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

[TheBeerNerd]

Palat has three points in the last two games, perhaps he's starting to figure stuff out. He isn't an anchor with Bratt and Jack, there's that at least.

 

[Better Call Sal]

My only concern is that it may take 6 months to a year. We don't know what's going on at home.

My second cried (what felt like) non-stop every night for the first few months. My wife and I were barely hanging on. Our pediatrician finally told us he was hungry. Turned out he would get bored when eating, so he'd stop. He wasn't actually full. So different from our first kid - we had no idea.

And that's just a random example of a healthy second kid.

Throwing a second kind into the mix is a pretty big life change. I hope all is well for the Palat family, but it's a pretty big adjustment no matter what.

This hits too close to home because we have had our second kid at home for a month. and as you mentioned, completely healthy, but a drastic shift in day-to-day life.

They definitely went through bigger hurdles with having to deal with the NICU. I certainly hope all is going well for them, I can’t imagine the stress it caused. For how easy it is to pick on his play, he seems like an absolute gem of a person so I try as hard as possible to not bag on him.

 

[Triumph]

The GOAT, see avatar.

Looking back at the Fire and Ice blog we were really spoiled. Blog culture was crazy back then, you could find any sort of writer/enthusiast writing pretty lengthy entries on all sorts of topics.

Now it’s a quick blurb on Twitter redirecting to a small article behind a paywall.

I don't think people really thought through what TG's day was like - he was writing 3 to 4 pieces a day plus live blogging the game. So on game day he has to go to the morning skate at 10 am or whatever, write that up, maybe he has some other article featuring a player, he has a weird break midday, then go to the game, do all the work that entails, write a game summary plus usually another blog post, his day wasn't over until after 11 pm usually, plus that's just talking about a home game, he usually traveled with the team when they were playing an Eastern Conference opponent.

 

[Blackjack]

You make room for a player this good and this cheap. If Kovacevic wants $5M+, obviously he can walk, but there's a possibility to get a 1RD at the cost of what they paid Dillon.

Honestly I would give him $5 million at this point, given where the cap is supposed to go the next year or two. Top pair RD and will only be 28 next season. We’re pretty lucky he isn’t putting up more points.

Graves got 4.5 and he was a LD that sucked balls at the same size and age.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

I wonder if Palat is being written off too soon.

He hasn't been good this year, but I also know the first 6 months or so after having our second kid was super stressful. Adding NICU on top of that - seems very reasonable for him to not be at 100%. Maybe we'll see a better Palat by the playoffs.

He does not have a high ceiling. But if he can CONSISTENTLY play like has been - that would be more/less what we signed up for (plus playoffs).

The eye test has been there (for me). If he was around a 50pt pace he'd be a little less than what he would routinely did in Tampa. He's at 30points per average for the season.

I think he works well with Jack. He's clearly a smart player. Still has hands. I do understand the doomsday folks with him. Thing is, he still has 'it'. He just needs more consistency.

 

[MasterofGrond]

If Palat could play like a 4.5M player instead of a 1.5M player that (along with another middle six caliber guy) would really solidify the forward corps.

Hope be builds on the last couple games.

 

[Mgd31]

My man

 

[Hisch13r]

If Palat could play like a 4.5M player instead of a 1.5M player that (along with another middle six caliber guy) would really solidify the forward corps.

Hope be builds on the last couple games.

Yeah I've been saying if he was more like what he was last year that'd be really helpful

My man

I thought people expecting him to be out the whole season was crazy but I can't say I expected him to be back practicing with the team before the new year

 

[Mgd31]

Yeah I've been saying if he was more like what he was last year that'd be really helpful



I thought people expecting him to be out the whole season was crazy but I can't say I expected him to be back practicing with the team before the new year

Yea to be honest I figured he would be back around Feb or March, but this was a huge surprise.

 

[NjDevsRR]

My man

 

[Hisch13r]

Yea to be honest I figured he would be back around Feb or March, but this was a huge surprise.

Hopefully this drives home the point further that the need isn't a bottom 6 C like the rumors have been but it's more scoring.

 

[Comparison Ford]

can't wait for MacDermid-Lazar-Bastian to come back

 

[Whaddagoal]

Member when Nico was in the era of getting crapped on, just the normal, bust/not living up to the hype time frame that every high pick goes through outside of the obvious ones. Well when he had a great season with Hall, everyone shitting on him used it against him because he was playing with the MVP. Did we ever go back and say, well look at the trajectory of their careers, who really helped who? Should Nico get a bit more credit for Hall's trophy?

Admittedly random thought, just with seeing Hall's name come back up as a trade piece and him being scratched this season, made me wonder if that ever got brought back up.

Was thinking about that recently, perhaps we had not given Nico as much credit as he deserved them, I remember the argument "well that's only because Nico is playing with Hall".

Would be interesting to see the two together again.

Maybe more like "Ok grandpa time for your walk again..." (Nico to Hall)

 

[britdevil]

can't wait for MacDermid-Lazar-Bastian to come back

Modern day Rupp - Weimer - Janssen.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[AfroThunder396]

Modern day Rupp - Weimer - Janssen.

Weimer was probably the first time I realized how f***ed up Perma-LTIR is. Like, This guys career ended because Lou needed cap space. Not that he was a great player or anything. I just thought it was messed up to disappear a guy for cap reasons.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Jesper is so dedicated to his craft

 

[Guttersniped]

I wonder if Palat is being written off too soon.

He hasn't been good this year, but I also know the first 6 months or so after having our second kid was super stressful. Adding NICU on top of that - seems very reasonable for him to not be at 100%. Maybe we'll see a better Palat by the playoffs.

I sure hope he ends up having a solid season because he’s presumably back next year.

I don’t see how his contract is movable next summer with 2 years/6m left, plus a 10 team trade list, and a buyout then sucks too.

I assume we buyout his last year. His deal was obviously a 1m too much and 1 year too long, next season is the real problem.

 

[bossram]

so, what contract are you giving Kovacevic? As the days go by, it gets harder and harder to think about letting him walk.

Do we think he'd take like 4 x $3.5?

He might do something with longer-term but lowish AAV, like what you've suggested.

He's always been on cheap, short-term deals and might just value some security with decent money.

 

[RNCDevil]

I know McDermid is like a -23% CF player, but the Devils keep winning with him. Maybe I won't hate Dowling - Lazar - McD?

 

[Hisch13r]

I know McDermid is like a -23% CF player, but the Devils keep winning with him. Maybe I won't hate Dowling - Lazar - McD?

The only good thing about MacDermid is that he plays so little it forces you to use the best players more.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

The only good thing about MacDermid is that he plays so little it forces you to use the best players more.

That is a double edged sword. You can't burn those guys out before the playoffs.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

My man

 

[Hisch13r]

That is a double edged sword. You can't burn those guys out before the playoffs.

They'll be fine. They're not going to keel over because they're playing an extra like minute a game.