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

[devsfan8]

i should say the depth was garbage. our top 6 is great and only needs some complimentary pieces. bottom 6 was a problem all season

Agreed. Although guys like Glass, Noesen and Cotter make a fine 4th line.

 

[guitarguyvic]

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.

Yep I have a similar view. Cleaning up this mess enough to make this team a contender by next season or even the season after is going to be really difficult, and there’s reasons to doubt that Fitz is the guy who can pull it off.

"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.

I don’t disagree that this is a factor. My only gripe with calling out the core is…there’s nothing that can really be done about it. You’re not getting a better player back if you trade Bratt or Timo. We have no control over Jack’s injury issues.

The only path forward is to surround these guys with better than average complimentary pieces and four line depth. There are teams that have won cups this way - it’s just harder to pull off and you’re likely not building any kind of dynasty or anything.

 

[Gurglesons]

If we ever trade for a pens player again we’re instituting the “Marino addendum” where you can’t come make fun of the former pen after they have a bad game lol

I like Rust and Rakell’s game, don’t have to worry about that.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

I'll focus on last night since it's still fresh. Timo Meier had the puck on his stick too often in situations where a decisive play was needed, and he struggled to execute. Beyond the opening 10 minutes, I didn’t see enough support for the puck carrier across all zones. Too often, Meier and others on the team had no simple, close options to move the puck. That is on the player and their linemates.

When that support breaks down, New Jersey turns into pure chaos. Some players on this team simply can’t stop up and make the easy play, let alone a difficult one. Too many are reacting after they receive the puck, instead of knowing what is available before it arrives. That anticipation and awareness can’t really be taught. Guys like Bratt, Hischier, Hughes, and Palat have it, the rest don’t. Nemec has it in spades on defense, by far the best on the backend.

 

[devsfan8]

"I wasn't worried about offense with this group. We've got enough offense here."

You guys trust this dummy? I wonder what the new meta will be that he'll latch onto after the playoffs.

Do you have a better candidate available today? I'm listening. Names please. If not I'll stick with playoffs in 2 out of 3 seasons.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Obviously I’m excited at the prospect of potentially ever acquiring Quinn, but I’m not as gung-ho as others are about doing it now or before his contract expires.

The area of least concern is defense. Quinn, while obviously would be the immediate best defenseman and maybe even player in general on the team, would be a luxury acquisition.

If the price is right, sure. But let’s fix the horrendous forward depth and figure out who the starter is beyond next year before actively focusing on acquiring Quinn.

Quinn helps the offense too, 22-23 team was elite at breakouts and Quinn brings us back to that. He's also on par with Makar on that side with the puck.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Say if Gritsyuk has a good camp, where do we believe he will start? I think middle 6 is obvious and a lot will depend who the 3rd line center is. As I said, I would love to get Schenn.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Nico is more important than Jack IMO and I'll die on that hill but our best offensive player being out sucks. Losing our best offensive defenseman also sucks.

Yeah, there's a difference there. I would say the same as well. Best player isn't always the most important in some cases. But when the core was the only one doing anything offensively this series, it's asinine to get down on them

 

[Nocashstyle]

Quinn helps the offense too, 22-23 team was elite at breakouts and Quinn brings us back to that. He's also on par with Makar on that side with the puck.

Yeah I get it, but he’s still a luxury

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Yeah I get it, but he’s still a luxury

Eh, I'm not sure if he is. The breakouts were still a moderate issue v Carolina again. The PP1 wouldn't go 0 for like they didn't in this series with Quinn manning it.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I'll focus on last night since it's still fresh. Timo Meier had the puck on his stick too often in situations where a decisive play was needed, and he struggled to execute. Beyond the opening 10 minutes, I didn’t see enough support for the puck carrier across all zones. Too often, Meier and others on the team had no simple, close options to move the puck. That is on the player and their linemates.

When that support breaks down, New Jersey turns into pure chaos. Some players on this team simply can’t stop up and make the easy play, let alone a difficult one. Too many are reacting after they receive the puck, instead of knowing what is available before it arrives. That anticipation and awareness can’t really be taught. Guys like Bratt, Hischier, Hughes, and Palat have it, the rest don’t. Nemec has it in spades on defense, by far the best on the backend.

After game 1 the Devils were turning puck over without being pressured simply because they were expecting pressure. Totally agreed with Keefe saying they have more time than they think they do, way to often they gave it away or dumped it to the neutral zone simply because they were over thinking with the puck.

IMO Mercer was one of the worst for this, it felt like every time he had the puck on his stick it ended up in a turnover with or without pressure.

 

[Edmonton East]

One of Hamilton or Nemec aren't gonna be here next season. The Kovacevic contract guaranteed that given how this roster is constructed and other needs.

So happy Fitz gave Kovacevic material cash and another NMC in the only position of organizational strength vs getting a 1st+ or a solid forward prospect at the deadline (easily based on other prices paid). Shit like this is exactly why this team can't get over the hump. Stuck in purgatory.

 

[JimEIV]

I don’t disagree that this is a factor. My only gripe with calling out the core is…there’s nothing that can really be done about it. You’re not getting a better player back if you trade Bratt or Timo. We have no control over Jack’s injury issues.

The only path forward is to surround these guys with better than average complimentary pieces and four line depth. There are teams that have won cups this way - it’s just harder to pull off and you’re likely not building any kind of dynasty or anything.

Better than average pieces cost money and/or assets that we do not have.

Adding complimentary players to guys that can't get it done on a regular basis is an exercise in futility. We saw that with Toffoli.... there's a different excuse for every year... whether it be goaltending, defense, bottom 6, 3rd line center...all kinds of excuses. But the common denominator through it all has been the core has been lackluster.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

One of Hamilton or Nemec aren't gonna be here next season. The Kovacevic contract guaranteed that given how this roster is constructed and other needs.

So happy Fitz gave Kovacevic material cash and another NMC in the only position of organizational strength vs getting a 1st+ or a solid forward prospect at the deadline (easily based on other prices paid). Shit like this is exactly why this team can't get over the hump. Stuck in purgatory.

It should've been Hamliton regardless, Kovacevic makes me think even more Hamilton was gone how he played in the playoffs. His playoffs made it an even easier decision

 

[Nocashstyle]

Eh, I'm not sure if he is. The breakouts were still a moderate issue v Carolina again. The PP1 wouldn't go 0 for like they didn't in this series with Quinn manning it.

It wouldn’t go 0 like that if Jack was in the lineup. Hell, even more PPs with Luke QBing would almost certainly have converted too.

What would be the price to acquire Quinn right now? Whatever those pieces end up being, I’d rather use them rebuild the forward depth and acquire multiple good forwards to just one elite defenseman in Quinn, especially if he can just sign here for free in two years.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It wouldn’t go 0 like that if Jack was in the lineup. Hell, even more PPs with Luke QBing would almost certainly have converted too.

What would be the price to acquire Quinn right now? Whatever those pieces end up being, I’d rather use them rebuild the forward depth and acquire multiple good forwards to just one elite defenseman in Quinn, especially if he can just sign here for free in two years.

I mean I think after these playoffs, adding Quinn to them would make the most sense now. Markstrom isn't getting younger, the core is in their prime right now, and you can still get them depth to be a contender with the cap increasing the way it is.

Also, it would make sense for Vancouver to trade him now than wait it and out and then have to trade him for less because of the contract situation and people thinking he's NJ bound in the summer of 2027 regardless.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'll focus on last night since it's still fresh. Timo Meier had the puck on his stick too often in situations where a decisive play was needed, and he struggled to execute. Beyond the opening 10 minutes, I didn’t see enough support for the puck carrier across all zones. Too often, Meier and others on the team had no simple, close options to move the puck. That is on the player and their linemates.

When that support breaks down, New Jersey turns into pure chaos. Some players on this team simply can’t stop up and make the easy play, let alone a difficult one. Too many are reacting after they receive the puck, instead of knowing what is available before it arrives. That anticipation and awareness can’t really be taught. Guys like Bratt, Hischier, Hughes, and Palat have it, the rest don’t. Nemec has it in spades on defense, by far the best on the backend.

For a 30-35 goal scorer, Timo's hands are pretty mediocre. He loses it a lot on inside out moves and just in general tbh

 

[Patrik26]

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?

Nope. Baseball sucks, the NBA is layups, dunks and dish it back out for 3 with no defense. I don't follow soccer. Hockey is all I have. Damnit.

 

[Nocashstyle]

I mean I think after these playoffs, adding Quinn to them would make the most sense now. Markstrom isn't getting younger, the core is in their prime right now, and you can still get them depth to be a contender with the cap increasing the way it is.

Also, it would make sense for Vancouver to trade him now than wait it and out and then have to trade him for less because of the contract situation and people thinking he's NJ bound in the summer of 2027 regardless.

Yeah I mean I guess we’ll agree to disagree. We’re usually on the same page with our opinions I think, but not this one. I’m not opposed to acquiring him, but I just think there are much more pressing priorities

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Yeah I mean I guess we’ll agree to disagree. We’re usually on the same page with our opinions I think, but not this one. I’m not opposed to acquiring him, but I just think there are much more pressing priorities

It depends what the Devils are offering tbh, there's probably maybe 3-4 players I wouldn't move in a Quinn trade that being Jack and Luke obviously, Nico and Bratt. Everyone else is on the table imo.

As for the depth up front, adding a 80-90+ point dman will help in that regard. It would honestly make the job easier as well because guys will be itching to sign in NJ seeing the group they have. I don't think the depth would be hard to acquire, it's just who's at the GM spot that makes me a bit underwhelmed and not sure if it'll happen.

 

[devilsblood]

Agreed. Although guys like Glass, Noesen and Cotter make a fine 4th line.

Sounds expensive, but I like it.

 

[Bcap88]

Jesper Bratt had 4 more 5v5 goals than Erik Haula this season....one more than Mercer for a whopping 12. Timo was right there with Bratt until the middle of March...but he was M.I.A for the 5 months before...our top 6 is not that good.

Goal scoring from our top 6 was mediocre to below average this season. It was with Jack too.

Speaking of fishing season. I see you have started your bait early

 

[devilsblood]

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?

Ya same. I put on Edm vs Dallas the other day and was quickly bored. Maybe in the Cup finals it can hold my attention, but in general if it's not the Devils I'm not that interested.

 

[JimEIV]

Speaking of fishing season. I see you have started your bait early

Those are just facts.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I don’t know how you could watch the team lose 16 defensemen to injury and then complain about signing a PK anchor to a perfectly reasonable market value deal.