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

Different players from 31 different teams on a nightly basis.

I mean Celebrini is a good looking young player, but he has 21 goals, that's one more then Noesen
He's 18 years old and doesn't turn 19 until after the season....he has as many goals as Jack had points as an 18 year old.

Why try and diminish him?
 
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Not sure if it was this thread or another that I saw a post about Palat’s analytics being awful (team worst?) over the last month. Is he even better than Tatar at this point? I’m not so sure that he is.

I’m no salary cap and buyout expert but if we buyout Palat with two years left on his 6m contract, wouldn’t that mean we pay him 2m over the next two seasons and that we’d save 4m per year on the cap? I could be wrong. We can get a more productive player for 4m and/or use the extra space to go after UFAs. Seems like a no-brainer to me…
 
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The problem with buying out Palat is that whoever replaces him will cost more than the cap savings. The cap is going up; decent middle six wingers are going to cost more than $4M a year. To get one cheaper:

-Buy low on a guy and hope he exceeds his value.
-Spend good assets to snag a good underpaid player.
-Find a way to trade Palat with no retention.
-Draft a guy (Grits?)
 
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He's 18 years old and doesn't turn 19 until after the season....he has as many goals as Jack had points as an 18 year old.

Why try and diminish him?
I'm not diminishing Celebrini.

I'm diminishing the idea that Celebrini is potting snipes on a nightly basis.

I'm diminishing the idea that watching highlights of the top goals scored in the NHL should be used to diminish the NJ Devils because of the "lack" of such goals.
 
The problem with buying out Palat is that whoever replaces him will cost more than the cap savings. The cap is going up; decent middle six wingers are going to cost more than $4M a year. To get one cheaper:

-Buy low on a guy and hope he exceeds his value.
-Spend good assets to snag a good underpaid player.
-Find a way to trade Palat with no retention.
-Draft a guy (Grits?)
I'm not hot on the idea of paying Palat for the next 2 years.

I'm really not hot on the idea of Palat's cap hit being on the books for the next 4 years if we buy him out.

I'd rather have the most expensive 4th line in the league next year.
 
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I'm not diminishing Celebrini.

I'm diminishing the idea that Celebrini is potting snipes on a nightly basis.

I'm diminishing the idea that watching highlights of the top goals scored in the NHL should be used to diminish the "lack" of such goals by the NJ Devils.
Again, I'm commenting on the kind of goals. NHL highlights show every goal... it's not like we are talking about the best of the best.

We really don't score those snipe type of goals where a facing tender is beat cleanly.

These types of goals happen every night...just extremely infrequently here...on the cusp of never ratio.
 
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The problem with buying out Palat is that whoever replaces him will cost more than the cap savings. The cap is going up; decent middle six wingers are going to cost more than $4M a year. To get one cheaper:

-Buy low on a guy and hope he exceeds his value.
-Spend good assets to snag a good underpaid player.
-Find a way to trade Palat with no retention.
-Draft a guy (Grits?)

They can't buy him out because of how his deal is structured, but I do think they could find a trade for him if they retain some of his deal and throw in one of those 2025 2nd round picks.
 
I think we probably have one more year of Palat, but a buyout in 2026 seems likely. It will only be one year.

It’s seemed that a 2026 buyout was somewhat probable right from the start.

I do think there’s a chance he’s dumped off somewhere after this year. Not a great chance, but a chance.
 
Again, I'm commenting on the kind of goals. NHL highlights show ever goal... it's not like we are talking about the best of the best.

We really don't score those snipe type of goals where a facing tender is best cleanly.

These types of goals happen every night...just extremely infrequently here...on cusp of never ratio.
You are talking about the best of the best. Whether you are aware of that or not.

Now I do think there is something to this idea regarding our 2 best wingers.

Bratt is certainly capable of more goals, including snipe type goals, but he doesn't shoot enough.

Meier shoots a ton but for a guy who is known as a goal scorer has a notable lack of goal scoring touch. 31 shot attempts the last 3 games. Only 11 of which made it on goal, and zero goals to show for it(and zero assists). Now I know he has 5 in his last 10, but I'm wary of what is the anomaly at this point, the stretches where he takes a ton of shots and doesn't score goals, or the stretches where he takes a ton of shots and does?
 
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The problem with buying out Palat is that whoever replaces him will cost more than the cap savings. The cap is going up; decent middle six wingers are going to cost more than $4M a year. To get one cheaper:

-Buy low on a guy and hope he exceeds his value.
-Spend good assets to snag a good underpaid player.
-Find a way to trade Palat with no retention.
-Draft a guy (Grits?)
Devils are better off retaining 2 or 3 million and hoping Tampa would take him back.

I’ve said it before but Palat @ 50% for Sheary might be something that Tampa could go for. Devils could always just bury Sheary, eat the extra cap hit, and free up ~2 million next year and 3 million Palat’s final year.

Then you also don’t have to worry about a four year buyout cap hit.

But like you said, I’m not sold that the Devils get a better player next year with that 2-3 million savings from Palat.
 
I just want a solid playoff performance from this team, even if they lose in the 1st round. A blowout sweep would be embarrassing

Just wait until you see how much clutching grabbing holding interference cross checks and hits to the back Carolina gets away with. Especially Sasquatch. I probably skate faster than that guy at this point. It will be some of thr worst hockey you have ver seen played. And the Canes will not fight when called out after the cheap shots.
 
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.

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@Devs3cups
 
It remains obvious Hischier is the most important person to this team as it's currently constructed. It wasn't and isn't Jack. Now ya have Bratt playing even better off of Jack's line. Injuries aside, no clue how anyone objectively defends Jack as an elite C when we are 6 years in and not a single winger paired with him has had sustained materially elevated production (incl most adv metrics).

Basically, and aside from his obvious other deficiencies as a C, why doesn't Jack make his linemates materially better? Why does pretty much everyone perform better with Nico as oppose to Jack? Rhetorical. Argument to be continued in offseason. :laugh:
 
It remains obvious Hischier is the most important person to this team as it's currently constructed. It wasn't and isn't Jack. Now ya have Bratt playing even better off of Jack's line. Injuries aside, no clue how anyone objectively defends Jack as an elite C when we are 6 years in and not a single winger paired with him has had sustained materially elevated production (incl most adv metrics).

Basically, and aside from his obvious other deficiencies as a C, why doesn't Jack make his linemates materially better? Why does pretty much everyone perform better with Nico as oppose to Jack? Rhetorical. Argument to be continued in offseason. :laugh:

Ondrej Palat has 10 goals with Jack Hughes over 598 minutes. He has 63 shots over that time, so basically 6.3 shots/60

He has 0 goals in the 286 minutes with every other center. He has 15 shots on goal in that time, or 3.15 shots per 60

But no, you're right, pairing a winger with Hughes doesn't help him one bit.

How about looking at Mercer's numbers with Hughes versus with everyone else? I cannot imagine making a post this funny.
 
It remains obvious Hischier is the most important person to this team as it's currently constructed. It wasn't and isn't Jack. Now ya have Bratt playing even better off of Jack's line. Injuries aside, no clue how anyone objectively defends Jack as an elite C when we are 6 years in and not a single winger paired with him has had sustained materially elevated production (incl most adv metrics).

Basically, and aside from his obvious other deficiencies as a C, why doesn't Jack make his linemates materially better? Why does pretty much everyone perform better with Nico as oppose to Jack? Rhetorical. Argument to be continued in offseason. :laugh:

This is so ridiculous. Bratt is actually below his two best months this season which were with Jack. But it's so darn close it doesn't even make sense to even bring it up because even in his 13 points in 13 games month of October, it is not far off below.

March - 18 points in 15 games for 1.2 PPG
November - 18 points in 14 games for 1.28 PPG and he had 9 goals that month
December - 16 points in 13 games for 1.23 PPG
 
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Taylor Halls 17/18 season is still the single greatest season by a Devils forward I have ever seen. Better than Elias, Parise, Kovy and Hughes.

The dude had minimal support and was doing it all by himself. I have never seen such determination before. I watch this video every once in a while and it still amazes me. He is willing these goals in all by himself.


Love that video .... speed, hands and the ability to finish ..... can we get more of that on this team!
 
It remains obvious Hischier is the most important person to this team as it's currently constructed. It wasn't and isn't Jack. Now ya have Bratt playing even better off of Jack's line. Injuries aside, no clue how anyone objectively defends Jack as an elite C when we are 6 years in and not a single winger paired with him has had sustained materially elevated production (incl most adv metrics).

Basically, and aside from his obvious other deficiencies as a C, why doesn't Jack make his linemates materially better? Why does pretty much everyone perform better with Nico as oppose to Jack? Rhetorical. Argument to be continued in offseason. :laugh:

Can you define “better”? On its own it’s a subjective term.
 
It remains obvious Hischier is the most important person to this team as it's currently constructed. It wasn't and isn't Jack. Now ya have Bratt playing even better off of Jack's line. Injuries aside, no clue how anyone objectively defends Jack as an elite C when we are 6 years in and not a single winger paired with him has had sustained materially elevated production (incl most adv metrics).

Basically, and aside from his obvious other deficiencies as a C, why doesn't Jack make his linemates materially better? Why does pretty much everyone perform better with Nico as oppose to Jack? Rhetorical. Argument to be continued in offseason. :laugh:
Jesus Christ dude give it a rest. You’re arguing with a wall at this point.
 
I've said it before, given the choice of having Jack or Nico out, I'd rather have Jack out every single time. Nico's responsiblities and his all around game are just too important to how this team plays now. Run and gun, zero defense, 6-5 games, yeah maybe Jack is more important.

That being said, there is no way in hell, in a MILLION f***ING YEARS, that not having Jack Hughes in the lineup is anyway beneficial to this team.

C'mon stop with this nonsense.
 
I've said it before, given the choice of having Jack or Nico out, I'd rather have Jack out every single time. Nico's responsiblities and his all around game are just too important to how this team plays now. Run and gun, zero defense, 6-5 games, yeah maybe Jack is more important.

That being said, there is no way in hell, in a MILLION f***ING YEARS, that not having Jack Hughes in the lineup is anyway beneficial to this team.

C'mon stop with this nonsense.

Is Jack ever going to play 80 games in a season ? Betting odds are probably zero percent.... His shoulder cartilage must look like Hell.
 
Is Jack ever going to play 80 games in a season ? Betting odds are probably zero percent.... His shoulder cartilage must look like Hell.
He probably will. Played 78 not long ago. The guy that injured him, Jack Eichel, had lots of injury trouble, required experimental surgery on his neck and has since been okay. I’d rather be dealing with a shoulder issue than an artificial disc in my neck.
 
Is Jack ever going to play 80 games in a season ? Betting odds are probably zero percent.... His shoulder cartilage must look like Hell.
No one knows at this point, no player could know that. The way he went into the boards the last two years are very similar but he couldn't help either of them. I thought Crosby was toast years and years ago after his 47th concussion yet here we are and he's an old man.
 

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