Devils 2019 offseason team discussion (news and notes) XI
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Billdo
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I actually very much like this but I'd switch Zacha and Boqvist. Pretty sure Boqvist is almost exclusively a LW and IIRC Zacha played some RW in Sarnia, at the very least he played the offside on the PP. Smith worries me as a top pairing guy right out of the gate though.
He can always move back, and really that would be the long range projection given Zajac is 34.
But I do like the 2 most common incarnations of Zacha on wing. With Zajac you are looking at lock down line that will have plenty of responsibilities. With Hughes he would, imo, be a part wing, part center type, being responsible to help Hughes acclimate, but he'd also enjoy the benefits of playing with an offensive talent of Hughes' ability.
And those power moves that we saw during the season, 2 legit highlight goals, and by far his most impressive, were both wing type drives to the net.
Aight I'll rephrase it.
Wood was 4th on the team in 5v5 primary assists, 3rd amongst fwd's. Ahead of Nico, Zajac, Coleman, and Palms. Aside from Nico, the other 3 all played at least 10 more games then Wood.
Jack Be Quick
Hasek Is Right
I'm very in to this roster with a few tweeks.
Hall-Hischier-Bratt - proven to be successful together
Zacha-Hughes-Palms - Zacha leaps forward, works down low, and finally unleashes that shot, covers for Jack's D and faceoff disparities, Palms just drops bombs
Boqvist-Zajac-Simmonds - Zajac does Travs things, Boqvist maneuvers around all of the people, Simmonds swallows rebounds and blasts dudes when appropriate
I also hope Butcher improves and can step up in to the 2nd pairing role at some point during the season.
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Jack Be Quick
Hasek Is Right
He will be lost otherwise.
He's not supplanting Zajac yet and his confidence and trade value will be ruined on the 4th line.
He plays middle 6 LW or is traded. There are literally no other options unless - lord forbid - Nico, Jack, or Taylor go down.
That's a pretty stacked lineup, and still has a couple decent depth guys in Rooney and Hayden, plus guys like Seney, Bastian and Mcleod in Bingo.
Young though so I'm sure there will be some rough patches, but the talent, and the depth looks very encouraging.
Not entirely Devils related, but I thought this was funny...
JrFischer54
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- Apr 4, 2017
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JrFischer54
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- Apr 4, 2017
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If hall tells the team he isn’t resigning then the only way he is traded is if this team isn’t in a playoff race. If they are in a playoff race they will keep him try and make the playoffs and maybe win a round or something. They aren’t going to trade him at the deadline or before that for a first round pick a meh prospect or a second round pick. I would agree with their decision to keep him at that point and try to make the playoffs.
Brooklyndevil
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That’s why you move him sooner than later. Don’t wait to see if we’re a playoff team.
D3vilsH0ck3y
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- Jun 10, 2013
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I wholeheartedly disagree. The minute he says he wants to play elsewhere they should trade him. This teams cup window and his aspirations may not match. That is ok, no hard feeling but they better cash in and get something for him.
I personally don't give a shit anymore. If he doesn't give you a definite by a few weeks before camp trade his ass. Fine with me tbh. I dont want the distraction here with our young guys
Hall is not going to tell the team that he wants to play elsewhere. Why on earth would he do that?
Billdo
Registered User
I don't think it's that outlandish for him to tell Shero something along the lines of "Hey, I don't really have any intentions on signing an extension here" if he has any sort of rapport with Shero...
glenwo2
JESPER BRATWURST
Well they weren't called "The Kids and The Hall" for nothing, you know?
Man...both Zacha and Palms are going to get sweet passes to spots where they can shoot, courtesy of Hughes. CAN'T WAIT!
I hope Boqvist makes the team. You can never have too many Jespers.
I guess, but I imagine that if Hall wouldn’t consider the Devils as a UFA, it would be because the team goes belly up yet again. In that case you trade him at the deadline because bad teams trade pending UFAs at the trade deadline.
- Oct 22, 2002
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Wood > Zacha.
Wood should get first crack at left wing on Hughes line. Wood is a better scorer and better skater to keep up with Hughes. Wood is also more physical and better on the boards to dig pucks out. If someone takes a run at Hughes, you know Wood is going to protect him. I can't see Zacha doing that despite his physical gifts. Zacha plays soft for his size.
Wood should get first crack at left wing on Hughes line. Wood is a better scorer and better skater to keep up with Hughes. Wood is also more physical and better on the boards to dig pucks out. If someone takes a run at Hughes, you know Wood is going to protect him. I can't see Zacha doing that despite his physical gifts. Zacha plays soft for his size.
I don’t think Hall ever takes a hard position unless he is pushed by Shero at some point. It doesn’t have to be ugly or confrontational. Shero can roll out a nice offer and at some point when he gets no firm response from Ferris ask for a candid response. Even then I’d expect Hall to at worst say he doesn’t want to think about it until after the season. I am starting to think Shero is ok with Hall playing out his deal. Shero has a bit of a go for it team this season with Hall Simmonds Greene and Vats all unsigned for next season. That’s a lot of established and respected NHL talent that could walk for nothing at the end of the season. I don’t think he traded for Subban and signed Simmonds to dump Hall if he won’t sign an extension. Just a guess but we will see as the season unfolds. It would be nice if Hall just signs before camp starts so this won’t a story as the season unfolds.
Devil X
Call me Nostradamus
I just feel like I would be totally shocked if Hall signs before the start of the season.
I’m sure he is bought into the season and ready to compete. But the guy has said over and over he’s tired of not making the playoffs. Can the Devils make the playoffs? Sure. But Hall needs to feel it’s a team that isn’t one and done again and has staying power. He won’t get that sense until games are played. That means we start the season with him unsigned.
No clue where it goes from there but just as much as I would be shocked he signs before the season, I’ll be shocked if he is traded before the season.
So all you trade mongers are going to have to wait I think until Dec/Jan or the deadline. Just a gut feeling he will re-sign during the season.
I’m sure he is bought into the season and ready to compete. But the guy has said over and over he’s tired of not making the playoffs. Can the Devils make the playoffs? Sure. But Hall needs to feel it’s a team that isn’t one and done again and has staying power. He won’t get that sense until games are played. That means we start the season with him unsigned.
No clue where it goes from there but just as much as I would be shocked he signs before the season, I’ll be shocked if he is traded before the season.
So all you trade mongers are going to have to wait I think until Dec/Jan or the deadline. Just a gut feeling he will re-sign during the season.
JrFischer54
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The return for hall isn’t going some massive haul like many think. I know something is better then nothing but again unless this team isn’t in a playoff chase they aren’t moving him. A late first rounder and meh throw in isn’t going to move the needle for players management and esp ownership that is just a fact. Again they don’t green light a suban trade to just throw it away if the team is in a playoff chase and hall isn’t signed. That just makes no sense at all. I can fully see hall playing this year out and signing during the summer IF this team makes the playoffs.
JrFischer54
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Again if this team is in a playoff race they aren’t moving him it’s that simple. If the team is in the basement? That’s another story.
He definitely isn’t being traded in the summer or x amount of time into the season.
I do too, but are there enough minutes to go around for Nico - Hughes - Zajac - Zacha down the middle?
Zajac and Zacha should both continue to get PP & PK time this season regardless, while Nico may get increased PK time depending on how the rest of the roster shakes out. Hughes will obviously only see time on the PP and may get sheltered minutes overall depending on how he adapts to the NHL.
Zacha had 16:05 in ice time last season and I'd rather not see that go down that much. If you have someone like Boqvist on the line though that can score, it would be some nice depth to roll out.
Masisak is supposed to ask Hynes relatively soon about whether he sees Zacha playing C or LW this season - will be interesting to hear his thoughts. I'm still up in the air about it - think Zacha is best utilized at C given his defense, but would be interested to see if he could really breakout scoring on a line with Hughes, while helping him defensively and on faceoffs.
JrFischer54
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Because that type of void it would create from leadership worked perfectly in Edmonton.
I suspect Hynes doesn't even know yet either.
We can debate this up, down, left, right, all day, and all night, but no-one knows the answer until the preseason, where we'll actually get to try different combos and see who meshes.
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