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

[Nubmer6]

Good choice.

I've often times cited him as possibly the worst Devils player that spent an entire season on the roster.

Somehow he played another, what was it, 4 or 5 years after this? Between NHL and AHL Islanders?

I dunno about worst player, but my most hated was Lyle Odelein/Slowdelein/Blowdelein/CantHoldDelein

 

[My3Sons]

Love the Herb Brooks reference. I always get goosebumps thinking about that team.

 

[BostonDevil]

GET. IT. DONE. NOW!!!

 

[CalamityX23]

Funny or not funny is that I understand the hoopla for Quinn n the united front of Hughes but that doesn't answer our C n F issues lol

 

[Bleedred]

I dunno about worst player, but my most hated was Lyle Odelein/Slowdelein/Blowdelein/CantHoldDelein

Yeah, I couldn’t stand him either. Definitely one my most hated, along with Steve Thomas.

And to the surprise of no one, Sean Burke, who was trash after the 1988 playoffs. Blackwood for honorable mention.

I actually didn’t like a lot of the “New guard veterans” guys who were brought in after the 95 cup and were gone before the 2000 cup.

Thomas, Odelein, I didn’t much care for Andreychuk as a Devil. I wasn’t crazy about Gilmour by the time he got to the Devils either. And Phil Housley was a complete and utter bust, but he only lasted from roughly the 96 trade deadline to the end of that season. And the 9 games of Esa Tikkanen was one of the most rando WTF stints in the history of hockey.

I was pretty young at that time and I remember buying into the narrative these guys weren’t really good enough to be winners. A lot of them were older and over the hill already, and most of them never even won a cup before that. Gilmour did.

It felt like Andreychuk was already 40 when he got here, but he wound up playing into the mid 2000s and even won the cup near the very end.

I was salty for the longest time over Claude Lemieux for Steve Thomas.

I loved eliminating washed up Steve Thomas from the playoffs 3 times in the last I think 4 or 5 years of his career. Including the 2003 cup finals.

 

[Billdo]

It's difficult to decide between Peters and Boulton.

 

[NJDevils17]

I was in attendance for the Eric Boulton hat trick game. Honestly should’ve bought a lottery ticket instead.

I had honestly no idea what I was witnessing.

 

[JrFischer54]

The team is currently in an incredible place with our long term outlook- the larger than expected cap increases certainly feels like an opportunity to add one additional high end player, but we really need the right fit.

Miller is a good player but i would prefer that last piece to be younger.

Petterson is a solid defender and O’Connor was an intriguing fit with us but we don’t think that deal makes sense for us as I would rather use a future first for 1 great piece instead of 2 solid ones.

I’ll reserve my consternation for a piece going off the board that I would be interested in.

Of course you want to land the right player but honestly with the team being in the position with the core locked up super cheap time is of the essence. They have to get some real cracks at a cup before jacks bratt and lesser extent Nico deal is up. Point being if someone is out there that can help them win now or in 3 years time I don’t care if he isn’t young give me a 32 year old if he really is a missing piece

 

[jkrdevil]

I don't know why people are comparing teams that have been consistent playoff contenders trying to get over the hump vs a team that is on pace to make the playoffs for the 3rd time since 2017-2018. Devils have already traded their 2025 1st round pick, there's no reason for them to make desperate moves and trade the farm away when they still have a young core of talent they are building around.

Just look for under the radar talent that they can acquire for a reasonable price, no need to make a splash move for the sake of it.

While I agree they shouldn’t be selling out the farm or trading away another 1st, in terms of age and contract status of their key players they should already be in “consistent playoff team” phase. They should have been a playoff team last year, and you can argue they should have been at least around the bubble in 21-22. Injuries, goaltending and coaching coast then both years, but it doesn’t change where on the cycle curve they are. They are lost opportunities. We are two years out from Nico’s free agency and 3 years from Jack. While at this point I don’t think losing them is a fear, your top players reaching UFA point is usually a retool point for trying to open a second window.

Now they still do have a window past this year and they have already used their first this year. Moving future first rounders hurts you ability to go for it again next year.