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

[SteveCangialosi123]

Eric Staal plays 15 minutes/night, I can't take any Selke list with him on it seriously.

You made me have to check if Eric Staal made a comeback somewhere

 

[Lou Bloom]

The problem with Gourde is that Seattle will be looking for a 1st round pick or equivalent prospect and I can't see the Devils trading away that 2026 1st round pick after trading away 2023 and 2025 1st rounders. Especially for someone that Isn't overly impactful (he's still solid but not the same level of player anymore).

The Devils still have a young core of talent and there's likely to be better options in the future worth trading away that 2026 pick compared to what is a relatively lackluster group of rental forwards. I'd much rather them go for cheap under the radar options at the TDL (Drew O'Connor, Brandon Tanev, Nico Sturm) or make a bigger splash for a player with term if possible.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

You made me have to check if Eric Staal made a comeback somewhere

Eric, Jordan who gives a f***

 

[Guttersniped]

1. JT Miller is a malcontent. He's been traded away from his prior teams primarily for personality issues. And Tocchet and Quinn have literally confirmed this Pettersson-Miller feud is real. Former teammates are now coming out publicly and saying he's a hard guy to get along with. He's throwing temper tantrums on the ice every other game. It's not "Canadian media bullshit" or whatever. If you want to take a pipe bomb to the team's locker room cohesion, he's the guy. When things start to go poorly, he actively makes them much worse.

They have? What a soap opera lol.

2. He should not have ever gotten Selke votes. As someone in the Vancouver market, JT has had exactly one season where his defensive game was decent. Otherwise, he easily leads the Canucks in "controller disconnected" moments and lazy changes leading to scoring chances against.

Yes, Miller got Selke votes in 4 seasons but he only got more than two votes in 2023-24.

A random Selke vote doesn’t mean a whole lot. (The point system is 10-7-5-3-1 for the 1st-5th votes.)

2019-20
1 2nd place vote, 7 points, 3 way T-19th

2021-22
2 4th place votes, 6 points, 23rd

2022-23
1 5th place vote, 1 point, 7 way T-34th

NOTE: For a comparison, in 22-23,
Tatar* got 2 votes (1 3rd, 1 5th) for 6 points
Haula got 1 vote (1 5th) for 1 point

2023-24
1 1st, 1 2nd, 1 3rd, 2 4th, 28 points, 15th


*The voter who had Tatar 3rd in 2022-23, Joe Yeardon, was also was the one who had Miller 2nd in 2019-20. Make of that what you will.

 

[JimEIV]

Just cherry-picking stats here, Palat has 6 goals and 3 assist in his last 13 games.

Yup. He's the beneficiary of two very good players....still, he brings absolutely nothing to that line and often inhibits them.

 

[Zippy316]

Just cherry-picking stats here, Palat has 6 goals and 3 assist in his last 13 games.

A big thing people keep forgetting about Palat is his daughter was born when the Devils were in Czechia and then spent almost two months in the NICU.

Ever since he posted that she left the NICU on Instagram, his play has significantly improved.

 

[NJDevs26]

A big thing people keep forgetting about Palat is his daughter was born when the Devils were in Czechia and then spent almost two months in the NICU.

Ever since he posted that she left the NICU on Instagram, his play has significantly improved.

People forget it because Palat wasn’t good ‘last’ year either, and his early season was thus looked as more of an extension of that than something caused by off ice anxiety. I’m not even sure now his recent stretch isn’t due more to who he’s playing with than that although it’s interesting timing.

 

[MVP Zacha]

Finally, a REAL suggestion!

Thanks for talking to Fitz about me and my suggestion today. He called and said that although @Cheddabombs wasn't picked as head coach this summer he values your opinion and wants me as an Alternate GM. Thanks buddy.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Thanks for talking to Fitz about me and my suggestion today. He called and said that although @Cheddabombs wasn't picked as head coach this summer he values your opinion and wants me as an Alternate GM. Thanks buddy.

Anytime, brother. Let me know if any of the players don't treat you right, I can have a talk with them

 

[AfroThunder396]

They have? What a soap opera lol.



Yes, Miller got Selke votes in 4 seasons but he only got more than two votes in 2023-24.

A random Selke vote doesn’t mean a whole lot. (The point system is 10-7-5-3-1 for the 1st-5th votes.)

2019-20
1 2nd place vote, 7 points, 3 way T-19th

2021-22
2 4th place votes, 6 points, 23rd

2022-23
1 5th place vote, 1 point, 7 way T-34th

NOTE: For a comparison, in 22-23,
Tatar* got 2 votes (1 3rd, 1 5th) for 6 points
Haula got 1 vote (1 5th) for 1 point

2023-24
1 1st, 1 2nd, 1 3rd, 2 4th, 28 points, 15th


*The voter who had Tatar 3rd in 2022-23, Joe Yeardon, was also was the one who had Miller 2nd in 2019-20. Make of that what you will.

Kovalchuk got a Selke vote in 2013 lol

 

[Saugus]

Kovalchuk got a Selke vote in 2013 lol

Ya, and they counted it because the PHWA didn’t realize that TG was having a laugh.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

People forget it because Palat wasn’t good ‘last’ year either, and his early season was thus looked as more of an extension of that than something caused by off ice anxiety. I’m not even sure now his recent stretch isn’t due more to who he’s playing with than that although it’s interesting timing.

I wouldn’t say he was ‘good’ last year, but he was very strong defensively and had good underlying numbers. Early season Palat this year was a shell of that player. He was looking like a non NHL guy, at least now he’s passable.

 

[Bleedred]

Yeah, since his daughter came home it seems he’s at least looked more like what we’d hope the Palat of 24-25 would look like and not the Palat of 26-27, which is what he looked like before that.

 

[Barry Tallackson]

Wish we had Shane Wright instead of Nemec

 

[forceten]

Wish we had Shane Wright instead of Nemec

Logan Cooley > Wright, picked right after Nemec

 

[Lou Bloom]

Wish we had Shane Wright instead of Nemec

Cooley was the player to draft over Nemec. I have question marks on Nemec but I wouldn't trade him for Wright who's currently benefitting from a 21% shooting percentage and struggling to generate shots on net.

 

[Devs3cups]

Still think Nemec can be an impactful, two-way, top pairing D-man for us.

 

[devilsfan950003]

What will it take to fix Alexander Holtz?

It seems that Vegas is attempting to develop Holtz, something the Devils were unable to achieve.

 

[Bleedred]

Shane Wright hasn't been anything special in the NHL. And I was one of the people who actually wanted him over Nemec, but he's massively underwhelmed.

What will it take to fix Alexander Holtz?

It seems that Vegas is attempting to develop Holtz, something the Devils were unable to achieve.

Then they better try a little harder because it doesn't look like it's helping much.

On pace for 21 points playing about the same ice time as he had with us last year. On pace for WAAYYYYYYYY fewer goals.

Even if he shot to his career norms he'd only have 5 or 6 goals instead of 3.

 

[Saugus]

It is far too early to judge on Nemec. We’re only 2 years out since his draft year.

Defensemen develop slower than forwards, and our depth on defense has meant that Nemec hasn’t needed to be thrown straight into the deep end, the way he would on many other teams.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to compare him to the situation of guys like Cooley and Wright, who were immediately asked to play big minutes on mid teams.

I think if we were to trade Nemec for a rental, or give up on him now and send him elsewhere as a reclamation project, we’d come to regret it.

 

[Zippy316]

People forget it because Palat wasn’t good ‘last’ year either, and his early season was thus looked as more of an extension of that than something caused by off ice anxiety. I’m not even sure now his recent stretch isn’t due more to who he’s playing with than that although it’s interesting timing.

Personally, I think it just means he deserves the benefit of the doubt until years end. If he keeps up this play, he’s a useful player, albeit overpaid for what he brings.

If he can do that, keep him around for next season and then look to find a taker in the final year of his deal. Personally I’m hoping there’s a chance Tampa would be interested and he can play out the final year of his deal there and everyone is happy.

 

[Lou Bloom]

It is far too early to judge on Nemec. We’re only 2 years out since his draft year.

Defensemen develop slower than forwards, and our depth on defense has meant that Nemec hasn’t needed to be thrown straight into the deep end, the way he would on many other teams.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to compare him to the situation of guys like Cooley and Wright, who were immediately asked to play big minutes on mid teams.

I think if we were to trade Nemec for a rental, or give up on him now and send him elsewhere as a reclamation project, we’d come to regret it.

It's too early to say how his career will play out but we can certainly judge him and come to a different conclusion on him compared to when he was drafted.

Of course you can compare him to other players selected in the 2022 draft class. They were compared by fans, scouts, media and front offices their entire draft season and constantly moved up and down boards, why after two and a half seasons can't you change your thoughts on where players are ranked but can change your mind over a several months time span?

I don't think anybody would seriously suggest trading Nemec for a rental or as a reclamation project. But with a log jam at RD I'd certainly entertain offers for him if we can get an impact player.

 

[Zippy316]

It is far too early to judge on Nemec. We’re only 2 years out since his draft year.

Defensemen develop slower than forwards, and our depth on defense has meant that Nemec hasn’t needed to be thrown straight into the deep end, the way he would on many other teams.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to compare him to the situation of guys like Cooley and Wright, who were immediately asked to play big minutes on mid teams.

I think if we were to trade Nemec for a rental, or give up on him now and send him elsewhere as a reclamation project, we’d come to regret it.

I’ve said this before but you only deal Nemec-level prospects in packages for top line forwards or top pairing defenders.

Devils already have the top end of their lineup built out and locked up to deals. We really can’t to pay another top end player without being an extremely top heavy team.

The only way it would make sense to deal him is something bizarre like Leonard not wanting to sign with the Capitals or a perfect complimentary forward signed to a sweetheart deal is on the market. Situations that just don’t happen.

Devils should just be patient. Nemec should fill in either Dougie or Kovacevic’s role next year, insulated by a very veteran defensive group that’s perfect for him to develop in.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Wish we had Shane Wright instead of Nemec

I sure don't

 

[Mgd31]

Palat isn’t really any good but I think he has better puck skills at this point than a Haula or Tatar.