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

[bossram]

Still REALLY don't get some people wanting to trade Hamilton. Slow start because he didn't play hockey for a very long time. He's on pace for 51 pts which would be the second best year of HIS CAREER.

None of Casey, Nemec, Kovacevic or Pesce are going to come remotely close to replacing that offensive production.

It is just simply making the team worse by trading him. You want to have two kids thrown into responsible roles and big shoes to fill when the team is in their contention window.

As many have been saying regarding Hamilton, it's about a lot more than the point production (which is mostly buoyed by PP1 time).

It's 2025 and still for so many people, even on HFboards (where the average knowledge and awareness is much higher than the average hockey fan), people's opinions on players and team-building are essentially just a reflection of the points column on HockeyDB.

 

[bossram]

I don't think it had anything to do with handedness. Not as the net front guy. Nor was anyone aware just how good Noesen was around the net.

Meier was pulled because he's not a great PP player. At least not a great net front guy. Not bad per se, and I think Keefe thought his skating and wing play would be more useful on the 2nd unit, and that Noesen should get a run as the net front on PP1.

Now I do think what a guy makes basically represents expectations. A winger of Meier's ilk who makes that much we expect to be a 35+ goal scorer. I think Meier has played well, but playing well while not scoring goals is not what we signed him for.

But he certainly hasn't been bad and I'm more then willing to see if he can be the offensive play driver for that 3rd line. That would be great value added from Timo.

Can you find one player from last season that scored 35 goals without playing the majority of the time on their team's first PP unit? Seriously. One. Just one.

 

[njdevil26]

As many have been saying regarding Hamilton, it's about a lot more than the point production (which is mostly buoyed by PP1 time).

It's 2025 and still for so many people, even on HFboards (where the average knowledge and awareness is much higher than the average hockey fan), people's opinions on players and team-building are essentially just a reflection of the points column on HockeyDB.

I also don't prescribe to the "points are everything" argument strategy but in this case like I said he's on pace to have the second best year of his career in a year we all think is a "down year" which means something more than regularly just pointing out someone's stats.

In other news:

The main board drives me crazy. Some dude doesn't believe me that sicknesses are going around the locker room, tells me his internet searched turned up nothing, and is asking me for quotes and sources.

Maybe I'm on edge because my child decided we're up at 4 am and there's no discussion... but I just want to GTA this person out of his car.

 

[Better Call Sal]

As many have been saying regarding Hamilton, it's about a lot more than the point production (which is mostly buoyed by PP1 time).

It's 2025 and still for so many people, even on HFboards (where the average knowledge and awareness is much higher than the average hockey fan), people's opinions on players and team-building are essentially just a reflection of the points column on HockeyDB.

I love Dougie. I’ll be upset when we move on from him. But from a roster and asset management perspective, it’s difficult to see anyone but him being the one to try and move first this offseason. The risk is whether Kovacevic’s season this year is a fluke or not. There’s always the chance we simply let him walk. It’s a very interesting decision to be made.

Nemec and Casey warrant looks based on their play. Kovacevic getting extended Is certainly on the table given how he has performed. Eventually the numbers game will boil down to the oldest, most expensive defender and trying to move on from him while he has value around the league.

It will hurt me though, Dougie rules.

 

[theoptimist]

I dont understand the infatuation in trading Dougie.

He is still our best point producing forward on pace for over 50 points this year. If we were to ever do this, it certainly is Not in the middle of the season.

You’re right. I think we can move him and call up a better defensemen.