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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Do we though? Aho is a career ppg playoff performer with almost a full season's worth of playoff games played. Jarvis is 23 years old, with back to back 30 goals seasons and just notched a ppg against us. Svetchnikov just notched a goal per game.

And don't ignore Staal who is an absolute possession beast and handles all the difficult minutes. He's probably the best defensive center in the league but doesn't get the love because he doesn't put points up.

I love Nico and Bratt, but I can't really say "our guys are better" after they just smoked us, and their top guys leading the way.

This was Svechnikov's first good series in the playoffs since he's been in the league, he's been a bonafide loser his entire career in this format.

Also ignoring the fact the best offensive player on NJ missed this series is disingenuous to the whole core v core argument. Jack blows any player they have out of the water.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I would do it for Brady....but generally speaking, you don't necessarily need a "better" player coming back. If you can get multiple depth pieces in return.

Just like San Jose and Timo. I think we clearly lost that trade in hindsight.

So basically lose the trade on purpose on value just to make a point, lol got it

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I'm in the anti-Dougie crowd, and he's played more physical this year, initiating contact along the boards, etc.. I think players can learn and become more open to managing contact. I don't like him because he can't skate and is too expensive to not be an option on the PP.

I can’t see Dougie being traded with his contract. I think Fitz signed him for his scoring and big shot. We knew he was no Scott Stevens when it comes to physicality or defending. I won’t say he can’t be moved but it’s going to be difficult.

 

[devilsblood]

here you go.

Zetterlund: zero points in 5 playoff games. Muk is now 23 and can't maintain a spot on a crappy Sharks team.

I think all told, Timo had a decent season. It was up and down, underperformed in terms of point production relative to his overall play, reg season and playoffs alike. And he is paid a lot.

But he is a good player for sure, and does bring toughness which many feel is otherwise lacking on this team. And does it while also providing good speed. He is the kind of guy I think we should continue to target, though maybe not at quite such a high level, ie less expensive.

I'm now in the group that thinks he should man the 3rd line. But the 3rd line needs some players so it's not just Timo dragging along barely NHL'rs.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Dougie and Bratt for Quinn and Pius Suter. There, I said it.

Pius Suter is a UFA. And one of the only decent C options in free agency.

I think trading Bratt would destroy the team in some ways. Any chance of ever playing anything like a couple seasons ago would be zero. Our speed at the forward position would be terrible, our already weakened transition game would suffer.

 

[JimEIV]

So basically lose the trade on purpose on value just to make a point, lol got it

Huh? Lose a trade on purpose? Where did you get that from anything I said?

Depth pieces that fit an immediate need and round out the roster for a better player could be a win. I believe so anyway.

 

[Comparison Ford]

what I would love is two truly Defensive centers for out bottom 6 Ala staal/o'reilly who could give Nico some of these harder minutes off.

Pius suter is a UFA if I'm not mistaken, would love to go after him.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Huh? Lose a trade on purpose? Where did you get that from anything I said?

Depth pieces that fit an immediate need and round out the roster for a better player could be a win. I believe so anyway.

Trading a 90 point winger is how you end up doing the Buchenvich for a 2nd + Blais type Drury did. Absolutely dumb to even entertain a Bratt trade when this team can't score as is.

You shouldn't have to rip away from your roster to find good depth

 

[JimEIV]

Zetterlund: zero points in 5 playoff games. Muk is now 23 and can't maintain a spot on a crappy Sharks team.

I think all told, Timo had a decent season. It was up and down, underperformed in terms of point production relative to his overall play, reg season and playoffs alike. And he is paid a lot.

But he is a good player for sure, and does bring toughness which many feel is otherwise lacking on this team. And does it while also providing good speed. He is the kind of guy I think we should continue to target, though maybe not at quite such a high level, ie less expensive.

I'm now in the group that thinks he should man the 3rd line. But the 3rd line needs some players so it's not just Timo dragging along barely NHL'rs.

Fabian Zetterlund
Andreas Johnsson
Shakir Mukhamadullin
Nikita Okhotyuk
2023 1st round pick
2024 conditional 1st round pick





I'm leaving out the 7th round pick intentionally

 

[NJDevs26]

Huh? Lose a trade on purpose? Where did you get that from anything I said?

Depth pieces that fit an immediate need and round out the roster for a better player could be a win. I believe so anyway.

Ah the whole let's just trade one 90 point player for two 50 point player philosophy...inherently flawed at best.

 

[devilsblood]

This was Svechnikov's first good series in the playoffs since he's been in the league, he's been a bonafide loser his entire career in this format.

Also ignoring the fact the best offensive player on NJ missed this series is disingenuous to the whole core v core argument. Jack blows any player they have out of the water.

Jack being injured though is a huge part of our problem. He was injured the last time we played them in the playoffs as well.

As per Svech, ya it was his first good series(edit: no it wasn't see below), but it was really good and it came against us. He scored 5 goals in 5 games. Bratt has 2 career playoff goals in 18 games played. Do I think he's better then Bratt? No. Am I going around acting like our top guys are better then Carolina's? Nah, that's a hollow argument to make at this point.

Oh and I just looked. Svech was a ppg in 11 playoff games last year as well. 20 goals in 56 playoff games. He just turned 25, nearly 2 years younger then Bratt.

 

[JimEIV]

Trading a 90 point winger is how you end up doing the Buchenvich for a 2nd + Blais type Drury did. Absolutely dumb to even entertain a Bratt trade when this team can't score as is.

You shouldn't have to rip away from your roster to find good depth

That's a fine opinion.

I think Bratt is a main contributor to the goal scoring problem. Meier too. But not as bad as Bratt.

88 points though not 90.

 

[Comparison Ford]

That's a fine opinion.

I think Bratt is a main contributor to the goal scoring problem. Meier too. But not as bad as Bratt.

88 points though not 90.

I get it, what I will give bratt though is with the salary cap going up, hes paid like a Second liner. We're about to see a guy like Ehlers get 10mil, Rantanen getting 13 mil, etc.

For the money hes getting, I would say 88 points is good value. of course would love to see him score more, but for his price tag it's hard for me to complain about his goal scoring.

 

[MadDevil]

Jesus H Christ, we're back to the Brady for Bratt bullshit again?

 

[JimEIV]

Ah the whole let's just trade one 90 point player for two 50 point player philosophy...inherently flawed at best.

Let's trade a 20 goal scorer for two 20 goal scores because people think those assist are meaningful in some way.

Shit, you might even be able to triple the goal production from some sucker GM that gets googly eyes for those assist numbers.

 

[devsfan8]

I get it, what I will give bratt though is with the salary cap going up, hes paid like a Second liner. We're about to see a guy like Ehlers get 10mil, Rantanen getting 13 mil, etc.

For the money hes getting, I would say 88 points is good value. of course would love to see him score more, but for his price tag it's hard for me to complain about his goal scoring.

Whatever GM gives Ehlers 10 mill a year should be fired on the spot!! A career high 65 points and never scored 30 goals and is 29. Ehlers is a nice player. Even someone Id be interested in for the Devils. But he is nowhere near a $10 mill player.

 

[JrFischer54]

if there was ever a time for the canucks to blow it up it would for mckenna next year. they have a lot of valuable chips to trade if they ended up winning the lotto thats a quick restart.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Anybody of the mind that nothing matters beyond shaking up the core are going to have to get comfortable with the idea that this summer is going to be centered around improvement around the edges.

If we're sitting here in the same position in the summer of '26, I'm happy to entertain the "trade the core" discussion.

 

[JimEIV]

What freaking 88 point player only has 12 5v5 goals? You're looking at fools gold fellas.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Let's trade a 20 goal scorer for two 20 goal scores because people think those assist are meaningful in some way.

Shit, you might even be able to triple the goal production from some sucker GM that gets googly eyes for those assist numbers.

Jesper Bratt has averaged 27 goals per 82 over the last 4 seasons.

 

[devilsblood]

Fabian Zetterlund
Andreas Johnsson
Shakir Mukhamadullin
Nikita Okhotyuk
2023 1st round pick
2024 conditional 1st round pick





I'm leaving out the 7th round pick intentionally

I see one decent player on that list. And that guy has zero pts in 5 playoff games thus far this year.

 

[JimEIV]

Jesper Bratt has averaged 27 goals per 82 over the last 4 seasons.

Early stage Scott Gomez disease.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Lazar's inability to be an acceptable 4th line center is another of the disappointments of this season.

Probably the true problem with the team besides the injuries.

Team relied on Haula and Lazar to be the 3 and 4C and both were net negatives at the position along with Dowling.

We only got decent center play from someone not named Jack or Nico with Glass

You need at least three lines and we were a two line team at best all year. That starts at the center position

 

[devilsblood]

Probably the true problem with the team besides the injuries.

Team relied on Haula and Lazar to be the 3 and 4C and both were net negatives at the position along with Dowling.

We only got decent center play from someone not named Jack or Nico with Glass

Dowling played above expectations though. I thought for a guy who was maybe our 16th fwd entering the year he played well. Pretty sure he was on for zero goals against in these playoffs.

Haula and Lazar were well below expectations. As you say they were our 3rd and 4th line centers at the start of the year. Haula was a winger by the end and I'm not sure where Lazar is.

 

[Emperoreddy]

This is an incredibly bizarre narrative to try and argue that assists dont matter and dont contribute to team scoring