especially since there is positivity here.
@@joepasquini7396 thank you we appreciate the support!
I posted that exact lineup, too, Justin. The defense pairings as well, good work!
Thank you! - Justin
I wanna see anton get some time in pre season
That won’t happen for 2 more years buddy.
Whats going on with Arserni Gritsyuk?
Every season Dougie mails in defense half the year. He shows up defensively in big games and always brings it offensively. I noticed this in prior seasons. He's not bad defensively when he plays harder when it counts more
Fun Fact - Dougie STINKS defensively and is the softest 6'6 NHL player Ive ever seen.
NJ was the only team dumb enough to sign Dougie, a complimentary journeyman as THe GUY.
Dougie is not nor has ever been the guy.
Dougie is an offensive complimentary defenseman that NJ is paying a clear cut number #1.
Fact is, NJ still does not have a legitimate number 1 defenseman.
tatar-hesiher-mercer will be 2nd line they were the 2nd best line in the 2022 season they have chemistry
It aint 2 years ago bro.
Tatar blows
@@yoholmes273 ofc he’s gonna blow on a team like kraken where they aren’t as skilled as hiesher who sets them up for greatness😂
@@yoholmes273 people roles r different on every team like at yegorvioch he would never scored the goals here in jersey now he’s a star in calgary
Great video! But no disrespect but Palat on the first line is insane. He’s a 3rd / 4th line guy!
@@BobbyWhiting-hk8ds thank you! And I agree! But I do understand Daniel’s point
Palat is the worst player in the league.
@@nickadams6537 that's a wild take
Palat was the 1st line LW in Tampa during their cup runs. He wasn't playing there for his scoring touch, as his career high is 61p back in 2015. If Palat is winning board battles, and recovering pucks, then he is doing his job. He has had a lengthy offseason for the first time in almost 10 years. You never know.
@@ADB358 Precisely. 🎯 - Daniel
We should've never let Tatar walk last off-season
We absolutely should have let him go. He wanted term and the team had little cap space ending last season because of the Bratt extension. This summer is a different story with expiring contracts
Turned this off when you said palat Hughes Mercer
Remember Palat is not getting his full 6mill this year due to performance bonuses. He will only make 3 mill if he doesn’t do well. If he expects to make his full salary he will play better.!
No matter how fitzy shapes this team they are to injury prone to go anywhere sry maybe a wc team at best
Aka new devils fans lol. We need og devils fans making content.
I’ve been a diehard devils fan since birth but okay 😅 - Justin
@@shoutatthedevilspodcast what's that 10 years ago? Lol
@@shoutatthedevilspodcast and I'm 100% sure you weren't fans in 2012 so stop the cap.
@@Regurgitator85 went to every game in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. My dad has had season tickets for 25+ years. You don’t have to believe me - Justin
@@shoutatthedevilspodcast when you were 8? Lol comon bro. Half the fan base now is a bunch of tweeners.
All talk. Weak 2nd line. Fragile Jack Hughes.
Prove it on the ice. Then talk.
corny
BiNGO.
Top 6 got worse.
Bottom 6 provided zero offense.
Old washed up goalies.
I disagree that the team is stacked. When you have to put bums like Palat & Tatar in the top 6. This offseason needed more emphasis on actual talent & less emphasis on size. Just brought in a bunch of slightly above average players because they are tall. I'm expected to believe that this is going to transform everything from the disaster we saw last season into a top contender? I don't think so. I would give Fitz a C grade for his work during the offseason. Lots of old & mediocre talent brought here. I'm not excited about seeing any of the new additions to be honest. Should have gotten a legit top 6 forward. He failed.
Your not supposed to stack 6 top six players you run 5 staple top 6. The odd one out is a spot for guys playing well to move up. It gives insensitive for the bottom six to play hard. We still have 5 mill to play with if it becomes an issue. We don’t have the money to bring in another top six. Simon and Luke are getting 💰 asap. Stop being so narrow sighted.
BINGO.
Top 6 got worse.
Palat and Tatar are garbage men
@@yoholmes273by losing Toffoli? Team definitely got better overall and I like the additions up front. Smooths out all lines unlike last year
The top 6 got WORSE.
Tatar is a garbage signing and Fitz just replace Toffoli with Tatar for the top 6 🤡
Huge downgrade.
Palat is garbage. Tatar is garbage.
up early as hell to cry about the devils in july
@missstar219 Do you confuse yourself often?
Do you often mistake factual statements for "crying" ?
The record is skipping again.
@@deansmith6593 Name one fact I stated that is not true.
I will wait............. 🍿
@@yoholmes273 no you’re crying everyone can see you commented the same thing on multiple videos