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

Its Always Sundstrom

Among the optimists.
Dec 1, 2019
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Devils insiders is far and away the best but I haven’t listened since they went behind a paywall a couple years back. PDO cast gives the devils a lot of love but theyre not devils specific.
Are there any good Devils podcasts out there. The Lets Go Devils Podcasts guys are very hit or miss for me. Sometimes I feel like I’m listening to a bunch of 12 year olds and it’s just too much.
I concur with the Clam Man here. No good Devils-centric casts but PDOCast and The Athletic have been talking about the team quite often recently.

But for The Athletic, skip the episodes with Shayna and Sean host, their banter sounds like the lead-in to step sibling porn.
 

Its Always Sundstrom

Among the optimists.
Dec 1, 2019
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Driving home from a roller scrimmage last night, I looked up and saw the Empire State building lit up in red.

I got so excited and happy, a tear of joy in my eye and I thought to myself, ”yes they won today so they put their colors up!”

I was excited to get closer take a picture and post it since it’s on my way home.

When I got closer I realized, “oh there’s some green in there, dammit!”

I said to myself, “f*** it, throwback colors! Still counts!”

OriginalPhoto-756704210.395381.jpeg
 

Figgie

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Apr 24, 2018
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I think Nemec has a lot of deficiencies in his game...not a big deal for a 19 year old, you expect a lot of that...
but as 20 year old about to turn 21 and a former #2 overall, not dominating in the AHL is more than a bit concerning.

Nemec should be almost forcing a call up right now and he's doing nothing of the sort.

Have you watched many of his AHL games this season or are you watching his stats only?
 

jkrdevil

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How much of Nemec’s performance this year was / is a result of lingering effects from an injury right before camp? I get these guys have national pride, but he shouldn’t have been playing in an Olympic qualifier.
 
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Devs3cups

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How much of Nemec’s performance this year was / is a result of lingering effects from an injury right before camp? I get these guys have national pride, but he shouldn’t have been playing in an Olympic qualifier.
It's a slippery slope. Preventing players from participating in international events for their country can 100% cause friction/anger, but at the same time you don't want them to get injured.
 

Triumph

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In a vaccum I don’t think he’s automatic either…but I think he’d be above Casey in the pecking order regardless.

I don't think so. Definitely not for Hughes, maybe for Hamilton.

How much of Nemec’s performance this year was / is a result of lingering effects from an injury right before camp? I get these guys have national pride, but he shouldn’t have been playing in an Olympic qualifier.

The chances of a player getting hurt in one of these are much lower than the chances that it builds up ill will.
 
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Captain3rdLine

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Are there any good Devils podcasts out there. The Lets Go Devils Podcasts guys are very hit or miss for me. Sometimes I feel like I’m listening to a bunch of 12 year olds and it’s just too much.
I’d imagine anyone who takes the time consistently make a hockey podcast on their favorite team is going to sound a bit like a bunch of 12 year olds at times. And I’m not saying that as a bad thing. Just probably the nature of it.

. It may take all season. No way I’m moving him absent an overpayment.
And what if he’s in the same spot a year from now. Stuck behind our current 3 right D
 

Nubmer6

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I think you know the answer to this.

Although I would be far from surprised if Nemec wasn’t looking his best in the AHL. His situation is probably pretty demotivating.
If so, that's a bad thing. I want the kind of guys that say "F you, I'm gonna kick ass and prove how wrong you were."
 

Forge

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Have been a pretty big supporter of Nemec on here and think there’s some serious potential there but the longer this goes the more I think trading him may make the most sense. There’s a point for a young player like him where I think being in the AHL is more harmful than good for his development and with Kovacevic’s emergence and our right side being potentially set moving forward he may be mostly in the AHL for a while still.


In speculating about potential deadline trade partners Seattle is one that makes sense to me. They’re having a tough season and seem to want to bring in some young skilled talent. We also don’t want to just bring a rental and they have some solid veteran forwards with 2-3 years left at reasonable cap hits. Some guys that come to mind.

Bjorkstrand - 2 years at 5.4M
Schwartz - 2 years at 5.5M
Gourde - 1 year at 5.17M (good deadline otherwise too?)
Burakovsky - 3 years at 5.5M
Mcann - 3 years at 5M (long shot)

Varying calibre of players there but think they could all be involved in a deal somehow along with some of Seattle’s prospects and retention.

For example
To NJ:
Oliver Bjorkstrand (50% retained)
Ryan Winterton (2 years left on ELC)
2025 2nd round pick

To Seattle:
Nemec


Might not be as much value as you want for Nemec but think it’s realistic and his value is only going to drop the longer he’s stuck behind Dougie, Pesce, and Kovacevic and in the AHL. Also thought about including Gourde retained but not sure how that would work cap wise unless Haula is going back the other way.
I'm fine with trading Nemec....but guys like Bjorkstrand, Schwartz, Gourde....those are guys you trade two third round picks to acquire, or a second + third (Gourde will probably get more for position). Burakovsky has 28 points in his last 83 games and is entering his 30s. These guys shouldn't even be thoughts when it comes to moving Nemec.

Don't pay with a dollar and get change back when you actually have the 35 cents. Frankly, there are short term fill ins comparable to these guys available every year. There are always middle 6 wingers available (Gourde being the exception here, but he's also 33 years old and ostensibly produces at Erik Haula levels in terms of points).

Personal preference is that you move Nemec for a similar young forward imo.
 

My3Sons

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I’d imagine anyone who takes the time consistently make a hockey podcast on their favorite team is going to sound a bit like a bunch of 12 year olds at times. And I’m not saying that as a bad thing. Just probably the nature of it.


And what if he’s in the same spot a year from now. Stuck behind our current 3 right D
Let’s see Kovacevic extend before we discuss next season.
 
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Captain3rdLine

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If so, that's a bad thing. I want the kind of guys that say "F you, I'm gonna kick ass and prove how wrong you were."
Ya ya that’s easy to say but psychologically it still has an effect. Obviously some guys are much better than others at dealing with that stuff.

But there’s a lot of science behind what motivates people and from an outside perspective I don’t think his situation is very motivating.
 

Captain3rdLine

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I'm fine with trading Nemec....but guys like Bjorkstrand, Schwartz, Gourde....those are guys you trade two third round picks to acquire, or a second + third (Gourde will probably get more for position). Burakovsky has 28 points in his last 83 games and is entering his 30s. These guys shouldn't even be thoughts when it comes to moving Nemec.

Don't pay with a dollar and get change back when you actually have the 35 cents. Frankly, there are short term fill ins comparable to these guys available every year. There are always middle 6 wingers available (Gourde being the exception here, but he's also 33 years old and ostensibly produces at Erik Haula levels in terms of points).

Personal preference is that you move Nemec for a similar young forward imo.
I’m fine with that preference. But also Bjorkstrand retained for 1.5 years easily gets at least a 1st round plus. Efficient and consistent top 6 forward who is never hurt.

I broke down the value in an earlier post but I think people see Nemec’s current value as being a lot higher than it likely is.
 

britdevil

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I do wish the team focused more on building Utica into a more competitive team. It really never seems to be a priority.

Eh, they won their division in 22 and made the playoffs in 23.

Granted, they look to be absolutely shite this year but they haven't been completely abhorrent since being associated with NJ.

EDIT: Speaking of Utica, anybody know why they have played so few games? 23 games. Hershey have played 30. What gives?
 

Forge

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I’m fine with that preference. But also Bjorkstrand retained for 1.5 years easily gets at least a 1st round plus. Efficient and consistent top 6 forward who is never hurt.

I broke down the value in an earlier post but I think people see Nemec’s current value as being a lot higher than it likely is.
No, I'd expect similar value (slightly juiced) to Jiricek if moved (which is why I favor the talented prospect swap, personally). I don't think you're wrong there.

I do disagree on some of the value that you're giving the assets coming back is all. At least for a couple of them. . I definitely wouldn't even be looking at guys Gourde or Burakovsky. For others, it may just be more of an opportunity cost issue. McCann is far more interesting, I'll grant you. I haven't looked into his underlyings, but generally speaking he's a goal scorer still producing with a reasonable contract for multiple years and he could probably fill in at Center in a pinch. Bjorkstrand is a solid player, no doubt. But there's just nothing more plentiful than middle six wingers. There's almost always something out there. Would Bjorkstrand retained 50% for 1.5 get a first round back? Maybe. But also I'm just kind of cool with playing that by ear? Bjorkstrand got moved for like two thirds a couple of years ago. There are options. Like, I'd rather just trade a second for Zucker this year and then fill in his role with Gritsyuk next year and see where the team is and if that needs still be addressed next year than to give Nemec up in a trade to fill in the same role.

I may not be able to find someone as good as Bjorkstrand in kicking around some of these other options, but if I can get 80% of that by giving up a second (or two, if I have to do it again the following year), I'd just much rather do that then move Nemec, if that makes sense.
 
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