OT: 2022-23 NHL thread….Devils & Rangers & Islanders
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Kakko has more goals at even strength than everyone on the team except Kreider.
Gauthier should be playing every game instead of Blais (and ridiculous that he got so little ice time last night).
The second power play unit is getting more time, and doing very well at moving the puck and keeping possession, but it is not turning into goals because Trouba is not a playmaker and takes too many shots (and most miss the net). I wouldn’t mind Miller getting a chance there.
It hasn’t turned into much production yet, but the top line looks good when Kravstov is on the right of Mika/Panarin.
Gauthier should be playing every game instead of Blais (and ridiculous that he got so little ice time last night).
The second power play unit is getting more time, and doing very well at moving the puck and keeping possession, but it is not turning into goals because Trouba is not a playmaker and takes too many shots (and most miss the net). I wouldn’t mind Miller getting a chance there.
It hasn’t turned into much production yet, but the top line looks good when Kravstov is on the right of Mika/Panarin.
Yes is was. Put it right on ‘24s stick.
And glad he could make amends after the turnover earlier in the game.
I think the narrative on most of the kids would be a lot different if they played with Fox as their power play QB.
Most good players get 1/4 to 1/3 of their points on the power play. Trouba constantly takes big shots that miss the net by a lot (so there isn’t even much possibility of a deflection), so he almost single-handedly makes that unit unproductive. That’s not what the defenseman running the power play should be doing in today’s game, he is supposed to be a distributor.
A bit off topic, but the World Juniors started today. Canada — host country and prohibitive favorite — loses to Czech Republic 5-2.
USA beat Latvia 5-2.
USA beat Latvia 5-2.
Nemec and Hughes play against each other tomorrow. There are a number of somewhat local participants this year:
Ryan Ufko is from Long Island and played 16U for the North Jersey Avalanche up in Hackensack. He currently plays for UMass and was a 4th round pick by Nashville in 2021.
Tyler Boucher is from Haddonfield and is the son of former Flyers goalie Brian Boucher. He played U13 for Team Comcast and U14 for Virtua, a couple Philly area teams. He currently plays for the Ottawa 67s in the OHL and was drafted 10th overall by Ottawa in 2021.
Kenny Connors is from Glen Mills, PA, about 25-30 miles west of Philly. He was teammates with Boucher at U13 and U14, and is now teammates with Ufko at UMass. He was drafted in the 4th round by LA in 2022.
Sam Lipkin is from Philly and was also on that Team Comcast U13 team with Boucher and Connors. He then played for that North Jersey Avalanche U16 team after Ufko aged out, and then played a year of junior with the NJ Rockets out of Bridgewater. He currently plays for Quinnipiac and was drafted in the 7th round by Arizona in 2021.
Local ref Pete Schlittenhardt is reffing this tournament, he did the Finland and Slovakia game earlier today. A few years back, another local guy, Chris Pitoscia from Edison was chosen for this tournament as well. If you play in any of the adult leagues in Central Jersey or have kids that play and are at least 14U, there's a good chance you've had a game reffed by one of these guys.
Ryan Ufko is from Long Island and played 16U for the North Jersey Avalanche up in Hackensack. He currently plays for UMass and was a 4th round pick by Nashville in 2021.
Tyler Boucher is from Haddonfield and is the son of former Flyers goalie Brian Boucher. He played U13 for Team Comcast and U14 for Virtua, a couple Philly area teams. He currently plays for the Ottawa 67s in the OHL and was drafted 10th overall by Ottawa in 2021.
Kenny Connors is from Glen Mills, PA, about 25-30 miles west of Philly. He was teammates with Boucher at U13 and U14, and is now teammates with Ufko at UMass. He was drafted in the 4th round by LA in 2022.
Sam Lipkin is from Philly and was also on that Team Comcast U13 team with Boucher and Connors. He then played for that North Jersey Avalanche U16 team after Ufko aged out, and then played a year of junior with the NJ Rockets out of Bridgewater. He currently plays for Quinnipiac and was drafted in the 7th round by Arizona in 2021.
Local ref Pete Schlittenhardt is reffing this tournament, he did the Finland and Slovakia game earlier today. A few years back, another local guy, Chris Pitoscia from Edison was chosen for this tournament as well. If you play in any of the adult leagues in Central Jersey or have kids that play and are at least 14U, there's a good chance you've had a game reffed by one of these guys.
Everyone is talking up defensemen Luke and Nemec for the Devils but this Vilen kid playing for Finland is turning out to be another blue line gem for the Devils, he's been as smooth and steady as they come, apparently the Devils love this kid.
Here was him today:
As if we needed anymore top prospects on defense.
Here was him today:
As if we needed anymore top prospects on defense.
Looks like Laf is a healthy scratch tonight Krup!
I’ve never seen a kid get more chances to play with good people and have less impact on the game than him.
Invisible is the best way to describe his identity as a player.
No speed, no jump, lousy shot, inability to carry the puck and ZERO impact on the breakout or make a play in the neutral zone is tough to overcome
Kratsov, unfortunately is fitting the definition of easy to play against…that’s one of the worst labels you can attain.
I’ve never seen a kid get more chances to play with good people and have less impact on the game than him.
Invisible is the best way to describe his identity as a player.
No speed, no jump, lousy shot, inability to carry the puck and ZERO impact on the breakout or make a play in the neutral zone is tough to overcome
Kratsov, unfortunately is fitting the definition of easy to play against…that’s one of the worst labels you can attain.
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Kravstov has a similar body type to Buchnevich, and Buchnevich got the same rap when he came over. The thing is, Buchnevich was mentally tough and learned how to be more physical without exposing himself to the big hit. Time will tell if Krav can do it because he hasn’t exactly shown mental toughness so far.
If I was a bad team I would be trying to get the Rangers to sell low on Lafreniere. I was watching some highlights of him in juniors and even then his physical skills didn’t wow against weaker competition. What did stand out was his vision on the ice, just like Fox shows on defense.
Well, if Fox didn’t have the confidence to make the plays his vision shows him he would just be an undersized defenseman with average skills. I think that is where Laf is now, and the thing is I don’t see it getting better on a team with Kreider/Panarin ahead of him and fighting for playoffs (so they can’t afford to let him struggle indefinitely).
A bad team acquiring him can just give him a bunch of ice time, play him on the first power play unit, etc. and he could potentially get his **** together.
That being said I think he is being scapegoated some here with the scratch, because as bad as everyone thinks he is, he still has more even strength points than Kreider since he joined the league in a lot less ice time.
Rangers do not have a good reputation of developing its young kids - currently and in the past.
Lol. Hi Alex. Can I purchase a forward who can score and can play physical ? Actually I ll take several.
Fox should’ve gotten the C. Rangers fell in love with Trouba’s tough guy routine after the knee jerk reaction to the end of the season 2 years ago (Tom Wilson saga).
Trouba’s poor/lazy puck handling clearing the defensive zone is a problem.
He has been a liability all year.
There was a play where Cirelli won a face off in the Rangers’ zone and somehow ended up in front of the net all alone for a shot. I immediately thought “Trouba had to have something to do with that “. They show the replay, and sure enough Trouba is just standing there like an idiot as Cirelli skates past him to the open space in front of Shesterkin.
Gallant should be fired for a lot of reasons. Two big ones are his comments implying Trouba is hurt but he can’t take him out if the lineup, and the other is his leaving Trouba on the second power play unit where his constantly launching wild shots kills most of their chances.
Did you catch today’s game? I thought it was his most “looks like a second overall pick” as a Ranger. He only ended up with two primary assists, but Bobrovsky made two great saves on him and he set up Mika and Kreider with 3-4 other good scoring chances.
Gallant should be fired at the next intermission if he breaks up the Zibanejad/Kreider/Kakko combination. Every time they are together it works well overall, but the idiot coach breaks them up after one bad period and puts someone like Goodrow there.
Ryan O'Reilly is someone I would definitely kick the tires on if I'm the Devils:
I hope sooner. He would supply size, grit, and leadership our Devils need. I only typed my reply in case you missed it. I just saw it on ESPN2 watching the bowl game.
My only concern is I wouldn't want him as just a rental as he's a UFA this offseason.....probably be better to wait and try to sign him then and not have to give up any key assets.
Definitely, part of giving up Holtz or whoever for him or any other player needs to be a contract extension.
I’ll root for who I want.
I’m not a cheerleader though I’m a fan.
And this team stinks
I watched a guy yesterday on Carolina , #24, Seth Jarvis, look really good. I noticed he was drafted after Holtz. And Holtz is a bust.
The Devils talent evaluation cannot be trusted.
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One thing you're not for sure is a knowledgeable hockey fan.
One thing you're not for sure is a knowledgeable hockey fan.
Based on the commentary in this season’s thread , you’re actually talking about yourself.
I’ve been spot on , on the other hand.
Plus @TM94goRU and I saw the losing slide coming in advance and said the team was too soft to seriously compete.
You disagreed with us.
OMG, players mature at different rates!
While I'm at it, this season is far from over. Just like NJD were not as good as they looked in November, they are not as bad as they have looked since December 1st. This is a young, talented team who is somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.
If Fitzgerald trades and drafts well and our health holds out, things are looking up!
Yes-
Kakko is a big strong kid with some puck carrying ability and protecting it skills.
No reason to mess with him.
There is NO chance that Holtz ever gets at Jarvis’ level. None.
He looks like a surefire bust
I’ll take that bet.
Easy money, I’m guaranteeing the Devs make the post season .
And I root against them…lol