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

[dgibb10]

Not 3 X $4 and a full NMC until the final year for, as I've already said numerous times, a crazy small sample size and in a position of organizational strength on a team with many gaps to fill. Liked the initial Kovacevic move and he looked very good with Siegs. Unfortunately, he's been mediocre at best since Siegs went down. That doesn't warrant handing him a contract as if he was on the UFA market (and then the cherry on top of a NMC...which everyone here acts like doesn't matter...until it quickly does).

He should have been moved at the deadline for a 1st+ or forward prospect in this lost season, which he definitely would have gotten. He only should have been kept if he was willing to take a sweetheart of a deal or if they were moving Nemec at the deadline in a bigger move for a forward with term. Enjoy the pennies on the dollar Fitz gets when he inevitably moves one or both of Nemec and Casey this offseason. Yet another shit situation of Fitz' own doing.

Your points are all valid (and some I even suggested), again, except for the fact that you think it's somehow above market value.

It's not 2010 anymore. I know covid stagnated UFAs for a while but that's not the reality we live in anymore.

Players are gonna want, and get NMCs on any kind of meaningful deal.


We hit UFA and we're probably gonna watch Cody Ceci and David Savard get contracts at similar or even bigger AAVs than Kovy just did.

Nemec and Casey not taking advantage of their opportunities this year and solidifying themselves as someone the GM and Coach can trust is unfortunately on them. I wish Nemec played like he did last year, and I was one of if not his biggest supporter in here.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

$3-4 million/year is what ~#5 DMen get paid nowadays. I moreso dislike the term of Kovacevic's deal.

 

[Triumph]

Your points are all valid (and some I even suggested), again, except for the fact that you think it's somehow above market value.

It's not 2010 anymore. I know covid stagnated UFAs for a while but that's not the reality we live in anymore.

Players are gonna want, and get NMCs on any kind of meaningful deal.


We hit UFA and we're probably gonna watch Cody Ceci and David Savard get contracts at similar or even bigger AAVs than Kovy just did.

Nemec and Casey not taking advantage of their opportunities this year and solidifying themselves as someone the GM and Coach can trust is unfortunately on them. I wish Nemec played like he did last year, and I was one of if not his biggest supporter in here.

It is not worth arguing with this person on this, he just repeats the same stuff and absolutely never absorbs the fact that $4M is basically 3rd pairing money at this juncture, that in a league where the cap is going to $95M, $4M represents 1/22nd of the cap and is close to the average salary.

Also that he categorized his play with Siegenthaler as '40 good games' when it represents a 57% xGF and the 4th lowest xGA among defensemen while facing top competition. But yeah, sure, 40 good games.

 

[Devs3cups]

I like Silayev's skating and size but he just screams giant greanade handler that can't make a breakout pass.

From what I’ve read around these parts, he’s getting better in that regard. I already talked about it in his prospect thread, but I’m sure he’ll get better, he’s a very young player playing in a pro league, it’s a tough environment. His skating and defensive game are both elite at that age. As he continues to gain experience he should get better. I’m very hopeful about him. Solid prospect in my eyes.

 

[dgibb10]

It is not worth arguing with this person on this, he just repeats the same stuff and absolutely never absorbs the fact that $4M is basically 3rd pairing money at this juncture, that in a league where the cap is going to $95M, $4M represents 1/22nd of the cap and is close to the average salary.

Also that he categorized his play with Siegenthaler as '40 good games' when it represents a 57% xGF and the 4th lowest xGA among defensemen while facing top competition. But yeah, sure, 40 good games.

There are a number of people who hate any contract signed in UFA unless it's a BLATANT hometown discount, because they're always trying to compare them to RFAs and ELCs.

Ignoring the fact that these other pieces cost OTHER assets to get, whether it's via drafting, or trading, etc

 

[Oneiro]

I don't really care if Silayev brings offense. He's the best defender among Devils prospects I've seen in a long long time.

Offense is what Luke, Quinn and Casey are for.

 

[Devs3cups]

I don't really care if Silayev brings offense. He's the best defender among Devils prospects I've seen in a long long time.

Offense is what Luke, Quinn and Casey are for.

That’s where I’m at. He’s very much needed on the backend. If he produces 30-35 points? That’s a solid bonus.

 

[fire Fitzgerald]

Kovacevic can't skate, can't drive, can't pass and can't shoot. I don't even understand why we need another tree?

 

[JK3]

I don't really care if Silayev brings offense. He's the best defender among Devils prospects I've seen in a long long time.

Offense is what Luke, Quinn and Casey are for.

He doesn't have to bring offense. He just needs to get the puck up ice efficiently to his team mates in transition which I don't think he's capable of. Bahl is probably much better at it, it's a shame that he never used his size. Silayev reminds a bit of Volchenkov (minus the skating), a super solid punishing defenseman but esssially a grenade handler, todays game is much different. If he never had the element to his game regarding his hands, he never will.

 

[JK3]

Kovacevic can't skate, can't drive, can't pass and can't shoot. I don't even understand why we need another tree?

It's the Fitz factor, he couldn't contain himself having his own boner in sweatpants Dman.

That being said it's waaay to early, I'm just on a Fitz hating bender this week.

 

[Andre Palot]

Taco Bell having chicken nuggets should be considered a warcrime. That is all.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Can we get rid of Dillon somehow and keep Dumoulin instead? For next season. He’s miles better, slightly younger and has played wayy better. 2 year deal as a stopgap for Silayev

 

[dgibb10]

Can we get rid of Dillon somehow and keep Dumoulin instead? For next season. He’s miles better, slightly younger and has played wayy better. 2 year deal as a stopgap for Silayev

I'm sure we COULD. (there are always GMs who want Dillon types, fitz included). The question is will we want to.

And then I think Dumoulin after this playoffs gets a heftier contract than you'd expect

 

[CalamityX23]

Who wants a hot take?

Is our defense playing defense better without Luke? Lol hmmm

 

[dgibb10]

Can we get rid of Dillon somehow and keep Dumoulin instead? For next season. He’s miles better, slightly younger and has played wayy better. 2 year deal as a stopgap for Silayev

Something like this is about 1 mill under the cap (which you probably use to get a stopgap vet in UFA in case of injuries)

 

[Triumph]

Who wants a hot take?

Is our defense playing defense better without Luke? Lol hmmm

Luke hasn't been good in 2025. It's the thing that no one here really wants to talk about, but it's probably the biggest thing that has driven the Devils' decline. Luke can still make incredible plays 1 on 1 and whatnot but he's been meh for quite a while.

 

[CalamityX23]

Luke hasn't been good in 2025. It's the thing that no one here really wants to talk about, but it's probably the biggest thing that has driven the Devils' decline. Luke can still make incredible plays 1 on 1 and whatnot but he's been meh for quite a while.

You're not wrong

 

[Devils Trap]

Brian Doumulin was a fantastic pickup. He is so so good.

If he’s willing to take a 7th D role, we have to resign him but he’s good enough to get a better role elsewhere

 

[Bleedred]

Dumoulin almost definitely won’t cost $4.5 million per. He’s only making I think $3.1 or something on his current deal and he’s gonna be 34. So he probably won’t get a raise at all. And if he does it likely won’t be by that much.

I’d like to keep him, but there’s no room with Dillon still here.

And we really shouldn’t have both. We already have enough defensemen who struggle to break 20 points annually.

But I’d definitely like him more than Dillon.

 

[Devils731]

Getting to watch the Devils PP tonight, Carolina is willing to keep 3 PK guys up high near the blue line which is taking away the Devils shooting and passing lanes while also leaving the Devils worried about exposing Hamilton and Nemec to a counterattack.

I think the solution is the Devils need to run their PP from the corner and behind the net. If Carolina is willing to send 3 guys up high then the Devils need to run the PP from down low. Bring Carolina’s 3 PK guys up high and then send it low to try and work a quick 2 on 1 from the corner. At worst, it should take some edge off of Carolina attacking up high so aggressively.

 

[MadDevil]

Dumoulin has been solid, but he'll also be 34 by next season, and the Devils recent track record of signing 30+ year olds has been...questionable.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Who wants a hot take?

Is our defense playing defense better without Luke? Lol hmmm

No. I think it's playing better without Dillon. He's really not good.

Luke has his warts but he has the speed to make up for his mistakes or his partner's mistakes. He also brings a ton of offense.

Dillon provides....what exactly? While also being really not great at D.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Getting to watch the Devils PP tonight, Carolina is willing to keep 3 PK guys up high near the blue line which is taking away the Devils shooting and passing lanes while also leaving the Devils worried about exposing Hamilton and Nemec to a counterattack.

I think the solution is the Devils need to run their PP from the corner and behind the net. If Carolina is willing to send 3 guys up high then the Devils need to run the PP from down low. Bring Carolina’s 3 PK guys up high and then send it low to try and work a quick 2 on 1 from the corner. At worst, it should take some edge off of Carolina attacking up high so aggressively.

Noesen being mediocre has not helped. Idk if it's rust or what since he was taken off the 1st pp for awhile.

 

[Devils731]

Noesen being mediocre has not helped. Idk if it's rust or what since he was taken off the 1st pp for awhile.

Ya, I wonder if they go back to Mercer there.

I’m sure the thought was Hamilton big shot, get the best net front guy in there but Noesen hasn’t been able to support puck possession so far and Carolina is preventing the hard shots from the outside anyway.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Also, one of the best ways to break that formation they have going is to have guys who can really skate around the zone and pass quickly, which ofc is something this team doesn't have atm.