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

[devilsfan950003]

Nhl edge numbers had nate clocked at a way faster top speed this year

You're right. He did improve his skating. He's strong defensively. He doesn't offer much else. I think they should move on.

 

[Mgd31]

Boqvist is rocking a cool 39% xGF, second worst on the Panthers this playoffs. Good for him pucks are going in 17% of the time when he’s on the ice.

 

[devilsfan950003]

I didn't like losing Boqvist and I'd say the problem to me is it showed that Fitz has a very particular vision for how certain supporting players should look/play and Boqvist did not fit his vision for a bottom 6 center so they moved on even though he was a useful player. In all of his acquisitions he "overpays" in order to get that player archetype he wants, and it's a dangerous scenario to be in this offseason.

Didn't Fitz let Boqvist leave in free agency because he wanted more size and grit in the bottom six?

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. The forward core wasn't good enough with Hughes in the lineup and it's certainly not good enough without him in the lineup. If it needs to get better then it needs to get better.

It meant, we shouldn't be worried about what ifs with Jack getting injured. Any team would be crippled with a superstar like that getting injured. Yes, we need better depth up front but not because "what if Jack gets injured"

Also, why should we be worried about Timo taking 70% of the year off? Idk why we should be building around that lol

 

[My3Sons]

Didn't Fitz let Boqvist leave in free agency because he wanted more size and grit in the bottom six?

In my view that’s correct. The issue is picking your players properly. Haula and Palat don’t really add much in those roles. For all the hate Dillon gets he will actually challenge guys physically. Some performative violence is necessary. Other guys will fight as needed but watch Dillon ring the gloves semi-routinely and guys turtle. Adding big and mean guys with skill is the goal but every team wants that.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

C'mon, this is absurd. Noesen would probably be the 5th or 6th best forward on Edmonton based purely on how top-heavy they are, but he wouldn't be anywhere near the 6 best forwards on Dallas, Florida, or Carolina. Mercer had 36 points and Palat didn't even crack 30, they are both depth players and not particularly great one.

Noesen is right there with some of the top 6 these teams have. Mercer a bit below (still had a good amount of goals though), and yea Palat is extremely washed but we all know this. The issue I have is not the people saying we need better than Palat. I completely agree with that. But we don't need "better" than Noesen, we just need more of those types. He's a step up from Palat and Mercer (based on this season's production).

Ideally, we get rid of Palat, Mercer is on 3rd line, Noesen is on 2nd line, and we just get more wingers around that level and also a solid 3c and the forward lineup is fine. We don't need some 9 million dollar winger. We already have 2 of those (well, Bratt is lower, but he's certainly worth that much).

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Given that trading for Brady means Matthew also forces his way to NJ in my fan fiction it's a firable offense.

Imagine having all 3 hughes bros and both tkachuk bros on the same team. That would be hilarious.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

In all of his acquisitions he "overpays" in order to get that player archetype he wants, and it's a dangerous scenario to be in this offseason.

Bingo. It's why I've been constantly joking about Fitz being the one interested in overpaying for Bennett. Surely he can't be that crazy though....right?

 

[devilsblood]

I also think Palat is washed.

But I also look back at the 23-24 season and see he put up excellent on ice numbers with Nico. But was used very little in that role last year.

Not sure why Keefe gave it that combo virtually no run last year, but if Palat is back, I'd maybe consider it. Part of this thinking is how ineffective he was in the bottom 6 last year. If we could at least squeeze strong on ice results out of him that's better then him dragging down other guys.

 

[devilsblood]

Bingo. It's why I've been constantly joking about Fitz being the one interested in overpaying for Bennett. Surely he can't be that crazy though....right?

Anyone hear Biz say Bennet is going to get $11 x 8 this offseason?

 

[My3Sons]

Anyone hear Biz say Bennet is going to get $11 x 8 this offseason?

That’s great for every other guy looking for a contract but won’t age well for Florida. He will be Palat before too long.

 

[devilsfan950003]

I also think Palat is washed.

But I also look back at the 23-24 season and see he put up excellent on ice numbers with Nico. But was used very little in that role last year.

Not sure why Keefe gave it that combo virtually no run last year, but if Palat is back, I'd maybe consider it. Part of this thinking is how ineffective he was in the bottom 6 last year. If we could at least squeeze strong on ice results out of him that's better then him dragging down other guys.

I think they are stuck with Palat for one more season. Put him on the third line with re-signed Glass and Mercer. Yeah, Glass may be a better center on the 4th line, but give him a shot.
This works if Gritsyuk can play wing in the top six. So there is some wishful thinking with some luck thrown in by not unreasonable. Thoughts?

 

[Oneiro]

The Boqvist stuff is less about the specific player and more about the philosophy.

Fitz has a New England/USA hockey-infected mentality of what a contending team looks like - the same reason Nashville never got it done, the same reason Boston royally f***ed up its chances time and time again. This team should have always been following the Detroit - Chicago template of two-way, up tempo skill.

 

[Satans Hockey]

OMG! YESSSSS! USA! USA! USA!

 

[HersheyBob27]

I think they are stuck with Palat for one more season. Put him on the third line with re-signed Glass and Mercer. Yeah, Glass may be a better center on the 4th line, but give him a shot.
This works if Gritsyuk can play wing in the top six. So there is some wishful thinking with some luck thrown in by not unreasonable. Thoughts?

Good luck with your 3rd line. Anytime palat played third or fourth line he cratered the whole line. He needs really strong players to carry his ass around

 

[Guadana]

OMG! YESSSSS! USA! USA! USA!

Congrats! It was a game full of nerve. Finally!

 

[My3Sons]

Congrats! It was a game full of nerve. Finally!

The Swiss needed a better center down lower in the lineup to help counter the depth advantage of the US. Pity their best 3C was hurt.

 

[Guadana]

The Swiss needed a better center down lower in the lineup to help counter the depth advantage of the US. Pity their best 3C was hurt.

Swiss and USA are my favorite teams and systems outside my lovely Russia. So it was little bit sad for Nico to not see him on the ice. I really want to see him with a win. He is working unto the end in every shift. I want the Devils win little bit more for him than for any other Devils player.

 

[My3Sons]

Swiss and USA are my favorite teams and systems outside my lovely Russia. So it was little bit sad for Nico to not see him on the ice. I really want to see him with a win. He is working unto the end in every shift. I want the Devils win little bit more for him than for any other Devils player.

I think it's best for NJ if they trade him for Laine

 

[Satans Hockey]

I don't understand why the NHL Network cuts the coverage like that just to show a f***ing rerun of top shelf. Show the whole damn celebration ffs.

 

[Satans Hockey]

 

[Satans Hockey]

I'm so damn happy, I would love it if they brought the trophy around to different US arenas next season. I've been watching this tournament since 2003 when I was in Ottawa for the conference finals for the Devils games up there and watched Anson Carter score the ot goal for Canada to beat Sweden. I remember paying money on some website to watch all the games after that until the NHL Network finally came around and showed all the games here.

It's been year after year of disappointment, some not surprising when they sent bad teams but in recent years it's been good teams and more frustrating that they couldn't go further.

I'm so proud of these guys and how they showed how much it means to them and how hard they played. Some of these guys definitely were proving to the US staff that they should have been on the 4 Nations squad and want to be on the Olympics squad.

I just wish more people here cared about this tournament but that is what it is.

Just so damn happy! USA! USA! USA!

 

[Guadana]

I think it's best for NJ if they trade him for Laine

Ship has sailed. Mtl are better than that.

 

[Guadana]

I'm so damn happy, I would love it if they brought the trophy around to different US arenas next season. I've been watching this tournament since 2003 when I was in Ottawa for the conference finals for the Devils games up there and watched Anson Carter score the ot goal for Canada to beat Sweden. I remember paying money on some website to watch all the games after that until the NHL Network finally came around and showed all the games here.

It's been year after year of disappointment, some not surprising when they sent bad teams but in recent years it's been good teams and more frustrating that they couldn't go further.

I'm so proud of these guys and how they showed how much it means to them and how hard they played. Some of these guys definitely were proving to the US staff that they should have been on the 4 Nations squad and want to be on the Olympics squad.

I just wish more people here cared about this tournament but that is what it is.

Just so damn happy! USA! USA! USA!

Understand your feelings. We were very happy in the final of 2008 when Kovalchuck turned on the God mode. It was not so long to wait but still 15 years and we watched it every year as I started being in school. May be even earlier just don't remember that. Time was no so fast as it is now.

 

[MadDevil]