Better Call Sal
Salnalysis
It's a real shame he's missed as much time in his tenure here as he has. He's a real difference maker offensively. I'm still so bummed about what happened to him last year. His loss was definitely felt the rest of the way.
Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part VI
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It's a real shame he's missed as much time in his tenure here as he has. He's a real difference maker offensively. I'm still so bummed about what happened to him last year. His loss was definitely felt the rest of the way.
Oneiro
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2013
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Rossi/Perfetti/Lundell/Jarvis + Stankoven (big assumption that we would have picked him, I know) + Cooley.
It's daydreaming, but that's the difference between being the also-ran we are now and being where Dallas is. If I'm HSBE, this is one thing where I'm sitting down with Fitz and insisting on process change. Not that I think they give a shit. Guessing they'll probably sell the team as soon as they can get a 2-3B valuation.
Now we're hoping he can pull some trade with Nemec, and Yegorov, Casey, Grits and Lenni are legit players. Thin margin for ELC reinforcements now.
It's daydreaming, but that's the difference between being the also-ran we are now and being where Dallas is. If I'm HSBE, this is one thing where I'm sitting down with Fitz and insisting on process change. Not that I think they give a shit. Guessing they'll probably sell the team as soon as they can get a 2-3B valuation.
Now we're hoping he can pull some trade with Nemec, and Yegorov, Casey, Grits and Lenni are legit players. Thin margin for ELC reinforcements now.
Holloway would fill a big need and would be a good stylistic fit as well. He or Lundell would probably be the best in retrospect but at least they got Mercer.
Draft by best player available and not by need. Don’t draft a shooter who can’t skate while saying “the skating will improve.”
Also draft guys who are NHL ready so you can see what they are highly likely to become - not guys just with a lot of raw speed or size that you assume will simply develop on a straight line. The more you see what you are actually getting the better it is. That huge fast Russian we went for last year for instance . . . Few guarantees. Nemec, the jury will be out for another 2 or 3 years.
If you are going to swing for the fences with upside potential do it with your later round picks, trying to find another Bratt. And do it repeatedly in the later rounds.
I'm not arguing with your greater point, but absolutely nobody is as good at drafting diamonds in the rough like Dallas, and it's kind of foolish to compare us or any team to them. They're in a class of their own.
Robertson and Hintz were both second round picks. Harley has taken a bit of time but has arrived as has Johnston although both of them were picked in the first round so less of a surprise.
Oneiro
Registered User
- Mar 28, 2013
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For sure. I meant more the current ability of the team to withstand big losses and still keep rolling.
Drafting wise, I think we could not only look to them but Carolina and Minnesota as other franchises that are doing a good job of giving themselves a chance. It's not just about the scoring but about the draft capital and having key ELCs when you've re-upped Jack, Nico and Luke, let alone if we get to add Quinn.
Like it doesn't matter that Mukhamadullin improved and he was able to flip Mukh for Meier. The process there was not good.
Beyond the top couple of picks it’s really rare any draft pick is close to NHL ready. They are high school seniors. They have miles to go mentally emotionally and physically. Look at Luke for example. He was best served with two years in college and he’s still having to learn some of the finer points of defending and his talent is all world when I watch him. I’d say that high end talent is what is the hardest to find but of course you have to balance all the elements. I think STI has always said that compete level is very important when trying to determine who is likely to translate to an NHL player. I’d add brains to that. Specifically the ability to process quickly.
I think it's really disingenuous to simply say "a shooter who can't skate". Holtz had a better scouting report than that and went in the top 10, where he was predicted to go. NHL central scouting had him as the second best European skater....
I don't think his problem was skating. He moved well enough. He could pass well also. His problem was he was like a golden retriever chasing multiple ducks on a pond on defense.
Billdo
Registered User
I feel like we would've ruined Askari's but playing him too early but yeah, a lot of ppl wanted him then.
I can see why he was attractive to Fitz as his first ever pick as an NHL GM. People here are posting about swinging for the fences, well there you go.
I do remember a lot of posters being disappointed with the pick. People wanted Rossi, like a lot. But having Nico and Hughes as your 1-2 centres, I can see why they thought Holtz was the guy.
Sometimes shit happens and players bust. What can you do?
Billdo
Registered User
Personally I think they wanted one of Sanderson or Drysdale. Both were gone when they come up and maybe panicked a little?
This is also explains the off the board Muk pick. Swinging for the potential again....
This is also explains the off the board Muk pick. Swinging for the potential again....
PizzaAndPucks
New Jersey Angels diehard
- Nov 29, 2018
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I'm pretty sure Hamilton would of snapped this drought if he didn't get hurt last year but man... That is a depressing thing to see. Not even Greene, Zidlicky, Martin, Butcher, Larsson, etc... could of done this over the last 15 plus years...
JimEIV
Registered User
- Feb 19, 2003
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I was praying for Sanderson that year
Was he ill or something? I'm sure he appreciated the intercession.
Billdo
Registered User
Same, minus the praying, just wanted them to draft him.
Yeah I remember lots of posters wanting him. It made sense at the time, our top defensive prospects were not good (thanks Ray!). You had your 1-2 punch at centre, it was time to draft a good prospect D.
Honestly I thought Ty Smith would, at the very least, be a bottom pair NHL D. I thought he was pretty highly rated in the OHL. But he was not, and never will be a Sanderson level LD.
I was pretty indifferent at the time. I won't lie. The world was on fire after all, my daughter was a babe in arms. Son was a snotty nosed toddler. I had other shit to deal with.
I'm glad we got Mercer out that first round. Muk helped us get Meier (not the greatest returns...YET). Holtz should have been better than what he is, oh well.
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JimEIV
Registered User
- Feb 19, 2003
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NJDevils17
Going Up?
The first round drafting has been abysmal under Fitz. I think he’s generally bad at evaluating talent or maybe he just focuses on the wrong things.
It reminds me a little of the last few Conte drafts but I tend to think we’re taking SOME good swings later in drafts instead of Brandon Baddok and Connor Chatham.
It reminds me a little of the last few Conte drafts but I tend to think we’re taking SOME good swings later in drafts instead of Brandon Baddok and Connor Chatham.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Drafting is gambling. You are looking at teenagers trying to predict them becoming players.
You can do work to make your decisions as informed as possible, but end of the day there is a ton of unknowns and a lot of luck is involved not unlike Poker or Blackjack
- Mar 21, 2007
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Tweets that didn’t age well for $100, Alex
ZachaFlockaFlame
Registered User
- Aug 24, 2020
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Cholo gonna be in the pantheon of Devils dmen like Yohann Avitu and Egor Yakovlev
