2013 New Jersey Devils (Team/Player Discussion)-Offseason FA and trade talk Part XII

[hlaverty06]

4 years and 12 million dollars for a guy that's played half a season with one of the best centers in the game

no wonder no team has signed this guy

Jesus Christ beggars cannot be chosers. The dude played his best last year ON THE 3rd LINE in the PLAYOFFS. Thats like saying Henrique was **** in his rookie year cause he played with Zach and Kovy...>Henrique maintained his production in playoffs with lesser mates.

Elias-Loktionov-BrunnerRyder
Clowe-Zajac-Brunner/Ryder
Henrique-Josefson (ugh) - Zubrus
Grab Bag

 

[Emperoreddy]

Don't know but it sounds real tasty.

Oh well....I'm going to go get a double-whopper with cheese now....



And back on-topic : I wonder if we will hear anything regarding Brunner being signed by the time Monday rolls around?

You drunk? Lou only works on Tuesdays and Thursdays. No word until then lolol.

I'm honestly down with Brunner. It's not a bad option. How old is he?

 

[glenwo2]

You drunk? Lou only works on Tuesdays and Thursdays. No word until then lolol.

I'm honestly down with Brunner. It's not a bad option. How old is he?

If I was drunk, my posts would look like this :



ASRY@ $&YW $HU^$WUT%$&UY^%J$^TWJRNHYM<<>>U>TUIK>RTF&IKR*UU^T*KI*><O>?O>>UTOYL&K




And I think Brunner has already been signed.

 

[rrekaj13]

I love Henrique but Vanek is a proven 30 + goal scorer.
Henrique is still unproven but may have 30 goal potential.
Hard choice for me , but cannot stand the idea of possibly finishing in a lottery position and not having the pick to use. I feel that Vanek plus Brunner or Hemsky would put us in the playoffs for sure.

I feel the risk of Vanek walking is diminished greatly if we add in another piece on top of Schneider Clowe Ryder we already have added. For example if we added Brunner or Hemsky as well.... I honestly think that makes us a playoff team and even perhaps dare I say a contender . Add that in with promising prospects like Merrill Severson Boucher Gelinas and Larrson improving and I would think that could convince Vanek to extend with us ????


Having said all of that , is there any way to get Vanek besides having Henrique a part of the package?
Merrill plus JJ/or Loki plus a 2nd round pick?

I really think you're overestimating this team. Both good and bad. We're not going to be a lottery team; the additions we've made ensure that. But adding Vanek doesn't suddenly launch us to cup-contenders. By your logic, we'd go from mediocre to champions with one player.

I think we will, at least based off the old playoff system, end up right around a 5 or 6 playoff spot - bare minimum, we will make the 8 spot.

 

[Ripshot 43]

I love Henrique but Vanek is a proven 30 + goal scorer.
Henrique is still unproven but may have 30 goal potential.
Hard choice for me , but cannot stand the idea of possibly finishing in a lottery position and not having the pick to use. I feel that Vanek plus Brunner or Hemsky would put us in the playoffs for sure.

I feel the risk of Vanek walking is diminished greatly if we add in another piece on top of Schneider Clowe Ryder we already have added. For example if we added Brunner or Hemsky as well.... I honestly think that makes us a playoff team and even perhaps dare I say a contender . Add that in with promising prospects like Merrill Severson Boucher Gelinas and Larrson improving and I would think that could convince Vanek to extend with us ????


Having said all of that , is there any way to get Vanek besides having Henrique a part of the package?
Merrill plus JJ/or Loki plus a 2nd round pick?

To answer your question... Sure, I'm sure there is a possibility if them taking the package as you stated but for one year of a guy who will be an UFA to a team who has gotten burned lately by UFAs and others... I wouldn't do it. We need to build from within anf get a guy or two like Vanek in the offseason when it just costs money.

Specifically on Henrique...Trade a top six for a more expensive, older (more proven yes) top six. Now we have another hole and less cap space. I see posters lining Henrique up on the 3rd line... it wont be happening. Peoplel tend to forget just how good he was 2 years ago. He's very young but even in a down statistical season he looked like a seasoned vet in other facets of the game. Henrique is the Devils #1 asset and a huuuuuge part of the current team. He would be as close to a nonstarter as we have in just about any deal for me.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

I'm a fan of bringing in Brunner, but I'll be pissed as **** if the rumored 3Mx4 deal is true.

 

[Saugus]

I'm a fan of bringing in Brunner, but I'll be pissed as **** if the rumored 3Mx4 deal is true.

That would be a knee jerk overpayment on Lou's part, I agree. But we need the scoring from somewhere now.

 

[Devils Trap]

I'm a fan of bringing in Brunner, but I'll be pissed as **** if the rumored 3Mx4 deal is true.

How in the world is that an overpayment ??? The guy can score 20 goals in a regular season ??? Sure 4 years is a bit much, but 3 million is more then fine

We all want offense, soo Lou tries to get it and everyone still complains

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

That would be a knee jerk overpayment on Lou's part, I agree. But we need the scoring from somewhere now.

How in the world is that an overpayment ??? The guy can score 20 goals in a regular season ??? Sure 4 years is a bit much, but 3 million is more then fine

We all want offense, soo Lou tries to get it and everyone still complains

I think both the term and the money would be severe overpayment for a guy who has only played 58 NHL games. To reiterate, I want Brunner. I would take him in a second, but only on a one or two year deal. I don't want Lou to handcuff potential future moves by committing long-term to a second-rate UFA on a kneejerk contract.

And, yes, the scoring does need to come for somewhere. But I'd prefer trading for a guy like Cammalleri, whose contract would ensure roster and cap flexibility in the future.

 

[Devils Trap]

In zero way is 3 million an overpayment. The years may be an issue, but the hit is nothing

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

What are we expecting here? Brunner is the best or second best option on the market. Handing the guy a 3M$ deal when he's entering his prime for a 3 or 4 year deal isn't the worst thing in the world when considering that we have several aging veterans in our top #9.

People will complain about everything and anything around here. What else is Lou supposed to do to improve our top #6? Move about half our assets for a pending UFA in Vanek, so he can test the market and possibly sign elsewhere... leaving us with our pants around our ankles once again?

Brunner or Grabovski are our 2 best options ATM, period, and we won't land either or for something like 2M$ per for the next 2 years... sorry, this isn't fantasy land.

 

[Ripshot 43]

How in the world is that an overpayment ??? The guy can score 20 goals in a regular season ??? Sure 4 years is a bit much, but 3 million is more then fine

We all want offense, soo Lou tries to get it and everyone still complains

Yea... Not everyone. This is a board with lots of members and I've come to the conclusion that there is always going to be someone that dislikes every single move made because everyone has different opinions.

3 million a year for Brunner isn't overpayment in the least. It actually seems quite fair that we take a little risk on a guy without a long track record. If he doesn't end up panning out his it isn't a bad contract but if he can score on say a 20-25 goal pace we make out a little but with the contract.

We need another top 6 forward... This one gives us the chance to buy before he gets overpaid.... I'm all for it.

 

[SeidoN]

Yea... Not everyone. This is a board with lots of members and I've come to the conclusion that there is always going to be someone that dislikes every single move made because everyone has different opinions.

3 million a year for Brunner isn't overpayment in the least. It actually seems quite fair that we take a little risk on a guy without a long track record. If he doesn't end up panning out his it isn't a bad contract but if he can score on say a 20-25 goal pace we make out a little but with the contract.

We need another top 6 forward... This one gives us the chance to buy before he gets overpaid.... I'm all for it.

I feel like people are really undervaluing just how good he was in the NLA.

 

[guitarguyvic]

The way this team is being put together sort of reminds me of the Panthers from 2 years ago. They were made up of largely UFA acquisitions; no major top end talent but lots of second tier scrappy guys. They were good enough to make the playoffs and take us to game seven in the first round. We would have better goaltending than that team though. I'll take that.

 

[Officer Rod Farva]

you have to ask yourself, are you ok with the roster we have now, knowing that we don't get a first rounder this year?

If not then we have to overpay somebody, might as well overpay the youngest bright asset left.

I would be ok with 4 years 3 million. Wouldn't love it, but I'd be ok with it.

 

[Edmonton East]

We need Grabo. Not Brunner. Would be poor signing.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

What are we expecting here? Brunner is the best or second best option on the market. Handing the guy a 3M$ deal when he's entering his prime for a 3 or 4 year deal isn't the worst thing in the world when considering that we have several aging veterans in our top #9.

People will complain about everything and anything around here. What else is Lou supposed to do to improve our top #6? Move about half our assets for a pending UFA in Vanek, so he can test the market and possibly sign elsewhere... leaving us with our pants around our ankles once again?

Brunner or Grabovski are our 2 best options ATM, period, and we won't land either or for something like 2M$ per for the next 2 years... sorry, this isn't fantasy land.

There are options outside of the two you mentioned (give Brunner a bloated contract, or acquire Vanek). I'd much rather look to guys like Cammalleri who would be relatively cheap to acquire, who could contribute to the top-6, and who have one to two years left on their contract.

I'll say it again: I want Brunner. But I just can't stomach a 4 year, $12M deal for him. Sorry.

The way this team is being put together sort of reminds me of the Panthers from 2 years ago. They were made up of largely UFA acquisitions; no major top end talent but lots of second tier scrappy guys. They were good enough to make the playoffs and take us to game seven in the first round. We would have better goaltending than that team though. I'll take that.

Great comparison; I fully agree. If this team could replicate the scrappy spirit of the '11-'12 Panthers, they'll be fun to watch. And they'll be successful.

 

[SeidoN]

just saw this somewhere else

Vanek for Henrique, Merrill, Urbom and a 2015 1st

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Sign him already Lou! 3 mil is fair I'm happy with that. Raymond too would give us some speed which would be nice. I'd take him.

 

[Officer Rod Farva]

just saw this somewhere else

Vanek for Henrique, Merrill, Urbom and a 2015 1st

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

nope. Not even close.

 

[Pattysaurus]

just saw this somewhere else

Vanek for Henrique, Merrill, Urbom and a 2015 1st

**** that.

 

[SeidoN]

**** that.

roughly my response

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

just saw this somewhere else

Vanek for Henrique, Merrill, Urbom and a 2015 1st

Yeah, **** that noise. Absolutely not.

 

[megajake]

We need Grabo. Not Brunner. Would be poor signing.

Wrong. We do not need another center at all.

 

[apice3*]

How in the world is that an overpayment ??? The guy can score 20 goals in a regular season ??? Sure 4 years is a bit much, but 3 million is more then fine

Yeah, as evident by his ZERO 20 goal seasons.

We all want offense, soo Lou tries to get it and everyone still complains

I'm Lou's biggest supporter on these boards so don't even give me that. No one is complaining about bringing in Brunner. We're complaining about giving a guy 3M for 44 career games.

Mikkel Boedker put up similar point totals last year. Would you give him 3M per year? Probably not.

We don't know what Brunner really is. It's a risky contract. I've never said it's a bad one, not once. I said it's a risky one that I'm skeptical about giving out.