Proposal: Devils - Nashville

[Kurt Cobain]

Who didn't become dominant until the Triplets came onto the scene.

Nikita Kucherov, 58th overall; Tyler Johnson, Undrafted; Ondrej Palat, 208th overall.

I think people forget that the draft has more than one round.

Yeah besides Stamkos, Hedman and Drouin to a much lesser extent. Their success is mostly from making the most out to their later round picks, smart trades and smart free agent signings.

 

[Hally BlackWood]

This makes no sense for the devils

 

[Bleedred]

Yup, three of his last four years have been average at best. Rinne's nothing special I've never understood the hype but I think most hockey fans have caught on to this. The reason for the trade according the OP is to help the "rebuild" but if anything this sets us back. Fiala is a good prospect but if we're gonna trade Schneider I'd expect a better prospect than him. Ellis is a good player stuck behind better defensman but we don't need him. Our defense is set this trade does nothing for me. Nothing to see here.

I think at one time (like 4 years ago) Rinne deserved the hype and he was an elite goaltender. As of 2011-2012, I probably had him as the second or third best goaltender in the league, behind Lundqvist and maybe Quick or Luongo at that time. He was top 5 at worst.

But more often than not, he's been below average over the last 4 years. His save percentage among NHL starters is still in the bottom 5 over the past 4 years, even when you count that season in the .920's from two years ago. Aside from Ward and Pavelec, I'm not sure if there's any other starter that's been that bad since 2013. The other guys that have are no longer starters or even in the league anymore (Hiller). They've either been relegated to backup roles or washed out completely. I'd say Mike Smith is down there too, Ryan Miller is close enough. I'm not sure if Lehtonen has been worse over the last 3 or 4 years combined, but he's definitely been worse over the last 2 years combined. I have him definitely below Rinne, he's been even worse over the last 2 years than Rinne has at any point since 2013. Jimmy Howard might be worse too, but he's no longer a starter. Unless Blashill is intoxicated again.

 

[Kurt Cobain]

I think at one time (like 4 years ago) Rinne deserved the hype and he was an elite goaltender. As of 2011-2012, I probably had him as the second or third best goaltender in the league, behind Lundqvist and maybe Quick or Luongo at that time. He was top 5 at worst.

But more often than not, he's been below average over the last 4 years. His save percentage among NHL starters is still in the bottom 5 over the past 4 years, even when you count that season in the .920's from two years ago. Aside from Ward and Pavelec, I'm not sure if there's any other starter that's been that bad since 2013. The other guys that have are no longer starters or even in the league anymore (Hiller). They've either been relegated to backup roles or washed out completely. I'd say Mike Smith is down there too, Ryan Miller is close enough. I'm not sure if Lehtonen has been worse over the last 3 or 4 years combined, but he's definitely been worse over the last 2 years combined. I have him definitely below Rinne, he's been even worse over the last 2 years than Rinne has at any point since 2013. Jimmy Howard might be worse too, but he's no longer a starter. Unless Blashill is intoxicated again.

Oh yeah deserved the praise pre lockout. He was great and he was starting 70+ games a year, but things have changed and I believe most NHL fans have realized this. If not they've been living under a rock the last few years.

 

[HBK27]

Who didn't become dominant until the Triplets came onto the scene.

Nikita Kucherov, 58th overall; Tyler Johnson, Undrafted; Ondrej Palat, 208th overall.

I think people forget that the draft has more than one round.

Great post.

Schneider is not going anywhere.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Picking up Stralman was very big for Tampa too. Not to say their top picks aren't keys to the team, but it takes far more than a top 5 pick every year to build a team.

 

[Rebels57]

Nashville - Pekka Rinne, Ryan Ellis, Kevin Fiala

New Jersey - Cory Schneider, Jon Merrill

Nashville could be one of the best teams in the league with Schneider in net. It hurts losing Ellis but they would still have 3 above average D. Fabbro can come up in a couple of seasons. Improving this much in goal makes Nashville a very complete team. Merrill replaces d depth.

Jersey gets an under performing big name goalie. Can sell tickets but they can begin to focus on a rebuild. Their current roster isn't anywhere close to a Stanley cup they are wasting the talents of one of the best goalies in the league. Fiala can step in and add a high upside prospect. Ellis combines with Hall and Henrique to form a solid core that all played junior in Windsor.

Fire away.

Nashville can be one of the best teams in the league with Rinne in net.

Their forwards need to be upgraded, not their goaltending.

 

[Rebels57]

We didn't miss the playoffs by much last year and we did nothing but improve. This team is a lot closer to the playoffs than fans of other teams realize. Draft picks, this site is obsessed with em and we still got solid picks these last two drafts in Zacha and McCleod in the first round. Most Devils fans are completely against tanking and like the fact the Devils have tried to ice the best team possible, even when the chances of making the playoffs were slim and none. Creates a certain atmosphere within an organization that winning is the only thing that matters. I know most fans of other team probably do not agree, but I wouldn't change a thing but I know plenty of other Devils fans who would agree with me. We've also drafted much better than we have gotten credit for especially beyond the first round the last few years. When you do that you don't need a top 5 pick or higher every year.

Well, you improved at forward (Hall >>> Stempniak), but you took a step back on defense (Larsson and Schlemko >> Moore and Quincey), so it remains to be seen how improved they will be this upcoming season.

Six teams finished ahead of the Devils in their own Division. They need to get into the top 5 in the Division at the very least in order to make the playoffs. That would require leap-frogging either Washington, Pittsburgh, NYR, Islanders, or Flyers. Only one of those teams did not improve this offseason IMO (Islanders), but they still look better than NJ on paper.

I think the Devils will compete for a playoff spot again but unless one of the 5 teams above sustains some crippling injuries, they will likely just miss.

 

[Viqsi]

That's a ludicrous overpayment for Schneider and NJ would still rightfully turn it down. Bad for both teams.

* * *​

Not really related to this offer, but what would Nashville want for either Ellis or Ekholm?

No.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

not interested.

the Devils are not really a "rebuilding" Team. I mean, I guess they are in a way. But what SHero has done in ~16 months on the job is really amazing and has me excited for the future

the Devils should compete for a playoff spot this year.

 

[JimEIV]

Well, you improved at forward (Hall >>> Stempniak), but you took a step back on defense (Larsson and Schlemko >> Moore and Quincey), so it remains to be seen how improved they will be this upcoming season.

Six teams finished ahead of the Devils in their own Division. They need to get into the top 5 in the Division at the very least in order to make the playoffs. That would require leap-frogging either Washington, Pittsburgh, NYR, Islanders, or Flyers. Only one of those teams did not improve this offseason IMO (Islanders), but they still look better than NJ on paper.

I think the Devils will compete for a playoff spot again but unless one of the 5 teams above sustains some crippling injuries, they will likely just miss.

Moore was there last year, all year. The defensive additions this season are Lovejoy, Quincey, Auvitu and probably Santini.

So NJ's right side last year was Larsson, Severson and Schlemko.

This year it appears it will be Severson, Lovejoy, Santini or Merrill(Merrill is a LHD that is being tried on the right side in preseason) There is also Josh Jacobs and Vojtech Mozik who'll be probably be call ups on the right side.

Personnel-wise NJ's defense is significantly better than last season. Larsson as a "loss" has been wildly overstated. Larsson has become a good dman over the last year and a half but hardly a player that leaves a hole in the lineup when lost. The biggest loss NJ will see with Larsson is on the PK as he and Greene killed a lot of minutes. But with the addition of Lovejoy and Quincey that is 2 more PKers to distribute those minutes to along with Greene.

The Devils were 8th in the league in Goals Against last season, I don't expect a significant change from that this season.

 

[Kurt Cobain]

Well, you improved at forward (Hall >>> Stempniak), but you took a step back on defense (Larsson and Schlemko >> Moore and Quincey), so it remains to be seen how improved they will be this upcoming season.

Six teams finished ahead of the Devils in their own Division. They need to get into the top 5 in the Division at the very least in order to make the playoffs. That would require leap-frogging either Washington, Pittsburgh, NYR, Islanders, or Flyers. Only one of those teams did not improve this offseason IMO (Islanders), but they still look better than NJ on paper.

I think the Devils will compete for a playoff spot again but unless one of the 5 teams above sustains some crippling injuries, they will likely just miss.

We know what it's gonna take and were gonna compete for a playoff spot which is what I said. I never guaranteed anything. I also disagree that only one team didn't improve in front of us. Washington and Pittsburgh basically stayed basically the same and they'll finish one and two were not expecting to pass them. Plus I don't see what the Rangers did that was so special, Pirri and Gerbe? Losing Brassard hurts them in the short term but is a better move in the long run. No one know what's Vesey and Buchenevich will be this season. How'd the Flyers improve? Signing Dale Weise? Provorv and Sanheim are rookies so it's a question mark as to what kind of effect they'll have if they make the team.

Our defense is also better than it gets credit for, we were winning division championships with worse defenses post 2005 lockout. Also Larsson and Schlemko>>Moore and Quincey is an over simplication. I also think you meant Lovejoy instead of Moore since Moore was on the team last year. Severson is stepping into Larsson's spot on the top line. Lovejoy is taking Severson's old spot on the second pair and will probably be with Quincey. Losing Schlemko is nothing were worrying about he's easily replaceable. The third pairing is up for grabs between a few players. We've always played defense by committee if there's one thing we do well it's turn chicken **** defense in chicken soup. Also our forward improvement goes well beyond replacing Stempniak with Hall. If you took the time to look. There isn't much separating the Devils, Rangers, Isles and Philly in my opinion and it will be interesting to see. Plus we got the best goalie so an eight seed is very much possible.

 

[Kurt Cobain]

Moore was there last year, all year. The defensive additions this season are Lovejoy, Quincey, Auvitu and probably Santini.

So NJ's right side last year was Larsson, Severson and Schlemko.

This year it appears it will be Severson, Lovejoy, Santini or Merrill(Merrill is a LHD that is being tried on the right side in preseason) There is also Josh Jacobs and Vojtech Mozik who'll be probably be call ups on the right side.

Personnel-wise NJ's defense is significantly better than last season. Larsson as a "loss" has been wildly overstated. Larsson has become a good dman over the last year and a half but hardly a player that leaves a hole in the lineup when lost. The biggest loss NJ will see with Larsson is on the PK as he and Greene killed a lot of minutes. But with the addition of Lovejoy and Quincey that is 2 more PKers to distribute those minutes to along with Greene.

The Devils were 8th in the league in Goals Against last season, I don't expect a significant change from that this season.

Schlemko was so overrated all he can do is skate. How he got a four year deal boggles the mind. Plus I think we improved with Quincey over Schlemko. I do think you understate the loss of Larsson but I know you've never been a fan of his, but you are right that we will be fine defensively and we will be top 10 at least in goals against, even without Larsson. I'm really intrigued by Auvitu but I think a few games in the AHL wouldn't hurt. Santini I want on the team more than anyone. I just think he's ready and he is mature well beyond his years just like Severson as a rookie. If he does make the team I want him paired with Quincey and move Lovejoy back to the third pairing to play with Moore or Merill. That's my ideal situation.

 

[Rock Paper Sissons]

Let the Canadian teams play for draft picks. We'll stay concentrated on winning cups.

What?
You realize your best players are all Canadian? Lol

 

[JimEIV]

What?
You realize your best players are all Canadian? Lol

Of course. But certainly not the best franchises.

 

[Stuzchuk]

Nashville - Pekka Rinne, Ryan Ellis, Kevin Fiala

New Jersey - Cory Schneider, Jon Merrill

You may have misspelled Subban/Josi...

 

[Jerzey Devil]

What?
You realize your best players are all Canadian? Lol

Yeah that wasn't my point at all. For some reason some fans of Canadian teams seem to be pro tanking all of a sudden and I'm happy Shero isn't doing that in NJ.

 

[Soundgarden]

You may have misspelled Subban/Josi...

Let's not get crazy here, Schneider's good but he's nowhere near as valuable as them.

 

[Stuzchuk]

Let's not get crazy here, Schneider's good but he's nowhere near as valuable as them.

I was being sarcastic... Schneider's value is VERY but that may a bit too high

 

[Bleedred]

Nashville can be one of the best teams in the league with Rinne in net.

Their forwards need to be upgraded, not their goaltending.

Don't even kid yourself.

Nashville was one of the best teams in the league last year in spite of Rinne, not because of him.

The only other playoff team that had goaltending as bad or worse than Nashville was Dallas.

I think they're a contender with a better goaltender, or at the very least if Rinne could play in the playoffs a lot better than he has in these last couple years and a lot better than he usually has in the regular season over the last several (with the exception 14-15) years. Even if he could play like he did in round 1, I like their chances. He wasn't very good in round 2 though. I don't think he completely murdered the team like Lehtonen did to Dallas, but he didn't do much to help either.

 

[Bleedred]

The Devils were 8th in the league in Goals Against last season, I don't expect a significant change from that this season.

I expect it could get better, provided the shots against don't go up by a whole lot and we don't get the trash backup goaltending that Kinkaid provided for the better part of 22 games.

If he is better than last season or Schneider plays 68-ish games, the GAA could be even lower.

 

[ujju2]

I'm surprised at the response. If I'm NJD, I accept the deal 7 days a week. With Larsson gone, this deal gives them a legitimate goalie (although not on Schneider's level), a top DMan (Ellis) and they got Hall.

 

[ujju2]

I expect it could get better, provided the shots against don't go up by a whole lot and we don't get the trash backup goaltending that Kinkaid provided for the better part of 22 games.

If he is better than last season or Schneider plays 68-ish games, the GAA could be even lower.

But from what I hear, Larsson was a big component of New Jersey's defence?

 

[Josepho]

Nashville can be one of the best teams in the league with Rinne in net.

Their forwards need to be upgraded, not their goaltending.

Their goaltending absolutely needs upgrading. Rinne ****ing sucks.

 

[Bleedred]

But from what I hear, Larsson was a big component of New Jersey's defence?

Absolutely. But the team system that we played was also a big part in the shot suppression. Larsson and Greene were a big part of that, since they drew the toughest assignments. Worst case scenario is the shots against go up by a couple a game, but maybe the shots for will go up by 2 or 3 as well. Hall averaged almost 3.5 shots on goal per game last year. There were 2 or 3 Devils that averaged slightly above 2 shots on goal per game last year.

Their goaltending absolutely needs upgrading. Rinne ****ing sucks.

The biggest misinterpretation in the NHL right now is that Rinne is still an elite/top 10 goaltender in the league.

This is why I'm annoyed every time I see it posted around here. I don't even dislike Rinne, but it's a major pet peeve of mine to see this blatantly false narrative and belief all the time on here. Until I stop seeing Rinne ranked anywhere near the top 10 on people's personal lists, I will have to say that he's the most overrated goaltender in the league.

I don't think he was overrated 4 years ago, but it's mostly because of 4+ years ago that he's still considered relevant as an elite goaltender. And the exceptional 14-15 season he had, which is no longer the norm for him.