GDT: 2022 NHL Free Agency

[NjDevsRR]

By all reports JG was part of the vision for Fitz

Doesnt mean you just forget about that vision because it didn’t work out, does it? No.

 

[Derps]

The summer of plan B

Were on like Plan R now

 

[Billdo]

Reading comprehension is hard. I implied Fitz is frustrated, not at fault.

Cool, I didn't say that either.

 

[Homedresser]

You've got to go out and make a trade for a top 6 winger now. Holtz, next year's 1st (protected), etc should be on the table IMO

time to start pushing this forward

agree with pushing forward but no one is trading for Devils pick next year if it's protected. Why bother. With the way this team is built right now, there's a strong chance it's top 10 and even top 5.

 

[Lou Bloom]

'Continue to build' would imply were still drafting

I think we should be making moves to be better now. They just dont have to be at Gaudreau-levels of salary and play.

We should not be content with missing next year by more than 10 points. If the boys arent playing important games come late March then it was a failed season

Considering we just finished with the #2 pick and the 5th worst record in the league I think it's fair to imply the Devils are still building and especially with a loaded 2023 draft class shouldn't be looking to trade picks.

I'm fine with making moves to be better but it depends on the cost. If someone like Niederreiter or Palat is willing to take a Brandon Saad level deal than sure but I'm not going to go crazy in terms of AAV or term for short term improvement if it means a bad contract down the line.

There's no reason this team can't improve just through the young guys getting better and players like Holtz, Zetterlund, Bahl, Okhotyuk, etc... making an impact at the NHL level.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The difference between us and the Islanders is that Lou is going to rush out and panic sign Kadri to a 7 x 8.5M deal tonight or some shit and destroy his franchise, while Fitz will quietly circle back to some other modest players and offer them reasonable deals.

Maybe we'll get a guy tonight or tomorrow, maybe not. But there I'm confident there won't be any panic moves.

I would like to make a sizable trade for a winger. Cash out on Smith if needed. Not sure who makes sense though.

 

[Devilsfan118]

I'm telling you guys, some dumb GM out there is going to give Palat 7M+ because he's won multiple cups and "knows how to win".

I hope it's not us.

 

[Forge]

I like Palat don’t get me wrong but only if he is 5 mil or under and for 2years max.

I don't know how you get him for under 5. I would be floored. But I felt like Burakovsky was going to do better than 5.5. I could be overestimating how much teams will love him though (maybe he is too and that is why he's available).

 

[BananaGenetics]

Next years first for me is only available if it’s for Tkachuk or Meier

Tkachuk will cost more than both. Thatd be Holtz+1st+ type territory

Id rather keep one of those two. Meier or Miller could be had without both going

 

[SKNJD9]

 

[Forge]

I'm telling you guys, some dumb GM out there is going to give Palat 7M+ because he's won multiple cups and "knows how to win".

I hope it's not us.

Like honestly, this is kind of my thinking too lol. Could be wrong...but just seems like something an NHL gm is going to do

 

[BurntToast]

Missing out on two 40 goal scores is tough for sure..

 

[MadDevil]

I'm telling you guys, some dumb GM out there is going to give Palat 7M+ because he's won multiple cups and "knows how to win".

I hope it's not us.

Sounds like Lou's Plan B

 

[LoktionovMVP]

Sleepy Tom caught holding his hog in his hand on Fiala, Debrincat and now JG. Can't wait to hear how he "likes our program" in the media availability tomorrow. At least he was able to offload Zacha, but with that said...


Fire Fitz

 

[megajake]

Oh hey, you are that guy that only shows up to complain! How ya been man?

Pretty great! How about you?!?! At least we will be able to get super cheap tickets all year long!

 

[MasterofGrond]

Sharks are gonna try and keep Meier now, I think. What are the jets up to? I'd pay a BOATLOAD for Connor.

 

[Forge]

Tkachuk will cost more than both. Thatd be Holtz+1st+ type territory

Id rather keep one of those two. Meier or Miller could be had without both going

I wonder if Meier is off the table now that they moved the majority of Burns' contract of the books. That was going to get gnarly next year and now they should have some breathing room.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Limp dick Fitz fumbling the bag for the 3rd time in a week. But what a great GM he is! Daniil Misyul will turn this team around someday!

 

[Unknown Caller]

I love Palat but can’t get blinded by his playoff heroics. Turns 32 next year and hasn’t hit 20 goals since his rookie year.

Agreed. We're 100% overpaying for Palat for "veteran presence" and "culture" while he scores 15 goals and becomes Johnsson part 2 next season.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Agreed. We're 100% overpaying for Palat for "veteran presence" and "culture" while he scores 15 goals and becomes Johnsson part 2 next season.

Can't become Johnsson 2.0 because at least Johnsson is cheap, lol

 

[BananaGenetics]

Considering we just finished with the #2 pick and the 5th worst record in the league I think it's fair to imply the Devils are still building and especially with a loaded 2023 draft class shouldn't be looking to trade picks.

I'm fine with making moves to be better but it depends on the cost. If someone like Niederreiter or Palat is willing to take a Brandon Saad level deal than sure but I'm not going to go crazy in terms of AAV or term for short term improvement if it means a bad contract down the line.

There's no reason this team can't improve just through the young guys getting better and players like Holtz, Zetterlund, Bahl, Okhotyuk, etc... making an impact at the NHL level.

Id disagree whole heartedly. If the Devils are looking forward to the 2023 draft then maybe we should look towards new management.

No Devils fan wants to be told 'yeah next year we may be bad again, but dont worry were growing!'. At some point it becomes a case of never wanting to take the next step for fear of mistakes, as everyone we have ages another year over each time the offseason comes around

 

[EnglishDevil]

It's a tough position to be in; there's nothing left in UFA really worth pursing, a trade for a top six winger is going to cost us an arm and a leg in futures and we can't really afford to risk our 2023 1st round pick when the draft is so strong and we've barely improved at all. Honestly the best trade we could have pursued was DeBrincat but Ottawa beat us to the punch on that one.

The reality now is we should just stay the course, but it likely means yet another year drafting in the top 10 and being far out of playoff contention which sucks. We haven't really improved at all, our goaltending will hopefully be marginally better with Vanecek and a healthy Blackwood but there's no guarantee that'll happen. Zacha for Haula doesn't move the needle for us at all and our best prospects (Nemec, Luke, Holtz & Gritsyuk) all most likely need another year before becoming significant contributors at the NHL level.

I suspect next year will just be much of the same at this point, which is probably why we retained Ruff and didn't bother to make a coaching change yet. Hopefully we'll be a bit more respectable but we aren't getting anywhere close to the playoffs.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Palat doesn't really have any standout skills, other than being on Tampa Bay the past decade. He's a middle six forward in a market oversaturated with middle 6 forwards. He'll get around 5M.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[megajake]

I don't want Palat at all. That contract is going to be a disaster.