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

[AfroThunder396]

I like Bennet the player but I want absolutely nothing to do with the contract he's going to get. All UFA's are overpaid to begin with, but then factor in the Cup, playoff experience, """grit""," the fact that he can play center and is a Selke finalist.

He is going to get a gargantuan contract that he won't even come close to ever living up to. It'll make Palat's contract look like a bridge deal. Guys like Chandler Stephenson and Philip Danault got overpaid for similar reasons.

Yeah obviously if we could get him at 4 years x 7M I'd be all over it but he's easily getting +8.5M a season on a 6-7 year deal. Teams are convinced that adding a heart and soul player from a successful team will transform you into that same successful team and that's just simply not how it works.

 

[NjDevsRR]

i'm not even talking about the injuries even healthy i dont see them withstanding more then a couple rounds of playoff hockey. they have to get into the dirty areas physically beat out other players in the trenches i just dont think they have that in them.

its great that they held their own with the canes this year thats what you want to see i get it. i'm just not sure if that says more about us or more about the canes. lets see how this series plays out

Understood but this Keefe team stepped it up when needed. I think they can do fine, also, I expect a different looking roster next season. So lets wait and see

 

[JrFischer54]

THE CAP EXISTS.

Team has $5m of cap or so after re-signing Luke if they can't move Palat and Hamilton because they have 10 team trade lists. And multiple other significant needs....like a middle 6 C.

you figure out a way to make it work you dont just let a legit solid great backup walk because of dollars not when you have no real backup after him. they want to go and get someone else i'm fine with that but they should be trying to keep him and absolutely shouldn't be giving daws the backup job

 

[JrFischer54]

Understood but this Keefe team stepped it up when needed. I think they can do fine, also, I expect a different looking roster next season. So lets wait and see

I totally agree with you it will look completely different the roster but my concern is the core holding up to couple rounds of playoff hockey. jack nico bratt just don't scream playoff warriors to me but thats why they play the games

 

[Edmonton East]

In the past 3 years, the Devs have played 17 playoff games. They obviously lost 12 of them, which by itself doesn't mean much. However, considering they weren't remotely competitive in 9 of those 12 losses....that should be a major concern/red flag for folks by now. Thinking this team is close to contending without a major middle 6 C acquisition, at a minimum, is continuing to live in fantasy land. And I have no idea how they acquire one with how Fitz has managed this roster/assets/cap, but we'll see.

I don't wanna hear any nonsensical strawman rebuttals either. They have an average losing margin of like 4+ goals in those 9 games ffs. Not mainly late ENGs either. Horrid.

 

[devsfan8]

THE CAP EXISTS.

Team has $5m of cap or so after re-signing Luke if they can't move Palat and Hamilton because they have 10 team trade lists. And multiple other significant needs....like a middle 6 C.

There are always ways around the cap.
Always. It's easier then ever. Prove me wrong.

Also to say the team has significant needs is far fetched.

If it takes 2.5 to 3 for 1 more season jake Allen it won't be hard to maneuver around. Even with Luke's pending contract. Someone will be moved out. Every playoff team is right up against the cap for the entire season. I'm not worried about it. Fitz has a good handle on rhe cap. The same Palat and Dougie contracts didn't prevent a Meier or Bratt contract or a Pesce or Dillon deal.

 

[Edmonton East]

There are always ways around the cap.
Always. It's easier then ever

Funny, I heard the same nonsense heading into the last 2 seasons. Yet poor asset management by Fitz and the cap resulted in the team having blatantly obvious flaws. 2023 was goaltending. 2024 was C and general forward depth.

You couldn't be more wrong. The cap matters more than ever. You think it's just a coincidence the overwhelming majority of Cup finalists in recent years are from 0% income tax states and/or gaming LTIR? Despite only a handful of teams actually being in 0% localities.

DAL, FLA, VGK, TBL. 4 of the top teams in the league for several years now. All 0% income tax states. Nevermind the fact that dipshit Tommy Fitz hands out NMCs to the janitor, which further limits cap flexibility.

 

[Better Call Sal]

In the past 3 years, the Devs have played 17 playoff games. They obviously lost 12 of them, which by itself doesn't mean much. However, considering they weren't remotely competitive in 9 of those 12 losses....that should be a major concern/red flag for folks by now. Thinking this team is close to contending without a major middle 6 C acquisition, at a minimum, is continuing to live in fantasy land. And I have no idea how they acquire one with how Fitz has managed this roster/assets/cap, but we'll see.

I don't wanna hear any nonsensical strawman rebuttals either. They have an average losing margin of like 4+ goals in those 9 games ffs. Not mainly late ENGs either. Horrid.

And half of those were with a coach, goaltending tandem and several defensemen (Severson, Marino, Bahl, Graves) who are no longer here. Plenty of change was done that I don't think looking back at 22-23 is even vital anymore. I think it's pretty clear what the issues were for our losses in 24-25.

I think almost everyone here agrees that some sort of middle 6 center is needed. I am also with you that I have no idea who that is or how it gets done. This offseason will be interesting to say the least.

 

[bossram]

It’s been bad because we didn’t even get one good season from Palat, most of us thought you’d at least get two or three before he looked washed

Yes. And that was in the realm of possibilities for a guy who kinda was already started declining, was 30, and had an extensive injury history.

 

[devsfan8]

Nate Bastian will sign a 1 year 1.4 million dollar deal with Florida next season and play with AJ Greer and Tomas Nosek on the 4th line and be solid. And Fitz will get blamed for it. Lol

 

[theoptimist]

I think all this Bennett talk is moot because of how much $ he is going to command. It’s certainly understandable why some of us would be reticent to sign a guy about to turn 29 when the Palat stench continues to reek. I do like him as a fit though. With that said, I’d rather get a solid 3C in that 3-5m range and make Ehlers the splash move as a UFA. He certainly erased the narrative that he’s a poor playoff performer. The thought of a Ehlers-Hughes-Bratt like gets me aroused!! No shot at Ehlers unless we move Hamilton.

A 3C that’s currently signed for $3-5M will require either Nemec or Mercer.

Ryan Donato might be looking for that amount. He’s UFA and not the true center I’d be going after. So again, falls on Fitz to have made the move to replace MM long ago. It could have been Chandler Stephenson but Fitz didn’t want THIS 2-time cup champion. Some people forget he’s won, twice.

Remember when I said MM was worth $4-5M on his next deal? A lot has changed since then, but one thing has remained the same: Fitz has done NOTHING.

 

[Forge]

A 3C that’s currently signed for $3-5M will require either Nemec or Mercer.

I feel pretty good that you can get pageau for like a second + small add.

Obviously a short term solution, so I'm not sure if you're talking about a different type of 3c

 

[devsfan8]

Batherson is an interesting name. Has me curious.

Devils Trade Targets: 3 Forwards to Address Scoring Need

Tom Fitzgerald can choose many paths to upgrade the offense. By way of trade, here are three forward who could improve the goal scoring.

newjerseyhockeynow.com

 

[theoptimist]

I feel pretty good that you can get pageau for like a second + small add.

Obviously a short term solution, so I'm not sure if you're talking about a different type of 3c

I like JG too but hadn’t considered him because he’s within the division. Islanders may want to keep him after trading away Nelson.

 

[JrFischer54]

In the past 3 years, the Devs have played 17 playoff games. They obviously lost 12 of them, which by itself doesn't mean much. However, considering they weren't remotely competitive in 9 of those 12 losses....that should be a major concern/red flag for folks by now. Thinking this team is close to contending without a major middle 6 C acquisition, at a minimum, is continuing to live in fantasy land. And I have no idea how they acquire one with how Fitz has managed this roster/assets/cap, but we'll see.

I don't wanna hear any nonsensical strawman rebuttals either. They have an average losing margin of like 4+ goals in those 9 games ffs. Not mainly late ENGs either. Horrid.

yeah i do agree with this. playoffs you cant afford to take a period off let alone a game. they took multiple periods off this year against the canes injuries or not that can't happen. two years ago they did the same thing and people blamed goaltending which isn't totally wrong.

 

[JrFischer54]

would love a bennet style player on this team but dont want to pay a premium in contract for him. so you have to go out and trade for someone thats middling around on their team and hope a change of scenery ignites them and gives them a boost. i know this board would've had a complete meltdown at trading a 2nd round pick for bennet years ago

 

[NjDevsRR]

Chandler Stephenson

 

[HugeInTheShire]

No to Bennett, good player but he's getting overpaid for sure. I don't really think Fitz should try for Boeser or Ehlers either, they'll command too much as well.

His best option should be sending an offer sheet to someone like Bourque and making a trade for a Pageau level 3C or Colton if you think he can actually play C at an NHL level.

 

[BurntToast]

The NHL is just weird when it comes to assets, trades and contracts. When other leagues’ player are fighting for guarantees in their contracts, that's basically a given in the NHL (similar to MLB).

According to google, only 2 players in the NBA have no movement clause. LeBron and Beal. And only 10 have no-trade.

There are only 8 in the NFL, and all are QB’s. MLB has a 10-5 rule.

The NFL and NHL are also the only leagues with hard caps.

I think this makes the NHL more stagnant and one/two mistakes can turn a rising GM into a crappy one.

The better GM’s are ones willing to take big risks. Trading your 100pt player and a top defenseman for Thachuk, was risky. It worked out, but that could have went south pretty quickly. Tampa sending a bunch of 1st round picks to improve their third line is risky. Vegas, trading every player they drafted to win a cup right away. Lou was notorious with trades during the 90s/00s. If you aren’t in the band, he will find someone who is.

I think Fitz can get out of this situation, but I am not sure he is smart/savvy enough to pull it off. I want to defend the guy but a lot of his recent moves feel reactionary.

 

[Devils731]

The NFL and NHL are also the only leagues with hard caps

Not discount the rest of your post because it was interesting but I would say that did to non-guaranteed contracts, the NFL cap is much less hard the the NHL cap.

Additionally, the NHL contract guarantees the players the whole length of the contract, so it may be important for them to have some say in their location the whole length. In the NFL holdouts and contract cancellations are not uncommon so it matters less about having trade protections, imo.

 

[guitarguyvic]

The NHL is just weird when it comes to assets, trades and contracts. When other leagues’ player are fighting for guarantees in their contracts, that's basically a given in the NHL (similar to MLB).

According to google, only 2 players in the NBA have no movement clause. LeBron and Beal. And only 10 have no-trade.

There are only 8 in the NFL, and all are QB’s. MLB has a 10-5 rule.

The NFL and NHL are also the only leagues with hard caps.

I think this makes the NHL more stagnant and one/two mistakes can turn a rising GM into a crappy one.

The better GM’s are ones willing to take big risks. Trading your 100pt player and a top defenseman for Thachuk, was risky. It worked out, but that could have went south pretty quickly. Tampa sending a bunch of 1st round picks to improve their third line is risky. Vegas, trading every player they drafted to win a cup right away. Lou was notorious with trades during the 90s/00s. If you aren’t in the band, he will find someone who is.

I think Fitz can get out of this situation, but I am not sure he is smart/savvy enough to pull it off. I want to defend the guy but a lot of his recent moves feel reactionary.

This is exactly right, and I think Fitz has proven that he isn’t willing to take big risks - other than the ones associated with non-action.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

whether you lose a game by 1 goal or 6 goals, the result is the same. I also love how the 3 Losses from the Rangers series were thrown in there, as if we care about those

always something new to get riled up about in fantasy land

 

[tailfins]

I feel pretty good that you can get pageau for like a second + small add.

Obviously a short term solution, so I'm not sure if you're talking about a different type of 3c

Pageau is basically Haula just a year and a half younger and nearly $2 million more. Haula was injured this year. If we're considering spending assets on Pageau, I'd rather just keep the assets, save the cap space and see if Haula bounces back.

I'd much rather the Devils go younger. I think going after "established" 3rd line guys really means going for guys who have already peaked. I'd rather look at 23 - 28 as the age range (ideally 24-26).

Some examples:

Krebs seems like a fourth liner at best, but could be cheap enough to acquire that he's worth a try.

Sillinger: Seems an ideal fit. Big, young, has some skill. I just don't think the BJs trade him yet. Maybe an in-season move?

Alexandre Texier: Had a tough season with the Blues and maybe fallen out of favor. Could still be something there.

Colton: If the Avs are looking to get rid of some salary / term, maybe trade Haula with $650k retained? Maybe run through a third team to handle the retention?

I'm sure there a few more guys out there who could also fit the mold.

 

[Davegarri]

They can't honestly

They can, they just have to offload dougie and palat

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

yeah I don't want to hear about "they can't"

all the good/contending teams figure out ways to manipulate the cap by getting out of bad contracts. Pay future picks if you have to, I don't care.