It's probably a bit premature to say crisis entirely averted, as we should learn the full scope of the damage done to Mirco Mueller by the awkwardly incidental collision that sent him sprawling head first into the end boards before speaking so cavalierly of it. That being said, with how temporarily terrifying it was to see him laying face first on the ice without a sign of life in sight, the thought of him being able to move, speak, think, and respond even prior to being taken to the hospital of which he's since been released is endlessly encouraging. Any time the stretcher makes that quick of an appearance it's a very bad sign, so - especially relative to the alternative - all the news that's come out since he was wheeled off the ice with his thumb held high has been very good. The diagnoses following incidents that remind everyone of the undeniable and potentially life-altering dangers of sports as fast and physical as hockey typically aren't as forgiving, so I'll gladly accept that apologetic outcome from real life for interrupting the insignificance of sport with its damn ramifications. Never mind Mirco Mueller the player, because Mirco Mueller the person is alive and apparently well enough to return to his own home, which is by far the most impactful win of the Devils' season. Hopefully they can rack up another one by returning him to ice in a much more flattering fashion, but that's a much less important battle to be fought another day. — Mirco Mueller (@muellermirco) February 28, 2019 Random tangent: I'm aware that I am only speaking to the few, the loud, the morons that probably seemed to be attending in higher numbers than they actually were due to the silence of the rest of the building, but the time to berate officials is not when they are looking helplessly down at a potentially paralyzed player. I know it's a craaaaazy concept that accidents happen when professional athletes fly around on skates banging bodies with one another, but not every fall is the result of penalty. Hell, even if that were the case, being worried about the game (especially one as meaningless as...well...the rest of the Devils season) while one of your team's players looks like he's about to be lined in chalk is borderline sociopathic behavior. I know the thing that stupid fans in every city lack the most is self awareness, but if everyone around you is completely silent then do right by your poor parents by taking a hint and shutting the fuck up.
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Being that almost the entirety of the season to date has been governed by Murphy's Law, I should really only be surprised in how little I'm surprised by looking at a woefully underwhelming lineup. Still, I found myself genuinely taken aback by the shocking results of the New Jersey Devils' forwards falling victim to a bizarro world plot of 'Final Destination' in which their inevitable and eventual resting place is with the dregs of the draft lottery. In between short stints of rooting for Cory Schneider to have some long overdue success, I have been a loud and less-than-proud member of Team Tank for awhile now, but having their odds increased by the whole damn team taking a group trip to the emergency room sort of feels like a sick joke.
For example, let's take the curious case of Egor Yakovlev. I spending the last month or so merely wanting nothing more than for a mildly promising Russian defenseman with an impending incentive to defect to scratch an NHL ice surface ahead of the lame-duck likes of Eric Gryba, Mirco Mueller, and - to a much lesser extent - Ben Lovejoy. Hoping to see more of someone who'd shown flashes that could light the night sky relative to those of his competition at a depleted position felt like a reasonable request. Yet, here I am - having watched him go from inexplicably playing in Binghamton to bringing so much of Binghamton with him out of necessity that he's been forced into playing forward - realizing that no wish is a careful wish during such an apocalyptically anti-climactic year. I wanted to see the young players in the system be given a shot to make an impression at the end of an otherwise lost season. So, in that sense, it's refreshing to see Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian, and Connor Carrick being given a sizable opportunity to do just that. I just didn't think the means to that potentially encouraging end would be the injured list looking nearly indistinguishable from the list of high scorers. Neither the players, the coaches, or the front office would ever say and/or think so, but each loss is a bit of a win at this point. For that reason, it doesn't really matter that they are rolling out four lines that couldn't even intrigue a desperate junkie going through withdrawals. Still, the harsh reality that their goaltending has somehow gone from their achilles heel to their main source of excitement in the blink of an eye is...well...the type of painfully ironic yet entirely unexpected plot twist that would make M. Night Shyalamalan hit the pause button and take a deep breath...
I think any rational fan, of which there are very, very few this time of year, was hoping for a 1st round pick and expecting a 2nd round pick in return for someone who did his damnedest to inflate his trade value throughout the month leading up to the deadline. In that sense, getting the latter plus a future 4th round pick for Marcus Johansson following the better part of two underwhelming, injury-plagued seasons after trading a 2nd and 3rd round pick for him isn't at all disappointing. Especially since it sets the Devils up pretty nicely to use their brand spankin' new abundance of assets to make a move similar to the one that brought him over from Washington. On the other hand, in the sense that the team that gets to benefit from his appropriately priced services is the same one that rosters the walking, talking, licking bag of douche whose elbow intentionally derailed his tenure in New Jersey, this trade is somewhat disappointing. Especially since it's well within the realm of possibility that MoJo's worth could potentially be a lot higher, both personally in free agency or to the Devils at the deadline, if not for dealing with the difficulties from the following inexplicable cheap shot that kept him out of the lineup nursing a head injury for the second half of last season...
At the end of the day, the Devils didn't do right by Marcus Johansson. When he was actually healthy, one of the best passers/playmakers on the team wasn't often flanked by the pieces necessary to maximize his production. If that wasn't evident early in the season when he kept putting the puck on a pin but still couldn't buy a point then it was evident throughout the last few weeks during which his chemistry with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt was as palpable as it was statistically proven. That said, the Boston Bruins somehow did even worse by him, as their resident rodent very well could have caused irreparable damage to his brain, never mind his career. Again, I don't think the trade is at all bad, but the taste it leaves in my mouth certainly is, as there is something about Brad Marchand now benefitting from said brain and said career that feels as dirty as his sliver of a snake-like conscience. I have no doubt that Ray Shero got as much as he possibly could in making a more than fair deal, which is obviously all that really matters when flipping an asset. Unfortunately, I also have no doubt that Marcus Johansson will act with the upmost professionalism in letting bygones be bygones, which is obnoxiously annoying since the person that couldn't help but concuss him for no conceivable reason doesn't deserve the fucking courtesy.
Never forget. Just, never forget. I can't possibly pretend I am excited about the prospects of a fifth round pick in the NHL equivalent of an eternity, just like I can't - in good conscience - act like Keith Kinkaid was worth anything more at this point in what's become as humbling a season for him personally as it has been for his now former team. For that reason, this trade is entirely unmemorable in a way that doesn't feel fair to a guy whose performance was anything but in willing a young Devils' team into the playoffs for the first time in six years. This move became inevitable as soon Mackenzie Blackwood burst on the scene and Cory Schneider (and his contract) finally proved himself more capable than a corpse. However, I refuse to let the god awful goaltending behind a dumpster fire of a defense that "helped" stamp New Jersey as eventual sellers by the time people were last-minute Christmas buying tarnish the memory of Keith Kinkaid shouldering the load during an unexpected postseason push. That extended flash of brilliance, be it in a pan or not, was absolutely awesome to watch throughout a month in which he went entirely unafflicted by playing every game as they were each packed with the pressure of playoff hockey. As somebody who, like basically everybody, finds Keith Kinkaid to be an endearing personality, I hope that last season doesn't end up being the highlight of his career. Realistically, with neither age nor the odds of a larger sample size working in his favor, we've probably seen his best. Therefore, the least we could do is replay it from time to time in doing justice and giving thanks to a player who, through the fleeting ups and extended downs, looked to love being a part of an organization for which he was once undeniably a savior. To put it in his language, don't be ? that it's over, be ? that it happened.
Contrary to the belief of far too much of the fanbase, that headline was a little harsh considering its subject's job responsibility would have been optimistic at the start of his career, never mind its twilight. Therefore, I want to focus on the positives of what Ben Lovejoy brought to the Devils. Some will undoubtedly think this paragraph should end right...about...here, but the truth is that he was well-respected veteran leader off the ice and a great penalty killer on the ice while unquestionably easing Will Butcher's transition into the NHL. His struggles were exactly the type you'd expect a limited, defensive defenseman in his mid-30's to have while playing too many minutes out of necessity, which is to say they were more visible than his successes. Still, it would be foolish to ignore those successes, since the Devils would be a brand of dogshit so moist and messy that it would make Artemi Panarin's soiled pants feel better about themselves if not for maintaining a cohesive locker room and a penalty kill that's oft more exciting than their power play. To put it simply, Dallas traded for Ben Lovejoy for reasons other than complete desperation, so save the slander for the next whipping boy that's put in a position to fail on a defense that doesn't currently have the foundational pieces necessary to compete...
All that being said, another round of applause is owed to Ray Shero. Intangibles aside, he has now recouped both the 2nd and 3rd round pick he dealt at last year's trade deadline by moving a veteran 4th liner and an aging bottom pairing defenseman. Presumably due to alliteration, the name Connor Carrick stuck out to me as more memorable than his young career has been to date, as he's fallen out of favor with multiple franchises. However, even if he's a $5 scratch-off of a prospect, I would have been more than happy with Ben Lovejoy netting a 3rd round pick with nothing more than an actual $5 scratch-off as a sweetener. As someone who views this disaster of a year as nothing more than a stumble, I find it intriguing that the Devils have turned it into five picks in the first three rounds of the draft with far and away their best asset still awaiting his fate on the trading block. So yeah, I love the move and it brought me more joy than it should have during an otherwise depressing season, but don't just think that New Jersey's top-notch PK tanked for draft position when its efficiency inevitably dips. Ben Lovejoy's return is proof of how well he can fill a role, even if that return was surprisingly good for a team on which his role was troublingly big. Never forget...
Full disclosure, from the first fight he unsuccessfully tried to pick in the preseason to the last unwilling combatant he bare-knuckle bopped in the face during the regular season, I haven't been all that fond of Kurtis Gabriel. That's partially by design, since his outdated game is predicated on leaving shame in the locker room and doing just about anything to coax opposing players out of their gloves. Still, I much prefer the Blake Coleman/Miles Wood-style of relentless pestering. I just find face punching for the sake of face punching to be a bit cringeworthy at this stage of the sport, so there may have been a time or ten in which I claimed that Kurtis Gabriel's presence in the lineup was a black eye on the entire organization. That stance had softened significantly as his hits had hardened and he started making more of an impact as an intimidating forechecker than as a complete sideshow, but his teary-eyed response to scoring his first NHL goal as a member of the New Jersey Devils has left it damn near mushy. I'm still not anything close to what you would consider a fan of him as a player, but I'll be damned if I can't respect Kurtis Gabriel the person for the resilience he's shown in chasing his dream and finally putting up stats more significant than wildly unnecessary instigator penalties. Therefore, differences aside, all the credit and congratulations are in order for a guy who has persevered through a bruising and humbling career path that looks like a stroll through the damn park in comparison to his rough childhood. Pretty cool to see how much he appreciates being a part of the Devils' organization, so - though I'd prefer it were at a lower level - I appreciate him being a part of it too. Though I'm not even sure he considers it as prized a possession as the real estate he owns in Zach Bogosian's brain, it's awesome that he now has the seeing eyes of a meaningful milestone puck to show for it.
Cory Schneider is a grown ass man. A professional's professional. A proud guy who understands the obvious, which is that it's going to take more than a solid 2.5 game (really 3.5, if you include the Islanders' shootout loss in which the Devils' offense was offensive) stretch to silence the uncertainty regarding the potential resurrection of a career that's become riddled by injuries and crushed by a lack of confidence. For those reasons, I'm not going to patronize him by overpraising his initial efforts in helping to clean up what was a complete mess in the Devils' crease like he's a child that sloppily threw the sports' section over the full gallon of milk that he spilled. He deserves no shortage of credit for taking an absolute beating in stride and coming out the other side of the gauntlet of gut punches that was a sickly twisted losing streak capable of breaking the will of even a slightly lesser man. However, considering a shutout over a Senators' team that was hosting a live auction for 80% of its talent while the game was going on to be proof that he's "back" could only lead to a lot of disappointment moving forward. I hate to be the one to measure the approach here, but this cautiously optimistic feeling probably just seems a lot more promising than it is due to the hapless hopelessness from which it rose like a phoenix. That being said, if the bad news is that Cory Schneider's recent success has continued his awkward trend of winning when his team would be better served not to then the good news is that his fluidity, positioning, and athleticism while doing so follow a much more promising trend of goaltenders slowly returning to form after hip surgery. The truth is that we've probably already seen the best of #35, but we've certainly already seen the worst of #35. If he's managed to find the higher end of that middle ground, and the audition out of desperation that was Mackenzie Blackwood's shockingly successful stint in New Jersey is a sign of what he'll eventual bring to the show, then the Devils have at least found some answers at the tail end of an otherwise lost season. Cory Schneider's days as the most formidable of franchise goaltender are more than likely over, but if he can relied upon for nights like last then the...::gulp::...three years and 18 million dollars left on his contract are somewhat easier to swallow. Not sure I've gone from thinking inevitable buy-out to fully buying in quite yet, but - at risk of being swayed by a couple impressive starts and a big shiny goose egg - I can pretty easily be sold on him taking the occasional page out of his past in splitting time with someone who looked a hell of a lot like the future. Even as a longtime Cory Schneider apologist, that's a hell of a lot better than any outcome I would have felt comfortable putting my money on a couple weeks ago. Much Like The Devils Have This Season, David Puddy Came, He Saw, And He Co...rashed Flat On His Face2/20/2019
And there it is, just about every one of the 2018-2019 New Jersey Devils' 60 games to date summed up in one classic Seinfeld character's team-spirited sprint into a full-on face plant. Came out the gates hot looking inspired with the best of intentions and then - much like awful goaltending, discouraging defense, and a rash of impactful injuries - that damn step came out of nowhere to make its painful presence felt. Props to Patrick Warburton for playing the role of David Puddy to perfection in quickly peeling himself off the ground in shamelessly undeterred support of the team. Especially since that fall was only like 50% his fault. Let the (entirely understandable) demotion of Mackenzie Blackwood serve as proof that this iteration of the Devils simply can't have nice things, including flawless guest appearances from famous fans. Cory Schneider probably offered more compassionate words than "been there, man", but he was probably thinking just that as he watched effort quickly turn to embarrassment with what's become far too familiar a plot twist in the Prudential Center this year. That perfectly painted face and that bare barrel chest will always be a welcomed sight regardless of how much the Devils suck, but them ending up embedded in the floor of the bench is fitting of how unwelcoming that entrance to the ice has been to the boys this season.
Firm but fair, baby. Firm but fair. For the multitude of ways in which some Devils' fans have chosen to start picking apart a head coach who hasn't exactly had the greatest run of things on a lame hamstring of a lineup since signing his contract extension, it's important to remember why his players appreciate him so much. For better or worse, he's a guy who pulls no punches in calling it like he sees it. Considering Keith Kinkaid's extremely forgiving self-evaluation, I can't think of someone who was more in need of being dialed back from their own self-deception, and you can't hit the 'fuck you' button on the firmness of a one word answer combined with the fairness of a more objective opinion. That's not to put last night's loss entirely on a goaltender who has taken what little trade value he might have had at the turn of the calendar and cleared it blindly to the tape of opposing players in and around his own departed crease. After all, the Devils damn near skated their defensive zone dry in chasing around the Penguins during a second period that proved to be the difference. It is, however, to scoff at the idea of "bad bounces" belaboring another below average performance. In a game that ended in a one goal defeat, one goal against was brutal and another was stoppable. That doesn't mean the game was lost by Keith Kinkaid, of course, but his contribution certainly wasn't of the positive variety...
Personally, I find it refreshing that, even in a lost season, John Hynes is hunting the most harmless ducking of responsibilities. In my uneducated opinion, accountability is what has kept close a locker room that's endured far too much losing for anyone, none the least of which an underperforming goaltender, to be blaming it on bad bounces. Therefore, as harsh as it may read, that blunt disagreement was nothing more than a head coach doing some cultural maintenance for a team whose future doesn't stand to be made any brighter by any player adopting the "well, I could have been worse" perspective. Especially one who shares a crease with a guy who has held himself completely culpable despite having to bear the brunt of much less fortuitous circumstances this season.
So lucky. The New Jersey Devils are so lucky, and I don't just mean that in the sense that you need a couple fortuitous bounces to go your way to come back from a three goal deficit on the road with a depleted lineup and a long-suffering goaltender entering in relief. The luck I'm referring to is somehow, against all odds, timing the morale boost of Cory Schneider's first regular season win in the flipping of multiple calendars at the end of a road trip during which they predominantly played the infuriating role of snoring passenger across multiple state lines...
My frustration had been building like that of a pissed off girlfriend suffering through a suspiciously quiet Valentine's Day ever since the Devils showed about as much of an interest in being in St. Louis as the Rams. Then, just when that hopelessness was about to manifest itself in hysteria, they basically busted down the door armed with a goddamn garden of good will and managed to find the only course of action for all to be forgiven. In no way, shape, or form should an otherwise uncompetitive team be all hugs & kisses coming off three games that were largely a sad excuse of an out-of-town effort. Yet, if only for one night, we were all Drew Stafford...
Of course, that luck of which I spoke earlier was long overdue with the Devils both accidentally and actively sabotaging the outcome of the few starts in which Cory Schneider played well enough to win. Still, for a fatalistic fourteen months to come to a head when his team had appeared to bury theirs in the sand prior to a nauseatingly necessary change in net was as entirely unexpected as it was absolutely awesome. Battling back to tie the game and using all 1.5 seconds of which they possessed the puck in overtime to slap a period on what felt like one man's run-on sentencing of solitary defeat was just the perfect punctuation. As the Devils are merely playing for pride and draft position at this point, there's not too many wins that are going to fully feel like such, but with the come-from-behind beating of the most malicious of monkey off the back of Cory Schneider came a thrill that's been unfortunately unfamiliar this season. There's a joke to be about how not playing Cory Schneider for the first ten minutes of games could have ended his losing streak a long time ago. However, the fact of the matter is that this feels all the more uplifting due to the professionalism of the person who has had to swallow his pride in becoming a punchline. Say what you want about him aging poorly as a player, but - to a man - what he's had to go through as a competitor sucks six different ways to Sunday. The hope is that this a huge step in the same direction his confidence has been trending of late, but - realistically speaking - the future might hold a few more failures for Cory Schneider. That said, if he's proven anything since December 27th of 2017 it's that neither his effort or attitude will be responsible for a single one of them.
There's not a player, person, or teammate in the entire league that's been more deserving of an all-too-elusive victory, so a tip of the cap to Steve Cangialosi for having the wits about him to call it as we all saw it. Last night, relief - in every literal and figurative sense of the word - was spelled C-O-R-Y.
I don't want to take too much umbrage with the caption focusing on the assist that allowed for Jesper Boqvist to create a hockey highlight that had the casualness of a game of catch. After all, Simon Bertilsson did everything in his power to avoid the forecheck and get the puck to his forward standing alone behind the defense. That said, in my opinion, if it were punctuated properly it would read "what, a pass?" in reference to the rink-long, waist-high wrist shot that the Devils' prospect knocked flat with an inexplicable ease unseen since the last time someone caught a fly in their hand on the first try. It definitely took two, but only one player in that clip turned in stride to laugh in the face of physics by making a tape-to-tape pass out a projectile before scoring in a way that was almost too nonchalant for it's own good. While his future NHL team has made watching hockey far too effortful, Jesper Boqvist is in the SHL making the time-sensitive coordination of his hands and eyes look far too effortless. To consider that goal merely "good' would require you to be swayed heavily by the fact that the person who scored it looked like he may have done so while sleep-skating, and that - as well as the 2nd round pick's season to date - is great news for the New Jersey Devils and the market they've cornered on quality Jesper's...
Oooooh, the hometown angle. Seeing as the skies have otherwise been quite gray in and around the Prudential Center, I have no shame in soaking up the Vitamin D of this local spotlight. It probably seems a hell of a lot brighter than it actually is due to the deep, dark place the bottom of the Devils' lineup has beaten me into, but having a recognizable birth certificate gives Kenny Agostino more redeeming qualities than...well...just about every other career AHLer they've called up. Add in the fact that he was born into the biological dilemma of both loving to hate and hating to love New Jersey, and I'd be shocked if he didn't quickly develop a following within the fanbase. Statistically speaking, odds are that his sixth stint with a new NHL team in five seasons isn't going to be the one that finally helps translate the talents he displayed in winning AHL MVP two seasons ago. However, without naming names, I can certainly think of worse players to give developmental/tank time to than a fast 26-year old that panders to the irritable regionalist inside every New Jerseyian. Just from a hockey standpoint, Kenny Agostino has been decently productive in spurts at the pro level. For that reason, he better be careful, as actually contributing some promise to a lost season is what got Egor Yakovlev (and now Ryan Murphy) sent down to Binghamton to show skills that are apparently far too intriguing for the hometown hockey team between bus rides...
It feels so weird to say now, after every win from last February through last April basically had the effect of chugging a chilled glass of dopamine, but the Devils losing doesn't have me down. At this point, the only way they could do more on-ice damage to their chances of signing Taylor Hall to a long-term deal is if they literally brought them out to beat with their sticks as a form of intermission entertainment. Therefore, having made their bed, they might as well hibernate in it so as to increase their odds of adding a difference maker come draft time. Still, even as an begrudged member of 'Team Tank', I'd really appreciate it if the Devils didn't take advantage of the fact that I have ZERO expectations in meeting them in a way that makes them feel as though they've been stood up on a first date. For example, I wasn't quite convinced they'd put forth a competitive effort against the Kings on Tuesday. I was, however, hoping they'd play a baseline brand of defense that wouldn't allow for Ilya Kovalchuk to flash that stupid, self-satisfied smirk after scoring the easiest and most low-effort goal of his Communist career...
Point being, I really don't think I'm asking for too much. However, even when offered more than enough opportunities to bring to a long-overdue conclusion the most mathematically mesmerizing and confidence crippling of losing streaks for a goaltender who has been through AH(el)L and back in trying to find a shell of himself, they still couldn't answer against the Islanders. As a long time Cory Schneider apologist, even I had to start making jokes at his expense when he managed to go a full calendar year without a win in a deflating form and fashion that was almost as oddly impressive as it was woefully depressing. His future between the pipes remains about as bleak as his future on the books. That said, we're talking about a proud professional who hasn't caused a single commotion in being let down (and sent down), to varying degrees, by his body and his team. He's been brutally bad far more often than not, but on a night where he was undeniably good, the Devils' powerplay looked about as shorthanded as their lineup and their execution was as emotionally exhausting as it must have been physically exhausting to chase after the pucks they misplayed. There shouldn't have been a non-Tavares jersey burner in the building last night that wasn't desperately rooting for Cory Schneider to get the King Kong-sized monkey off his back. Yet the team in front of him was more likely to slip on the proverbial banana than use it to help coax the gorilla off their beDeviled goaltender. The truth is, getting beaten by a touchdown would have felt less frustrating than what I watched last night. A win that would have been worth far more than an extra point in standings that are now pointless was well within their grasp, and - in flat missing the net on multiple shootout attempts - they basically grabbed at it as clumsily as Miles Wood might handle a stick or Kurtis Gabriel might contain his emotions. It's genuinely nice to hear that the locker room still believes in Cory Schneider, but if actions speak louder than words then he should keep his back to the wall and his head on a swivel. Simply put, this isn't the first time they found a way to keep the most embarrassing of streaks alive as effortlessly as they've found ways to piss me off during games of which I walk in the door not caring about the outcome.
This welcomed piece of non-news can be taken for what it's worth. I personally consider its value to be a long, cautiously optimistic sigh of relief, but if you prefer to medicate your anxiety then I'd say this reassuring statement regarding the future of the Devils' suspiciously sidelined MVP should save you a valium or two. Of course, whatever sense of security you might feel upon hearing that the reigning Hart Trophy winner is staying through a lost season isn't exactly endorsed by ADT, as it could easily be hijacked by the lack of an encouraging word as soon as July 1st. Still, all remaining calm on the Taylor Hall front should temporarily put Devils' fan at peace seeing how much of a shit storm this year has been. What a source as reputable as Elliotte Friedman apparently understands is as good as it's going to get, and - with the Devils putting forth irredeemable clunkers like they did against the Kings last night - it's a hell of a lot better than nothing. Nothing, of course, is all it really is until the ink dries on a long-term contract that locks up one of the most impactful left wingers in the game. However, as the Devils insist on playing a pessimistic brand of puck, a little optimism can go a long way in keeping the fanbase somewhat sane up until an extremely telling summer.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 6, 2019 I don't think it would be fair to say there is nothing not to love about this deal, because the abrupt absence of a fan-favorite whose real life resilience and locker room leadership were so much of an inspirational asset to a young team that his improved play was almost an afterthought. When he was signed to be a veteran stopgap in the bottom-six of a rebuilding team two off-seasons ago, not even the man who offered him the contract could have possibly predicted the impact that Brian Boyle would have on the Devils. Of course, that's mostly because cancer has a sick and twisted habit of showing up unannounced, but it's also due to the strength and perseverance of the person whose door it kicked down for turning the worst of news into some of the best of memories. It feels a bit disingenuous to remember Brian Boyle's relatively short time with the Devils only for his first round knockout of a debilitating disease, as he was a reliable role player who earned his way onto both special teams units by doing the little things well while providing stability, toughness, and a surprising amount of offense. Separate of his diagnosis, his recovery, and all the hardships that went along with them, Brian Boyle more than fulfilled his end of what proved to be a bargain of a contract. That said, I'm not quite sure you can underestimate how incredibly cool it was to watch him add insult to remission by contributing a Masterton Trophy-worthy effort to an unexpected playoff run and turning just about every 'Hockey Fights Cancer' night into his own, superstar-esque stat night.
At the end of the day, this is an incredible return for the Devils. In removing all emotional attachment, a 4th liner - no matter how amazing a person and versatile a player - is still a 4th liner. Getting a 2nd round pick to replace the one they sold off last February was a priority, and - from a coldhearted hockey prospective - they didn't give up all that much to get it. It still sucks to move a beloved player who said he would have preferred to stay with the franchise that he quickly made himself an unforgettable part of, but snatching up a sizable asset while giving someone who deserves a Stanley Cup his best shot at one makes this is as much of a win-win as you could possibly hope for. I certainly wouldn't be shocked to see Brian Boyle return to New Jersey in free agency, given all his glowing reviews of the organization throughout the most trying period of his life. However, as that's nothing more than a maybe, he's owed all the thanks, praise, and appreciation in the world for making it way too damn hard to accept the reality of an absolute no-brainer of deadline deal. I can't possibly imagine that I don't speak for all Devils' fans in rooting for him to become as much of a champion on the ice in Nashville as he has already proven off of it during a stay in New Jersey that - to his credit entirely - didn't feel anywhere near as short as it was.
I say the following knowing full well that Ilya Kovalchuk will inevitably be taking the ice in what will basically be an aviary of full-bellied boo-birds who are eager to give no shortage of shit to a player who put them through the ringer before resorting to early "retirement". I personally no longer care enough about a self-involved (former) superstar whose bang no longer matches his buck to offer him the self-satisfaction of my ire. Travis Zajac's thoughts on the matter were meant to be as classy and complimentary as you'd expect, but if it's true that you don't boo nobodies than nobody should say boo to someone whose impact is no longer worthy of the attention he's always been desperate in seeking. It feels weird saying as much, because I maintained a pretty explicit opinion each annual time in which Ilya Kovalchuk used a potential NHL return for financial leverage. However, now that he has returned to the NHL in relatively underwhelming fashion, I'd rather not pay the most money-hungry of mercenaries any mind. The instinctual reaction to being scorned by an athlete is booing the holy hell out of them, but - to a narcissist the likes of Kovy - apathy is the weapon that cuts the deepest. Assuming he has feelings at all, nothing hurts more to a King than being treated like a peasant. As has been covered ad nauseam, the organization was lucky to get out from under a boulder of a contract that Ilya Kovalchuk counterproductively demanded be franchise-crippling when they did. Still, if the gut punch he delivered Devils' fans after the much more respectable departure of Zach Parise didn't wash away all the good-will he built up throughout the Finals run of 2012 then waiting until New Jersey couldn't benefit from his return before making it certainly did. For that reason, I don't expect too many fans to follow my lead in treating #17 like he's just some defensive liability who is a -17 (which he is, for the record). However, it sure would be fitting to show a familiar type of indifference to a dude who only cared about being a New Jersey Devil when it was convenient to both him and his bank account.
“It’s not fair to (Blackwood), it’s not fair to Cory and Keith (Kinkaid) and our team,” Hynes said about carrying three goalies. “The right thing to do is we want him to continue to play. It doesn’t mean he’s not going to be back here (in the NHL this season), but it’s an opportunity for him to go down and play and play a key role there, to help Binghamton get into the playoffs, which is important for our young players. It gives an opportunity for Keith and Cory to have a net and see what they can do." (h/t NJ.com) -------- And there you have it. If you were holding stubbornly strong to the possibility of the New Jersey Devils making some short of ridiculous run that would accomplish nothing more than making them look more respectable in the standings then you can finally let it go and click 'Buy' on your ticket to the tank-a-thon. I don't know why you'd still be optimistic about the season, since - for all we we've been told - Taylor Hall may have gone from winning the Hart Trophy to waiting on a heart transplant. However, for the overly positive crowd that remained illiterate to the writing on the wall, the demotion of Mackenzie Blackwood might as well be the most easily understood of audio books. To be clear, I know why the Devils did what they did. They should see what, other than an unprecedented inability to win a hockey game, they have in Cory Schneider before deciding what to do with him and the anchor of a contract that he looks to be storing under his ass pad whenever he moves laterally. They could benefit from getting as many looks at Keith Kinkaid as possible before deciding whether or not they want to pursue keeping him in free agency. That said, fairness be damned, they would ignore all those prerogatives and ride Mackenzie Blackwood if winning games were even remotely close to being a top priority. I love John Hynes, but not enough to let him relieve himself on my head then offer me an umbrella. Sending a kid who has come part and parcel with the Devils' watchability, never mind winning ways, the last few months back down to Binghamton to ride a bus immediately after he helped steal a game they had absolutely no business winning is the white flag amongst a whole bunch of red flags that have plagued a reality check of a season. Never mind being sellers come the trade deadline. Giving NHL games to Cory Schneider instead of the promising prospect who, as premature an observation as it may be, looked more than capable of replacing him in the role of franchise goaltender basically serves as one of those storefront-sized fire sale signs that hangs outside a Christmas shop on December 26th. I don't want to say the cost of winning is currently too great to start Mackenzie Blackwood, as I think the Devils are too proud a group to plummet much further than they already have regardless of who is in net. However, starting someone whose presence in the lineup has literally guaranteed defeat since 2017 is pretty damn telling of how the organization has budgeted victory.
In a perfect world, that same penmanship would be the gracing the page of a 8-10 year contract extension worth 8-10 million per season, but - seeing as that's not even a possibility until July 1st - I'll take this sight as a close second in terms of soothing signatures. With Taylor Hall nursing the type of suspiciously vague injury that would allow Lou Lamoriello to dispose of his Viagra prescription and the Devils having run-through all of last year's optimism in wastefully wiping their way through a shitty follow-up season, a reason to smile is just what the doctor ordered. Needless to say, a reminder that they basically stole a Hart Trophy-worthy talent is exactly that. The future is still disconcertingly uncertain, but what's guaranteed is that the tweet that marks the start of Taylor Hall's time in New Jersey will forever live in infamy. Four score and seven years later we'll still have a clear memory of the trade being "one for one", as if such a simplistic announcement on social media were of as much historical significance as the Gettysburg Address. That, of course, is partially due to Adam Larsson's long understood limitations, but it's more so a credit to the transformative presence of the player that fully found himself as a 1st overall pick in being exchanged straight-up for a second-pairing defenseman. Taylor Hall turned a transaction that was seen as somewhat silly in the moment and slapped some Size 26 shoes and a clown nose on it (and Peter Chiarelli, for that matter) in making Bob McKenzie, of all people, more eternally viral than herpes. It's only right he pen his John Hancock under it, as he's been the muse for a hockey twitter masterpiece that's aged better than the fine wine I'll be anxiously guzzling like a lonely housewife on a Wednesday afternoon from when June ends until the most important of ink dries. Ah, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Just what the doctor ordered. Of course, considering the "why does everything seem so awesome?"-esque high that accompanied the temporary cure to almost all the symptomatic failures throughout the Devils' lineup of late, it was probably the type of doctor who is due to have his medical license revoked. However, with winning being nothing more than recreational for a young team that - relative to the playoff picture - has played their way into the role of the girlfriend that gets strategically placed on the end due to the entire family's knowledge that they'll soon be able to officially cut her ass out, the occasional optimistic overdose is damn near necessary. Now, how a team that is a year removed from winning back-to-back Stanley Cups has become the Devils' drug of choice over the last couple of seasons, I'll never know. Crosby and Co. haven't just found a way for their presence to coincide with even the most passing of positivity, they've found a way to up the level of play of key Devils' players to such a degree that a suspicion of steroid use wouldn't be entirely unfair. Keith Kinkaid has been the goaltender that backstopped the Devils to the playoffs when facing one of the most top-heavy lineups in the league. Counterintuitively, Travis Zajac might legitimately be a Selke candidate if he lined up across the best two-way center in the sport every game. I don't know if he inspired by the fat face of Phil Kessel, but Blake Coleman plays even hungrier in eating up the scoresheet whenever Pittsburgh is on the opposite side of it. Kris Letang could actually learn a thing or two by watching Damon Severson when, and only when, they share the same ice. Brian Boyle kicked cancer's ass, and even it considers itself lucky it avoided taking the pounding he's put on the Penguins this season. Hell, I think even Pavel Zacha found his potential in whatever was used to spike the Devils' Gatorade, as he absolutely bodied Evgeni Malkin in delivering one of the prettiest primary assists you'll see before tacking on a powerplay goal that was so elusive that I had to pinch myself myself after. Even without the services of Taylor Hall, the Devils just look like a different team against a roster whose experience should theoretically expose them. Again, I don't know exactly what it is about the Pittsburgh, but if I'm going to eventually be forced into tagging along for the tank-a-thon then I'm going to need the occasional uplifting performance during which the Devils collectively play above their pay grade. Hopefully it doesn't absolutely require the Penguins to be on the other end of the ice, but at least they are scheduled to come to town in February if it does. The Devils Are Dangerously Close To Becoming Unwatchable Without MacKenzie Blackwood In Net1/16/2019 I can't shake the feeling of deja vu, because it feels like just yesterday I was saying the following about Cory Schneider, but it's not entirely Keith Kinkaid's fault that the Devils have an uncanny ability to be almost instantly and entirely uncompetitive in games that he happens to start. Now, that comparison is insanely unfair to the latter, as #1 has more heroic postseason pushes under his belt in the past year than #35 has wins. Also, due mostly to MacKenzie Blackwood's minor injury, it's more than worth mentioning that Keith Kinkaid has been bitten by getting the lion's share of the unfavorable match-ups as of late. I personally think it goes without saying that he hasn't had the luxury of winning a game during which he gave up a handful goals (like his understudy did against the Blackhawks just two nights ago) while trying to weather the storm against dominant teams that were repeatedly skating the Devils out of the building when Taylor Hall was actually in the lineup (i.e. Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets). All that being said, for reasons that are both highly intangible and remain unknown, the Devils just look like a more engaged, energetic, and...well...exciting team when playing in front of their rookie netminder. That's probably somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy that's subjectively aided by the fact that each of his big-time, point-blank saves is a positive sign for his long-term future in net whether as those of Keith Kinkaid are seen as a dollar sign for his short term future in free agency. Especially since he undoubtedly gets a disproportional amount of bonus points for pissing on the Flyers' parade for their promising rookie goaltender. However, it's also an opinion that's aided by an eye-test for which MacKenzie Blackwood has set the curve with timely stops and a quiet confidence that appears to consistently rub off on his teammates. Again, it's not Keith Kinkaid's job to motivate his dismal group of defenseman to not let a noted Devil-killer like Artemi Panarin whistle fucking dixie while gliding casually to the front of the net off an in-zone faceoff...
It is, however, his job to swing momentum by making up for their inexcusable mistakes from time to time. He's not currently getting that job done with an efficiency that allows for the final product to be anything more than channel-changing while MacKenzie Blackwood's command of that same crease has largely been must-watch television. Admittedly, it hasn't exactly been the fairest of fight, but the 22 year old with unteachable size and undeniable athleticism has taken full advantage of every single advantage that circumstances have offered him in battling his way to the top of an otherwise underwhelming card. |
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