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

[Emperoreddy]

No idea where the rumor came from or if it's legit, but the word on the street I've seen on social media is stadium series coming back to Metlife.

Would be us vs the Isles and Rags vs Flyers. They don't want to do Rags vs Devils because the other game wouldn't do well attendance wise

 

[Comparison Ford]

No idea where the rumor came from or if it's legit, but the word on the street I've seen on social media is stadium series coming back to Metlife.

Would be us vs the Isles and Rags vs Flyers. They don't want to do Rags vs Devils because the other game wouldn't do well attendance wise

would love that. this is great for Tristate area hockey excitement

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

The Athletic's mock trade for the devils was a second + fifth for Bjugstad

I’d rather just use Lazar. Save the 2nd for a more impactful player or just draft someone.

 

[MasterofGrond]

too much for Bjugstad. I understand that’s the kind of return he’s going to get, but I’d rather pay more for more

 

[Blackjack]

I’d rather just use Lazar. Save the 2nd for a more impactful player or just draft someone.

We need a Brandon Hagel type to play with Noesen. Hard forechecker with speed and skill. I don't know if anyone like that is available, but I'd give up a '25 1st and one of our prized prospects if they're signed for at least one more year.

Edit: '26 1st, my mind is still in last year.

 

[Comparison Ford]

The Athletic's mock trade for the devils was a second + fifth for Bjugstad

i would love this for the sole fact that we don’t have to face him. he’s a tru devil killer

edit; nevermind i thought this said Bjorkstrand.

 

[Lou Bloom]

We need a Brandon Hagel type to play with Noesen. Hard forechecker with speed and skill. I don't know if anyone like that is available, but I'd give up a '25 1st and one of our prized prospects if they're signed for at least one more year.

Edit: '26 1st, my mind is still in last year.

Nobody near the level of Brandon Hagel, but players like Drew O'Connor and Brandon Tanev are both upcoming UFAs who are speedy forecheckers that PK and are capable of putting up solid offense in a bottom 6 role. I think both would be great fits and won't require much more than a 2nd round pick to acquire.

 

[Comparison Ford]

Nobody near the level of Brandon Hagel, but players like Drew O'Connor and Brandon Tanev are both upcoming UFAs who are speedy forecheckers that PK and are capable of putting up solid offense in a bottom 6 role. I think both would be great fits and won't require much more than a 2nd round pick to acquire.

Tanev would def be an upgrade on Cotter/Tatar, can let Cotter stay 4th line

Tanev-Haula-Noesen
Cotter-Lazar-Bastian

i also very much have been enjoying Dowling. will be interesting to see what we do with him when Lazar comes back. do we have Lazar move back to wing? let’s say we don’t trade for bottom 6:

Correr-Haula-Noesen
Lazar-Dowling-Bastian

 

[Oneiro]

Who are the Lekhonen / Hagel types out there the next two seasons?

 

[britdevil]

Who are the Lekhonen / Hagel types out there the next two seasons?

Tbh, few and far between. I'm looking on capwages at upcoming UFA's in 25/26 and it doesn't make for great reading...

Maybe someone like Brandon Tanev could add something to the bottom 6?

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Deadline additions that I want to see:
Vatrano (50%) for Tatar and draft picks. We know Tatar is not a playoff player and we need to open up some cap space for a winger that can score.

And a cheap 4C that can win faceoffs and PK. Someone like Jake Evans would be perfect.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Honestly with Lazar looking like he is going to be back by January I assume now and with how limited we are cap wise, I'm not sure a 4th line center should be on the shopping list.

Dowling as your 5th regular season center with a returning Lazar is fine.

I think you could all in and finding a top 9 forward that you could plug either next to Jack or on the 3rd line where needed.

Ideally someone that can do spot center duties, but that might be asking for way too much.

 

[Zippy316]

My deadline targets would be a second line forward that can finish without a ton of chances (Vatrano, Bjorkstrand, etc.), a depth center as Lazar insurance, and maybe a depth LHD. The latter could be Hatakka if he comes back and is playing well in Utica.

I’m not entirely sure we need to add another prototypical “bottom-six forward” considering we already have Palat, Haula, Noesen, Cotter, Lazar, and Bastian. Feels like we’ve already over corrected that issue and the scoring outside of Hischier & Hughes line is a struggle.

I also have a feeling that come playoff time we may end up seeing the Devils slide Meier to the third line. If we can find a trio where Meier can drive his own line, we can have Hughes-Bratt cook on one line, Hischier drive his minutes as the matchup center, and Meier feast on weaker competition.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Who are the Lekhonen / Hagel types out there the next two seasons?

Maybe not similar to those guys, but an interesting player with a unique skill set: Tye Kartye from Seattle. Near the top of the NHL in hits per 60, leads by a considerable margin in penalties drawn per 60. 859K cap hit and an RFA next year. He sounds like a real bastard on the forecheck and a Fitz guy.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Getting another AAAA center wouldn't be the worst idea. Utica needs centers anyway.

I wouldn't be quick to toss Tatar overboard. He still provides good winger depth if someone in the top 9 currently ends up needing to miss time for cheap.

Rather slot him in over someone like Foote all day

He is also well liked and we shouldn't be f***ing with the locker room mojo

 

[Whaddagoal]

I thought Dowling has done really well since he's been up here. He looks like he should always have been a 4th line NHLer. Done a really good job while both Lazar and Bastian out. Actually I wouldn't say him and Bastian are that far off skill wise, definitely he has more tenacity than Bastian on the forecheck.

 

[dgibb10]

My targets:

invent cloning to obtain 10 more Luke Hughes'

 

[MasterofGrond]

My targets:

invent cloning to obtain 10 more Luke Hughes'

Put Quinn’s brain and jacks swagger into Luke’s body

 

[dgibb10]

Getting another AAAA center wouldn't be the worst idea. Utica needs centers anyway.

I wouldn't be quick to toss Tatar overboard. He still provides good winger depth if someone in the top 9 currently ends up needing to miss time for cheap.

Rather slot him in over someone like Foote all day

He is also well liked and we shouldn't be f***ing with the locker room mojo

I'd only ship Tatar out now in a trade for Jake evans like now (and only IF lazar is healthy), for example since I doubt MTL will want to retain on Evans, I'd still like to be able to accrue cap space for another guy and/or pay luke ELC bonuses, and teams won't want to 3rd party retain for an extra 3rd of the year.

2nd (removes Jake allen conditions, so that regardless of what happens, MTL gets our 2nd+3rd and only our 2nd+3rd. No chance of 2nd+2nd)+Tatar for Evans+5th for example

Put Quinn’s brain and jacks swagger into Luke’s body

Sometimes I swear Luke's stick is like slightly too short for him and he'll slightly whiff on a pass or shot.

It's like the only thing I notice about him lol

 

[dgibb10]

Also, my favourite offseason forward targets and how they've performed so far. Pretty damn good results ngl.

 

[Lou Bloom]

My deadline targets would be a second line forward that can finish without a ton of chances (Vatrano, Bjorkstrand, etc.), a depth center as Lazar insurance, and maybe a depth LHD. The latter could be Hatakka if he comes back and is playing well in Utica.

I’m not entirely sure we need to add another prototypical “bottom-six forward” considering we already have Palat, Haula, Noesen, Cotter, Lazar, and Bastian. Feels like we’ve already over corrected that issue and the scoring outside of Hischier & Hughes line is a struggle.

I also have a feeling that come playoff time we may end up seeing the Devils slide Meier to the third line. If we can find a trio where Meier can drive his own line, we can have Hughes-Bratt cook on one line, Hischier drive his minutes as the matchup center, and Meier feast on weaker competition.

I don't see how they'd fit in Bjorkstrand cap wise, Vatrano is a good option though.

I disagree about not adding a "bottom six forward". Our top 6 has been dominant but our bottom 6 has been a weakness. The depth scoring issue will self correct if the bottom 6 is improved.