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

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Funny, I could've sworn I read something about how awful the player was, how he always makes bad decisions, how he passes into traffic and can't get open. That sounds like one of the worst players on the team to me.



Again, you sound like you are describing the worst player on the team. It's hard to imagine that this player has scored 15 goals already and is on pace for 55 points while not playing on PP1. How many players around the league are managing that while being a significant + player 5v5 with the on-ice xGs to match? Probably not many. But hey, what do I know?



It took me 2 seconds to remember that 5.4 is more than half of 8.8. I doubt very much he's as good as Timo Meier, but if he is, great, good for that team for getting a bargain. The Devils undoubtedly overpaid for Meier, but not by much, and they have 3 significantly underpaid forwards more than making up for his lack of contribution. That's why they're in a playoff position right now.
No you are purposely ignoring the context which I even plainly laid out for you even though it’s obvious. I’m not saying he’s the worst player on the team, I’m saying he doesn’t meet expectations. There’s an obvious difference there, but you are playing nice little game of pretending otherwise. Bad faith all around.

You are right that this isn’t as bad as it could be because we have a couple of other guys who are underpaid. Otherwise this would be a complete disaster.
 
We need to find a way to acquire some depth scoring.

Mercer, Noesen and Palat are all bottom 6 forwards at even strength and our overall lack of depth scoring is probably a big reason why we won't be overly competitive this year unless we add some significant pieces up front.

Like other's have suggested, Mercer++ for McCann, plus adding another piece would be massive. Maybe its someone like Bjorkstrand instead (cheaper). But neither of those two might be available.

Pretty rough also to be getting no value from our 2nd overall pick from 3 years ago at this point, but I am not trading him unless its a comparable young forward in return.
 
It literally took me 30 seconds to find one...he's 30 years old, makes $5.4 million dollars, and has three less goals but two more points than Timo does. Let's play the guessing game.

Come on.
Bjorkstrand? Good player. He’s shooting 12.3% at 5 on 5 to Timo’s 7%. Last year Timo shot 9.4% to Bjorkstrand’s 8.3. That happens sometimes.
 
Can’t remember which thread had this (maybe 4 nations) — but how about an offseason trade of:

Nemec, 2025 2, Mercer
for
B Tkachuk, Pinto

I think the devils need to add slightly but not by much. Assuming Nemec is more valuable than Jiricek it’s at least equal to a 1st, 2 2nds, 1 3rd, for Tkachuk and then Mercer for Pinto straight up
 
Can’t remember which thread had this (maybe 4 nations) — but how about an offseason trade of:

Nemec, 2025 2, Mercer
for
B Tkachuk, Pinto

I think the devils need to add slightly but not by much. Assuming Nemec is more valuable than Jiricek it’s at least equal to a 1st, 2 2nds, 1 3rd, for Tkachuk and then Mercer for Pinto straight up
I would simplify and just do Mercer for Pinto. Senators have no reason to move Brady unless he really forces situation. Which he really can’t with 3 years left or whatever.
 
Can’t remember which thread had this (maybe 4 nations) — but how about an offseason trade of:

Nemec, 2025 2, Mercer
for
B Tkachuk, Pinto

I think the devils need to add slightly but not by much. Assuming Nemec is more valuable than Jiricek it’s at least equal to a 1st, 2 2nds, 1 3rd, for Tkachuk and then Mercer for Pinto straight up
That alone won't get it done for Tkatchuk. Nemec has lost value this year.
 
No you are purposely ignoring the context which I even plainly laid out for you even though it’s obvious. I’m not saying he’s the worst player on the team, I’m saying he doesn’t meet expectations. There’s an obvious difference there, but you are playing nice little game of pretending otherwise. Bad faith all around.

You are right that this isn’t as bad as it could be because we have a couple of other guys who are underpaid. Otherwise this would be a complete disaster.

It's not obvious. The guy is still one of the best scorers, play drivers, and point producers on the team, despite what you are saying about him. There's a whole lot of good he does, even if we agree that he doesn't always look good.

I agree that he is not meeting expectations, I just don't think that much is different about his game except that the puck is not going in the net. He has nearly 4 xG 5v5 in the current year and has 0 goals. Guys hit slumps. Maybe this is a long-term thing, maybe it isn't, but players don't usually lose their scoring touch at 28.

Give the Devils a functional third line that can take on some of the tough assignments and some more puck luck and Timo will be just fine.
 
Can’t remember which thread had this (maybe 4 nations) — but how about an offseason trade of:

Nemec, 2025 2, Mercer
for
B Tkachuk, Pinto

I think the devils need to add slightly but not by much. Assuming Nemec is more valuable than Jiricek it’s at least equal to a 1st, 2 2nds, 1 3rd, for Tkachuk and then Mercer for Pinto straight up
As much as we need a Bobby Holik type forward, Brady Tkachuk is a pipe dream. He ain’t going anywhere!

I’d love to be wrong 😑
 
It's not about giving up on him, It's about readjusting your expectations and realizing that the Devils have a ton of options on RD and are better used trading Nemec for forward help.
I dont see the logic in how Nemec has become available because someone like Seamus Casey played < ~10 games and Kovacevic is having his best and only starting season of his career at 27

It seems more like the idea is to move our highest-end asset for an upgrade rather than it is about Nemec having a future here. Which is fine but I dont see why it needs to be spun as something Nemec has done wrong (hed probably be on the team if not for an injury to start the season)
 
I’m for the most part a Fitz supporter, as i think he’s built this team the right way. But for someone who has always preached that he would like players to have some extra time to acclimate to the team in regard to trades, he has been reallyyyyyyyy patient with making moves that desperately need to be made.
 
Holtz and Nemec would've gotten the same rope as Zacha, T. Smith and Jack did if this was five years ago, but it's not. We're officially a win now team.

Nemec is also a d-man without any super high end qualities, competing against Casey, whose development curve has been non-stop improvement in North American programs and who is a guy that plays with more pace.

if you find the equivalent of Patrick Sharp for Jack/Bratt out there on the trade market, it's probably worth it.
 
I used to be Nemec > Casey . Now I’m not too sure what to think . It can always change and they each bring different attributes to the game . But for now, I’m a little disappointed in Nemecs development . Especially after last year where he looked like a NHL Dmsn at age. 20. Now he looks a little lost and his skating is a concern . For now anyways
 
Can’t remember which thread had this (maybe 4 nations) — but how about an offseason trade of:

Nemec, 2025 2, Mercer
for
B Tkachuk, Pinto

I think the devils need to add slightly but not by much. Assuming Nemec is more valuable than Jiricek it’s at least equal to a 1st, 2 2nds, 1 3rd, for Tkachuk and then Mercer for Pinto straight up
That doesn't get you Brady
 
I dont see the logic in how Nemec has become available because someone like Seamus Casey played < ~10 games and Kovacevic is having his best and only starting season of his career at 27

It seems more like the idea is to move our highest-end asset for an upgrade rather than it is about Nemec having a future here. Which is fine but I dont see why it needs to be spun as something Nemec has done wrong (hed probably be on the team if not for an injury to start the season)
You don't see the logic that having multiple options at RD (Hamilton, Pesce, Kovacevic, Casey) would make a player at that same position available? You say Casey hasn't played 10 NHL games and completely ignore his pre NHL accomplishments as a 2nd round pick that was one of the best players in college and is currently killing it in Utica this season. Kovacevic was a solid bottom pairing defenseman in Montreal, It's also not unheard for some players to take another step up in their game later in their career.

Both things can be true. Nemec has underperformed and the Devils have other options at RD. Nemec also has the most value due to his previous draft status, position and solid rookie season and because of this he's the type of player that has more value to other teams then he does to his current team, making him the most obvious trade candidate.
 
I definitely think this team has some bad shooting luck. That doesn't mean they don't have structural issues as well. The bottom-6 barely seems to contribute. They desperately need more.

I have no issue with the defensive structure and the goaltending. To me at least, they seem to give up way less dangerous looks than in previous years. They just can't finish theirs right now.
 

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