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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I just dont think Sunny will see it this way tbh. I dont see us spending assets to get a top 6 guy. Not at some of the prices rumored. If we do, I think its a younger risk player like Samoskievich.

I expect Grits up in the Top 6 with Nico and then 1 spot unless we are fine with Connor Brown in the Top 6. Beef up the 3rd line and please upgrade the bluelin.

Because they don't have the assets as is to make that move anyway. Chances are they're mostly likely running it back with the same roster with a few tweaks in Sunny's first year

 

[BostonDevil]

Just like how people who said his extension wasn't bad when it happened and then were the same people crying about watching him most of the year on this board but yeah sure

People can be wrong.

Nobody thought the key to the Cup this year would be Brandon Bussi. Goalies are strange.

I'm not bailing on next season because we have what everyone assumes is a bad goalie. It's June.

 

[Devils Trap]

Because they don't have the assets as is to make that move anyway. Chances are they're mostly likely running it back with the same roster with a few tweaks in Sunny's first year

Yes exactly. This is what Ive been mostly saying. The only Top 6 guy rumored available is Kyrou, and I would give up every asset we had to get him - but I dont think Sunny would.

I expect Sunny to "trim the fat" off the useless cap in the lineup and try to beef up the 3rd and 4th lines. Thus he will give himself flexibility to make moves should be choose to do so. But Analytics GMs hate to be limited by stuff like cap space etc

But I would be SUPER excited if Sunny decided we need to re-work the 3rd/4th lines and bluelines.

Grits - Nico - Timo
Jesper - Jack - Brown
XXXX - XXXX - Lenni
XXXX - Glass - XXXX

Now on the back end, we either need Luke to become a top pair D or acquire 1 and its a FAR bigger issue then the forwards. Id give up alot for a Bowen Byram, Id go and get Jordan Spence. Id try to buy low on an Olen Zellweger, or Mason Lohrei.

If it were up to me, we are moving 4 of our D this season. But NTCs and such would probably only allow 2/3 moved. If we want to contend we are in desperate need of a blueline.

People can be wrong.

Nobody thought the key to the Cup this year would be Brandon Bussi. Goalies are strange.

I'm not bailing on next season because we have what everyone assumes is a bad goalie. It's June.

This x100000. Goalie is the least important position to get. Look at the Top 4 this season. Its all journey goaltenders or a youngster in Dobes.

COL - Wedgewood
CAR - Andersen + Bussi
MTL - Dobes
VGK - Hart

Not to mention there is no rhyme or reason behind goalies getting better one year. Grubauer / Vladar / Cooley all became 10+ GSAX goalies after being some of the worst in the sport last year.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

People can be wrong.

Nobody thought the key to the Cup this year would be Brandon Bussi. Goalies are strange.

I'm not bailing on next season because we have what everyone assumes is a bad goalie. It's June.

The Canes D is top 3-5 in the entire league, maybe even the best overall defense in the league lmao

The Devils roster needs an overhaul, we're not in the same stratosphere with them playing Bussi. That being said, you're underrating how dogshit Markstrom is.

And I said that if he's on the roster by opening night in my original post, where did the June thing come from?

 

[My3Sons]

People can be wrong.

Nobody thought the key to the Cup this year would be Brandon Bussi. Goalies are strange.

I'm not bailing on next season because we have what everyone assumes is a bad goalie. It's June.

Maybe that true of most people but not me.

 

[My3Sons]

Yes exactly. This is what Ive been mostly saying. The only Top 6 guy rumored available is Kyrou, and I would give up every asset we had to get him - but I dont think Sunny would.

I expect Sunny to "trim the fat" off the useless cap in the lineup and try to beef up the 3rd and 4th lines. Thus he will give himself flexibility to make moves should be choose to do so. But Analytics GMs hate to be limited by stuff like cap space etc

But I would be SUPER excited if Sunny decided we need to re-work the 3rd/4th lines and bluelines.

Grits - Nico - Timo
Jesper - Jack - Brown
XXXX - XXXX - Lenni
XXXX - Glass - XXXX

Now on the back end, we either need Luke to become a top pair D or acquire 1 and its a FAR bigger issue then the forwards. Id give up alot for a Bowen Byram, Id go and get Jordan Spence. Id try to buy low on an Olen Zellweger, or Mason Lohrei.

If it were up to me, we are moving 4 of our D this season. But NTCs and such would probably only allow 2/3 moved. If we want to contend we are in desperate need of a blueline.

This x100000. Goalie is the least important position to get. Look at the Top 4 this season. Its all journey goaltenders or a youngster in Dobes.

COL - Wedgewood
CAR - Andersen + Bussi
MTL - Dobes
VGK - Hart

Not to mention there is no rhyme or reason behind goalies getting better one year. Grubauer / Vladar / Cooley all became 10+ GSAX goalies after being some of the worst in the sport last year.

How many actually good third line centers are there that weren’t drafted by the team they are on? Center is becoming some sort of lost art. It’s really surprising.

 

[BostonDevil]

The Canes D is top 3-5 in the entire league, maybe even the best overall defense in the league lmao

The Devils roster needs an overhaul, we're not in the same stratosphere with them playing Bussi. That being said, you're underrating how dogshit Markstrom is.

And I said that if he's on the roster by opening night in my original post, where did the June thing come from?

I'm right there with you on Markstrom but the June thing comes from the fact that we're a long way of knowing what this team will actually be.

If they make some good moves between now and opening night, but Markstrom is still there, I wouldn't be encouraged with the goaltending but I also wouldn't write off the season.

 

[BostonDevil]

Maybe that true of most people but not me.

This is a case where I, DEFINITELY, was wrong.

Though I also consider you a higher being than a person.

 

[My3Sons]

This is a case where I, DEFINITELY, was wrong.

Though I also consider you a higher being than a person.

As does my wife who knows I am never wrong.

Don’t tell her I said that.

 

[Devils Trap]

How many actually good third line centers are there that weren’t drafted by the team they are on? Center is becoming some sort of lost art. It’s really surprising.

Off the top of my head

VGK - Hertl / Karlsson
COL - Kadri / Roy
MIN - McCarron (Lol, Im not sure if he qualifies as good)
ANA - Poehling (such a fan of this guys hes incredible)
BUF - McLeod / Norris (Idk which guy you consider 3C but both acquired)
MTL - Danault
TB - Gourde (is he still good? I know he used to be)

honestly the more I look, most teams trade for 3Cs lol

 

[Triumph]

The Canes D is top 3-5 in the entire league, maybe even the best overall defense in the league lmao

The Devils roster needs an overhaul, we're not in the same stratosphere with them playing Bussi. That being said, you're underrating how dogshit Markstrom is.

And I said that if he's on the roster by opening night in my original post, where did the June thing come from?

Frederik Andersen put up an .874 in front of the best overall defense in the league last season, and then in the playoffs he had a .910.

Phillip Grubauer had four straight seasons of below-average GSAA. Last season he saved 11 goals above average.

Now I think that Markstrom's name is out there, the Devils have to move him, but it is not a death sentence if he is back.

 

[BostonDevil]

...

Sunny is an analytics guy, they all want to acquire 2 things. Assets (draft picks and prospects) and cap space.

Didn't they only have two, 1st round picks and and spent to the cap when Sunny was in Florida?

 

[Devils Trap]

Didn't they only have two, 1st round picks and and spent to the cap when Sunny was in Florida?

I think I mean moreso when they begin at a new job sorry. To have a blank slate to build his own side.

But Sunny also was the AGM starting 2023, when they won the Cup. So of course they have been spending to the cap when he was there

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Frederik Andersen put up an .874 in front of the best overall defense in the league last season, and then in the playoffs he had a .910.

Phillip Grubauer had four straight seasons of below-average GSAA. Last season he saved 11 goals above average.

Now I think that Markstrom's name is out there, the Devils have to move him, but it is not a death sentence if he is back.

This cope with Markstrom possible being good because goaltending is weird is so stupid, we traded assets for him to be good and we went through goalie purgatory and were sold on him as the solution on a built team up front.

Andersen was an issue for years for Carolina and cost them multiple series, them winning 3 straight in the Cup Final once he was benched is more of a case to trade Markstrom more than keeping him.

 

[Devils Trap]

Frederik Andersen put up an .874 in front of the best overall defense in the league last season, and then in the playoffs he had a .910.

Phillip Grubauer had four straight seasons of below-average GSAA. Last season he saved 11 goals above average.

Now I think that Markstrom's name is out there, the Devils have to move him, but it is not a death sentence if he is back.

Yea goalies are just total voodoo unless you have a truly elite one.

Wedgewood went from +3 GSAX to +24 this season. Cooley went from -6 GSAX to a +17 this season. Vladar popped out of no where.

Goalies find weird ways to lock in. I think a new goalie coach will help as well to help him see other parts of his game.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'm right there with you on Markstrom but the June thing comes from the fact that we're a long way of knowing what this team will actually be.

If they make some good moves between now and opening night, but Markstrom is still there, I wouldn't be encouraged with the goaltending but I also wouldn't write off the season.

They're not doing anything with him in net. The best case scenario is a 24-25 year, he's complete garbage, I don't know how this is some sort of hot take. Why are we going to bat for a .880 goalie on this board lmao

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Yea goalies are just total voodoo unless you have a truly elite one.

Wedgewood went from +3 GSAX to +24 this season. Cooley went from -6 GSAX to a +17 this season. Vladar popped out of no where.

Goalies find weird ways to lock in. I think a new goalie coach will help as well to help him see other parts of his game.

1) Wedgewood and Blackwood played in front of the best team on paper, both were massive issues in the playoffs

2) Cooley isn't even the long term starter for Calgary, who cares?

3) The Devils were never doing the Vladar route after Vitek

 

[Triumph]

This cope with Markstrom possible being good because goaltending is weird is so stupid, we traded assets for him to be good and we went through goalie purgatory and were sold on him as the solution on a built team up front.

Andersen was an issue for years for Carolina and cost them multiple series, them winning 3 straight in the Cup Final once he was benched is more of a case to trade Markstrom more than keeping him.

It's not stupid. It is literally what happens with goaltenders, all the time. It's probable that Markstrom is just never healthy again, he is at the age where that happens. But accusing him of being injured all season and then insisting that he cannot possibly be good seems rather contradictory to me.

I am not saying Andersen is good. Andersen was also probably injured when he was run over by Barbashev, he was certainly not practicing like he was healthy after that. But goaltending is unquestionably weird and it is not stupid to point that out.

 

[My3Sons]

Off the top of my head

VGK - Hertl / Karlsson
COL - Kadri / Roy
MIN - McCarron (Lol, Im not sure if he qualifies as good)
ANA - Poehling (such a fan of this guys hes incredible)
BUF - McLeod / Norris (Idk which guy you consider 3C but both acquired)
MTL - Danault
TB - Gourde (is he still good? I know he used to be)

honestly the more I look, most teams trade for 3Cs lol

How many of them had 20 goals or paced for 20 goals and played at least 65 games? My unscientific sorting of the NHL stats from last season suggested that Glass is a legit 3C for better or worse. He woukd have had over 20 goals in a full season. That’s borderline 2C last season.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It's not stupid. It is literally what happens with goaltenders, all the time. It's probable that Markstrom is just never healthy again, he is at the age where that happens. But accusing him of being injured all season and then insisting that he cannot possibly be good seems rather contradictory to me.

I am not saying Andersen is good. Andersen was also probably injured when he was run over by Barbashev, he was certainly not practicing like he was healthy after that. But goaltending is unquestionably weird and it is not stupid to point that out.

Then what are you arguing? If you think he's cooked then get him out of here

We're in year 8-9 of this group and this fanbase is coddling players who have shown no reason to have blind faith in to turn it around.

Goaltending is weird but the Devils have also made the wrong decision every time after the 22-23 year with that position.

 

[Devils Trap]

1) Wedgewood and Blackwood played in front of the best team on paper, both were massive issues in the playoffs

2) Cooley isn't even the long term starter for Calgary, who cares?

3) The Devils were never doing the Vladar route after Vitek

Here is the thing with GSAX - it completely removes the teams infront of them. Into account the danger of chances lol.

Im not saying we should acquire them. Far from it. I m saying that you dont know which goalie will be good next season. I dont want Vladar or Cooley.

So yes I would trade Markstrom cause his cap is too high to risk it for me BUT If he was good next year I wouldnt be surprised

 

[Devils Trap]

How many of them had 20 goals or paced for 20 goals and played at least 65 games? My unscientific sorting of the NHL stats from last season suggested that Glass is a legit 3C for better or worse. He woukd have had over 20 goals in a full season. That’s borderline 2C last season.

I dont disagree with you, Glass was incredible. But it gives me a big pause when hes never done that before.