Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) - Offseason part IX
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Stephen Gionta
Boston College > Boston University
Don't understand how this hasn't been mentioned... Nico Hischier. Drafting Hischier was our biggest boost this offseason. Getting Johansson seems like a good move as well, but lets see.
This offseason has been good, not great, but good. Coming in, our biggest priority was upgrading the defense and we have not done anything yet. Also, did not really draft any high end defensemen. So lets see.
This offseason has been good, not great, but good. Coming in, our biggest priority was upgrading the defense and we have not done anything yet. Also, did not really draft any high end defensemen. So lets see.
ForeverJerseyGirl
Registered User
If you actually truly believe this, I don't know what to tell you
the MAIN reason for the Mueller trade is because he is a young promising LHD that Shero and Castron think can blossom here. and we need LHD. period, end of story.
I do think there is value to giving Nico someone from his own culture who can help him adjust to the NH and America, and there aren't that many Swiss players in the NHL. To me, it makes sense that Shero would acquire a Swiss player to help Nico transition here. I could see giving up what we did to acquire Mueller if it would help Nico develop optimally. If you don't think there is value in that, that's fine. I was sharing my perspective.
Edit: I am waiting to see how Mueller does here before I form an impression of him as a player, but I think he is valuable to the team just because he is Swiss.
It would have been nice to do something more on defense, although looking around the league it doesn't seem like there was that much of a market for defensemen. Hamonic was probably the only significant defensemen to get traded, and there were extenuating circumstances with him wanting to go west. Maybe we could have traded for somebody like Schlemko but I'm not sure he's that much of an upgrade over what we have.
It's not like Nico is fresh off the plane from Switzerland and doesn't speak English. The fact that Mueller is Swiss is just an added bonus. The main reason he was brought in was because he's a young LHD and the left side of our defense after Greene sucks.
ForeverJerseyGirl
Registered User
Just because Nico speaks English doesn't mean he won't need help adjusting in other ways to American culture. Either way, soon we will see how much Mueller can contribute to our defense and just how promising he actually is. If he doesn't do well, I'm sure you and others will be embracing my theory by November.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
so we're giving Mueller 3 weeks until we judge him? good to know.
I just can't believe someone would think Shero would trade a 2nd and a 3rd round pick for a guy just because hes Swiss. Yet here we are.
ForeverJerseyGirl
Registered User
Around here, he'll be lucky if he gets three weeks before he is judged, but my point was more that if Mueller struggles, I'm sure that the people who defend everything Shero does will be pointing out the benefit of Mueller being Swiss and how that will help Nico adjust.
Edit: I don't really value draft picks as much as many around here. Second and third round picks are hardly guaranteed NHL players. I'd give up picks to give my first overall pick the best atmosphere I could for success, but again, that is just my view.
Mueller was a buy low opportunity that came along and Shero took it. I don't think he was going out purposely looking to trade for a Swiss player just because we were going to draft a Swiss player. Do you also think we drafted Bastian just because he's McLeod's buddy?
ForeverJerseyGirl
Registered User
I think a first overall pick is more valuable than a twelfth overall pick. I wouldn't compare Nico to McLeod. I expect that a franchise will accommodate a first overall pick more than a twelfth overall pick. But I'm sure the fact that Bastian had chemistry (on and off the ice) helps make the Bastian pick more attractive.
Cheddabombs
Status Quo
- Mar 13, 2012
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This. If Mueller ends up sucking and isn't in our lineup come April then so be it, hindsight is 20/20 though. For now he still has potential to be an impact defenseman in our top 6, maybe even on the 2nd pair if things go well for him. And for the price Shero paid I'd take the gamble. Maybe this is one of those change of scenery things or maybe he'll fit well into our system. Either way it's a low risk, potential high-ish reward move that I'd want Shero to be making. It's not the sexy move that people wanted but you can't fix everything all at once.
Mueller was not really bought low. He's waiver-eligible in October and he's not tearing up the AHL, so if he has a bad camp now you're looking at carrying an ineffective player.
I dont think Nico was the primary reason they made that deal, but people who suggest that his Swissness had nothing at all to do with it, that I don't really believe either. I don't know if the Devils are getting Mirco Mueller if they don't win the draft lottery.
I dont think Nico was the primary reason they made that deal, but people who suggest that his Swissness had nothing at all to do with it, that I don't really believe either. I don't know if the Devils are getting Mirco Mueller if they don't win the draft lottery.
If Shero wanted to bring in a nanny for Hischier, he would've signed Streit, for peanuts.
He acquired Mueller for no other reason then to bolster our left side with a up and coming kid who's got the skill set to blossom into a legit top #4 role.
Streit is old enough to be Nico's dad. And yeah, sometimes teams do have their top picks stay at a veteran's house for their rookie season - Crosby with Lemieux, Ekblad with Mitchell are two examples I can think of. But I don't think this arrangement would make sense for either party.
Billdo
Registered User
That's pretty much true of any player having a rough couple of games around here. I'm already preparing for a certain somebody to question picking Nico if/when Patrick gets off to a better start than Nico.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
You guys act like we didn't get a top 6 forward in Mojo for basically peanuts.
So focused on the negative.
So focused on the negative.
Billdo
Registered User
I think the negativity comes from a few posters who continually beat the dead horse.
VoidCreature
Before you see the light, you must die.
Vegas is going to have to unload at least 2 defencemen before the season starts. Anyone they have we'd be interested in?
NJDevs26
Once upon a time...
- Mar 21, 2007
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Just one? There were quite a few people strongly in both camps. The irony is right now it'd be far worse around here if we had Nolan because there'd be a nuclear meltdown going on over his acne.
If you actually truly believe this, I don't know what to tell you
the MAIN reason for the Mueller trade is because he is a young promising LHD that Shero and Castron think can blossom here. and we need LHD. period, end of story.
Promising? That is highly debatable.
Cult of Hynes
Hynes is never wrong.
- Nov 9, 2010
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The only ones that I would want to go after are the ones that Vegas wouldn't want to part with. Theodore and Schmidt. One of them would help the left side. I'd be cool with Miller as well, but the right side to me looks okay with Severson and Santini, and Miller being added would push Santini out of a spot because of Hynes' love for Lovejoy.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
Ya. I'm not even sure there's anyone there I'd snatch off of waivers for free, unless someone gets hurt in camp.
Detroit's another target, but again, noone looks particularly interesting. I mean, I'd take Green just for the possibility of turning him for a draft pick at the deadline, but I wouldn't pay a lot for him.
The problem is Green is another righty, and between Severson, Santini, and Lovejoy the right side looks pretty set. Although I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Santini to get more time in the AHL.
I'm far more worried about the left side this year. Greene started to finally look like a mid 30's defenseman last year, Moore we all know has issues, and Mueller is still a question mark. Unless Mueller takes a step and becomes a top 4 guy this year, it could get ugly on that side. It would be nice if somebody like Kapla or a PTO surprised in camp and forced their way on to the roster. Or if somebody jettisons a decent LHD before the season.
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