Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - draft and FA edition

[MasterofGrond]

Too much to pay for, essentially, the right to pay Robertson a ton of money.

I like him, I really do, but I think I would rather roll the dice on Nemec rather than add another expensive forward. Devils need credible depth.

 

[MB3]

if the devils trade for robertson, hamilton has to go the other way. either directly to dallas as part of the package, or to a third party that he will accept a trade to.

they cannot afford robertson and hamilton on the team next year if they’re going to have the requisite depth needed to become a better hockey club.

 

[Dylan9z9]

Free agency is coming. You can feel it? I can feel it.

The fear. The chaos. The smell of desperation from 28 other GMs scrambling to throw $6 million at someone who’s scored 11 goals since 2021.

I predict by July 2nd he will have signed two killers, fleeced someone’s middle six, and walked away with enough depth to drown the Metro.

Mark my words. When the dust settles and the rest of the league is reeling from overpays and panic moves, Tom Fitzgerald will be standing alone with his arms crossed, smirking, already planning October.

You don’t need faith. You need Fitz.

Fitz is a bum send him packing because they will when the Devils fail to make the playoffs next season

 

[BostonDevil]

Hi guys, Dallas fan here, saw the Mercer+Nemec+1st for Robertson on the trade board a while back and it didn't get an overly bad response. Just wanted to see what actual njd fans thought about that deal. Is it too much on the njd side?

Done

We can find a place to send Dougie before the season starts and then Lemmi/Lenni/Sprong/Glass the rest of the bottom 6

I would let Fitz take the rest of the summer off.

Make impact moves when the opportunity presents itself.

 

[MadDevil]

If they're planning on moving off of Dougie, I'd rather keep Nemec around. Pesce/Kovy/Nemec is a pretty solid right side for the next few years. I'm not sold on Casey being equally or more impactful than Nemec long term, so if it comes down to keeping one and moving the other, I'd keep Nemec. Obviously I'd rather keep both, but realistically there are only so many roster spots available, unless one of them moves to their off side.

 

[Oneiro]

Nemec's next deal, if he's still here at camp, is probably a bridge.

 

[Forge]

Hi guys, Dallas fan here, saw the Mercer+Nemec+1st for Robertson on the trade board a while back and it didn't get an overly bad response. Just wanted to see what actual njd fans thought about that deal. Is it too much on the njd side?

They can't afford him financially. And they almost certainly couldn't afford him financially in the future if they wanted to try and bring in Quinn Hughes

 

[glenwo2]

View attachment 1053820
The vibe in here the last few days

I've been "asleep" ever since the middle of the finals.

The offseason is so boring, I find myself watching....baseball of all things.

Passing the time until NFL Training Camp arrives.

NHL Offseason cures insomnia.

 

[Rebel Devil]

Are the Devils going to be a player in the offer sheet game? Seems like it's worth exploring heavily. Who do we want if we go that route?

 

[devilsblood]

Huh, weird - you mean to tell me that the guy Chicago bought out wasn't doing well? Well, I guess the Devils will find a good defenseman to be their 7th D, that's normally what happens when you have no money to spend on the position.

But maybe we should look for a RHD who isn't a lefty struggling with backhand passes, amongst other things.

 

[Oneiro]

Won't happen but Knies is the kind of guy that would make people happy, including Fitz.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

6 years ago today Devils traded for PK Subban.

 

[MB3]

Won't happen but Knies is the kind of guy that would make people happy, including Fitz.

toronto telling marner to hit the road was almost entirely because they love knies.

like, yeah — rantanen would make fitz happy too.

 

[njdevils1982]

Are the Devils going to be a player in the offer sheet game? Seems like it's worth exploring heavily. Who do we want if we go that route?

kappo kakko!

 

[ScottyK]

Quietest the Devils have been in the rumor mill in quite a while. This time last yr we knew the Devils had a deal with Pesce done under the table and shortly after we heard the same with Dillon.

 

[ScottyK]

toronto telling marner to hit the road was almost entirely because they love knies.

like, yeah — rantanen would make fitz happy too.

Marner won't even return Toronto's calls....Toronto didn't kick anyone to the curb lol

 

[Forge]

Are the Devils going to be a player in the offer sheet game?

I doubt it. There's just not a lot of money for it if they sign Luke long term. Possible they will bridge Luke or are able to get palat off the books and it'll open that possibility up.


Ryan McLeod would be an interesting target. Maxim Tsyplakov?

 

[My3Sons]

what an awful thing to even talk about. reminds me of talking to my insane ex girlfriend: “if i became a quadruple amputee would you still love me?” Yes sweetie, please finish your glass of wine I’d like to go home.

Context is everything. For example, when she’s pissed at me my wife tells me she’s going to wait until I fall asleep and then chop off all my limbs before rolling me down the stairs.

 

[Triumph]

But maybe we should look for a RHD who isn't a lefty struggling with backhand passes, amongst other things.

Look at the list of RHD UFAs and tell me which of them make sense for the Devils, and that the Devils would make sense for them, and that can be signed for $1M or less, with the understanding that that player will be in the press box/AHL if the Devils ever get healthy. It's an extremely short list of players. You're looking at extremely old players who've been a spare part forever, guys who've never had an extended run in the league, or players like Brodie. It's guys like Connor Carrick and Dysin Mayo they'd be looking at. I like the versatility of adding a 7th D who is an LHD who can play the right side a bit because the Devils have a ton of RHD when they're healthy.

Jon Merrill is another option, maybe, but he will probably be too expensive.

The Devils are extremely unlikely to find a 'good' player to fill this spot from outside the organization.

 

[Zippy316]

Look at the list of RHD UFAs and tell me which of them make sense for the Devils, and that the Devils would make sense for them, and that can be signed for $1M or less, with the understanding that that player will be in the press box/AHL if the Devils ever get healthy. It's an extremely short list of players. You're looking at extremely old players who've been a spare part forever, guys who've never had an extended run in the league, or players like Brodie. It's guys like Connor Carrick and Dysin Mayo they'd be looking at. I like the versatility of adding a 7th D who is an LHD who can play the right side a bit because the Devils have a ton of RHD when they're healthy.

Jon Merrill is another option, maybe, but he will probably be too expensive.

The Devils are extremely unlikely to find a 'good' player to fill this spot from outside the organization.

I can’t see an NHL caliber RD signing with this team if we have Pesce-Hamilton-Kovacevic-Nemec down the right side. Unless it’s someone like a Colton White type that would be happy to collect an NHL paycheck until Kovacevic returns and they go down the AHL.

A LHD that can play his off side makes more sense like you mentioned. Essentially a Brendan Smith type. I wouldn’t hate Merrill for that role.

 

[FooteBahl]

kappo kakko!

I actually want them to do it

 

[devilsblood]

Look at the list of RHD UFAs and tell me which of them make sense for the Devils, and that the Devils would make sense for them, and that can be signed for $1M or less, with the understanding that that player will be in the press box/AHL if the Devils ever get healthy. It's an extremely short list of players. You're looking at extremely old players who've been a spare part forever, guys who've never had an extended run in the league, or players like Brodie. It's guys like Connor Carrick and Dysin Mayo they'd be looking at. I like the versatility of adding a 7th D who is an LHD who can play the right side a bit because the Devils have a ton of RHD when they're healthy.

Jon Merrill is another option, maybe, but he will probably be too expensive.

The Devils are extremely unlikely to find a 'good' player to fill this spot from outside the organization.

Merrill only made $1.2 last year. Does he get a raise at 33-34 year old because of the rising cap? Maybe.

Fitz did find Kova last year, so there are certainly possibilities out there.

And I think how long Kova is expected to be out will play into how good a player they look to bring in.

And of course whether of not Hamilton is back.

 

[Triumph]

Merrill only made $1.2 last year. Does he get a raise at 33-34 year old because of the rising cap? Maybe.

Fitz did find Kova last year, so there are certainly possibilities out there.

And I think how long Kova is expected to be out will play into how good a player they look to bring in.

And of course whether of not Hamilton is back.

'Only' $1.2 - the Devils should not be spending this kind of money on this position.

Yes, the Devils found Kovacevic, something which is a once-in-a-decade kind of trade, and they have even less room to add a player like that because Casey and Nemec are a year older - it's entirely possible that even if they trade Hamilton that this guy isn't dressing most nights, that he is beaten out by Casey.

That's why someone like Brodie makes a ton of sense - can play both sides, is at the point in his career where he has to choose between a steady gig on a bad team and press box duty with a good one, and is already making a sizable salary from his buyout from Chicago.

Alec Martinez is another option.

 

[Edmonton East]

Hi guys, Dallas fan here, saw the Mercer+Nemec+1st for Robertson on the trade board a while back and it didn't get an overly bad response. Just wanted to see what actual njd fans thought about that deal. Is it too much on the njd side?

I like Robertson, but he doesn't get that value with only 1 year left and arb eligible. Plus, the Devs would be certifiably screwed at Center (still might be regardless). Just doesn't work timing / cap wise for Devs.

 

[NJDevs26]

Quietest the Devils have been in the rumor mill in quite a while. This time last yr we knew the Devils had a deal with Pesce done under the table and shortly after we heard the same with Dillon.

Probably because they don't really have the room to do much in terms of 'big game hunting' until and unless they trade Dougie or Palat, and that kind of thing won't be rumored beforehand since you need the player's permission to waive. Not to mention the small matter of getting Luke's next deal sorted away.