Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) - Offseason part IX

[FooteBahl]

Hall-Zacha-Palmieri
Johansson-Hischier-RW
Qville-Zajac-McLeod
LW-Boyle-Noesen

- Continue to let Hall and Zacha work on their chemistry. The kid also gets the benefit of having an all-star level wing and a 25-30 goal scorer shelter him and to learn from
- Hischier takes 2C duties and would also be surrounded by vets. Find a veteran RW and deal Henrique for defense.
- Zajac drops down to babysit/groom McLeod who breaks in on the wing. JQ would also benefit from playing with Zajac. Travis is the only C I'd trust to break in 2 young forwards, but that likely drops him down to the 3rd line.


I'm considering this a development year. That doesn't mean I think they should punt or focus on development only; the Devils should try to be as competitive as possible while keeping development the primary focus. Spreading the young talent around to be mixed in with veterans should do that.

Did you trade Henrique?

 

[MichaelJ]

Did you trade Henrique?

I did, for defense

 

[captainscott]

Hall-Zacha-Palmieri
Johansson-Hischier-RW
Qville-Zajac-McLeod
LW-Boyle-Noesen

- Continue to let Hall and Zacha work on their chemistry. The kid also gets the benefit of having an all-star level wing and a 25-30 goal scorer shelter him and to learn from
- Hischier takes 2C duties and would also be surrounded by vets. Find a veteran RW and deal Henrique for defense.
- Zajac drops down to babysit/groom McLeod who breaks in on the wing. JQ would also benefit from playing with Zajac. Travis is the only C I'd trust to break in 2 young forwards, but that likely drops him down to the 3rd line.


I'm considering this a development year. That doesn't mean I think they should punt or focus on development only; the Devils should try to be as competitive as possible while keeping development the primary focus. Spreading the young talent around to be mixed in with veterans should do that.

i don't see hischier playing first line center.. and i don't see zajac playing second line center. in my perfect world zacha steps up into first line centering hall and palmeri.. johannson.zajac.henrique. JQ.hiscier.mcleod. boyle centering 4th line... the big wild cards for me are the following:

1. where does hiscier slot
2. is zacha ready for #1 center
3. is speers ready?
4. is mcleod ready..

i think if thes answers play out with a yes answer this season this team will be decent offensive team and compete for a playoff spot.

if zacha hischier mcleod and speers are not ready for significant contributions yet then we will still be searching for answers this year

 

[captainscott]

I did, for defense

thanks who did you get?

 

[captainscott]

i don't see hischier playing first line center.. and i don't see zajac playing second line center. in my perfect world zacha steps up into first line centering hall and palmeri.. johannson.zajac.henrique. JQ.hiscier.mcleod. boyle centering 4th line... the big wild cards for me are the following:

1. where does hiscier slot
2. is zacha ready for #1 center
3. is speers ready?
4. is mcleod ready..

i think if thes answers play out with a yes answer this season this team will be decent offensive team and compete for a playoff spot.

if zacha hischier mcleod and speers are not ready for significant contributions yet then we will still be searching for answers this year

correction... i don't see zajac playing third line center

 

[MichaelJ]

thanks who did you get?

Someone available

 

[Billdo]

Hall-Zajac-Palmieri
Johansson-Hischier-Speers/JQ
Henrique-Zacha-McLeod
Wood/Blandisi/JQ-Boyle-Noesen/JQ

Greene-Severson
Moore-Santini
Mueller-Lovejoy

 

[MichaelJ]

i don't see hischier playing first line center.. and i don't see zajac playing second line center. in my perfect world zacha steps up into first line centering hall and palmeri.. johannson.zajac.henrique. JQ.hiscier.mcleod. boyle centering 4th line... the big wild cards for me are the following:

1. where does hiscier slot
2. is zacha ready for #1 center
3. is speers ready?
4. is mcleod ready..

i think if thes answers play out with a yes answer this season this team will be decent offensive team and compete for a playoff spot.

if zacha hischier mcleod and speers are not ready for significant contributions yet then we will still be searching for answers this year

I don't see Hischier playing 1C yet either and we agree on Zacha being able to take the reins at 1C would be ideal. At this point, I'd rather see Zacha play with Hall to develop and use Zajac to help other young players. I don't have a problem with moving Zajac down to 3C if he's working with younger talent on that line. If Hischier can't handle 2C, switch them and reconfigure the lines. Agree to disagree, but I'm not that comfortable with an all-rookie line, even if it's the 3rd. A lot of this would be decided in camp anyway, these young kids would really have to prove they're ready for the challenge.

 

[Alex NJD]

Leave Zajac at 1C with Hall for the time being. They will take all the tough match ups. Last thing we want is Hischier or Zacha having to face off against the Bergerons Keslers etc. of the league

 

[Emperoreddy]

I agree. I think you have to start Zajac with Hall.

If one of the center kids blow the doors off you make a change, but don't just throw them in the fire like that.

Also someone has to play wing if McLeod makes the team. Simply not enough center spots. Zacha still seems like the guy to do that. McLeod is too much of a center IMO. Same with Nico

 

[The 29th Pick]

Someone available

whats his corsi and GA%60 / GF%60 and is he a lefty

 

[Triumph]

Man, it is crushing that Henrique did not work with Hall - the Devils really don't want to put a guy like Hischier or McLeod with Hall; both of these guys, from what I've seen of them, are guys who like to play with the puck on their stick and enter the O zone. That's how Hall is too - he is so good at transition from defense to offense/neutral zone/zone entries that it feels like a waste to put another guy who is theoretically like that with him. Just give him a guy who can finish and not be terrible on defense, and that describes Henrique, but it didn't really work.

 

[MichaelJ]

whats his corsi and GA%60 / GF%60 and is he a lefty

He's definitely a lefty

 

[R8Devs]

Man, it is crushing that Henrique did not work with Hall - the Devils really don't want to put a guy like Hischier or McLeod with Hall; both of these guys, from what I've seen of them, are guys who like to play with the puck on their stick and enter the O zone. That's how Hall is too - he is so good at transition from defense to offense/neutral zone/zone entries that it feels like a waste to put another guy who is theoretically like that with him. Just give him a guy who can finish and not be terrible on defense, and that describes Henrique, but it didn't really work.

that's why the Devils should offersheet Draisaitl

but seriously that stretch those two had in Hall's last season at Edmonton was really impressive.

 

[Baemon Severson*]

I'd throw 7.5 for one year at Markov and deal him at the tdl. He's the type of guy who could easily return a first

 

[R8Devs]

I'd throw 7.5 for one year at Markov and deal him at the tdl. He's the type of guy who could easily return a first

I guess but even at 50% retained it might be hard for some contenders to fit that

 

[Emperoreddy]

I'd throw 7.5 for one year at Markov and deal him at the tdl. He's the type of guy who could easily return a first

That is too much to expect anything to be returned at the deadline.

 

[devilsblood]

I'd throw 7.5 for one year at Markov and deal him at the tdl. He's the type of guy who could easily return a first

Unless we deal Moore prior to the season, I don't see how this works.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I just love having center depth. What a gigantic change from just a few years ago.

 

[JrFischer54]

Hall-Zacha-Palmieri
Johansson-Hischier-RW
Qville-Zajac-McLeod
LW-Boyle-Noesen

- Continue to let Hall and Zacha work on their chemistry. The kid also gets the benefit of having an all-star level wing and a 25-30 goal scorer shelter him and to learn from
- Hischier takes 2C duties and would also be surrounded by vets. Find a veteran RW and deal Henrique for defense.
- Zajac drops down to babysit/groom McLeod who breaks in on the wing. JQ would also benefit from playing with Zajac. Travis is the only C I'd trust to break in 2 young forwards, but that likely drops him down to the 3rd line.


I'm considering this a development year. That doesn't mean I think they should punt or focus on development only; the Devils should try to be as competitive as possible while keeping development the primary focus. Spreading the young talent around to be mixed in with veterans should do that.

This is exactly why I didn't want shatenkirk this year. Like you said it should be treated as a development year let the kids play we take our lumps. We suck we suck but the kids get gameplay experience and mature. We get a good draft pick again. Or the kids click Cory bounces back and the d isn't half as bad and we are fighting for a playoff spot. More then happy to enter the season with this roster the way it is

 

[devilsblood]

Man, it is crushing that Henrique did not work with Hall - the Devils really don't want to put a guy like Hischier or McLeod with Hall; both of these guys, from what I've seen of them, are guys who like to play with the puck on their stick and enter the O zone. That's how Hall is too - he is so good at transition from defense to offense/neutral zone/zone entries that it feels like a waste to put another guy who is theoretically like that with him. Just give him a guy who can finish and not be terrible on defense, and that describes Henrique, but it didn't really work.

But why not just Hall with Zajac? Good cf% when they were together, really good gf%. Then add Palms to the mix, who when with Hall had a 68% gf%(and 60% with Zajac). That does look like a solid top line.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Man, it is crushing that Henrique did not work with Hall - the Devils really don't want to put a guy like Hischier or McLeod with Hall; both of these guys, from what I've seen of them, are guys who like to play with the puck on their stick and enter the O zone. That's how Hall is too - he is so good at transition from defense to offense/neutral zone/zone entries that it feels like a waste to put another guy who is theoretically like that with him. Just give him a guy who can finish and not be terrible on defense, and that describes Henrique, but it didn't really work.

that does describe Palmieri though

I know you were referencing a center, but still

 

[MichaelJ]

This is exactly why I didn't want shatenkirk this year. Like you said it should be treated as a development year let the kids play we take our lumps. We suck we suck but the kids get gameplay experience and mature. We get a good draft pick again. Or the kids click Cory bounces back and the d isn't half as bad and we are fighting for a playoff spot. More then happy to enter the season with this roster the way it is

Yea, I'm expecting growing pains...so be it. Hopefully they can each improve as the season goes on the way Zacha did the last 30+ games last year. I'm actually looking forward to the kids getting their shots, even if it's a down year.

 

[MadDevil]

Man, it is crushing that Henrique did not work with Hall - the Devils really don't want to put a guy like Hischier or McLeod with Hall; both of these guys, from what I've seen of them, are guys who like to play with the puck on their stick and enter the O zone. That's how Hall is too - he is so good at transition from defense to offense/neutral zone/zone entries that it feels like a waste to put another guy who is theoretically like that with him. Just give him a guy who can finish and not be terrible on defense, and that describes Henrique, but it didn't really work.

Zacha is probably about the only center who could be that type of player. Assuming the Devils view him as a center of course.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

This is exactly why I didn't want shatenkirk this year. Like you said it should be treated as a development year let the kids play we take our lumps. We suck we suck but the kids get gameplay experience and mature. We get a good draft pick again. Or the kids click Cory bounces back and the d isn't half as bad and we are fighting for a playoff spot. More then happy to enter the season with this roster the way it is

This makes no sense though, since we really don't have any "kids" that wouldn't have played with Shattenkirk here. I highly doubt they wouldve sent Santini down.