Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2022-23 season thread part III

[glenwo2]

The issue with Bratt isn't Bratt. He's a great player. The issue is he is redundant on this team.

That said, it's foolish to think we can just let him go or trade him for a pick. If he goes, he MUST be replaced with another true top line winger or things get even uglier.

Pretty much this.

But the problem with replacing him with another true top line winger is that it does nothing to further improve the team.

It simply puts us right back where we are currently with Bratt.

This is why I advocate going after Meier and re-signing both him AND Bratt.

*That* is a true upgrade of the team.

Oh I agree we need Bratt and are worse without him. Much worse. Just not sure how we keep him and add a top line finisher. So we will have to make a choice.

I thought Timo Meier was a thing?

 

[glenwo2]

@Zajacs Bowl Cut @Bleedred @Devs3cups

I honestly don’t even know because I don’t even want him on the team

And there you have it, folks.

I think we should stop all "discussions" with Jr here.

It doesn't matter how well Bratt plays.

He doesn't want him here.

He's just like Hersheybob.

Time to move on and talk about other things.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

What if he asks 8.5-8.75 mil?

Then it's time for the Holtz or Gritsyuk eras to start.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

As said I like him a lot, but I just think once the play gets more physical in playoffs we need a different breed of player. We have too many skinny a forwards and Bratt will want 8 M+, so I think we should get someone else for that kind of pay that better complements our forwards and has both a snipe and a body. Oh well I said “unpopular” opinion…

I don’t know why he can’t light up the playoffs if Brayden Point can. They’re comparable size and he’s an even better skater.

Also Bratt shot 13% last year and is nearly 15% this year. He’s not a pure sniper but he’s a good finisher. Pasta is a career 14% shooter for reference.

 

[glenwo2]

Then it's time for the Holtz or Gritsyuk eras to start.

The Holtz error..err, i mean era...seems to have hit a snag.

Just saying....

 

[glenwo2]

Again, name the player that fits that mold that is available for Bratt. The Tkachuk boat has already sailed. I'm sure we'd all love a sniper that has size and grit/sandpaper/whatever cliche you want to use, but those guys are rarely available. We would almost certainly lose any trade involving Bratt, so unless it becomes obvious he doesn't want to be here it doesn't make a lot of sense to trade him.

Also, this idea that he's redundant is just f***ing insane to me. Oh the horror of having too many highly skilled play drivers on your team! We should be getting help for Nico, Jack, and Bratt, not subtracting Bratt just to add this pure goal scorer (who is likely going to be streaky since almost all pure goal scorers are) that is supposedly worth trading him for.

I'll say this much :

If he saw some of the takes being made about him by a few here, he sure as hell wouldn't want to be here.

 

[MadDevil]

I don’t know why he can’t light up the playoffs if Brayden Point can. They’re comparable size and he’s an even better skater.

Also Bratt shot 13% last year and is nearly 15% this year. He’s not a pure sniper but he’s a good finisher. Pasta is a career 14% shooter for reference.

I don't know man, just look at how much more productive "built for the playoffs" Tkachuk was than his midget teammate Gaudreau last year...

 

[glenwo2]

I almost want Bratt to be signed to 9 mil per just to see some of the talking heads here explode with rage (and throw tantrums as well).

 

[Zippy316]

I don’t think Bratt has too much of an issue with physicality anymore. Sure sometimes teams are able to end plays a bit quicker due to his size, but he’s managed to be quite effective when games get physical.

Hughes is a bit of a different story, but he’s gotten a lot wiser this year. Not taking any unnecessary chances and willing to just throw the puck away or make the safe play if the opponent is looking to make a hit. He’s doing a much better job of recognizing and picking his spots this year. I am a bit curious how that translates toward the end of the year and playoffs where teams get away with a lot more.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Some brutal takes in here overnight....whew.

As @Triumph noted, the Bratt and Hughes contracts should not be compared whatsoever. Bratt is 24 and will be a UFA in a year. Hughes signed his contract in the middle of his 3rd season, with 4 RFA seasons left, and technically before he even "broke out". I don't understand why some people care if Bratt gets $8.5/year or something as compared to Hughes $8. I believe Eli Manning at one point was the highest paid QB in the NFL, because he was the next one due for a contract. That doesn't mean he is better than other QBs...its just how this stuff works.

I also saw someone say we should "throw $7/year at Timo and see what happens" lmao. First off, he won't be UFA...he still has one RFA season left, so we'd have to trade for him. We can't just "throw money at him". Secondly, he ain't signing that contract anyways. So your "see what happens" will be us left with our pants down, still looking for a goal scorer.

Lastly, if you are banking on one player in Pastrnak hitting the open market, you're doing it wrong. From all indications (both the local Boston radio guys and the national guys like Lebrun), Pastrnak isnt going to get anywhere close to July 1.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Also, I had posted this in one of the GDTs a week or two ago...but the team can absolutely afford to pay both Bratt AND Meier.

a couple of notes:

- I just picked Adam Erne at random. You can insert any veteran bottom 6 forward there you want (though I would prefer it NOT to be Erik Haula)
- Bahl has not impressed me recently, so you may need to replace him with someone else, but its whatever.
- I left a couple million cushion because of guys like L. Hughes' potential bonuses (though I think CapFriendly already factors that in?)
- I have honestly been coming around to the idea of re-signing Graves if he would take a fair contract. That might grant you the ability to leave Nemec in Utica for another year, if he needs it.
- Severson and Blackwood need to be gone under any and all circumstances. I also have no interest paying Miles Wood the type of contract he is likely to garner as a UFA.

 

[billingtons ghost]

What is much over 8 mil for you? I’ll admit that if the deal starts with a 9, I might wince a little, but I’d get over it. I believe in Bratt and I believe he’s a top winger. Most of his comparables are at around 8-8.5 though.

I think 10 is ridiculous and we walk.
Starts with a 9 and I take the pain and excoriate him mercilessly when he's not PPG and driving the f*CK out of the offense.
I'm pretty good with anything in the 8s and please as punch at 8 or below.

 

[forceten]

I agree - and agreed in the off-season - that we needed one more top 6 / top 9 winger on this team that can score. I am not sure Meier is that guy, though. He can score, of course, but he's not a score-first guy. He seems to be more assist-driven. Which is like everyone else we have

This isn't a knock on Sharangovich or Mercer but if we bolster the top 6 and that means we have a better 3rd line I am ALL for that.

 

[FooteBahl]

Also, I had posted this in one of the GDTs a week or two ago...but the team can absolutely afford to pay both Bratt AND Meier.

a couple of notes:

- I just picked Adam Erne at random. You can insert any veteran bottom 6 forward there you want (though I would prefer it NOT to be Erik Haula)
- Bahl has not impressed me recently, so you may need to replace him with someone else, but its whatever.
- I left a couple million cushion because of guys like L. Hughes' potential bonuses (though I think CapFriendly already factors that in?)
- I have honestly been coming around to the idea of re-signing Graves if he would take a fair contract. That might grant you the ability to leave Nemec in Utica for another year, if he needs it.
- Severson and Blackwood need to be gone under any and all circumstances. I also have no interest paying Miles Wood the type of contract he is likely to garner as a UFA.

f*** it, offer Pasta 11.5

 

[glenwo2]

I think 10 is ridiculous and we walk.
Starts with a 9 and I take the pain and excoriate him mercilessly when he's not PPG and driving the f*CK out of the offense.
I'm pretty good with anything in the 8s and please as punch at 8 or below.

I think even the BrattPack guy would say that 10 is ridiculous.

And yeah...if he actually gets 9, he'll be under one HELL of a microscope by us.

I think he gets between 8.0 - 8.5 in the end, though.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Just messing around a bit for when Palat gets back to try to even out the lines a bit.
Rango-Hughes-Palat
Tatar-Nico-Big Z
Bratt-Haula-Mercer
Wood-Mikey-Tyce/Boq

 

[RSeen]

Also, I had posted this in one of the GDTs a week or two ago...but the team can absolutely afford to pay both Bratt AND Meier.

a couple of notes:

- I just picked Adam Erne at random. You can insert any veteran bottom 6 forward there you want (though I would prefer it NOT to be Erik Haula)
- Bahl has not impressed me recently, so you may need to replace him with someone else, but its whatever.
- I left a couple million cushion because of guys like L. Hughes' potential bonuses (though I think CapFriendly already factors that in?)
- I have honestly been coming around to the idea of re-signing Graves if he would take a fair contract. That might grant you the ability to leave Nemec in Utica for another year, if he needs it.
- Severson and Blackwood need to be gone under any and all circumstances. I also have no interest paying Miles Wood the type of contract he is likely to garner as a UFA.

Looks like to me we should be able to afford both as well though it would be tight. I would think Luke and Simon's bonuses would be more than what is shown. I believe they would both be around $3M in potential bonuses each.

It would probably be quite tight next year but the year after the cap should increase by a larger margin so that should help absorb Mercer's raise for example.

Though I'd probably try to sign Wood. I know his analytics are not great, but I think that BMW line as a 4th line could be a difference maker in a playoff setting. McLeod/Bastian probably get more than $1M each though too.

 

[theoptimist]

I like that lineup. Zetterlund could develop into Hornqvist type, which is nice to have in top 6 with Meier as the #1 RW.

 

[Zippy316]

Also, I had posted this in one of the GDTs a week or two ago...but the team can absolutely afford to pay both Bratt AND Meier.

a couple of notes:

- I just picked Adam Erne at random. You can insert any veteran bottom 6 forward there you want (though I would prefer it NOT to be Erik Haula)
- Bahl has not impressed me recently, so you may need to replace him with someone else, but its whatever.
- I left a couple million cushion because of guys like L. Hughes' potential bonuses (though I think CapFriendly already factors that in?)
- I have honestly been coming around to the idea of re-signing Graves if he would take a fair contract. That might grant you the ability to leave Nemec in Utica for another year, if he needs it.
- Severson and Blackwood need to be gone under any and all circumstances. I also have no interest paying Miles Wood the type of contract he is likely to garner as a UFA.

Highly doubt Bratt and Meier come in at 8 in this scenario. Same for Sharangovich at 3 million. Probably about 3 million less than they come in at, not to mention Zetterlund/Bastian’s numbers seem a little low.

That team is also relying on way too much youth. Bahl, Hughes, and Nemec in the top six? Need at least one more quality NHL option. Only way that works is if Hughes/Nemec show at some point this year that they are ready to hit the ground running.

I’d much much rather spread 8 million for Meier out as 8 million across two/three players to add another defender and a forward or two. Give the team solid depth across the board and make a Meier trade in about a year or two when you finally figure out what you have in this core and the NHL-ready prospects.

That lineup you posted will rely on the top guys to drag the rest of the team into the playoffs. I’m not sure they’re at that point just yet. I’d rather them get all the help they can get for another year until they learn day in and day out what it takes to make the playoffs.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Highly doubt Bratt and Meier come in at 8 in this scenario. Same for Sharangovich at 3 million. Probably about 3 million less than they come in at, not to mention Zetterlund/Bastian’s numbers seem a little low.

That team is also relying on way too much youth. Bahl, Hughes, and Nemec in the top six? Need at least one more quality NHL option. Only way that works is if Hughes/Nemec show at some point this year that they are ready to hit the ground running.

I’d much much rather spread 8 million for Meier out as 8 million across two/three players to add another defender and a forward or two. Give the team solid depth across the board and make a Meier trade in about a year or two when you finally figure out what you have in this core and the NHL-ready prospects.

That lineup you posted will rely on the top guys to drag the rest of the team into the playoffs. I’m not sure they’re at that point just yet. I’d rather them get all the help they can get for another year until they learn day in and day out what it takes to make the playoffs.

meh, sorry I totally disagree. NOW is the time to load up. We kind of know what we have in this core....a team ready to compete with a few tweaks here or there.

 

[Blackjack]

Highly doubt Bratt and Meier come in at 8 in this scenario. Same for Sharangovich at 3 million. Probably about 3 million less than they come in at, not to mention Zetterlund/Bastian’s numbers seem a little low.

That team is also relying on way too much youth. Bahl, Hughes, and Nemec in the top six? Need at least one more quality NHL option. Only way that works is if Hughes/Nemec show at some point this year that they are ready to hit the ground running.

I’d much much rather spread 8 million for Meier out as 8 million across two/three players to add another defender and a forward or two. Give the team solid depth across the board and make a Meier trade in about a year or two when you finally figure out what you have in this core and the NHL-ready prospects.

That lineup you posted will rely on the top guys to drag the rest of the team into the playoffs. I’m not sure they’re at that point just yet. I’d rather them get all the help they can get for another year until they learn day in and day out what it takes to make the playoffs.

The lineup has 4 elite forwards which is more than most teams have. It also has good depth like Zetterlund, Sharangovich, Mercer, and Bastian. That’s a very deep lineup.

 

[Devils090]

Would be huge if he could play Saturday

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I hope the lines start clicking with Palat back. You can show me all the xGF% charts saying things are just fine and shots aren't going in but it seems like Bastian's loss in particular threw a big wrench in the line makeup and things have been sputtering along ever since without any cohesion.

 

[Nubmer6]

Would be huge if he could play Saturday

I presume if Nico were missing from practice she would mention it.

 

[Devils090]

I presume if Nico were missing from practice she would mention it.

Yeah I think everyone is present and accounted for