Around the NHL 2024-25 regular season Part II

[TheBeerNerd]

that wasn’t a three team trade, that was a transaction between the Canes and the Avs while the Blackhawks sat crying in the cuck chair.

 

[Billdo]

Carolina got moderately better

Will always be their goaltending and finishing and system

lol Rantanen is not moderately better than Necas.

 

[dzubrus8]

Anything is possible but it’s hard for me to envision with their crappy goaltending.

Anything can happen in Jersey but idk about Raleigh… OH MY

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

We’ll see

 

[JrFischer54]

So Chicago moves Hall and retains on Rantanen...and all they get is a 3rd?

Always will be teams willing to take shit for shit pay. Why I will never worry about having to dump a bad contract

 

[JrFischer54]

He couldn't be in the Timo trade if San Jose didn't want him

Yeah secret was out already that holtz sucked.

So do yuu think we do anything to “ keep up “ with the Canes? I can’t see Milker coming here. Maybe Nelson ? Nelson and someone like Gourde would be nice but not sure how we can fit both cap hits.

No need to go “big game” hunting just go out get some depth help for bottom 6 that can actually contribute offensively. See what happens in playoffs and then reevaluate in the summer. Devils should still be able to beat Carolina in the first round and would love to get the caps in round 2. But get bottom 6 help

 

[Clam Jensen]

Yeah secret was out already that holtz sucked.


No need to go “big game” hunting just go out get some depth help for bottom 6 that can actually contribute offensively. See what happens in playoffs and then reevaluate in the summer. Devils should still be able to beat Carolina in the first round and would love to get the caps in round 2. But get bottom 6 help

Fully aboard the “acquire depth” train, they have more than enough top 6 talent.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Fully aboard the “acquire depth” train, they have more than enough top 6 talent.

I hear ya but I’d rather push down from the top if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[theoptimist]

I hear ya but I’d rather push down from the top if the opportunity presents itself.

Trickle down is a myth. You need to acquire more bottom 6 attributes not top 6 perimeter play.

 

[Clam Jensen]

I hear ya but I’d rather push down from the top if the opportunity presents itself.

Sensible, but I don’t see the non-star players doing well in a bottom 6 role; I feel they’ll just get lost in shuffle.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Trickle down is a myth. You need to acquire more bottom 6 attributes not top 6 perimeter play.

Depends who you’re acquiring.

The truth of the matter is, our top six guys have just not been good enough lately. Bratt has what, two goals in twenty-plus games? I’ve been really disappointed in Hughes pretty much all season - he’s producing okay, but just watching him he isn’t affecting games the way we know he can. Palat/Mercer/Meier have been talked about to death. Hischier has been our most consistent top player, but even he will have stretches where the offense isn’t there.

If there’s a deal there, I’d hope Fitzgerald isn’t just getting bottom six tunnel vision.

 

[HBK27]

Blockbuster.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Blockbuster.

This pretty much seals them not being in on Miller anymore I guess.

 

[Bcap88]

lol Rantanen is not moderately better than Necas.

I mean it’s not like necas was having a shit year

Swapped out necas for a potential rental which can pay off. Obviously games need to be played still and lines need to gel

And frankly, Carolina doesn’t have a player the caliber of McKinnon who rantanen has spent 70 percent of his ice time with

 

[Bcap88]

Also Carolina cheap ass didn’t want to pay guentzel last year

Don’t really see them meeting rantanen contract demands

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

We’ll see

he is not the same player at center, if that is where Carolina intends to play him.

Also, Strickland is reporting that Rantanen was completely caught off guard and pissed off at the trade.....

 

[My3Sons]

The Avs essentially kicked the can down the road one more year. It’s not like Necas is going to extend for peanuts. They will have to pay him something substantial even if not at Rantanen’s level.

 

[Devil X]

I’m floored by the amount of people saying the top 6 is fine when one of Palat or Mercer is there all the time. I’d also say the Devils did not expect Noesen to be in the top 6 either he was supposed to be the 3rd line depth guy but is being put up in the top 6 most nights.

3rd line Center is a problem. Add that and a top 6 winger and the team will be way better off.

Dunno who those guys are the only advantage I see with Miller is he can play top 6 in the moments you need him or you stretch your lineup and put him at 3C with the wingers and your a deeper team.

 

[Clam Jensen]

I’m floored by the amount of people saying the top 6 is fine when one of Palat or Mercer is there all the time. I’d also say the Devils did not expect Noesen to be in the top 6 either he was supposed to be the 3rd line depth guy but is being put up in the top 6 most nights.

3rd line Center is a problem. Add that and a top 6 winger and the team will be way better off.

Dunno who those guys are the only advantage I see with Miller is he can play top 6 in the moments you need him or you stretch your lineup and put him at 3C with the wingers and your a deeper team.

What teams have 6 stars in their top 6? It’s just not realistic or feasible. If they can’t win with two very strong duos in the top 6, than the core is never getting anywhere.

 

[Devil X]

What teams have 6 stars in their top 6? It’s just not realistic or feasible. If they can’t win with two very strong duos in the top 6, than the core is never getting anywhere.

I get it. But as we all saw over the summer the Devils were trying to get one of the two top forward available. But they both went to Nashville. I’m sorry but I don’t think Fitz missed out on those two and said nah we are good.

If do what you can do. If that means the Devils feel they can afford to add another top 6 forward they add them.

Again while I’m using Millers name it’s only because he’s a “big fish” that’s available no clue if he would be a guy they target.

Also Miller can be your 3C and make your team significantly deeper.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I’m floored by the amount of people saying the top 6 is fine when one of Palat or Mercer is there all the time. I’d also say the Devils did not expect Noesen to be in the top 6 either he was supposed to be the 3rd line depth guy but is being put up in the top 6 most nights.

3rd line Center is a problem. Add that and a top 6 winger and the team will be way better off.

Dunno who those guys are the only advantage I see with Miller is he can play top 6 in the moments you need him or you stretch your lineup and put him at 3C with the wingers and your a deeper team.

I’m fine with Palat next to Jack and Bratt. I’m starting to think Timo as the guy on our 3rd line is the way to go too. Maybe you can make that work with healthy Haula or you add a guy that plays a simple game like Gourde.

Nico is going to be effective no matter who you put him with, so I’m not overly concerned with his linemates. I’d like a better finisher somewhere though.

 

[njdevils1982]

Trickle down is a myth. You need to acquire more bottom 6 attributes not top 6 perimeter play.

 

[Camille the Eel]

I do not understand the Carolina trade at all from their perspective.

Necas was having a breakout superstar year even if he cooled off over the last month. He is their best player and signed for another year after this at 6.5 million. His future is totally in front of him. So you trade him to rent Rantanen ? In what way does that make them better? In my eyes Rantanen is not better than Necas one up, and he’s actually a much worse skater. Nor will he willingly play Carolina’s style.

I think that Carolina has gotten worse and that we will match up better against them with Necas gone. The ghost of Taylor Hall and Rantanen do not make up for what they lose with Necas and Drury.

 

[My3Sons]

You don’t want so many UFA guys taking up big roles on the team. They are very expensive relative to what you get even if they perform well. NJ hasn’t drafted quite well enough to avoid that. An extra Bratt in the past five years would have made a big difference. Maybe they can carve a solid third line out of Grits and Lenni in the next couple of years? Avoid having to pay for another UFA.

 

[Oneiro]

I do not understand the Carolina trade at all from their perspective.

Necas was having a breakout superstar year even if he cooled off over the last month. He is their best player and signed for another year after this at 6.5 million. His future is totally in front of him. So you trade him to rent Rantanen ? In what way does that make them better? In my eyes Rantanen is not better than Necas one up, and he’s actually a much worse skater. Nor will he willingly play Carolina’s style.

I think that Carolina has gotten worse and that we will match up better against them with Necas gone. The ghost of Taylor Hall and Rantanen do not make up for what they lose with Necas and Drury.

They know who Necas is - a passenger, complementary kind of player. This breakout was nice but likely not the reality of who he is or will be, based on their past experience. More importantly, they have the cap room to give Rantanen something close to what he wants, plus they will be turning over a lot of the roster to ELCs into a rising cap. But say, Rantanen leaves - you got, by far, the best deadline acquisition for a team trying to win now in exchange for a guy who was likely leaving in a year anyway based on contentious negotiations.

I'd also put money on an aging Rantanen still being a better player than peak Necas.