Devils 2020-21 team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part VIII

[LeedsMonster]

What do you guys think the cost would be for Tyler Bertuzzi or Anthony Mantha from Detroit?

 

[njdevils1982]

What do you guys think the cost would be for Tyler Bertuzzi or Anthony Mantha from Detroit?

didnt bertuzzi just have his arbitration hearing today?

 

[LeedsMonster]

didnt bertuzzi just have his arbitration hearing today?

Yeah, he got 1 yr $3.5M.

 

[Billdo]

I acknowledged that Zacha put up a lot of assists last season. What I am saying is that that is not likely to continue at that rate.

He'll have more points next year than he had this year. His point totals have gone up every year.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Detroit fans were asking for two first round picks for Mantha a few months ago, so yeah

not that they represent the organization, but yeah. I also would prefer not to deal with Yzerman.

 

[njdevils1982]

Detroit fans were asking for two first round picks for Mantha a few months ago, so yeah

not that they represent the organization, but yeah. I also would prefer not to deal with Yzerman.

2 firsts huh?

wow

 

[LeedsMonster]

Detroit fans were asking for two first round picks for Mantha a few months ago, so yeah

not that they represent the organization, but yeah. I also would prefer not to deal with Yzerman.

I wouldn't do that obviously, but something like Boqvuist a protected 1st and maybe a small + if we are in contention as I believe we will be.
Out of curiosity, why do you hold that opinion of Yzerman?

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Yeah but ideally you want a 3rd line center that is better defensively then he is and can score a bit more too.

Of course. It would be great to have a team full of great players. But it's not feasible. You need guys who can play roles, and Zacha can play an admirable bottom 6 role for cheap. Try to fill that in free agency and you are going to overpay.

This will be moot in a few years when Mercer is on the team anyway. I really believe that Mercer will surprise people.

 

[LeedsMonster]

2 firsts huh?

wow

Yeah. I'd say that's a bit delusional. Mantha is a beast but 2 1st is pretty steep

 

[LeedsMonster]

Of course. It would be great to have a team full of great players. But it's not feasible. You need guys who can play roles, and Zacha can play an admiral bottom 6 role for cheap. Try to fill that in free agency and you are going to overpay.

This will be moot in a few years when Mercer is on the team anyway. I really believe that Mercer will surprise people.

Pretty excited about Mercer myself.

 

[njdevils1982]

Of course. It would be great to have a team full of great players. But it's not feasible. You need guys who can play roles, and Zacha can play an admiral bottom 6 role for cheap. Try to fill that in free agency and you are going to overpay.

This will be moot in a few years when Mercer is on the team anyway. I really believe that Mercer will surprise people.

what position does he play….. 3rd line admiral …nice

 

[Eggtimer]

Hooray, more Zacha debates!.....

Here's the thing. A team needs a first line center, a second line center, but it also needs a third line center. Zacha is a big kid with some raw skills that, even if he doesn't tap into, makes him a very good option in that third line role. He's also young, on a cheap contract, and will continue to get cheap contracts. He's really a good fit for the bottom 6. I feel like most of the argument about wanting to get rid of him is that he never developed into a top 6 player. That's fine. You need bottom 6 players that can hack it in the league as well.

Well said !
Does it suck that Lou and Co. totally blew the pick on Zacha ? Yup.
If I remember correctly , Zajac got hurt before the draft ? Was going to be out for awhile and the Devils had zero C depth .
They took Zacha as the big body / perceived most NHL ready C .
Lou’s fault for always trying to patch the roster and picked based off of need vs. BAP.
Not Zacha’s fault he was taken when he was. Yes it’s frustrating that so many other good players could of been had at that pick but .... what the hell can you do now?
Zacha is a very good fit at 3c IMO. Skill , skill set , age , cap hit etc. are fine for what we need his role to be.
If he improves , awesome. If he doesn’t , it could be worse. We could be paying him too much and stuck with a horrible contract .

 

[TheUnseenHand]

what position does he play….. 3rd line admiral …nice

That's one of my better typos. 3rd line admiral is an awesome title.

 

[Triumph]

He'll have more points next year than he had this year. His point totals have gone up every year.

It will take a miracle given the season they're about to play. But - since some people don't seem to have grasped that an 82 game season is impossible and the owners want to play as few games as possible - I don't think he'll have more points per game. I don't think he will start on PP1, and if he's not playing with Bratt and Gusev, he will have nowhere near the same quality linemates.

 

[Auto Pilot]

Ew we kept Kowalski as a player development coach. Ew

 

[OmNomNom]

I wouldn't do that obviously, but something like Boqvuist a protected 1st and maybe a small + if we are in contention as I believe we will be.
Out of curiosity, why do you hold that opinion of Yzerman?

yzerman seems like a monster of a GM to deal with, i'm afraid he's too shrewd

also you're from leeds? you a football fan?

 

[LeedsMonster]

yzerman seems like a monster of a GM to deal with, i'm afraid he's too shrewd

also you're from leeds? you a football fan?

Lol, no. The Leeds Monster is another name for the Jersey Devil. I am a football fan though.

 

[McDuffz88]

I want to see Zacha under Ruff. It seems when motivated he steps his game up. Under Hynes he just knew he was always in the dog house, no reason to be motivated. I remember the 1st game we played against Hynes after we fired him Zacha put up 2 goals & 2 assists. He was motivated that game just to rub it in Hynes face. We also can't play him with scrubs. Whoever is centering that 3rd line wether it be Zacha or Hughes is gonna need a little help. Thats why I think we need to obtain 1 more forward whether it be free agency or a trade.

 

[MadDevil]

He'll have more points next year than he had this year. His point totals have gone up every year.

So he'll be what we want him to be in about 5 years.

 

[LeedsMonster]

I want to see Zacha under Ruff. It seems when motivated he steps his game up. Under Hynes he just knew he was always in the dog house, no reason to be motivated. I remember the 1st game we played against Hynes after we fired him Zacha put up 2 goals & 2 assists. He was motivated that game just to rub it in Hynes face. We also can't play him with scrubs. Whoever is centering that 3rd line wether it be Zacha or Hughes is gonna need a little help. Thats why I think we need to obtain 1 more forward whether it be free agency or a trade.

I hope Fitz bites the bullet and tries to sign Hoffman for 2 yrs at a slight overpay.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Ew we kept Kowalski as a player development coach. Ew

Who are Ruff’s assistants? Do we have a full staff yet?

 

[Forge]

Who are Ruff’s assistants? Do we have a full staff yet?

Chris Taylor, Mark Recchi, Nas, Dave Rogalski (goalie)

 

[glenwo2]

Chris Taylor, Mark Recchi, Nas, Dave Rogalski (goalie)

So is Nas going to coach the Defense or something?

 

[Alex NJD]

Oh man I missed our monthly Zacha debate, what a shame...

 

[TBF1972]

Hooray, more Zacha debates!.....

Here's the thing. A team needs a first line center, a second line center, but it also needs a third line center. Zacha is a big kid with some raw skills that, even if he doesn't tap into, makes him a very good option in that third line role. He's also young, on a cheap contract, and will continue to get cheap contracts. He's really a good fit for the bottom 6. I feel like most of the argument about wanting to get rid of him is that he never developed into a top 6 player. That's fine. You need bottom 6 players that can hack it in the league as well.

zacha?

just trade him for mcdavid already and be done with it.