Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part III
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Blissfully Mediocre
theoptimist
Thank you, Fitz
- Apr 22, 2014
- 5,550
- 3,118
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
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2019
- 2,205
- 3,260
miss those the gutless! losers! soft! takes while they're down 1-0 after the 1st period
Zippy316
aka Zippo
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.
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
Fire Tom Fitzgerald
- Jan 30, 2023
- 1,204
- 2,146
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
Lets Go Baby
MB3
Fire Tom Fitzgerald
- Jan 30, 2023
- 1,204
- 2,146
someone in here said they miss GDT behavior so I’m just giving the people what they want.
and the people want ~drama~
SteveCangialosi123
Registered User
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
No, I'm not serious.
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
aka Zippo
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
Registered User
- Aug 24, 2020
- 17,385
- 23,456
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
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2010
- 10,952
- 7,523
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.
This is spot on.
billingtons ghost
Registered User
- Nov 29, 2010
- 10,952
- 7,523
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
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
Lou Bloom
Registered User
- Oct 14, 2020
- 1,276
- 2,314
I don't disagree that Luke can make some very poor and costly decisions but the difference is that he dominates play the majority of the time he's out there and It's reasonable to expect those mistakes to minimize as he gains more experience and continues to improve. When a player has elite physical traits, there's a lot longer of runway developmentally, that's why you'll often see players with elite physical tools go higher in a draft even with underwhelming statistical performance.
I'd very much disagree with you're read on Nemec though. He may not make the obvious big mistake that Luke is capable of making at times but I've seen him numerous amounts of times be out of position leading to odd man rush opportunities and not having the skating to recover that Luke does. Luke is clearly superior in all 3 zones compared to Nemec.
PizzaAndPucks
New Jersey Angels diehard
- Nov 29, 2018
- 3,137
- 5,174
I'm okay with Tom holding on to Kovecevic till his deal expires this summer but how would people feel if he moved him at the deadline ? We would run Luke, Dougie, Siegs, Pesce, Dillon & Nemec as our defense. A 1st round pick would be big for a deadline acquisition. The Devils need another top 5 forward to help them out at 5 on 5. Our defense is pretty set and we are getting much better goaltending. An addition to our offense could help us big time with offensive zone possession and hopefully scoring. That alone would help ease some pressure on our D (offense is your best defense right ?).
NJDevs26
Once upon a time...
- Mar 21, 2007
- 69,143
- 35,267
How are you supposed to trade Kovacevic now with Siegs likely out for most of the regular season? Then you’re running out Casey on his off side playing ten minutes a night or hoping Haatka plays well AND stays healthy. You’re not even going to get that better of a pick than you traded for him anyway, he’s a stay at home defenseman that provides little offense who doesn’t mash people like Dillon.
