Is it the Defense or all 20 guys?

Matt Loughlin asked Fischler at the end of the 12/7/05 broadcast if it was the Devils Defense(men) that was the problem with the team. Fischler, as is his custom, tried to dodge so that he could avoid criticizing a particular player.

Now perhaps Loughlin is on to something-- look at the Rangers defensemen. They are all a bunch of mediocre players and yet the Rangers are in first place. This proves that if all twenty guys work together, even the most mediocre of defensemen can be effective. The Devils have a bunch of mediocre defensemen, yet the team looks the worst I've seen since Steve Thomas was pouting and whinging in Devils black and red (1995-96 season). If the forwards and goaltenders decided to play with some more passion and intelligence, instead of just panicking all over the ice (Colin White's stumble along the boards on the last goal is one example) then the Devils could do more with less ala the first place Rangers (oh how it pains me to say that :madfire: )
This Devils team, I'm afraid, is not going to make the playoffs. Yes, the season is only 1/3 completed, but Brodeur is playing terrible and is hurting (still feels pain in his knee according to press reports--check out devilsrule.com) and although Larry Robinson is a great hockey man and a true gentleman, he is not the right person to be coaching this team of lazy underacheivers. Someone from the Pat Burns school of no-nonsense- five-pushups every time you make a mistake in practice-school of coaching is needed to right this ship of fools.
Bring it on. :eek:

I have been saying since day one that the biggest disappointment for us is the overall play of our forwards especially on the defense side of the puck, it seems like some nights they put in the effort and some nights they just disappeared.

That was never the case before.

It's a complete team effort...aganist the wings it was our forwards and defensemen. Last night it was on the goaltender.

Its time for NJ to hire a drill sargent.

all very good replies........... it seems to be something different every night.

My biggest problems with this team are as follows (not in any order)

1. Passing......... just watch a few games and watch how bad the passing is

2. forechecking system.. They send 1 forechecker in and the wingers lock the opposing winger.. this is not working, it gives the opposing defensman too much time to make a play, much more pressure needs to be put on the opposing defense

3. backchecking. the forwards are truly going through the motions on the back check


4. goaltending

all very good replies........... it seems to be something different every night.

My biggest problems with this team are as follows (not in any order)

1. Passing......... just watch a few games and watch how bad the passing is

2. forechecking system.. They send 1 forechecker in and the wingers lock the opposing winger.. this is not working, it gives the opposing defensman too much time to make a play, much more pressure needs to be put on the opposing defense

3. backchecking. the forwards are truly going through the motions on the back check


4. goaltending

I could not agree with you more about the passing. The pucks seem to skip over sticks and are not connecting. It is very frustrating to watch. When the Devils went on their offensive eruption not to long ago where they had 5 or 6 games of 4 or more goals (Tampa Bay they scored 8) the passes were connecting and we saw results.

The forechecking is not working either and that is bacause they are not getting the forechecking from the forwards that they need. Again it comes down to bad defense from the forwards.

I guarantee the Devils D would not look so bad if the Devils front lines jumped into the play a little bit more. The D has to work that much harder and 1 forechecker in with Winger on Winger is not the ideal solution to better defejnsive play like you said.

Marty is in transition and has never had to face this many shots per game. But he is still the best in the business. He plays the puck better then any goalie and he makes sick saves when needed. He is a much better Goalie under pressue and in the latter part of the season. I would still want him over any goailie in the league in a playoff round. He will make the big save when needed.

1. Passing......... just watch a few games and watch how bad the passing is

2. forechecking system.. They send 1 forechecker in and the wingers lock the opposing winger.. this is not working, it gives the opposing defensman too much time to make a play, much more pressure needs to be put on the opposing defense3.


I also concur. We must be one of the worse passing teams in the league and I also agree about our system. Whatever we're doing, teams breakout with no problem what so ever and we have no sustained forecheck to speak of! And that's on Larry.

3.


I also concur. We must be one of the worse passing teams in the league and I also agree about our system. Whatever we're doing, teams breakout with no problem what so ever and we have no sustained forecheck to speak of! And that's on Larry.


Here is why it doesn't work....watch tonights game, the first man in will pressure opposing dman, the dman will go d to d and our winger instead of attacking the other dman will hold up and stick to the winger, hence giving the other dman all day, unless our original forechecker is quick enought to peel off his original check and disrupt other dman, usually doesn't happen.... the only forechecker that seems to be able to pull it off once in awhile is parise. becasue of his speed