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

[swiiscompos]

Oh well. He was seen walking with a slight limp, so I’m guessing nothing too major. Rest up and get ready for camp.

Slight muscular discomfort according to Swiss news. He probably slightly pulled a muscle, which is not a big deal but cannot be rushed in terms of recovery time.

 

[Devs3cups]

I’m not quite sure I get the Mercer hate and think it has more to with not meeting the expectations people had as is often the case with exciting first round picks.

He’s underwhelmed but he’s still a solid player who is always healthy and works hard. I think it’s entirely feasible he finds more offense again at some point, he’s a versatile player, and he’s probably worth what he’s paid.

Should we be counting on him being a top 6 forward? Not at all but he’s not the worst fill in there when players get hurt and I don’t see any good reason to rush to ship him out. There’s far bigger issues and players aren’t that easy to replace.

Yeah, Mercer frustrates me a bit because I thought the ceiling was a bit higher, but doesn’t mean a 20 goals 40 points guy can’t work in our bottom-6. I wish he was a bit better around the boards and won more battles though. Still, I think he can be a good 3rd liner for us (even if his deployment is more than that right now) and, as you said, I wouldn’t be surprised if his offense picked up a bit in the next few seasons. He’s still very young.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

And for all the conversations about Jack and others being injured you would think people would place a little more value on someone always being healthy. Has not missed a game once in his 4 season career.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I’m not quite sure I get the Mercer hate and think it has more to with not meeting the expectations people had as is often the case with exciting first round picks.

He’s underwhelmed but he’s still a solid player who is always healthy and works hard. I think it’s entirely feasible he finds more offense again at some point, he’s a versatile player, and he’s probably worth what he’s paid.

Should we be counting on him being a top 6 forward? Not at all but he’s not the worst fill in there when players get hurt and I don’t see any good reason to rush to ship him out. There’s far bigger issues and players aren’t that easy to replace.

Over the last 2 seasons, he averages the 4th most 5v5 icetime among forwards (only 22 seconds less than Nico!). That is the frustration. He is not being utilized as a 3rd liner, despite what a few people here like to say.

is he versatile? Anytime he plays center he absolutely stinks at it.

he is weak on the boards and weak on the puck, and rarely goes to the middle of the ice.

I get his doesnt make that much, but he is being used too much for what he actually does.

 

[Devs3cups]

I get his doesnt make that much, but he is being used too much for what he actually does.

I think that’s the big thing for me too. If he was being used as a true 3rd liner, it wouldn't be as frustrating.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Over the last 2 seasons, he averages the 4th most 5v5 icetime among forwards (only 22 seconds less than Nico!). That is the frustration. He is not being utilized as a 3rd liner, despite what a few people here like to say.

is he versatile? Anytime he plays center he absolutely stinks at it.

he is weak on the boards and weak on the puck, and rarely goes to the middle of the ice.

I get his doesnt make that much, but he is being used too much for what he actually does.

To be fair here he averaged the 5th most EV TOI this season and over a minute less than Nico. More than 2.5 minutes less than Nico total. And when I look at the even strength time on ice I’m not really seeing anyone below him who should definitely be playing more. Noesan is the next guy and only one with a good argument IMO.

So maybe it’s not a Mercer problem but a missing top 6 forward problem. And an injury problem because he’s always healthy and plays a lot more the second a player or two in our top 6 go down. I’d like to look at the TOI averages with a fully healthy top 6 vs without.


Side note Bratt should probably be getting more EV TOI.

 

[NJDevs26]

I’m not quite sure I get the Mercer hate and think it has more to with not meeting the expectations people had as is often the case with exciting first round picks

More like the fact he's regressed badly the last couple years after looking like a stud in the making two years ago.

 

[woody footbreaker]

With Karlsson, Hertl and Eichel it just seems overkill for their 4C tbh. I think he can be cheaper then you think BUT I would offer them like our 2nd + 3rd in this years draft. If we have to throw in a prospect so be it.

I dont think he would be that pricey and Idk why, I just see them clearing cap for Marner this offseason

i rather have howden, but they just extended him. roy could be a start and him and glass could work for bottom6 Cs. but i rather go for higher quality, still hope we could trade for jenner this summer already and sign another c in FA. kuzmenko would be nice too, i think it would be import for grits to have another russian on the team. 3 strong lines are doable. if we can trade away some contracts, would need some picks for sure.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

More like the fact he's regressed badly the last couple years after looking like a stud in the making two years ago.

Okay and?

It’s not always easy but that shouldn’t really be a consideration when evaluating his current value to the team.

 

[thebeernerd]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

 

[Devs3cups]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

While in an ideal world injuries wouldn’t happen, many players care a lot about playing for their country, especially European players. Fitz not letting players go would probably sour relationships between players and the org, and drastically so. Some players would probably not re-sign or sign in FA with us if players couldn’t play in the WC with us.

 

[Devils731]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

It will be harder to sign players if you tell them no for the world championship, since every other team says yes. You would show your team is a bad partner to them and you’d lose every close race for a player and/or need to pay a little extra to have them put up with you.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

Ya I’m not sure you can completely disregard what the players want. Do we want the devils to be the only team telling players they can’t play in this?

Does anyone know if this ever really happens? I’ve never heard of it and I wouldn’t expect it considering its so far from the start of the next season.

 

[njdevils1982]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

i've been vocal about how much i dont give a shit about international hockey.. so, ya

 

[thebeernerd]

While in an ideal world injuries wouldn’t happen, many players care a lot about playing for their country, especially European players. Fitz not letting players go would probably sour relationships between players and the org, and drastically so. Some players would probably not re-sign or sign in FA with us if players couldn’t play in the WC with us.

Well that didn't take much to convince me otherwise.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

i've been vocal about how much i dont give a shit about international hockey.. so, ya

This isn’t a question of giving a shit about international hockey. At all.

It’s about giving a shit about your players and what they want and keeping them happy vs protecting your assets.

 

[Devs3cups]

Well that didn't take much to convince me otherwise.

Injuries are definitely frustrating though, I get it lol!

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I hate that the players go to these tournaments, but tbh there isn't much you can do. You can't tell them no, because then word will get out that you don't allow it.

keep in mind that if the Devils made the 2nd round like we had all hoped, this wouldn't be an issue because they wouldn't go to the tournament in that case. Just focus on making the team better, and you won't lose guys to this silly tournament every May.

 

[njdevils1982]

i'd rather them not go but i understand some players would not take it well if the team didnt allow it

 

[woody footbreaker]

Okay and?

It’s not always easy but that shouldn’t really be a consideration when evaluating his current value to the team.

he is a complementary winger on one of or toplines and if you stick him with 2 of our topguys for a full season, he probably takes another step and will get his points. fans should be happy again to have him. he is more worth then what he is signed for and given the circumstances he did an admirable job as 2c during the playoffs. not a player you want to trade really

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

he is a complementary winger on one of or toplines and if you stick him with 2 of our topguys for a full season, he probably takes another step and will get his points. fans should be happy again to have him. he is more worth then what he is signed for and given the circumstances he did an admirable job as 2c during the playoffs. not a player you want to trade really

yeah, I disagree with basically all of this lol his most common linemates this year were Hischier and Meier, and the points did not in fact come.

 

[Devils Trap]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

Saying No to the Swiss players would mean they cant play in the Olympics.

Any player who is healthy etc HAS to attend this tournament for Switzerland, they are very strict about it

Quick way to kill the relationship with the players IMO

 

[Billdo]

Maybe I'm overreacting but I think it's borderline negligence on Fitz's part to let them play a tournament after the playoffs. The answer every time should be a firm "hell no."

This will be done and dusted by training camp but with this team's history of being more crumbly than talc, they should be taking more precautions.

I think you are overreacting. It's not like Nico has a history of being injured.

 

[dgibb10]

Realistically for a dman we just need a plug in until Kovy is healthy. We don't need to be spending any big money there. (Hope to the heavens we trade Dillon also) As for 3C I actually prefer to get a higher end one (more like a low end 2C) so we can start rolling 4 lines again (also to play 2C for when Hughes inevitably blows out his shoulder). We get 9 million off the books from Hamilton. Spend 6 mill on 3rd line center, we just dropped 1 mill on Grits who is projected to be a top 9 winger. That leaves 2 mill left over for a 7th dman. Boom there's your 9 million and the roster looks much better. This is what we're looking like right now for next season when healthy IF we traded Hamilton
Xxx-Nico-Meier
Grits-Hughes-Bratt
Palat-Xxx-Mercer
Cotter-Glass-Noeson

Hughes-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Nemec
Dillon-Kovy

Expect Luke to possibly make another leap forward and same with Nemec. If Nemec can play how he did in the playoffs all year round wow what a stud we would have.

a "low end 2c" is gonna cost you 9 million dollars on it's own. The only one who fits said bill available is gonna be 30 year old sam bennett on a 9x7.

Again, the july 1 sticker shock is gonna go crazy

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Not sure how realistic trading Hamilton is. Especially with Kovacevic injured.