Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - playoff edition

[guitarguyvic]

You get a similar player from another team. When the Devils traded Zacha for Haula, they were also trading like for like - they got a different player who fulfilled a different function. That is the kind of trade they would be making with Mercer.

Sometimes players plateau in a given place and need to breakthrough elsewhere. Godspeed to Mercer, he's not likely doing it here.

It’s not the same situation. This squad is in desperate need of upgrading multiple forward spots, not just swapping them out for similar projects. Maybe Fitz can get away with this if he manages to hit multiple home runs with filling out the rest of the depth, but I’m not holding my breath on that.

 

[Devilsfan118]

I look forward to the emotional press conference from Fitz, where he talks about how hard it is to trade/buyout locker room guys like Haula.

 

[JrFischer54]

Guys who proved they shouldn't be on this team next year are Lazar, Dowling, Bastian, Tatar, and Haula. I'd bring back Sprong. Pencil Glass in as 3C but ideally he's 4C. Cotter stunk as well but he's at least serviceable. The rest of them brought nothing to the table.

yeah cotter while isn't gifted is at least noticeable at times in the game and has some drive and wheels on him hes good for 4th line.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

What's the most recent data on Mercer at center? Is there any hope he can be 3C next year? Center is maybe the most expensive position to try and fill, and any solutions would probably be imperfect.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I agree with the folks saying we basically need to find a couple of middle six guys who can hang with Jack and Nico, plus a good 3C.

The Trojan horse this off-season is the defense and backup goalie. Just like we were caught with our pants down assuming we’d be fine at forward this year, that might wind up being the case with the defense and goaltending next year. So IMO we also have to find some way to jettison Dougie and replace him with a serviceable D who is mobile and can chip in the transition game/point production.

This all probably necessities getting rid of one of Palat or Haula, as well.

Is it realistic to expect any GM can pull this off in one off-season, much less someone like Fitz?

 

[Triumph]

It’s not the same situation. This squad is in desperate need of upgrading multiple forward spots, not just swapping them out for similar projects. Maybe Fitz can get away with this if he manages to hit multiple home runs with filling out the rest of the depth, but I’m not holding my breath on that.

This is just a nothing argument. The Devils shouldn't trade Mercer because they have to upgrade several forward spots. One of which, in my scenario, would be Mercer's himself, a player who desperately needs upgrading.

The position Mercer would ideally occupy is 3rd line RW which is already taken by Stefan Noesen. Mercer is not a center. He plays in all situations but he doesn't do anything at an above-average rate or ability.

 

[Call Me Al]

If it's 100% true Quinn wants to play with his bros, you do whatever it takes to get him, even if it pisses some fans off. Outside of Jack and Nico(?) everyone is expendable.

i’d rather just wait 2 seasons until he’s a free agent, when the cap rises and he’ll take a discount to play with his bros. we’re thin on assets as is now, as enticing as it is he’s not the missing piece for us, we have other glaring holes that we would be ignoring to fill with him. of course he’ll help make the team better but still having no depth or prospects is gonna bite them

 

[Bleedred]

Daws also played more then fine in the games when Marky was hurt

You can upgrade at the deadline if it doesnt work

Daws started only 5 games.

When we did that at the 2024 deadline when it didn’t work we were basically out of the playoffs.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I'm not saying to trade bratt but to say he had a good series or a good game yesterday is a total joke. i dont care what stupid advanced stats your going to throw around. the guy was a no show last night hardly noticeable when the team needed him the most in the series at different points. playoff no show so far in his career.

nico took his game to another level which is what you want to see. cant say the same for bratt.

people bashing markstrom for last night thats fine i get it two soft goals but he made up for it with big stops at the end of regulation and then in overtime. honestly dont take so many penalties when you pk is horrible. was he perfect? no but he wasn't the reason we lost the game or the series

the hughes brothers have to do some type of training this off season i dont know what can be done but you can't go 82 games and hold your breath anytime one of them falls down. you can't build a roster around someone who might an entire season with any one of the 30 falls a game he has. so something has to change with them and their approach.

Markstrom was absolutely a main reason they lost game 4 and a big reason they lost game 5.

I don't care about all the OT saves. If he didn't shit himself in the 2nd period, we would be talking about game 6 on Friday night right now.

 

[guitarguyvic]

This is just a nothing argument. The Devils shouldn't trade Mercer because they have to upgrade several forward spots. One of which, in my scenario, would be Mercer's himself, a player who desperately needs upgrading.

The position Mercer would ideally occupy is 3rd line RW which is already taken by Stefan Noesen. Mercer is not a center. He plays in all situations but he doesn't do anything at an above-average rate or ability.

We need to upgrade at least four forwards, now you’re adding Mercer to that list it’s now five. It’s probably too much to ask for. You’re gonna boot him because we have Noesen, a guy that can’t be relied upon to produce at more than a fourth line rate at even strength? This seems like a big mistake.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Whether Gritsyuk is actually good or not will be a decent sized factor in how the early part of next season goes. I still expect there to be a hole that needs patching at the deadline, but it would be sweet if he’s an instant 20 goal guy that can help the PP.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I'm not sure what to do. In theory the team isn't bad but for years now with varying supporting casts and about 485949 goalies, the team just finds ways to choke. They don't handle adversity well at all and it doesn't seem to matter who is on the roster. Even with a coach like Keefe who brought much more structure, when one thing goes wrong, they fall apart. Whether it's the goalie letting in softies or the defense stumbling over themselves or the forwards blowing assignments. They are elite at finding ways to fold and choke.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Triumph]

We need to upgrade at least four forwards, now you’re adding Mercer to that list it’s now five. It’s probably too much to ask for. You’re gonna boot him because we have Noesen, a guy that can’t be relied upon to produce at more than a fourth line rate at even strength? This seems like a big mistake.

I'm going to boot him because he has value and is not doing enough. Where does he play in your makeup of the team? The Devils in the playoffs had Bratt, Meier, Noesen, and Bastian playing RW in the playoffs, and then they have Gritsyuk who plays RW in Russia. They can move Meier to LW again if they want to make room for Mercer, but if Hughes-Bratt are a locked in duo, that locks out Mercer from that line - now he either plays on a 3rd line or with Hischier.

He's the best piece in order to get a 3C. He is not one himself.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm not sure what to do. In theory the team isn't bad but for years now with varying supporting casts and about 485949 goalies, the team just finds ways to choke. They don't handle adversity well at all and it doesn't seem to matter who is on the roster. Even with a coach like Keefe who brought much more structure, when one thing goes wrong, they fall apart. Whether it's the goalie letting in softies or the defense stumbling over themselves or the forwards blowing assignments. They are elite at finding ways to fold and choke.

They handled adversity fine in this series, it's prosperity they handled like shit (blowing a two-goal lead in Game 3, and a three goal-lead/two leads last night, playing poorly in Game 4 at home with momentum).

 

[guitarguyvic]

i’d rather just wait 2 seasons until he’s a free agent, when the cap rises and he’ll take a discount to play with his bros. we’re thin on assets as is now, as enticing as it is he’s not the missing piece for us, we have other glaring holes that we would be ignoring to fill with him. of course he’ll help make the team better but still having no depth or prospects is gonna bite them

Yes and no. I think there’s a realistic possibility that we can trade for him relatively cheaply given the situation. Fitz should absolutely be pressing to see if he can acquire him right away. We have no idea what the situation with Vancouver, or Quinn, or our team is gonna be in two years. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a Norris caliber d-man for a discounted price. It would be worth it even just for the extra two years and the additional security it would bring in re-signing him to continue playing with his brothers. In the meantime, even if the depth on the team continues to be an issue for the next couple of years, having him on the team brings the top end talent up enough that we will remain a strong team anyway.

Obviously if the ask is completely over the top and would gut an already depleted organization, it might not be worth it. But I’m not so sure that’s the case.

 

[SETHROLLINS]

While I believe this is his last game as a Devil, and he was basically shit on unanimously when aquired, Dumoulin was absolutely fantastic for us. I'd really love to keep him but don't see how he can't get a better contract elsewhere.

100%. I think it was the cost basis that frustrated most fans but that's what the market was this year.

I always liked him in Pitt, didn't really follow him out west but he's the exact type of vet any contending team needs for their defense corp.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Guys who proved they shouldn't be on this team next year are Lazar, Dowling, Bastian, Tatar, and Haula. I'd bring back Sprong. Pencil Glass in as 3C but ideally he's 4C. Cotter stunk as well but he's at least serviceable. The rest of them brought nothing to the table.

What part of being completely useless did you like to want to bring sprong back? Just curious

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

yeah, I can't really say they didn't handle adversity well in the series

in game 3, they had the lead but then Carolina tied it late. From that point on, they dominated and ended up winning.

in game 4, they went down 3-0 but fought back to make it a game

in game 5, they had the lead and Carolina tied it (twice) but they still gutted it out to OT before running out of gas

that is not to mention all the injuries to the DMen that they were hit with seemingly every game

 

[guitarguyvic]

I'm going to boot him because he has value and is not doing enough. Where does he play in your makeup of the team? The Devils in the playoffs had Bratt, Meier, Noesen, and Bastian playing RW in the playoffs, and then they have Gritsyuk who plays RW in Russia. They can move Meier to LW again if they want to make room for Mercer, but if Hughes-Bratt are a locked in duo, that locks out Mercer from that line - now he either plays on a 3rd line or with Hischier.

He's the best piece in order to get a 3C. He is not one himself.

I mean you answered your own question. He plays on the third line.

Look, if Fitz can pull it off AND somehow find a way to upgrade all those other spots, including the third line spot that Mercer would otherwise be occupying, then more power to him. I’m highly skeptical.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I mean you answered your own question. He plays on the third line.

Look, if Fitz can pull it off AND somehow find a way to upgrade all those other spots, including the third line spot that Mercer would otherwise be occupying, then more power to him. I’m highly skeptical.

Mercer has played more at 5 on 5 than Bratt the last 2 seasons. He doesn't get deployed as a 3rd liner.

 

[guitarguyvic]

There is no reason to bring a guy like Sprong back. It’s just more space junk occupying a spot.

I completely admire what Dumo did for the team in this series, but this also feels like a mistake to bring him back just based on what he did in a short sample size in the playoffs. This defense needs to become a bit more mobile, is Dumo fitting that bill for us?

 

[guitarguyvic]

Mercer has played more at 5 on 5 than Bratt the last 2 seasons. He doesn't get deployed as a 3rd liner.

You upgrade the other forward spots and he can be deployed as a third liner. That’s the point.

 

[Bleedred]

There is no reason to bring a guy like Speong back. It’s just more space junk occupying a spot.

I completely admire what Dumo did for the team in this series, but this also feels like a mistake to bring him back just based on what he did in a short sample size in the playoffs. This defense needs to become a bit more mobile, is Dumo fitting that bill for us?

No, he’s not fitting that bill.

But assuming the thing about Dillon is true, then he come back and occupy that spot.

I do worry about a 3 year deal though. I still think he’ll get paid closer to $3 million than $4 million per.

 

[Guadana]

What's the most recent data on Mercer at center? Is there any hope he can be 3C next year? Center is maybe the most expensive position to try and fill, and any solutions would probably be imperfect.

He isnt center. He doesnt play the game this way. But I believe with better depth he will be more productive player. He is doing better with less attention. I dont think he is untouchable at all, but still he is useful as 20g scorer if he isnt our 5th best forward.