Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2026-27 offseason part III

[Bcap88]

That Nemec high price has been rumored too many places now for me to think it's a coincidence at this point, especially with the recent agent change - the only question is as others have said is he truly that delusional or is he just that unhappy with Keefe/NJ and intentionally pricing us into a trade, cause you would think with Fitzy boy gone that was one of his main sources of gripe.

Nemec can be both delusional and maybe unhappy.

However, the younger players grown up in a system where if you are unhappy you can just jump to a different team.

Unhappy with your minor/aau? Go to a different one

Unhappy with your college/minor league team go to a different one

Unhappy with your nhl team go to a different one.

These players want things handed to them instead of you know actually working for them

 

[Devils Trap]

That Nemec high price has been rumored too many places now for me to think it's a coincidence at this point, especially with the recent agent change - the only question is as others have said is he truly that delusional or is he just that unhappy with Keefe/NJ and intentionally pricing us into a trade, cause you would think with Fitzy boy gone that was one of his main sources of gripe.

I think Nemec may have more of a gripe with Keefe then he would with Fitz tbh. I think he would rather have seen Keefe gone then Fitz

All of the ice time, treatment stuff would be Keefe. Nemec hasnt gone through a contract negotiation with Fitz or anything

 

[NJDevs26]

I think Nemec may have more of a gripe with Keefe then he would with Fitz tbh. I think he would rather have seen Keefe gone then Fitz

All of the ice time, treatment stuff would be Keefe. Nemec hasnt gone through a contract negotiation with Fitz or anything

No but his unhappiness dates back to Lindy Ruff too...so is he just gonna bitch about every coach that isn't giving him 22 minutes a night?

And I'm sure the whole 'Luke favoritism' angle DOES fall on Fitz to a large degree, especially after his contract.

 

[Devils Trap]

No but his unhappiness dates back to Lindy Ruff too...so is he just gonna bitch about every coach that isn't giving him 22 minutes a night?

And I'm sure the whole 'Luke favoritism' angle DOES fall on Fitz to a large degree, especially after his contract.

Fair, but at some point someone has to sit him down and saying "Hey if you want ice time you need to just play better"

Also now that I think about it, his unhappiness with Ruff was moreso being in the AHL and not playing right? So I guess its kinda on Fitz there

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

It's nice to open these threads and there's actual news to read.

what news?

 

[Devils Trap]

what news?

We are so starved that Lebrun's 4th article that Nico signing is trending in the right direction is news

 

[AfroThunder396]

If Hamilton didn't want to waive last summer I don't know why he would suddenly want to waive now. From everything we've heard about Fitz's infamous power point presentation about why NJ is awesome, it sounds like he pitched Hamilton on "NJ is the place to settle down with your family" and I think that likely resonated with him after his miserable tenure in Calgary and then getting insultingly lowballed by Carolina.

It's pretty obvious to me that he put down roots in NJ and has no interest in playing anywhere else the rest of his career. He has all the leverage in this situation. His play is too good to justify burying him in the AHL and he controls his own fate. At this point I'll be pretty stunned if he doesn't finish his contract in Jersey.

And honestly I'm at peace with that. It's nice to have someone who genuinely wants to stay here and he's still a positive player. I actually thought this past season was by far his best defensive season in NJ and he's always going to generate points. I think his style of game will age gracefully since he doesn't rely on skating/physicality and if he plays like a 9M defenseman then I'd rather he do it for us.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would be nice to be free of that contract but it's not the end of the world if we don't. We've already eaten the worst parts of it and the roster has far bigger problems than Dougie Hamilton IMO.

I'd honestly rather move Kovacevic although that seems like an even more daunting task given his term, and the Nemec situation is one I'd prefer to be proactive about (as in getting him the f*** out of here).

 

[NJDevs26]

They might not even be able to deal Hamilton regardless if Nemec stomps his feet like a baby and demands out, then you'd have to replace both of them with just fragile Luke and a bunch of grenade handlers on the blueline

 

[Devils Trap]

If Hamilton didn't want to waive last summer I don't know why he would suddenly want to waive now. From everything we've heard about Fitz's infamous power point presentation about why NJ is awesome, it sounds like he pitched Hamilton on "NJ is the place to settle down with your family" and I think that likely resonated with him after his miserable tenure in Calgary and then getting insultingly lowballed by Carolina.

It's pretty obvious to me that he put down roots in NJ and has no interest in playing anywhere else the rest of his career. He has all the leverage in this situation. His play is too good to justify burying him in the AHL and he controls his own fate. At this point I'll be pretty stunned if he doesn't finish his contract in Jersey.

And honestly I'm at peace with that. It's nice to have someone who genuinely wants to stay here and he's still a positive player. I actually thought this past season was by far his best defensive season in NJ and he's always going to generate points. I think his style of game will age gracefully since he doesn't rely on skating/physicality and if he plays like a 9M defenseman then I'd rather he do it for us.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would be nice to be free of that contract but it's not the end of the world if we don't. We've already eaten the worst parts of it and the roster has far bigger problems than Dougie Hamilton IMO.

I'd honestly rather move Kovacevic although that seems like an even more daunting task given his term, and the Nemec situation is one I'd prefer to be proactive about (as in getting him the f*** out of here).

I dont think Sunny would want to deal Dougie. Dougie is one of those analytic darlings in that community.

I think its pretty telling that he is on no trade board after everything last year

 

[Triumph]

Nemec can be both delusional and maybe unhappy.

However, the younger players grown up in a system where if you are unhappy you can just jump to a different team.

Unhappy with your minor/aau? Go to a different one

Unhappy with your college/minor league team go to a different one

Unhappy with your nhl team go to a different one.

These players want things handed to them instead of you know actually working for them

Ah come on, this is a crock. In 1991 and 1995 the 1st overall pick refused to play for the team that drafted them. Players re-entering the draft as first round picks was not uncommon in the 90s. That's not even considering the college/junior 'loophole' which several high picks took advantage of.

I think far more players sign with their original drafting team now than 30 years ago and there's fewer trade demands than in the previous generation.

 

[Forge]

If Hamilton didn't want to waive last summer I don't know why he would suddenly want to waive now. From everything we've heard about Fitz's infamous power point presentation about why NJ is awesome, it sounds like he pitched Hamilton on "NJ is the place to settle down with your family" and I think that likely resonated with him after his miserable tenure in Calgary and then getting insultingly lowballed by Carolina.

It's pretty obvious to me that he put down roots in NJ and has no interest in playing anywhere else the rest of his career. He has all the leverage in this situation. His play is too good to justify burying him in the AHL and he controls his own fate. At this point I'll be pretty stunned if he doesn't finish his contract in Jersey.

And honestly I'm at peace with that. It's nice to have someone who genuinely wants to stay here and he's still a positive player. I actually thought this past season was by far his best defensive season in NJ and he's always going to generate points. I think his style of game will age gracefully since he doesn't rely on skating/physicality and if he plays like a 9M defenseman then I'd rather he do it for us.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would be nice to be free of that contract but it's not the end of the world if we don't. We've already eaten the worst parts of it and the roster has far bigger problems than Dougie Hamilton IMO.

I'd honestly rather move Kovacevic although that seems like an even more daunting task given his term, and the Nemec situation is one I'd prefer to be proactive about (as in getting him the f*** out of here).

I would not expect him to waive. Obviously that still leaves 10 teams that they could potentially trade him to, but whether any of them actually desire him, I have no idea.

 

[Billdo]

Ok then compare him to lane Hutson same number figure if you would like

The point is the number 1 ufa defensemen didn’t crack 9 million and lane Hutson the number 1 rfa defensemen didn’t crack 9 mil either

Nemec isn't close to him either. Nemec is nowhere near a 9 mil player and if he's legitimately asking for that then his agent sucks and he's got a wildly misguided view of himself. I like him but a bridge is his most likely deal, nobody's giving him anywhere close to 9 mil.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

what news?

Just contract negotiation updates. Maybe that should've been the better word to use.

 

[Billdo]

Ill add something here, IF Buffalo is open to dealing Byram. Buffalo's entire top 4 is left handed D. They have 1 right handed D on their roster in Connor TImmins

Power, Byram. Dahlin, Samuelsson are all lefties.

Can we make a hockey trade with Dougie / Nemec to get them a right handed D. Id move Kovy but I dont think he would waive

Prob says more about us but I think hes out best D if we were to get him. Unless Luke takes a big step

Byram is the guy I desperately wanted prior to winning the draft and getting Jack. I was almost disappointed, that's how much I wanted him.

 

[Devils Trap]

From the Nick Kypreos show - "I believe they (TOR) will go after a veteran goalie, they dont think Stolarz is reliable"

Stolarz for Markstrom ??? Send the paperwork, we will take the unreliable guy

 

[Captain3rdLine]

That Nemec high price has been rumored too many places now for me to think it's a coincidence at this point, especially with the recent agent change - the only question is as others have said is he truly that delusional or is he just that unhappy with Keefe/NJ and intentionally pricing us into a trade, cause you would think with Fitzy boy gone that was one of his main sources of gripe.

What you and others keep referring to as pricing himself out purposely is just him wanting to be with a team that really believes in him and is going to throw lots of opportunity his way.

Teams have shown they’re willing to pay high end prospects for potential before they truly reach their potential. If it’s true, he’s asking them to pay him like they believe he will be the 2nd overall pick they drafted. If they don’t maybe another team has more faith and/or is more willing to bet on him. It makes a lot of sense from a personal perspective. It’s not about stomping his feet but rather wanting to be somewhere that they believe in you as much as you do yourself.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Nemec isn't close to him either. Nemec is nowhere near a 9 mil player and if he's legitimately asking for that then his agent sucks and he's got a wildly misguided view of himself. I like him but a bridge is his most likely deal, nobody's giving him anywhere close to 9 mil.

Is Luke Hughes a 9 m player?

 

[Bcap88]

Is Luke Hughes a 9 m player?

Luke still has some of his game to work on but Luke is far ahead of nemec

Put this in perspective

Luke Hughes is the fastest defensemen to reach 100 points in devils history

Not rafalski,not niedermeyer, not Stevens

Luke Hughes

 

[Triumph]

Is Luke Hughes a 9 m player?

Much more so than Nemec, yes. Luke spent a third of a season as one of the best defensemen in the NHL. It was 18 months ago, but he did do it - played like a $14M or so D. Nemec has never come close to that level.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Is Luke Hughes a 9 m player?

He signed a 7 year deal. On a long term deal like that you sign a guy for what you expect him to be in the future, not for what he is right now.

He doesn't need to be a $9M today to be worth that deal. If he's worth over $10M at any point during his deal then he's worth it, and if he maintains that level for several years then he's a bargain.

The sports current sports media is so in-the-moment-pilled. We need to think about contracts as what they are, investments over term. The ROI on Luke OVER 7 YERARS is likely a far better investment over Nemec at the same terms given pedigree, production, and overall general performance over their early career.

 

[MadDevil]

He signed a 7 year deal. On a long term deal like that you sign a guy for what you expect him to be in the future, not for what he is right now.

He doesn't need to be a $9M today to be worth that deal. If he's worth over $10M at any point during his deal then he's worth it, and if he maintains that level for several years then he's a bargain.

The sports current sports media is so in-the-moment-pilled. We need to think about contracts as what they are, investments over term. The ROI on Luke OVER 7 YERARS is likely a far better investment over Nemec at the same terms given pedigree, production, and overall general performance over their early career.

It's not really much different than what they did with Jack. He probably wasn't an $8 million player when they gave him an extension, then he almost immediately became a bargain contract.

Unfortunately Luke did kind of the opposite by having a bad year right after signing. Given his age and skill I'd be willing to bet he'll be better long term and at worst end up being a little overpaid (although at this rate $9 million might be your average second pairing defenseman in 5 years lol).

The problem with Nemec is, outside of a few heroic moments, he hasn't shown nearly as much as either of the Hughes' did when they were extended, so I'd be more hesitant to give him a "He'll grow into it" type longer term deal.