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

Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Timo-Nico-Noesen
Frederic-Evans-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Tatar

Do we have the assets? I don’t think so.
I’d vote for Bjorkstrand plus a center like Evans or Suter at this point:

Palat - Hughes - Noesen
Bjorkstrand - Hischier - Bratt
Meier - Evans/Suter - Mercer
Cotter - Haula - Bastian
Tatar - Dowling - Lazar
 
If you get Bjorkstrand, he needs to be with Jack and Bratt.

Also, Jared McCann would be on my dream wishlist but Seattle will probably keep him and Bjorkstrand if I had to guess since they have an extra year of control on both
 
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Absolute pipe dream is Rakell and Gourde (super expensive, a pipe dream)

Would cost ALOT but if we could somehow produce

Palat - Hughes - Bratt
Rakell - Nico - Noesen
Timo - Gourde - Mercer
Cotter - Haula - Lazar
 
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Timo-Nico-Noesen
Frederic-Evans-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Tatar

Do we have the assets? I don’t think so.

If we trade either Bastian, Lazar or Tatar and ONE of Frederic or Evans as a UFA is retained the rest of this season at 50%, then YES, it is legit possible.

As far as I am concerned the Devils 4th line today consists of 3 pending UFAs that are expendable on a playoff team and can be traded for an upgrade (obviously with the more valued assets like 2nd round picks etc)
 
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Last 20 games goal leaders.

Jack 9
Nico 7 (14gp's)
Cotter 6
Palat 6
Mercer 5
Bratt 3
Timo 2
Tatar 2
Noesen 2
Bastian 1

Lazar Dowling Haula Mac Halonen with 0.

Obviously guys do other stuff besides score, such as Bratt having 16 assists, and Timo creating a ton of chances for himself without scoring, but while there is a depth scoring issue, there is also a top end scoring issue as well. Bratt needs to take more of a goal scoring attitude(feel this will be more important come playoffs) and Timo needs to finish better. These 2 guys, despite playing fairly well, only having 5 goals combined in their last 20 games has been part of the issue through this stretch of overall team struggles.
 
Now despite the lack of scoring, 3 goals combined between them in their last 20 games, Tatar Lazar Bastian are all + players 5v5 during the last 20 game stretch. These 3 trail only Timo(+6 and a 71% goal share) in terms of gf%.

They are the top 3 in 5v5 gf% in the last 10. Lazar a perfect 3-0. Tatar at 85% 6-1. Bastian a 3-1.

Bratt is a negative over both stretches. As is Palat. Jack is dead even in the 10 games, a +1 over 20.

Combine this with a PP that is bottom 3rd in the league in terms of goal scored, and I think our issues are more top end, then bottom end.

PK over this stretch(and our top guys have been a big part of this) has allowed just 7 goals, 2nd best in the league.
 
I don't understand why this is desirable. Frederic and Evans are not really 3rd line players offensively IMO.

We do not need a ton of production. Evans is having a career year scoring. Both are good for about 15 goals.

If Tomas Tatar and Eric Haula each had 5 more goals, none of us would be talking about depth scoring issues. If also does not help that aside from Dougie there is also nobody on tbe blueline that is scoring enough.
 
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We do not need a ton of production. Evans is having a career year scoring. Both are good for about 15 goals.

If Tomas Tatar and Eric Haula each had 5 more goals, none of us would be talking about depth scoring issues. If also does not help that aside from Dougie there is also nobody on tbe blueline that is scoring enough.
2 goals in his last 20. I think that career year scoring wise is more a hot streak early in the season then something a team should count on going fwd.
 
I don't understand why this is desirable. Frederic and Evans are not really 3rd line players offensively IMO.
Frederic has been pretty awful this year but he was at 2 points per 60 the two previous years (which would be 3rd on the Devils). That would be nice to go along with 200+ hits if he regains that form. He’s likely better at wing but the center versatility would be good to have.

Evans is obviously riding the high shooting percent and I’m not convinced that he’s a legitimate 3rd liner. I like his speed and that he can handle pretty tough minutes defensively and win some faceoffs. Seems like a guy you can just stick Timo with and they’d be good. He could fill the hole left when we lost that player I don’t want to name.
 
Nice to wake up this morning and see the standings. We are 8 points up on the Jackets. Had things not gone our way yesterday, we might only have been up by 4 points.

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how many changes of scenery does one guy need before we just realize he sucks ass?

Frederic has been pretty awful this year but he was at 2 points per 60 the two previous years (which would be 3rd on the Devils). That would be nice to go along with 200+ hits if he regains that form. He’s likely better at wing but the center versatility would be good to have.

Evans is obviously riding the high shooting percent and I’m not convinced that he’s a legitimate 3rd liner. I like his speed and that he can handle pretty tough minutes defensively and win some faceoffs. Seems like a guy you can just stick Timo with and they’d be good. He could fill the hole left when we lost that player I don’t want to name.
I like Evans a lot, too. He’d be a great add.
 
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Frederic has been pretty awful this year but he was at 2 points per 60 the two previous years (which would be 3rd on the Devils). That would be nice to go along with 200+ hits if he regains that form. He’s likely better at wing but the center versatility would be good to have.

Evans is obviously riding the high shooting percent and I’m not convinced that he’s a legitimate 3rd liner. I like his speed and that he can handle pretty tough minutes defensively and win some faceoffs. Seems like a guy you can just stick Timo with and they’d be good. He could fill the hole left when we lost that player I don’t want to name.
Ya, his shot rate had been tracking downward in each of the last 3 seasons, but now his numbers are pretty terrible, including points and shot rate.

His iCorsi rate is actually up(slightly), while his iFenwick resembles his shot rate in terms of the downward trend. So he's getting more shots blocked? Maybe not creating space for himself?

Penalties drawn down, giveaways way up, hits taken way down. He is hitting way more then he did 2 years ago, so is this some sort of coach directive?
 
I like Evans but If Fitz trades Mercer and Nemec for him he should be fired. How about Evans for a 2nd and 4th? He is a UFA.
I was being silly. Some Habs fans wildly oversell their players on the main board and it’s comical. This goes back to at least Ryder Halak and a second.
 
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My wish list (though number one may be unrealistic)

1) Tuch- 4.75m, 2026-2027 UFA
2) Bjorkstrand- 5.4m, 2026-2027 UFA
3) Zucker- 5m, 2025-2026 UFA
4) Evans- 1.8m, 2025-2026 UFA
5) Rakell- 5m, 2028 UFA

I generally don’t like pure rentals unless the acquisition cost is extremely reasonable. Tuch is going to cash in big on his next deal. Rakell is 31 and is signed for quite awhile. The cap hit would be a great value but of course there’s risk of decline.

In many ways, I think the 29 year old Bjorkstrand would be the ideal add. Give me him and Evans…I’ll be ecstatic.

He is washed out of the league
I see the press release from Pitt says Puljujarvi is exploring other opportunities across the world. Too bad he could never put it all together.
 

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