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

[SJinNewJersey]

It really feels like a game night.

A game night without a game.

 

[Forge]

I'd probably put a decent amount on the table for McCann if he's really available

 

[theoptimist]

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Hamilton. Yes he produces a lot more with the top guys than the bottom guys. But he also drives said top guys to ridiculous levels of offense. People do not appreciate how much dougie does for Jack/Bratt/Nico/etc nearly enough. I like having a guy you can stick out there with your top forwards and just utterly dominate.

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Kovy, he doesn't really put up offense no matter who he's with

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Siegs

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Pesce

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Luke

He's been doing this for a decade. Douglas Hamilton on the ice=elite level offense

This is very helpful and you might be right about underappreciating Dougie for his play driving abilities. He brings offense to the blue line. You're right about Kovy, nothing offensively, everything defensively. The Siegenthaler-Dougie and Pesce-Dougie pairings are just not good news and I'm relieved we haven't seen them together this season. I noticed nearly every defensemen has higher GA/60 with Dougie than without.

However, Luke + Dougie GA/60 is 0.92 (GF/60 = 2.75). This is Luke's best GA/60 among all defensemen. Maybe they're exclusively playing together when we need more offense.

 

[youryeah]

It really feels like a game night.

snowcat.gif

miss those the gutless! losers! soft! takes while they're down 1-0 after the 1st period

 

[Zippy316]

If McCann is available like being reported, I would probably have him as a top option over Bjorkstrand. Signed for two seasons after this at a very reasonable cap hit of 5 million.

McCann - Hughes - Bratt would be one hell of a top line. He hasn’t played center in recent years, but he at least does have that flexibility too.

 

[MB3]

I have realistic expectations for the deadline: not much of consequence will happen. That’s a better outcome than paying Schenn to suck a couple years from now.

hell yeah let’s just white knuckle every prospect we’ve ever acquired and never actually go for it!! 2nd line palat! 3rd line tatar woo woo!!!

and then in 6 years when our window is closing and our prospects didn’t pan out and we’re watching highlight videos of a rapist scoring a goal against shesterkin as the highlight of our core’s success we can all wonder aloud where it all went wrong.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

hell yeah let’s just white knuckle every prospect we’ve ever acquired and never actually go for it!! 2nd line palat! 3rd line tatar woo woo!!!

and then in 6 years when our window is closing and our prospects didn’t pan out and we’re watching highlight videos of a realist scoring a goal against shesterkin as the highlight of our core’s success we can all wonder aloud where it all went wrong.

 

[MB3]

someone in here said they miss GDT behavior so I’m just giving the people what they want.

and the people want ~drama~

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

hell yeah let’s just white knuckle every prospect we’ve ever acquired and never actually go for it!! 2nd line palat! 3rd line tatar woo woo!!!

and then in 6 years when our window is closing and our prospects didn’t pan out and we’re watching highlight videos of a rapist scoring a goal against shesterkin as the highlight of our core’s success we can all wonder aloud where it all went wrong.

I’d rather trade for a guy that kinda stinks that is a UFA vs trading for a guy that kinda stinks but is signed for multiple years.

I’m sure “not trading for Brayden Schenn in 2025” will be the reason this franchise can’t get over the hump.

 

[MasterofGrond]

McCann is good I will kill for mccann

 

[longislanddevil]

McCann is good I will kill for mccann

McCann would jump to number one on my wish list over Bjorkstrand. A line of McCann-Hughes-Bratt would be filthy. He’s a sniper and fits a real need. The fact he can play C is also a huge plus. McCann has two years left on deal at 5m as @Zippy316 mentioned while Bjorkstrand has one year left at 5.4m.

Would you give up Nemec or Casey to get him?

 

[Zippy316]

McCann would jump to number one on my wish list over Bjorkstrand. A line of McCann-Hughes-Bratt would be filthy. He’s a sniper and fits a real need. The fact he can play C is also a huge plus. McCann has two years left on deal at 5m as @Zippy316 mentioned while Bjorkstrand has one year left at 5.4m.

Would you give up Nemec or Casey to get him?

I would think long and hard about Nemec to be completely honest and I’m not in the camp that wants to move Nemec.

McCann’s contract and his skill set is what the Devils really need in this top six. If you could also squeeze Gourde out of the deal with Nemec as the only main piece, I think it could make a ton of sense:

McCann - Hughes - Bratt
Meier - Hischier - Noesen
Palat - Gourde - Mercer
Cotter - Haula - Lazar
Gritsyuk - Dowling - Bastian/Tatar

Not sure if it’s feasible to pull this off with sending Haula the other way or getting double retention on Gourde.

 

[RSeen]

I would think long and hard about Nemec to be completely honest and I’m not in the camp that wants to move Nemec.

McCann’s contract and his skill set is what the Devils really need in this top six. If you could also squeeze Gourde out of the deal with Nemec as the only main piece, I think it could make a ton of sense:

McCann - Hughes - Bratt
Meier - Hischier - Noesen
Palat - Gourde - Mercer
Cotter - Haula - Lazar
Gritsyuk - Dowling - Bastian/Tatar

Not sure if it’s feasible to pull this off with sending Haula the other way or getting double retention on Gourde.

I'd switch Noesen and Mercer but that is a good lineup. I'm not trading Nemec though, it would need to be Casey++ for me.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

All in on Mr McCann

 

[My3Sons]

NJ has largely made its bed for now. Fitz will have to lie in it with Palat Haula Noesen Dougie Dillon and Pesce. That’s a lot of UFA retirement contracts.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Luke is also an elite skater with tons of skill, If Nemec had comparable skating and skill then of course you could overlook defensive lapses but Nemec doesn’t have dynamic offense/transition ability.

Nemec has potential to be a top 4 piece, he doesn’t have the floor of a top 4 piece.

You also keep insinuating that Nemec’s value in a trade would be a late 1st and 2nd. He has more value than Jiricek and I think the Devils could get a very good return back for Nemec, that would be worth trading him.

Idk man if there is 'comparable' skating in the league to Luke.

Honestly tho, while I don't necessarily agree that Luke has many issues defensively, I will say that he doesn't always manage the puck well, and in critical situations, I think Nemec is way ahead of him in decision making in all zones and in distributing the puck.

We are all rightfully enchanted with Luke's puck lugging abilities. They are incredible. But circling the net or carrying the puck the length of the ice instead of a quick outlet pass or just carrying it into the corner to die weren't really the staples of Niedermayer's playbook, for example, and wasn't what got him Cups.

Luke has more talent, and certainly a higher ceiling if Karlsson-like play is what you want, and you don't care about Stanley Cups. I think we win cups if he changes his game to be more like Niedermayer's... And Nemec might even have an inside track on that.

"one of several big reasons"

Brendan Dillon's physical game and ability to physically dominate one on one battles down low is something the Devils have lacked for years. Opposing cheap-shotters are more hesitant to take liberties on Hughes and Hischier, while soft opposing forwards avoid the dirty areas whenever Dillon is on the ice.

Brendan Dillon has been a terrific addition to the Devils. While certainly not a franchise building block, players like this are necessary pieces of winning teams. There's no "hot take" in saying he is one of the big reasons the Devils are better this year than last year.


We re-signed a Gionta?

This is spot on.

 

[billingtons ghost]

I would much rather trade draft picks and bankrupt the future a bit to go after a cup now.

I'd be all about locking all of our defensive prospects away and never dealing them if:
1. Our window wasn't now+3/4 years.
2. Defenseman usually take time to cook. We won't see the peak Luke/Nemec for at least 3 years, never mind younger guys in the pipeline
3. I didn't have PTSD bc of ALLLLL of the defensive prospects that have washed out of this organization. Severson is literally the only home grown guy who even scratched his potential, and he was a frigging hand grenade. Merrill, Lars and a couple of others hit their floors and stuck but not with us.

Trading Dougie, Dillon etc is all fun until Luke has to play real top minutes in the playoffs. I'm pretty sure Silayev might make an impact at the tail end of our window, but I don't think these guys should be untouchable