Very good summary. Difficult to project how all the chips will fall, even after one has fallen. I think Nemec will take a step. In 2023-2024, I saw him have very good offensive instincts, especially for a 19-20 year old. I think the Olympics will also help his development
Haula for a 4th and a body. Great. Devils need to supply Utica with some players so our AHL team is not guys that are AHL lifers. Too bad it was not Palat that went. (He could reunite with Stamkos).
I know metrics kill Palat, but Hughes seemed to score when he got moved up. Forget about advanced metrics, just pucks in nets, more seemed to go in when it was Palat-Jack-Bratt. Once Jack got hurt, he became a black hole again. Not strenuously defending. Just an observation. Really wish the Devils would give Halonen a bit of a run. I thought he looked okay in his games last year, but team had problems (and he did not cause them from fourth line).
Also dont understand lack of love for Cotter. He scored 16 last year (yeah in streaks) but he wasn't playing huge minutes, Power Play or with great linemates. 4th on team even strength in goals. 0 power play points. Could he move up to top two lines to provide a physical presence for Jack and Bratt.
Cotter has skill. That is obvious in shootouts and breakawsys. The game becomes more simple in those situations, with just him and the goalie. Unfortunaltey, he has limited playmaker ability. He doesn't see the ice and doesn't make his linemates better. He is a straight ahead "bull in a chinashop", Miles Wood type of player. I really like his effort, energy and physicality, but feel he is destined to have a 4th line energy, forechecking role. I would be happy to be proven wrong by Cotter.
You might be right. My point is we will never know if the Devils don't play him with guys who can finish off a play he might make. Plus those skills can free up Jack/Bratt for opportunities as well.
Do you remember Vladimir Zharkov for the Kovy days? Drew in an inordinate amount of penalty minutes, as a pesky pain in the ass forchecker who could not score. But I always remember whenever he was on the ice with Kovalchek, he would forecheck the other team into a mistake, and 17 would score. No point for Zharkov, but he caused the play .
Cotter could have similiar impacts with Bratt and Hughes. Or not. Just speculating
I will not accept even the concept of Tony Dangelo ever playing on this team.
Very good summary. Difficult to project how all the chips will fall, even after one has fallen. I think Nemec will take a step. In 2023-2024, I saw him have very good offensive instincts, especially for a 19-20 year old. I think the Olympics will also help his development
Jack Hughes played his best hockey when Haula was on his line. He was a good Devil despite his inability to hit wide open nets when playing with Jack.
Imagine how good it would have been if Haula could hit water while falling out of the boat that season.
Haula for a 4th and a body. Great. Devils need to supply Utica with some players so our AHL team is not guys that are AHL lifers. Too bad it was not Palat that went. (He could reunite with Stamkos).
I know metrics kill Palat, but Hughes seemed to score when he got moved up. Forget about advanced metrics, just pucks in nets, more seemed to go in when it was Palat-Jack-Bratt. Once Jack got hurt, he became a black hole again. Not strenuously defending. Just an observation. Really wish the Devils would give Halonen a bit of a run. I thought he looked okay in his games last year, but team had problems (and he did not cause them from fourth line).
Also dont understand lack of love for Cotter. He scored 16 last year (yeah in streaks) but he wasn't playing huge minutes, Power Play or with great linemates. 4th on team even strength in goals. 0 power play points. Could he move up to top two lines to provide a physical presence for Jack and Bratt.
Cotter has skill. That is obvious in shootouts and breakawsys. The game becomes more simple in those situations, with just him and the goalie. Unfortunaltey, he has limited playmaker ability. He doesn't see the ice and doesn't make his linemates better. He is a straight ahead "bull in a chinashop", Miles Wood type of player. I really like his effort, energy and physicality, but feel he is destined to have a 4th line energy, forechecking role. I would be happy to be proven wrong by Cotter.
You might be right. My point is we will never know if the Devils don't play him with guys who can finish off a play he might make. Plus those skills can free up Jack/Bratt for opportunities as well.
Do you remember Vladimir Zharkov for the Kovy days? Drew in an inordinate amount of penalty minutes, as a pesky pain in the ass forchecker who could not score. But I always remember whenever he was on the ice with Kovalchek, he would forecheck the other team into a mistake, and 17 would score. No point for Zharkov, but he caused the play .
Cotter could have similiar impacts with Bratt and Hughes. Or not. Just speculating