Archived Thread

NFT: NHL Discussion: Devils off to a hot start

Jay on the Island : 10/17/2018 11:02 am

The NJ Devils are off to a hot start after last night's 3-0 victory over the Stars. The Devils are 4-0 for the first time since the 95-96 season. What's most impressive about the start is their schedule is very tough to start the season.
5-2 vs the Oilers
6-0 vs the Capitals
3-2 vs the Sharks
3-0 vs the Starts

Kyle Palmieri became the first player in NHL history to score his teams first goal in the first four games of a season. He already has 7 goals. Keith Kinkaid is playing the best hockey of his career and is 4-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .961 sv %. I thought last season was a fluke but he is proving me wrong so far. It will be interesting to see what happens when Schneider returns in a week or two.

Ray Shero received a lot of heat for doing nothing in free agency despite having a lot of room but so far things look good for NJ. Rookie waiver claim Jean-Sebastien Dea has 3 goals in 4 games in limited minutes. Taylor Hall has yet to score a goal but he has 4 assists.

Pretty exciting..

BigBlue89 : 10/17/2018 11:09 am : link

Hopefully Butcher is not a long term injury and they figure out the right way to work Cory back in again.

Be nice if they could finish the homestand undefeated before heading into Philly on Saturday.

RE: Pretty exciting..

Jay on the Island : 10/17/2018 11:28 am : link

In comment 14132623 BigBlue89 said:

Quote:

They are holding their breath on Butcher. Hopefully he isn't out long if at all. If Schneider can return to form after hip surgery then the Devils will be in great shape in goal. They could keep both goaltenders fresh by having a healthy rotation like the Devils did in 93-94 with Brodeur and Terreri.

Do you need parking passes for Prudential?

Bobby Humphrey's Earpad : 10/17/2018 1:28 pm : link

I thought there were enough lots next to the area, but parking passes are advertised on StubHub.

Yea they have been superb so far

Stu11 : 10/17/2018 1:35 pm : link

I disagree on the tough schedule though. Besides having to go to Europe, we have had it pretty nice. Lots of space between games, and 2 teams coming off back to backs (Wash, Dal) and the Sharks playing the last game of a long Eastern swing. That having been said, The D has been great and obviously Palmieri is En Fuego. Hopefully Butcher doesn't miss too much time because he's one of the 4 or 5 guys that are pretty indispensable on the team the way he moves the puck especially on the PP. It didn't look good though, like possibly a broken collar bone or bad shoulder injury. Don't like the way he went into the boards.

RE: Do you need parking passes for Prudential?

Stu11 : 10/17/2018 1:40 pm : link

In comment 14132918 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:

Quote:

I thought there were enough lots next to the area, but parking passes are advertised on StubHub.

Nope tons of parking around the arena Hump. I wouldn't park in the big lots right next to the arena though, big rip off. You go a block or 2 away and its half the price. I think I pay less than $20 at 2 places on Commerce street which is a small street between Raymond Blvd and Market st. like 2 blocks from the arena.

Stu

Jay on the Island : 10/17/2018 2:52 pm : link

Yes they are well rested but they have played some tough opponents thus far.

D prospects Ty Smith and Jeremy Davies are off to hot starts in the WHL and NCAA. I am still disappointed that Davies didn't sign his entry level deal this past offseason. The Devils tried to sign him because they think he is ready but he decided to go back to school for one more year. I am looking forward to seeing both in NJ next season.

Yea Jay I think they were real close to keeping Ty Smith up

Stu11 : 10/17/2018 3:42 pm : link

But decided they had the depth on D where he wasn't going to be a regular so they figured another year at Juniors would be best. The thing with Shero and the off season was I never questioned it because he always has a plan. I think he was comfortable with the roster and the ability of a kid or 2 like Quennville to crack the lineup and for guys like Nico/Bratt/Coleman/Wood to take that next step forward in improvement to where that would be like adding from within. I do think he wanted Van Riemsdyk as a FA but he chose Philly. Thats what I like about Shero like he did when Shatty chose the Rangers, instead of panicking and throwing star money at a mediocre player, he pivots to an organized plan B be like signing Butcher. Like looking from within with his fwds rather than throwing ridiculous $ at a James Niell.

I think they sent Smith to juniors

Jay on the Island : 10/17/2018 3:59 pm : link

because they didn't want to lose either Santini or Mueller on waivers. I do appreciate that Shero is saving cap room to extend Hall next summer. Marcus Johansson and Kinkaid are free agents next summer. Butcher, Zacha, Quenneville, and Mueller are restricted free agents. I would like to see Butcher signed to a long term deal but the rest signed to bridge deals unless they break out this season. they could afford to just sign Mueller for 1 year because he is a left defenseman and they have Ty Smith, Jeremy Davies, and Colby Sissons on the way on the left side. He shouldn't cost much to re-sign though.

There is no other priority other than signing Hall to an extension

Stu11 : 10/17/2018 4:19 pm : link

by July 1. You can't have a Tavares type situation next season like the Isles went through. Its like a black cloud hanging over a franchise for the whole season.