Devils 2018-19 team discussion (news and notes) - part XVIII

[Triumph]

Butchers defense is barely NHL level. I know Sevs is frustrating and stupid sometimes, but he is significantly better than Butcher. I really don't get the fascination with him.

He is one of the best defensemen in the league at exiting the zone and he almost never takes penalties. No, he's not going to win awards for how he plays in front of the net, but with his strengths elsewhere he doesn't have to.

 

[MichaelJ]

If the Devils can get a quality LHD partner for Severson at a reasonable price, I’d be all for giving it a chance. If not, the Devils might need to deal Severson for a defensive upgrade on the right.

With Duchene and Panarin likely leaving town, I wonder if the Blue Jackets go into a rebuilding mode. Maybe someone like Ryan Murray could be available for some futures?

 

[Traitor Zach]

Personally I’d rather trade off Nasreddine and Kowalsky off the coaching staff before trading Severson.

If you deal off Severson it better be as part of a flurry of moves to retool the defensive roster and improve it, not reduce it. If Severson gets moved I think it’s in the offseason pending additions to the D corps in FA or other trades.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

If the Devils can get a quality LHD partner for Severson at a reasonable price, I’d be all for giving it a chance. If not, the Devils might need to deal Severson for a defensive upgrade on the right.

With Duchene and Panarin likely leaving town, I wonder if the Blue Jackets go into a rebuilding mode. Maybe someone like Ryan Murray could be available for some futures?

I think Marco Scandella from Buffalo could be available. They have a ton of defenseman after trading for Montour and he could be squeezed out. $4m cap hit for one more season.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

I really don't watch the Sabres, not sure if anyone here is a big fan, but how is Ristolainen not significantly better than Severson? He's trusted with ~25mins per game, put up a 50 point pace over the last 3 years aggregated, supposedly plays with physicality(according to comments above?), and is a highly successful powerplay quarterback. Assuming this ends up being a summer trade, I'd gladly send over Wood and Severson or Severson and a pick

Agree with this Ristolainen is far superior to Severson. We need more of a physical presence at D and Severson is charmin soft.

 

[beekay414]

Personally I’d rather trade off Nasreddine and Kowalsky off the coaching staff before trading Severson.

If you deal off Severson it better be as part of a flurry of moves to retool the defensive roster and improve it, not reduce it. If Severson gets moved I think it’s in the offseason pending additions to the D corps in FA or other trades.

What's wrong with Nasreddine? Our PK is the best thing about our team...

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

What's wrong with Nasreddine? Our PK is the best thing about our team...

The defense structure outside the PK is a mess. Our young defenseman are not improving which is a bit of a worry.

 

[beekay414]

The defense structure outside the PK is a mess. Our young defenseman are not improving which is a bit of a worry.

Isn't that more to do with what Hynes is running than anything? I'd keep Nasreddine over anyone else on this staff tbqh. Hynes is just completely out of his element in the NHL. It's no wonder he loves AHL fodder cuz he is AHL fodder.

 

[Smitty426]

The defense structure outside the PK is a mess. Our young defense man are not improving which is a bit of a worry.

I agree with you on the young guys, but Butcher was given a lot more D zone starts so they are wanting him to grow, hence the reason why hes not having as good a year. Sophomore slump i think is part of it.
Someone mentioned size of the D not being anything. I think that's wrong, this team is tiny defensively (Kreider parked himself in front last game and was not moved). Mueller and Severson are it. I'd like Shero to go get Hamilton, everyone hates on him but his numbers are great (corsi/fenwick are stupid) he can put up points too. If hes not a go-out-for-a-beer -after-the-game-guy (as been suggested) who cares! I'd also look at Nurse. We have Gabriel and Gryba here for that reason, why not have a guy who has size be nasty and can skate.
Maybe its Fowler, but hes another O-heavy D guy.

 

[Nubmer6]

Someone mentioned size of the D not being anything. I think that's wrong, this team is tiny defensively (Kreider parked himself in front last game and was not moved). Mueller and Severson are it.

If you're big and strong, you can win board battles behind the net. If you're small and quick, you can beat your opponent to loose pucks. We're small and slow. Not a great combination.

I definitely think our D system isn't suited for the guys we have and makes things worse. We really don't have the speed to play man on man, and our wings don't have the awareness to cover them when they chase an opponent up to the point.

 

[RSeen]

Why in the world would we deal our best Dman??

 

[BenedictGomez]

Why in the world would we deal our best Dman??

Vatanen's not going to be traded.

 

[beekay414]

Why in the world would we deal our best Dman??

We're entertaining the idea of trading Vatanen? Since when?

 

[Camille the Eel]

What’s actually wrong with Vats? Lots of stitches from that hit on him that led to a major penalty a while back, sure. But they heal in 10 days, 2 weeks. So it’s a concussion or what? Or are we just sitting him to spare him the storm?

 

[ScottyK]

What’s actually wrong with Vats? Lots of stitches from that hit on him that led to a major penalty a while back, sure. But they heal in 10 days, 2 weeks. So it’s a concussion or what? Or are we just sitting him to spare him the storm?

Concussion, that was confirmed by the team the day after it happened.

 

[ScottyK]

Now i'm more worried about Ceci being available

Kavan Young‏ @kavanyoungnews 5h5 hours ago
More
Five scouts at the @CdnTireCtr tonight for @Senators and @NHLFlames (CHI, SJS, MTL, EDM, NJD).

 

[beekay414]

Now i'm more worried about Ceci being available

Kavan Young‏ @kavanyoungnews 5h5 hours ago
More
Five scouts at the @CdnTireCtr tonight for @Senators and @NHLFlames (CHI, SJS, MTL, EDM, NJD).

At least it's not Gudbranson

*shrug*

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

At least it's not Gudbranson

*shrug*

Ceci is just all kinds of mediocre.

 

[Nubmer6]

Ceci is just all kinds of mediocre.

If I remember correctly, from an advanced stats perspective he's far, far worse than mediocre.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I’d rather have those pieces than Severson

Severson stinks tho, at least according to the large brained geniuses here. How is he getting us a good player back if he stinks?

 

[beekay414]

Honestly, I have a hard time judging defensemen individually that are on terrible defensive teams, and that includes our guys.

Unless you're Erik Gundbranson cuz screw that guy. He's the worts.

EDIT - meant "he's the worst" but worts (warts) works too...

 

[Cult of Hynes]

We're entertaining the idea of trading Vatanen? Since when?

Vatanen is not our best dman lol.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

This season, Severson and Vatanen have been pretty even in terms of who has been our best Dman. I'd give Vatanen the edge because when he's healthy he is mostly playing against tougher competition. But Severson has looked solid this season. Also, Andy Greene is criminally underrated on this board. You guys have no idea how important he is to the penalty kill unit, as well as the defense core as a whole. I agree he should not be getting top pairing minutes, but what other options does Hynes have? Greene should ideally be on the 3rd pair, playing on the PK, averaging about 18 minutes a night. He averages 21 minutes per game this season.

 

[MadDevil]

Vatanen is not our best dman lol.

Then who is?

 

[beekay414]

Vatanen is not our best dman lol.

mmkay