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

[FooteBahl]

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

I didn’t “like” this until I googled smarminess. That’s beyond an SAT word lol

 

[JrFischer54]

We barely even have room for a forward when (if) we get a fully healthy group. There are very few, if any, guys that check all the boxes (the type of player we want, right age, right contract status, reasonable price, actually available, etc.). I can’t think of anyone.

Can’t wait forever for a perfect match when it might never come. Not saying to make a trade to make one but this team definitely had a need imo

 

[My3Sons]

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.



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

I agree with your reasoning but I think it still requires Bratt’s agent to agree with it.

 

[Guttersniped]

I agree with your reasoning but I think it still requires Bratt’s agent to agree with it.

Bratt has his own agency here too.

 

[My3Sons]

Bratt has his own agency here too.

Sure but my guess is he agrees with the agent . He obviously trusts the guy having worked with him through multiple contracts at this point and the very preliminary discussions have already started on the next one. All with the same agent.

 

[Bcap88]

Top 10 in the nhl but outside the top 25 in actual points, not sure how that one works

 

[Billdo]

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.

I can't see anyone in the league offering Bratt a 10 mil per year deal.

 

[Billdo]

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

I Pav

 

[JrFischer54]

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.

The absolute worst thing that can happen to someone who bets small is to hit a massive bet like $25 for $4000 or something more. 1 they will think it’s “easy” and worse 2 they will be bored betting $25 and bet more and more.

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

Until the cap goes up can’t picture a lot of contenders being able to throw 11 at a ufa

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.

Es primary assists. I learn more and more stats every day.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Bratter hangs out in Lavalette in the summer. Saw him twice this year. I think he stays. He has a great thing going here and is close with the guys.

What’s a Lavalette? It’s that like a bidet?

 

[TrufleShufle]

Top 10 in the nhl but outside the top 25 in actual points, not sure how that one works

Depends what you are arguing for, pick a side and then give more importance to the one that supports your opinion. Internet 101 here.

 

[Bcap88]

Depends what you are arguing for, pick a side and then give more importance to the one that supports your opinion. Internet 101 here.

Well considering points are the name of the game don’t see how someone can be top 10 the nhl if they are 27th in scoring but that’s just my Opinion

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Can’t wait forever for a perfect match when it might never come. Not saying to make a trade to make one but this team definitely had a need imo

You can when you’re on the top of the standings. Keep the cap flexibility so we can take advantage of teams that have issues. We have to be very choosy because we can really only add one more big ticket guy.

 

[My3Sons]

I can't see anyone in the league offering Bratt a 10 mil per year deal.

I agree. That doesn’t mean the agent doesn’t think some team willl. My point is that if the agent foresees an unreasonable contract being offered to Bratt that’s what will drive the negotiation bus. It’s more about his perception than any ultimate reality.

 

[njdevils1982]

The absolute worst thing that can happen to someone who bets small is to hit a massive bet like $25 for $4000 or something more. 1 they will think it’s “easy” and worse 2 they will be bored betting $25 and bet more and more.

yep, this is it. there's that one ad that runs during the games "bet up to $1000, no sweat, first bet"

so, you make the bet and and win. .... they got you in and now you want to play more as you're up ... 'cause really, how many people walk away at that point?

or if you lose then so what no big deal....still got all that credit invested in the game ....gotta try and win it back

pretty sad how the companies 'play' the suckers for their own gain

 

[SKNJD9]

If we do move Bratt at the draft the trade comparables gotta be Fiala an Debrincat right ? No one here will be happy if it gets to that point, only thing we can hope for is a team in the top half of the draft gives us a 1st+ for him

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Top 10 in the nhl but outside the top 25 in actual points, not sure how that one works

because PP play varies significantly throughout the league every year....

being better at Even Strength, consistently, is a much more important skill. And Bratt is an elite even strength producer the past few years.

If we do move Bratt at the draft the trade comparables gotta be Fiala an Debrincat right ? No one here will be happy if it gets to that point, only thing we can hope for is a team in the top half of the draft gives us a 1st+ for him

there is less than 0 chance they trade Bratt during the season. Like, literally negative.

Well considering points are the name of the game don’t see how someone can be top 10 the nhl if they are 27th in scoring but that’s just my Opinion

ya man totally for sure!!!!

 

[SKNJD9]

because PP play varies significantly throughout the league every year....

being better at Even Strength, consistently, is a much more important skill. And Bratt is an elite even strength producer the past few years.



there is less than 0 chance they trade Bratt during the season. Like, literally negative.



ya man totally for sure!!!!

Hence why I said at the draft, wasn't implying we move him before hand, just gauging the value at the draft

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Hence why I said at the draft, wasn't implying we move him before hand, just gauging the value at the draft

my fault, brain read 'trade deadline'.

 

[SKNJD9]

my fault, brain read 'trade deadline'.

no worries

 

[Billdo]

I agree. That doesn’t mean the agent doesn’t think some team willl. My point is that if the agent foresees an unreasonable contract being offered to Bratt that’s what will drive the negotiation bus. It’s more about his perception than any ultimate reality.

I think that ultimately is going to the be the problem as well.

 

[My3Sons]

I think that ultimately is going to the be the problem as well.

I’m not sure how to break that impasse. Hopefully Bratt’s agent gets some realistic advice on contract valuation.

 

[Bcap88]

For the record, I think Bratt is a very good player. I would be ok with giving him anywhere from 8-10 mil but once you get into the 11/12 mil range the production doesn’t match the salary

 

[My3Sons]

For the record, I think Bratt is a very good player. I would be ok with giving him anywhere from 8-10 mil but once you get into the 11/12 mil range the production doesn’t match the salary

Meh. He’s no Lovejoy.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

For the record, I think Bratt is a very good player. I would be ok with giving him anywhere from 8-10 mil but once you get into the 11/12 mil range the production doesn’t match the salary

to be honest, I don't think anyone here is advocating for that....