Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - offseason part II

[Normal Devil]

Disclaimer I'm still bitter over the Markstrom trade.

How do we fix our D group? Unless Nemec and Hughes start hitting the gym soon, I think we really set us back with the defensive side of the rink.

Before anyone goes apesh*t on me about Bahl, Bahl was only going to get better. Even if he plautued, his intangibles are not duplicated in the current core nor I know of in the pipeline we have in defense, if anything, it gets smaller. Not to mention the cost control was advantages to us.

Now it appears we'd have to spend more assets or capital to put a patchwork up together.

I think Fitz did well with the Marky deal. I think Bahl is replaceable in free agency or via trade, and the 25 1st will hopefully be in the latter portion of the round. You got to give to get and we should get a few solid seasons from Marky. It was absolutely priority #1 for the Devils. Calgary is paying 30 percent of the bill, so that's a good deal.

People are upset about not getting Ullmark instead, but I think it's clear the Devils preferred Markstrom. I did as well. He's able to handle a heavier load and is a true #1 goalie. Also, Ullmark only had one year left on his deal, and it would have been much more costly to re-up with him. I'm not even sure he was willing to sign long term with the Devils, and I'm not sure the Devils really wanted him long term. Markstrom was clearly their target, so let's hope it really pans out.

The Devils kind of set the market for jumping on Marky, but I think they were a little nervous about Toronto getting involved. Marky basically said it wasn't the Devils or bust .. he was open to other options, but it never got that far down the road as it did with the Devils. All told I'm glad we landed the guy. Should help immensely.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Speaking of old players, one that is still with the team (kinda?) Kinkaid.... will be 35 to start the season. In the back of my mind I still am patiently waiting for him to break out...... Must have just blacked out since watching him in Albany over a decade ago... At least he's had a...run.

 

[Forge]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805662828289761556

Won't be this year, but I hope that they vote him in eventually

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Think we should be able to find someone better that’s similarly cheap. Didn’t even look like an NHL player to me. Also isn’t room for him with the other 2 guys I mentioned.

Don’t add him to your imaginary lineup

 

[forceten]

Could Hamilton be part of the recruiting group for Pesce?

 

[Wierzbowski426]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805662828289761556

Won't be this year, but I hope that they vote him in eventually

Alfredsson being in before Elias is lame, I wonder what his fancy chart looks like.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1805662828289761556

Won't be this year, but I hope that they vote him in eventually

Forgot that the HHOF was announcing today. Another year for them to snub my guy Mogilny (which at this point has everything to do with geopolitical reasons), but f*** them for not putting him in sooner.

 

[Forge]

Alfredsson being in before Elias is lame, I wonder what his fancy chart looks like.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1753207327245697072

 

[Lou Bloom]

I finally saw that random tweet about Pesce and Marino. Why would we want to subtract more D.

We need to get another veteran D not subtract.

Pesce is a better fit on a team that already has a ton of offense and puck moving ability on the blue line and seems like the perfect partner for someone like Luke.

If they think they can sign Pesce and then turn around and trade Marino either for a better LHD fit or forward then it makes sense from a team building perspective.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Dallas seems like a good fit for Marino, would love to steal Marchment from them.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Maybe we can get Colton for nothing if they’re just trying to dump him like Walman just was

 

[megajake]

Maybe we can get Colton for nothing if they’re just trying to dump him like Walman just was

Doubtful. He’s a very valuable piece signed on a decent contact. I think lots of teams will have interest in him.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Doubtful. He’s a very valuable piece signed on a decent contact. I think lots of teams will have interest in him.

The contract is almost fine and still probably high if you like him at C. But he’s probably better suited at wing and then the contract is not very good in that case.

 

[Guttersniped]

Center depth. Cheap. PK.

Lazar is our center depth after we sign Teddy Bluger. (I have UFA dreams too!)

 

[R8Devs]

Dallas seems like a good fit for Marino, would love to steal Marchment from them.

Maybe Lian Bischel? Could be an interesting target pretty big and tough 6'6 defenseman but with a lot of development to go but that way Dallas doesn't lose any of their roster players on top of Tanev.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Zadorav would cost too much and not worth the contract he would get, but subtracting Marino and adding him and Pesce would be a crazy mix of defenders. Every line could have every combo of shut-down, run and gun, and everything in between. If Seigs got back to form they could roll three lines easy or just line match at will.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I honestly wouldn't hate a picks trade for Marino, like 2nd + 3rd or something. Frees up cap space and lets us recoup some picks or use them as ammo in a better trade in the future. Make it a Shero trade, but this time we're the sellers.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I honestly wouldn't hate a picks trade for Marino, like 2nd + 3rd or something. Frees up cap space and lets us recoup some picks or use them as ammo in a better trade in the future. Make it a Shero trade, but this time we're the sellers.

But Marino’s contract is fine. It isn’t freeing up cap space really if we’re signing someone more expensive to replace him.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I'd be happy with signing Pesce and Zadorov then trading Marino if Fitzgerald could make it all work under the cap. I think it would represent a huge defensive and physical upgrade for the blueline. Fitzgerald has repeatedly stated a desire to get tougher to play against, and this would certainly do the trick.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I'd be happy with signing Pesce and Zadorov then trading Marino if Fitzgerald could make it all work under the cap. I think it would represent a huge defensive and physical upgrade for the blueline. Fitzgerald has repeatedly stated a desire to get tougher to play against, and this would certainly do the trick.

I mean we could fit that but that’s probably well over half our cap space left minus Mercer deal. Doesn’t give us much to improve upfront at all.

 

[beekay414]

I mean we could fit that but that’s probably well over half our cap space left minus Mercer deal. Doesn’t give us much to improve upfront at all.

Would depend on what we traded Marino for. If we traded him for a physical forward on his ELC, it would help. Or if we traded him to Toronto for Kampf and Minten plus a pick, it would go towards helping up front.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Would depend on what we traded Marino for. If we traded him for a physical forward on his ELC, it would help. Or if we traded him to Toronto for Kampf and Minten plus a pick, it would go towards helping up front.

I was talking cap space. The cap space left is the same regardless of who we trade Marino for. If it’s someone on a very good deal that helps but those players don’t get traded much.

 

[beekay414]

I was talking cap space. The cap space left is the same regardless of who we trade Marino for. If it’s someone on a very good deal that helps but those players don’t get traded much.

Eh, we have 18 players signed with $15+ Million to play with. I don't think it's that desperate a situation.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Eh, we have 18 players signed with $15+ Million to play with. I don't think it's that desperate a situation.

That’s a lot less than you think. Around or just over 3M per play. Mercer gets more than that, take some off if Pesce is coming in at a decent bit more than Marino. Zadorov might be getting 5M+. Next think you know we have 5M or something around that, maybe less, for 3 players and one is supposed to be a top 6 addition.

Doesn’t exactly work unless you’re expecting to get a top 6 forward for 3M or less.

 

[beekay414]

That’s a lot less than you think. Around or just over 3M per play. Mercer gets more than that, take some off if Pesce is coming in at a decent bit more than Marino. Zadorov might be getting 5M+. Next think you know we have 5M or something around that, maybe less, for 3 players and one is supposed to be a top 6 addition.

Doesn’t exactly work unless you’re expecting to get a top 6 forward for 3M or less.

That's also not including taking out/supplementing Marino's $4.4 Million should we trade him. If we're trading him while signing Zadorov and Pesce, you'd assume it's for someone like Marchment which would be top 6-9 help. Thus, no, I wouldn't be expecting to get top 6 help for $3 Million or less.