Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - offseason edition

[devsfan8]

You know that you can simply buy retention and yet somehow want to dump an elite player instead of just buying a singular 3C?

I never said anything about dumping Dougie. I'm not against trading ANY player if they are adequately replaced in the lineup. Cap space plays less and less factor in how to accomplish building a successful roster. The fact Shea Freaking Weber got traded AGAIN, tells you everything you need to know about the BS cap.

Dougie should be traded for an immediate need up front. And we should be willing to retain between 2 and 3 million for the next 3 seasons to get 6 mill off the cap even with Luke's pending contract. It is also possible we lose tbe trade value wise. Like Cotter for Shmid/Holtz and everyone is in an uproar but it's a targeted trade for a player they want.

I believe the Devils also need to sign Dumoilin to have another veteran body with Dillon, Pesce, etc to go along with Nemec and Luke. Regardless thst he plays left side.

Casey and Hamilton I firmly believe are very good trade assets. Along with one of our 2 seconds. A first abd Silayev or even Mercer become in play in amich bigger trade.

 

[dgibb10]

I never said anything about dumping Dougie. I'm not against trading ANY player if they are adequately replaced in the lineup. Cap space plays less and less factor in how to accomplish building a successful roster. The fact Shea Freaking Weber got traded AGAIN, tells you everything you need to know about the BS cap.

Dougie should be traded for an immediate need up front. And we should be willing to retain between 2 and 3 million for the next 3 seasons to get 6 mill off the cap even with Luke's pending contract. It is also possible we lose tbe trade value wise. Like Cotter for Shmid/Holtz and everyone is in an uproar but it's a targeted trade for a player they want.

I believe the Devils also need to sign Dumoilin to have another veteran body with Dillon, Pesce, etc to go along with Nemec and Luke. Regardless thst he plays left side.

Casey and Hamilton I firmly believe are very good trade assets.

retaining 3 mill on hamilton and quote "losing the trade value wise" to resign dumoulin would be insane.

Dumo is likely gonna get something around what dillon did 4 mill x 3. Downgrading that much, getting OLDER, to save just 2 mill would be a terrible idea.

Again, gonna be some real sticker shock come July 1st

 

[njdevil26]

My feeling on Dougie is simple. I felt a lot of the talk about dealing him as the season went on was kneejerk and that as long as he was giving us value, trading him would be reactionary. Then he was a no-show in the playoffs. Maybe the time hasn't come for his decline yet, but I'd rather not find out with that $9 million AAV. He was the veteran presence and locker room guy we needed to get to that next step, so hopefully he'll agree to go to Anaheim or Buffalo (lol) to whip their youngsters into fighting shape. And they've got plenty of talent they can give in return.

He came back too early from an injury and didn't get enough games to get back to full strength. You can't judge him based on that small sample size. If you do that, then you can judge most of the team.

Judge him on his injuries that are now happening too often.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I don’t think many here think Zetterlund is some kind of elite player, but he’d definitely help.

Zetterlund looks like a 35-40 point player in the bottom-6, with some physical play, good shot and speed, which would be greatly needed. This team is starving for a player like that. He was a good player for us. I miss him and I feel like he would be a good add to our lineup.

Again, I'm not slighting anyone for wanting him back, I'd like him back too. But we have to look at his usage in San Jose. He had the 3rd highest ATOI of any forward on San Jose in 23-24. He wouldn't come close to that type of usage here barring an injury. In that, he put up 44 points, 16 of which came on the PP. He would be a PP2 player here at best, so I wouldn't expect those points to be that high either.

This year, he played top 6 minutes for them (5th among their forwards) and produced 36 points in 64 games, so a fairly similar rate. When he landed in Ottawa, he finished with 5 points in 20 games playing essentially as a 3rd-4th liner. He also went pointless in the playoffs. Not saying that says a ton more, but it puts him in a similar role as to what he'd be here most likely.

All I'm simply pointing out is he was a streaky player when he was here too, and his counting stats in San Jose were very likely the result of being in an elevated role that he'd only have here if we got hit with the injury bug again. I do think he could be a fine player to fill our 3rd/4th line, but offensively, I don't know that he'll come close to the San Jose numbers again on a good team.

 

[dgibb10]

Again, I'm not slighting anyone for wanting him back, I'd like him back too. But we have to look at his usage in San Jose. He had the 3rd highest ATOI of any forward on San Jose in 23-24. He wouldn't come close to that type of usage here barring an injury. In that, he put up 44 points, 16 of which came on the PP. He would be a PP2 player here at best, so I wouldn't expect those points to be that high either.

This year, he played top 6 minutes for them (5th among their forwards) and produced 36 points in 64 games, so a fairly similar rate. When he landed in Ottawa, he finished with 5 points in 20 games playing essentially as a 3rd-4th liner. He also went pointless in the playoffs. Not saying that says a ton more, but it puts him in a similar role as to what he'd be here most likely.

All I'm simply pointing out is he was a streaky player when he was here too, and his counting stats in San Jose were very likely the result of being in an elevated role that he'd only have here if we got hit with the injury bug again. I do think he could be a fine player to fill our 3rd/4th line, but offensively, I don't know that he'll come close to the San Jose numbers again on a good team.

The view of looking at point totals achieved in a top 6 with PP1 time and saying they'd be maintained in a bottom 6 role needs to be dealt

 

[Zippy316]

Again, I'm not slighting anyone for wanting him back, I'd like him back too. But we have to look at his usage in San Jose. He had the 3rd highest ATOI of any forward on San Jose in 23-24. He wouldn't come close to that type of usage here barring an injury. In that, he put up 44 points, 16 of which came on the PP. He would be a PP2 player here at best, so I wouldn't expect those points to be that high either.

This year, he played top 6 minutes for them (5th among their forwards) and produced 36 points in 64 games, so a fairly similar rate. When he landed in Ottawa, he finished with 5 points in 20 games playing essentially as a 3rd-4th liner. He also went pointless in the playoffs. Not saying that says a ton more, but it puts him in a similar role as to what he'd be here most likely.

All I'm simply pointing out is he was a streaky player when he was here too, and his counting stats in San Jose were very likely the result of being in an elevated role that he'd only have here if we got hit with the injury bug again. I do think he could be a fine player to fill our 3rd/4th line, but offensively, I don't know that he'll come close to the San Jose numbers again on a good team.

He has a skill set that is a good compliment to Hischier, Hughes, Bratt and has a ton of special teams utility on both the PP as a shooter and the PK.

I don’t think anyone is expecting an elite scorer, but he can definitely give us another top nine forward who can play up and down the lineup.

With his skill set, there’s always the chance too that he could give us a 50-60 point season if he finds a niche in the top six too.

 

[Triumph]

I don’t think many here think Zetterlund is some kind of elite player, but he’d definitely help.

Zetterlund looks like a 35-40 point player in the bottom-6, with some physical play, good shot and speed, which would be greatly needed. This team is starving for a player like that. He was a good player for us and I feel like he would be a good add to our lineup.

I do not think Zetterlund is a 35-40 point player in the bottom 6. He got 18 minutes a game in 2024, 17 minutes a game in 2025 for San Jose, definitely an offensive option and playing with a lot of SJ's best players. For Ottawa, he was used like a 3rd/4th line forward and definitely produced more like one of those (2 goals in 26 games, though obviously there he was unlucky).

Zetterlund ranks 267th in ES points/60 over the last 3 seasons, that's decidedly a 3rd line rate - at a full season of ES play alone, that's about 26 points.

 

[Devs3cups]

I do not think Zetterlund is a 35-40 point player in the bottom 6. He got 18 minutes a game in 2024, 17 minutes a game in 2025 for San Jose, definitely an offensive option and playing with a lot of SJ's best players. For Ottawa, he was used like a 3rd/4th line forward and definitely produced more like one of those (2 goals in 26 games, though obviously there he was unlucky).

Zetterlund ranks 267th in ES points/60 over the last 3 seasons, that's decidedly a 3rd line rate - at a full season of ES play alone, that's about 26 points.

Fair points! Maybe my judgement is being clouded by his 2022-2023 season, where he was on a 36 point pace playing about 13 minutes a game. I don’t remember his usage too much, but I believe he was mostly deployed in a bottom-6 role, with PP2 time? He was also only shooting 7%. I’m pretty confident he could pot around 35 points in our bottom-6 and bring much needed speed/grit/skill. I think he’d be a solid addition.

 

[Triumph]

Fair points! Maybe my judgement is being clouded by his 2022-2023 season, where he was on a 36 point pace playing about 13 minutes a game. I don’t remember his usage too much, but I believe he was mostly deployed in a bottom-6 role, with PP2 time? He was also only shooting 7%. I’m pretty confident he could pot around 35 points in our bottom-6 and bring much needed speed/grit/skill. I think he’d be a solid addition.

His most common linemates that season were Hischier and Tatar, with around 200 minutes each. He had over 100 minutes with Sharangovich, Wood, Haula, and McLeod.

I liked Zetterlund too, but the Devils should be looking to find the next Zetterlund, not go back for the old one. The problem with Zetterlund is that most of his value is scoring goals and he doesn't score all that many. I suspect he will play in a lot of different places over the next 4 years.

 

[JimEIV]

Boqvist and Zetterlund are a weird HFBoard fetish.

They both suck

 

[Guttersniped]

Zets fir a pick, being him back

Ottawa just traded for him and gave up a young center for him.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Anyone else interested in connor brown? I really have liked the guy in the oilers playoff runs. Would be nice bottom 6 add

 

[Smitty426]

Ottawa just traded for him and gave up a young center for him.

Seems like in Ottawa pages he's available

 

[NJDevs26]

If they're trading him again so soon after getting him then that's kind of an indicator something's wrong.

 

[FooteBahl]

f*** it, let’s sheet Kakko. It will only cost a 2nd

It’s almost worth it just to troll the rags when he pots 30 playing next to Jack

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I like Zetterlund well enough and do think he would be helpful on the 3rd or 4th line, but I think he gets overrated by many here.

his counting stats looked so good in SJ because he played a ton and played on PP1 IIRC.

 

[Triumph]

I think Zetterlund has minimal value now as an arbitration-eligible player whose performance outstrips his likely role. I do think while they traded a decent amount of stuff for him, Ottawa will consider non-tendering him - they really didn't use him a whole lot.

 

[Zippy316]

Boqvist and Zetterlund are a weird HFBoard fetish.

They both suck

Both provide skill sets that this team lacks.

Boqvist hurts for me because he is emblematic of the Devils moving away from the speed that made them dominant in 22-23.

Zetterlund is also the type of forward the Devils need right now to compliment their roster. There’s a huge drop off between Meier and Mercer/Noesen that no one filled last year.

 

[Zippy316]

I think Zetterlund has minimal value now as an arbitration-eligible player whose performance outstrips his likely role. I do think while they traded a decent amount of stuff for him, Ottawa will consider non-tendering him - they really didn't use him a whole lot.

I wonder if they keep him given they have a prime example that he struggled when dealt to San Jose in the Meier trade. Then put up good numbers the following season.

It seems like he’s just not cut out for the deadline acquisition role as he takes some time to adjust.

 

[Guttersniped]

All the Zetterlund nostalgia has me eyerolling a bit too, he's a fine player, but he's a bit of a square peg - SJ used him on the PK in 2024 but not this year, he's maybe best used on the power play at the point but I don't think he's particularly good there, and otherwise he's just an okay top 9 forward who can maybe be used on both wings.

I don’t think SJ was particularly good for his development as a two-player, which was how we would have used him.

The Sharks on their 3rd coach since DeBoer was fired in Dec 2019 and it’s a trash fire defensely.

He probably doesn’t mind, because his playing time led to more production, but SJ likely traded him because of that.

He presumably would’ve finished there with another 20+ goal season and then filed for arbitration.

He’s a very meat and potatoes, North/South player with good speed, physicality and a nice shot. I hated having in the Timo trade.

I wasn’t all that interested in paying him after his 27 goal season though.

 

[Devils731]

Hat tip @Jason MacIsaac . I think load management is very overlooked in hockey, guys play too many games and too hurt where both the player and the team suffer for it.

So it’s nice to have a person who likely will be monitoring and advising on those matters.

 

[CalamityX23]

f*** it, let’s sheet Kakko. It will only cost a 2nd

It’s almost worth it just to troll the rags when he pots 30 playing next to Jack

I've actually supported bringing in kakko two seasons ago... i think we can really get something from him here.

Evidence shown in Seattle....

since we throw away 2nds like nothing, f*** it... offer sheet him!!!

 

[Guttersniped]

Did you stop watching devils hockey after december?

Luke and Pesce were frankly a disaster the second half of the year. Kovy also had a pretty significant drop off. Dougie meanwhile was the only one winning his minutes

It's like you made these takes about the dcore half a year ago and haven't bothered to pay attention since.

The dmen other than dougie+siegs had a TON to do with the teams failures in the second half.

tell you what, we can get rid of the 13 mill 3rd pairing problem

Siegs-Hamilton: 12.5 mill first pairing
Luke-Kovy: 12 mill 2nd pairing
Pesce-Nemec: 6.5 mill 3rd pairing.

Problem solved

You're trying to strawman based on loosley defined "pairings" and both using Brenden Dillon as the ultimate strawman, a guy who both CANNOT be taken out of the lineup under any circumstances and a guy who you use HIS cap hit to make dougie seem more expensive than he is.

Dillon has a full NTC next season.

I would love to wish him into the cornfield as much as anyone but I’m also assuming he’s on the roster next season.

I honestly have no idea what Fitz’s plan is.

Signing Kovy to a 4m deal means we’re spending 25.9m on 5 dmen before signing Luke. We’re going to be overspending on defense unless we sign Luke to short bridge deal.

We also currently have 3 RHD signed in front of Nemec and Casey.

I don’t disagree that Hamilton makes us more potent offensively and he’s also not the easiest player to trade.

We just have to wait and see what happens.

Not sure you need to endlessly debate hypothetical roster moves to this extent. You made your position clear and others are going to keep wanting Dougie dumped.

 

[thebeernerd]

Hat tip @Jason MacIsaac . I think load management is very overlooked in hockey, guys play too many games and too hurt where both the player and the team suffer for it.

So it’s nice to have a person who likely will be monitoring and advising on those matters.

That's an inspired hire.

 

[Brodeur]

I liked Zetterlund but he got minutes in San Jose that he likely wouldn't for more competitive teams. His counting stats look deceptively good on the surface.

2023-24: 18:51/game - 15:41 EV - 2:29 PP
2024-25: 16:59/game - 15:04 EV - 1:52 PP

Seemed like the Sharks didn't want to pay him based on the past two seasons knowing that his role was going to be reduced going forward as they improve their roster.