Devils 2019 offseason team discussion (news and notes) XI

[Triumph]

Not really. "Where will Simmonds play?" Is a pretty decent question, and he could have said something about where he might fit.

He did. He named the top 3 centers. Simmonds could end up playing on all of those lines by season's end.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Bratt-Hughes-Simmonds
Wood-Zajac-Zacha
Coleman-McLeod-Rooney

Is how id start opening night with what we currently have. I may be missing someone though lol

 

[Billdo]

I'm intrigued by the idea of a Wood-Zacha-Bastian line. That's a really big, heavy line, with some speed.

 

[Nubmer6]

I'm intrigued by the idea of a Wood-Zacha-Bastian line. That's a really big, heavy line, with some speed.

Yeah... me too. I'm not sure we'll ever see it, but just the thought of it makes me smile.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I believe the only big move left is getting Hall signed.

 

[My3Sons]

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Bratt-Hughes-Simmonds
Wood-Zajac-Zacha
Coleman-McLeod-Rooney

Is how id start opening night with what we currently have. I may be missing someone though lol

I’d expect Coleman to be on the third line. Maybe playing the RW with PZ and Zajac? If McLeod is to be the 4C it might make sense to play him with Wood and send them out there to skate around like maniacs and push the pace for 45-60 seconds when the game allows. I’d try and find another big fast slightly crazed RW to join them. I guess BASTIAN could do it but he’s not the skater the other two are and I’d like to think he’d be better off in BING working on his offensive game to allow him a shot at a career as a middle six winger rather than a bottom six winger. Good thoughts by you and you probably aren’t that far off.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

I’d expect Coleman to be on the third line. Maybe playing the RW with PZ and Zajac? If McLeod is to be the 4C it might make sense to play him with Wood and send them out there to skate around like maniacs and push the pace for 45-60 seconds when the game allows. I’d try and find another big fast slightly crazed RW to join them. I guess BASTIAN could do it but he’s not the skater the other two are and I’d like to think he’d be better off in BING working on his offensive game to allow him a shot at a career as a middle six winger rather than a bottom six winger. Good thoughts by you and you probably aren’t that far off.

I also felt the same of Coleman but once I thought about it, Wood is the younger player by four years and so I figured they might try to get him going on the third. Plus with Coleman we know he can produce from any line so the difference in having him on the 4th vs Wood on the 4th is a deal breaker IMO. Coleman has the tools to be a 4th liner while Wood isnt exactly a two-way player, he needs to be one of the factors of having a strong grinding offensive 3rd line while Zajac and Zacha do the heavy lifting defensively.

Plus Coleman would be an amazing mentor for McLeod IMO. Since Michael’s looking like he may end up a bottom-6 center

 

[Devil X]

Im fairly confident McLeod starts as 4C and unless he tanks, he sticks I think.

Im also confident Boqvist doesnt make it this year but instead playing in Sweden or the AHL (one is VASTLY better for him than the other). Itd be far too much to ask for him to learn the small ice in the NHL.

I’m fairly certain that McLeod will have to out play Rooney and he won’t. Because at this moment I think Rooney is the 4th line center. Mikey needs more time on the A.

It also would not shock me one bit if a vet center is in on a training camp invite.

 

[My3Sons]

I also felt the same of Coleman but once I thought about it, Wood is the younger player by four years and so I figured they might try to get him going on the third. Plus with Coleman we know he can produce from any line so the difference in having him on the 4th vs Wood on the 4th is a deal breaker IMO. Coleman has the tools to be a 4th liner while Wood isnt exactly a two-way player, he needs to be one of the factors of having a strong grinding offensive 3rd line while Zajac and Zacha do the heavy lifting defensively.

Plus Coleman would be an amazing mentor for McLeod IMO. Since Michael’s looking like he may end up a bottom-6 center

It might get crazy if Shero manages to add another middle six winger before the season starts.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

I’m fairly certain that McLeod will have to out play Rooney and he won’t. Because at this moment I think Rooney is the 4th line center. Mikey needs more time on the A.

It also would not shock me one bit if a vet center is in on a training camp invite.

While I dont necessarily disagree, I think McLeod should be given a few games to start the year unless he has a bad couple camps.

My roster was for opening night to be fair

 

[TZdevils]

McLeod is not ready for the jump...It will be better for his development playing top 6 minutes in Bingo.

 

[BurntToast]

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Bratt-Hughes-Simmonds
Wood-Zajac-Zacha
Coleman-McLeod-Rooney

Is how id start opening night with what we currently have. I may be missing someone though lol

I can’t foresee the Devils bumping Coleman for Wood. I love Wood but he was a bit of a mess last year. Maybe he gets a shot with Hughes because of his speed and toughness. The real question marks are 1RW, 2LW and the 4th line.

Hall-Hischier-(Bratt/Palms)
??-Hughes-Palms/Simmonds
Coleman-Zajac-Wood/Simmonds

Possibilities for 2LW:

Zacha
Boqvist
Coleman
Bratt
Wood

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

I can’t foresee the Devils bumping Coleman for Wood. I love Wood but he was a bit of a mess last year. Maybe he gets a shot with Hughes because of his speed and toughness. The real question marks are 1RW, 2LW and the 4th line.

Hall-Hischier-(Bratt/Palms)
??-Hughes-Palms/Simmonds
Coleman-Zajac-Wood/Simmonds

Possibilities for 2LW:

Zacha
Boqvist
Coleman
Bratt
Wood

The RWs are pretty much set.

Palmieri/Simmonds are 1-2 and if Simmonds needs to go down to the bottom-6, you slide him down and Bratt to 2RW and have one of Coleman/Zacha/Wood play 2LW.

Top-6 isnt an issue when compared to 1LD

 

[TheDuke93]

The RWs are pretty much set.

Palmieri/Simmonds are 1-2 and if Simmonds needs to go down to the bottom-6, you slide him down and Bratt to 2RW and have one of Coleman/Zacha/Wood play 2LW.

Top-6 isnt an issue when compared to 1LD

I would love too see something like this.
Hall-Nico-Palmieri
Zacha-Hughes-Bratt
Boqvist-Zajac-Simmonds

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

I would love too see something like this.
Hall-Nico-Palmieri
Zacha-Hughes-Bratt
Boqvist-Zajac-Simmonds

I dont see Boqvist making that big of a jump to small ice AND the big league. Hed have to be amazing for that to happen, like the best performance by a prospect for us in a while.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Im fairly confident McLeod starts as 4C and unless he tanks, he sticks I think.

Im also confident Boqvist doesnt make it this year but instead playing in Sweden or the AHL (one is VASTLY better for him than the other). Itd be far too much to ask for him to learn the small ice in the NHL.

I'm intrigued by the idea of a Wood-Zacha-Bastian line. That's a really big, heavy line, with some speed.

I can assure both of you that both McLeod and Bastian will be in the AHL for the large majority of this season. They aren't even close on the depth chart to be honest, unless they have incredible training camps - which isn't likely.

They will most likely only spent time in the NHL if there is a good chunk of injuries at the same time.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

I can assure both of you that both McLeod and Bastian will be in the AHL for the large majority of this season. They aren't even close on the depth chart to be honest, unless they have incredible training camps - which isn't likely.

Who exactly is ahead of McLeod for center prospects to make the team next year?

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Who exactly is ahead of McLeod for center prospects to make the team next year?

1. Hall
2. Hischier
3. Hughes
4. Bratt
5. Palmieri
6. Zacha
7. Zajac
8. Simmonds
9. Coleman
10. Wood
11. Hayden
12. Rooney
13. Probably Boqvist
14. Seney/Anderson in all likelihood are both ahead of McLeod on the depth chart.

And that's if they carry 14 forwards instead of 13.

And this is also if the Devils don't make one more addition at forward - which I have heard from somebody connected to the team that they plan on it. Just waiting for the right opportunity to arise and the right time to strike. They have their attention on Nikita Gusev from Vegas but nothing done yet, obviously. Ray is likely waiting for Vegas to get more desperate as the season gets closer and therefore the cost to acquire Gusev would be cheaper. And if not a deal with Vegas, there are many other cap-strapped teams out there that will have some maneuvering to do once their RFAs are signed.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I dont see Boqvist making that big of a jump to small ice AND the big league. Hed have to be amazing for that to happen, like the best performance by a prospect for us in a while.

What are you talking about? Jesper Bratt literally did it 2 seasons ago. Bratt was a 6th round pick and it was his draft +2 year. Boqvist was a 36th overall pick and this will be his draft +3 year.

It is pretty telling sign that he was assigned his #90 for development camp. Usually a good indicator of who management believes is a good bet to make the NHL roster.

 

[Missionhockey]

Im fairly confident McLeod starts as 4C and unless he tanks, he sticks I think.

Im also confident Boqvist doesnt make it this year but instead playing in Sweden or the AHL (one is VASTLY better for him than the other). Itd be far too much to ask for him to learn the small ice in the NHL.

I think if it comes down to someone like Rooney or McLeod, I’d rather have McLeod in the AHL. He had an okay year in the AHL and he needs to build on it. Learning to play RW wouldn’t hurt either.

 

[Missionhockey]

What are you talking about? Jesper Bratt literally did it 2 seasons ago. Bratt was a 6th round pick and it was his draft +2 year. Boqvist was a 36th overall pick and this will be his draft +3 year.

It is pretty telling sign that he was assigned his #90 for development camp. Usually a good indicator of who management believes is a good bet to make the NHL roster.

Boqvist looked really good out there too. He has some slick hands.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Boqvist looked really good out there too. He has some slick hands.

He also had one shot that the crowd proceeding to gasp at how fluent and quick the release was. He looks somewhat similar to Marcus Johansson on the ice.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

1. Hall
2. Hischier
3. Hughes
4. Bratt
5. Palmieri
6. Zacha
7. Zajac
8. Simmonds
9. Coleman
10. Wood
11. Hayden
12. Rooney
13. Probably Boqvist
14. Seney/Anderson in all likelihood are both ahead of McLeod on the depth chart.

And that's if they carry 14 forwards instead of 13.

And this is also if the Devils don't make one more addition at forward - which I have heard from somebody connected to the team that they plan on it. Just waiting for the right opportunity to arise and the right time to strike. They have their attention on Nikita Gusev from Vegas but nothing done yet, obviously. Ray is likely waiting for Vegas to get more desperate as the season gets closer and therefore the cost to acquire Gusev would be cheaper. And if not a deal with Vegas, there are many other cap-strapped teams out there that will have some maneuvering to do once their RFAs are signed.

Boqvist and Anderson dont play center, and Seney is in no way better than McLeod...

I was talking about center prospects, not the NHL roster. Hayden is the only one you could argue but I dont see it. Rooney isn't a prospect.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

What are you talking about? Jesper Bratt literally did it 2 seasons ago. Bratt was a 6th round pick and it was his draft +2 year. Boqvist was a 36th overall pick and this will be his draft +3 year.

It is pretty telling sign that he was assigned his #90 for development camp. Usually a good indicator of who management believes is a good bet to make the NHL roster.

So we're just simply expecting another Jesper Bratt-esque transition? That seems pretty tricky but its not like Im going to argue if he makes it lol. He certainly has the skill.

I think he would get 90 in the AHL btw so that shouldn't make a difference. I thought the AHL guys are wearing their AHL numbers if I saw them correctly today but maybe im wrong. I dont read too much into that.

 

[Nico the Draft Riser]

I think if it comes down to someone like Rooney or McLeod, I’d rather have McLeod in the AHL. He had an okay year in the AHL and he needs to build on it. Learning to play RW wouldn’t hurt either.

Again, I was suggesting letting McLeod start the season as 4C if he has a good camp as hes expected too (hes a veteran at this point with them). Give him however many games and IMO I think he could stick. Id let Rooney play RW but this all is if Boqvist doesn't make it. Even then Id want McLeod getting some games to start - its not always about earning the games but sometimes you want to try and push them along, get their confidence up. He'd be 4C not like were throwing him to the wolves in the top-6