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

[NJDevs26]

I think most people understand what you're saying, but the fact is. The can't make an offer, they can't make it known they want to make an offer (this is tampering)

Quite simply, Vancouver isn't allowed to discuss a player that is on another team in any fashion, sneakily or publicly.

They basically already did this though with the Rutherfool presser a few weeks ago when he complained Quinn wants to play with his brothers and alluded to having some control over that if they acquired the other two lol

 

[HugeInTheShire]

They basically already did this though with the Rutherfool presser a few weeks ago when he complained Quinn wants to play with his brothers and alluded to having some control over that if they acquired the other two lol

Exactly why they wouldn’t accidentally leak a contract, I’d imagine they’re in thin ice already

 

[Ripshot 43]

I see we are onto the “we want every available player” portion of the season already

 

[dgibb10]

Tampa Bay is also a tough example considering their cap one year was 12 million above the allowed limit. I too would be okay having a extra few smaller guys if I could also have another 1st liner for free

Florida is also 10 mill over the cap right now.

 

[Guadana]

I'll take one JJ Peterka and one Ryan McLeod, please.

Nice dish. We need to let Nemec++ at least to the other side. They have Dahlin, Power and Byram, they don't need in pp qb as Hamilton and Casey. Kovacevic is a good fit but he isn't enough as compensation.

Nemec is cheap and talented player for now, most likely will sign bridge deal. I think he shouldn't be traded in that potential trade. But we have no other real assets we can cover other offers.

 

[Time Skip]

Florida is also 10 mill over the cap right now.

While a fair point, they dont have anyone other than Marchand who’s smaller… and it’s Marchand lol. He doesnt play small

I only referenced Tampa’s cap overage as a point that, if I can have a free 1st liner against the cap, I’d gladly have a few extra smaller guys

 

[dgibb10]

While a fair point, they dont have anyone other than Marchand who’s smaller… and it’s Marchand lol. He doesnt play small

I only referenced Tampa’s cap overage as a point that, if I can have a free 1st liner against the cap, I’d gladly have a few extra smaller guys

But you're trying to make a point that you NEED size to win, using florida (10+ mill over) as evidence of that, while ignoring Tampa who proved otherwise because they were 10 mill over.

You need to be a really good team to win. How you get there stylistically doesn't matter. If you try and force your way into changing your style however to something that doesn't fit your core, it will go quite poorly.

 

[Time Skip]

But you're trying to make a point that you NEED size to win, using florida (10+ mill over) as evidence of that, while ignoring Tampa who proved otherwise because they were 10 mill over.

You need to be a really good team to win. How you get there stylistically doesn't matter. If you try and force your way into changing your style however to something that doesn't fit your core, it will go quite poorly.

Tampa didn’t prove otherwise; it was a different game

This stretch of not allowing retaliatory actions is not what it was before and during Covid. Being bigger in a world where the contact is going either uncalled or outright becoming dirty is critical

Obviously the Devils won’t be passing on elite or even great talent because of size; but they will move a Mercer or a Casey before they move a Nemec or a Cotter, that is practically a fact without literally being stated as such by Fitzgerald.

Will the league fix this retaliatory issue? Yes. When? Who the hell knows and Id rather not wait to find out. Devils two best scorers are sub-6ft, we dont need any more smaller offensemen in the top-6

 

[Oneiro]

I agree it should be meaningless; but what should be meaningless and what is reality can be mutually-inclusive and contradictory

Its ebbs and flows. Right now bruiser-style hockey is back with a vengeance, during a time where retaliatory hockey isn’t being allowed. Therefore, right now, size wins

You dont build a team for just next year so one more sub-6fter outside Jack and Jesper can work (if Mercer is moved). But would I want four of my top-9 being small and lacking physicality? Not in any era of hockey

And I dont consider Bratt’s 80 hits physical; there’s a difference between him and Marchand’s hits (and antics), for example. Hell, even Kucherov is a bigger pest

Tampa Bay is also a tough example considering their cap one year was 12 million above the allowed limit. I too would be okay having a extra few smaller guys if I could also have another 1st liner for free

Fighting the last war, a typical NHL GM mistake.

 

[Shakir ONeal]

View attachment 1043761

This was my first profile picture for hfboards

 

[Time Skip]

Fighting the last war, a typical NHL GM mistake.

Id like to be able to fight in a war, to start; let’s get us close before we worry about what gets us over the hump, aye?

 

[Oneiro]

Id like to be able to fight in a war, to start; let’s get us close before we worry about what gets us over the hump, aye?

Get depth scoring next to the core forwards and then let's talk about makeup.

This was the most top heavy playoff team by far. You cannot go far when Mercer, Palat, Haula, etc. are doing nothing for you.

 

[Time Skip]

Get depth scoring next to the core forwards and then let's talk about makeup.

This was the most top heavy playoff team by far. You cannot go far when Mercer, Palat, Haula, etc. are doing nothing for you.

I too think with some depth they could make an ECF. But add an Ehlers-type to that with a 6-8 year deal and youve now capped your future makeup in a way that isn’t ideal

Devils already have four of the top-6 locked down for-basically-ever. You add a smaller forward to that, even a skilled one, and thats your final product as a contender. There will be no moving of any of them in the foreseeable future.

So God forbid this trend continues and you’ve now hamstrung yourself to a smaller core in a violent sport

 

[Triumph]

Same poster with different name arguing about Bratt, a real rite of passage. One can only wonder what other circular arguments the summer has in store for us.

 

[Time Skip]

Same poster with different name arguing about Bratt, a real rite of passage. One can only wonder what other circular arguments the summer has in store for us.

Bratt hasnt been a topic of discussion in this thread in a week; you lost or just yelling at clouds?

 

[Triumph]

Bratt hasnt been a topic of discussion in this thread in a week; you lost or just yelling at clouds?

Probably hard for you to track your own posts because your name changes all the time, but my eyes must've deceived me when you again ran Bratt down for the 9 millionth time in this thread at 7:43 PM. Guess that was someone else. PS how's Laine doing?

 

[Time Skip]

Probably hard for you to track your own posts because your name changes all the time, but my eyes must've deceived me when you again ran Bratt down for the 9 millionth time in this thread at 7:43 PM. Guess that was someone else. PS how's Laine doing?

Laine? Youre lost for sure. But out of curiosity Id love to know who you think I am…

7:43PM, a single post out of about ten today, and a single comment about Bratt’s physicality as it relates to a conversation of size and grit. Absolute shredding of the poor lad; how could I have done such a thing?

I would have referenced Jack as well if he ever was healthy enough to throw a f***ing hit lmfao.

Sorry I mentioned by name our two best players who also happen to be smaller, in a topic related to such. I’ll make sure to refer to him or anyone else you think someone is practicing voodoo on as Voldemort, going forward

Long story short you got the wrong guy, pal. Bratt is our best forward who can be counted on until Jack goes a single playoff season healthy. Does this other poster ever say that or am I just putting up a front now?

 

[Time Skip]

lets get to the offseason already

 

[MadDevil]

Imagine watching Nico, Bratt (with a nagging shoulder injury), and Timo being the only ones to do a damn thing offensively in the playoffs and coming to the conclusion that more size and "hard to play against" was the real problem.

 

[razor ray]

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Bratt hasnt been a topic of discussion in this thread in a week; you lost or just yelling at clouds?

 

[thebeernerd]

Imagine watching Nico, Bratt (with a nagging shoulder injury), and Timo being the only ones to do a damn thing offensively in the playoffs and coming to the conclusion that more size and "hard to play against" was the real problem.

I'd argue that we played pretty damn hard as well, considering everything that happened prior to and during the series.

 

[MadDevil]

I'd argue that we played pretty damn hard as well, considering everything that happened prior to and during the series.

I think they actually outhit Carolina in the series, although I could be mistaken. Physicality was not really an issue. They just didn't have the horses between the injuries and guys who actually did provide depth scoring during the regular season going cold. And they still gave the Canes more of a series than the Caps (although it felt like everybody was waiting for the other shoe to drop with them for months).

 

[Clam Jensen]

anyone saying physicality was an issue against CAR needs lasik.

 

[Better Call Sal]

How do you know this? Nothing he has done has indicated this

Not sure I understand the question. How do I know that Fitz knows the team needs more scoring help? He alluded to it in the end of the year presser when he said they won't be coming back with the same group because it wasn't good enough and that there were players he felt that could score on this team that simply didn't.

I know people like to paint him as a slack-jawed idiot, but he's done well with targeting areas of need during the offseason in the past. It's been more that he's possibly over-corrected in those times as well. Hence the moving away of the depth speed players in 22-23 and bringing in size on defense last offseason.