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

[devsfan8]

Luke played Right D in College or sometime in his career? Did I read that earlier? Interesting...

 

[Basement Cat]

Curious to see Dougie's 10 team list that he is willing to go to (those aren't made public, right?). If the Blues are on the list, I wouldn't hate a Hamilton for Brayden Schenn 1 for 1 swap to give us a true 3C and open up room on the right side of the defense. I'd still expect other moves but could roll this hypothetically:

X-Hischier-Meier
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Gritsyuk-Schenn-Mercer
Cotter-Haula/Glass-Noesen

Hughes-Pesce
Seigs-Kovacevic
Dillon-Nemec
Casey

Idk where that leaves things cap wise for that X spot

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I get the worrisome nature of Daws especially after that 23-24 year where we trusted Vanecek and Schmid off of one year wonders but I think this team is better equipped defensively to play a different style with a "liability" in net. People talk about Quinn being a luxury, I'd argue paying top dollar to a backup who just had a career year is far worse for this roster.

 

[devilsblood]

Agree, that’s a major dilemma. The cost to shed him and then to find a suitable 30 point replacement. To your point, there are many UFAs who are better for our current roster, like Ryan Donato (as an example).

I also think winning board battles and “leadership” might be related. You may find that a guy willing to do the hard work is a leader. Depends really on how you define leadership. If board battles matter to you, you might call Palat a leader because he does good work along the boards for our top guys. I actually liked the Palat-Nico-Timo line in the playoffs. Again, I’d like to upgrade from Palat but who’s really better all things considered… I’m also prioritizing tenure with a group that has seen different coaches, systems etc in the last few years.

Palat was good with Nico 2 years ago. But got very little run with him this year.

If he is back that may be a pairing id look at.

 

[Ekiru]

Can they even trade Dougie at this point if Kovy isn’t going to start the season lol

Eh, I think you can service that 3RD spot with a cheap free agent 7D. Id look towards prospects but, outside of Casey, almost every single one is left-handed

What this team cannot afford is distractions and Kovacevic coming back and either replacing Nemec or sitting at a 4m cap hit isnt ideal nor realistic

Either Fitzgerald has plans for Nemec as a trade asset or Dougie's fate was sealed before the injury

 

[Cheddabombs]

Just need the goalies to hold the fort down until the Big Mike era begins

 

[Edmonton East]

Folks somehow argued I was wrong when I said the tough decision, but right move considering the circumstances was to trade Kovacevic at the deadline....

Out: Kovacevic
In: 1st round pick+ or decent forward prospect (see deadline prices paid). Can leverage picks in offseason.

Even if he had stayed healthy, this was the right move for the team considering the RD org strength and other major holes on the roster with a poor forward prospect pool. If he had signed a sweetheart 3 X 3 and no clause, that would have been fine. But he didn't because Fitz has to materially overpay in nearly every transaction. Death by a thousand Tommy Fitz inducted papercuts. So paid a premium to extend in season in the one position the org doesn't need. Team took all the risk on that contract with $$$ and full NMC...so now what happens if he isn't 100% the same post knee surgery? His play had already dropped off from first half of season with Siegs. STOP GIVING OUT FULL NMCs WITH YOUR OVERPAYS FITZ. PLEASE. Minimum ask here.

 

[devsfan8]

With Dillon's injury, even if ready for the season opener, that alone is reason to sign Dumolin in my opinion.

 

[My3Sons]

so if Kovy needs knee surgery and he doesn't know if he'll be ready in 5 months, isn't that pretty much a torn ligament? What else could it be?

You'd think an ACL based on the timeline. Recovery is better than it used to be but I wouldn't expect him to be up to full speed until towards the end of next season.

 

[Ekiru]

I get the worrisome nature of Daws especially after that 23-24 year where we trusted Vanecek and Schmid off of one year wonders but I think this team is better equipped defensively to play a different style with a "liability" in net. People talk about Quinn being a luxury, I'd argue paying top dollar to a backup who just had a career year is far worse for this roster.

Not to mention theres no point in a contending window that you want to be stuck testing young backups; best time is the next season or two as they climb to that contenders threshold

Daws, Malek, Poulter, Brennan.. theres absolutely no need for a backup veteran contract to be given out, in my opinion. Itd be a waste of the draft picks used to select these guys

 

[Triumph]

lol @ Kovacevic signing 3x3 after the season he had. Just comedy to expect that as even a remote possibility.

Let's see what UFA signs 3x3 this offseason. Will anybody sign a deal even close to that? I kinda doubt it.

 

[Nocashstyle]

More reason to try to resign Dumoulin

 

[thebeernerd]

If nothing else, I trust what Fitz is doing with the defensemen. On top of Dougie's stock plummeting this series as much as Nemec's skyrocketing, we can get more for the former.

And yeah, re-sign Dumo. He was solid for us after that trade. Presumably it won't take much to convince him to come back.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

More reason to try to resign Dumoulin

not really

Kovy plays right, Dumo plays left

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Folks somehow argued I was wrong when I said the tough decision, but right move considering the circumstances was to trade Kovacevic at the deadline....

Out: Kovacevic
In: 1st round pick+ or decent forward prospect (see deadline prices paid). Can leverage picks in offseason.

Even if he had stayed healthy, this was the right move for the team considering the RD org strength and other major holes on the roster with a poor forward prospect pool. If he had signed a sweetheart 3 X 3 and no clause, that would have been fine. But he didn't because Fitz has to materially overpay in nearly every transaction. Death by a thousand Tommy Fitz inducted papercuts. So paid a premium to extend in season in the one position the org doesn't need. Team took all the risk on that contract with $$$ and full NMC...so now what happens if he isn't 100% the same post knee surgery? His play had already dropped off from first half of season with Siegs. STOP GIVING OUT FULL NMCs WITH YOUR OVERPAYS FITZ. PLEASE. Minimum ask here.

Big brain genius: Kovacevic was worth a 1st round pick+ and also not worth more than 4 million per year in free agency. Brilliant!

 

[Ekiru]

Folks somehow argued I was wrong when I said the tough decision, but right move considering the circumstances was to trade Kovacevic at the deadline....

Out: Kovacevic
In: 1st round pick+ or decent forward prospect (see deadline prices paid). Can leverage picks in offseason.

Even if he had stayed healthy, this was the right move for the team considering the RD org strength and other major holes on the roster with a poor forward prospect pool. If he had signed a sweetheart 3 X 3 and no clause, that would have been fine. But he didn't because Fitz has to materially overpay in nearly every transaction. Death by a thousand Tommy Fitz inducted papercuts. So paid a premium to extend in season in the one position the org doesn't need. Team took all the risk on that contract with $$$ and full NMC...so now what happens if he isn't 100% the same post knee surgery? His play had already dropped off from first half of season with Siegs. STOP GIVING OUT FULL NMCs WITH YOUR OVERPAYS FITZ. PLEASE. Minimum ask here.

I couldnt disagree more that RD is a position the organization doesnt need. Right defense has a single prospect under contract, Seamus Casey, and thats it! The only other right shot options are unsigned, late picks like Charlie Leddy, Artyom Barabosha, and Mikhael Vukojevic

The left side has names for days lol, including 10th overall Anton Silayev and stud Michigan standout Ethan Edwards (lol see what I did there)

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I don't care about the Kovacevic deal when there's a FAR worse deal on the RHD side that should be moved ASAP as is. You're out to lunch if you're complaining about Kovacevic who actually provides positive net impacts 5v5 and on the kill versus Dougie and who led our apparent strength v Carolina to an 0-15 series.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

not really

Kovy plays right, Dumo plays left

Only argument is possibly flipping Luke to that side until Kovacevic is back

 

[JrFischer54]

Yes, but if Markstrom has a lesser workload then the chances of him getting hurt go down.

The idea of paying a backup goalie a lot of money scares me, especially when we are already spending so much on defense.

thats why i think they should give allen a serious look when he says what it will take to keep him. hes a guy that can play good enough during a long injury cover or just can get on heaters himself

 

[NJ07102]

Mikhael Vukojevic

Did you mix that up? I mean, that guy isn't in the organisation any more and also shoots left.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I'm not convinced Dougie or Siege were 100% ready to go, their conditioning was certainly not ready and ESPECIALLY not ready for the workhorse performances they had to put in once bodies started dropping.

 

[Satans Hockey]

That's really not good about Lazar, he seems like a great guy who gets along with everyone and I really hope he gets healthy and doesn't continue with the pills cause that can be a really bad road to go down.

 

[Devils731]

That’s a way too big ask. Again, I’m glad the Devils didn’t make a move like this at the deadline.

 

[FooteBahl]

You'd think an ACL based on the timeline. Recovery is better than it used to be but I wouldn't expect him to be up to full speed until towards the end of next season.

We can pull a Tampa and just activate him when we garnered enough cap space during the season.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

On their way to Vancouver