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

[FooteBahl]

Who do you like for sleeper players this year? I think Zacha is going to more than double his production from last year and end up with 55-60 points this season. Him staying and training in NJ this offseason is going to do wonders for him.

 

[NJDevils17]

Who do you like for sleeper players this year? I think Zacha is going to more than double his production from last year and end up with 55-60 points this season. Him staying and training in NJ this offseason is going to do wonders for him.

That would be huge. I think it might take Zacha another year to put it together but if he can have a strong year next year that would be unreal for us. He's going to need to be a good player for our rebuild to work.

I think Santini is going to break out next year and start developing into a strong shutdown guy in the ilk of Larsson. Not sure if he's a sleeper but I think next year we'll see some really big things.

 

[FooteBahl]

That would be huge. I think it might take Zacha another year to put it together but if he can have a strong year next year that would be unreal for us. He's going to need to be a good player for our rebuild to work.

I think Santini is going to break out next year and start developing into a strong shutdown guy in the ilk of Larsson. Not sure if he's a sleeper but I think next year we'll see some really big things.

Yeah I'm probably a little over zealous with the numbers, but I just think our forwards will be so much better this year and he'll reap the benefits of playing with better guys combined with his own development.

And I hope you're right about Santini. We could really use a hit on a defensive prospect since the cupboard is so barren.

 

[Classic Devil]

As I'm heading into the 30th Street Station subway in Philly this morning, some young dude in a Devils golf polo, slacks and nice shoes walks by me with bags. Super tall and lanky as hell. Looked exactly like Mikey McLeod.

But what would he be doing in Philly?

Maybe he's a spy for the Flyers.

 

[OmNomNom]

Who do you like for sleeper players this year? I think Zacha is going to more than double his production from last year and end up with 55-60 points this season. Him staying and training in NJ this offseason is going to do wonders for him.

agreed. if he was able to play in the league last year with his body, think what new confidence and a bigger frame will do for him

 

[Hellraiser]

We really need Santini to take a big step forward this season. We'll be in a good spot if this happens and one of Rykov or Walsh turns into a gem. At least this will buy us some time to stock up on D prospects

 

[Classic Devil]

We really need Santini to take a big step forward this season. We'll be in a good spot if this happens and one of Rykov or Walsh turns into a gem. At least this will buy us some time to stock up on D prospects

We badly need (1) Santini to take a step forward, (2) Severson to continue to develop (or at the very least, not take a step back), (3) to turn one current prospect or draft pick into a top-4 defenseman, and (4) to acquire an additional top-4 defenseman through any available means (draft, trade, UFA, whatever).

Our defense in ~3 seasons should be:

RHD: Severson, Santini, X
LHD: Y, Mueller/Rykov/Walsh, Z

X, Z = filler, can always find a serviceable defenseman to work the bottom pairing
Y = the key to the whole thing, acquire by any means necessary

 

[R8Devs]

Walsh is RHD. Too many things change in 3 years for a rebuilding team especially to have a grasp on it

 

[devilos]

We badly need (1) Santini to take a step forward, (2) Severson to continue to develop (or at the very least, not take a step back), (3) to turn one current prospect or draft pick into a top-4 defenseman, and (4) to acquire an additional top-4 defenseman through any available means (draft, trade, UFA, whatever).

Our defense in ~3 seasons should be:

RHD: Severson, Santini, X
LHD: Y, Mueller/Rykov/Walsh, Z

X, Z = filler, can always find a serviceable defenseman to work the bottom pairing
Y = the key to the whole thing, acquire by any means necessary

Y= Dahlin/McIsaac

 

[tailfins]

agreed. if he was able to play in the league last year with his body, think what new confidence and a bigger frame will do for him

I think Zacha struggles with typical sophomore issues. I think he's going to be asked to take on more, and will have some challenges on the defensive side / with details. I see a small improvement in points, but don't think this is his break-out year.

I also think Zajac's "regresses" a bit. Good D as always, but finishes with mid-30s on points as his role on the powerplay is reduced.

For "surprises":
I think Hall's production will improve materially. I'm looking for 65 - 70 points from him.

I also think Henrique has a bounce-back year. 45 - 50 points from him, and he becomes our most important center.


God only knows what happens on D.

 

[Classic Devil]

Y= Dahlin/McIsaac

That might be the ideal, yes.

 

[R8Devs]

Sign Severson to a klefbom-esque contract I'll be happy. 7 years for ~ 30,000,000

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

Sign Severson to a klefbom-esque contract I'll be happy. 7 years for ~ 30,000,000

I'm thinking it'll be a bridge deal and not a long term one.

 

[Billdo]

I'm thinking it'll be a bridge deal and not a long term one.

I hope you're wrong.

 

[R8Devs]

I'm thinking it'll be a bridge deal and not a long term one.

i hope not. Don't want his contract to be expiring around when Hall's, Johansson's, Zacha's, and Hischier's will be.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

We really need Santini to take a big step forward this season. We'll be in a good spot if this happens and one of Rykov or Walsh turns into a gem. At least this will buy us some time to stock up on D prospects

Maybe it's wishful thinking, however, I have a lot of confidence in Santini.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Yeah, I'd much rather lock Severson up now. The Klefbom mention was a good one; I'd take that in a second.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I would love to see Santini have an expanded role. He looked fantastic last season. I know he was eased in but everything they asked him to do he excelled at. I think he can handle a much bigger role.

I'd like to see him take Lovejoy's ES minutes and have Lovejoy be a PK specialist with very limited ES icetime.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Who do you like for sleeper players this year? I think Zacha is going to more than double his production from last year and end up with 55-60 points this season. Him staying and training in NJ this offseason is going to do wonders for him.

I don't want to guess point totals just yet but I definitely agree Zacha could take a huge step this season. The tools are more than there, he seems incredibly determined and hungry to improve, and being a year older having a season under his belt may help him be more confident and assertive on the ice. I think with Zacha it's ~80% the mental side of the game he has to improve to progress. All of the physical attributes and hockey skills are there. With all the hype Nico brought in this year and Hall the year prior, Zacha has sort of flown under the radar a bit. I'm extremely excited to see how he plays this year.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

8 years X 4 for Severson would be fantastic.

 

[FooteBahl]

8 years X 4 for Severson would be fantastic.

I think for 8 years the annual hit would be higher

 

[Billdo]

8 years X 4 for Severson would be fantastic.

If he's giving up free agent years at that clip I'd imagine it'd have to be for a bit more than 4 mil per. Maybe 4.3-4.5

 

[Devilswede]

Have we heard anything really from Rykov since he was drafted. I can't recall seeing or hearing anything from him about being drafted by the Devils and what his plans are.

Do we know if he's even interested in coming to the NHL?

 

[None Shall Pass]

Have we heard anything really from Rykov since he was drafted. I can't recall seeing or hearing anything from him about being drafted by the Devils and what his plans are.

Do we know if he's even interested in coming to the NHL?

All I know is that his KHL contract runs through the 2018-2019 season. So we could be waiting a while.

 

[HBK27]

Have we heard anything really from Rykov since he was drafted. I can't recall seeing or hearing anything from him about being drafted by the Devils and what his plans are.

Do we know if he's even interested in coming to the NHL?

I haven’t come across a single thing on his interest in the NHL or really any quotes from him at all. With him under contract with the KHL for a couple more years though, that’s not really all that surprising and I would really read anything into it as it’s probably not in his best interest to talk about wanting to leave Russia to play in the NHL.

Who knows how the KHL will even look in another couple of years or how his development will be. SKA could also toss a lot of money at him if he continues to develop well (much more than an ELC). Hopefully he wants to come and play in the NHL, but it’s probably not something really on his radar right now.