JP Gambatese
@jpgambatese.bsky.social
Daily in-depth #NJDevils coverage for Devils’ Advocates | Weekly contributor for Infernal Access | Opinions are my own.
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May 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
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(11/11)
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His buyout penalty isn't horrible (pictured below), but I'd bet there's a team that would be willing to take on his full salary with a sweetener. His contract moves to an M-NTC (10-team trade list) on July 1 -- perhaps there's a way to get it all off the books.
May 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
His buyout penalty isn't horrible (pictured below), but I'd bet there's a team that would be willing to take on his full salary with a sweetener. His contract moves to an M-NTC (10-team trade list) on July 1 -- perhaps there's a way to get it all off the books.
Third time in the past month or so I’ve been featured in the Top 100 rising Sports Substacks. Thank you all so very much for the support, it means the world to see the hard work paying off!
#NJDevils
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May 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Third time in the past month or so I’ve been featured in the Top 100 rising Sports Substacks. Thank you all so very much for the support, it means the world to see the hard work paying off!
#NJDevils
#NJDevils
He’s definitely still more of a facilitator than a shooter, though, even if he’s scored more goals than his ixG. His IQ is spectacular, and he’s long been touted as one of the best passers in the league.
In particular, he excels at finding the open man for shot attempts.
In particular, he excels at finding the open man for shot attempts.
May 11, 2025 at 11:29 PM
He’s definitely still more of a facilitator than a shooter, though, even if he’s scored more goals than his ixG. His IQ is spectacular, and he’s long been touted as one of the best passers in the league.
In particular, he excels at finding the open man for shot attempts.
In particular, he excels at finding the open man for shot attempts.
Zero in on his head in the clip. First, he recognizes that CAR is changing and that it’s effectively a 1-on-1 with Gostisbehere.
Then, he sells a dump-in using a head fake and by drawing his stick back like he’s going to fire it before pulling it back and making a move.
Then, he sells a dump-in using a head fake and by drawing his stick back like he’s going to fire it before pulling it back and making a move.
April 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Zero in on his head in the clip. First, he recognizes that CAR is changing and that it’s effectively a 1-on-1 with Gostisbehere.
Then, he sells a dump-in using a head fake and by drawing his stick back like he’s going to fire it before pulling it back and making a move.
Then, he sells a dump-in using a head fake and by drawing his stick back like he’s going to fire it before pulling it back and making a move.
In the event the Hurricanes turn the puck over in the offensive zone, they can be exploited by speedier, rush-oriented players because the Canes forwards play so deep in the zone. This results in them getting caught in an atypical 1-1-1-2, allowing for more lateral space.
April 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
In the event the Hurricanes turn the puck over in the offensive zone, they can be exploited by speedier, rush-oriented players because the Canes forwards play so deep in the zone. This results in them getting caught in an atypical 1-1-1-2, allowing for more lateral space.
Meanwhile, looking at Noesen's isolated impact on the power play, that's exactly where he is at his best.
March 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Meanwhile, looking at Noesen's isolated impact on the power play, that's exactly where he is at his best.
Looking at the shot map for CBJ while PKing, there is one *glaring* gap in their defensive play -- right outside of the goal mouth:
March 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Looking at the shot map for CBJ while PKing, there is one *glaring* gap in their defensive play -- right outside of the goal mouth:
With all these moves done, this is what the Devils’ lineup would look like, with $200k in cap space. That’s a true Stanley Cup contender, through and through.
March 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
With all these moves done, this is what the Devils’ lineup would look like, with $200k in cap space. That’s a true Stanley Cup contender, through and through.
That leaves an opening at 4C to be filled via free agency, and I think Pius Suter is the best option there. He’s an elite defensive C at both 5v5 and on the PK, and has scored at least 14 goals in every season in his career to boot. He’s exactly what the Devils need in that role.
March 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
That leaves an opening at 4C to be filled via free agency, and I think Pius Suter is the best option there. He’s an elite defensive C at both 5v5 and on the PK, and has scored at least 14 goals in every season in his career to boot. He’s exactly what the Devils need in that role.
There’s literally nothing not to like about his game. He shoots often and well, having scored above expected in every season in his career. He’s only had one campaign in his nine-year career with an xGF% below 50%, and he’s operating at nearly 54% this season.
March 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
There’s literally nothing not to like about his game. He shoots often and well, having scored above expected in every season in his career. He’s only had one campaign in his nine-year career with an xGF% below 50%, and he’s operating at nearly 54% this season.
If they want to go the free agent route, my targets would be Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers.
Marner is, well… Marner. Arguably the best winger in the NHL, he is an elite all-situations threat who should be on the Devils’ radar if he doesn’t extend in Toronto.
Marner is, well… Marner. Arguably the best winger in the NHL, he is an elite all-situations threat who should be on the Devils’ radar if he doesn’t extend in Toronto.
March 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
If they want to go the free agent route, my targets would be Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers.
Marner is, well… Marner. Arguably the best winger in the NHL, he is an elite all-situations threat who should be on the Devils’ radar if he doesn’t extend in Toronto.
Marner is, well… Marner. Arguably the best winger in the NHL, he is an elite all-situations threat who should be on the Devils’ radar if he doesn’t extend in Toronto.
With Glass on the ice, the Penguins -- a notably leaky team, mind you -- are allowing 23% fewer xG than league average, in particular preventing opponents from getting to high-danger areas of the ice:
March 9, 2025 at 12:59 AM
With Glass on the ice, the Penguins -- a notably leaky team, mind you -- are allowing 23% fewer xG than league average, in particular preventing opponents from getting to high-danger areas of the ice:
Looking at his microstats, his offensive instincts really are just... elite.
He shoots the puck *all* the time, ranking in the top-20 of the league in terms of shots per 60 minutes over that two-season stretch.
He shoots the puck *all* the time, ranking in the top-20 of the league in terms of shots per 60 minutes over that two-season stretch.
March 9, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Looking at his microstats, his offensive instincts really are just... elite.
He shoots the puck *all* the time, ranking in the top-20 of the league in terms of shots per 60 minutes over that two-season stretch.
He shoots the puck *all* the time, ranking in the top-20 of the league in terms of shots per 60 minutes over that two-season stretch.
What’s the most important to me, though, is that he’s been the only bottom sixer who has actually contributed meaningful playdriving. Take a look at his transition statistics:
March 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
What’s the most important to me, though, is that he’s been the only bottom sixer who has actually contributed meaningful playdriving. Take a look at his transition statistics:
He profiles as sort of a quasi-passenger player in the sense that while playing on the rush, he operates best as the player without the puck on his stick in transition. He excels at both shooting off of HD passes and providing them, but doesn't do the transitional heavy-lifting:
March 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
He profiles as sort of a quasi-passenger player in the sense that while playing on the rush, he operates best as the player without the puck on his stick in transition. He excels at both shooting off of HD passes and providing them, but doesn't do the transitional heavy-lifting:
3. Alex Holtz (7OA, 2021)
I’ve been as big a Holtz defender as anyone and still believe there’s a 20+ goal-scorer there, but I’ve been on-record as saying Marco Rossi was the best pick at 7th overall. Flash forward to now, and Holtz is an AHLer and Rossi has 51P in 61GP.
I’ve been as big a Holtz defender as anyone and still believe there’s a 20+ goal-scorer there, but I’ve been on-record as saying Marco Rossi was the best pick at 7th overall. Flash forward to now, and Holtz is an AHLer and Rossi has 51P in 61GP.
March 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
3. Alex Holtz (7OA, 2021)
I’ve been as big a Holtz defender as anyone and still believe there’s a 20+ goal-scorer there, but I’ve been on-record as saying Marco Rossi was the best pick at 7th overall. Flash forward to now, and Holtz is an AHLer and Rossi has 51P in 61GP.
I’ve been as big a Holtz defender as anyone and still believe there’s a 20+ goal-scorer there, but I’ve been on-record as saying Marco Rossi was the best pick at 7th overall. Flash forward to now, and Holtz is an AHLer and Rossi has 51P in 61GP.
2. Šimon Nemec (2OA, 2022)
I think Nemec will be a very good NHL defenseman. He has the skills to be a legit top-pair guy, but with the Devils’ center depth exposed horribly this season, in particular after the Jack injury, it’s exposed that they didn’t draft BPA.
I think Nemec will be a very good NHL defenseman. He has the skills to be a legit top-pair guy, but with the Devils’ center depth exposed horribly this season, in particular after the Jack injury, it’s exposed that they didn’t draft BPA.
March 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
2. Šimon Nemec (2OA, 2022)
I think Nemec will be a very good NHL defenseman. He has the skills to be a legit top-pair guy, but with the Devils’ center depth exposed horribly this season, in particular after the Jack injury, it’s exposed that they didn’t draft BPA.
I think Nemec will be a very good NHL defenseman. He has the skills to be a legit top-pair guy, but with the Devils’ center depth exposed horribly this season, in particular after the Jack injury, it’s exposed that they didn’t draft BPA.
1. Chase Stillman (29OA, 2020)
I feel bad for the guy in the sense that he was never supposed to be picked where he is, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is an awful prospect who isn’t going to do anything at the NHL level.
I feel bad for the guy in the sense that he was never supposed to be picked where he is, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is an awful prospect who isn’t going to do anything at the NHL level.
March 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM
1. Chase Stillman (29OA, 2020)
I feel bad for the guy in the sense that he was never supposed to be picked where he is, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is an awful prospect who isn’t going to do anything at the NHL level.
I feel bad for the guy in the sense that he was never supposed to be picked where he is, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is an awful prospect who isn’t going to do anything at the NHL level.
By game score, Haula has been the worst player on the team. His xGF% is comfortably below 50% despite his defensive metrics being pretty good, indicating that he’s just incapable of getting the puck into the offensive zone. His microstats again reflect this:
February 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
By game score, Haula has been the worst player on the team. His xGF% is comfortably below 50% despite his defensive metrics being pretty good, indicating that he’s just incapable of getting the puck into the offensive zone. His microstats again reflect this:
In 2023-24, he spent the bulk of the season with Jack until Jack got hurt. That’s when the can’t-playdrive in him came out. Take a look at the downturn his microstats took as a whole:
February 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
In 2023-24, he spent the bulk of the season with Jack until Jack got hurt. That’s when the can’t-playdrive in him came out. Take a look at the downturn his microstats took as a whole:
The thing is, there was always a bit of a caveat to how Haula plays. He, like just about everyone else in the Devils’ current B6, is unable to drive play on his own. Take a look at his zone exit/entry stats from 2022-23:
February 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The thing is, there was always a bit of a caveat to how Haula plays. He, like just about everyone else in the Devils’ current B6, is unable to drive play on his own. Take a look at his zone exit/entry stats from 2022-23:
The clip below is complicated but yet another example of “fighting the panic” at work:
February 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The clip below is complicated but yet another example of “fighting the panic” at work:
This usually takes the form of several short-distance passes rather than a stretch pass, high-risk high-reward pass, or moving to the center of the ice (into traffic) with the puck on one’s stick.
The clip below is a good example of this philosophy at work:
The clip below is a good example of this philosophy at work:
February 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This usually takes the form of several short-distance passes rather than a stretch pass, high-risk high-reward pass, or moving to the center of the ice (into traffic) with the puck on one’s stick.
The clip below is a good example of this philosophy at work:
The clip below is a good example of this philosophy at work:
His entry denial rate of 21.7% is third-best in the league, and his carry-against percentage of 37% is the NHL's lowest. He stops most rush opportunities right at the blue line.
As a result, teams have veered to not targeting him at all on the rush...
As a result, teams have veered to not targeting him at all on the rush...
February 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
His entry denial rate of 21.7% is third-best in the league, and his carry-against percentage of 37% is the NHL's lowest. He stops most rush opportunities right at the blue line.
As a result, teams have veered to not targeting him at all on the rush...
As a result, teams have veered to not targeting him at all on the rush...