Around the League - 2022 offseason thread

[My3Sons]

Could not care one iota less if Zacha scores 100 points this year.

He has to get paid if he does. That’s a risk with a player with his history.

 

[Bleedred]

Sadly given the organization’s standards under the ownership group…he does.

He shouldn’t though. (In fact no player short of had Marty played as a Blue should get one. They are stupid.)

I don't entirely agree. I was okay with Andy Greene getting one or Zajac (I can't even remember if he played a game in Newark after being traded to the Islanders?) getting one. Those guys absolutely deserved one. They were mostly career Devils. One of them was in the organization for 14 years and the other for 17 years.

I'm even okay with someone like Cory Schneider getting one. He was an incredible goalie here for a few years and is even second all time in shutouts in Devils history and he's the only goalie not named Martin Brodeur that has won a playoff game as a Devil since 1994. I'm even okay with Taylor Hall, if not just because he has the only Hart Trophy win in Devils history.

What I'm not okay with is when some of these middling guys get it. Like Adam Larsson? If they gave Adam Larsson one, they're probably giving Zacha one. And I do remember Adam Larsson getting one in his first game back.

Adam Henrique was a bit borderline too, but I understand just a little bit because he was a very strong fan favorite and ''Henrique! It's over!'' was probably enough to seal it IMO.

Adam Larsson, Pavel Zacha, Keith Kinkaid, there's certainly been a few more questionable ones. That's for sure. Did Stephen Gionta get one too? I mean, come on, really?

 

[njdevils1982]

I don't entirely agree. I was okay with Andy Greene getting one or Zajac (I can't even remember if he played a game in Newark after being traded to the Islanders?) getting one. Those guys absolutely deserved one. They were mostly career Devils. One of them was in the organization for 14 years and the other for 17 years.

I'm even okay with someone like Cory Schneider getting one. He was an incredible goalie here for a few years and is even second all time in shutouts in Devils history and he's the only goalie not named Martin Brodeur that has won a playoff game as a Devil since 1994. I'm even okay with Taylor Hall, if not just because he has the only Hart Trophy win in Devils history.

What I'm not okay with is when some of these middling guys get it. Like Adam Larsson? If they gave Adam Larsson one, they're probably giving Zacha one. And I do remember Adam Larsson getting one in his first game back.

Adam Henrique was a bit borderline too, but I understand just a little bit because he was a very strong fan favorite and ''Henrique! It's over!'' was probably enough to seal it IMO.

Adam Larsson, Pavel Zacha, Keith Kinkaid, there's certainly been a few more questionable ones. That's for sure. Did Stephen Gionta get one too? I mean, come on, really?

its an oprah giveaway!


but really....if its a short thing during commerical breaks that only seen in arena.... f*** it, thank them and drop the f***ing puck and get on with the game

 

[Bleedred]

Zacha looks great lol

I'm gonna ask a Bruins fan.

Can someone please tell me what's so great about Jack Studnicka, besides the fact that he has a cool name?

This player had a lot of hype before he made his NHL debut and understandably so. He had a great season in the AHL before he made his NHL debut and continues to be good in the AHL.

But his NHL looks to this point have been extremely underwhelming, if not downright disappointing.

His 37 games in the NHL read like Jesper Boqvist of the Devils first 37 games in the NHL. Only Studnicka actually had assists in the NHL and Boqvist didn't have any in his first 37 games in the NHL. But Studnicka has just 1 goal in 37 games.

 

[Triumph]

I'm enjoying watching Zacha in a different uniform, knowing we no longer have him.

I'm gonna ask a Bruins fan.

Can someone please tell me what's so great about Jack Studnicka, besides the fact that he has a cool name?

This player had a lot of hype before he made his NHL debut and understandably so. He had a great season in the AHL before he made his NHL debut and continues to be good in the AHL.

But his NHL looks to this point have been extremely underwhelming, if not downright disappointing.

His 37 games in the NHL read like Jesper Boqvist of the Devils first 37 games in the NHL. Only Studnicka actually had assists in the NHL and Boqvist didn't have any in his first 37 games in the NHL. But Studnicka has just 1 goal in 37 games.

I think I can answer this one as a Devils fan, when you are rooting for a good but old team and the drafting has had some big hits and big misses lately, the tendency is to think that the guys on the cusp are pretty good and about to make it. Boston's around where the Devils were at in the late 00s/early 10s. Studnicka led Providence in points by a pretty wide margin in his rookie season, that's the kind of thing that gets a guy a lot of chances in the NHL.

 

[JimEIV]

I got 3 different text tonight from my wife's family members that live Massachusetts each saying the exact same thing.

"Thank you for Zacha".

I have a feeling that this is going to be a pain in the ass of a year.

 

[Guttersniped]

Could not care one iota less if Zacha scores 100 points this year.

Boston got 1 year/3.5m of Zacha, that’s it. They reportedly were trying for a 2 year deal but Zacha didn’t give it to them. He did what he was TDL rumor said he was planning to do, use arbitration to get a one year deal to UFA.

Bennett signed a 4 year/4.425m deal. Reinhart signed a 3 year/6.5m deal. Buchnevich signed a 4 year/ 5.8m deal. Toews signed a 4 year/4.1m deal. To me those are different.

 

[My3Sons]

Boston got 1 year/3.5m of Zacha, that’s it. They reportedly were trying for a 2 year deal but Zacha didn’t give it to them. He did what he was TDL rumor said he was planning to do, use arbitration to get a one year deal to UFA.

Bennett signed a 4 year/4.425m deal. Reinhart signed a 3 year/6.5m deal. Buchnevich signed a 4 year/ 5.8m deal. Toews signed a 4 year/4.1m deal. To me those are different.

Yeah. If Zacha has a 25-35 type of season and hits UFA someone will pay him the going rate for a top six winger on a five or six year deal most likely. He may be worth that but it won’t be a value contract most likely the way the Bruins fans think he brings right now.

 

[JimEIV]

Yeah. If Zacha has a 25-35 type of season and hits UFA someone will pay him the going rate for a top six winger on a five or six year deal most likely. He may be worth that but it won’t be a value contract most likely the way the Bruins fans think he brings right now.

I would imagine that if Boston is willing to pay him he'll stay.

His girlfriend is from there, he likes it there and he gets to play with his countrymen. It really is an ideal situation for him.

But at the end of the day it's always about money.

 

[MasterofGrond]

unless Zacha suddenly learned how to be good at hockey, I'm not gonna be mad. Any increase in production is more attributable to who he's playing with than anything else.

 

[My3Sons]

I would imagine that if Boston is willing to pay him he'll stay.

His girlfriend is from there, he likes it there and he gets to play with his countrymen. It really is an ideal situation for him.

But at the end of the day it's always about money.

I don’t doubt he’d be happy to stay where he had success if they are willing to pay him. I just think that paying thr going rate isn’t some great outcome. Having excellent players at the going rate is the Toronto or Edmonton model which for all the talent has had uneven results. The TB or COL models with good value contracts have had better results. There is always more than one way to skin the cat but a full priced roster will have no flexibility and no room for error.

 

[Guttersniped]

Yeah. If Zacha has a 25-35 type of season and hits UFA someone will pay him the going rate for a top six winger on a five or six year deal most likely. He may be worth that but it won’t be a value contract most likely the way the Bruins fans think he brings right now.

I was surprised that Boston couldn’t have sweet talked him into a longer bridge deal. A two year deal at least gives them a chance to cash in a little bit if he breaks out this season.

Maybe they extend him during the season with team friendly deal, Boston does gets those done. Who knows, he wasn’t staying here.

I pumped Zacha’s last off-season as scoring winger (whoops), I don’t dislike the guy (even though I’m done breaking down his stats lol).

I also don’t get the shock and horror over the idea of him continuing to build on the better offensive play of the last two seasons, his big issue last season was his dire % percentage.

I also don’t see the point of investing feelings over an ex-player’s production, particularly on a team that will literally only ask him to that (and not be a complete idiot). That’s what they need. (We often used him in a more defensive role and at center, but we were weird like that.)

But if people see some strong play from Zacha in pre-season game (or small set of any games) and assume that’s what coming from him all season, I start to wonder if they’re actually familiar with the same Pavel Zacha who played here.

 

[njdevils1982]

I got 3 different text tonight from my wife's family members that live Massachusetts each saying the exact same thing.

"Thank you for Zacha".

I have a feeling that this is going to be a pain in the ass of a year.

a long read of the love of massachusetts...

"I'm in love with Massachusetts"- In the Footsteps of Jonathan Richman - Backyard Road Trips

Jonathan Richman makes it clear his love for his home region. Even on his first album, The Modern Lovers, Richman name checks places throughout the city of Boston. “See, I come from Boston, I’m gonna tell you all about how I love New England It’s my favorite place I’ve been all around the...

backyardroadtrips.com

​

 

[njdevils1982]

I would imagine that if Boston is willing to pay him he'll stay.

His girlfriend is from there, he likes it there and he gets to play with his countrymen. It really is an ideal situation for him.

But at the end of the day it's always about money.

is that a ted dibiase quote?

 

[Guttersniped]

a long read of the love of massachusetts...

"I'm in love with Massachusetts"- In the Footsteps of Jonathan Richman - Backyard Road Trips

Jonathan Richman makes it clear his love for his home region. Even on his first album, The Modern Lovers, Richman name checks places throughout the city of Boston. “See, I come from Boston, I’m gonna tell you all about how I love New England It’s my favorite place I’ve been all around the...

backyardroadtrips.com

​

Boston sucks very hard, but sure, Jonathan Richman seems like a lovable weirdo. (And is still alive! Good for him.)

 

[Bone Density]

is that a ted dibiase quote?

Everybody's got a price.

 

[Devils090]

I got 3 different text tonight from my wife's family members that live Massachusetts each saying the exact same thing.

"Thank you for Zacha".

I have a feeling that this is going to be a pain in the ass of a year.

Lmfao revisit that in January, Zacha sucks

 

[JimEIV]

is that a ted dibiase quote?

Freddy Blassie, I think?

Boston sucks very hard, but sure, Jonathan Richman seems like a lovable weirdo. (And is still alive! Good for him.)

I lived there for 7 years and hated every second while I was there ...

Strange though, as time has past, I look back on that time with fond memories...kind of weird

 

[njdevils1982]

Freddy Blassie, I think?

stay classy man

 

[Bone Density]

stay classy man

I had no clue this existed. Andy was the best.

 

[njdevils1982]

I had no clue this existed. Andy was the best.

 

[Bone Density]

I really hope Vic Ferarri makes an appearance.

 

[njdevils1982]

I really hope Vic Ferarri makes an appearance.

a classic character

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I would imagine that if Boston is willing to pay him he'll stay.

His girlfriend is from there, he likes it there and he gets to play with his countrymen. It really is an ideal situation for him.

But at the end of the day it's always about money.

Thank them for Haula when Zacha has his pointless streak December-Feburary.

 

[Bone Density]