Agreed content is good. Offense is the Devils issue. Even the primary scoring isn't the elite variety. Very good to great players (Bratt, Hischier, Hughes, soon to be L. Hughes) but none are elite scorers. Last time I looked, the team ranks 25th in shooting %. Worst amongst playoff team. Fixing this will not be easy. Two years ago, Devs were an elite 5v5 team. Scoring chances are always going to be low in the playoffs, so you need finishers either via elite players or lots of scoring depth. Devils have neither. I hope players like Lenni and Arseni can help. The issue is the cap next year won't allow expensive adds. Lenni and Arseni will be cheap. A buyout, trade or two may improve this situation. I sure hope so
"Some were upset at the notion of Keefe calling his GM out for poor roster construction, but he’s unquestionably correct in the ideology itself."
This roster is so painful to watch sometimes that Keefe should be allowed to pull out a cartoon mad scientist raygun and vaporize Tom Fitzgerald on the spot. So callouts are fine by me.
How many teams lose their best scorer and win in the playoffs? Devils decided (probably out of lack of options) not to go Las Vegas/Tampa with Jack's money and get scoring help. Having the entire defense corps battered (3 out, 2 returning from LTIR and Pesce who has played a lot of minutes) doesn't help. You want to scream at something, Chomolowski? Why? Give Casey a shot, he can skate and can get the puck in, and at worst, it will be a learning experience for him. He has a future. 44 does not. Want a lefty, use Vilen. Again, he may have a future. 44 is what he is, an AHL journyman at this point, who tries hard, but is not good enough.
Agreed content is good. Offense is the Devils issue. Even the primary scoring isn't the elite variety. Very good to great players (Bratt, Hischier, Hughes, soon to be L. Hughes) but none are elite scorers. Last time I looked, the team ranks 25th in shooting %. Worst amongst playoff team. Fixing this will not be easy. Two years ago, Devs were an elite 5v5 team. Scoring chances are always going to be low in the playoffs, so you need finishers either via elite players or lots of scoring depth. Devils have neither. I hope players like Lenni and Arseni can help. The issue is the cap next year won't allow expensive adds. Lenni and Arseni will be cheap. A buyout, trade or two may improve this situation. I sure hope so
Thank you for the kind words! I agree, offense is certainly the issue.
So impressed with your content, please keep up the great work!
Really appreciate it!!
"Some were upset at the notion of Keefe calling his GM out for poor roster construction, but he’s unquestionably correct in the ideology itself."
This roster is so painful to watch sometimes that Keefe should be allowed to pull out a cartoon mad scientist raygun and vaporize Tom Fitzgerald on the spot. So callouts are fine by me.
How many teams lose their best scorer and win in the playoffs? Devils decided (probably out of lack of options) not to go Las Vegas/Tampa with Jack's money and get scoring help. Having the entire defense corps battered (3 out, 2 returning from LTIR and Pesce who has played a lot of minutes) doesn't help. You want to scream at something, Chomolowski? Why? Give Casey a shot, he can skate and can get the puck in, and at worst, it will be a learning experience for him. He has a future. 44 does not. Want a lefty, use Vilen. Again, he may have a future. 44 is what he is, an AHL journyman at this point, who tries hard, but is not good enough.
Cholowski certainly is not an NHL level defenseman, you’re absolutely right there.