Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:19):
Happy Devils Wednesday. This is the State of the Fan
Address presented by Bucks and pitchforks dot Com. I'm your host,
Sam wu here with the editor in chief extraordinaire Nick Bolano,
streaming live on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, x Live, and
(00:45):
Twitch on the Let's Go Devil's Network company, live live
from the Brian Tie Radio Studios inside the Bunker in
both North and South Jersey, covering the entire Arden State.
We're gonna be talking about the New Jersey Devils as
(01:08):
This is the official twenty twenty five twenty six Devil
season preview. Nick, I'm fired up because this. I've been
dreaming about this podcast in the last couple of weeks
because we're going to be back in action. Lots of
things going on. And by the way, Nick, how does
(01:28):
it feel to be part of the Let's Go Devil's Podcast?
One million downloads in counting.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Sam, I've been telling everybody. I've been telling people at
wah wah, But do you know that I have a
podcast that has a million downloads? Do you know ya?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Out of all places wah Wah, not quick Check? Yeah,
not seven to eleven.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
We don't have quick I live in South Jersey, there's
no quick checks here. Why I will, I'll give you this,
so I I you know, you know, I do a
little volunteering for maquation. There's a check right outside the
Make a Wish Castle and and it's not right outside,
but it's like once you get off the turnpike, it's
like right there where the where the castle is in
(02:09):
Central Jersey. And I do go there, and I'm impressed
by their sweets, their selection of sweets. They have so
many cookies and so many brownie variations and so many
different uh you know. And I'm a sweet tooth guy,
so I uh, I appreciate that that kind of attention
(02:31):
to detail where wa wah listen WOA is a lot,
but they focus on the candy. And I'm not a
candy guy. I like candy. Candy's fine, but I want candy,
like I like Halloween because it like that's when I
get my candy. And then I kind of call it,
you know what I mean, Like I have a candy
and then I don't have anything until Christmas candy, and
then I don't have anything until like, you know, the
(02:51):
Reese's hearts, you know, So that's my candy, and that's
where wah wah kind of focuses in but quick check
really good. The bakery items down down to a science,
and and and I like it.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I have a sad story to tell you. This happened
to me today.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
I was hungry and I was I was thinking, you know,
I would go to Wendy's or something like that. I
actually saw mister softy ice cream truck driving around, and
because there was nobody there, he moved along. But I flagged.
I got in the jeep, I flagged him down, pulled
(03:37):
him over. Thought it was a psycho, and I asked,
are you selling any Sundays? He's like, sure, had a
strawberry Sunday.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
That sounds like a great story. Yeah, And I was.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I was in some parking lot. It was probably trespassing.
He pulled over somewhere. I pulled over and then I
ate that thing so fast because I didn't eat anything
all day. Then I got a stomach ache and I
just lost my app.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Can I can I tell you a sadder story, an
actual sad story? All right? Yeah, because you brought up Wendy's.
So what you know what, Sam knows we're up against
it right now. I'm not gonna get into the details,
but we're, uh, the Lao household is in dire straits
because of some sicknesses that are going around here. So
(04:30):
the other day we were, you know, I've been we've
been doing the where you do the food shopping online,
you go pick it up, and but like we're just tired.
We didn't feel like cooking. So I I went to Wendy's.
And I'm not a big fast food guy. You know,
it's as big as I am. I don't eat a
ton of fast food. It is literally you know, road
(04:51):
trips or like by like there's nothing really else open,
you know kind of thing. But I was like, I can't.
I have no interest in cooking. So I went to Wendy's.
And when I go to Wendy's, I usually just get
Junior bak and cheeseburgers because I'm like, I don't like
this menus insane and low key super expensive. So I
was like, all right, I'm just gonna get to two
(05:12):
Junior bacon cheeseburgers. Yeah, wait whatever, So I get two
Junior big and cheeseburgers. They charged me for Junior big
and cheeseburgers. Come home, No bacon. What there's no bacon
and my junior bac and cheeseburgers to both of them. Wow,
(05:33):
just charge me for bacon and gave me no bacon.
I uh, And it's just far enough away and we're
dealing with just enough at home to not go back
and you know, be like, give me my bacon. But yeah,
so I was out the money. I was out the bacon.
(05:54):
It was a sad story that is pretty sad. I was.
I was upset.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Yeah, I mean I thought my story was sad. I mean,
once you hear that, you know that ice cream song
that mister Softy plays sometimes I play it on my phone.
It just brings you back to you know, being five
years old, you know, and having to have it even
though you didn't really we're craving it for it, but
you just had to.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yah. Yeah, we once every two weeks of mister Softy
comes down our street. It's great, just walk outside and
it's mister Softy. So I understand that. But this is
the double season previous Sam and I don't know if
people came here there about mister Softy and Wendy's.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Well, they're talking about it on the YouTube live Steve
Engels still says, you know, mister Softy, you know is
the you know, is the thing even today? Yeah, you know,
and you know, I even thought about, you know, quitting
everything and just owning one of these mister softies and
(06:56):
and and just working out of a truck and do
my podcast from a mister Softy truck. That actually crossed
my mind this past summer. But you know, but anyway,
I think we should.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Probably do you have to get like permits and stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, like you have your own territory. I actually did.
I actually did some due diligence on it. You have
to have you'll have your territory. And where I used
to work, there was a mister Softy truck that would
come around at the cul de Sac. And because I
was all miserable at work, that's where the daydreaming started,
(07:31):
Like hey, I can do that guy so and I
knew the average price of each item, and as people
were buying ice cream by the droves, I was literally
I was doing the calculation at my office window and
I'm like, wow, if I did that, and then I
(07:54):
it's like it's one hundred and fifty seven thousand a
year if you did it right. In the summertime, summertime only.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah. Yeah, So anyway, speaking of summertime only, we're talking
about winter time only because it's New Jersey Devil's hockey season. Sam, Yeah,
we uh. I'm excited because I've grown to really like
this team as the preseason got went on and the
(08:24):
training camp went on, because a lot of questions got
answered about this team in training camp. The biggest question
coming in sand with's the forward lines, Like how is
everything gonna gonna fall into place? The biggest question was,
you know, how do you use grit sick? Uh, grit suck.
I think it's gritz.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Suck, so it sounds cool. We'll make it up.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, gritzick. I think might have had one of the
better preseasons in the league. Five points in six games,
really looked the part, had a lot of high danger chances,
really got himself in great positions. There's some defensive deficiencies
(09:11):
that he's gonna have to work on, but like you
expect it with any rookie and anybody get used to
kind of going from the KHL style game to the
NHL style game. But he's an NHL player and that's
what you needed to see from him. Are you an
NHL player? He is, like easily. Some people are surprised
they're starting the fourth line. I'm relatively surprised, but I
(09:34):
think that line is going to be utilized a lot.
You know, the one is Glenn Denning, Gritzik and Cotter,
that Cotter grit Sick pairing. First of all, I do
think you might see them move Glass to that line
and make that the third line at some point. So
right now, the quote unquote third line is Connor Brown,
(09:56):
Andre Palot and Cody Glass. I think you might see
the forwards move out. I love Cotter. I've I liked
him a lot last year. He fell off towards the
end of the season for sure, went through a really
bad offensive slump. But he he he's a kind of
guy that when he's on, he's as important to your
(10:18):
lineup as anybody. So I think that he's somebody definitely
want to uh put a spotlight on a little bit.
So I love that parent of him and Grits and
they're they they're playing like gangbusters, like they were amazing together.
The other question is how are you going to deal
with the top six. I said that they need to
(10:42):
put Dawson Mercer there. I wanted Dawson Mercer with Jack Hughes.
The numbers are incredible with him together with Jack Hughes.
He doesn't have a lot of time with Hughes and Bratt,
so I understand that maybe they did did and like
the pairing with the three of them. Mercer ends up
(11:04):
on the line with Hesher and Meyer. I don't think
you're gonna take a lot of the top six from
from preseason. You just kind of want to see a
little bit of chemistry being built. Mercer, Meyer and he
Sha have been on this team long enough that like,
you don't have the build chemistry there the very place
you did at the Bill chemistry was a Dadenov with
Hughes and Bratt, and they tried a couple other combinations
(11:27):
and it never looked as good as it did with
Dad and Off, Hughes and Bratt. So I think that
that's a great pairing start of the season. Did I
want I think he's thirty three years old? Did I
want thirty three year old? They've got any Dad and
Off the guy who's like gonna drive the Devil's forward
with Jack Hughes and a big year on paper. No,
(11:50):
but I you know, there's so many guys, there's so
many examples of guys like a Dad and Off who
go on those lines and score thirty goals, you know,
and I don't. I'm not predicting thirty old season and
from down off. It's just kind of an example. But
he you know, I think the Devils are in a
place where they are uniquely equipped to really ride this
(12:14):
out and play an eighty two game season. Listen, they
don't have a replacement for Jack Hughes if he gets injured.
They don't have a replacement for Niko Heisher if he
gets injured. But pretty much everywhere else, like Unica is
kind of stacked with the forwards and they're all like
thirty and fourth line guys. But I can move up
a Connor Brown for a couple of games and bring
(12:36):
up an Angus Cookshank or Thomas Borlow or Brian hollin
In or you know, there's a couple of really good
guys down there in Utica that you could call up
and they can play decent minutes for you. And then
you know, on the defensive side, things really fell into place.
(12:58):
Nemic looking is good. It's look as good as he
does is huge. You know, he he looks great in
the preseason, except for that one goal he gave up.
He just made. He made a couple. That's the Neme
Nemets thing. I kind of point out, like he's kind
of like Steverson, and Steverson was great the year. He's
on the third line. So you put Nemmt's on the
(13:19):
third line, you know he's gonna look great. I think
Brendan Dylan kind of has a new lease on life
after that next surgery. I think I've said it before
in this podcast, I've said in the articles on Puckspitchrooks
dot com. I think he's gonna be much better this year.
I don't think he's gonna be better than a really
good third line defenseman, but that's what the devil's need past.
(13:40):
He's back in the ice today, he's healthy, so him
and Luke Hughes are gonna look really good together. I
think Luke he is gonna explode this year. I think
that's my main takeaway, and that's gonna be my bold predictions.
That's gonna be the the Pucks and Pitchfork season preview
where all of our writers right, it's coming out tomorrow morning.
First thing, in the morning. You're gonna have all day
to just all over our predictions and yell at us
(14:01):
or tell us that we're great. But one of the
big ones is I think that Lucy is getting sixty
this year. I'm gonna put it on out there. I
think Luke he is getting sixty points this year. I
think Lucy is gonna explode a lot of these people,
like so the Athletic rank the Devil's defense sick fifteenth
in the league, and I thought that was absolutely insane.
(14:23):
They have teams like Toronto ahead of them. It seems
like Montreal who's just riding the lane Hudson hype wave.
I the Devils are gonna have a top eight defense
at worse this year, and I think they should easily
have a top five defense. And that's what that Covid
savage for after year. I think once he comes back, like,
(14:45):
you're gonna be really good shape. And then the goalies,
you know, you got Mark Strum and Allen Back. I
think they're gonna be just as good as they were
last year, you know, minus the injuries. And here's the thing, Sam,
I think this is an X factor. A lot do
these guys have reasons to be motivated by the Olympics.
A lot of these guys are looking at the Olympics
(15:06):
and like that's like Lucy's just trying to get on
the team. I think that's why he's gonna get sixty
points because he wants to be on the Olympic team
and and you know, he wants to prove the contract right.
And there's other reasons, but Lukeyes really wants to go
there with his brothers and the and that's where the
conversation is gonna be, like how great is this? How
great is this? You know what I mean? Like you're
gonna hear a lot of that. And you know, Nico
(15:29):
Heashi and Tiamo Meyer are in a place where they
kind of want to prove themselves with Team Switzerland.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Meyer.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I don't know. I'm not I'm not going to predict
a big season from Meyer because I I want to,
but I just I don't know. If I see it.
He's on. He's on the second power play again. The
second power play is much better this year. The second
power players Meyer, grit Sick, Dad Enough, Hamilton, Plot the
(16:04):
other guy.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Well on on the power play.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Yeah, I know. The first power play is Mercer. He
shir Hughes, Bratt and Luke Hughes. Yeah, the second power
play is grit Sick Hamilton, Dougie Hamilton, Timo Meyer. I
can't remember who that fourth person is, but anyway, the mercer,
(16:31):
no mercer's on the first. I'll just go look it
up real quick while we're talking. But I think that
the special teams are going to be incredible again. I
think the big thing with the special teams is you
got to figure out what what went wrong in the
playoffs that you just we're terrible at special teams. Uh yeah,
(16:56):
it's a lot, unfortunately, but it's fine. We're the playoffs.
Why were you terrible in the playoffs? And well there
are a.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Lot of reasons why. Uh in injured Jack Hughes bringing
the puck over the line, I mean they were.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Getting were only in the playoffs not score power play goal.
The all sixteen teams, fifteen of the sixteen teams scored
power play goal except for the Devils. They had a
lot of opportunities.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Carolina was blocking the entire Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
They have a great penalty code. I think they're the
best in the league, So I get it. But the
Devils have the third best power play. Even when Hughes
is out, they still a great power play. You got
to figure out and you kind of have to prepare, right,
You have to prepare a little bit like what does
life look like without Jack Hughes, Because we've done this
in the playoffs or you know in twenty four they
(17:49):
didn't make the playoffs, but we ended the season without
Jack Hughes twice. We kind of have to at least
know what that life looks like, you know what I mean,
You just have to you have to be prepared. I
don't think Jack hughses injury prone. I think last year's
the year before that injury scared me more than the
last year's injury. Last year's injury is a fluke like
(18:10):
Jack Eichel dirtily hit him and it caused him to
injure his shoulder. So, but again, I do think that
if if you're Sheldon Keith, you gotta prepare. So I
just brought But again, I think that a lot of
people have it writ in the nose. I think the
Devils are gonna have been second place. I think there's
(18:36):
a lot that can happen with the Metro. I think
the the odds on favorite makes sense of Carolina. But
I wouldn't be floored if Carolina got second or third.
I wouldn't be florded the Devil's one. I wouldn't be
florded Washington wins again. I know a lot of people
are kind of down on Washington. They had big pdo,
(18:57):
which is this advanced stat that says like you're scoring
more than you should. But you got Alzovechkin and he's
kind of the X factor there. If he's Alexovichkin of
last year, I think they could do it again. If
he's Oxavechkin of two years ago, then they're not going
to be in first place like they're just not. And
then their goalies have to play like they did last year.
(19:19):
If they can, they can win this division again. But
I think that Els are gonna get second, whether it's
Washington or Carolina and first that's fine. I think you
saw last night New York. The Rangers are just a
flawed team. A lot of issues there, a lot of
(19:39):
issues there, and I think that you know they're there.
They'll be fighting for a wild card because of Starkin
in a bounce back year and Peren in a contract year.
But that only takes you so far. We've seen that before,
you know what I mean. So, uh, that was a lot, Sam,
But what are your thoughts?
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Well, I think Pittsburgh is going to be a lot
better than what people think we're given credit for. I
think a lot of a lot of writers pundits have
written them off. When you look at those predictions. I
think they're going to be a dangerous team.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
That have them in the playoffs ahead of the Devils.
Actually they had the Pittsburgh and third and doubles and fourth.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
And it could and it could happen. I think the
Rangers there's gonna be adjustment period with their new coach.
And you're right, they are a flawed team right now.
There has been, you know, changes in the last two years.
Who's gonna step up leadership wise? The Washington Capitol surprised,
(20:51):
surprised us all last season the way they played.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
And although I predicted them playoffs, okay, I did protect
them to go to the playoffs. I thought they'd be
like the third of the fourth seed. But because I
like the goalies they got I did. I liked the
guy from Vegas that his name's escaping me. And they
have Charlie ling Green.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
But I think you know, you know, I talked to
Chico Resh yesterday and I posed this on the Wool
Report yesterday. You know, when Chica and I were talking,
we're looking at We're looking at the lineup right the
projected lineup. Yeah, everything looks good on paper right now,
except you know, and Chico alluded in our conversation when
(21:36):
he was with the Islanders. I think he felt there.
That's back in nineteen seventy nine, with the Islanders, they
were just one player away, impactful player away, and that's
when that Butch Gooring trade happened and the rest is history.
The Domino effect, he felt with this current lineup with
(22:02):
Dad Enough on that left wing, with Jack Hughes and
Jasper Bratt, he felt that fitsy. If he can get
that sniper to play with Jack, this team has a
real shot of winning the Cup. He felt strongly about that,
(22:24):
that the Dominos would fall just like happened in nineteen
seventy nine. And you know, and it's kind of an
open discussion throughout the season to our fans. You know,
as the season goes along, could there be a trade
deadline deal? But it's not like you can get a
left winger, a winger like that. You know they're not
(22:45):
a diame a dozen and you met mentioned Jason Robertson's
name several times ye during the off season. I want
to know your opinion because you know when Chieko and
I just discussed them, like, you know, you got something here, Chico.
Because the goalie the goalies are fine. Defense, there's depth,
(23:06):
has got a balance of experience, grit and youth. Assuming
that the bottom six will hold their own the top six,
that's that one little thing that can turn Jack Hughes
into a one hundred and twenty point player.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
So here's here's what I think is gonna happen. I
do think a trade's gonna happen. I think first, I
think a trade's gonna happen sooner rather than later. I
think when Nason comes back, whenever that is, I think
we're a couple of weeks away. But whenever that is,
(23:48):
I think the Devils are gonna start really hitting the
phones and saying, all right, guys, like you got this
player in Jared, Like you know you call Florida and
be like, oh you lost Rodriguez now, like you know
we got this Andre Pillock guy. Do you know fifteen
to twenty goals, but in the playoffs, he's going to
show up for you kind of thing. And I think
(24:08):
they're gonna sell that story, and I think they're gonna
get somebody to take on Pullot. What that's gonna do.
It's gonna get you out of long term injured reserve,
and it's gonna allow you to accumulate cap space throughout
the year, and it's going to allow them to, you know,
put together this this package that they can acquire a
(24:31):
big name, the names that are on my radar. Robertson's
on my radar saying, but I just don't think that
they can afford him moving forward. So I actually wrote
an article a couple of weeks ago about the possibility
that the Devils would do what Columbus did years ago
(24:52):
and trade for Corella Caprice Off as a mercenary. They
have ex says, prospects that they could make a move
like that if you're really going all in. Obviously, he
resigned for for the biggest contract in ancial history, so
that's kind of out the door.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
But I'm gonna name I'm gonna name one name.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Okay, you go first, and then I'll react.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
And it's not good. Chuck either one of them, because
I don't think it's realistic.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Yeah, I don't think I think that's off the table.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
But yeah, even though it's within the conference. Do you
think Tage Thompson would be one of.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Those on my list? Yeah, he's He's he's my number two.
So let's talk about Thompson. Tage Thompson is a forty
goal scorer who we know for a fact was devastated
to be left off that team USA roster for for
the Four Nations. I think part of him is blaming
(26:01):
being on Buffalo on that, and I think that there's consternation,
I'll say, maybe a little frustration. And he signed long
term to about nine million dollars and Buffalo is some
big contracts coming up and they have some big decisions
(26:24):
to make, and I I couldn't think of a better
on ice fit for Jack Hughston Tate Thompson. There's no
better one. And if I look at that team, you know,
obviously last year they traded Paterca and they brought back Norris,
(26:47):
so so they tried to make that was that the
Paterka traders that the other one, no Potka, was to Utah, right,
I think, So who did they are. They traded cousins.
They traded cousins to Ottawa and brought back north. So
they did their best to make that a lateral move. Peterika,
(27:09):
they just traded away to Utah. I think that Ottawa
or Sorry, I think that Buffalo is just in bad,
bad place. I think that they're staring down at last
place finish in the Atlantic. I think they're nowhere near
(27:31):
the playoffs. When I look at that team, and they
got talent, that's the problem. They have talent. Something's not
clicking there. And honestly, I think Tate Thompson has an
outsized voice in that locker room, and I don't think
it's good for him. I don't think it's good for
the team. I think that he could come to a
team like the Devils that has leadership in place, and
(27:52):
he could just come and score. He doesn't have to
like I think he's somebody who gets very frustrated by losing.
Isn't the worry about that with New Jersey because other
people are worried about the x's and o's. I like
the I like the thought of the move. He's big,
he's tough, he defends his teammates. He would beat the
bricks off of somebody. He's like, he's truly like he's
(28:14):
a slightly better version of Tiammmyer. Because that's what I
wanted out of Team Meyer. I was like, you already
got your Brady kud Chuck and Tim Myer. Th Thompson
can match, can match the impact of Brady Kachuk. So
I love the idea.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Yeah, And with Lindy being up in Buffalo, he knows
the talent in New Jersey, he's a value.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Really well for him.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Right, so you know that would be a piece in
that deal.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
But you know, I mean, Jack Hughes is right in
the middle of his eight year deal right now, he's
been in. This is gonna be I believe it's seventh
season with New Jersey if I'm not mistaken. Jacks, Yeah,
he played twenty nineteen and twenty they were entering a
(29:14):
seventh season, entering seventh season. Yeah, you gotta get him
that winger. You gotta get on both sides. You gotta get.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Second seasons and one second round appearances. Dirty stuff, that's dirty.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Yeah. So you know again it's it's no that was
your number two. I'm interested to know you're number one.
Who do you have next?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
My number one is Jordan Cairou. Okay, Mike, so yeah,
my number one is Jordan Kirou. I think Saint Louis
has a chance. It's thinking and Kyro's name has been
(30:11):
out there. He signed long term as well. I can't.
I think he's six more years including this one, or
maybe after this one. He's somebody who could score. H
He's not tough like Tage Thompson. I have Kyro number
one because I think it's more likely he gets traded
than Thompson. But I think if Buffalo stinks, I really
(30:36):
think they're going to start offloadings and pieces. But Kyro
had seventy points last year, thirty six goals. That's the
kind of guy you want next to Jack Cues. He
scored two goals in the playoffs and that five or
six six games, five games. He played five games in
the in the in that series against Winnipeg, scored two goals,
(31:02):
scored three goals. Oh it's okay, it's cut off. Sorry.
He in the seven game series of winn Opeg he
scored three goals. I think the kid is really really
good and he's how old is he? Late twenties twenty seven. Okay,
(31:24):
doesn't turn twenty eight until May. So you know this
is a guy you're paying for justice prime and you
don't have to worry about an extension until after his prime,
when you know when the price is going to be different.
It's just everything's lining up perfectly. I don't know why
he's he was out in the trademarket, like his name
(31:46):
was out there. His name was out there for a reason,
but it was out there. So that's why I have
him won. And then number three, I this is going
to start a thing. I'm gonna say it anyway. I'm
keeping my eye on Dylan Larkin and Sam. I'm only
(32:10):
bringing up like super duper stars of course, like smaller
trades can happen, like the Cody Glass trade last year,
like the dumal In trade last year, like you know,
the depth trades, or like maybe you try to get
a middle six guy, you try to get a guy
could go on a heater. There's gonna be a lot
of guys like that. But if I'm looking at like
like you said, a Butch Goring type trade, I look
(32:33):
at Dylan Larkin and I'm thinking, man, that guy's got
a lot of what the Devil's really like, you know, and.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
It's gonna cost you. It's gonna cost you, Yeah, gonna
coste Yeah, and the Devil all these trades.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
The piece what you have to ask yourself is before
you make this trade, you call Vancouver, you say, you know,
if we trade for if you know, theoretically, if we
trade for Hughes in the off season, Quin Hughes in
the off season, what's it going to cost us? Just
so you're like, you know, are you will take the
(33:14):
you know, will the trade be on the table? If
we trade still Yev, Will the trade be on the table,
If we trade Nemets, you know, the trade be on
the table, if we trade Mercer whatever. Like, you know,
you have all these options, so you kind of have
to gauge that because you don't want to mess up
your future Quinn Hughes trade options. But yeah, I think
and the Devils are are uniquely suited to help a
(33:37):
team with a with an NHL defenseman because they have
seven of them. They probably have eight. Because I think
Shamus Casey's an NHL defenseman. I don't know like what
his injury is and I hope it's no more than
a month that he's out, but you don't like to
hear that he's no close to skating. But the Devils
(33:58):
realistically have eight NH defenseman and I think that's going
to really have these teams like Detroit and like Buffalo.
Buffalo is kind of weird because they have a lot
of defensemen, but like like Detroit and like Saint Louis,
who are like, we really need defensive help. You know,
(34:22):
what would the Devils need to add to a Larkin trade?
If it's Larkin for Hamilton, you know, that makes the
salaries work out. I think the Devils have to add
It's just like what do they have to add a
top prospect? Do they add a first round pick? Do
they have to add another roster player? You know, like
what does what does that look like they have to
(34:42):
add to Dougie Hamilton to turn into to Dylan Markin
Tge Thompson, I think would be Buffalo's resetting and looking
towards the future kind of thing, or at least like
getting gaining assets to make other moves. So I think
that would be like picks and prospects. But yeah, I
(35:05):
think I think the Devils are going to make a move.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Time will tell it. Depends what you know. It depends
what record you know, how they do in the first
you know, fifteen games. It could happen sooner rather than later.
By the way, I got the jersey jersey right now
A nice I just got to send it off to
New York to have it stitched. Plot eighteen.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Okay, you're still here about it? Then we get it back.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
With my Marino. It was in the midst of getting
stitched and then he got traded. It always happens to me.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
You know, you got a gift. Yeah, do we have
a guest or now? Are we still going?
Speaker 1 (35:53):
He's logged on, but I think his camera's off right now,
so I don't know what that means. Oh, his camera's
back on. Okay, he's in the Andy Green room right
now of the podcast. Yeah, you do you want to.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
If he's ready? I don't wanna. I don't wanna.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
You know this is Oh, he's definitely ready. He's one
of my favorites. Actually, good front of the podcast. Robert
Aiken jor Northjerssey dot Com back on the beat. You
can find him on Twitter at Robert Aiken. Hey Robert, guys,
(36:32):
how are you? I have a problem and it's all
your fault.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
Sam. I cannot get the Morning Moose song out of
my head for this to the point where I'm I'm
engaged in my my fiance. She doesn't hear, she hasn't
heard the song yet, but I will probably push it
as like our wedding song and she will view me
extensively for it. But I blame you for that.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
It's it's it was, it was meant. It was created
to be kind of like alarm clock to annoy you
and wake you up. And then you have to listen
to what I have to say that it's it's a
little psychological.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
There works perfectly.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Here. Here's the thing, Robert, We're doing the Let's Go
Devil's podcast at a wedding this year. If you need
our services, just call Sam up. Well, we'll make the
track over to wherever your wedding is. We'll do another
Let's Go Double's podcast at the cocktail hour. Keep the
keep the people, keep the people informed and entertained.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
Yeah, we're looking a little for the down line up
this year, so we'll we'll definitely be in touch for sure.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
Yeah, if you need any help or anything, you know,
a little Devil's theme you know what to do.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
Now. Now, Robert, wait, as much as I'm sure you
want to talk about wedding planning on the Let's Go
Devil's podcast, let's let's talk a little Devil's hockey. Now.
You know you you've been You've covered pretty much a
lot of what's going on in North Jersey. But you've been,
you know, a lot of the time you've been on
the Devil's beat for North Jersey dot Com. I don't
(38:07):
want to see you went back to the beat, but
the focus went back to it went to the Devil's
in the playoffs last year. So we really appreciate you
having you back and writing great articles again, specifically on
the Devils. Now, let's start there. I want to start
in the playoffs because we haven't talked about it that
much because I feel like, because of all the injuries,
everybody just kind of poo pooed it, Like a lot
(38:29):
of people forgot we were in the playoffs, and then
a lot of people just kind of were like, well,
we were so injured with her to learn. But I
want to ask you this, do you think from what
you covered, like, is there something that they learned last season?
Maybe even Sheldon Keith that they learned last season that
they can bring to this season.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
So first off, you're talking about all the different things
that I've done and kind of coming back towards the beat.
I do want to thank you guys. I want to
think the people that are watching this as well. It's
been I tell you, it's a multi year journey to
kind of go back and forth do this. I'm not
lying you guys know this. We've been back and forth
(39:08):
since I kind of got involved in the beat. So
we're here.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
You know.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
I'm here because of you, guys, and I do thank
you that as.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Far as that, and we're happy to have you.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Thank you. As far as the Carolina series went, you
almost felt like through the games as the series was
going on, you felt you had a young team that
was kind of growing game by game. There was obviously
the adversity with injuries that were popping up, especially early
(39:41):
on in the series. The double overtime game at home
with the Namag game winner double overtime lost to close
out the series was a heartbreaker, but you could literally
see the heart from these players. It felt like it
was almost medicine that the guys had to take in
order to kind of know that feeling that you know,
(40:03):
you can practice as much as you want, but this
is playoff hockey. This is what you want to do.
This is the amount of effort you have to put
forth to win a series. Now, let's see what we
have to do because we want to win four instead
of just one.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, And that's huge. That's you know, Sam
brought up like this is going to be your seven
for Jack Hughes, and I feel like a lot of
people would be surprised by that, just that notion and
knowing that Jack Hughes didn't play in the playoffs last year,
(40:38):
how important is this season for Jack?
Speaker 3 (40:43):
I think I think it's a pretty darn important thing.
I feel like, you know, and I was listening to
you guys kind of leading up to this, and even
you know, Sam talking earlier this week about who was
favoring the devils and and all that stuff. Jack he
uses a star in this league still, but you're seeing
(41:04):
a lot of attention kind of being pushed to other people.
And Jack Hughes is not that he's not a star,
but he's almost kind of being pushed towards the back
burner so that people could talk about other ones, and
I feel like this is a season for Jack to
kind of come back and say, hey, I'm still here,
and yes I can play a full eighty two game season,
(41:24):
and yes, you know I'm not this tiny, undersized, fragile player.
I'm a superstar.
Speaker 4 (41:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
So before before we came on, we were talking about
kind of like what are you to add to Jack
Hughes to make him one hundred and twenty point player.
I like the data and off pairing, but I do
say that it's flawed. I don't want to call it
a house of cards, but it's it's definitely something that like,
if that's what it looks like in the playoffs, I'm like, Okay,
(41:56):
do you think that the Devils have to add a
winger to really unlock Jack Hughes or do you think
that because like you know, Sidney carsby Chris Cunitson, it's
on his line for Moses' career, do you think Jack
Hughes could be like one hundred and twenty point player
as currently constructed with the ross of the way it is.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
I think Jack Hughes is a great player no matter
who you have with him. I think it's important to
find the right piece that makes that player better by
being with Jack Hughes. You know, you saw when when
when Jack got hurt, people were worried about the power play,
and the power play at least, you know, before the
playoffs started, was outstanding without Jack Hughes. Which boggles the
(42:37):
mind because you think you need Jack Hughes in order
to make that happen. That was without Jack Hughes, and
you know a lot of times without Dougie Hamilton and
which would be a big part of a power play
as well. So it's not so much who do you
need with Hughes, it's who needs Hughes who can be
that complimentary player. You know, for a while people wanted
to pair him with with Jesper Bratt. I think Jessper
(42:59):
Bratt's proven Jessper Brett could play with probably me and
you and have one hundred points season.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Yeah, I listen, if you want to give me twenty
goals in the NHL, I'll take the six million dollar contract.
They're giving a twenty goal players right now, so I'll
be fine. No, I agree with you, though, I think
I think just for Bratt a couple of years ago
uniquely proved that he's kind of a chameleon like. He
(43:25):
will adjust to what the team needs of him. So
I think pairing with Jack is interesting, right. It almost
looked like you were wasting the assets because they both
can do that, right, They both elevate their lines. But
they've done such a good job of like they made
(43:45):
Andre Pillott relevant last year and you know, a lot,
a lot of the time almost I don't want to
say it look like an anchor, but his role became
like merchant, right, he would your role to find takeaways
sometimes and turn them into you know, big chances for us,
but so often and you know, you even saw this
(44:08):
this with on that shorthanded chance. I can't remember which
preseason game was, but where Jackieu was and j justper
Bratt were all alone and they just played past you know,
tic tac toe with each other. They can do that
so easily that it works so well, and they have
the instincts to know when to shoot up the ice
(44:29):
with each other to cause it two one one or
two and zero. So I agree with you. I think
that you know you're gonna put You're gonna find a
good fit there. It looks like it's data enough right now.
I think it'll be fine. If it's if it's Mercer,
or even if it's like a Paul Cotter or a
Connor Brown or you know something like that, I think
you're really in good shape. Let me ask you this,
(44:52):
just what the there was a lot of national attention
on Jessper Bratt this offseason. Were you surprised by that
that it seems like that the world is finally up
to the recognition for Bratt. Uh.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
I feel like it should have happened a long time ago.
I feel like a lot of Devil's fans will tell
you that. As much, I'm glad that Jessper Bratt is
getting his his due finally. He's a fantastic player, is
a fantastic person. He deserves all the accolades and then some.
I mean, there's not much more that he could truly
(45:25):
have done for this team than what he did. It's
it's great when and you like to think that you
can create stars like that, but oh that the NHL
only cares about the Connor Bandards or the you know, Vechkins,
that kind of people. But when you get people like
Jesper Bratt, who's you know, grinded, who was you know,
(45:48):
a late round draft pick, finding his spot, finding his voice,
finding his game. He did exactly that, and you know
it's it's well well deserved and probably long overdue.
Speaker 2 (46:02):
So I'm gonna pivot a little bit because, uh, North
Jersey dot com just put out a very super interesting
I want to say a little controversial article out there
about the quarter century team. You picked the quarter century
(46:23):
team for the New Jersey Devils. Now, I'm not gonna
spoil the whole thing. You're gonna have to subscribe to
North Jersey dot com to see the whole thing, because
it's the explanations are there. It's a really good article.
It's it's all there. I do want you to explain
yourself on two things.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (46:41):
The first thing is you have Jack Hughes on the
fourth line with he Shure and and Bratt ahead of
him on different lines. Thought but give me a thought
process there.
Speaker 3 (46:54):
Sure, the thought process there was so. First of all,
when you do these quarter century teams and a lot
of people put them out, you know, the early part
of twenty twenty five, they basically made a starting lineup
and they just picked anyone who played from two thousand
and on. So I wasn't doing any of that. You
had to play at least five seasons. I feel like
you had to play, you know, twenty percent of the
(47:17):
quarter century with the team in order to be considered.
So you know, spoiler alert, there's no Scott Stevens on
there because he retired in two thousand and four, because yeah,
that would be easy just throw him on there, but
he was only there for four years out of twenty five.
I tried to keep people in their positions and because
of that, you know, and there obviously are some well
(47:39):
deserved centers that are ahead of Jack. For that reason.
I guess in my theory, it was just trying to
make the pairings. And if you read the entire thing
you'll understand what I mean by that. Trying to pair
the lines complimentary. That way, Jack, I feel like, would
(48:00):
would thrive and it would be different. But almost like
a couple of years ago where you had like Bastion
and Miles Wood on the fourth line to kind of
bring energy and stuff like that. You can have someone
with the skill set of Jack Hughes on a fourth line.
I mean, who were you paired up against that that
would be a fourth line and they'd be like, why
(48:22):
what did I do? That was so wrong that I
have to get paired up with this guy.
Speaker 2 (48:25):
Right now, they're kind of doing it this year with Gritsick,
right or Sandy Gritzik putting Gritzic on the fourth line,
that kind of skill in that kind of like he
it looks very good. So it's kind of kind of
like what they're doing this year, right.
Speaker 3 (48:39):
Yeah, Just a part of that is right. But part
of the reason that Jack is on the fourth line
is because he hasn't played as much as the three
centers in front of him, and uh, you know, there's
there's obviously still time to grow. If I made an
All Decade team, he's obviously not on the fourth line.
He's much higher than that. He's probably your number two
(49:01):
behind Nco.
Speaker 2 (49:03):
Yeah, yeah, I I I get that. I get that.
I I can't remember the same way. I think it
was two years ago we did our Top twin, our
Top fifty Devils of all time, like fifty players. So
I couldn't like make those restrictions of five years just
because there was too many impactful players, and but I
(49:25):
didn't have Jack Hughes on the list, and people people
said I was insane. This was right before the twenty
twenty two twenty three seasons, so you know that's three
years ago. Yeah, obviously, I think you know, he's definitely
a top fifty Devils players now. But I get it,
I get it. I get where you're going with it.
(49:46):
The no Scotts, you know, because I don't think Niedermeyer's
on the list either. You know, it makes sense with
the criteria that you're you're putting out there, so you
don't count ninety nine two thousand, You're going two thousand,
two thousand and one on.
Speaker 3 (49:59):
So I actually, in order to I counted five full
seasons within the two thousands. But if you look at
any specific stats in there, I actually counted the two
thousand part of the ninety twine two thousand seasons. But
like there are people who were like on the old
rookie team in ninety down two thousand, I counted that
as an accolade.
Speaker 2 (50:17):
Got it okay, which you know, I think it's obvious
the guy you're talking about there. But what was the
hardest omission? Like, who are give me the like the
two or three that you're like, man, you know, it's
hard to make this list without them, but there's nowhere
to put them.
Speaker 3 (50:39):
There were a couple of people that I initially had
on and I switched off. I feel like this is
the right opportunity to kind of give love to those
mid two thousands, like two thousand and five to twenty
ten kind of players, you know, the John Maddens of
the world who never get accolades on on lim like this.
(51:03):
I'm just trying to think like a Brian Ralston or
a J. Pandolfo, like those kind of guys. You know,
they never get involved in situations like this, But that
was the core of when they were important devils. You
know that that's a group of good devils. Maybe not
great devils, you know, not people that you'll see on
the rafters or maybe even in the Ring of Honor,
(51:24):
but they were significant, impactful devils while they were there.
The other one, honestly, that was kind of hard to do,
was it it made sense to pick my backup goalie.
I think it's pretty obvious who the starting goalie is,
but trying to pick a backup goalie can be a
little bit difficult sometimes. You know, Mackenzie Blackwood at times
(51:47):
was that guy.
Speaker 2 (51:49):
So was.
Speaker 3 (51:51):
Corey Schneider. You can make a case for some of
these other guys. So you know, again pretty obvious who
the number one goalie is and the Devils were less
twenty five years. As far as number two, you can
have that debait.
Speaker 2 (52:04):
Yeah, yeah, and you know there's definitely debate. I think
it's it makes it easier or makes it hard Your
criteria makes it harder because it's hard to find a
guy who was there for five years, right, you know,
because there's it was a rotating you know, even like
the backups, like Kevin Weeks was here for a couple
of years. John Hedberg was here for a couple of
(52:25):
years and he was really good. You know. It's it's
I'm trying to think of a couple of other guys,
but it's I think Terrari didn't play here in the
two thousands. I think when he came back, I think
it was in the nineties. But you know, there's a
couple of guys, you know, uh, you know, Wedgeward was
here a couple of years and he played back up.
(52:46):
There's another there's a there's a guy whose names escapingle
maybe Len guy had a really good run. And but
again he I don't think he played five years for
the Devils. He might have but I don't think he did. So.
I think backup always an interesting. It's always interesting, are
you right? It's it's it's kind of the uh, the redheaded.
(53:06):
It's like the you know, it's similar to how we
look at a backup quarterback. Right, It's like I don't
care about you until I have to care about you.
And for so long the Devil's never had to care
about the backup goalie. Like he played twelve to fifteen
games a year. I remember the first, the first Devils
game I ever went to as a child. I was like,
we'll finally get to see brod Or and I happened
(53:28):
to go to the one game that Mike Dunham was
in net you know. So it's like it was almost
like a big disappointment when when broad Or it was
like what is it? It's like, did I go to
the wrong game? Are we in you know? Are we
in Albany right now? What's going on?
Speaker 3 (53:42):
It's like going a Broadway and you you want to
hear like the uh the big singer on on the
on the Broadway stage and you get the understudy and
you're like, why did I buy tickets today? Of all days?
Speaker 2 (53:54):
Right? My tickets cost the same price. Why why? Why
is this happening? So I I that makes sense. That
makes sense. Now we're gonna tweet the article from Robert
from the Pucks and Pitchworks account and for the Letsco
Devil's podcast account so you can easily find it. But
before I let you go, Robert, I do want a
(54:15):
prediction for this season. Do you have a bold prediction
for the season. Whether it's a standings prediction or a
player prediction or a you know what's something that like
you want to I want to stand my name to
this because if it happens, I want to get the credit.
Speaker 3 (54:33):
So I heard you guys before I got on. You
were talking about people that you might want to trade for,
you know, to kind of bolster this team. And because
this is gonna be especially with the Olympics involved and everything,
this is going to be a marathon. It's not going
to be a sprint. You're going to need, you know,
bodies to take up time. So I found myself kind
of looking at like pending free agents and like maybe
(54:56):
some people that you get as a rental, you're not
spending a whole lot of money, but you get a
veteran presence to kind of, you know, boost the team,
you know, for for a run. A couple of names
came in the mind for me. Jeff Skinner in San
Jose one year dil. I mean, he's he's played in Edmonton,
(55:18):
He's played in Buffalo, He's played in Carolina, so he
knows what playoff hockey is. He's thirty three, he's a
former first round first round pick. What would sino they
really need for him? So maybe they flip him, grab
some more prospects, keep building that way. Another name that
some people around here know about. I know he's hurt
right now. Matt Zucarella is thirty eight, and when he
(55:42):
gets himself healthy, you know, does Minnesota really need him
for a push or do they look at him as maybe,
you know, we'll we'll again, we'll, we'll swap him for
something else. Maybe you're looking for it's a veteran for
a veteran thing. But uh, you know, just I'm thinking
about people like that because people are gonna get hurt
during the season. People are probably gonna get hurt leading
(56:04):
up to the Olympics, are probably gonna be sore during
the Olympics. And if you have a guy like Zukerrella
who is not really skating right now and is gonna
be away for a few weeks. You know, he'll have
a little bit less miles on his skates for this
season and maybe he kind of thrives in the right
situation at the end of the season.
Speaker 2 (56:25):
Well, there you have it. If I see it, Matt
Zagarella trade everybody better go to Robert Akin and then
tag him on the Twitter spear say you got it, man,
you got it right? Yeah and it. Skinner is a
smart play. I think Skinner is somebody that is worthwhile
as a rental like, well, you don't have to. I
(56:48):
do feel like that Fitzgerald hasn't gone the rental route
and there's value to it if you do it right. So, Robert,
it's so good to have you back. I really look
forward to seeing some of your in depth writing this year.
You know, we plugged your your your you know, your
quarter century line. But what else do you have to
plug for of your Devil's coverage this year?
Speaker 3 (57:12):
You know, nothing specific right now, but you know, keep calling,
keep emailing and saying that you want, you know, pounding
the pavements in that you want Devil's coverage. You know,
we we we're hearing it, we know about it. It's
it's a topic of conversation at the at the newsroom.
So it's not going to deaf years believing.
Speaker 2 (57:33):
I love that, we love, we love actually being hurt.
So we'll definitely put all that out, make sure everybody
goes and subscribes and reads that top twenty five or sorry,
the quarter century piece. And I think that'll go a
long way. You know, you see those edge subscribers coming
from that one article. I think it'll go a long way.
You'll get more coverage of Devil's Hockey from Robert Aiken Jr. Robert,
(57:56):
really appreciate have you on friend of the podcast, and
we will have you on against you guys.
Speaker 1 (58:01):
Thank you, Thank you, Robert. That's Robert Aiken, North Jersey
dot Com, big fan of the morning.
Speaker 2 (58:10):
Wu Hey, listen, we're performing at one wedding where the
wedding song at another. I mean, that's all you. I
can't take any credit for that. Well I've taken a
little bit of credit just because of my tie to
(58:31):
the other one. I feel like that, Oh yeah, I
did a lot there. This was all you, man.
Speaker 1 (58:38):
And also I would like to add that you know
there's a lot of Devil's podcasts now now there's like
other live streams all over the place. But I think
we've cornered the early morning market now. I think we've
got a monopoly. We had to evolve, we had to
adjust to the to the competition, the climate.
Speaker 2 (59:02):
So you speak, can can I speak to what you're referencing?
Because it was it was for the first time on
this podcast. We have that going for us absolutely. So
last week we had Ryan Novezinski on the podcast. He
teased something big coming out. He could say more. I
was like, come on, you gotta give me something. He
could give me anything. Well, we can tell you for sure.
(59:25):
They're doing a YouTube series. He's gonna have interviews, he's
gonna have special I think he used the sea word, Sam,
I won't use the sea word, but he'll have special
videos and breakdowns and postgame and I think that there's
a he's gonna have a lot of really fun stuff.
And here's the thing, Sam, I love this. I love
(59:53):
that Devil's coverage is back. We talked about this earlier
this summer that I was like, I don't like the
state of the beat and and I say this a
lot and people think it's like a it's a knock
(01:00:15):
on the people on the beat. We have great people
covering the Devils, but it's a lot of the times
they're doing so much heavy lifting while the Rangers are
getting money put behind it, and they're getting assets put
(01:00:37):
behind it, and they're getting you know, people in places
and things behind it. They're putting nouns behind the Rangers. Sam,
you know, the Canucks are getting nouns, the Maples are
getting nouns. Where are our nouns? And you know, I
I see what's going on, and I'm starting to see
(01:01:04):
more people say there's there's there's money here in New Jersey.
A lot of people didn't. I think James told us
this on the podcast. And if I'm breaking a conversation
out with James off air, I'm gonna apologize to him
(01:01:26):
in person. But I think he told us this on
the podcast. He fought to cover the Devils and he said,
we it makes sense to have a beat reporter on
the Devils, and and I do think it makes sense,
(01:01:47):
you know, And and I know a lot of people
are this person said this, James Nichols. I just wanted
to make sure yeah, yeah, And and he fought to
cover the devils. You know, he was an Islanders for
the longest time, and you know, now he's like the
head guy on the Beat. You know he's doing a
lot of really good work. And you know, now you
(01:02:08):
got Christie and the Hockey News doing a lot of
really good work and a lot of really cool interviews.
You got Ryan during this video series, and like, that's
gonna get more for us to talk about, and a
lot of that inside knowledge that Vancouver and Toronto and
New York and in Chicago and Philadelphia seems to get.
I think that this is the Beat isn't as good
(01:02:31):
of a place as it's been since we had Corey
covering up the Athletic since we had it was right
after Galadi and Share left at the same time, and
you know, we still had people who were really into
this beat, and the problem was it seems stunk. You know,
(01:02:57):
like you're not gonna get a lot of interest in
team that stinks. And now that it's kind of clear
that this is an interesting dem people are paying attention again.
I really like the state of the Beat.
Speaker 1 (01:03:09):
I also want to add, not to pat ourselves on
the back, we got to one million downloads because of
our fans. And one of the reasons why is because
we never left the Beat since twenty seventeen till now.
It's I mean, we've had our uption downs. We had
(01:03:30):
the pandemic. We had ten months of no Devil's Hockey.
Speaker 2 (01:03:34):
Ye, yeah, but that was a down for us. We
were on we did a show every week in the pandemic,
which was every Wednesday, we were on the air. Yeah,
it was like and like, you know, we've we've had
We've honestly had our most issues in the last two
years with you know, there's been some health issues and
there's been some hospital stays, and you know, those things
(01:03:56):
have gotten the most in our way. We if we
were physically able, we do the podcast. It's kind of
how it goes. And I think that that consistency and
the commitment is how we got to a million and
and honestly saying like one of our biggest detriments is,
you know, they keep they keep changing the game on us.
(01:04:18):
The se O changes or Facebook changes their algorithm, or
the Twitter changes their algorithm, or YouTube change the algorithm,
so you have to we have to go out and
find the viewers again, or the viewers can't find us,
and we have to figure out what's going on. Like
that's what's been the biggest detriment. But that's why you
see the downloads have been so consistent for the most part,
(01:04:39):
because the people subscribe to us and they you know,
they get their Morning Woo, they get their Stay of
the Fan address, they get their you know, their Sunday
flagship show. They see us in the bar right on
the road, American whiskey. You know that's it's the New
(01:05:00):
Jersey Devils are and honestly, like the Devils have a
like the Devils. At one point, I think there was
a I don't want to say adversarial, uh relationship with
the media, but you know, I think that they appreciate
(01:05:25):
where it is now. I think they're very happy where
where it is now. I will say that. So and
I love it, like this is great. We got a
couple of minutes before we have Daniel on. I think
he's locked in, but I think he's he's cameras not
on you, right, So are you confirming? Are you asking?
Speaker 1 (01:05:45):
No, it's not on yet. He you know, he is
logged in and the Andy Green but you know, we're
just waiting he's enjoying.
Speaker 2 (01:05:51):
He's enjoying some sparkling water. He's enjoying some uh, some
of the champagne flutes that we've put out for everybody.
Speaker 1 (01:05:59):
Uh yeah, in turns for you know, getting him, you know,
some cookies as well.
Speaker 2 (01:06:07):
Yeah yeah, maybe a little makeups and the makeup chair,
you know, get pretty for your uh you know, maybe
we should do a late night show, someone like Fallin
and Kimmel. Maybe we'll we'll fill that void. I heard
CBS is looking for something anyway before we have them
on same I I kind of want to talk to
(01:06:29):
you about I want to get into the defense because
I mentioned this earlier and I didn't get your thoughts specifically.
But yeah, the athletic rank of the Devil's defense fifteenth
basically a middle of the pack defense, if that's where
the Devil's defense actually is, which I think they've I
(01:06:50):
think they've mislabeled this defense ridiculously. I think the Devils
have a top and easily top ten, probably top seven defensively.
Do you first let me answers? Do you agree with that?
Speaker 1 (01:07:09):
I don't. I I don't know where they got that assessment.
Are they thinking that seakum Thaller is gonna regress from
having a great season last season. Do they think that
uh Luke Hughes and his shoulder may not hold up
(01:07:31):
where Dougie Hamilton's gonna regress because of age.
Speaker 2 (01:07:35):
I don't think it's I think injuries are part of
it based on the right up. But it was weird
because for other teams are like, you gotta wonder about injuries,
but for now, this is what it looks like on paper,
and it seems like the injuries didn't affect the rankings
for other teams, but did affect the Devils because they
brought up Hamilton's injury specifically and the worry there. Here's
(01:07:58):
the thing I'm and I got into a conversation with
friend of the podcast TJ Tturo on this yesterday because
I just think it's wrong. Having the Rangers defense ahead
of the Devils is insane. I like Adam Fox. I
(01:08:23):
know he had a bad for Adam Fox season last year.
I think Gavrikov is a good signing when you don't
look at the contract like it's a good player. I
think the Devil's second and third line is so much
better than the Rangers second and third line and I
(01:08:46):
think the Rangers first line it's relatively better than the
Devil's first line. So when I say first line, I
consider Luke Hues and Brett Peshi the first line for
the Devils. I think that's gonna be the first line
moving forward. I think that's how they're going to attack
this season. Is Luk U's twenty five minutes a night.
(01:09:07):
He's your guy, he's your workhorse. You kind of ease
Dougie Hamilton into a new lease on life eighteen to
nineteen minutes, and then you, you know, you ask Nemetz
and Dylan for the other fourteen or whatever it is.
The upside for the Devils is top five. If everything
(01:09:29):
goes right for the Devils, they have a top five defense.
I don't think they can catch Colorado. I don't think
they can catch I don't think they can catch Florida.
I'm trying to think of like who's like, I think
(01:09:50):
Carolina is gonna have a better defense than them. But
those are the three that are like are sticking out
to me. They're like, you can't catch them, They're just
too good. Like I think they could catch Vancouver.
Speaker 1 (01:10:05):
Now, does this conclude taking a consideration the goalies or
is this purely deepense just the defense?
Speaker 2 (01:10:17):
What do you think the goals would help her hurt?
Because she's starkin obviously like raises you let, but I
think she's starking is like erasing some many mistakes in
this defense.
Speaker 1 (01:10:32):
Well, you know, it depends because last year Mark Strum
and Allen played very well as a tandem.
Speaker 2 (01:10:41):
Except for that one stretch from Mark, because that one
stretch ruined his numbers. But overall that was after that
was after he came back from injury, right, that was
the injury.
Speaker 1 (01:10:50):
Yeah, yeah, you know, I always thought that he came
back a little too early, you know, but it's playoff time,
you get, you got to come back at some point.
But I think middle of the pack. I wouldn't say
that it's insulting, But what I would say is I
believe the Devils are top ten, you know, and again
(01:11:16):
who knows what's what goes into these rankings, what they're thinking,
But you know, the Devils have depth. You know, I
know Covid Savage is out, but they they have depth
back there. You know, uh, if injuries were to occur,
But you know, again it's not I'm not going to
say that their top three. But you know, but ten
(01:11:41):
ten sounds better than fifteen.
Speaker 2 (01:11:44):
I mean, here's the things. I mean, you talk about
the death like we have to talk about Killen Addison,
who has a full Angel seasoner his belt. He's in
the AHL. I liked some things I've seen from the
pious feeling. There's another guy that's that, you know that
you could call up from the age, you know, Chilowski.
(01:12:06):
I'm I'm not a fan of I don't.
Speaker 1 (01:12:09):
He's like the Ken Sutton. He's like the Ken Sutton
of years ago. If you remember Ken Sutton.
Speaker 2 (01:12:18):
I don't remember Ken Son. What year is that he?
Speaker 1 (01:12:21):
He was acquired like three or four times by lou
and he just ate some time when they needed years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:12:29):
But yeah, anyway, his name's just not ringing a bell.
Are you talking about like early nineties, I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:12:36):
Talking about late nineties, early two thousand.
Speaker 2 (01:12:41):
Yeah, it's it's kind of ringing about But anyway.
Speaker 1 (01:12:52):
Are we good that that's the signal? Nick?
Speaker 2 (01:12:55):
Okay, yeah, yeah we can. We can do intro. Do
you want to do this in.
Speaker 1 (01:12:58):
Tri I'll do this in true because we had a
great time. The last time I saw this guest was
on the Big stage when it was absolute mayhem. I
believe it was Game four of last season out on
the big stage. It was our only interview because we
just got it just it just got out of control
(01:13:20):
and then we just started playing music. His name is
Daniel Amoya from The Hockey Writers. You can find him
on Twitter at Daniel Underscore Amoya. Daniel, how are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (01:13:34):
Hey? Can you guys hear me? Want to make sure
everything's good?
Speaker 1 (01:13:38):
We can, but I don't think your microphone's hooked up.
I think I think it hooked up to your let's say,
into your computer.
Speaker 4 (01:13:50):
All right, I guess we lost How about now? Is
that better?
Speaker 2 (01:13:54):
Not?
Speaker 1 (01:13:54):
It's the same.
Speaker 2 (01:13:57):
I hear you though, Yeah, we could hear you.
Speaker 1 (01:13:59):
I mean if you go to the earbox and then
you select your sound card, I'm.
Speaker 4 (01:14:03):
Gonna try it one more time.
Speaker 2 (01:14:04):
Let's see, we'll let them try one more time. Well
while we're doing.
Speaker 1 (01:14:08):
This is what happens when we're live live.
Speaker 2 (01:14:11):
Yeah, the live live studios of of the State of
the Fan address this is this is and hobnoestly, you
know there's gonna be parts of the State of the
Fan where we're we're a little down, we're a little disconnected.
Speaker 5 (01:14:23):
And that's okay, all right, I speak up. You guys
can at least hear me enough.
Speaker 1 (01:14:29):
Hopefully I got I got you, we got you?
Speaker 4 (01:14:32):
Okay, sound good, it looks great.
Speaker 2 (01:14:35):
It looks like you're talking to my microphones. They're all good.
Speaker 4 (01:14:38):
That's all that matters, right, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 2 (01:14:41):
It's it's the illusion of being, you know, on top
of it all. But yeah, so Daniel, you know, we
brought you on. It was really excited to bring you on,
you know, in the normal virtual way instead of been.
It's very rare that we have somebody start in person
that come virtually so appreciate having you on. Now for
let me ask you this first last year correct, people
(01:15:03):
won't issue the first year you want the beat? Correct?
Speaker 4 (01:15:07):
First full season?
Speaker 2 (01:15:08):
Yes, okay, what was like the main memory that you
had for as the first year as a beat writer?
Speaker 5 (01:15:18):
There were so many I'm probably just gonna have to
go with the Missus Fields thing. I feel like that's
what really kind of I guess you could say, put
my name out there and really like I don't know
how to explain it, but it was just like something
like you can't even really describe. It was just such
a weird thing, but it was so cool and just
(01:15:41):
seeing how like the fan base took to it. And
I don't want to take complete credit for it, because like,
obviously the Devils were the one who did it, and
James Nichols kind of got it going and then I
just like went way overboard with it. But yeah, it
was really fun. I think that was the coolest thing.
And then I'll throw an honorable mention to the playoff
game game three as well. Just obviously I've never experienced
(01:16:04):
anything like that as press. I had only done regular
season home games to that point, so it was definitely
just a different experience, a completely different from covering a
regular season game, and I thought that was really cool
as well.
Speaker 2 (01:16:19):
I am, yeah, listen, it's covering the playoffs games is
a different animal for sure. But I want to talk
about the Missus Fields thing just real quick, because we
didn't get to it a lot in the playoff game
because we had a lot to talk about. Two quick questions, A,
do you think the Devils knew what they were doing? Wait?
(01:16:39):
Do you think that? People?
Speaker 4 (01:16:44):
I do?
Speaker 5 (01:16:44):
I think I mean behind any good tool like that,
even if you look at Grimace with the Mets I'm
a big Mets fan. Like, there's a marketing team that
has a pretty good idea, and I think once they
saw how the fan base started latching onto it, they
kind of latched onto it as well. And I do
think they knew what they were doing. That the Devil's
got some smart people in their marketing department, and yeah,
(01:17:06):
they they really took it to the next level. Because
I could say what I want on Twitter, but if
Missus Fields all of a sudden won four races in
a row and say, like December, it's not as fun anymore.
Speaker 4 (01:17:18):
So that made it so much better.
Speaker 2 (01:17:22):
And what was the feeling like when you heard the
sound of the crowd That was probably the biggest ovation
of the season.
Speaker 5 (01:17:29):
The only crowd pop that even rivaled at was Nemets's
playoff winner the level overtime. So it's kind of crazy
that all that for a virtual cookie. But yeah, I
mean people are going nuts. And then we had the
the mister Fields guy who dressed up in the cookie
costume and they wouldn't stop talking about him on the broadcast.
(01:17:51):
I interviewed him after that. Just the whole thing, even
Sheldon Keith dropping the quotes after the game like Missus
Fields carried us through tonight, like just who would have
thought from the beginning that something that would even happen
from a virtual cookie. So it was just like such
a surreal, weird thing, but it was very cool to
be a part of.
Speaker 2 (01:18:11):
Now, I gotta talk as much as we want to
talk about Missus Fields for the rest today, I gotta
talk about the play on the ice. I'm gonna ask
a very straightforward question to start. Is this team better
than the one last year?
Speaker 5 (01:18:27):
Better than the one last year? Certainly, I think it's
very similar. But obviously depth scoring was their big issue,
and they made a You could make arguments that there
may still be work to do, but they did plug
some of those holes. I mean, you look at three
guys Brown, Gritsuk, and Dadanov, all the capability to be
(01:18:50):
I think I could say, for certain will be better
than some of those guys they were replacing. How much
better remains to be seen, but I think certainly better.
So that's I would say, certainly.
Speaker 2 (01:19:02):
Yeah. I mean, and you know there were some I
know people hate to talk about luck in this, but
like there's some bad luck with Tatar, there's some bad
luck with I mean, hala and and Lazar got injured.
It looked like different people completely, So there there was
some strings of bad luck there. But I think you're
(01:19:25):
kind of making your own luck a little bit with
like Connor Brown is a really good signing. Is he overpaid?
Maybe a little, but like whatever, like you kind of
do those things when you want to compete and it's
not overpaid like a lot where it's like, you know,
six million versus four million, there's a detrimental difference there.
So I agree with you. I think this team is better.
(01:19:50):
I think this team is deeper. I think they did
a really good job of getting Utica better, you know,
with Thomas Bortolo, with Angus Cook, Shank with there was
a couple other guys that they acquired that are in
the AHL right now that you know, you know, Haminajo
and the chance or two guys that are gonna really
impact that roster. So I think that they do have
(01:20:12):
the depth. Like you said, now let's talk about the
top end. Are you satisfied with the top six right
now or do you think that more moves need to
be made.
Speaker 5 (01:20:26):
I think it would be hard to be completely satisfied
with it. But at the same time, you look at
the contracts they've dished out, I mean, and a lot
of them team friendly as well. It's you don't see
many teams in the league because you look at he Sure, Hughes,
bratt Meyer, I mean, those are four guys paid a lot.
(01:20:48):
I can't recall any teams who were giving that kind
of money to a fifth guy. And then if even
if a team did, what does the bottom have of
their lineup look like? I think I think if the
depth scoring wasn't place last season, it wouldn't be as
much of a conversation now. And if there was a
capitalist world, ideally, sure you'd like to have that Tyler
(01:21:10):
to Folly type there, and maybe if you could get
a replay of things, maybe there was more of like
a Tyler to Folly clone who you'd have who you
would prioritize over someone like Timo Meyer. But at the
end of the day, I think if the depth scoring
is present, it's not an issue whatsoever. And I'm someone
(01:21:31):
who's high on ny or myself, I know a lot
of people aren't, but I really don't think it would
be it is going to be an issue if the
depth scoring is present, because how many times last season
were those top guys just completely relied on it. If
they do nothing, the Devils don't score, they get shut out.
I don't think that's gonna be the case this year.
Speaker 2 (01:21:52):
Yeah, the offense was not. The offense was great for
the season. You know, that's how Nason got to twenty goals.
Codder got I can't remember what Cotter ended up with,
but he had a career high in goals. And you
were getting depth scoring early and then it dried up
in the second half of the year. And I I
(01:22:14):
want to actually let me talk, let me ask this,
because I think this goes a long way in helping
the Devils achieve their goals. Why are you high on
Meyer this year?
Speaker 5 (01:22:26):
I mean, I'm first of all, if you just take
one look at him, that's why I'm high on Teama Meyer.
I mean, he is just a bowl. He's so hard
to play against, and you've seen flashes of it. And
I don't know why it always happens in March, but
we know the talent is there because we see it
every March, the last two marches at least. So I
(01:22:51):
just maybe it's being naive a little bit, but I
just think he's way too talented to start a season
as slow from October through February as he has the
past couple seasons. And you do look at a lot
of quote unquote advanced numbers. Now he's gonna always be
someone who the advanced numbers favor because he's always throwing
(01:23:11):
pucks at the net from everywhere. But he creates a
lot of those chances and just seems not to be
able to finish them. I mean some around late February
mid February last year, there were some chances where it's like,
I don't care who you are with these chances, how
are they not going?
Speaker 6 (01:23:29):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:23:30):
Like it was almost getting surreal to a point. So
the expectations are a little unfair to an extent because
he is always going to be viewed to the pedestal
of his forty goal season, and if he's not on
power Player one and on with guys like He's sure
Hughes Bratt, Timo Meyer is not going to score forty
(01:23:52):
goals ever again, at least as a devil, And there's
nothing wrong with that.
Speaker 4 (01:23:57):
People just need to be able to accept that.
Speaker 5 (01:23:59):
In my opinion, I think if he could still pot
thirty thirty five and just be a consistent presence, not
just show up in March. Be what he was in
March and the playoffs the whole season. It's a completely
different narrative with him. So there's just too much there
that leads me to believe. And look, I know that
(01:24:20):
you could debate forever about whether he should be on
power play one, whether he should play on the left
side or right side, But the bottom line is Timo
Meyer has the talent regardless to be a very good,
complimentary player, and like I said, we've seen it in flashes,
so I just can't see a world where he starts
(01:24:45):
off that slow. Again, I can't see it. He's too talented.
Speaker 2 (01:24:53):
So where does he have to hit goals wise for
you to consider a successful season for Tiamo.
Speaker 5 (01:25:01):
I mean that really depends on whether he's playing on
the first or second power play, though I do have
to say the second power play this year looks pretty
good with that Ritzuk in the fold. I mean, they
were already second in.
Speaker 6 (01:25:13):
The they I would not be surprised if this team
finishes first in the league because they were second last
year and only got better.
Speaker 5 (01:25:26):
So I think, and personally, I think Mayer should be
on the second power play just because the numbers show
that him and Jack Hughes don't work together. I don't
know why that is. They've tried it, it just does
not go well. I asked Sheldon Keith about it in
his exit interview and he said, like, yeah, that's something
(01:25:47):
as a coaching staff we need to be able to
try to figure out. But the results just haven't worked.
I think it's just because they're two of kind of
the same like shoot first, want to run things kind
of guy, and they just don't mesh for that reason.
But I would say, assuming he's not on power Play one,
because that's what it seems like. I would think between
(01:26:10):
thirty and thirty five goals, if you could get thirty
three goals out of team O Meyer and not back heavy,
if he's scoring consistently throughout the season, those thirty two
to thirty three goals, I think there's no reason to
complain with the other offensive talent they have. And that's
assuming everyone's relatively healthy.
Speaker 2 (01:26:29):
And he brings a physical game, like people have been
begging for people to like stick up for each other
and hit each other, like Meyer's been doing this this
whole time. I always say, like we forget now how
offensively unlucky Meyer was in that Ranger series because he
made such an impact getting in Schusterkin's head and being
(01:26:52):
a physical presidence that he helped them win the series.
So we don't care that he did. I don't think
he had any points, or maybe he had one point
in the whole series. It doesn't matter now because we
know he's a big reason why he won, and he's
a big reason why they win games moving forward. So
I I'm a little worried about the offensive numbers, but
(01:27:14):
the overall impact, I'm with you one hundred percent. I
think he's a very important part of this team. Now,
the first line right now, you talked about that fit
with Jack Hughes, and we had Robert Aiken from North
Jersey dot Com on right before you and we were
talking about the Jack Hughes, Like how important is this
season for Jack Hughes. It's year seven, he missed the
(01:27:38):
playoffs last year. I think the injury thing, like, you
can't deny that that's important. You have to stay healthy
and show that you're not an injury prone player. But
as far as the impact, I'm trying to say, like,
does he have to have a hundred point season for
me to be like he had a successful Jack Hue
season or can he you know, just or is it
(01:28:00):
more nuanced than that? So I'm gonna kind of, after all,
we take a little bit different approach. And I just
wanted to ask, do you think that first line sticks together?
Do you think jessper Brat, Jack hughes Off, getting data
off is gonna be the first line come playoff time?
(01:28:21):
Barring injury, of course, but do you think that that's
gonna stick?
Speaker 1 (01:28:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (01:28:26):
I mean, I'm glad you said barring injury because it's
unfortunately kind of seemed inevitable the last few years.
Speaker 4 (01:28:33):
But I I don't know.
Speaker 5 (01:28:38):
It's really hard to say because you look at guys
like Dadanov, Brown, Palot, Mercer. They're all kind of guys
who can play anywhere, really so and you don't even know.
For all we know, Gritzu could be a guy that
moves up there down the road. I mean, that's obviously
very wishful thinking. But there's too many pieces. I mean,
(01:28:59):
I just base named five guys who can pot in
that spot be in that spot. So for me to
confidently say there's one single person that will remain in
that spot the whole season. I'm gonna say probably not now.
If that is the case, that probably means Dadanov has
been a perfect fit, and I surely think he can be,
but there's just too much interchangeable Stephan Neson obviously will
(01:29:23):
be in the mix as well. There's really six guys
on the team who aren't like locks to be in
the top six the whole season, but certainly can be
if you need them to so. And I think that
could be a good thing and a bad thing, depending
on how you normally take an out look on these
type of things. But I can't confidently say that will
(01:29:44):
be the case. But Dadanov definitely has the ability to
be that top guy because if they're healthy, you know
what you're getting out of Brat, you know what you're
getting out of Jack and obviously a big if, but
you know what you're getting out of those two. But
I do think there's gonna be even if everyone's healthy,
there's gonna be some shuffling throughout this season. You saw
(01:30:04):
dada novin Dallas with he played with was it Hints
and Robertson, I think, and he played probably about a
third of their games there and he was on the
second line, he was on the third line, he was
on the fourth line. He was pretty effective no matter
where he played. But there's just too much interchangeable where
I could certainly see the first time they have they
(01:30:26):
lose two three games in a row, keep's gonna mix
things up and there will be other guys who get
that opportunity up there.
Speaker 2 (01:30:36):
Let me ask you. You mentioned grits Sick and all that.
What are your expectations for grit Sick. We've we've talked
about him a remarkably swollen out for a preview show.
We've just been talking. We've you know, we've had a lot,
there's a lot going on with this team, truly. What
is your assessment of grits Sick from the preseason and
how do you think that's gonna translate? Like, what are
(01:30:58):
your expectations from this season?
Speaker 5 (01:31:01):
I mean, you just can't leave them too high. I mean,
for all intentsive purposes, he wasn't even a point per
game in the KHL. Not that that's easy to do,
but I think we're expecting him to be like this
eighty point guy just because all the hype, and obviously
that's not going to be the case, if you get
forty out of Gritsuk this year, I think you're happy.
That's just reliable depth scoring that they sorely missed last season.
(01:31:26):
He had better numbers than someone like Sharon Govic, who
came over when he played blanket on the team name
in the KHL. But even if you he just copies
Sharon Govic's first year production, I think you'd be pretty
happy with that. But I think he has an equal,
(01:31:46):
if not greater he has around there. But it was
the shortened season as well, so yeah, so it was
all weird back then. But I think, yeah, I think
if you get forty out of Gritsuk, if he could
(01:32:06):
match Aaron Goovic's point per game production are a little higher,
you're super happy with that. And I mean, I'm it's
gonna the biggest be how he fares on the power play.
If he's someone who could maybe notch seven eight nine
power play goals playing on the second power play unit,
I mean that that completely changes the dynamic. Not that
(01:32:30):
the Devil's power play was bad to begin with, but
I mean that's some serious firepower you have right there,
so I there's just no.
Speaker 2 (01:32:38):
Longer the first power play. You know, you're just you're
you know there's reinforcements coming, they're just you know, yeah,
you're good.
Speaker 4 (01:32:49):
There's no holes in his game.
Speaker 5 (01:32:51):
To me, really, the only gripe Sheldon Keef had was
that he turned over the puck a little too much
for his liking. I want to add two little caveats
to that. First of all, i'm losing my train of thoughts,
so on the first i'll give you the second. I
saw Keith say that, I went to check some numbers.
(01:33:12):
Here are the names of three players who turned over
the puck more than Gritsuk this preseason, Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucharov,
Jake Gonzel. So it's the biggest gripe out of the
entire preseason. I think he's doing all right. And number two,
of course, I'm blanking, oh yes you. I feel like
(01:33:32):
you'd rather him turn pucks over like that in preseason
than be timid and scared to make a mistake. It's
a pretty big adjustment going from the KHL ice to
the NHL ice. And really the first period he played
of the very first preseason game against the Rangers, you
could tell that nervous nervousness was there. He had some
(01:33:52):
conversations on the bench with Paul Cotter and ever ever
since then. I mean, he didn't look out of place
from guys like jesser At, Jack Hughes, et cetera. I'm
not saying he's going to be that good this season,
but he looked every part of an NHL or So.
I don't see a world where Gritzuk, if he's healthy,
isn't putting.
Speaker 4 (01:34:11):
Up forty.
Speaker 2 (01:34:14):
Forty points.
Speaker 4 (01:34:16):
Yes for forty points.
Speaker 2 (01:34:18):
And I mean I heard somebody say forty goals on Twitter.
Speaker 4 (01:34:21):
That's crazy. That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (01:34:23):
Yeah, that's insane. All right, let me ask you this,
uh and and I know we're up against it. So
I'm gonna make this quick because I do want to
kind of get a bull prediction out of you. But
I so you cover the playoffs, you saw them pretty close.
(01:34:44):
Do you think if there's anything to learn from that
experience or do you chalk it up as our power
play failed and our team was too injured.
Speaker 4 (01:34:56):
I'll say a little bit of both.
Speaker 5 (01:34:58):
If you look at some of the young younger guys
like Cody Glass, Paul Cotter, that they had a rough
time in that series. So I do think there were
some to learn. Maybe it's more on an individual basis
than a team basis, but yeah, that the injuries just
decimated them. And even with that, I mean they you
could argue they outplayed Carolina at even strength in that series,
(01:35:20):
which even if they were fully.
Speaker 4 (01:35:21):
Healthy, that's a tough thing to do.
Speaker 2 (01:35:23):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (01:35:24):
The special teams just murdered them, and I know if
they were fully healthy that would not have been the case.
So I really do think that that was more of
the issue. And again that depth scoring as well, that
they got a little more of it. But Pa Loot
(01:35:44):
was actually very great in that series.
Speaker 4 (01:35:47):
Yeah, it's a real thing. I will still never wrap
my head around it.
Speaker 5 (01:35:54):
But I mean the Devils will take it better playoff
lot than no time p a lot.
Speaker 2 (01:35:59):
So yeah, sure, all right, So final thing before we
let you go. I don't want you to give up.
You know, I know you're writing your own article, so
I'll let you showcase where you have the double's finishing
on the Hockey Writers Dot Com. But I do want
to know, like, can you give us a bold prediction?
It could be standings related, could be player related, Like
(01:36:20):
what's a bold prediction that you could share with us.
Make a bold.
Speaker 4 (01:36:27):
It has to be bold.
Speaker 2 (01:36:30):
The one it just to give you an example.
Speaker 4 (01:36:32):
The one I shared earlier is okay, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (01:36:36):
The one I shared earlier is I think Luke Hughes
is breaking sixty points this year. I think Luke I
think we're going to get Luke Hugh's dominant question. Whether
he's the best Hughes brother, Luke Hughes this year. So
that's where I'm going. I want to know where you're going.
Speaker 5 (01:36:53):
I don't know if this constitute as bold enough, but
I think Jack Hughes will play all eighty two games
this season.
Speaker 2 (01:37:00):
That's bold. That's very good.
Speaker 5 (01:37:02):
I feel like it has it has to be balled
at this point. And I eighty two he will not
miss a single game.
Speaker 2 (01:37:10):
You know, that's that's huge, you know. And and and
you got to remember that him playing allady two means
he's playing another ten for the Olympics. Right it's ten.
I think it's ten.
Speaker 4 (01:37:20):
Yeah, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2 (01:37:22):
So you know it's ninety games right there. Plus you know,
if the Devil's make the playoffs, it's another whatever you know,
sixteen wins, right, so, uh, you know it's it's it's
a bold prediction. I think. Listen, I I think that
Jack Hughes, you know, we talked about it. I think
he has to prove something. I don't think and to
(01:37:45):
that point, I don't think he's gonna sit out if
he doesn't have to. I think he wants to prove
something this year. I think there's a fire in him.
Not that there ever isn't, but there's a different level
of like he has fall under the raider. You know,
he's not the you know, the top of the He's
(01:38:05):
not gonna cover of the NHL game anymore. He's not
that guy anymore. So I think I think there's a
reason for him to come out and say I have
to dominate this year. So love that bold prediction. Daniel,
take a second to plug what you got going on
with the hockey writers. What's a story that's coming out
this week?
Speaker 5 (01:38:26):
Well, that really all determines on how how the first
week goes. It could be very different. But I'm very excited. Actually,
I've been given a full season credential for the first time.
Even though I covered most of the games last year,
I was not on a full season basis.
Speaker 4 (01:38:42):
So now I do have a full season credential.
Speaker 5 (01:38:44):
Also graduated last year, so now I'm able to do
thank you from Montclin State University. So now I'm able
to do a lot more in terms of features and
stuff like that. I did one on Glenn Denning and
Dad and Nove already this camp I'll be able to
head to a lot more practices and like fully cover
the team, Whereas last year I was still in school,
(01:39:06):
so completely different situation. So that alone, I'm really excited.
You can get all my pieces. I just google my
name danielmoy at the Hockey Writers dot Com. It will
come up, and yeah, really, just really really excited. Obviously,
this is a great time to cover the team because
there's a lot of promise there and I do think
(01:39:28):
this is the year that they're gonna show it. Fans
are rightfully fed up and having won one playoff series
after this core really in the entire existence of this core,
but I just find it too hard to believe that
it's gonna stay that way.
Speaker 2 (01:39:46):
Danielle, here's something that to add to that, and feel
free to use this in your work. Do you know
the last time the Devils went to the playoffs and
back to back years not off the top of my head,
two thousand and nine and twenty ten.
Speaker 4 (01:40:05):
That's it's insane in it.
Speaker 2 (01:40:09):
So that's fifteen years ago, the last time not even
winning a series, the last time they went to the playoffs,
and back back years half the league goes to the playoffs.
More than half the league went for years during that time.
So this, this fan base has deserved it. And and
before you go, I want to commend you because you know,
(01:40:30):
we talked about the positive place that the Devil's Beat
is in this year, and you know you're definitely a
big part of that. I think what you're doing for
the Hockey Writers is great. We're really looking forward to
your continued coverage there. Love to hear that you're getting
a full season credential and we're getting even more out
of you. You know. That's the thing is that I'm
(01:40:52):
hearing a lot of we're given more, We're given more,
We're you know, even like you know we're doing We're
doing more at Pucks fits Erks, doing more at the
Hockey Writers. I know you've brought out a couple of
new staffers over there over the summer to really boast
of the coverage. So I really appreciate what you guys
are doing. Thank you for coming out here, and now
you've been on here twice. Sam, you know what that means.
Speaker 1 (01:41:16):
He's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (01:41:16):
Daniel was a friend, a good friend of the podcast.
So good friend of the podcast. Dang a Moya. I
appreciate what you're bringing here. Uh, and we'll have you
on a good soon.
Speaker 4 (01:41:28):
Thanks for having me. Glad it to work out.
Speaker 1 (01:41:32):
Thanks Daniel. That is Daniel Amoya of the Hockey writers.
Oh yeah, what else comes with the being good friend
of the podcast? He can come to American whiskey and
have meals drinks on us. Forgot I forgot about that.
Speaker 2 (01:41:48):
Yeah, gotta let him know. Well, Sam, I think that's it.
I think I think we did it. We did the thing.
Do you have anything else before we go?
Speaker 1 (01:42:01):
Yeah? I actually wanted to tell Daniel about my my
Grimace theory, but I could tell them lawf air of that. Okay,
But I'm gonna make a bold prediction.
Speaker 2 (01:42:14):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (01:42:16):
I made that four or five years ago. The Devil's
was winning the Stanley Cup in twenty twenty five. But
it's twenty twenty five, twenty sixth season.
Speaker 2 (01:42:25):
Okay, so you think they're winning at all, Yeah, what
makes you think that?
Speaker 1 (01:42:37):
In all seriousness after talking to Chico, I kind of
think that they're one player away and one healthy season away.
You know, with Florida being banged up right now and
winning two in a row, went to the Stanley Cup
Finals three years in a row. It may not be
(01:42:58):
their year. They may not persevere. The big bad Boston
Bruins have gone downhill. Carolina Hurricanes. The Carolina Hurricanes is
they always remain like above average but not elite.
Speaker 2 (01:43:19):
If you don't want to talk about a team that's
one piece away, they I think Carolina is a great
regular season team. I was unimpressed and Dange brought this
up the Devils without legitimately half the roster step for
(01:43:44):
step at five by five, five on five, step for step,
So you know is I just wasn't impressed. Freddie Anderson
saved them in a couple of games.
Speaker 1 (01:43:57):
And it's funny can't rely on Yeah, its funny you
say that because I was gonna just say that their
goaltending is always a problem in the playoffs, but in that.
Speaker 2 (01:44:08):
Series, yeah it wasn't. But if you keep a problem
later on, right like you use a problem in uh, that's.
Speaker 1 (01:44:16):
That's the bottom line. It sound sustainable. In the playoffs,
everything will be.
Speaker 2 (01:44:21):
Exciting, and it can't make it through four rounds. They
do not have and like and Sam, I don't want
to get into this too much. I don't want to
talk about it, but it's the reason why they at
one point, We're willing to take the pr hit to
take card heart and then they change their minds because
(01:44:43):
I think they didn't realize how impactful that was going
to be. But you know, they're they're looking at ways
to you know, fix it, and then they just keep
bringing back Under said.
Speaker 1 (01:45:01):
The problem is with with this team. They do a
lot of good things, right, like you know Rod Brynmore,
you know, resigning him, you know, as coach, but it
just seems like the owner is always trying to take
the short, shortcut way out in terms of budget.
Speaker 2 (01:45:16):
With their budget, I mean, they're eleven million dollars under
the cap.
Speaker 1 (01:45:21):
Yeah, so, like I said, they're like above average, but
they're having trouble being that elite team. The Rangers I
think are gonna be garbage. Toronto will always be Toronto.
I think you know it was indicative last season. Okay,
they got.
Speaker 2 (01:45:41):
Faster, I kind of think they're gonna stink this year.
Speaker 1 (01:45:45):
No, what I mean is Toronto being Toronto, meaning since
nineteen sixty seven, they're not They're yeah, they're not gonna
They're not gonna make a serious run. You know. Again,
it's very interesting. I I my bull prediction is the
Pittsburgh Penguins are going to make the playoffs. So you know,
(01:46:05):
if there's a time in the East, it's probably now
for the Devils, if they can stay healthy and then
they can get that one guy. Mid season.
Speaker 2 (01:46:19):
I actually wrote about this. I wrote about the Eastern
Conference thing. The Eastern Conference kind of stinks. You know,
it's it's Carolina. I read that devil. Thank you, it's Carolina.
It's the Devils. It's Tampa. But something's off about Tampa.
Tampa is great in the regular season and just something
(01:46:40):
the playoffs isn't clicking. And they faced great teams, so like,
you know, I'm not trying to take anything away from them,
but it's just not like they haven't gone past the
first round since they lost the Stanley Cup Final in
twenty two. I think, yeah, you know, in Toronto, I
just I think the defense stinks. Unless Morgan Riley could
(01:47:02):
be A one A again. I think they're defense stinks,
you know, and their goalies. You know, their goalie. One
of their goalies is going through an issue. I don't
know what it is, but he's not gonna play a
full season. The other one they just resigned, you know,
so you know. I and then the Metro like I
(01:47:24):
I know, you see the Penguins can make the playoffs.
I don't disagree with you because I think the Metro stinks.
We talked about with Ryan last week.
Speaker 1 (01:47:33):
I think I think they're gonna be a sleeper team.
I don't think the Penguins are fantastic. I think they're
just gonna sneak up on you. Because everybody wrote.
Speaker 2 (01:47:42):
The movie The Bricks off the Rangers. I know it
was dominant. If Silvos or Silvos again, I don't know
how to say. Their goalies, he's good, they might go somewhere.
Speaker 1 (01:47:55):
So he's surprising right now.
Speaker 2 (01:47:58):
Yeah, yeah, Jarry's not the one a there there anymore?
All right, But that's all I got. Sam pucksinpittricks dot Com.
The season preview is coming out tonight sometime after midnight.
The big article with all of our writers coming out
tonight we'll be putting it together. It's gonna take me
(01:48:19):
some time, but that's coming out tonight for your early
morning convenience.
Speaker 1 (01:48:26):
Yeah. Also tomorrow triple Header opening night, we got the
Morning WU in the morning, we got Game Day Live,
Vinnie prec Shorts, Guy and I are back, and of
course Devil's after Dark after the game getting rapid reactions
(01:48:48):
from you. The fans can't wait to have Scottie back
doing the night shift, Devil's after.
Speaker 2 (01:48:59):
Doing Liquid Metal. He's got to do the night ships.
Speaker 1 (01:49:01):
Yeah yeah, liquid Metal. Also, we'll be back at American Whiskey,
the official home game bar. Other Let's Go Devil's Podcast.
One million downloads and counting. It's good to finally say that, Nick.
One million downloads. Yes, they say the first of millions
(01:49:27):
to hardest, that's what they say.
Speaker 2 (01:49:30):
They also say the first cut is the deepest.
Speaker 1 (01:49:33):
Yeah. Now we're nine ninety nine thousand downloads away from
too Yeah, yep, all right, yep. But I want to
thank all those tuning in for that. Thank you to
Robert Aiken uh for coming on, and Daniel Moya. Until
(01:49:53):
next time, Let's go Devils m