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

[glenwo2]

oh....Bratt already stated what I just said :

“(Shero) was probably the biggest reason why I’m wearing the Devils jersey today,” Bratt said Thursday afternoon. “He was the one, together with the rest of the front office, that really believed in me and took a chance on me in the draft.”

Bratt delivered his remarks with a heavy heart. Shero, the man that had given Bratt and so many others in the hockey world a chance, passed away at the age of 62 on Wednesday.

“He was always so great to me. It was a tough day,” Bratt said. “He was great to my parents. He always took care of them. He was great to them when they came over to visit. He made me a lot of the player that I am today and how I carry myself in the room. He will be missed. I’m thinking about him and his family.”

Devils Remember Ray Shero | FEATURE | New Jersey Devils

At the 2016 NHL Combine in Buffalo, the last prospect to interview with teams was a young 17-year-old Swedish forward named Jesper Bratt. And the final team he interviewed with was the New Jersey Devils. Bratt met briefly with Ray Shero, the Devils general manager at the time. Shero told

www.nhl.com

 

[HoliksGhost]

I think the Deftones brought more energy to the Prudential Center last night then our game vs Boston

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Out of curiosity, are there any people here who are on the west coast? One of the downsides of me moving to the west coast (if I were to) is I probably won't be able to watch games anymore unfortunately (or very few of them).

 

[Comparison Ford]

Out of curiosity, are there any people here who are on the west coast? One of the downsides of me moving to the west coast (if I were to) is I probably won't be able to watch games anymore unfortunately (or very few of them).

yes im an LA boy but I dont really have a real job so I watch these freaks all the time

 

[Desert Devil]

Out of curiosity, are there any people here who are on the west coast? One of the downsides of me moving to the west coast (if I were to) is I probably won't be able to watch games anymore unfortunately (or very few of them).

I’m in Phoenix. So March through November I’m on Pacific time and November to March I’m on Mountain time cause we are dumb and don’t change our clocks. There are some really nice things about the times of the Devils games cause it leaves your whole night open but then the games are smack in the middle of the afternoon so that kinda sucks. I don’t mind it though. I catch almost all of the games but I get to work from home.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Just for those who wanted to hear the full media availability. It's a bit of a tough listen, you can clearly tell how shook Amanda is when asking questions about Ray. Nico also seemed pretty emotional about it and at a loss for words.

Even Keefe seemed emotional when making his statement on it while admitting he was never lucky enough to have met or worked with him.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I’m in Phoenix. So March through November I’m on Pacific time and November to March I’m on Mountain time cause we are dumb and don’t change our clocks. There are some really nice things about the times of the Devils games cause it leaves your whole night open but then the games are smack in the middle of the afternoon so that kinda sucks. I don’t mind it though. I catch almost all of the games but I get to work from home.

Yea I am trying really hard to get a remote job but well...

 

[NJDevs26]

Another nice Shero story in the Athletic from the Penguins guy Rossi...and more humorous anecdotes including this one with Fitz:

Shero was the same way with his assistants, mentoring them as Poile had with him. Three years into Shero’s second GM act with the New Jersey Devils, which started in May 2015, Fitzgerald was a finalist for the Wild’s opening after Fletcher was fired, going through two rounds of interviews before ultimately not getting the job. A year later Minnesota was again searching for a new manager and asked the Devils for permission to speak with Fitzgerald. Shero refused.

“Ray didn’t want me being used, he protected me by not letting me interview; he told me I could take the job if they offered it, but not for an interview,” Fitzgerald said. “He didn’t want me to be seen as that guy who interviewed twice for the same job and didn’t get it.

“A couple of years later, I’m replacing that guy when he’s fired. I’m getting my big chance, and it’s at his expense. I felt awful. Ray called me after he found out, laughed, and said, ‘I knew I shouldn’t have blocked you from Minny — look what it got me.”

In delivering the punchline, Shero laughed so loud that Fitzgerald took the phone off the speaker setting so nobody in the Devils’ front office could hear.

 

[britdevil]

Another nice Shero story in the Athletic from the Penguins guy Rossi...and more humorous anecdotes including this one with Fitz:

Brilliant. Ray was such a likeable man. A really sad loss for hockey.

 

[edevils]

The article below says he will sign in the next few days, but continues on to say he will play next season. We still don't have a straight answer on whether he will appear in the playoffs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hockey agent Shumi Babayev, who represents the interests of forward Arseniy Gritsyuk, said that the hockey player will soon sign an entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.

— Arseniy Gritsyuk said goodbye to the team and fans on his social networks. Is he going to leave for New Jersey?
— Yes, Arseniy will sign an entry-level contract with the Devils in the coming days and will play in the NHL next season, — Babayev said in an exclusive interview with Championat observer Pavel Panyshev.

In the 2024/2025 regular season, 24-year-old Gritsyuk played 49 matches for SKA, where he scored 44 (17+27) points. In six playoff games, the forward scored 5 (1+4) points.

Нападающий СКА Арсений Грицюк подпишет контракт с «Нью-Джерси» и продолжит карьеру в НХЛ

Нападающий СКА Арсений Грицюк подпишет контракт с «Нью-Джерси» и продолжит карьеру в НХЛ

www.championat.com

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

The article below says he will sign in the next few days, but continues on to say he will play next season. We still don't have a straight answer on whether he will appear in the playoffs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hockey agent Shumi Babayev, who represents the interests of forward Arseniy Gritsyuk, said that the hockey player will soon sign an entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.

— Arseniy Gritsyuk said goodbye to the team and fans on his social networks. Is he going to leave for New Jersey?
— Yes, Arseniy will sign an entry-level contract with the Devils in the coming days and will play in the NHL next season, — Babayev said in an exclusive interview with Championat observer Pavel Panyshev.

In the 2024/2025 regular season, 24-year-old Gritsyuk played 49 matches for SKA, where he scored 44 (17+27) points. In six playoff games, the forward scored 5 (1+4) points.

Нападающий СКА Арсений Грицюк подпишет контракт с «Нью-Джерси» и продолжит карьеру в НХЛ

Нападающий СКА Арсений Грицюк подпишет контракт с «Нью-Джерси» и продолжит карьеру в НХЛ

www.championat.com

I mean, that is pretty clear that he WON'T be playing this year.

 

[edevils]

I mean, that is pretty clear that he WON'T be playing this year.

You're reading between the lines and you're probably correct.

However, until Fitz or Grits camp comes out a says specifically that he's not playing this year, I'll hold out hope.

 

[theoptimist]

No to Brock Boeser

 

[MadDevil]

Wow!! Fitzgerald said just days ago that Siegs hasn’t even been able to put on skates yet. I still strongly suspect he won’t be available until/unless we make it to the Conference Finals.

Great news on Hamilton. Originally, Fitzgerald didn’t even seem confident he would be ready if we made it to the second round. He would give us a big boost.

Dougie comes back to beat his old team in the first round. Siegs comes back to beat his old team in the second round.

 

[thebeernerd]

No to Brock Boeser

Why even bother trying to pry him from Minnesota? It fits like a glove.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Pando and Bryce's sons are on the US U-17 team

man, we are old!!

 

[FooteBahl]

Pando and Bryce's sons are on the US U-17 team

man, we are old!!

Speak for yourself!! And get off my lawn!

 

[StevenToddIves]

The article below says he will sign in the next few days, but continues on to say he will play next season. We still don't have a straight answer on whether he will appear in the playoffs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hockey agent Shumi Babayev, who represents the interests of forward Arseniy Gritsyuk, said that the hockey player will soon sign an entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.

— Arseniy Gritsyuk said goodbye to the team and fans on his social networks. Is he going to leave for New Jersey?
— Yes, Arseniy will sign an entry-level contract with the Devils in the coming days and will play in the NHL next season, — Babayev said in an exclusive interview with Championat observer Pavel Panyshev.

In the 2024/2025 regular season, 24-year-old Gritsyuk played 49 matches for SKA, where he scored 44 (17+27) points. In six playoff games, the forward scored 5 (1+4) points.

Нападающий СКА Арсений Грицюк подпишет контракт с «Нью-Джерси» и продолжит карьеру в НХЛ

Нападающий СКА Арсений Грицюк подпишет контракт с «Нью-Джерси» и продолжит карьеру в НХЛ

www.championat.com

Gritsyuk will be a huge addition next year. He'll give the Devils a middle-6 winger with the upside of very quickly developing into a legit top-6 scoring winger. He's fast and skilled and smart with a great motor. This is terrific news for the Devils and their fans.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Gritsyuk will be a huge addition next year. He'll give the Devils a middle-6 winger with the upside of very quickly developing into a legit top-6 scoring winger. He's fast and skilled and smart with a great motor. This is terrific news for the Devils and their fans.

This is good news. I’m of the mindset that we need an entirely new third line - I think Mercer is “good enough” to take Palat’s place in the top six and guys like Cotter and Glass should ideally be on the fourth line with the ability to play up when there are injuries. Assuming Gritsyuk is a third liner to start, that leaves Fitz needing to obtain a top six winger, a third line winger, and a 3C. Maybe he could get away with putting Glass in that last spot but to me that’s getting risky with it yet again.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Glass has essentially been playing 3C since he got here and has been doing well at it. I do think we still need another effective center and ideally he is a line lower, but I think its also very possible he can handle that role

 

[glenwo2]

....

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Casey has had 2 of his best games as a pro back to back. Don’t really like him coming out, even if you want to get Nemec in.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Glass has essentially been playing 3C since he got here and has been doing well at it. I do think we still need another effective center and ideally he is a line lower, but I think its also very possible he can handle that role

Depends on the supporting cast, too. Some 3rd liners with some juice would/could go a long way compared to saddling a 3rd/4th C tweener with Palat and Lazar all year (or whoever else)

 

[My3Sons]

Depends on the supporting cast, too. Some 3rd liners with some juice would/could go a long way compared to saddling a 3rd/4th C tweener with Palat and Lazar all year (or whoever else)

Glass plays a fairly skilled game. He needs to play with some players with brains that he can create with. He’s not going to be a grinding 3C even if he can think that game well enough to play defense with sound positioning and stick work. He’s more akin to a Hischier style 3C than a traditional one.