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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Let's see one of you advocates for only "minor or depth" additions explain what those additions are and where you think that team finishes in the East.

Reality: There are no minor tweaks that get this pansy ass, 2nd to last in 5v5 GD team to beating the Canes or Panthers in a 7 game series. I'd also throw in the Sabres and Caps (which some of ya will be a year+ late in realizing of course). IF you think this is the core, then you have to take swings to try to win NOW. Per usual, some folks wanna have their cake and eat it too.......oh yea, this CORE IS GREAT! Jack elite! Bratt elite! Nico top 5C! So what if they've yet to do jack shit in the playoffs despite being in their primes?? And often struggle to even make the playoffs! No biggie, just need a 3rd liner and a 4th line C and this team is a contender fo sho.

Give me a break. As I said before last season, as long as you all realize this current roster is AT BEST a bubble playoff team, then cool. Instead, everyone that points out the obvious shortcomings of this team will called a doomer and worse. Then proven right. Repeat.

The goaltending is far more egregious than the actual skating group and it's mainly one guy

 

[Devils Trap]

@Devs3cups waiting on those signings
View attachment 1257381

@Devs3cups when Grits signs for 7 years

 

[NJDevs26]

I don’t see it that way. I think the team as is can compete.

It’s about finding the right supplemental pieces. There is a path there

Well we're going to see once and for all over the next year or two if the 'we just need better depth and a culture change' folks were right or if the core just fatally sucks doomers were. Fitz's country club is gone and Sunny has the pedigree of being able to find depth pieces for cheap.

 

[Devils Trap]

Well we're going to see once and for all over the next year or two if the 'we just need better depth and a culture change' folks were right or if the core just fatally sucks doomers were. Fitz's country club is gone and Sunny has the pedigree of being able to find depth pieces for cheap.

Agree! But its gonna take some time. Florida's entire model is built around NOT paying 4th liners and 3rd pair D. We currently have guys like Tsyplakov / Noesen / Dillon under contract. Florida doesnt go above like 1.5m for 4th liners / 3rd Pair D

This gives them more money to spend on a TRUE 3rd line. Eetu - Lundell - Marchand make about 15m in cap hit.

For Sunny to build what he wants he will need to get rid of those types of deals, find cheap 4th liners who can win their minutes and then use that money to replace our "shit" depth options.

The other side of this with the cap going up, their deals arent as bad as they were lets say 2 years ago. Super under rated move by us to snag Birch from FLA. He (along with Sunny) were in charge of Florida's cap. I think its very obvious that we will have a similar outlook

 

[dgibb10]

Agree! But its gonna take some time. Florida's entire model is built around NOT paying 4th liners and 3rd pair D. We currently have guys like Tsyplakov / Noesen / / Dillon under contract.

For Sunny to build what he wants he will need to get rid of those types of deals.

The other side of this with the cap going up, their deals arent as bad as they were lets say 2 years ago. Super under rated move by us to snag Birch from FLA. He (along with Sunny) were in charge of Florida's cap. I think its very obvious that we will have a similar outlook

My other area where I'd potentially like to go cheap is the 3rd best player on your top 6 lines.

Ideally your top 2 on each of those lines are good enough to carry a complimentary player on the cheap (elc/reclamation project etc). Pump up their trade value, and move on from them when they are due a big raise and get assets back. Rinse and repeat.


If necessary supplement at the deadline.

Requires good drafting, coaching, and pro scouting, but functionally you just manipulate stupid box score GMs on guys getting carried by your best forwards. Edmonton should be doing this every year.

No, you don't need to pay Podzolkin a 5 mill deal. Ship him out and plop in the next 900k reclamation project

MTL should be trying to do the same with Kapanen who sucked but rode a shooting heater and demidov to decent box score stats

Expensive 3rd line, I'd invest in a 4C. 4 star players up front. And heavily invest on D.

 

[My3Sons]

NJ likely wants to move on from Markstrom, one of the right handed defenders, Tsyplakov, Bjugstad, Noesen, and maybe try to get something for Cotter in a trade. If they do keep Hamilton they have to find some way to repair the relationship and they have to figure out the other sad sacks in the locker room and clean that up. That's a lot of tear down before they can really build up from where they are. I could see Mehta wanting to bring in Greer for the fourth line and maybe one of the myriad guys Florida dumped from the NHL roster that have NHL experience.

 

[Devils Trap]

NJ likely wants to move on from Markstrom, one of the right handed defenders, Tsyplakov, Bjugstad, Noesen, and maybe try to get something for Cotter in a trade. If they do keep Hamilton they have to find some way to repair the relationship and they have to figure out the other sad sacks in the locker room and clean that up. That's a lot of tear down before they can really build up from where they are. I could see Mehta wanting to bring in Greer for the fourth line and maybe one of the myriad guys Florida dumped from the NHL roster that have NHL experience.

I dont think its out of the realm of possibility that we trade both Nemec and Dougie as well. Gives Sunny an opportunity to build the team how he wants with assets and cap space.

 

[My3Sons]

I dont think its out of the realm of possibility that we trade both Nemec and Dougie as well.

How many times have they tried to trade Hamilton at this point? At least two I think you told us? If he doesn't want to go is it really worth going down that road again?

 

[Devils Trap]

How many times have they tried to trade Hamilton at this point? At least two I think you told us? If he doesn't want to go is it really worth going down that road again?

Im led to believe there was 2 or 3 trades. I think this summer is a big one cause with his bonus paid out, I think there will be more suitors for him. Only 2 years left, teams may see him as an upgrade on what they have.

 

[My3Sons]

Im led to believe there was 2 or 3 trades. I think this summer is a big one cause with his bonus paid out, I think there will be more suitors for him. Only 2 years left, teams may see him as an upgrade on what they have.

Sure, but he has the same protections.

 

[Devils Trap]

Sure, but he has the same protections.

Yes but if you offer up more teams interested in him, maybe a team that he wants to go to becomes available or interested

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

There's next to zero reason to trade Hamliton, this team needs more puck handlers not less and he was literally tremendous after the whole debacle with Fitz went down last year. I'm keeping him for 26-27

 

[forceten]

Can you please show me the paper that says they are competitive?
Because all I see is a bunch of mediocre underachieving players who have a proven track record of not scoring and generally being mid.
They are a mushy middle bunch with essentially no path to being better except banking on their own personal growth which will be marginal at best at their respective ages. Or if you think Quinn is coming, which seems to equate to possibly a 2nd round exit for a couple of years. Not to mention if you have to give assets for him which would further reduce their ability to go far anyway.

You’re only banking on random hope that they all magically improve significantly in their mid to late 20s. Doesn’t happen. And there will be more injuries and adversity. How’d they do the last 20 times they had adversity?

I said --

1. Close to competitive,
2. on paper (meaning, results on the ice may not match the expectation)

That doesn't mean we're where we want to be w/r/t competitive right now, and that strawman needed what, four or five additional players to upgrade.

But to say we're nowhere near competing -- not sure I can agree with that. Nobody else seems to either, since we have better odds than most teams in the league even with last year's major underachievement.

Of that top six - pushing Mercer down to the third line is HUGE. HE will excel there. Brown is fast and another 25g player. Glass if healthy is a fine 3C. That is a 3rd line that can be net positive in scoring. Gritsyuk should (here's another word doing heavy lifting, I know) improve this coming season. Jack/Bratt/Hischier produce well enough to be top six on any team. Meier is the main anchor and let's move him to RW please ... Then another player. I referenced what Ehlers brought to Carolina. He had 26 goals in the regular season playing all 82 games. That's 2 more than Meier, but had 25 more assists than Meier, and was point a game in playoffs. If meier can step up just a little, and we can bring in a similar player for the Jack-Bratt line, that's one heck of a top six. And even if we have to plug someone competent in there that can still work. Jordan Martinook and his 29 points was on their top line in Carolina, because it was more important to build a stronger 3rd line that wins matchups with other teams' 3rd lines (Hall, Stankoven, Blake).

Someone said the 4th line doesn't matter - it absolutely does. It needs to play 5-7 minutes of hockey at least and be a net positive while doing so - it has to be trusted not to sieve goals while occasionally chipping one in. Robinson-Jankowski-Carrier did that for CAR.

 

[Devils Trap]

I said --

1. Close to competitive,
2. on paper (meaning, results on the ice may not match the expectation)

That doesn't mean we're where we want to be w/r/t competitive right now, and that strawman needed what, four or five additional players to upgrade.

But to say we're nowhere near competing -- not sure I can agree with that. Nobody else seems to either, since we have better odds than most teams in the league even with last year's major underachievement.

Of that top six - pushing Mercer down to the third line is HUGE. HE will excel there. Brown is fast and another 25g player. Glass if healthy is a fine 3C. That is a 3rd line that can be net positive in scoring. Gritsyuk should (here's another word doing heavy lifting, I know) improve this coming season. Jack/Bratt/Hischier produce well enough to be top six on any team. Meier is the main anchor and let's move him to RW please ... Then another player. I referenced what Ehlers brought to Carolina. He had 26 goals in the regular season playing all 82 games. That's 2 more than Meier, but had 25 more assists than Meier, and was point a game in playoffs. If meier can step up just a little, and we can bring in a similar player for the Jack-Bratt line, that's one heck of a top six. And even if we have to plug someone competent in there that can still work. Jordan Martinook and his 29 points was on their top line in Carolina, because it was more important to build a stronger 3rd line that wins matchups with other teams' 3rd lines (Hall, Stankoven, Blake).

Someone said the 4th line doesn't matter - it absolutely does. It needs to play 5-7 minutes of hockey at least and be a net positive while doing so - it has to be trusted not to sieve goals while occasionally chipping one in. Robinson-Jankowski-Carrier did that for CAR.

10/10 agreed. The blueline however is very problematic and needs work.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

It probably makes sense to keep Dougie, but I wouldn’t mind moving on a bit early rather than watch him get hurt again and decline. He has missed significant time multiple years in NJ.

Sunny would just have to have multiple other D moves ready to try to replace what Dougie brings. The left side could stand to get much more mobile and offensive.

 

[Devs3cups]

@Devs3cups waiting on those signings
View attachment 1257381

@Devs3cups when Grits signs for 7 years

View attachment 1257382

I thought for sure Grits signed because of your notifications

 

[dgibb10]

10/10 agreed. The blueline however is very problematic and needs work.

Every day I get closer to the bridge Nemec trade dillon pesce on the left idea

Hughes-Nemec
Siegs-Hamilton
Pesce-Kovy

Then you make your decision next year when you have as much info as possible abt Quinn, how Nemec and Luke develop, how silayev looks, and ALL of your dmens trade protection loosens and you can trade Kovy and Pesce

 

[Cheddabombs]

Any news on Sunny's parking spot?

 

[Devils Trap]

Every day I get closer to the bridge Nemec trade dillon pesce on the left idea

Hughes-Nemec
Siegs-Hamilton
Pesce-Kovy

We cant run Luke Nemec I dont think. Not full time. The defense would be horrible.

Also we cant move Pesce to the off side. One of Dougie / Nemec have to go

 

[dgibb10]

We cant run Luke Nemec I dont think. Not full time. The defense would be horrible.

Also we cant move Pesce to the off side. One of Dougie / Nemec have to go

I don't know why you think we can't play pesce on the left. He did it in our playoff series vs Car and he did it when he played in Carolina. It would be for 1 year (or realistically less since if/when any of Nemec/Dougie/Kovy gets hurt he slides over and Silayev comes up.


I'd be fine with Hughes Hamilton as well. If we're going to succeed regardless Luke and Nemecs 2 way play needs to improve. Ideally they should be able to be a top pairing for the next decade. Trial by fire.

This keeps our 6 best dmen in the lineup, maximizes our upside, and maximizes our flexibility for next year.

And then after this year you take your pick of Kovy, Nemec, Pesce, or Hamilton to trade.

 

[Devils Trap]

I don't know why you think we can't play pesce on the left. He did it in our playoff series vs Car and he did it when he played in Carolina. It would be for 1 year (or realistically less since if/when any of Nemec/Dougie/Kovy gets hurt he slides over and Silayev comes up.


I'd be fine with Hughes Hamilton as well. If we're going to succeed regardless Luke and Nemecs 2 way play needs to improve. Ideally they should be able to be a top pairing for the next decade. Trial by fire.

This keeps our 6 best dmen in the lineup, maximizes our upside, and maximizes our flexibility for next year.

And then after this year you take your pick of Kovy, Nemec, Pesce, or Hamilton to trade.

Yea but if you keep both Nemec and Dougie the cap is an issue. I just think one has to go

 

[Forge]

 

[dgibb10]

Yea but if you keep both Nemec and Dougie the cap is an issue. I just think one has to go

4.8 mill in space. I'd look to swap out noesen for a cheaper piece (eg beck in this scenario) and spend the money+assets we have on a top 6 ish winger.

Maybe connor mcmichael?
Maybe that's a jared mccann rental or something.
Maybe one of the pittsburgh wingers they keep peddling in rusk/rakell
Heck maybe it's even a younger piece like Mavrik Bourque

 

[Omar Little]

These dude sucked at his job, that's for sure

 

[Devils Trap]

We are going to see a mass exodus of scouts in the next 7-10 days.

I dont expect us to replace them either