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

Nocashstyle said:
Once again, I can also guarantee if they had Jack or Luke in the lineup they also would not have went 0 for infinity either.
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Statistically speaking, the Devils PP percentage you know was better after Jack got hurt. I'm not saying it would not have helped having him healthy on the PP, but the team still scored on the PP amd remained top 5 even without him. And then playoffs came.
 
SteveCangialosi123 said:
A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have given a second thought about moving Nemec for Quinn. Now it would actually burn pretty bad after such an impressive playoff. I guess you can’t complain about getting a player that good, but it would sting knowing he could be had just for cash in a couple years.
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If Nemec can play a slower, bring the pace down to your level, style of play to compliment when Luke is firing on all cylinders up and down the ice (and eventually Quinn if that happens); thats a recipe for a leagues defense thatd be dominant for a long time
 
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Forge said:


Moar grit and bulk!
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I haven’t turned on Fitz yet like a lot here have, but if he legitimately is trying to “beef up” the forward depth with some slow ass “gritty” muscle instead of replacing the skill and speed he gutted from the lineup from two years ago, then I’ll officially turn.
 
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devsfan8 said:
Statistically speaking, the Devils PP percentage you know was better after Jack got hurt. I'm not saying it would not have helped having him healthy on the PP, but the team still scored on the PP amd remained top 5 even without him. And then playoffs came.
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This is correct. Powerplay started season on fire. Then cooled considerably...imo because Jack was ragging the puck on the perimeter far too much and teams had figure it out. And using Bratt too much as the shot option on right circle (teams stopped worrying about shot). Then powerplay became downright bad. Then Jack got hurt and powerplay was good again (not as good as early season tho).
 
What complicates the Defense is Simon Nemec went from looking like Ty Smith part 2 to an actual 2nd overall pick this post season. HE was considered by many including myself to be one of if not the top trade candidate to get some help up front. With how Dougie looked, combined with how Nemec played, he was an absolute animal out there and gave a lot of us the finger, It becomes very hard to move him as he is just as much part of the win now window as the rest of the D.
I am actually fascinated with how Fitz is going to address the D.

I know, to a lot of you I am probably overrating the value of Brian Dumolin but what he showed me he can do on a playoff team and the minutes he iced, I cannot help to sign him rather then just let him walk.

That being said a healthy Defense right now is:

L. Hughes-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Kovacevic
DIllon-Hamilton

Nemec and Casey are controlled assets, young and both have a lot of upside and in the equation.

Then you have Dumolin who is too good to be a 7th and play half a season. Dillon killed penalties all year and was solid and also has a NTC.

If Dougie was actually let go then we have, again 6 dmen who need to play every day.

L. Hughes-Pesce
Siegenthaler-Kovacevic
DIllon-Hamilton

I am probably just overthinking and as much as I like him should just accept that Dumolin was a rental and served his purpose, and barring him feeling okay with a chance to win as a 7th and less money, he will go elsewhere. And Hamilton could be the odd man out to open a spot for Nemec.

Regardless, of what Fitz decides, I think there is more of a possibility he looks the route of trades with his excess number of D men to get some help up front instead of free agency. I personally think Dumolin is important to sign and soon and let things sort out over summer with trades etc and training camp.
 
SteveCangialosi123 said:
A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have given a second thought about moving Nemec for Quinn. Now it would actually burn pretty bad after such an impressive playoff. I guess you can’t complain about getting a player that good, but it would sting knowing he could be had just for cash in a couple years.
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Silayev?

Makes more sense in that both he and Quinn are lefties.

Silayev + Dougie? Maybe we get something back with Quinn?
 
Crazy how Nico and Jack get flak for being small, when first of all it isn't even true for Nico and second the Devils are a positive team when they're on the ice. It's what happens when they aren't on the ice that's concerning and it's not to do with size but lack of talent.


2 years in a row the Devils have had Justin Dowling or Chris Tierney be regulars in the lineup even with both Jack and Nico in. When you sign a 3rd pair 34 year old defenseman for 4mil/3 years and a guy like Macdermid who can't even be on the ice for more than 5 min a game for 1/3 of the season you blow 5 million in cap that should have been used on forward depth. Fitz made it harder for the core guys on this team and I hope they don't double down on that philosophy this offseason.
 
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Nocashstyle said:
I’m sure he does, but VAN controls his immediate two year future, so it doesn’t really matter where he wants to go. He doesn’t have a NTC/NMC. If Quinn’s value around the league has completely tanked because everyone knows he wants to go to NJ, sure, by all means, I’d love for him to be here. I just don’t think the reality is that VAN is going to just cater to trying to get a reasonable offer from NJ and NJ only while ignoring the rest of the league calling.
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Agree. And, as I said, I don't see Vancouver moving him this year.

But, If you're Fitz, you have to start planning for a team with Quinn on it in a year or two. Meaning - he's gotta be plan for a 1LD / PP1 QB with an big salary as part of the roster.

IMO, it means
1) start working on plans to move Dougie
2) make space on LD. if Dillon is injured, maybe Fitz can sign someone for 2 years and focus on Quinn as UFA. But another 3+ year deal would be foolish.
3) focus on value forwards

Quinn and Luke on the back end will be a lot of salary. Nico will need to be re-signed. The cap is going up $25.5 million in the next three years (to $113.5 million in 2027-28). That's 29% in three years - and all salaries will rise because of this. But raises for Luke (assume $7 million increase), Nico (assume $3 million increase), and Quinn (assume $4 - $6 million increase) wipe out a lot of that growth. Basically $15 million of the $25.5 gone. And they still space for need two top six wings plus the entire bottom six.

IMO, there's no room for another big star in that. Maybe a mid-priced one? But Fitz has to pick carefully.
 
Scoring is this team's biggest problem.
We finished 20th in the league in Goals per Game this season and we were/are 16th out of 16 teams in the playoffs in Goals per game. It's just gross.

We don't get consistent scoring and it's been a problem for a while. It just seems we always have to work extra hard to score on most nights
 
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glenwo2 said:
You know what's more brutal?

Having a 3-0 lead after 1 period and promptly blowing it.

Bratt can't play Goaltender.

Though I bet he couldn't do much worse than Markstrom did.
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Dont worry. As it was before, Fitz will not trade Bratt. He signed him on a very cheap deal long term and he will benefit from it for a very long time. It is not even very interesting choice for Vancouver because they dont have enough guns to make hockey trades and Bratt isnt the player to build around.

Casey, Nemec, Silayev, first round picks, may be even Mercer could be the pieces they will be ready to trade for if they will, because some team can offer something better than us just to have 1-2 years of Quinn.

May be they could try to build around Petterson but it looks like Petterson isnt the guy you should have to be sure about your future, he isnt Crosby-McKinnon level center. And if we are talking about trade Quinn for Bratt - it would be very hockey trade style. Becuase Bratt is young, productive and his deal has a great value. May be they would ask one more first round pick but thats it. It will not help to build new team around Petterson. And Fitz will not hurt one part of his team to make another part better(defense is already great, we dont need to hurt our offense for making better defense, we can hurt our prospect pool).

So dont worry about crazy heads from Twitter who is ready to trade Bratt for Quinn. They did the same with Bratt when traded him for Laine. Or when they traded Nico for Laine. Dont pay attention, Fitz will not do it.
 
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Love to hear some of the respect for Nico, he has transformed from stud to machine.

I’d want him to bark a bit more, but lads he bites like a mad dog on the ice. The other players and coaches know that, the TV “fan” probably not
 
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Forge said:


Moar grit and bulk!
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Guadana said:
You can understand that Friedman knows nothing really about hockey or mostly doesnt watch. If someone think that Devils with the most hits in play off are not bulky enough - they dont understand situation or they dont know the situation.
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I mean this literally isn't debatable. The Devs are undersized down the middle vs 95% of Cup contenders in the last decade+. It isn't purely height....more of a stature/temperament thing. They don't have guys at C comfortable in front of the net or driving the net. They don't have guys that are difficult to move. No versatility. People are constantly surprised when this team underperforms some of their favorite "advanced" stats like expected goals.....THIS IS A LARGE REASON WHY. Many of those metrics don't properly account for actual disruption in front of the net or simply the threat of a player comfortable in front. And tbf, that is very difficult to capture and quantify. The vast majority of teams that consistently underperform in actual vs expected goals are objectively undersized and/or soft down the middle. No, this doesn't mean you go get Noesen as a Center as the answer or some guy that can't skate.

This is the mighty might defense of mainly 5'10" dmen conversation all over again, which the majority here advocated for and defended at the time. Chastising anyone that pointed the importance of having SOME reach and SOME ability to box out and SOME ability to win board battles and SOME ability to block shots as "wanting a team of only grenade handlers."

This team needs versatility more than it needs speed. Idk how folks can watch other playoff teams, serious contenders, year after year and not see it.
 
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Edmonton East said:
I mean this literally isn't debatable. The Devs are undersized down the middle vs 95% of Cup contenders in the last decade+. It isn't purely height....more of a stature/temperament thing. They don't have guys at C comfortable in front of the net or driving the net. They don't have guys that are difficult to move. No versatility. People are constantly surprised when this team underperforms some of their favorite "advanced" stats like expected goals.....THIS IS A LARGE REASON WHY. Many of those metrics don't properly account for actual disruption in front of the net or simply the threat of a player comfortable in front. And tbf, that is very difficult to capture and quantify. The vast majority of teams that consistently underperform in actual vs expected goals are objectively undersized and/or soft down the middle. No, this doesn't mean you go get Noesen as a Center as the answer or some guy that can't skate.

This is the mighty might defense of mainly 5'10" dmen conversation all over again, which the majority here advocated for and defended at the time. Chastising anyone that pointed the importance of having SOME reach and SOME ability to box out and SOME ability to win board battles and SOME ability to block shots as "wanting a team of only grenade handlers."

This team needs versatility more than it needs speed. Idk how folks can watch other playoff teams, serious contenders, year after year and not see it.
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Fraud center Jack Hughes that must change positions was out there for 50 goals for (48.5 xGF) and 35 against (37 xGA). The numbers don’t seem to support what you’re saying.

Everyone wants another C, so I’m not sure what fake argument you’re trying to win again.
 
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Emperoreddy said:
Daws also played more then fine in the games when Marky was hurt

You can upgrade at the deadline if it doesnt work
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Obviously camp is where the backup will be decided, but I hope we dont negate the chance for Daws or another youngster to win the role with a signing

Backup goalie before we really enter the contender window is exactly the position we should be leaving up to battle for the youngsters now, before its too late
 
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