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

[HughesCorporation]

People should calm down and chill. Not every young talented player is starting hot right from the 19 yo season with 60 games and go without any colds even if roster is full of competent defensemen, asking is high and there was an injury. Nemec is doing everything well for his age.
Edvinsson started to play regularly only this season and he is freaking great.


Just chill. We will not win every draft pick and Fitz will not understand what his situation with different positions will be after 3-5 years.

if i remember, you liked nemec but didnt love his defense.. you look to be correct once again

 

[Guadana]

if i remember, you liked nemec but didnt love his defense.. you look to be correct once again

I have my rights, I have my wrongs.
I think he will develop his defensive game enough. Yeah there were some passive/not proactive moment in his defensive game when he played D against opposition, he was not so great in one on one battles. But he looked much better in this aspects after the draft. So I would just wait and see how it will goes, he shows good smarts and develop his physical game so he needs time to learn. Luke had(and even have this year) all the love and temper from our team for all of his mistakes he made A LOT. And now even with big mistakes from time to time he is playing really well. So I would like to just trust him and play him on the third pair. Too bad Siegs is injured because he could be good partner for him with how Siegs played this year.

 

[Guadana]

I hope Fitz will trade Lundestrom from Ducks. I think he is right guy for a bottom line role.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

 

[Andre Palot]

Get me a 3C and a wing

Palat-Jack-Bratt
WING-Nico-Noesen
Meier-3C-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Lazar

This is why Suter would be the perfect get for us. Shouldn't cost much in term of assets and can play wing and center so we could try him on that Nico line or centering the bottom six with Meier and Mercer. Real Swiss army knife kinda player.

 

[My3Sons]

This is why Suter would be the perfect get for us. Shouldn't cost much in term of assets and can play wing and center so we could try him on that Nico line or centering the bottom six with Meier and Mercer. Real Swiss army knife kinda player.

if he’s a Swiss Army knife put him on a line whtb Meier and Hischier so it’s three Swiss guys playing together

 

[Andre Palot]

if he’s a Swiss Army knife put him on a line whtb Meier and Hischier so it’s three Swiss guys playing together

Collect all the Swiss and all the Hughes

 

[Zippy316]

Cotter also is an option to move to 3C if Fitz wants to get a winger.

Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-Hischier-Noesen
_____-Cotter-Mercer
Tatar-Haula-Lazar

Do not rule it out.

Cotter also is an option to move to 3C if Fitz wants to get a winger.

Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-Hischier-Noesen
_____-Cotter-Mercer
Tatar-Haula-Lazar

Yeah that should only be a last resort.

If the Devils thought Cotter was a center option, why was he not used at any point in the last two months where we’ve been trotting out Dowling at 3C or Mercer at C?

They need someone who can bring what the Devils thought they had in Haula.

This is why Suter would be the perfect get for us. Shouldn't cost much in term of assets and can play wing and center so we could try him on that Nico line or centering the bottom six with Meier and Mercer. Real Swiss army knife kinda player.

He’s not a bad option but I worry about the size factor there given the rest of our C are on the smaller end.

I really like Novak and Ryan McLeod as long term C options given their age.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Hatakka cleared

 

[NJDevs26]

Hatakka cleared

Not the new Urbom since he was actually claimed

 

[NJDfan86]

Hatakka cleared

He is LH so shouldn’t be a surprise

 

[Zippy316]

Not the new Urbom since he was actually claimed

The concern was a bit dramatic but Hatakka and DeSimone are two terrific 7th D options. DeSimone is not a huge lose because there’s still Nemec/Casey, but still solid depth.

I’d genuinely feel comfortable with both giving you 15 min of solid play come playoff time. Thats something you need so you’re not overtaxing your top guys with 25+ min a night because you can’t trust your 6th D.

 

[NJDevils17]

You simply cannot enter the playoffs with Haula at 3C. Lazar as the 13th forward is fine I guess but it’s the most important addition this team needs.

 

[NjDevsRR]

To Haulas credit, he had a great game on the PK

But yes. Ideally we want a new 3c

Hischier
Hughes
???
Haula

 

[Guadana]

To Haulas credit, he had a great game on the PK

But yes. Ideally we want a new 3c

Hischier
Hughes
???
Haula

Would be great to have solid 3C to play him with Palat and Cotter. 3C who can actually lead this line by himself. But Im not waiting that Fitz will find something better than Haula.

I hope Fitz will at least upgrade Lazar and as I said for example will trade for Lundestrom. He has +2, starting half of his play in D zone, he is 2-4th best forward of Ducks and he is their number 1 guy in PK. I think he is better than what he is actually showing in Ducks now and he isnt showing something bad for 14 min player in Ducks.

If Fitz will trade some top-6 forward - it will help to put Palat or Mercer to the third line and use them with Haula - they should survive and produce at least some secondary scoring.

Its a tricky situation because we need better top-6 winger and 3rd line center in the same time. And with Siegs injury it would be better to find more real insurance for defense. Good to see better game from Nemec today. Anyway Fitz has no opportunity to find top-6 winger, 3C and at least 3 pair defenseman in the same time.