Confirmed with Link: Devils Acquire John Marino for Ty Smith & a 2023 3rd Round Pick

[Saint Beaurivage]

Severson is gone? No, they can still sign him. I always felt Severson was soft on the boards and cannot defend around the net. I never liked him and feel he is a big part of a really bad decade. Scores a goal, then gives a goal up. No thanks.

 

[NJDevs26]

Severson is gone? No, they can still sign him. I always felt Severson was soft on the boards and cannot defend around the net. I never liked him and lots of fans feel he is a big part of a really bad decade. He scores a goal, he gives a goal up. No thanks. I always wanted him gone.

Why would they sign Severson at this point with Hamilton making $9 million, Marino making $4.4 and Nemec almost on the way, all RHD?

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

Why would they sign Severson at this point with Hamilton making $9 million, Marino making $4.4 and Nemec almost on the way, all RHD?

Got it.

 

[glenwo2]

Same situation as Tkachuk ?
I love Bratt and it would massively suck to trade him. Amazing player . But if he dicks around amd wants to walk himself to UFA , then I think you almost have to move him.
Im not saying that is what he is doing or wants to do. Just that if he does , then he is moved while we can get maximum value. Even then , I don’t think we would “win” and trade movig Bratt .
About the only player I’d be okay with in return would be a player like Tkachuk.
Hopefully he signs soon and all the worry about him is out to rest.

Yeah I'm weary from all this stress.

Just sign the 8-year contract and be done with it, Jesper.

 

[HughJazz3dg]

Possibly my favourite trade Fitz has made. Ty Smith is an awesome kid, and best of luck to him, but with Hamilton, Severson, Hughes, and Nemec, there’s no room for a defensive liability.

What makes this trade even better is all the LHD coming up for us. I was so worried that we would bring up Kevin Bahl, or Okhotiuk, or Hughes and have to throw them on the third pairing with someone like Subban. Much needed stability for our next wave of young defensemen.

Amazing off-season.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

We didn't sign Smith to a 2 year deal to be the 7th dman. He's gonna play. He's fine for the bottom pairing.

Let’s say Severson gets moved…maybe we roll 7 D with Reilly Walsh getting PP2 and easy minutes. Smith is a combination 4th line wing (he’s done it before) and gets shifts at defense when needed.

Walsh was once partners with Marino in college. I know he isn’t thought of highly on the board, but didn’t they call him the most improved player on the whole AHL team last year? Just an interesting idea.

 

[VoidCreature]

Filing for arbitration is not the same as going to a hearing. Prospects file for arbitration all the time, it almost always just sets a date that the contract needs to get done by, since neither side really wants to go to a hearing.

 

[beekay414]

Let’s say Severson gets moved…maybe we roll 7 D with Reilly Walsh getting PP2 and easy minutes. Smith is a combination 4th line wing (he’s done it before) and gets shifts at defense when needed.

Walsh was once partners with Marino in college. I know he isn’t thought of highly on the board, but didn’t they call him the most improved player on the whole AHL team last year? Just an interesting idea.

Smith does give us some flexibility since he's basically the NHL caliber version of Mason Geertsen, which is potentially the role they envision him in. I just think, as it stands, he's slotting in that 3rd pairing in some way. Fitz isn't done yet IMO.

 

[Devil made me do it]

Our defense is going to be sick for years to come. This is the type of move I like that makes sense. Not that Gaudreau crap.

 

[devilsblood]

We didn't sign Smith to a 2 year deal to be the 7th dman. He's gonna play. He's fine for the bottom pairing.

At $1.1 mil per I wouldn't rule it out.

Though I think it would require one of OK/Bahl as well as Nemec each earning their way into the lineup.

But given Smith can play both sides, it does give us plenty of options.

 

[FooteBahl]

Severson should return a 1st IMO which we could flip next offseason for a forward, LD to replace Graves if we want to ease Luke in, or a goalie depending how Blackwood looks this year

And that said team shits the bed while using 7 goalies and wins the 2OA in the lottery; hence us getting Mitchkov. One can dream…

 

[RSeen]

At $1.1 mil per I wouldn't rule it out.

Though I think it would require one of OK/Bahl as well as Nemec each earning their way into the lineup.

But given Smith can play both sides, it does give us plenty of options.

I agree. Smith is the perfect 7th D. You don't sit Bahl or OK, they need to be getting experience. We have enough depth to where we can shelter them in a third pair role.

 

[beekay414]

If Okhotyuk or Bahl push Smith to 7th D, that's nothing but great news. I'm just saying, as of today, he's not our 7th dman nor should he be expected to be.

 

[Dialamo]

What a ****ing trade folks!

 

[Triumph]

Everyone is aware that you can negotiate a contract with a player up until their arbitration hearing actually happens, right? That a player files for arbitration does not automatically mean there will be a hearing and a decision.

You can even do it after the hearing and before the arbitrator makes his ruling.

 

[RJL89]

If Okhotyuk or Bahl push Smith to 7th D, that's nothing but great news. I'm just saying, as of today, he's not our 7th dman nor should he be expected to be.

I agree, however, I think it will be Walsh who bumps him on some games. I didn't know much about B. Smith, so I looked him up & learned he fights & brings that gritty gnarl for a Dman. That's why I think depending on the team he starts over Walsh or if Walsh doesn't step up it's Smiths spot all day.

That said, I have a feeling NJ wanted Walsh up from SHREDDING it in UTICA but didn't have a good D partner for him. Now I feel Fitz has the best of both worlds after the trade by recreating the Harvard Pair or Walsh-Marino.

 

[Zippy316]

Every move Fitz has made this off-season has seemed to signal him pushing this team closer and closer to a playoff team. He’s been slowly getting rid of all the dead weight this off-season and replacing it with quality, consistent options, even if that means trading youth for experience.

There’s really no excuse going into the year. This team is four lines deep, three pairings deep, and three goalies deep. I genuinely think Fitzgerald would be content losing Severson at this point if he’s an integral part of this team finally making it over the hump.

The only way I could see Severson get moved if it’s in a trade similar to that Henrique-Vatanen swap to fill a need. Miller for Severson mid-season could make for an interesting shake up for both teams.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I agree, however, I think it will be Walsh who bumps him on some games. I didn't know much about B. Smith, so I looked him up & learned he fights & brings that gritty gnarl for a Dman. That's why I think depending on the team he starts over Walsh or if Walsh doesn't step up it's Smiths spot all day.

That said, I have a feeling NJ wanted Walsh up from SHREDDING it in UTICA but didn't have a good D partner for him. Now I feel Fitz has the best of both worlds after the trade by recreating the Harvard Pair or Walsh-Marino.

I highly doubt Walsh is higher viewed than Bahl and Okhotiuk. He’s older, worse defensively and not as good of a long-term fit. And in mine and others opinions not as good of a prospect.

And I doubt the other two came up before him for that reason. It was the end of the season, he’s older and they had nothing to lose.

It’s obvious in my opinion that Okhotiuk and Bahl are ahead of Walsh right now as they should be. It’s hard to see much of a future for Walsh in the organization.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Say what you will, I'm going to miss Kermie.

Maybe not so much his play in his own end, though.

 

[billingtons ghost]

would you guys trade Bratt + Severson for (an extended) Tkachuk?

I love Bratt but you have to absolutely do this. We'd get the best player in the deal.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

would you guys trade Bratt + Severson for (an extended) Tkachuk?

Yes absolutely and I would add to that if necessary. Severson seems to be on the way out and Tkachuk is on a different level than Bratt.

As long as the extension is reasonable.

How much longer would we control Bratt's rights if he were to file for arbitration?

No way he files for arbitration. Or at least I don’t think that would make any sense for him as it doesn’t work in his favour.

When is the deadline for that so people can stop talking about it?

 

[Jack Be Quick]

Fitz wasn't kidding when he said he was still looking for help on D

Build from the net out.

Especially when you have Jack and Nico up front.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Not sure if anyone else mentioned this already, but with this trade, other than Bahl and Siegenthaler, who played a few games at the end of that season, Damon Severson is now the only defenseman who played for the Devils two years ago.

 

[ninetyeight]

Any thoughts on the claims that Marino is a product of the Pittsburgh system and will not be nearly as good in NJ. And also Pittsburgh is supposedly turning Ty Smith into a top D man now.

How much of this is just Pens fans and anti-Devils people trying to spin the trade in favor of Pittsburgh or is there even a tiny bit of truth to this? Does it overrate the Pens defence system/coaching and winning culture?

 

[MtoD]

Yes absolutely and I would add to that if necessary. Severson seems to be on the way out and Tkachuk is on a different level than Bratt.

As long as the extension is reasonable.


No way he files for arbitration. Or at least I don’t think that would make any sense for him as it doesn’t work in his favour.

When is the deadline for that so people can stop talking about it?

Player election deadline is tomorrow .

I would also be incredibly surprised if he does not file for arbitration. Players almost always do as it's one of the few bargaining chips they have in their favor. There really is no downside for Bratt to file.. even if he wants out, arbitration would be the fastest path towards FA.

Also, to answer the original question posed, arbitration doesn't affect timing towards UFA. It's still 7 accrued seasons or age 26. Bratt has 5 accrued seasons at age 23 so 2 more seasons would get him to UFA. If he elects arbitration, the Devils would have the choice to pick a 1 or 2 year award. They'd likely pick a 1 year award so they can be back in this position next year rather than Bratt having a direct route to UFA.