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

[TBF1972]

Is Lindy surreptitiously keeping Bratt's TOI down so he doesn't accumulate even more eye popping stats, thus reducing how much he can command during negotiations? Because 17 mins per game is ridiculous.

look at dallas. spreading ice time among all forwards doesn't impact the production of their best line at all.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

If we're being honest, David Pastrnak is EXACTLY what this team needs.

If he doesn't re-sign in Boston, we should be moving heaven and earth to sign him this summer.

And he comes from the Boston Bruins culture, so it's unlikely he'd be demanding top dollar. I think if he decides to move on from Boston, the team that signs him will be able to get him signed at about 10-11 million AAV. It's just a matter of whether he wants to sign with that team.

I pray to the lord it's us.

Before the season started I thought it could be his last year there but the way they are playing I would be surprised to see them let him get away...Then again they do have Zacha

 

[BostonDevil]

Why wouldn’t Pastrnak resign in Boston, particularly if he isn’t asking for a ton of money? Because his teammates are old?

I would be pretty shocked if they managed to lose him.

Rumor is he’s looking for 11+. Boston is cheap.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

When NJ first legalized gambling statewide I was heading to the snowboard/ski stadium sale at the Meadowlands. It was during the NFL playoffs so I figured why not place a few bets, just for the novelty of it. So I spread it around each game. $50 here, $100 there, nothing major.

I had always been a blackjack guy (sometimes two or three times per year, sometimes zero) and have pretty good discipline in regards to walking away from that. Whether I'm down or up my internal number is just that and I stick with it.

Anyway, that weekend I come to find myself spending the entire time inside yelling my head off for teams like the Titans. Same thing the next weekend since the bets were already placed.

I haven't placed a single wager or played a hand since. That shit scared me. As a guy who already loves sports and has seen first hand what a gambling addiction can do I'd prefer to not take the chance.

The apps have ruined the in-game experience with a friend of mine. We go a fair amount together but this season he's glued to his phone constantly asking for my opinion. Which sucks extra because I'm rarely right and feel partially to blame.

That industry is straight up poison but there's no putting that horse back in the barn. The revenue streams are too much for the government and the owners to say no to. So just as with alcohol they'll put a little disclaimer at the bottom of the ad and go on with business as usual.

All that being said, I'm a big proponent of doing whatever you want so long as you're not harming others. Booze, drugs, gambling, etc. I also don't find the ads to be any more or less obnoxious or offensive than ones for alcohol, many of which are definitely marketed towards or at least attractive to underage people imo.

The hypocrisy of banning tobacco and cannabis advertising while propping up those other two industries frustrates me but that's separate discussion.

 

[bossram]

One I wouldn't say Fitz or Bratt blew any chance on anything as we aren't in the room...We have been told that the agent is difficult that's possible and that could be the problem....As far as getting him signed below 8 that's probably true but to put him above Kaprizov not sure about that...

With this season under his belt, Bratt's camp will point at the upper-echelon comparables like Kaprizov, Tkachuk, or even Marner.

Last offseason was the opportunity to jump on the string of ~$8Mx8 deals.

 

[Guttersniped]

Rumor is he’s looking for 11+. Boston is cheap.

I get why the negotiations are tough but they can’t afford to lose him. They don’t have any young offensive stars. 11m isn’t that crazy when McAvoy makes 9.5m.

The chance to be a Bruin for life will be a pull for Pasta too, I just don’t see him leaving. You never know but it’s such a long shot that it just sounds goofy to see Pasta as our off-season target. This isn’t Calgary.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

With this season under his belt, Bratt's camp will point at the upper-echelon comparables like Kaprizov, Tkachuk, or even Marner.

Last offseason was the opportunity to jump on the string of ~$8Mx8 deals.

Maybe it was offered and turned down maybe it wasn't offered we don't know....Bratt contract has to fit he's not a power fwd like Mathew K and Marner is just below 11 that's insane for Bratt....Want him signed like I said if he wants 10 per or 11 they might trade him and move on....It has to work for both team and player...Pretty confident if he has good year this year they will find a way to make it work....

 

[TBF1972]

Actually, that's an 8.....as in 8-year-deal with the Devils.

stay away from 10m aav

 

[MauDevils]

Bratt had 18 points in the first 13 games and 9 points in 12 games since. He's cooling off a little, let's see where he's at around the midway point.

I don't think he creates enough to be at 9+ million.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Bratt had 18 points in the first 13 games and 9 points in 12 games since. He's cooling off a little, let's see where he's at around the midway point.

I don't think he creates enough to be at 9+ million.

Among forwards with a minimum of 200 minutes at even strength, hes 12th in the entire NHL at ES points/60 and 2nd in the entire NHL in ES primary assists/60

"I don't think he creates enough" lmao okay man

I am not sure how much more he'd have to produce to be "worth" it. Will he get that? Who knows.

 

[Omar Little]

Among forwards with a minimum of 200 minutes at even strength, hes 12th in the entire NHL at ES points/60 and 2nd in the entire NHL in ES primary assists/60

"I don't think he creates enough" lmao okay man

Are you capable of politely disagreeing or is your default response always maximum smarminess?

 

[billingtons ghost]

Among forwards with a minimum of 200 minutes at even strength, hes 12th in the entire NHL at ES points/60 and 2nd in the entire NHL in ES primary assists/60

"I don't think he creates enough" lmao okay man

He can have his opinion. Bratt is also riding on lines with 1OA picks who are maybe ok as well.

Clearly there are games where Bratt IS the difference maker - but it's tough to look at the games Hischier and Hughes bring (almost) every night and suddenly come to the conclusion that Bratt is far superior to them. Because he isn't.

That is totally not to say that he isn't going to get paid much more than those guys - and maybe Jesper Bratt IS a $10m+ winger to some team. I just hope it isn't mine because that's a significant overpay. I'm on the 8x8m train.

(Sorry Glen - don't @ me. I know you're already on me about Schmidly.)

Are you capable of politely disagreeing or is your default response always maximum smarminess?

shouldn't ask if you don't really want to know the answer

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Are you capable of politely disagreeing or is your default response always maximum smarminess?

when someone says something so clearly ridiculous, they get a ridiculous response.

He is literally a top 10 forward in the entire NHL this year so far, after being right up there last year. Saying he "doesn't create enough" is quite frankly absurd.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Bratt’s been a little off lately, but we know what he is. He drives play nearly as well as anyone in the league.

 

[bossram]

He can have his opinion. Bratt is also riding on lines with 1OA picks who are maybe ok as well.

Clearly there are games where Bratt IS the difference maker - but it's tough to look at the games Hischier and Hughes bring (almost) every night and suddenly come to the conclusion that Bratt is far superior to them. Because he isn't.

That is totally not to say that he isn't going to get paid much more than those guys - and maybe Jesper Bratt IS a $10m+ winger to some team. I just hope it isn't mine because that's a significant overpay. I'm on the 8x8m train.

(Sorry Glen - don't @ me. I know you're already on me about Schmidly.)


shouldn't ask if you don't really want to know the answer

The $8M x 8 train has left the station and is long gone. There's no chance he's coming back for that. At absolute best, maybe they get him on the Hintz contract.

Fitz really, really should have found a way to resolve this long-term last offseason. Now he's in a much tougher spot. Bratt can Tkachuk his way to wherever he wants, at the price he wants.

 

[Oneiro]

Until this year and I guess Nico’s rookie year, Bratt has been better and more consistent than Hischier. So I laugh at any comparisons talking about what Nico brings every night when his two way game has only been praiseworthy since last season.

It is so odd to see parts of this fanbase consistently diminish what Bratt has done. It was real cute when he was described as a generic 50 pt winger in the summer of ‘21 by the same posters trying to set a hard number now. You create a big hole on this team if you don’t get the deal done. This guy is better and more useful than a lot of players people want to bring in, including Meier.

Just another Jack. Yeah don’t need too much of that…

 

[Billdo]

The $8M x 8 train has left the station and is long gone. There's no chance he's coming back for that. At absolute best, maybe they get him on the Hintz contract.

Fitz really, really should have found a way to resolve this long-term last offseason. Now he's in a much tougher spot. Bratt can Tkachuk his way to wherever he wants, at the price he wants.

That's 450k, that's not THAT diff than the 8x8 and you could argue Hintz is better and plays a premium position.

 

[Eggtimer]

Before the season started I thought it could be his last year there but the way they are playing I would be surprised to see them let him get away...Then again they do have Zacha

Boston is crushing it but their window is way shorter than ours . Maybe he thinks about how it might be some lean years once Bergeron Krejci Marchand retire ? They still have McAvoy , Lindholm and very good goaltending ( at least at the time being ) , but won’t have any superstars really. Who knows . I wouldn’t bet on him leaving but stranger things have happened. With their new coach I thunk it is even less likely. I don’t think he had an awesome relationship with prior coach but that’s no longer an issue. Hopefully he is somewhat pissed that they kept Cassidy as long as they did or ?? I’m grasping at straws now.

 

[bossram]

That's 450k, that's not THAT diff than the 8x8 and you could argue Hintz is better and plays a premium position.

But I don't think he's coming back for $8.45M either.

People simultaneously believe Bratt's camp is nefariously angling for a mega-contract, yet also believe he'll accept a Fitz olive branch of $8M x 8. Doesn't make any sense.

The $8x8 ship has sailed.

 

[My3Sons]

But I don't think he's coming back for $8.45M either.

People simultaneously believe Bratt's camp is nefariously angling for a mega-contract, yet also believe he'll accept a Fitz olive branch of $8M x 8. Doesn't make any sense.

The $8x8 ship has sailed.

I'd be curious what Bratt's agent projects he'd get after next season as a UFA. If the answer is $10 mil per on a seven year deal it's going to be awfully difficult to get Bratt to agree to anything less than about $9.5 on an 8 year deal.

 

[captainscott12]

That's 450k, that's not THAT diff than the 8x8 and you could argue Hintz is better and plays a premium position.

That’s not bad he can egg his way through that

 

[Devs3cups]

I'd be curious what Bratt's agent projects he'd get after next season as a UFA. If the answer is $10 mil per on a seven year deal it's going to be awfully difficult to get Bratt to agree to anything less than about $9.5 on an 8 year deal.

Yeah, but I legitimately think Bratt wants to be here. He’s said as much and his girlfriend is from NY, I really think a 9-9.5 mil deal gets it done.

Also wanted to add that 10 mil a year would make him the highest paid winger in the league, which as much as I love Bratt, is absurd.

I’d be willing to go 9, and like MAX MAX 9.5 .

 

[Guttersniped]

Until this year and I guess Nico’s rookie year, Bratt has been better and more consistent than Hischier. So I laugh at any comparisons talking about what Nico brings every night when his two way game has only been praiseworthy since last season.

It is so odd to see parts of this fanbase consistently diminish what Bratt has done. It was real cute when he was described as a generic 50 pt winger in the summer of ‘21 by the same posters trying to set a hard number now. You create a big hole on this team if you don’t get the deal done. This guy is better and more useful than a lot of players people want to bring in, including Meier.

Just another Jack. Yeah don’t need too much of that…

I don’t agree about 2018-19, Hischier was better that year then he was in his rookie season and he was better than Bratt.

Bratt really improved in 2019-20 while Hischier had a disappointing start, and he was hurt at the end of the season, but their stats were roughly the same. Bratt was obviously better in 2020-21 since that was a borderline lost season for Nico due to injury.

Smaller wingers don’t get paid the same as centers, or even someone like Tkachuk though, so the comparison doesn’t matter that much.

Gaudreau was coming off a 115 point season, had a 99 point season previously, and had been a PPG player when scoring was 2.71 G/GP and not 3.17 G/GP yet he had go begging to Columbus for 9.75m.

Bratt’s not as productive as Gaudreau, he’s going to get less than that.

Yes, he drives play like a MFer, but how many goals are getting from him? Yes, he’s great 5v5 but he doesn’t do that much on the PP.

If he whales off something close to 40 goals or something then the number would get scarier but I’m not seeing it.

Fiala got 7.875m, I don’t see how 8x8 is a ridiculous low ball offer for Bratt, particularly if Fitz successfully pushes the internal cap narrative.

Sure, who knows what he could squeeze from a different team, but which teams exactly and is he going to be winning with them anytime soon? I’m taking him on his word that he wants to win here. (Before anyone mentions things Taylor Hall said, the difference is I’m pretty sure Hall is a functional moron.)

I think they get a deal done and it’s not the huge number some people are bandying around. Could I be wrong about this? No shit, I know I could be wrong.

It also doesn’t mean I don’t know how good he is or how important he is to the team or that at any moment I didn’t want him here.

Yeah, but I legitimately think Bratt wants to be here. He’s said as much and his girlfriend is from NY, I really think a 9-9.5 mil deal gets it done.

Also wanted to add that 10 mil a year would make him the highest paid winger in the league, which as much as I love Bratt, is absurd.

I’d be willing to go 9, and like MAX MAX 9.5 .

Huberdeau got 10.5m in his extension that starts next season.

 

[MauDevils]

when someone says something so clearly ridiculous, they get a ridiculous response.

He is literally a top 10 forward in the entire NHL this year so far, after being right up there last year. Saying he "doesn't create enough" is quite frankly absurd.

He's tied for 25th in P/GP and is arguably the third best forward on his own team.

And over the last month (half the season so far) -

Zacha - 0.82 PPG
Bratt - 0.77

 

[JrFischer54]

I am not sure what to think about possibly trading Holtz for a finisher. Having Holtz on a ELC and under team control will be huge moving forward. But… I’m not sure if he can be the player we need him to be . Tradig him (plus + ?) for Meier “could “ be an awesome addition but we lose any roster flexibility we would have if we just kept Hotlz .
Its a question of if Holtz can keep up with the style of play we need him to play, and finish at a rate we would like him to.

Gotta give to get. You’re giving up the potential of holtz to someone for a proven sniper (not saying Meier) but just in general. Team control and potential is a fair trade for that imo.