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

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Then you really have to question the logic of picking him cause he was never projected to be anything great offensively

Going back to the draft year, we had poor depth at RD and on wing. I firmly believe if he didn't go 1st overall, we would've drafted Slafkovsky. I think they pivoted from there. I know everyone talks about drafting BPA, which I get, but at the time our center depth was at least Jack-Nico-McLeod-Boqvist so I understand not thinking of a Cooley immediately when you have other holes in the organization. Your top two centers are firmly in place for a long time, you eventually know you're bringing in Haula who can become 3C. So I imagine they honed in on Nemec vs. Jiricek from there, especially since Wright seemed to fall for having holes in his game and his development has taken some time.

So at that point, it depends on what you feel is fundamentally the best move for the organization. I'm not going to cast Nemec aside yet. I think it's being underplayed that he's trying to figure out a new system from what he played last year in the pros, and had moments of success in. He's clearly shown this year he's too good to have to stay in the AHL, so now some consistency is needed back in the NHL. Unfortunately it's coming at a time where we can't afford for him to learn on the fly, and we have someone else from his draft class who is providing value even if it's in a different type of role.

It will be interesting to see what they decide by the offseason. The right side is crowded.
 
Seattle has a whole slew of players that are rumored to all be available. However, I have not heard Beniers mentioned, nor should he be if you’re Seattle. What would be the point of them dealing him? He’s a talented young player who they should build their franchise around. McCann and Bjorkstrand should be our targets.

I just threw the Beniers thing out after a few beers. In retrospect, I still stand by that being a pretty good trade for both teams considering where we both are in our respective contention windows.
 
The organization has continuously praised Casey. They’ve been critical of Nemec and it’s fair to wonder if the relationship is strained. All signs point to Nemec being the player dangled to obtain a top six forward. My gut is telling me that Fitz will sell sooner on Nemec because he doesn’t want to be in a situation in which his value completely craters the way Holtz did. I’m at the point where I’d be somewhat surprised if Simon isn’t dealt in the next two weeks. I don’t have any inside information….just reading the tea leaves.

McCann has two years left on his contract after this season. He is a LW who can play C and his skill set should be a percect complement for Jack and Bratt. I like Bjorkstrand a lot but shipping Nemec out for him (one year left on contract) is serious overpayment. It’ll be interesting to see what Fitz has in mind.
 
Casey also got to beat up on a crappy Nashville team last night and still got hemmed in a bunch but got bailed out by Daws, and looked downright trash on the D-side of the puck earlier this year. Color me skeptical that a quarter of a season in the AHL fixed him. Nemec also looked pretty good against a bad team (Montreal) before the break.

Point I'm making is that young defensemen make a lot of mistakes - they have plenty of ups and downs. Severson was garbo in the defensive zone for years before he became competent. Andy Greene was, too. Larsson took a few years to become competent. What other defensemen have we actually developed over that time frame? Merrill? Butcher and Ty Smith both washed out. We've been so poor at developing defensemen for over a decade that I think many of you have forgotten what the process looks like. Defensemen in general take years to develop, even the elite prospect type. Guys like the defensemen Hugheses and the Makars are unicorns. Nemec will take time. Casey will take time.
 
But besides whether Nemec is worth hanging onto or not...

Why on Earth is Jared McCann an option in that scenario? A second line center-ajace forward signed for a measly two seasons after this one?

Were trading a likely top-4, possibly top-2 (if he hits) cost-controlled defenseman for.. two more years of a stopgap offenseman?! I cant get someone younger and under control for longer?

I dont know.. maybe my understanding of all of this is off.
 
Imo Nemec should only be traded in a swap for a young fwd....Z L'Heureux or a Bystedt type prospects...Other players like that..
I'd be very surprised if he's moved for another young player. My guess is Fitz is only going to bring in older guys. You're sacrificing team control for a better chance now, just how it goes when you're no longer rebuilding.
 
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Were we bad at developing defensemen or did we just pick terrible ones? I always wanted K’Andre Miller at 19 in that draft, instead we got Ty Smith. The organization was hobbled for years under Shero and whatever the hell his defensive philosophy was.
 
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The organization has continuously praised Casey. They’ve been critical of Nemec and it’s fair to wonder if the relationship is strained. All signs point to Nemec being the player dangled to obtain a top six forward. My gut is telling me that Fitz will sell sooner on Nemec because he doesn’t want to be in a situation in which his value completely craters the way Holtz did. I’m at the point where I’d be somewhat surprised if Simon isn’t dealt in the next two weeks. I don’t have any inside information….just reading the tea leaves.

McCann has two years left on his contract after this season. He is a LW who can play C and his skill set should be a percect complement for Jack and Bratt. I like Bjorkstrand a lot but shipping Nemec out for him (one year left on contract) is serious overpayment. It’ll be interesting to see what Fitz has in mind.
“Perhaps our whole group shows up, but for a young guy like Seamus, it’s been kind of piling on,” Keefe explained after the 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

Casey skated in just 7:35 of ice time as he struggled to defend the veteran Capitals team fluently.

And that’s what happens when a coach loses his confidence in you, it’s hard to kind of get going,” Keefe explained.
 
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I don't think Nemec is a bust. He's having a lost season - he's taken a step backwards. The trouble is, Nemec just has to be in the NHL next season, and to me he's not doing enough to make sure that happens, and there's a guy who's the same age who is outplaying him (not by a ton, but still).

In addition, there's lots of holes up front and the Devils cannot just let Nemec make mistakes over and over again down the stretch here.
 
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But besides whether Nemec is worth hanging onto or not...

Why on Earth is Jared McCann an option in that scenario? A second line center-ajace forward signed for a measly two seasons after this one?

Were trading a likely top-4, possibly top-2 (if he hits) cost-controlled defenseman for.. two more years of a stopgap offenseman?! I cant get someone younger and under control for longer?

I dont know.. maybe my understanding of all of this is off.
McCann is a consistent 30 goal scorer who has the ability to play center, signed for two more years at a steal of a contract. He’s also done that while being the best player on his team and with linemates that aren’t even remotely close to Hughes, Bratt, or Hischier’s level.

He’s the exact type of player this team needs in the top six at great value and he’s in the prime of his career (28 years old).
 
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McCann is a consistent 30 goal scorer who has the ability to play center, signed for two more years at a steal of a contract. He’s also done that while being the best player on his team and with linemates that aren’t even remotely close to Hughes, Bratt, or Hischier’s level.

He’s the exact type of player this team needs in the top six at great value and he’s in the prime of his career (28 years old).
But youre only getting him for two more years. Youd be giving up a minimum of five years of control for Simon for that!! I just dont see how that adds up to being in our favor.

We do this and he plays really well.. and then what? We maybe cant afford to re-sign him? He takes up more cap room and we still dont have young offensive depth?

Im not against Jared McCann; im against him being enough for Nemec

*(though I would like to point out Jared is terrible in the dot and Nico needs help in that regard aside from now fourth-liner Haula; a true center would do wonders)
 
“Perhaps our whole group shows up, but for a young guy like Seamus, it’s been kind of piling on,” Keefe explained after the 6-5 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

Casey skated in just 7:35 of ice time as he struggled to defend the veteran Capitals team fluently.

And that’s what happens when a coach loses his confidence in you, it’s hard to kind of get going,” Keefe explained.
Touché.

Outside of this critique, I thought Devils brass has spoken very highly of Casey. I’m getting old though so who knows….I can barely remember what team I root for!
 
Just for clarity, I am a fan of Nemec and would prefer to keep him. Im also fine with moving him for talent up front; if that talent is young and cost controlled enough, which I dont feel McCann is
 
But besides whether Nemec is worth hanging onto or not...

Why on Earth is Jared McCann an option in that scenario? A second line center-ajace forward signed for a measly two seasons after this one?

Were trading a likely top-4, possibly top-2 (if he hits) cost-controlled defenseman for.. two more years of a stopgap offenseman?! I cant get someone younger and under control for longer?

I dont know.. maybe my understanding of all of this is off.
You are treating the fact that he has two more years as a negative, when in truth it should probably have a ton of value on the market. Especially at only 5 million and without Seattle being in distress to move him.

Sure, you can get someone younger and under control longer. It won't be anyone who has yet shown that they are anywhere near as good as McCann though. That's basically just a change of scenery trade.

If you use Jiricek as the trade comp for Nemec, I wouldn't even hesitate to give up that same amount for 2+ years of McCann. 1, 2, 3, 4 + Low ceiling but likely nhl prospect? Sign me up all day.
 

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