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

[dgibb10]

i mean is that really going to move the needle offensively? i mean anything will be better then what we had last year in the bottom 6 but you can't have mercer top line and you definitely can't have a rookie from euro top 6.

I see no reason for the bolded to be true.

The 3rd winger on Jack-Bratt and Nico-Timo's lines has had little to no impact. This role of complimentary top 6 winger is one of the more overrated ones in terms of importance by a large amount.

Both of those lines did excellent last year. I see no reason to spend significant assets trying to make marginal improvements to a pair of lines that already dominate

 

[dgibb10]

I have a fair question regarding all of the trade proposals and signing UFA/RFA's.

Where the F are they going to find the cap space to sign anyone????

Sign Luke and Glass. How much $$ is left ??

If you say you're trading Palat, Haula, Hamilton. To where ? Who wants these contracts? We don't. Are they going to have to include their two second round picks ? Throw in Dawson?

No one is having reasonable conversations. How do you get these guys with no cap space? Who wants our salary dumps? What would it take to trade them? What teams? And what players have NMC/NTC 's and what teams would want them ?

I've gone over this many times, but I'm happy to again.

NJD realistically has 1 hole. 3C.

If they trust glass there they can retain him and be right around the cap with a normal roster and no additions

Jack-Bratt-Grits
Nico-Timo-Mercer
Glass-Noesen-Palat
Haula-Cotter-Bastian

If you don't trust Glass you probably move out Haula first and reallocate his money to a 3C. You'll have to buy some retention likely depending on the tier of guy if you go for a veteran.

If you go for a younger guy who's less of a "safe bet" you're likely fine at that price range.

If you don't trust palat in a bottom 6 role, you pay to dump him, simple as that. I'm more than fine with him on the 3rd line, so I'd retain him.

 

[My3Sons]

because of @My3Sons worries about his 3 sons and therefore him strictly being against inappropriate and childish comments, i am unable to comment on this suggestion for Fitz

Well my boys have innocent and delicate eyes. I’m sure the 28 year old would curl up in the fetal position in the corner sucking his thumb and traumatized if he had to read about Fitz’s boners. It would be inappropriate and childish to make fun of that.

 

[None Shall Pass]

Well my boys have innocent and delicate eyes. I’m sure the 28 year old would curl up in the fetal position in the corner sucking his thumb and traumatized if he had to read about Fitz’s boners. It would be inappropriate and childish to make fun of that.

Speaking of boners:

View attachment 1041555

Hubba hubba

 

[HersheyBob27]

I really dont feel comfortable trading both our top D prospects in a Quinn deal when we can very realistically wait it out and pay less in a year or nothing on two years

It isnt a question of Quinn's worth because he obviously is worth a huge package, but its a leverage argument.

I bet when push comes to shove quinn decides to play somewhere in the northeast ( flyers or rangers) to be close to brothers but not on same team. Makes no sense for him to take luke’s spot as top dog on Devils D

 

[Emperoreddy]

I bet when push comes to shove quinn decides to play somewhere in the northeast ( flyers or rangers) to be close to brothers but not on same team. Makes no sense for him to take luke’s spot as top dog on Devils D

The whole idea is he wants to play with them. Not live near them

 

[HersheyBob27]

The whole idea is he wants to play with them. Not live near them

We shall see. I wish we had quinn. I think he is the best bro. I also don’t think having all three is the best way to build a cup winner

 

[Devil X]

As for those asking about where the money is. If I have learned anything over the last 5 NHL offseasons is that NO contract is untradeable and a lot have been moved without a major sweetener. Just let them work, given that Fitz said we arent coming back with the same group, I dont think they are going to just keep Glass and go into the season. Something is going to happen, One or two with a decent amount money are going somewhere.

 

[woody footbreaker]

Well my boys have innocent and delicate eyes. I’m sure the 28 year old would curl up in the fetal position in the corner sucking his thumb and traumatized if he had to read about Fitz’s boners. It would be inappropriate and childish to make fun of that.

yeüü exactly, should never make fun of your boys.

so back to slapping Fitz, do we think he likes that kinky stuff?

 

[JrFischer54]

I see no reason for the bolded to be true.

The 3rd winger on Jack-Bratt and Nico-Timo's lines has had little to no impact. This role of complimentary top 6 winger is one of the more overrated ones in terms of importance by a large amount.

Both of those lines did excellent last year. I see no reason to spend significant assets trying to make marginal improvements to a pair of lines that already dominate

Mercer can not start the season on the top line and the euro rookie can’t start in the top 6 if that happens then the summer free agents / trades will have been an epic failure. Mercer needs to be 3rd line and rookie same or not even make the team

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Say what you want about Fitz but he's been vigilant in keeping AAV's down, he fought tooth and nail with Bratt to keep his under $8M. I doubt it's us.

Kind of sad it actually makes sense when I'm mostly saying this as a joke but...Bratt is small. Fitz seems to love overpaying for the big physical guys while being cheap or not even bothering with the smaller guys.

Bennett isn't really big but he's exactly what Fitz wants.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I'm kinda hoping it's Toronto. It would be hilarious to see them let Marner walk, give Bennett a big chunk of that cap money, and then have the Leafs lose in the first or second round again.

This actually makes a lot of sense

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm kinda hoping it's Toronto. It would be hilarious to see them let Marner walk, give Bennett a big chunk of that cap money, and then have the Leafs lose in the first or second round again.

That's basically the player version of what they did with head coach this year.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I see no reason for the bolded to be true.

The 3rd winger on Jack-Bratt and Nico-Timo's lines has had little to no impact. This role of complimentary top 6 winger is one of the more overrated ones in terms of importance by a large amount.

Both of those lines did excellent last year. I see no reason to spend significant assets trying to make marginal improvements to a pair of lines that already dominate

The problem is that if Jack gets hurt (likely) or Timo decides to take 70% of the year off (also likely), now you have Bratt + Nico having to carry 4 guys and we saw how well that worked against Carolina.

I really don't see how anyone can watch what happened down the stretch and not think that we need a significant upgrade to our average forward quality.

EDIT: Look at the four teams left and tell me how many of them would have guys like Noesen, Mercer, or Palat on one of their top two lines.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

We shall see. I wish we had quinn. I think he is the best bro. I also don’t think having all three is the best way to build a cup winner

why not? Id agree trading our entire team to get him isn't the way, but there's nothing wrong with just having all 3 of them

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Mercer can not start the season on the top line and the euro rookie can’t start in the top 6 if that happens then the summer free agents / trades will have been an epic failure. Mercer needs to be 3rd line and rookie same or not even make the team

There's nothing good available in FA. For trades, the people proposing Nemec/Silavyev etc for Quinn, that should be go towards upgrading the forwards. Get Quinn in 2 years or 1 year.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

The problem is that if Jack gets hurt (likely) or Timo decides to take 70% of the year off (also likely), now you have Bratt + Nico having to carry 4 guys and we saw how well that worked against Carolina.

I really don't see how anyone can watch what happened down the stretch and not think that we need a significant upgrade to our average forward quality.

That's a problem with the team then, not something the gm should be working around. Jack needs to get his injury stuff fixed, simple as that

 

[devilsfan950003]

I've gone over this many times, but I'm happy to again.

NJD realistically has 1 hole. 3C.

If they trust glass there they can retain him and be right around the cap with a normal roster and no additions

Jack-Bratt-Grits
Nico-Timo-Mercer
Glass-Noesen-Palat
Haula-Cotter-Bastian

If you don't trust Glass you probably move out Haula first and reallocate his money to a 3C. You'll have to buy some retention likely depending on the tier of guy if you go for a veteran.

If you go for a younger guy who's less of a "safe bet" you're likely fine at that price range.

If you don't trust palat in a bottom 6 role, you pay to dump him, simple as that. I'm more than fine with him on the 3rd line, so I'd retain him.

I was hoping for a re-signing of Glass but cheaper than his QO. Then hope he can play 3C. He's a better 4C but maybe with some decent wingers?

Bastian plays decent defense. However, he's a player they should let go. That 4th line needs upgrade. I'd re-sign Sprong on a two-way contract. He brings speed and offensive prowess.

Palat? I doubt they can trade him unless they dump his salary too, unless they throw in some assets. Like second round picks. Him on the third line? Eh, if they can't dump him then 3rd line would suffice. His $6 million could be spent better.

Expecting Grits to play in top six may be wishful thinking. Would be great but probably be on the third line.

Mercer is a third line winger. He's not top six and he's not a center.

Can Cotter play center? Noesen too??

 

[HersheyBob27]

why not? Id agree trading our entire team to get him isn't the way, but there's nothing wrong with just having all 3 of them

ya because you can never have enough pp qbs. Cute but not how you build a team

 

[NJDevs26]

I see no reason for the bolded to be true.

The 3rd winger on Jack-Bratt and Nico-Timo's lines has had little to no impact. This role of complimentary top 6 winger is one of the more overrated ones in terms of importance by a large amount.

Both of those lines did excellent last year. I see no reason to spend significant assets trying to make marginal improvements to a pair of lines that already dominate

Ever think maybe that's a big reason why they have no depth? Because they keep settling for recycling bottom six players to play with them? Sure, they don't work with 'each other' on the same line but they shouldn't have to, especially since you'd be down to one scoring line if you stacked three together.

I know your point seems to be they can put Rantanen there and it would have no impact but that's just not true. Like others have said even if you buy the whole no impact stuff, having junk around them gets you this year's playoffs where the whole thing is a dumpster fire once the first guy goes down or slumps.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

EDIT: Look at the four teams left and tell me how many of them would have guys like Noesen, Mercer, or Palat on one of their top two lines.

um...literally every single one of them lol

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Ever think maybe that's a big reason why they have no depth? Because they keep settling for recycling bottom six players to play with them? Sure, they don't work with 'each other' on the same line but they shouldn't have to, especially since you'd be down to one scoring line if you stacked three together.

I know your point seems to be they can put Rantanen there and it would have no impact but that's just not true. Like others have said even if you buy the whole no impact stuff, having junk around them gets you this year's playoffs where the whole thing is a dumpster fire once the first guy goes down or slumps.

I don't really disagree, but I think the bigger issue is they have a really bad bottom 6. These other teams bottom 6 is just way better.

 

[HersheyBob27]

I was hoping for a re-signing of Glass but cheaper than his QO. Then hope he can play 3C. He's a better 4C but maybe with some decent wingers?

Bastian plays decent defense. However, he's a player they should let go. That 4th line needs upgrade. I'd re-sign Sprong on a two-way contract. He brings speed and offensive prowess.

Palat? I doubt they can trade him unless they dump his salary too, unless they throw in some assets. Like second round picks. Him on the third line? Eh, if they can't dump him then 3rd line would suffice. His $6 million could be spent better.

Expecting Grits to play in top six may be wishful thinking. Would be great but probably be on the third line.

Mercer is a third line winger. He's not top six and he's not a center.

Can Cotter play center? Noesen too??

Sprong does not bring speed. There is zero evidence of speed or offensive prowess actually

 

[NJDevs26]

I don't really disagree, but I think the bigger issue is they have a really bad bottom 6. These other teams bottom 6 is just way better.

It's all relative...you have a bad bottom six in part cause your only good bottom sixers are playing in the top six.

 

[Devils731]

Sprong does not bring speed. There is zero evidence of speed or offensive prowess actually

Sprong isn’t fast but he also isn’t slow, his speed is middle of the road.

I think he pretty obviously brings offense though. He averages 19 goals per 82 games and does it in not a lot of ice time.

His issue has been not playing defense and a team game but individually he can bring a fair amount of offense.