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

[thebeernerd]

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.

Bolded is the issue I have. Fitz is well aware we have problems, but he leans into fixing them at the expense of de-emphasizing what works. After seeing how we played against Carolina this year, I don't really have much of a problem with getting a little slower while being more physical. It works at that point of the season. But some of the guys who are doing that play aren't exactly the greatest choices.

Kind of a shame that he moved on to this style after dumping guys like Greer and Boqvist to a team that is utilizing that kind of skill to the fullest extent. But that's what great teams do, and they also didn't pan out in Boston.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Bolded is the issue I have. Fitz is well aware we have problems, but he leans into fixing them at the expense of de-emphasizing what works. After seeing how we played against Carolina this year, I don't really have much of a problem with getting a little slower while being more physical. It works at that point of the season. But some of the guys who are doing that play aren't exactly the greatest choices.

Kind of a shame that he moved on to this style after dumping guys like Greer and Boqvist to a team that is utilizing that kind of skill to the fullest extent. But that's what great teams do, and they also didn't pan out in Boston.

Full disclosure, I'm not supportive of Fitz entirely. He's had some hits, he's had some misses. He's now reached the point of his tenure here where his job pretty much depends on what he does this offseason in my eyes. I still wonder if he kicks himself upstairs to give Madigan the GM role eventually before they lose her.

I do also think some of the depth losses of 22-23 have been overblown here by many, but that topic has been beaten to death. I liked Boqvist and wish he stayed, but we could have gotten him back for free that same preseason after Boston waived him before the start of the regular season.

Greer was fine to me as well, but I understood moving on from him when we did too. Wood was coming back, and the BMW line was a productive 4th line for us. Zetterlund was in the fold at the time as well and showed he could play above that 4th line role early on.

 

[Davegarri]

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).

Physicality is not just about hitting though, and that's where I think people are getting misconstrued. It's also winning board battles, retrieving pucks in deep, driving the middle of the ice, establishing net front presence, etc.

I don't think we played well along the boards and in the corners. We didn't retrieve pucks well and didn't win board battles enough.

Regardless, I do agree our largest problems this year were lack of depth and obviously a decimated lineup due to injuries. Depth 1000% needs to be addressed and I'm sure Fitz will fix the bottom 6 this summer. I still think a healthy lineup had a legit shot at beating the Canes.

 

[HellOnIce]

Full disclosure, I'm not supportive of Fitz entirely. He's had some hits, he's had some misses. He's now reached the point of his tenure here where his job pretty much depends on what he does this offseason in my eyes. I still wonder if he kicks himself upstairs to give Madigan the GM role eventually before they lose her.

I do also think some of the depth losses of 22-23 have been overblown here by many, but that topic has been beaten to death. I liked Boqvist and wish he stayed, but we could have gotten him back for free that same preseason after Boston waived him before the start of the regular season.

Greer was fine to me as well, but I understood moving on from him when we did too. Wood was coming back, and the BMW line was a productive 4th line for us. Zetterlund was in the fold at the time as well and showed he could play above that 4th line role early on.

I'm not sure what makes you think Tom's going to relinquish the reigns at all, and Dan Mackinnon is prob the heir apparent from an internal perspective.

It's not about losing the Boqvists of the world, I'd say more about the replacements from within - not been a ton of drafted assets esp amongst the forwards. Who were the next Yegor Zetterlund, Boq, Wood, McLeod - and those were Ray picks. If Lenni and Grits (another Ray pick) pan out - that's going a long way of doing that - but we have no forward prospects.

 

[thebeernerd]

I think I said this, but I've gone from "Fitz will be the guy to get us to a Cup" to "Fitz might be the guy to get us a Cup" over the course of this season, so I'm not exactly a diehard for him. The roster management and especially drafting problems are real. But at the same time, if he consistently makes the playoffs and we take the next step as a true contender, he's not going to have to worry about his status for a few seasons. At this point, it is what it is, and there are far worse options out there.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I'm not sure what makes you think Tom's going to relinquish the reigns at all, and Dan Mackinnon is prob the heir apparent from an internal perspective.

It's not about losing the Boqvists of the world, I'd say more about the replacements from within - not been a ton of drafted assets esp amongst the forwards. Who were the next Yegor Zetterlund, Boq, Wood, McLeod - and those were Ray picks. If Lenni and Grits (another Ray pick) pan out - that's going a long way of doing that - but we have no forward prospects.

Once he was anointed President of Hockey Operations, I started to assume it was closer to a matter of time. It's something that happens in this league with some regularity. George McPhee did it in Vegas, Joe Sakic did it in Colorado, Ron Francis just did it in Seattle. Teams value having good people around, and it also allows them more stability in the long run.

I think they value Madigan though Mackinnon has been here longer. She was asked to make the pick at the draft in 2022 as a newly appointed assistant GM and has been more involved with some of the team aspects behind the scenes from past videos the team has shown. She's been an interview candidate, though so has Mackinnon, in past offseasons. I could see either one possibly, but I do think Fitz will take a back seat eventually and hand the GM role off.

I agree with you that his draft record has been much spottier than Shero's was, to put it as kindly as possible.

 

[HellOnIce]

Once he was anointed President of Hockey Operations, I started to assume it was closer to a matter of time. It's something that happens in this league with some regularity. George McPhee did it in Vegas, Joe Sakic did it in Colorado, Ron Francis just did it in Seattle. Teams value having good people around, and it also allows them more stability in the long run.

I think they value Madigan though Mackinnon has been here longer. She was asked to make the pick at the draft in 2022 as a newly appointed assistant GM and has been more involved with some of the team aspects behind the scenes from past videos the team has shown. She's been an interview candidate, though so has Mackinnon, in past offseasons. I could see either one possibly, but I do think Fitz will take a back seat eventually and hand the GM role off.

I agree with you that his draft record has been much spottier than Shero's was, to put it as kindly as possible.

I mean, I just don't see it with Tom. He's only been a GM for 4-5 years - didn't make the kind of money Sakic made or win several Cups as Mr. Avalanche, McPhee had been a GM forever, Francis is older/more accomplished. Tom has won 1 playoff series as a GM - journey man career. I don't see it even as an option to just relinquish GM world.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I mean, I just don't see it with Tom. He's only been a GM for 4-5 years - didn't make the kind of money Sakic made or win several Cups as Mr. Avalanche, McPhee had been a GM forever, Francis is older/more accomplished. Tom has won 1 playoff series as a GM - journey man career. I don't see it even as an option to just relinquish GM world.

Look, you could be right. But it's not like he'd be leaving the organization. He'd be President. Depends on how much control a guy might want to have. He might prefer to oversee, but pass the more day-to-day responsibilities of GM to someone from within.

Only time will tell, it's just my thinking.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Brave newcomer, reveal your former self!

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

So, what’s good to eat around here?

 

[NJDevs26]

The whole ‘guess a new poster’s identity’ parlor game gets old fast, especially in posts with no other purpose but to do that. Almost as old as posters coming here on a new name and complaining about everything under the sun giving away that they’re longtime users. Lurkers don’t complain and actual new posters aren’t so…verbose and edgy.

All of you knock it off now, this is the TEAM thread. If you have issues with other posters or the board use the message feature and address it off the board

 

[Nocashstyle]

Panthers regular season hit leaders: AJ Greer and Jesper Boqvist. Obviously those two Devils legends are the reason Florida’s success!

Who cares if the depth players can’t score for shit, as long as they hit and intimidate while contributing absolutely nothing offensively, we’ll be golden!!!

 

[Bad Goalie]

I'm not sure what makes you think Tom's going to relinquish the reigns at all, and Dan Mackinnon is prob the heir apparent from an internal perspective.

It's not about losing the Boqvists of the world, I'd say more about the replacements from within - not been a ton of drafted assets esp amongst the forwards. Who were the next Yegor Zetterlund, Boq, Wood, McLeod - and those were Ray picks. If Lenni and Grits (another Ray pick) pan out - that's going a long way of doing that - but we have no forward prospects.

With the horrendous job he has done in Utica, one has to ask would he really be a good choice to run the whole hockey operation in NJ?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Mercer? Come on Nichols

 

[Ekiru]

Panthers regular season hit leaders: AJ Greer and Jesper Boqvist. Obviously those two Devils legends are the reason Florida’s success!

Who cares if the depth players can’t score for shit, as long as they hit and intimidate while contributing absolutely nothing offensively, we’ll be golden!!!

Its true but they are about to compete for their second Cup in as many years lol. Regular season hits for a team thats maintaining before the playoffs also isnt very meaningful

 

[NJDevs26]

Panthers regular season hit leaders: AJ Greer and Jesper Boqvist. Obviously those two Devils legends are the reason Florida’s success!

Who cares if the depth players can’t score for shit, as long as they hit and intimidate while contributing absolutely nothing offensively, we’ll be golden!!!

I thought this was mistaken somehow but no…191 hits?! So did being waived twice cause him to embrace a different role or are they just super liberal in what they call a hit in Florida?

Jesper Boqvist Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Jesper Boqvist. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, trade, draft and more on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

 

[NJDevs26]

With the horrendous job he has done in Utica, one has to ask would he really be a good choice to run the whole hockey operation in NJ?

There’s only so much a ‘AHL GM’ can do apart from their input at the draft table which admittedly has been questionable on the whole lately. Maybe he hasn’t signed enough AHL vets to keep the team competitive or had the right coaching hires but ultimately it just comes down to good and bad drafting/player development for the most part.

 

[Smitty426]

I think some names they should look at to address the handful of problems-
Morgan Geekie
Mason Marchment
Owen Tippett
Ross Colton

A bunch of boxes they check Volume shooter/CF/Speed/Size/Hits/Pts/Availibility/Salary (workable with moves).

 

[thebeernerd]

I think some names they should look at to address the handful of problems-
Morgan Geekie
Mason Marchment
Owen Tippett
Ross Colton

A bunch of boxes they check Volume shooter/CF/Speed/Size/Hits/Pts/Availibility/Salary (workable with moves).

If Colton becomes available I'd go for him. On top of all of that which you posted, he grew up a Devils fan and has remarked it would be cool to play here.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Its true but they are about to compete for their second Cup in as many years lol. Regular season hits for a team thats maintaining before the playoffs also isnt very meaningful

They’re about to compete for their second cup because they have guys like Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Evan Rodriguez producing at more than respectable rates.

Further:
Luostarinen - averaging 4.2 hits a game and .76 ppg
Lundell - averaging 1.23 hits a game and .70 ppg
Rodriguez - averaging 1.87 hits a game and .73 ppg

Cotter averaged 4.4 hits a game and had a single assist.
Haula averaged 4 hits a game and had a single assist.
Mercer averaged 3 hits a game and had 2 goals.
Bastian averaged 3 hits a game and didn’t have a single point.

 

[Smitty426]

If Colton becomes available I'd go for him. On top of all of that which you posted, he grew up a Devils fan and has remarked it would be cool to play here.

Yep, he has a full NMC and would waive for Jersey. Was a healthy scratch I believe in Colo (was also hurt) I think. A swap for Haula works with Avs. They get a real C for a year, rid themselves of Ross (2 yrs left). Ross is s few $100k more.
Power forward types are really was this group is, which I think we need up and down the lineup.

 

[thebeernerd]

Who wants to go and commit some light tampering?

 

[dgibb10]

They’re about to compete for their second cup because they have guys like Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Evan Rodriguez producing at more than respectable rates.

Erod getting only 3 mill x4 is shocking considering he produced so well in Col and Pitt.

They really took advantage of the flat cap there

 

[Ekiru]

.

I think some names they should look at to address the handful of problems-
Morgan Geekie
Mason Marchment
Owen Tippett
Ross Colton

A bunch of boxes they check Volume shooter/CF/Speed/Size/Hits/Pts/Availibility/Salary (workable with moves).

Ross Colton is worse than Mercer and five years older.. id rather not lol

 

[Ekiru]

How about the Devils just get good!!

LoL GGPZ