Yesterday I posted part 1 to this piece where we are looking at the Larsson/Hall trade from a New Jersey Devils’ vantage point. In that piece, I spoke with Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) who provided a great analysis of New Jersey’s season so far. You can find part 1 here.
Today, we conclude the piece with a second interview, this time with John Fischer, who provides a really in depth look at the current atmosphere in Jersey. To follow that up, I will provide my quick take on both interviews and see if the opinions on these two players jive between the three of us.
Speaking with John Fischer
John Fischer is a writer over at allboutthejersey.com and you can find him on Twitter at @JKFischer. One thing that you will notice when reading through John’s articles is that when it comes to passion for the New Jersey Devils, you would be hard pressed to find someone who has more.
As someone who is not only a season ticket holder for the Devils, but also someone who spends many hours writing about and analyzing their play, John has provided a very thorough, reasonable and well informed look at the trade from his point of view.
You will find that John’s answers are very detailed and backed up with a couple links to provide some background data. I stated it yesterday, but would like to state it again, that I believe both men have provided terrific answers to these questions and done a swell job in allowing us Oilers fans to see things from where they stand. Kudos to both of them.
For fairness sake, I have asked John the exact same questions as I did Todd. With all of that said, here is the Larsson/Hall trade, so far, in John’s words.
Bret: It’s been analyzed many times over, but to provide a little context, in a few short words what were your initial thoughts on the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade?
John: Back in June, it was simply “Wow. Really? Wow.” The most succinct way I can put it is that the Devils traded a B/B+ player for an A player.
From your perspective, what, if any, impact has the loss of Adam Larsson had on the New Jersey Devils, and more specifically, the defence of the Devils?
The Devils defense has suffered a lot in this season, but I am not so certain it’s all because Adam Larsson is not on the team anymore. The Devils have been known for over two-and-a-half decades for everyone committing to playing defense, backchecking, supporting the defenders, and playing conservatively. That philosophy has gone away to a point and several of the skaters the Devils have just are not that good at defending. Some are younger players who will hopefully learn (e.g. Miles Wood, Nick Lappin) and others are in prime situations for some skillsets which aren’t playing well defensively (e.g. Kyle Palmieri, P.A. Parenteau).
Larsson with the Devils in 2015-16 was used in a lot of difficult situations and he was pinned back a lot. In this season, without Larsson, the team has conceded more shots and attempts – but that’s across the board (and curiously happened after the first month of the season) and reflects more on just one pairing or unit. Would the defense be better off with Larsson? Sure, but Larsson’s presence does not make John Moore any less of a shot sieve, which he has been in New Jersey; Ben Lovejoy any less of a one-dimensional defenseman in an era where such players are less and less desirable; or Jon Merrill any less of just a guy on defense.
In short, while the Devils’ defense has been an issue, especially in 5-on-5 play; it’s not all because Larsson was moved.
What are some specifics as to how the defence has changed? Are there specific items from Adam Larsson’s game that you miss? Any items that you are glad have left?
The impact of Larsson’s departure meant the Devils needed right-handed defensemen. They signed Ben Lovejoy to a three year deal and, before training camp, Kyle Quincey to a one-year deal. Lovejoy has been moved up and down, but he has received significant minutes. Quincey has been a regular third-pairing like defenseman. Opposing teams have enjoyed playing against both as evidenced by their 32+ SA/60 rates in 5-on-5 play, per Corsica. While the Devils have conceded more shots and attempts than previous seasons in recent memories, it’s fair to say the defense has suffered.
The biggest aspect of Larsson’s game that is missed in New Jersey is how he covered his area, particularly down low. It’s seemingly an issue for the Devils as opposing players have been able to put home loose pucks, win battles in front of the goalie, and outright screen Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid. Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) has recently put together heat maps of shot locations for teams with and without players. He did one for Larsson’s last season in NJ. When he was on the ice, the opposition just did not take many shots in the slot and especially to the right of the crease. The Devils could have used him, especially over the last month and a half where opposing teams seemed to body up New Jersey around the net.
What’s not missed is his offense. I suppose given his draft position, there was always an expectation that he could provide much to the Devils attack. While he would occasionally make a beautiful long breakout pass, he was never an offensive player. He didn’t shoot the puck much; he didn’t even average a shot per game last season. He didn’t demonstrate any superlative skills at moving the puck. He wasn’t particularly good at moving it up ice and he wasn’t a play driver (he was so deep in the red in CF% and SF% in 2015-16). Larsson was great for what he could do, but that never included offense. And as the NHL values defensemen who can excel at both ends of the rink, the Devils need those skill sets on defense – especially on a first pairing.
What impact, if any, has Taylor Hall had on the New Jersey Devils, and more specifically, the offence? Has he lived up to your expectations?
Hall has been a revelation for the offense. He’s not just their leader in points, but he’s far and away their leader in shots; he’s one of the few Devils who is above 50% CF%; and he has just been very good on the puck. Whether it is making plays to find open Devils, taking defenders head-on, or even just carrying the puck in instead of the seemingly-team-preferred dump-and-chase. With 25 points in 29 games and an early return after a torn meniscus surgery, I think it’s fair to say that he’s living up to the hype.
Taylor Hall is obviously a very exciting player to watch. Are there specific facets of his game that you find particularly enjoyable? Any facets that maybe you would like to see changed?
I really enjoy when he is able to build up a little speed. When he has some pace behind him, he can and has done some amazing things against defenders. He’ll just roar through the neutral zone, make a play himself or set someone else up, and it would just be something to make you pay attention, cheer a little more, or realize that this guy is something special. The Devils haven’t had a player like Hall since Ilya Kovalchuk or Zach Parise.
The only thing I want to change about him is his injury luck. I know he’s been hurt in the past, he’s missed significant time this season, and that may continue throughout his career. I just want him to be as healthy as possible because he is so good when he is out on the ice.
To this point in the season, the Devils have had a relatively disappointing campaign. Do you see a connection between the results of this season and the trade? Why or why not?
No. I don’t think it’s fair to point to the trade as having something to do with the Devils’ current record. For one, the Devils did start the season 9-3-3 – it’s not like it was bad from the start. For another, after that 9-3-3 start, the Devils went off on a terrible run where the whole team just got wrecked. The Devils weren’t losing games in December by close, competitive games; they were routed more often than not. One player doesn’t change that; that was a team issue (e.g. tactics, level of quality of all players).
Furthermore, the team stats in December were just horrible in 5-on-5 play and on the power play. Larsson didn’t affect either much; Hall is one of the few good ones among a still lackluster roster.
The Devils are a re-building team and it’s clear that Hall will be a cornerstone for what the Devils want to become one day. Unfortunately, they aren’t there yet and I don’t think that means the trade in retrospect should have not been made or anything like that.
Going back to the first question, seeing what you have so far, have your opinions on the trade changed at all? If so, how?
My opinions on the trade have not changed. Let’s suppose the trade did not happen. While the defense might have been better, the Devils are much worse off up front assuming all else on the Devils remained equal. Without Hall, the Devils become worse at driving the play forward, generating shots, and producing points. Those were areas that did the Devils in in 2015-16 and have been a struggle for the franchise for many years before that. The good teams in the NHL in this era require having a functional, threatening offense – the Devils may not have one of those yet, but without Hall, they would be even further away from developing one.
I liked Larsson; but I think this was a trade that had to be made for a future goal and I think that is the plan.
Overall, from the perspective of the Devils, would you make the trade again?
Absolutely.
In Conclusion
Overall, I believe that both writer’s opinions on the trade, and the play of New Jersey so far, would correlate pretty well with what us Oiler fans are noticing up to this point.
Both writer’s acknowledge the the defence of the Devils has definitely taken a hit with a loss of Adam Larson. They can clearly notice the absence of Larson’s coverage down low, physicality, and calm demeanour, which jives with what us Oiler fans have seen in this player.
In saying that, both Todd and John are optimistic about the future of the Devils defence as both of them feel that a player of Larson’s caliber won’t be as difficult to replace compared to the difficulty in the task of adding a player like Taylor Hall.
Speaking of Taylor Hall, reading what both men had to say on him was a tad sad from my perspective. The same great play that Devils fans are witnessing from Hall, I find myself missing incredibly. I am sure most of you Oilers fans do as well. Watching #4 streak down the left wing with blistering speed is a sight that I miss dearly in my nights watching Oilers games.
Taylor’s speed, passion, and ability to drive the play at 5 on 5 have been noted as reasons for powerful optimism going forward as it relates to the New Jersey offence. Todd and John both recognize that Taylor Hall is the player that will centrepiece the Devils’ offence from years to come.
In summary, both men are still extremely happy with the trade and do not see a connection between the Devils’ current struggles and the transaction.
These two observers are happy with their shiny new toy in Taylor Hall, just as I am sure many of us Oilers fans will are happy with our less shiny, but still effective toy in Adam Larson. Is it fair to say that through 40 games this trade is close to being a win-win? I’d say so.
Once again, I would like to thank Todd Cordell and John Fischer for taking their time for the interviews. I know that personally, I feel more enlightened on the entire situation than I did before. I hope that most of you reading this will feel the same.
Let us hear your thoughts on the interviews on either the comments below, or on twitter. Thanks for taking the time to read.
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