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

[MadDevil]

Why didn't the face of the franchise show his face on breakup day?

He was busy helping Quinn find a place to live in New Jersey.

 

[NJDevs26]

The ask was a joke. I’m aware the Devils were in desperate need of a third line center, but that ask was an insult to Fitz.

Trotz the executive is a joke...he still thinks Nashville is win-now and values his team as if they're a 100-point machine and yet he's kept the coach that led them to under 70 points.

 

[tailfins]

And how many players in FA have Kovacevic’s exact track record of ‘one’ year as a quality starting defenseman who isn’t offensive or overtly physical?

A bit different between Lou dragging his feet on Patrik Elias to the point of not even giving him an offer and Fitz waiting to see if this guy was a half season fluke or not - which tbh he was closer to being once Siegs was out of the lineup.

Kovacevic got LESS than Will Borgen. Will Borgen who was getting 15 min per night in Seattle and who was on their second PK unit. IMO, Will Borgen has zero years as a starting quality defenseman. Borgen also has trade protection for 4 of the 5 years and is a year older than Kovy.

Kovacevic, meanwhile, had a very good rookie year with Montreal two years ago and played nearly 20 min per night for NJ.

RD UFA this year is Fabbro, Perbix....Hakanpaa?...Ceci?...Ekblad? It's not great. Kovacevic would have been a top target. With the cap going up, 5x5 would have been entirely realistic, IMO, for a 6'5" guy who plays somewhat physical and had good metrics against top competition.

IMO, it's really hard to criticize Kovy's contract.

Where you can criticize is on the D's ability to exit the zone / transition to offense.

IMO, Fitz chose Pesce and Kovy over Marino because they are how he wants to build the D. Kovy: 6'5" 223 lbs. Dumolin: 6'4", 219 lbs. Dillon: 6'3" 210 lbs. Pesce: 6'3" 200 lbs.

Marino at 6'1" and 181 lbs wasn't it. But, my guess is that Marino >> Kovacevic in zone exits.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

I wonder if no Jack and Luke today is because the team doesn't want them asked about Quinn. Probably not a bad idea honestly.

I still cannot believe Rutherford is even making comments. It puts the three brothers and the Devils organization in a weird situation.

 

[NJDevs26]

I wonder if no Jack and Luke today is because the team doesn't want them asked about Quinn. Probably not a bad idea honestly.

I still cannot believe Rutherford is even making comments. It puts the three brothers and the Devils organization in a weird situation.

Maybe but everyone's going to know why they were shielded from the media and it's a bit of a bad look if you're also hiding the injury updates on both as a consequence.

Plus it's not like they've never been asked about Quinn before. I'm sure they know enough to no comment and be done with it.

 

[The Wumpus]

Well it could be one or both of two possibilities

A) Marino was traded for more (off ice) reasons than merely alleviating a future logjam at RD

B) Fitz panicked after Nemec’s bad first half and it became obvious Casey was at least another full season away from being a regular contributor

Marino was traded because we had a wink-wink deal set with Pesce, which was a win-win move (upgrade the position, and get assets for Marino). Kovacevic was brought in as a #7 and surprised everyone by breaking out in a big way after Pesce started the season on IR.

I think Kovacevic was re-signed sort of like "we like this guy and want to keep him, and will figure out the logjam later". Or maybe it was already decided Dougie will be be moved.

 

[BurntToast]

It’s almost better to put bum’s with Jack and Bratt. The best version of this team was

ZzzZz-Haula-Jack
Bratt-Mercer-Palat
Timo-Nico-Tatar

I still want a

Bratt-Nico-Hughes line flex when they are down 1 or 2 before a goalie pull.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

Maybe but everyone's going to know why they were shielded from the media and it's a bit of a bad look if you're also hiding the injury updates on both as a consequence.

That is true but we do know what Jack's injury is so maybe not so much with him.

 

[britdevil]

We just need to find a scoring winger, a 3c, a backup goalie, find a way to free up cap space and stay healthy. An easy fix holy shit.

The players are as delusional as some posters on here.

They just got limped into the playoffs and got their shit pushed in by Carolina in 5 games. f***ing deluded.

They are miles off.

 

[HellOnIce]

I wonder if no Jack and Luke today is because the team doesn't want them asked about Quinn. Probably not a bad idea honestly.

I still cannot believe Rutherford is even making comments. It puts the three brothers and the Devils organization in a weird situation.

I think this is probably accurate. Nothing to gain. Let Tom speak to their injuries next week.

Do I wish we heard from the boys, yeah? But whatever. Let it be in print with state media, e.g. a chat with Amanda or whatever.

 

[HellOnIce]

The players are as delusional as some posters on here.

They just got limped into the playoffs and got their shit pushed in by Carolina in 5 games. f***ing deluded.

They are miles off.

Yeah I don't see that at all. Miles off is core pieces not being in place. We have that at forward, D, and good goaltending. I'd rather be looking for a 3C and some scoring mercenaries.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The Kovy situation isnt complicated at all. He was really good for us this year and got rewarded for it.

The injury sucks for him but we have the depth to weather it so its not the end of the world.

 

[Edmonton East]

Why didn't the face of the franchise show his face on breakup day?

Yea I mean I personally don't care. But I still don't get why some stars are so visibly disinterested/annoyed in interviews or flat out ignore the media entirely. I get people have different personalities.....but suck it up. It's part of the job. 99% of people are required to do some shit they absolutely hate at their jobs. It is what it is.

Just be like the Tkachuk brothers or Marchand. Entirely unrealistic, but if every NHL star interacted with the media like they do, the league would be better for it. You can still loathe the media.....just pretend.

 

[NJDevilsFan21]

I wouldn’t trade Mercer. Everyone is talking about improving our bottom six. Mercer would be the perfect bottom six player. Plus the kid never gets hurt.

He has no physical game at all. Like literally zero. He will go out of his way to avoid contact even more so than Jack Hughes - instantly losing board battles. That's why he never he gets hurt. He's not a good bottom 6 guy. He makes the bottom 6 worse because he just doesn't play that type of game at all. I move him for someone at least capable of holding onto and cycling the puck.

 

[JK3]

I didn't finish my thought earlier with the Jack stuff but it annoys me, just do a one minute video and throw it on youtube or Instagram for the team to throw out there, it's really simple.

Then again maybe they're saving it for the Jack, Luke, Quinn, Keefe and Fitz presser next week.

 

[NJDevs26]

I thought these breakup day interviews tended to get spread out over two days?

 

[Jersey Fresh]

When do we hear from Fitzgerald?

 

[Emperoreddy]

When do we hear from Fitzgerald?

Keefe and Fitz talk sometime next week

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

The players are as delusional as some posters on here.

They just got limped into the playoffs and got their shit pushed in by Carolina in 5 games. f***ing deluded.

They are miles off.

Miles off is needing a Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier to be a contender. Miles off is not needing a top 6 wing and 3rd line center. Do you not remember the days of praying to one day have a 1C? We have 2.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Dumolin also didnt speak today, but he might legit just be dead

 

[JK3]

When do we hear from Fitzgerald?

No one knows, I guess when no one will be awake or paying attention after the heat dies down. Probably a Monday at 9am or Friday at 5pm and/or a day when everyone has off and isn't around.

Kind of like when my town votes on important things.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The Metro is not going to get massively better next year.

Health, inevitable roster improvements, and just having a full year of Keefe's system under their belts will make them better.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

The players are as delusional as some posters on here.

They just got limped into the playoffs and got their shit pushed in by Carolina in 5 games. f***ing deluded.

They are miles off.

they would have won that series if both Hughes brothers played. I stand by that.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

The Metro is not going to get massively better next year.

Health, inevitable roster improvements, and just having a full year of Keefe's system under their belts will make them better.

yeah, the Flyers and Penguins are terrible and the Rangers and Isles are mid at best.

Columbus showed promise, but that is still a flawed roster that played over its head for the most part this year

 

[Better Call Sal]

Dumolin also didnt speak today, but he might legit just be dead

He won’t get out of bed until July.