Devils 2021 offseason (news, notes and speculation) - part IV

[NJDevs26]

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[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

I wonder if we could look at acquiring Vince Dunn for the Islanders 1st round pick?

I think that is too much to pay for a bottom pairing defenseman.
I'm not convinced Dunn can handle more responsibility. He was a healthy scratch during the past season at times.

If the Islanders pick is used in a potential Tarasenko deal and Dunn is part of the package, then that would be fine.

But a one for one swap - Dunn for Islanders 1st round draft pick. I would rather keep the pick.

 

[Eggtimer]

I really hope Fitz adds a winger or two that can help on the PP and PK . Danault would be the type of player I’d like for the PK and defensive assignments / key faceoffs but his recent playoff run will inflate his asking price .
I’m not sold in Tatar as I’m hoping for someone like Meier Fiala Tarasenko Gaudreau Monahan but those guys will cost too much I’m thinking

After expansion draft / entry draft / UFA I hope like hell one or more of the players listed above or Foote / Fleury / Hamilton Jones / Dumba / Larsson / ??? is added to the roster

 

[TrufleShufle]

As far as forwards go it's tough, I think we either need a top line talent or hand pick a guy like Coleman who can play up if need be, but is on board and perfectly comfortable being pushed down the line and doing his job. I really want to stay away from middle 6 wingers who become less effective if (and hopefully when) they get pushed down the line up by younger guys.

Honestly, I would be ok with a depth/just in case signing up front and focusing all on D to allow the young guys to show what they can do and then address the holes as needed.

 

[Hisch13r]

I think that is too much to pay for a bottom pairing defenseman.
I'm not convinced Dunn can handle more responsibility. He was a healthy scratch during the past season at times.

If the Islanders pick is used in a potential Tarasenko deal and Dunn is part of the package, then that would be fine.

But a one for one swap - Dunn for Islanders 1st round draft pick. I would rather keep the pick.

I think Dunn could handle more but I'm not moving a first for a question mark. I don't really want Tarasenko either because he's another question mark at this point

 

[Forge]

I mostly expect us to stay the course like we did last year. I don't expect anything major and I certainly don't expect us to be in on the likes of Fiala / Timo. I could see us grab a youngish change of scenery type (Dunn, debrusk), and an effective vet who is priced out. We will grab a goalie and be active in free agency for depth. I don't expect big deals. I think we will make the Islanders pick; don't think we will trade it

 

[Satans Hockey]

I'm trying to be more positive about this team in general but I find it difficult, I think the season will end up being 21-22 - well at least I was back in the arena in my seats, yay normalcy. Would love nothing more than to be wrong though.

 

[Offseason Champs]

I still say depending on growth in key players and potential overperformance there is noise to be made in the division. It’ll be interesting to see exactly what Nico’s next step taken will be, since his season was a total disaster through little fault of his own.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I think that is too much to pay for a bottom pairing defenseman.
I'm not convinced Dunn can handle more responsibility. He was a healthy scratch during the past season at times.

If the Islanders pick is used in a potential Tarasenko deal and Dunn is part of the package, then that would be fine.

But a one for one swap - Dunn for Islanders 1st round draft pick. I would rather keep the pick.

Agreed, a 1st rounder for Dunn is absurd.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Tarasenko is an enormous question mark after his injuries and IMO it's time to stop gambling on question marks. I'm tired of the bargain bin rejects. If you're only willing to pay discount prices then you're only going to get discount players.

I'd rather pay a higher price for a Tkachuk, Reinhart, or Boesser because you know what you're getting with those guys. Better than rolling the dice and hoping you don't get another Subban.

 

[Maine Fan]

Tad Brown is the new CEO for the Devils and 76ers. He is a basketball guy.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

I wonder what the price would be for Steven Stamkos if he agrees to waive his NMC.

 

[MartyOwns]

I wonder what the price would be for Steven Stamkos if he agrees to waive his NMC.

i'm sure he'll be traded to the rangers for a 6th round pick and a ham sandwich

 

[Nico Hughes]

I mostly expect us to stay the course like we did last year. I don't expect anything major and I certainly don't expect us to be in on the likes of Fiala / Timo. I could see us grab a youngish change of scenery type (Dunn, debrusk), and an effective vet who is priced out. We will grab a goalie and be active in free agency for depth. I don't expect big deals. I think we will make the Islanders pick; don't think we will trade it

'Staying the course' would be detrimental to the team at this point

You cant continue to remove players from the main roster and never replace them - that is exactly how we end up the next Oilers or Sabres.

Im not suggesting we need to break the bank or move all our future picks and prospects.. but we cannot sit idol and simply not improve the roster. Otherwise youre setting up your team to fail for yet another season

 

[TrufleShufle]

'Staying the course' would be detrimental to the team at this point

You cant continue to remove players from the main roster and never replace them - that is exactly how we end up the next Oilers or Sabres.

Im not suggesting we need to break the bank or move all our future picks and prospects.. but we cannot sit idol and simply not improve the roster. Otherwise youre setting up your team to fail for yet another season

I get the fear, but Oilers are staying the course with two insane players playing at peak performance and not much else to help them, us staying the course is allowing the boat load of kids we have progress into what we hope they will become.

 

[Nico Hughes]

I get the fear, but Oilers are staying the course with two insane players playing at peak performance and not much else to help them, us staying the course is allowing the boat load of kids we have progress into what we hope they will become.

Adding a player or two doesnt prevent the entire roster of kids we have from improving and creating competition

Adding, quite literally, nobody to this roster ensures we will pick top-10 again.

How is that at all fair to the youth who we supposedly believe in? Essentially admitting 'yeah we arent good enough yet, no chance at playoffs for you guys this year'

Our team as currently constructed would be picking 5-7. Not adding to the roster simply because were young is pretty ridiculous IMO

 

[Nico Hughes]

Im all for building through the draft as we have been and letting guys grow. But to suggest not to add anyone and act as if its even remotely in our best interest..

To me it comes off as NHL 21 GM Mode shenanigans. This isnt a video game, these guys overalls dont just rise each year without any supplemental talent or help.

Weve already, perhaps, gone overboard with removing every single talent over 27 (Zajacs words should speak volumes). Lets not take that two steps further and go the entire nezt season or two with not one outside talent.

weve already wasted what, 50+ mil in cap dollars since 2015 (in terms of dollars we could have spent and received back by now on expiring contracts). That isnt acceptable and is in part why Shero was let go (including not firing Hynes)

 

[TrufleShufle]

Adding a player or two doesnt prevent the entire roster of kids we have from improving and creating competition

Adding, quite literally, nobody to this roster ensures we will pick top-10 again.

How is that at all fair to the youth who we supposedly believe in? Essentially admitting 'yeah we arent good enough yet, no chance at playoffs for you guys this year'

Our team as currently constructed would be picking 5-7. Not adding to the roster simply because were young is pretty ridiculous IMO

In no way am I saying "don't add anyone period." I said, sole focus should be D with possibly the right forward signing/trade , someone who is an absolute no brainer top line, or someone who will be productive playing lower 6 if and hopefully when they are forced to. I personally just don't want anything in between up front.

 

[Nico Hughes]

In no way am I saying "don't add anyone period." I said, sole focus should be D with possibly the right forward signing/trade , someone who is an absolute no brainer top line, or someone who will be productive playing lower 6 if and hopefully when they are forced to. I personally just don't want anything in between up front.

The post I originally commented towards was suggesting we dont add anyone but a low-end plug, or even nobody at all

This offseason is the beginning of when we should look to acquiring serious talent. Adding a fourth liner does nothing to improve Jack or Ty or MacKenzie. The only line that is set right now is Bratt-Hischier-Zacha, on the entire roster.

 

[Nico Hughes]

And I wasnt trying to get literal in saying 'we wont add anybody'

Ill rephrase - we should be adding a level of talent that isnt just 'oh we can flip him at the deadline'. We need to be adding top-6/top-4 talents when we can, not just picking up a free agent third line who we fully intend to sell off when were shit again.

If the goal is to let the team coast until, out of the blue, all our youngsters are studs.. well we will be waiting all the way until we draft 1st overall again in 2030.

And again, we dont have to add three big pieces now. But if we go this offseason without adding a single name to the club where we go 'oof, wonder what we paid to get him/sign him', then perhaps Fitzgerald took too much from the Shero school of refusing to use cap space and draft assets

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

weve already wasted what, 50+ mil in cap dollars since 2015 (in terms of dollars we could have spent and received back by now on expiring contracts).

I disagree. That is how you become the Flyers - not good enough to win consistently now and they do not have potential stars in the system since they picked lower by signing players like JVR and Hayes.

 

[MartyOwns]

weve already wasted what, 50+ mil in cap dollars since 2015 (in terms of dollars we could have spent and received back by now on expiring contracts). That isnt acceptable and is in part why Shero was let go (including not firing Hynes)

and had we spent that money on middling vets that don't move the needle, we wouldn't have the bounty of prospects we do now, with an insane amount of cap flexibility. shero wasn't perfect, but he fell on the sword. somebody was going to have to scrape the shit off the bottom of the boat, including buyouts of players lou traded for or signed that ultimately turned out to be awful.

fitz walked into a great situation, and while i don't want him to overpay for UFA's, i trust him to make some shrewd moves that are low risk/medium reward. he's basically killing time while we wait for the flowers to bloom.

 

[Triumph]

And I wasnt trying to get literal in saying 'we wont add anybody'

Ill rephrase - we should be adding a level of talent that isnt just 'oh we can flip him at the deadline'. We need to be adding top-6/top-4 talents when we can, not just picking up a free agent third line who we fully intend to sell off when were shit again.

If the goal is to let the team coast until, out of the blue, all our youngsters are studs.. well we will be waiting all the way until we draft 1st overall again in 2030.

And again, we dont have to add three big pieces now. But if we go this offseason without adding a single name to the club where we go 'oof, wonder what we paid to get him/sign him', then perhaps Fitzgerald took too much from the Shero school of refusing to use cap space and draft assets

If you think that's the Shero school, you were playing hooky. The Devils used draft assets a ton with Shero as GM.

The Devils do not have superstars yet. Hughes might be one. You can't get frivolous with draft capital until you have one of these.

 

[Nico Hughes]

I disagree. That is how you become the Flyers - not good enough to win consistently now and they do not have potential stars in the system since they picked lower by signing players like JVR and Hayes.

and had we spent that money on middling vets that don't move the needle, we wouldn't have the bounty of prospects we do now, with an insane amount of cap flexibility. shero wasn't perfect, but he fell on the sword. somebody was going to have to scrape the shit off the bottom of the boat, including buyouts of players lou traded for or signed that ultimately turned out to be awful.

fitz walked into a great situation, and while i don't want him to overpay for UFA's, i trust him to make some shrewd moves that are low risk/medium reward. he's basically killing time while we wait for the flowers to bloom.

I wasnt suggesting we should have spent up to the cap those years. Hardly.

Im arguing against the fact that we have, for the better part of a decade now, had absolutely no outside talent worth noting signed to a deal (besides PK but he was washed). Palmieri was our last genuine pickup. That was in.. 2014? 2015?

Were now going to be under the cap floor even after signing RFAs. This year is the perfect year to start investing in a player or two each season, because if you dont spread out contracts than youre going to have major issues moving cap space later on when were contenders.

The club has spent the least amount of cap dollars in the league since our 2012 Cup run, if I remember correctly (read in an article somewhere). Granted losing Kovalchuk likely made this possible, but even then thats bad cap management for a team with owners in the top-10 for riches.

If we enter the season at only a mil or two above the floor, then I know Fitzgerald and co. Werent serious about trying to make a wild card spot this year

 

[Nico Hughes]

If you think that's the Shero school, you were playing hooky. The Devils used draft assets a ton with Shero as GM.

The Devils do not have superstars yet. Hughes might be one. You can't get frivolous with draft capital until you have one of these.

The fact that spending any cap at all is considered 'frivolous' is exactly what Im talking about

when did the NHL become a 'spend nothing if youre rebuilding, spend everything if youre contending'?. We cant improve the roster at all because its being too 'frivolous'?