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

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

also, basically every forward that plays any sort of role in Edmonton has a clause. I realize that Bowman was only hired last year, but yeah. Dallas has I believe 8 forwards with some sort of clause.

like I said, this is NOT me defending Fitz, but this is just the reality of the NHL nowadays.

 

[NJDevs26]

The other funny thing is this goes back at least fifteen years, people were complaining about Lou giving out too many NMC's and NTC's back in 2010 when he couldn't move Langenbrunner/Rolston/etc and he never did that before the post-lockout cap system went into effect (he never really signed outside FA's before then either). Lou was late to the party re-signing Patty but in the end coughed up the NMC that Sather didn't, ergo he stayed.

 

[The 29th Pick]

Where is Luke? Is he safe? Is he alright?

In your anger, you killed his shoulder

Boy he's a tender little fellow!

 

[MasterofGrond]

I agree it would be easier to have fewer NTCs and NMCs. But you can't just unilaterally decide you're going to do that and still sign UFAs (or even your own RFAs). Or at least, sign the premier ones. There's a reason players want that control, same as you would in their position.

If you aren't offering NTCs, you need to be a premier destination that guys are willing to risk it to play for (literally doesn't exist in the NHL), pay guys enough to make up for it (good luck!) or sign guys without better options.

Let's look at other, successful teams:

• Every single forward on the Canes signed past this year that isn't on an ELC either has trade protection, or will have trade protection as soon as they're old enough to have it. All 4 of their defenseman do too, and their starter.
• The 8 highest paid forwards on the Oilers signed for next year have trade protection, and so does Darnell Nurse
• Of the stars forwards who are eligible, only Sam Steel doesn't. Half their eligible defenseman for next year do, and Otter will as soon as he is 27.
• On the Panthers we actually found a good player that doesn't have one and won't when eligible, woo, Lundell. That's it though. Everybody else is making sub 3M, or has protection. Bob, Seth Jones, Forsling, Ekblad did on his expiring deal. Hell, Nate Schmidt did on his deal.

Looks like trade protection is actually the rule rather than the exception. Yeah maybe I would prefer Dillon or Kovy have partial protection rather than a full NTC next season, but that is TRULY nitpicking. Guys don't like playing where they're not wanted broadly, and their general willingness to waive proves it. the clauses are mostly there to give them some semblance of control over the process, which is eminently reasonable, and GMs know that so they give them out.

 

[thebeernerd]

I have a friend who works for the flyers and I cant tell you how right you really are. Risto by all accounts is a complete mad man in the locker room and off the ice. And not in a good way.

I was just talking about his frustrating defensive play up until recently, I didn't know there were layers to the guy.

 

[thebeernerd]

Jack and Quinn working on new sponsorships lol

Everyone replying to Jack's IG with this ad basically saying he did a half-assed job for the paycheck. Fine by me, as long as he gives his whole ass on the ice. And both shoulders, obviously.

 

[crashline]

Arrivederci, Novak.

 

[woody footbreaker]

Brad Shaw looks a lot like Keith Jones. I see why it didn’t work out in Florida.

haha, saw that too

looking again, he just looks like prototyp defenseman form the 80s? lol no nonsense guy

 

[woody footbreaker]

The Tatar Bazaar is closed. He was awesome for us in 22-23. I'm happy that he wanted to come back, and did, even if it didn't work out. Awesome guy, awesome teammate, gives it his all out on the ice even if the talent isn't all there any longer.

Best of luck, Tuna. This fan will miss you at least.

yeah that ship has sailed. fitz did well at Tdl all things considered. but he really fukked up in not trading for nazar from the hawks.
missed out on an all-time devils line in Tatar-Lazar-Nazar

but now the bazaar becomes a pipedream.
thx Fitz and alll the best for Tomas

 

[HoliksGhost]

Tartar II was a low event occurrence

 

[Fan from Maine]

That 95 cup win saved them. Nashville got their team not long after that. Just not our Devils!

Absolutely correct, devilsfan950003.

 

[Fan from Maine]

That 95 cup win saved them. Nashville got their team not long after that. Just not our Devils!

Should the Devils win another Cup do you change your name to devilsfan9500004?

 

[Davegarri]

Should the Devils win another Cup do you change your name to devilsfan9500004?

Devs didn't win in '04 though. It'd be devilsfan9500003YY

 

[Fan from Maine]

Devs didn't win in '04 though. It'd be devilsfan9500003YY

I thought the 95 was for the first Cup year, then the 3 zeros are for each cup won and the 3 is of course for the 3 Cups won. So I added a zero and changed the 3 to 4. I do not understand your change.

 

[Fan from Maine]

Well we lost Tomas Tatar to Switzerland. Not a loss im my opinion. He did not produce as expected for the Devils on his final return. I wish him well in Switzerland. I don't think he will reach the Switzerland expectation.

So we need a replacement for him along with more for the bottom 6 so we get more offense production from them. We could use another top 6 center as well.

Fitz you have your work cut out for you to keep your job.

Go Devils

 

[dgibb10]

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.

We haven't done that tho. We brought in Palat and spent big on him, we bought Toffoli, we bought Meier.

We HAVE spent the money and assets trying to go for "better" in the top 6, and it hasn't made meaningful improvements.

 

[dgibb10]

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.

If Jack isn't healthy we aren't winning a cup no matter what the rest of the roster looks like.

Both Carolina and Edmonton have those caliber of guys in their top 6. Roslovic, Stankoven, Kapanen, Hall, Podz are in those team's top 6s.


If you're talking florida and dallas, you're talking two teams who got lucky enough to be able to use 10 mill of LTIR AND spent a combined 5 1sts+Knight+Stankoven this deadline.

 

[dgibb10]

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

This is a cowardly approach to team building on the wings.

Those offensive spots along stars are the perfect spot to put mercer and Grits. And if it doesn't work out offensive wingers are by far the easiest pieces to bring in at the deadline

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Triumph]

Palmieri did not gel at all with Hughes in their time together in 2020. He wouldn't play on PP1 with everyone healthy. Don't really have much interest there.

 

[MasterofGrond]

I'm with Nichols, it's time to bring Palmieri back

 

[thebeernerd]

I wouldn't be opposed to bringing back Palms, especially with that glorious beard. Lou committed a crime by forcing him to shave it off. It's all dependent on $$$ of course.

 

[Devils731]

I gotta figure Palms properly prices him out of the role he would play here but if he suddenly finds himself with no suitors then I’d see how much I could lowball him for.

 

[BurntToast]

His age is a concern, but if you can get him under 5mil on a 1/2 year deal Palms could be a good depth piece.

 

[My3Sons]

NJ has to stop giving out retirement contracts. The value isn’t there. Palms is 34. For a year fine but he’s going to want three. I’m skeptical he holds up that long. NJ already looks like Palat and Hamilton are eroding.