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

I just don’t think you can build a contender with this many slow footed grenade handlers in your d core. Fitz “fixed” the D but what’s the point if it results in an impotent offense that will still put you at best a bubble team? Thinking that simply upgrading the forwards while having a non-existent transition game can make a contender is fool’s gold IMO…this isn’t 2009.

This is why I’ve turned on Fitz. I think this roster construction is horrific; the forward depth is an atrocity and the D is being over-rated by most because the GA look better on paper and in a vacuum compared to last year.
I'm not sure you can blame Fitz too much. Devils should have three pairs of offensive D - defensive D.

Siegs - Hamilton
Luke - Pesce
Dillon - Nemec

Casey is supposed to spend the year in the AHL, but could be a call up if needed, giving them an emergency puck mover.


Obviously the first pair is hurt (and didn't usually play together). Nemec has regressed. Casey has been left to marinate in the AHL - perhaps because Keefe doesn't trust his defense. And Kovacevic has stepped up. Is that Fitz's fault? Maybe he should have pivoted more quickly?
 
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I'm not sure you can blame Fitz too much. Devils should have three pairs of offensive D - defensive D.

Siegs - Hamilton
Luke - Pesce
Dillon - Nemec

Casey is supposed to spend the year in the AHL, but could be a call up if needed, giving them an emergency puck mover.


Obviously the first pair is hurt (and didn't usually play together). Nemec has regressed. Casey has been left to marinate in the AHL - perhaps because Keefe doesn't trust his defense. And Kovacevic has stepped up. Is that Fitz's fault? Maybe he should have pivoted more quickly?
There are things he can blamed for IMO. Dillon may wind up not being a quality piece as soon as next year. Signing Kovacevic long-term based based on a half-season of success is really risky and can easily backfire. From a drafting standpoint, it seems Nemec and Casey are not panning out to be the Dougie replacements we are gonna need within a year or two.

That's a lot of question marks. It could all turn out right - but I think we are counting our chickens before they hatch when people say he fixed this defense.
 
I think the D corps is good enough going forward assuming health. Not much can be done at the moment there. Fitz has to focus on the forwards this offseason. Do your best to trade Palat and Haula and get some space to add a couple good guys. I don’t know what will happen with Ryan McLeod as he’s RFA but I’d love to get him. High end 3C. Penalty killer. Excellent skater and skilled with decent size. Exactly what we need to get some speed and skill in the bottom 6
 
There are things he can blamed for IMO. Dillon may wind up not being a quality piece as soon as next year. Signing Kovacevic long-term based based on a half-season of success is really risky and can easily backfire. From a drafting standpoint, it seems Nemec and Casey are not panning out to be the Dougie replacements we are gonna need within a year or two.

That's a lot of question marks. It could all turn out right - but I think we are counting our chickens before they hatch when people say he fixed this defense.

Jack might not be a quality piece as soon as next year. Was his contract a mistake?
 
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Cholo gonna be in the pantheon of Devils dmen like Yohann Avitu and Egor Yakovlev

After Yohann Auvitu became a (pre-season) Superstar I made the worst jersey purchase in Devils history.

My brother dug this monstrosity out a few months ago to shame me (for a pre-season game where Zboril was #33):
IMG_9553.jpeg

NEVER FORGET! (3 secondary assists!!!)
IMG_3921.jpeg
 
After Yohann Auvitu became a (pre-season) Superstar I made the worst jersey purchase in Devils history.

My brother dug this monstrosity out a few months ago to shame me (for a pre-season game where Zboril was #33):
View attachment 1002309

NEVER FORGET! (3 secondary assists!!!)
View attachment 1002315

Random memory triggered. Matt Gilroy getting a goal and assist for the Rags against us in a pre-season game, Rosen proclaimed that it would "last a lifetime" or some bullshit.

Love random pre-season stuff. Tyler Eckford another pre-season legend for the Devils.
 
As far as #2 goes...dude did you just become a hockey fan this year? Prices at the deadline are ALWAYS exorbitant, especially in the modern era where you have like twenty teams in a playoff hunt and a handful of sellers - that's why I hated that Fitz left everything till the last minute when other teams were making moves before Four Nations. We had a lot more leverage when the Devils were in good position, but by the time Fitz woke up out of hibernation he was like pizza guy coming into the room with everything on fire.

The prices at the deadline are the cheapest they will get, I do not know why you think that prices go down well before the deadline, how does that make any sense at all? Also, while I can't find it because the 2025 nhl entry draft Wikipedia has not been updated, I would guess this is the 1st round with the most traded picks.

Just looking at the playoff teams, I think Florida already traded theirs, I think Toronto dealt theirs, TB, the Devils traded theirs, the Rangers aren't in the playoffs but traded theirs, Dallas traded theirs, Colorado traded theirs, Vegas and Edmonton traded theirs. That's 9 teams, plus St. Louis who lost theirs with the offer sheets they gave out, and I'm not even certain I got them all.
 
The prices at the deadline are the cheapest they will get, I do not know why you think that prices go down well before the deadline, how does that make any sense at all? Also, while I can't find it because the 2025 nhl entry draft Wikipedia has not been updated, I would guess this is the 1st round with the most traded picks.

Just looking at the playoff teams, I think Florida already traded theirs, I think Toronto dealt theirs, TB, the Devils traded theirs, the Rangers aren't in the playoffs but traded theirs, Dallas traded theirs, Colorado traded theirs, Vegas and Edmonton traded theirs. That's 9 teams, plus St. Louis who lost theirs with the offer sheets they gave out, and I'm not even certain I got them all.

St Louis still has their 2025 1st.

Broberg got a 2 years/4.58m deal, which cost them their 2025 2nd.

Holloway got 2 years/2.29m, so he cost them their 2025 3rd.

Both got the upper limit of the compensation required for those picks.

IMG_3930.jpeg
 
The prices at the deadline are the cheapest they will get, I do not know why you think that prices go down well before the deadline, how does that make any sense at all? Also, while I can't find it because the 2025 nhl entry draft Wikipedia has not been updated, I would guess this is the 1st round with the most traded picks.

Just looking at the playoff teams, I think Florida already traded theirs, I think Toronto dealt theirs, TB, the Devils traded theirs, the Rangers aren't in the playoffs but traded theirs, Dallas traded theirs, Colorado traded theirs, Vegas and Edmonton traded theirs. That's 9 teams, plus St. Louis who lost theirs with the offer sheets they gave out, and I'm not even certain I got them all.

You missed a couple traded 1sts, as you can see here. It’s 10 teams without St Louis.

IMG_3931.jpeg

This page has the same list with trade details:

Montreal got Calgary’s 2025 way back in August 2022 in the Sean Monahan cap dump.

Columbus got the Wild’s 2025 1st for Jiricek.
 
After Yohann Auvitu became a (pre-season) Superstar I made the worst jersey purchase in Devils history.

My brother dug this monstrosity out a few months ago to shame me (for a pre-season game where Zboril was #33):
View attachment 1002309

NEVER FORGET! (3 secondary assists!!!)
View attachment 1002315
Oh man, I was at this game in person. I thought Auvitu was our next hidden gem signing and that Beau Bennett was going to be the missing piece up front.

How the preseason can lie to you 101 :laugh:
 
I don't have a problem with Dillon on the 3rd pair. He absolutely is going to look lost when the top 2 LHDs are injured.
Does he really deserve $4M? When you have him, Palat at $6M and Haula at over $3M...there is a cost to those decisions. Could have had a legit top line forward for those dollars instead and still filled the 3rd pair role and 3C role.
 
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I watch NHL highlights almost every night and I see guys that can rifle the puck and pick corners it makes me so jealous.

I watched Celebrini and Smith highlight goals from the other night against Toronto and the snipes these young guys are making are unbelievable...

We rarely see those kind of goals...Nico did it last night against Minnesota, Jack has actually had a few nice lazer beams over the past few years... Meier can do it but it it's rarely seen. I think Bratt has it in him also but again we rarely see his shot unleashed.

I wish we had a dangerous shooter. Like the kind of shooter that can put it passed a set goalie...like the Stephanie Richer and Claude Lemieux kind of shooters.

Just day dreaming out loud.
 
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Does he really deserve $4M? When you have him, Palat at $6M and Haula at over $3M...there is a cost to those decisions. Could have had a legit top line forward for those dollars instead and still filled the 3rd pair role and 3C role.

This is not true, at least not with UFAs. 3rd line centers cost $4-5M in UFA, 3rd pairing D generally cost $3M+.
 
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This is not true, at least not with UFAs. 3rd line centers cost $4-5M in UFA, 3rd pairing D generally cost $3M+.

Third line centers are more expensive because all of them are ‘elite.’

‘Elite’ because the UFA is a 1/2C on their current team. If/when they leave, they’re looking for more money and/or term. Hard to find a non-homegrown 3C for less than $6M from now onward.

O’Reilly is the last of the 4-5M 3rd line centers. Another example, Ross Colton who makes 4M for the next two seasons will easily command 5.5+ on his next deal.

Also why I found it interesting people didn’t want to pay up for MM, which would have been a little more than the Jake Evans deal. Even more baffling, Fitz did nothing to replace him (or is having hard time doing so).

I’ve backed off the Palat hate train because atleast we have some equity in his deal. His number (and other pieces) may eventually bring in the ‘high priced’ 3C that will give us the depth we want.
 
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I watch NHL highlights almost every night and I see guys that can rifle the puck and pick corners it makes me so jealous.

I watched Celebrini and Smith highlight goals from the other night against Toronto and the snipes these young guys are making are unbelievable...

We rarely see those kind of goals...Nico did it last night against Minnesota, Jack has actually had a few nice lazer beams over the past few years... Meier can do it but it it's rarely seen. I think Bratt has it in him also but again we rarely see his shot unleashed.

I wish we had a dangerous shooter. Like the kind of shooter that can put it passed a set goalie...like the Stephanie Richer and Claude Lemieux kind of shooters.

Just day dreaming out loud.

Toffoli and Sharangovich did it but I agree, we don’t have snipers on this team in a true sense
 
Third line centers are more expensive because all of them are ‘elite.’

‘Elite’ because the UFA is a 1/2C on their current team. If/when they leave, they’re looking for more money and/or term. Hard to find a non-homegrown 3C for less than $6M from now onward.

O’Reilly is the last of the 4-5M 3rd line centers. Another example, Ross Colton who makes 4M for the next two seasons will easily command 5.5+ on his next deal.

Also why I found it interesting people didn’t want to pay up for MM, which would have been a little more than the Jake Evans deal. Even more baffling, Fitz did nothing to replace him (or is having hard time doing so).

I’ve backed off the Palat hate train because atleast we have some equity in his deal. His number (and other pieces) may eventually bring in the ‘high priced’ 3C that will give us the depth we want.

I expect them to give Glass a chance at the 3C spot next season. Push Hischier down to the fourth line.
 
Last night was the last night weekend game of the regular season for the Devils. Their two remaining weekend games are during the day against the Rags and Isles. They also only have 4 games over the next two weeks, so any guys with a couple of bumps and bruises do have some time to heal up. Other than the Wild Monday they aren't playing any other over .500 teams the rest of the season.

1743340819761.png
 
I watch NHL highlights almost every night and I see guys that can rifle the puck and pick corners it makes me so jealous.

I watched Celebrini and Smith highlight goals from the other night against Toronto and the snipes these young guys are making are unbelievable...

We rarely see those kind of goals...Nico did it last night against Minnesota, Jack has actually had a few nice lazer beams over the past few years... Meier can do it but it it's rarely seen. I think Bratt has it in him also but again we rarely see his shot unleashed.

I wish we had a dangerous shooter. Like the kind of shooter that can put it passed a set goalie...like the Stephanie Richer and Claude Lemieux kind of shooters.

Just day dreaming out loud.
Guys do tend to look really good in highlights.
 
Does he really deserve $4M? When you have him, Palat at $6M and Haula at over $3M...there is a cost to those decisions. Could have had a legit top line forward for those dollars instead and still filled the 3rd pair role and 3C role.

you have Dillon at $4m or you don't have him at all. That is how free agency works. A year too long and/or $1m too much per year has always been the old adage.

yes Palat and Haula need to be upgraded upon. There is no debate there.
 
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