Devils 2021 team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part XXVII

[Spoiled Bratt]

Lmfao find me reputable rankings that have Luke below 5

I saw Bob the hack McKenzie put him 10th, same guy who said 'half the league has Kakko better than Jack'

Bob McKenzie doesn't have his own rankings and takes the pulse of 15 or 20 Gm's and their scouting staff. If he's the 5th best prospect and we're taking 5th, we'll take him because he's the 5th best prospect... not because they're siblings.

It's pretty easy to understand. Bloodlines shouldn't impact our decision, at all and if you think it should, well you're wrong.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I want to make it known as well, anyone still looking to move or get rid of PK is out to lunch or showing their hand on their true feelings.

There is no logical reason for us to move him, none moreso than the fact he essentially makes up 50% of our salary cap currently and there is a floor we have to reach.

He’s been damn good for us lately. I don’t get the negativity and I never will.

I can understand the negativety given last year's play but there's no question who the leader on this year's team has been - and the scapegoating of PK Subban is completely off-base.

Prior to the season I would have been in the camp that hoped Subban would be exposed in the expansion draft; hoping the Kraken might take him.

He has resurrected his career this season.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Have people discussed all the RFA deals Fitz needs to hand out before the Expansion Draft?

Going by the Cap Friendly Seattle Expansion Draft tool these following RFAs need to under contract to fit the requirements that allow the Devils to make them one of the two forwards exposed or one of the seven forwards protected: Kuokkanen, Sharagovich, McLeod and Bastian (plus Merkley if he plays 9 more of the remaining NHL games). (Unless I don’t understand the rules, which is a real possibility, but I believe that’s what Corey in the Athletic said we would have to do.)

So if Johnsson is exposed we need to sign one of these guys to expose them. And obviously Fitz needs to sign Kuokkanen, Sharagovich and the other forward (McLeod?) they would give the three forward slots to. (Nico, Bratt, Zacha and Wood being the obvious four.)

Seattle can also claim Murray, they can claim UFAs and then they have a 48 hour window to negotiate a deal with that player.

Seattle Expansion Draft Simulator - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Midseason Devils report: The tough decisions looming ahead of Seattle expansion draft

It would make sense that qualified RFA would be the same as a signed player. If all RFAs held out ala Bratt the team would be screwed

 

[Guttersniped]

Luke Hughes is going top-5

if you think otherwise youre just a hipster who loves hyping new prospects right before the draft

i bet you thought Kakko was close to Jack too, huh?

Luke Hughes was a huge riser before his foot injury, arguably he was the hot new thing. And the foot injury could knock him down a spot or two.

I can’t speak for everyone but I can see how a team could be overly influenced by the brother thing and it’s annoying.

You don’t want to talk yourself into picking a player at the top of the draft for something not related to BPA or team need. The team actually could see him as BPA, name aside, when they draft. When we’re selecting he might clearly be BPA. It’s not like people are advocating shooting the kid in the street. Luke’s not a must draft to win Jack’s love though.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

This is from Bob Mckenzies 2021 draft rankings in December. It’s obviously outdated as Luke has had a great year and certainly raised his draft stock in most people’s eyes including my own. Bob McKenzie surveys 10 NHL scouts to make his rankings, he doesn’t make the rankings.

10. Luke Hughes: The third member of the USA Hockey Hughes clan — brothers Jack and Quinn, of course — is pretty much guaranteed to follow in their footsteps as an NHL first-rounder, but will Luke go in the Top 10 like Jack (No. 1) and Quinn (No. 7)? There’s certainly a chance. Luke has been measured at 6-foot-2, so that would make him the biggest of the three Hughes boys. And while he’s clearly an offense-first defenceman, no one is suggesting he’s as dynamic as Quinn. But there is considerable offensive upside there.

he’s almost definitely a top 10 pick now and I’m sure Mckenzies next rankings surveying NHL scouts will show that. Also as I’ve said many times before he’s a really good skater but not as good as Quinn and Jack.

 

[Eggtimer]

If Hughes is on the board when we pick and the team is wanting a D , I can see them taking Hughes over someone like Clarke if they view them close to equal potential.
Have an unbiased take and if it is marginal difference , draft Hughes is my opinion . Lie someone else said , it would suck if Jack got the impression that the Devils don’t believe in his brother and take some other D . I can see if maybe the Devils draft a forward that it won’t be such a big deal, however I hope they do pick a D with their first and go forward with the Islanders pick.

 

[Hisch13r]

This isn't a skating competition because if that was the case, Mark Stone wouldn't be in the league yet he's one of the best, if not the best, 2 way wingers in the game.

Luke Hughes is a fine looking prospect but he's not a slam dunk to be taken 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th. When you'll deal with the fact that there's better options at our disposal, everything will be just fine.

Nobody in this draft should be a slam dunk to be taken at those picks.

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

Bob McKenzie’s rankings are directly from NHL scouts. He literally surveys actual NHL scouts to make his rankings. So, to discredit his rankings is to discredit nhl scouts.

The same scouts who said Kakko was an equivalent prospect and would 'do much better' than Jack early on

real reputable

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

Bob McKenzie doesn't have his own rankings and takes the pulse of 15 or 20 Gm's and their scouting staff. If he's the 5th best prospect and we're taking 5th, we'll take him because he's the 5th best prospect... not because they're siblings.

It's pretty easy to understand. Bloodlines shouldn't impact our decision, at all and if you think it should, well you're wrong.

Oh im not wrong; you will be when they take Luke and everyone cries 'wow we drafted cause of family ties, wahh'

imagine thinking Fitzgerald is gonna pass up on a defenseman named Hughes

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

The same scouts who said Kakko was an equivalent prospect and would 'do much better' than Jack early on

real reputable

You should apply for those jobs and put on your job application that, arrachait GM and family member of Jack, Quinn and Luke Hughes.

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

This is from Bob Mckenzies 2021 draft rankings in December. It’s obviously outdated as Luke has had a great year and certainly raised his draft stock in most people’s eyes including my own. Bob McKenzie surveys 10 NHL scouts to make his rankings, he doesn’t make the rankings.

10. Luke Hughes: The third member of the USA Hockey Hughes clan — brothers Jack and Quinn, of course — is pretty much guaranteed to follow in their footsteps as an NHL first-rounder, but will Luke go in the Top 10 like Jack (No. 1) and Quinn (No. 7)? There’s certainly a chance. Luke has been measured at 6-foot-2, so that would make him the biggest of the three Hughes boys. And while he’s clearly an offense-first defenceman, no one is suggesting he’s as dynamic as Quinn. But there is considerable offensive upside there.

he’s almost definitely a top 10 pick now and I’m sure Mckenzies next rankings surveying NHL scouts will show that. Also as I’ve said many times before he’s a really good skater but not as good as Quinn and Jack.

McKenzies ranking is the lowest on all of eliteprospects

i guess we should use Clarke's than of 12th, 10th, and 8th

 

[Captain3rdLine]

The same scouts who said Kakko was an equivalent prospect and would 'do much better' than Jack early on

real reputable

These are NHL scouts. The people who are getting paid by NHL teams to watch these kids. They’ve watched these prospects more than anyone and have tons of experience scouting. Bob McKenzie’s rankings should carry more weight than any other persons where it’s just that person putting up their rankings because his are the combined rankings of 10 NHL scouts.
Kappo Kakko was a really good prospect and had a great draft year. It wasn’t a unreasonable opinion and most people expected him and Jack to both do better in their first season. I think Jack was the right pick but Kakko fairly joined the conversation towards the end of their draft year.

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

If Hughes is on the board when we pick and the team is wanting a D , I can see them taking Hughes over someone like Clarke if they view them close to equal potential.
Have an unbiased take and if it is marginal difference , draft Hughes is my opinion . Lie someone else said , it would suck if Jack got the impression that the Devils don’t believe in his brother and take some other D . I can see if maybe the Devils draft a forward that it won’t be such a big deal, however I hope they do pick a D with their first and go forward with the Islanders pick.

No one sees it that way; they hear 'draft Luke' go 'wow drafting for bloodlines' and then excuse the fact that theyre going to be very closely ranked and you 1000% of the time take the brother in that instance

Not to mention Power likely goes 1-2 and NJ wont be picking 1-2 most likely. If Fitzgerald took Clarke over Hughes, not only would the fan base and media rip him, Jack would be pissed, and id honestly Love to see Jack comment negatively on it and watch the entire prt of the fan base whos Pejorative Slured say Jack can hit the road if hes upset

 

[Captain3rdLine]

McKenzies ranking is the lowest on all of eliteprospects

i guess we should use Clarke's than of 12th, 10th, and 8th

I’m not even sure what you’re trying to say. The 10 NHL scouts surveyed had Clarke 5th and none of them ranked him lower than 7th. Obviously as I said these rankings are outdated

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

I’m not even sure what you’re trying to say. The 10 NHL scouts surveyed had Clarke 5th and none of them ranked him lower than 7th.

Idgaf about McKenzies rankings, stop bringing them up. Its a hack of a ranking every year that favors storylines over actual talent

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Idgaf about McKenzies rankings, stop bringing them up. Its a hack of a ranking every year that favors storylines over actual talent

Let’s make something clear. They’re not really Mckenzies rankings. They’re the combined rankings of 10 nhl scouts. I’ll keep bringing them up because they should carry more weight than any other rankings. They are outdated however.

Storylines really? Like drafting Luke because he’s Jack’s brother. If they favoured storylines Luke Hughes would be first overall following in the footsteps of Jack and Quinn.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

No one sees it that way; they hear 'draft Luke' go 'wow drafting for bloodlines' and then excuse the fact that theyre going to be very closely ranked and you 1000% of the time take the brother in that instance

Not to mention Power likely goes 1-2 and NJ wont be picking 1-2 most likely. If Fitzgerald took Clarke over Hughes, not only would the fan base and media rip him, Jack would be pissed, and id honestly Love to see Jack comment negatively on it and watch the entire prt of the fan base whos Pejorative Slured say Jack can hit the road if hes upset

Dude, what.

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

Idgaf about McKenzies rankings, stop bringing them up. Its a hack of a ranking every year that favors storylines over actual talent

You’re right bro, you’re a scouting stud! Teams should pick your brain to get all the knowledge that’s in there.

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

You’re right bro, you’re a scouting stud! Teams should pick your brain to get all the knowledge that’s in there.

Or maybe when McKenzies ranking has Hughes the lowest of any , and its not reputable

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Or maybe when McKenzies ranking has Hughes the lowest of any , and its not reputable

Mckenzies rankings=10 NHL scouts=not reputable

 

[Hockey Fanatik]

Mckenzies rankings=10 NHL scouts=not reputable

10 out of hundreds, yes

 

[Captain3rdLine]

10 out of hundreds, yes

I’ll take 10 NHL scouts combined rankings over any other rankings where it’s just one guy who writes hockey articles giving his rankings.
That seems like common sense to me but not everyone’s great at that.

 

[TheDuke93]

Or maybe when McKenzies ranking has Hughes the lowest of any , and its not reputable

Eh I don't entirely think that's true. Kakko was an outstanding prospect and while it might seem ridiculous to most there are certainly people that would look at his size, skill and speed combo vs Jack's smaller frame and say Kakko is safer and might end up better overall. I don't agree with that at all obviously but I could absolutely understand the logic behind ranking as such.

 

[Bologna 1]

Amidst another trash season overall, it's nice to see Subban playing some great hockey. Say what you want, and I know there are haters here, but if anyone says he hasnt pretty much been bringing it most nights since the start is nonsense. Is he a $9 million player? No. But is he playing like a legit top pair dman? Yep.

 

[Guttersniped]

This isn't a skating competition because if that was the case, Mark Stone wouldn't be in the league yet he's one of the best, if not the best, 2 way wingers in the game.

Luke Hughes is a fine looking prospect but he's not a slam dunk to be taken 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th. When you'll deal with the fact that there's better options at our disposal, everything will be just fine.

I don’t disagree with your point in general but skating does matter and if a player can’t keep up with the play it doesn’t matter how talented they are.

Plus Mark Stone was drafted in the 6th round, was very much a late round boom/bust pick, has a bonkers high hockey IQ plus skill, was a terrible skater, has a legendary work ethic that he applied endlessly to his skating post draft and his first full season in the NHL was his D+5 season. Stone isn’t an exactly a normal draft pick.