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.

 

[devsfan8]

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.

This 100%. Dougie's importance to the team is vastly underrated. I do not think $9 mill cap hit can be questioned as high, but he is clutch. He scores big goals and still is our top offensive defense man who will put up double digit goals at minimum and over 50 points. I do not think we beat the Rangers in round 1 2 years ago if not for Dougies goal in OT game 3. He was signed to provide offense on the blue line not sturdy stay at home defense.

I think this infatuation with trading Dougie stems to the fact we have 2 prospects in the system that there is no spot for at this time. Why does there need to be? I'd rather Hamiltons production right now. This is something for Fitz to figure out over the summer.

Unless its some ridiculous offer our way, I do not want to trade ANY active roster player. Well maybe waive MacDermid if anything. We are in a playoff run. And we should add to the existing team. Especially when we have the assets.

 

[Satans Hockey]

The problem isn’t the green jersey. It is the red pants. If you go green jersey, green pants, red socks (kind of like the Bruins used to do with yellow socks with black jersey) it would look better.

For those in that picture it was the "reverse retro" so that's why they wore the red pants since it was the opposite of the original green pants.

I don't really want to see an almost all green uniform though but I'm in the minority on this board on not liking the green at all. Wearing them once a year around St. Patrick's day was enough for me.

 

[AfroThunder396]

There is not a chance in hell that Dougie gets moved during the season. We have heard Fitz talk at length about hating to do mid-season trades and not wanting to mess with the mojo in the room while the season is going on. It would be a draft/summer move.

That being said, Fitz knew what he was doing when he signed Pesce to a long term deal. He will not trade a top pairing defensemen to make room for young AHL defensemen, but he absolutely will move a guy because of Kovacevic who is FAR more cost-effective for a cap-strapped team like us.

I still like Dougie the player and the locker room guy, but that 9M could be much better spent elsewhere. It would prefer to move on from Palat, but if we're moving a bad contract we might as well just rip the band-aid off and do the biggest one.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Here's a fun exercise to get off the eternal Dougie debate. I'm listening to a Canucks podcast where they did an anti-Quarter Century Team. Not necessarily the worst players of the last quarter century, but the most hated ones. Remember, two teams with one of each position.

My 1C is obviously Mikey McLeod.

 

[devsfan8]

I do not buy that we have to move anyone to upgrade the roster. Two years ago we had no cap space all season and pulled Timo Meier out of thin air (even though there were rumors). I understand we moved Zetterlund and Johnson but that was Fitz "finding a way". Cap space increases as each day passes getting closer to the deasdline. With loopholes like retention, 3rd party teams to broker deals, etc good GMs find a way. The Devils have 3 legit defensive prospects in the system. 3 2nd rounders. A 2026 1st. A top prospect Goalie. There are plenty of assets to upgrade at forward for a playoff run. A GM finds a way this time of year.

 

[Satans Hockey]

*

 

[Saugus]

Here's a fun exercise to get off the eternal Dougie debate. I'm listening to a Canucks podcast where they did an anti-Quarter Century Team. Not necessarily the worst players of the last quarter century, but the most hated ones. Remember, two teams with one of each position.

My 1C is obviously Mikey McLeod.

Langenbrunner and Parise probably make both teams.

 

[HBK27]

Regarding Markstrom - Friedman said on this morning's 32 Thoughts podcast that the Devils were very concerned after the game, but that he's under the impression that it wasn't as bad as they thought and he's heard the timeline is 4-6 weeks and that "the Devils can handle that".

 

[NJDevs26]

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.

Obviously it’s not an in season deal…but how long do you guys expect to keep Nemec and Casey in the minors? They have four guys for two available spots at RD and that’s not even getting into potential cap issues of having two highly paid RD in the near term. You would have to let Kovacevic go and keep Casey in the minors just to keep Dougie on the roster through next year and not spend on forward adds.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Regarding Markstrom - Friedman said on this morning's 32 Thoughts podcast that the Devils were very concerned after the game, but that he's under the impression that it wasn't as bad as they thought and he's heard the timeline is 4-6 weeks and that "the Devils can handle that".

Thank God for the extended 4 Nations break, eh.

 

[Nubmer6]

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.

Yet another reason why I support abortion up to the 18th year.

Here's a fun exercise to get off the eternal Dougie debate. I'm listening to a Canucks podcast where they did an anti-Quarter Century Team. Not necessarily the worst players of the last quarter century, but the most hated ones. Remember, two teams with one of each position.

My 1C is obviously Mikey McLeod.

Our team would consist mainly of goalies.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Yet another reason why I support abortion up to the 18th year.


Our team would consist mainly of goalies.

Only one goalie per team. I'd put Blackwood on one of them and Gillies on the other. Both are interchangeable.

Ben Lovejoy and Reid Boucher are shoo-ins too.

 

[jkrdevil]

With the 4 nations break 4-6 weeks is actually 2-4 weeks

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

This 100%. Dougie's importance to the team is vastly underrated. I do not think $9 mill cap hit can be questioned as high, but he is clutch. He scores big goals and still is our top offensive defense man who will put up double digit goals at minimum and over 50 points. I do not think we beat the Rangers in round 1 2 years ago if not for Dougies goal in OT game 3. He was signed to provide offense on the blue line not sturdy stay at home defense.

I think this infatuation with trading Dougie stems to the fact we have 2 prospects in the system that there is no spot for at this time. Why does there need to be? I'd rather Hamiltons production right now. This is something for Fitz to figure out over the summer.

Unless its some ridiculous offer our way, I do not want to trade ANY active roster player. Well maybe waive MacDermid if anything. We are in a playoff run. And we should add to the existing team. Especially when we have the assets.

the infatuation with trading Dougie lies in the fact that he is playing 3rd pairing minutes and makes $9 million/year. We are right against the cap and will be for the forseeable future. There needs to be a move made.

I do not buy that we have to move anyone to upgrade the roster. Two years ago we had no cap space all season and pulled Timo Meier out of thin air (even though there were rumors). I understand we moved Zetterlund and Johnson but that was Fitz "finding a way". Cap space increases as each day passes getting closer to the deasdline. With loopholes like retention, 3rd party teams to broker deals, etc good GMs find a way. The Devils have 3 legit defensive prospects in the system. 3 2nd rounders. A 2026 1st. A top prospect Goalie. There are plenty of assets to upgrade at forward for a playoff run. A GM finds a way this time of year.

no one is saying we need to move a roster player to upgrade for THIS season.......?

 

[Satans Hockey]

Here's a fun exercise to get off the eternal Dougie debate. I'm listening to a Canucks podcast where they did an anti-Quarter Century Team. Not necessarily the worst players of the last quarter century, but the most hated ones. Remember, two teams with one of each position.

My 1C is obviously Mikey McLeod.

My list, I left off McLeod cause he's a shit bag off the ice and it's an obvious slot to take up a spot and I already added a few more than I was supposed to so it's like 2 and almost a half of my most hated...

Forwards
Rod Pelley
Eric Boulton
Jacob Josefson
Michael Ryder
Stephen Gionta
Steve Bernier
Stefan Mattaeu

Defense
Peter Harrold
Matt Corrente
Anssi Salmela
Mason Geertsen
David Hale

Goalies
Blackwood
Louis Domingue
Jean-Francois Damphousse

 

[devsfan8]

the infatuation with trading Dougie lies in the fact that he is playing 3rd pairing minutes and makes $9 million/year. We are right against the cap and will be for the forseeable future. There needs to be a move made.



no one is saying we need to move a roster player to upgrade for THIS season.......?

Dougie is averaging 20 minutes a game this season. Right around where he has been all career. 19:56. He is on pace for 51 points.

Some, not everyone have suggested trading away some salary during the season. That does not happen when a team is making a playoff push. They upgrade the existing roster.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

My list, I left off McLeod cause he's a shit bag off the ice and it's an obvious slot to take up a spot and I already added a few more than I was supposed to so it's like 2 and almost a half of my most hated...

Forwards
Rod Pelley
Eric Boulton
Jacob Josefson
Michael Ryder
Stephen Gionta
Steve Bernier
Stefan Mattaeu

Defense
Peter Harrold
Matt Corrente
Anssi Salmela
Mason Geertsen
David Hale

Goalies
Blackwood
Louis Domingue
Jean-Francois Damphousse

Definitely got some good names there. Other names for consideration:

Reid Boucher
Damien Brunner
Ryane Clowe
Michael Grabner

 

[NJDevs26]

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.

Yeah, thing is they actually do have to keep ‘one’ of Kovacevic/Dougie or another outside short term vet add for next year, can’t just give Nemec and Casey 35-40 minutes a night like that.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Definitely got some good names there. Other names for consideration:

Reid Boucher
Damien Brunner
Ryane Clowe
Michael Grabner

Clowe got a bad concussion that pretty much ended his career after having a few previously so I don't really have any hate for him since a lot of that was out of his control. I would have never signed him to begin with because he was always a high risk signing because of the previous concussions.

The others are good, I still think Grabner was some sort of plant with how awful he was for us.

 

[Saugus]

My list, I left off McLeod cause he's a shit bag off the ice and it's an obvious slot to take up a spot and I already added a few more than I was supposed to so it's like 2 and almost a half of my most hated...

Forwards
Rod Pelley
Eric Boulton
Jacob Josefson
Michael Ryder
Stephen Gionta
Steve Bernier
Stefan Mattaeu

Defense
Peter Harrold
Matt Corrente
Anssi Salmela
Mason Geertsen
David Hale

Goalies
Blackwood
Louis Domingue
Jean-Francois Damphousse

Some of these guys I totally get, but why Stephen Gionta?

And the Church of Salmela will have strong objections to his inclusion.