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

[NJDevs26]

If Fitz goes the most likely replacement is Brodeur. He's not a popular alternative here, I think mostly cause his interviews don't make him seem cerebral, but we've really got almost nothing to go on when it comes to assessing GM candidates internally and externally so it's hard to really judge alternatives. Not sure why we have to list a name as a replacement, unless there's a unique vision like to go full analytics driven organization with Matt Cane at the top or something.

I don't really have a belief that Fitz has any special talent and should hold on to the job based on what I've seen, and prefer firing a year early to a year late. I also think he has a mess on his hands and is going to make a move that hurts the team long term to fix it (e.g. trade Nemec). The best thing he's got going for him is he's aggressive about fixing problems, but that's also a potential problem, cause after this season I don't think the Devils are as close to a contender as I thought they were.

Yeah I'm not too confident in a replacement. Kate Madigan might be the 'best case' of realistic choices and I'm not exactly sold on her either given the deficiencies in our minors/scouting/player development. But at least it'd be a lot easier to make a change there if it was needed than eventually having to replace Marty.

 

[thebeernerd]

If Fitz goes the most likely replacement is Brodeur.

Look, as long as it's not Fletcher.

Dark horse pick: that Madigan lady. I think she's officially assistant GM.

 

[FooteBahl]

Is it July 1st yet? I’m the weird type of fan who only watches the devils and couldn’t care less who wins now as long as isn’t the Rangers or Flyers. I love hockey but I have a hard time watching anyone other than the devils. Anyone else like that?

 

[Emperoreddy]

People wanted Markstrom to be average and at least make the stops that need to be made, the way Pyotr did last night, the only ones that were actually hyping him up as elite were the Devils themselves (well specifically Marty).

I mean if you look at his body of work over the entire 5 periods he played last night, he was pretty average.

 

[thebeernerd]

I will say this.. I have defended Dougie
Hamilton enough. Our Power play got us to the post season. He is paid to qb the power play. He either missed the net or didn't shoot the puck. Perhaps he is the odd man out. A month ago I never would have said this.

His stock is way down for me after this series, about as much as Nemec's is up. He was a complete non-factor. If you want to strike while the iron is hot, look for a deal involving Dougie and Mercer.

 

[JimEIV]

"What's wrong with the team"...over and over..
Top 6 , bottom 6...3, Rd line... defense that can join the rush....

All nonsense.

Your best player can't stay healthy and your 2nd best can't score goals ...

That's it in a nutshell. No need to debate all summer... there's the Cliffnotes.

 

[devsfan8]

Nobody said a peep when Stefan 4th liner Noesen was playing in the top 6 and we were winning. Funny how that works.

His stock is way down for me after this series, about as much as Nemec's is up. He was a complete non-factor. If you want to strike while the iron is hot, look for a deal involving Dougie and Mercer.

Agreed. DIfference was special teams. Especially the Powerplay. He was non existent and Nemec was solid. I can not argue this logically.

 

[Devs3cups]

How long do we give Bratt excuses for not producing in the postseason? Nine points in 18 games isn't gonna cut it, sorry. And Timo woke up late in the series after that controversial call/non-call but why did it even take that to wake him up?

I'm not just looking to bag on the core, and clearly Nico rose above it this year...I'm sick and tired of pretty much everyone in a Devils uniform that isn't Nico or a few defensemen right now and need a break from all these ****sticks.

Players don’t just figure out how to play in the playoffs instantly, I think it takes time. Tkachuk is a good example (5 points in his first 15 games, 34 in the next 32).

2 years ago Bratt got 6 points in 12 games, this year, 3 in 5, and I’ve seen him play with more urgency. It’s a tough environment, but that’s progression. My guess is the more he plays there, the more he grows. Nico’s a good example of that. Only had 1 more point than Bratt in 2022-2023, only has 1 more this year. It’s a progression. Hopefully they continue to get the experience and grow.

 

[MartyOwns]

Is it July 1st yet? I’m the weird type of fan who only watches the devils and couldn’t care less who wins now as long as isn’t the Rangers or Flyers. I love hockey but I have a hard time watching anyone other than the devils. Anyone else like that?

i’m the opposite. i love being a casual fan now that the devils are out of it. makes the games a lot less stressful

 

[Emperoreddy]

You cant win a series losing the special teams battle the way we did.

We gave up two PP goals last night and a 3rd that might as well have been one.

Our PP put up another goose egg. It had chances when the game was tied to get us the go ahead goal and couldn't do itm

Injuries played a huge part in why the special teams weren't working. It is what it is.

 

[NJDevs26]

Is it July 1st yet? I’m the weird type of fan who only watches the devils and couldn’t care less who wins now as long as isn’t the Rangers or Flyers. I love hockey but I have a hard time watching anyone other than the devils. Anyone else like that?

I mean same here but you and me are in the minority judging by this board lol

If hockey was literally the only sport I watched then maybe I'd watch more random games, but I'd rather start paying more attention to the Mets now tbh

 

[Zippy316]

I get he’s been a bit of a disappointment offensively since 22-23, but I just don’t get the “Mercer has to go” mentality here.

We may definitely need to lower our expectations on what he is, but he is a versatile complimentary top nine forward. His salary at a minimum reflects that. If he gets his offense going again, even better.

I could understand a hockey trade, especially if you can get a bigger 2/3C to take some of the weight off of Hischier and Hughes. But he’s far from the problem in my opinion.

 

[Gurglesons]

i'd love rakell on this team. what are pittsburgh's needs?

Everything lol.

Prospects.

Young roster players.

Picks.

 

[SansaStark]

I have to give it to the team. They played hard considering the circumstances. What they did in this series was admirable. Was it great? No. But it was admirable and I enjoyed getting to see some players step up and play well. I thought given all the garbage and poor play during the regular season, some guys were pleasant surprises; Palat, Dowling, Nemec & Pesce were all noticeably skating their motherFing asses off.
Pesce especially, in my mind he was the best overall skater for us in the series.

The "Core" also was admirable, but they were by no means great. The powerplay was the #1 reason we lost this series. Thats on the core. Once again this series just reinforced my position. The forward core is not good enough.
Great guys, nice players, not good enough for championships. Relying on a healthy lineup next year, even with bottom 6 improvements (which i believe will happen) and even with advancements via Luke,Nemec, and maybe even a Dumo signing somehow (replace dillon) - I still don't see how 86,13,63,28 even get us to where we want to go.

They continue to wilt under pressure and any sign of adversity. This alone screams shakeup to the top guys for me.

The core has to be changed or other top 6 players are needed. The former feels much easier to achieve than the latter considering assets and cap.

As much as I admired the overall team's effort in the series, aside from Nemec, I didn't come away from this series feeling like the ceiling was raised on 13 & 63 and that's whats scary.

 

[DrBSmooth]

Is it July 1st yet? I’m the weird type of fan who only watches the devils and couldn’t care less who wins now as long as isn’t the Rangers or Flyers. I love hockey but I have a hard time watching anyone other than the devils. Anyone else like that?

Same, although throw in rooting against all Canada based teams as well.

 

[Better Call Sal]

How long do we give Bratt excuses for not producing in the postseason? Nine points in 18 games isn't gonna cut it, sorry. And Timo woke up late in the series after that controversial call/non-call but why did it even take that to wake him up?

I'm not just looking to bag on the core, and clearly Nico rose above it this year...I'm sick and tired of pretty much everyone in a Devils uniform that isn't Nico or a few defensemen right now and need a break from all these ****sticks.

I know you're talking about strictly production, but I thought Timo played excellent for most of this series. Yes, he needs to work on his overall finishing (particularly in close I'd say), but I thought he did much of what I hoped he would do in the playoffs with his overall play. Someone more advanced than me can find how he did in the playoffs from a shot/chance generation stance, and I believe he was rather high across the league.

Someone ask him if he can adjust his stick blade a bit to maybe roof it better in close.

 

[thebeernerd]

They continue to wilt under pressure and any sign of adversity. This alone screams shakeup to the top guys for me.

Disagree. Outside of this last game they were as hard working and focused as I've ever seen them in the last two seasons. If anything it sells me on the core more.

The bottom six also worked their asses off but that's all I can say about them. They don't belong in the NHL.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I joke about getting rid of mostly everyone but I do really think we need to move on Haula and Hamilton at the very least. Two guys we won't win with.

 

[SansaStark]

Disagree. Outside of this last game they were as hard working and focused as I've ever seen them in the last two seasons. If anything it sells me on the core more.

they scored zero powerplay goals and gave up multiple goal leads without pushback.
That is 100% on the core and noone else. They are mediocre.

 

[Zippy316]

Haula, Palat, Noesen, Mercer and Cotter all playing next year in the top 12 is a problem.

I think the biggest issue is having all of those guys, not so much them individually.

Cotter is a fourth liner. Let him crash and bang on the fourth line and get the occasional goal on skill alone. I could live with him endlessly holding onto the puck and creating nothing if it’s with two other fourth liners.

Haula, Palat, and Noesen are all fine third liners if you have a play driver to play with them. Haula and Noesen are paid accordingly, but Palat’s salary is an issue. None of them should be higher than the third line.

Mercer is fine anywhere in the top nine but he needs to be the third wheel on his line. Don’t expect him to drive play, but he can be the clean up guy.

 

[Forge]

I mean if you look at his body of work over the entire 5 periods he played last night, he was pretty average.

I think he was pretty much bang on average lol. He was a .907 (pretty good) and goals saved above expected was like right at 0 (I think Natural stat trick actually had him saving a goal above expected)

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I have to give it to the team. They played hard considering the circumstances. What they did in this series was admirable. Was it great? No. But it was admirable and I enjoyed getting to see some players step up and play well. I thought given all the garbage and poor play during the regular season, some guys were pleasant surprises; Palat, Dowling, Nemec & Pesce were all noticeably skating their motherFing asses off.
Pesce especially, in my mind he was the best overall skater for us in the series.

The "Core" also was admirable, but they were by no means great. The powerplay was the #1 reason we lost this series. Thats on the core. Once again this series just reinforced my position. The forward core is not good enough.
Great guys, nice players, not good enough for championships. Relying on a healthy lineup next year, even with bottom 6 improvements (which i believe will happen) and even with advancements via Luke,Nemec, and maybe even a Dumo signing somehow (replace dillon) - I still don't see how 86,13,63,28 even get us to where we want to go.

They continue to wilt under pressure and any sign of adversity. This alone screams shakeup to the top guys for me.

The core has to be changed or other top 6 players are needed. The former feels much easier to achieve than the latter considering assets and cap.

As much as I admired the overall team's effort in the series, aside from Nemec, I didn't come away from this series feeling like the ceiling was raised on 13 & 63 and that's whats scary.

lol @ saying the ceiling wasnt raised on Nico. My god man just take an L sometimes, its okay to do.

Did they "wilt under pressure" in game 3, when Carolina tied it late? no, they dominated after that and into OT and ended up winning.
Did they "wilt under pressure" in game 4, when Carolina went up 3-0? No, they fought back to make it a game at 3-2

 

[Edmonton East]

Yeah I'm not too confident in a replacement. Kate Madigan might be the 'best case' of realistic choices and I'm not exactly sold on her either given the deficiencies in our minors/scouting/player development. But at least it'd be a lot easier to make a change there if it was needed than eventually having to replace Marty.

Aside from media puff pieces based on absolutely nothing tangible, what exactly has Kate Madigan done to be seriously considered for a GM role? Getting an interview with the Isles isn't a qualification either. I get you are saying realistic "best case"....I just wanna know where her hype is even coming from. Genuine curiosity.

Regarding the Front Office, everyone knows I don't think Fitz (bottom 5 gm) or Marty are the answer, but realistically they are here at least another year (Kate as well). But what could actually change immediately and needs to is replacing Meghan Duggan as Director of Player Development. Probably need to at least shakeup strength & conditioning and maybe even medical as well (though I think it's more the former than the latter).

 

[Forge]

I joke about getting rid of mostly everyone but I do really think we need to move on Haula and Hamilton at the very least. Two guys we won't win with.

Haula is a tricky one. If you can have him as your 4c, I think that's fine. His salary is also probably now in line with a 4c. I think Dowd just signed for 3M AAV on a two year extension and I'm not sure if they are overly dissimilar. But Haula is also fairly easy to dump if they just want to get away from him. With or without him, I think they need to get a 3c. So that would open the door to moving Haula and bringing back Glass as the 4c instead.

The Hamilton one is the very interesting one. You can move him. The injuries don't help, but the offense still plays and I think the 9M is overstated. I think there will be interested teams. The 10 team trade list doesn't help, but again, this is doable. It's not like a goalie where he can really turn a modified no trade into a full no trade. Its a lot easier to navigate around for a skater.

But I just don't know where they get the offense from on the blue line if they go that direction. Does Nemec give them that confidence that he can do it next year if they put him into bigger minutes? He doesn't have elite tools, but he does have some good offensive instincts which should do well he if curtails some of his pinching.

 

[JimEIV]

I get he’s been a bit of a disappointment offensively since 22-23, but I just don’t get the “Mercer has to go” mentality here.

We may definitely need to lower our expectations on what he is, but he is a versatile complimentary top nine forward. His salary at a minimum reflects that. If he gets his offense going again, even better.

I could understand a hockey trade, especially if you can get a bigger 2/3C to take some of the weight off of Hischier and Hughes. But he’s far from the problem in my opinion.

It's very strange...Timo has 31 5v5 goals over the last two years mostly stapled to Nico's hip. Dawson has 27 during the same period, mostly with Haula.

Timo is a much bigger problem. His disappearing acts last for months and it's much more unacceptable to me than a 23 year old playing on the 3rd line