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

[Smitty426]

I expect us to add 1 forward, free up cap space for next summer and trade atleast 1 or 2 D. We will make moves, but I highly doubt we make a major trade (outside of Dougie / Nemo)

I also think Sunny understands we dont need these huge overhauls. Also, until Quinn sign - acquiring assets and cap are the most important task

Chewing up all this good yrs of contracts we all spoke of yrs ago. Now what

 

[Smitty426]

I don’t see him as a buy low. He is gonna cost a big time asset

But i would absolutely do it haha

Yeah but not based on previous yrs play. But I see what u mean

 

[Devils Trap]

Chewing up all this good yrs of contracts we all spoke of yrs ago. Now what

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

 

[Forge]

I’m guessing we’ll trade Nemec bring in a cheap puck moving type depth defensemen and have at least a few new forwards, one they hope can contribute in the top 6 and 2-3 depth forward changes. I could see guys Like Cotter, Noesan, and Tyslapov not being brought back.

I also think Sunny will get Markstrom out if he can and feels he can be replaced but that may not end up happening this offseason.

I'm wondering what sunnys appetite is on throwing caution to the wind and targeting a young goalie and seeing how it goes. His job security is fine, and you could add a guy like cossa and his cost would easily fit into a retained Marky trade or even a buy out if you really, really wanted to get into that.

I'm also expecting noesen or tsyplakov to be included in any nemec trade

 

[Smitty426]

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

You need a top 6 winger
A whole 4th line
2 defenders traded and im not even considering Nemec or Dougie as either

This team could go a round maybe 2, thats it. Only if their healthy and that doesn't happen in the playoffs.

 

[Devils Trap]

You need a top 6 winger
A whole 4th line
2 defenders traded and im not even considering Nemec or Dougie as either

This team could go a round maybe 2, thats it. Only if their healthy and that doesn't happen in the playoffs.

I think that’s all logical and doable in 1 / 2 offseasons. You can sign or trade for a top 6 forward

Signing a 4th line isnt too difficult. The D needs some work but you can acquire 1 this summer pretty easily

We have pieces and assets to make it happen. I trust Sunny to find some undervalued stud somewhere.

 

[Triumph]

Just a really funny reaction to this trade, completely ignoring the fact that this trade should make people optimistic and not pessimistic, because the Devils have the thing that could draw a star player here for free in the same way that they had literally no chance of trading for Brady Tkachuk (nor should they have, as he was a bad fit).

 

[Smitty426]

I think that’s all logical and doable in 1 / 2 offseasons. You can sign or trade for a top 6 forward

Signing a 4th line isnt too difficult. The D needs some work but you can acquire 1 this summer pretty easily

We have pieces and assets to make it happen. I trust Sunny to find some undervalued stud somewhere.

After all that's done building 86 says yeah im out
You're not getting there. Yeah there's a foundation, but dickin around for yrs puts us in a very tight frame its time where its gotta work. Im doubtful

 

[Devs3cups]

the Devils have the thing that could draw a star player here for free

While I get that, unfortunately the latest reports suggest Quinn will most likely re-sign in Minnesota. I guess we’ll see.

 

[Devilsfan118]

They're gonna make a pick in the first round in a few days and get that Nico and grits extension in soon

If they make this pick then they're as deeply unserious as I feared.

If you're going to keep using these high picks you might as well start over.

Whole lot of help Nemec, Silayev have been to this team this far.

 

[Triumph]

If they make this pick then they're as deeply unserious as I feared.

If you're going to keep using these high picks you might as well start over.

Whole lot of help Nemec, Silayev have been to this team this far.

You need to find a trading partner who will give you fair value for a reasonably high pick. How many picks were traded in this range over the last 5 years? Why do you think teams hang on to their picks in this range?

 

[jkrdevil]

This is what people can't grasp. There are too many teams in our own division that have either improved or are just better than us. This doesn't include Montreal and Buffalo let alone Florida. The garbage, trash-ass Leafs are even doing something, and who knows if they're done.

If you believe you are better than them, act like it. Excuses are excuses. Find a way, even if it angers people. If you think we can't compete in the short term, then start over for another post 2012 rebuild. Figure it out.

Montreal, Buffalo, Toronto aren’t in our division. The Metro is guaranteed at least 3 spots. Carolina will probably take one, but the other two were taken by an aging Pittsburgh team and Philadelphia team that fell into the spot because everyone else in the Metro was ass. The Isles and BJ’s didn’t blow past us, the Devils fell flat on their face. They should be able to get back ahead of those teams. What anyone in the Atlantic does only impacts if you fall into the wild card.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Just a really funny reaction to this trade, completely ignoring the fact that this trade should make people optimistic and not pessimistic, because the Devils have the thing that could draw a star player here for free in the same way that they had literally no chance of trading for Brady Tkachuk (nor should they have, as he was a bad fit).

Ehh it probably shouldn’t make people feel much of anything either way.

It didn’t change anything. Quinn, Jack, and Luke were brothers before and this doesn’t change anything at all about that situation. If it’s anything Minnesota showing up on another one of Quinn’s friends small trade lists is equally or more concerning. But I think everyone’s realized already that Minnesota is in serious contention to keep him. So really nobody should be more or less optimistic about Quinn because of this.

 

[Devilsfan118]

You need to find a trading partner who will give you fair value for a reasonably high pick. How many picks were traded in this range over the last 5 years? Why do you think teams hang on to their picks in this range?

Because NHL GMs are largely a spineless bunch of scaredy cats?

Anything is better than an 18 year old who might make the NHL roster in 2030 - long after Jack and Luke have left.

 

[Devils731]

Because NHL GMs are largely a spineless bunch of scaredy cats?

Anything is better than an 18 year old who might make the NHL roster in 2030 - long after Jack and Luke have left.

Great. I’ll send you a 30 year old 3rd liner with 1 year left on his contract.

Is it still that literally anything is acceptable?

 

[Triumph]

Because NHL GMs are largely a spineless bunch of scaredy cats?

Anything is better than an 18 year old who might make the NHL roster in 2030 - long after Jack and Luke have left.

NHL GMs typically have <10 year careers. Finishing out of the playoffs in the early 10s range should make them desperate to improve for next season. And yet picks in this realm are almost never traded for roster players, and it's because other teams aren't willing to get worse to get that pick either. Nobody's going to give you anything impressive for it.

Here's the picks moved around 12 at the last 5 drafts -

2021: Flyers traded 14th overall, a 2023 2nd, and Hagg for Rasmus Ristolainen
2022: Ottawa traded 7th overall + a 2nd + 3rd for Alex Debrincat, but of course it should be noted that 7th overall is worth at least 1.5x what the 12th overall pick is worth. The Islanders traded pick 14 for Alex Romanov and a 4th round pick, and then Montreal turned around and traded it for Kirby Dach and a 3rd.
2023, 2024: No trades
2025: Montreal trades 16 and 17 overall and Emil Heineman for Noah Dobson. 16 and 17 combined are maybe worth 9th overall? Hard to say.

It's just silly to say 'anything is better than an 18 year old who might make the NHL roster in 2030' - Ben Kindel was taken 11th overall last year and played the entire season in Pittsburgh. From 2024, people were raving about Konsta Helenius in the playoffs, and Dickinson and Buium, while not particularly impressive, spent the year in the NHL. Zach Benson just finished his third NHL season as the 13th overall pick from 2023. And so on. The Devils didn't hire Sunny Mehta to throw away picks.

 

[Killing Joke]

I expect us to add 1 forward, free up cap space for next summer and trade atleast 1 or 2 D. We will make moves, but I highly doubt we make a major trade (outside of Dougie / Nemo)

I also think Sunny understands we dont need these huge overhauls. Also, until Quinn sign - acquiring assets and cap are the most important task

Why would Quinn come here?

Also, my thought, Brady doesn't have Minnesota on his list of team's he's cool with going too if he wasn't sure Quinn was staying who he's friends with, and who Jack and Quinn are renting a house next to in NJ this summer.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Why would Quinn come here?

Jack (luke)

lol