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

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I didn’t see this Hamilton update get posted

Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton out remainder of season, 'possibly playoffs'

The Devils will be without defenseman Dougie Hamilton for the rest of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced.

sny.tv

Sucks

 

[Forge]

I didn’t see this Hamilton update get posted

Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton out remainder of season, 'possibly playoffs'

The Devils will be without defenseman Dougie Hamilton for the rest of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced.

sny.tv

Sucks

 

[Alex NJD]

This sucks a whole lot because it’s a huge blow to his potential trade value.

We have 23.4m going to four dmen next season, everyone has to brace themselves for the possibility that Luke’s getting a bridge deal.

Ya as it stands now we have ~27 million on the books for just defense next season without Luke signed. This season Buffalo has the highest expenditure on dmen at 32.5 million or 37% of the cap. Most contenders kept it under 30 million. Vegas at 31, Colorado at 30, Dallas jumped 30 after some LTIR moves. No chance we spend 35-36 million. If Luke does get a big extension someone needs to be moved or the forward core will probably be neglected as result

If that happens then it’s all the more reason to slag Fitz for jumping the gun on Kovacevic

Someone last week made a good post (apologies for forgetting who) that with our lack of secondary scoring they would have rather put an ELC or a cheap vet at 3RD and allocate the saved money towards a top 6 winger

 

[billingtons ghost]

Yelling from the back again.

This would be a massive problem if Bratt wasn’t putting up top 10 scoring numbers (even top 20 to be frank). He is. His play is generating goals for NJ at a high rate.

We all should be done with this convo now. The horse is dead.

But is it though?

Better finishing and Bratt has 25 goals and we aren't talking about him.

I know the party line is that Timo, Bratt, and Nico are all just fine, but those are big contracts that do NOT line up with production.

I like them all as players, but they are part of the problem and it isn't just something that can be waved away by 'luck'. I appreciate your and others' consistent support for the star players, but you're just in the wrong end of the reality stick with this one

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Elias pass to Arnott in OT for the Cup.

I reckon that IQ and pass difficulty matters much more than the run of the mill slam dunk setup that was hand delivered to Arnott on a platter.

Faceoffs don't matter now Assists don't matter does anything MATTER? Bratt is and was a steal