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

[devilsblood]

Connelly is the only guy they've held onto no? Its absolutely relevant, they have taken a vastly different approach than just trade futures for nows, they reload it every single year with no emphasis on prospect or draft capital. Like i mentioned, similar to the Rams in football

I think the point is contending teams have always traded draft picks and prospects for now players.

Vegas is just an extreme example.

It's also easier to trade away the 30th OA, or a struggling prospect, then top 10, or a prospect playing well.

 

[dgibb10]

Wonder if Sunny will buy anyone out for some cap flexibility ?

Both Noesen and Bjugstad can free up some money + roster space to get better fits for what he wants. You save 1.3 million on a Bjugstad buyout and 1.8 Million on a Noesen buyout.

Doesnt seem like much but 3.1 million on those 2 seems pretty good to me.

Why would you ever buyout those players instead of just sending them to the AHL?

You'd save 550k this year(because you get to save 1.225 mill when you bury a player in the AHL) to eat 1.5 million dollars next year.

And in 1 scenario you have 2 NHL caliber players ready to step in in case of injuries, as well as 2 guys who would be 1st liners in the AHL to help our AHL team not be the worst in the league and develop our prospects.

Also there is no way to get that 1.5 mill off the books next year. or even the 1.5 mill off the books this year.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

Another thing about JRob... He's slow as f*** on the ice

 

[devilsblood]

Wonder if Sunny will buy anyone out for some cap flexibility ?

Both Noesen and Bjugstad can free up some money + roster space to get better fits for what he wants. You save 1.3 million on a Bjugstad buyout and 1.8 Million on a Noesen buyout.

Doesnt seem like much but 3.1 million on those 2 seems pretty good to me.

And have them on the cap for another year? Meh.

Throw Bjug in on the Quinn deal. Minny needs centers right?

I do wonder how many chips Sunny wants to push to the center of the table in year 1. Yes the core is more late 20's then mid 20's, but for him it's year 1. Might see it better just to play Bjug and Noesen as expensive 4th liners for a year.

 

[Triumph]

Wonder if Sunny will buy anyone out for some cap flexibility ?

Both Noesen and Bjugstad can free up some money + roster space to get better fits for what he wants. You save 1.3 million on a Bjugstad buyout and 1.8 Million on a Noesen buyout.

Doesnt seem like much but 3.1 million on those 2 seems pretty good to me.

Buyouts should be a move of absolutely last resort. To me, if they wanted to get rid of these players, someone will take them. They might have to retain salary on them, but they will move. The Devils should not be putting a single dollar of dead money on next year's cap.

 

[devilsblood]

Buyouts should be a move of absolutely last resort. To me, if they wanted to get rid of these players, someone will take them. They might have to retain salary on them, but they will move. The Devils should not be putting a single dollar of dead money on next year's cap.

See Tsyp's.

I wonder if Calgary had any interest in him at all. Or if that was merely Mehta making Calgary take that cap as part of the deal.

 

[MartyOwns]

Another thing about JRob... He's slow as f*** on the ice

in that case, we should stay far away. we don’t need another stanley cup champion taylor hall situation

 

[Devils Trap]

And have them on the cap for another year? Meh.

Throw Bjug in on the Quinn deal. Minny needs centers right?

I do wonder how many chips Sunny wants to push to the center of the table in year 1. Yes the core is more late 20's then mid 20's, but for him it's year 1. Might see it better just to play Bjug and Noesen as expensive 4th liners for a year.

I agree, I would rather not make panic force moves early on. Just keep stock pilling assets etc

I just think he wants to scrub free as much as possible. Id obviously rather deal then buy them out

 

[Devils Army]

I think the point is contending teams have always traded draft picks and prospects for now players.

Vegas is just an extreme example.

It's also easier to trade away the 30th OA, or a struggling prospect, then top 10, or a prospect playing well.

Certainly, my whole point is that their MO feels very different from other contending teams. They will go after any good player available, prospects/draft picks be damned. Versus other contending teams who will try and make a move here and there but still hold onto shreds of future assets.

My point is i don't think they view prospects and picks as future players for them they view them purely as assets to cash in for current nhl players.

 

[devilsblood]

Certainly, my whole point is that their MO feels very different from other contending teams. They will go after any good player available, prospects/draft picks be damned. Versus other contending teams who will try and make a move here and there but still hold onto shreds of future assets.

My point is i don't think they view prospects and picks as future players for them they view them purely as assets to cash in for current nhl players.

I don't really know about the whole of their draftee's but you are right about their 1st rounders.

Again, I don't think it's vastly different then other teams, but it does look more extreme.

 

[devilsblood]

Another thing about JRob... He's slow as f*** on the ice

I do hear what you are saying, board mantra has been to get back to high paced hockey.

But he's so productive I think you overlook this.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

I agree, I would rather not make panic force moves early on. Just keep stock pilling assets etc

I just think he wants to scrub free as much as possible. Id obviously rather deal then buy them out

I agree with not making panic moves.

I think Fitz locked himself into moves and if he would have waited, team would have been much better off.

 

[Devils Trap]

I agree with not making panic moves.

I think Fitz locked himself into moves and if he would have waited, team would have been much better off.

Its a weird one but Sunny always uses poker analogies so its about being calculated when you are ready to go all in.

But the sad part is, you can go all in, with the best hand and luck isnt on your side. Its hard to win in the NHL.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Yea the other stuff would be bad system, bad depth and supplemental pieces etc

Underlyings and analytics are more important for prediction of future success then results. Ill take my chances

There have been different reasons for the failures. If we’re going to make changes based off of what has went wrong in the last couple years, Jack and Luke Hughes would be the first two off the team. Without question, they would be out if that’s the standard.

Last year I would put down to a historic bad PDO season 5 on 5. Our finishing above expected was so unbelievably low, I doubt it happens again

Some different factors going on for sure. Too tight to vest system. Jack's hand. Timo career low shooting %(probably due in part to system). Too many defensive d-men.

Only one of those is something that you hope to get better by doing nothing(and a caveat there too).

lol I point out that you all always have ready-made excuses to rationalize the failures of this group, and you prove me right with these gems.

See above, this past season does not at all follow the previous 3 seasons.

Yeah a total outlier…except for the end result of course. Let’s just totally ignore the macro pattern across a half a decade and instead tunnel vision the micro details that change from year to year.

Winning in the nhl is hard. I think there is undeniable evidence that this core group lacks the drive and intensity, both physically and mentally, to win regularly. I think it’s absolutely bonkers that we have fans who don’t see it, and insist that tinkering around the edges of the bottom six is somehow going to change what is ultimately an issue with our best players.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I do hear what you are saying, board mantra has been to get back to high paced hockey.

But he's so productive I think you overlook this.

Yes, absolutely. I understand the aversion when it's a middle of the lineup player who might not cross the 30-40 point threshold. Not a guy who regularly puts up 35-40 goals and 80-90 points.

If anything, he's your poster child to be Jack's linemate.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

lol I point out that you all always have ready-made excuses to rationalize the failures of this group, and you prove me right with these gems.

No excuses. The two main reasons why we didn’t meet expectations have been Jack Hughes being injured and Luke Hughes (getting injured) and not being even close to what he was at his best a couple years ago.

You can dance around it and really emphasize Bratt missing a few goals or Timo not living up to expectations, but it starts at the top. But if you think about it for 10 seconds, our best hope of ever being something is banking on Jack and Luke again. Obviously.

So either advocate moving them or stop crying about the core, because they are most at fault.

 

[Devils731]

Yes, absolutely. I understand the aversion when it's a middle of the lineup player who might not cross the 30-40 point threshold. Not a guy who regularly puts up 35-40 goals and 80-90 points.

If anything, he's your poster child to be Jack's linemate.

For me, I think adding a focal goal scorer to Jack Hughes' line actually detracts from Jack Hughes' line.

He provides the most value when he's trying to create for himself. When he's trying to create for others he actually impacts the game less.

I don’t think putting a guy Jack looks at as the goal scorer for the line creates the synergy people think. I think putting a puck winning animal with Hughes would create synergy.

So nothing against acquiring Robertson but I think playing him with Hughes may not be the best composition for the team.

 

[Devils Trap]

No excuses. The two main reasons why we didn’t meet expectations have been Jack Hughes being injured and Luke Hughes (getting injured) and not being even close to what he was at his best a couple years ago.

You can dance around it and really emphasize Bratt missing a few goals or Timo not living up to expectations, but it starts at the top. But if you think about it for 10 seconds, our best hope of ever being something is banking on Jack and Luke again. Obviously.

So either advocate moving them or stop crying about the core, because they are most at fault.

Once again, 110 point pace this year when Jack and Luke both played. That was the big issue is their health. You can even argue that its more cause Jack's first few games back he couldnt hold a stick and we lost nearly all of them

That would win the Metro lmao. Their health is paramount to our success

 

[theoptimist]

15 million a year for a player who would play on our third line sounds like a recipe for disaster. Robertson is a great player but I'd be balking at that. Especially when we have our own players to re-sign

You are right to feel this way. Team has gotten worse with Timo. Should have just kept Zetterlund.

 

[JrFischer54]

I disagree, their Underlying's were fantastic with a bad PDO. That was Jesper Bratt's best ever season by advanced stats. That was one of the most dominant 5 on 5 chance creation years by Timo, but the end product wasnt there

The only down for Timo last year was his defense was pretty bad, hes usually passable defensively but he sucked defensivsly last year. My guess is due to quality of competition being with Nico but who knows

That will turn if they play like that again

Further proof how stupid these advanced stats truly are.

the only "down" for timo last year was his defense? and not the fact he put up a little over 40pts while collecting 9 million?

 

[JrFischer54]

Another thing about JRob... He's slow as f*** on the ice

do goals count for more if you are faster?

 

[Devils Trap]

Further proof how stupid these advanced stats truly are.

the only "down" for timo last year was his defense? and not the fact he put up a little over 40pts while collecting 9 million?

Yes cause his chance creation was stellar. I have no issues with his offense, that will come

 

[devilsblood]

lol I point out that you all always have ready-made excuses to rationalize the failures of this group, and you prove me right with these gems.



Yeah a total outlier…except for the end result of course. Let’s just totally ignore the macro pattern across a half a decade and instead tunnel vision the micro details that change from year to year.

Winning in the nhl is hard. I think there is undeniable evidence that this core group lacks the drive and intensity, both physically and mentally, to win regularly. I think it’s absolutely bonkers that we have fans who don’t see it, and insist that tinkering around the edges of the bottom six is somehow going to change what is ultimately an issue with our best players.

The top 6 guys have dominated in terms of underlying numbers, as well as goals for numbers for the 3 seasons entering this past one. This past year they dominated underlying numbers while getting dominated in terms of goals for.

Despite your long winded posts about who knows what, it was a clear outlier.

 

[devilsblood]

Yes, absolutely. I understand the aversion when it's a middle of the lineup player who might not cross the 30-40 point threshold. Not a guy who regularly puts up 35-40 goals and 80-90 points.

If anything, he's your poster child to be Jack's linemate.

And has averaged 22+ 5v5 goals the past 5 years. He's not just a PP specialist.

Plays 80 games every year too.

 

[Devils Trap]

CJ as the source, not sure how tapped in he is but this makes sense with Dougie's underlying numbers