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

[Nocashstyle]

I don't even want to link to it, but the Athletic ranking the 99 greatest players other than 99 series just dropped Scott Stevens in at 49 and spent the entire article shitting on his legacy whether it was on-ice and how his hits wouldn't be legal today or off-ice.

Glad I read it outside of the paywall. Garbage stuff.

Yeah I refuse to click on that. You want to debate what kind of hits were legal and celebrated back in the day? Sure, go ahead. But for an article that’s supposed to be a part of a series celebrating the 99 greatest players of all time….absolute garbage.

 

[MartyOwns]

but what does this even mean? 3 years? 5 years? If we lock up Bratt and get someone like Meier (again just using him as an example), we have the core of our team locked up for the next 3-5 years minimum. Plus, it looks like the cap is going to be going up a few million year at least for the next few years.

I am not going to be worrying about paying guys who havent even played 1 NHL minute yet in Luke Hughes in 4 years or Simon Nemec in 4 years potentially. Having too many good players has never been a problem for any team in NHL history. If we have a shot to acquire 1 more legit young-ish winger, even if we have to pay them ~$8 million, I am all in on that.

nah not interested. if we were hurting for goals maybe, but we’re not. i don’t want a shiny new expensive toy, i don’t want to ship out any of our regulars. we’re fine as is.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I have not read the Toews one yet, but I would imagine that they did not mention the limo incident, or any of the other scandals....?

 

[NjdPass]

Let me be clear- I would not take Patrick Kane for free.



I don't understand why some people keep saying this regarding the Devils.

First off, all our top players make a few million less than all their top players, on average. Secondly, our guys are also a few years younger than all the Leafs top guys, at minimum. Lastly, the Leafs have failed because of terrible goaltending and a lack of depth in the playoffs. We don't have either of those things so far this year. The teams are not similar whatsoever in how they are constructed, IMO.

We are already at the cap and thats with Bratt making 5.5....AND Johnny B on LTIR... so if we give him more than 7.5-8...it might really strap us. Like I said, we would realistically be going into next season with Hughes and Nemec starting in our back. We have 9 pending UFAs/RFA Fwds and minus Tatar and Johnsson...most of them with get raises after this year. Its not a far fetched thing to think about.

 

[HBK27]

I have not read the Toews one yet, but I would imagine that they did not mention the limo incident, or any of the other scandals....?

At a quick glance, I don't see any mention of that for Toews - it's an overwhelming positive article for him.

Can't wait to see Patrick Roy's article - will surely be all about his domestic violence charges and the issue of domestic violence in general with athletes.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

We are already at the cap and thats with Bratt making 5.5....AND Johnny B on LTIR... so if we give him more than 7.5-8...it might really strap us. Like I said, we would realistically be going into next season with Hughes and Nemec starting in our back. We have 9 pending UFAs/RFA Fwds and minus Tatar and Johnsson...most of them with get raises after this year. Its not a far fetched thing to think about.

Whatever raise he'd get would be for NEXT year, not this year. Look at how much money is coming off the books in inconsequential players this summer. As an example, you can pay for like 90% of Meier moving forward with Johnsson/Bernier's money....two guys who havent done literally anything for this team.

And most of the UFAs/RFAs arent going to get huge money, except for maybe Yegor. I think Wood will be gone. Guys like Bastian, Mcleod, etc will make a million or less. Same with Boqvist.

I am just saying. They have plenty of room to add one more "big" contract.

 

[Nocashstyle]

New Jersey Devils' Play-By-Play Man Enjoys His Rookie Ride

After calling 32 different sports since 2016, Bill Spaulding found his place with the New Jersey Devils. And he couldn't have arrived at a better time.

thehockeynews.com

Bill has been great. As a “rookie” he sometimes does lean heavily on some cliches or “tidbits” that he will repeat every game, but for a PBP guy just settling into his first permanent gig with a team…he sounds like a seasoned vet. Obviously compared to Cangi and Doc who were with the team for years, Bill’s knowledge of Devils history isn’t extensive yet either, but I’m sure he’ll be a full time expert sooner than later. The guy is a professional and clearly does his homework.

I was shocked to find out he’s only 31 though

 

[MasterofGrond]

dont like being older than our pbp guy

also i just found out my wife is from the same podunk town as him and broadly the same age. Gonna have to see if she knows him

 

[severian]

Bill has been great. As a “rookie” he sometimes does lean heavily on some cliches or “tidbits” that he will repeat every game, but for a PBP guy just settling into his first permanent gig with a team…he sounds like a seasoned vet. Obviously compared to Cangi and Doc who were with the team for years, Bill’s knowledge of Devils history isn’t extensive yet either, but I’m sure he’ll be a full time expert sooner than later. The guy is a professional and clearly does his homework.

I was shocked to find out he’s only 31 though

Doesn't hurt that Spaulding is probably already closing in on the team's win total during the Cangi era.

 

[MasterofGrond]

My wife says "I don't think so but we have 6 mutuals on facebook. Absolutely f***ed mutuals, though."

Too bad

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

We are already at the cap and thats with Bratt making 5.5....AND Johnny B on LTIR... so if we give him more than 7.5-8...it might really strap us. Like I said, we would realistically be going into next season with Hughes and Nemec starting in our back. We have 9 pending UFAs/RFA Fwds and minus Tatar and Johnsson...most of them with get raises after this year. Its not a far fetched thing to think about.

Bratt at 7.5 would be an unbelievable bargain contract, so I’d put that thought out of your mind. This team will have a better cap situation than the vast majority of teams even with Bratt at 8.5-9 million. There is nothing wrong with paying elite players, especially when some of our top players (Jack, Nico, Jonas, Marino) are on bargain deals

 

[NJDevs26]

I never said trade Bratt for O'Reilly. Yall are just not reading what I am actually saying here. I said the RENTAL pieces I want are those two.

Its not be a GM mode here either...its figuring out things dollar wise. If Jan hits and you cant get a deal done with Bratt.... its time to look at other options. This would be the third bad negotiation with him.

We can keep Bratt, but if hes commanding 9.5 or 10 mil.....Ya need to ship him out. Whether thats now, or in the offseason Hughes and Hischer are the center pieces. Again, I dont wanna be the Leafs.

With that, its a big issue that we need a third line center to be bumped up to the second line just to take faceoffs. Yeah, Hughes is acting as center but he still isnt contributing to one of the more important parts of being a center. That not nothing to think about peeps. Imagine if you had someone with Haula FO % and that actually finishes. Not hating on the guy, and I really like his play.

Listen yall are getting bent out of shape LOL..In my original post, I said I will be happy if we did nothing too and how I enjoy this team. I was just throwing ideas because I still see gaps that can be filled and we have tons of options. Maybe we can agree on this......get rid of Sevo LOL

There’s very little difference in what you’d get back for Bratt trading him in the offseason compared to trading him in February, but there’s a monumental difference in potentially sabotaging a playoff run versus not.

 

[jkrdevil]

The thing that I don't get is that to me, those hits never defined his legacy, at least not as a Devil. Yes, he made them, a lot of them aren't legal today, but he was apart from those, an incredible defenseman, and those hits were comparatively rare. He wasn't making them in the regular season. My memory is of him catching Lindros, Adams, Domi, maybe Kaberle, Willis, Francis, Kariya from 97 on, that's got to be 100 games, it's just not something he managed to do a lot, nor was he trying every time like e.g. Vishnevski.

So yes, you can't talk about Scott Stevens without talking about the big hits, and you can't talk about the big hits without noting that they are thankfully gone from the game. But you can talk about so much more.

The article basically makes no mention of why he is on said list (or why other writers had him higher). Just mentions he is considered one of the best defensemen to not win a Norris. It’s absurd.

He was basically the best shut down defensemen of that era. He won the Conn Smythe in 2000 by shutting down Bure, Sundin, Hull and Modano (all guys on this list). I get you have to talk about the hits and how they don’t stand up today, you actually have to talk about why he is on the list.

 

[OmNomNom]

New Jersey Devils' Play-By-Play Man Enjoys His Rookie Ride

After calling 32 different sports since 2016, Bill Spaulding found his place with the New Jersey Devils. And he couldn't have arrived at a better time.

thehockeynews.com

When Spaulding is looking for informational nuggets, veteran defenseman Brendan Smith has become a go-to guy.

"I could see him being a color commentator when his playing days are done, or a coach," Spaulding said. "We've talked just as much about his family and his life as what he sees with the team on the ice. He's one of the guys who's going to not just talk about themselves but also talk, big picture, about the team and both the good and the bad throughout the course of the year."

something everyone sees

 

[Guadana]

f*** The Athletic and their paywall - this is complete garbage anyway, but if anyone wants to read the hit job on Stevens here you go (I'm still fuming after reading this):

and the answer from internet was very fun

 

[Devils731]

That Stevens article is garbage. Doesn’t talk about all the great aspects of his game. Glosses over and seemingly dismisses the players saying they don’t have a problem with Stevens. Puts in the doctor in multiple places trying to equate Stevens with bad for the game.

You have Tie Domi taking out Niedermayer with his elbow nowhere near the play but reading that article you’d think Stevens was the feared goon of the league who was the only one injuring guys and doing it in a way nobody should accept.

 

[Saugus]

Bill has been great. As a “rookie” he sometimes does lean heavily on some cliches or “tidbits” that he will repeat every game, but for a PBP guy just settling into his first permanent gig with a team…he sounds like a seasoned vet. Obviously compared to Cangi and Doc who were with the team for years, Bill’s knowledge of Devils history isn’t extensive yet either, but I’m sure he’ll be a full time expert sooner than later. The guy is a professional and clearly does his homework.

I was shocked to find out he’s only 31 though

He's 31?!

31 going on 55, maybe. "Bill Spaulding" sounds like my goddam financial advisor, not a guy who's younger than me.

 

[BostonDevil]

Let me be clear- I would not take Patrick Kane for free.

That, right there, is a bold statement.

 

[severian]

The article basically makes no mention of why he is on said list (or why other writers had him higher). Just mentions he is considered one of the best defensemen to not win a Norris. It’s absurd.

He was basically the best shut down defensemen of that era. He won the Conn Smythe in 2000 by shutting down Bure, Sundin, Hull and Modano (all guys on this list). I get you have to talk about the hits and how they don’t stand up today, you actually have to talk about why he is on the list.

Should’ve won the Norris in 94.

 

[BostonDevil]

f*** The Athletic and their paywall - this is complete garbage anyway, but if anyone wants to read the hit job on Stevens here you go (I'm still fuming after reading this):

Yep. It’s disgraceful. Reads like a Maple Leafs fan who’s getting revenge for his ruined childhood.

 

[HBK27]

It's been 13 days since Bastian has been injured and still no update?

What is the plausible explanation for complete radio silence?

 

[NJDevs26]

It's been 13 days since Bastian has been injured and still no update?

What is the plausible explanation for complete radio silence?

Didn’t it take this long/longer with Wood last year? They might not even be able to figure out what’s wrong atm

 

[JimEIV]

Scott Stevens is god. End of discussion.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

It's been 13 days since Bastian has been injured and still no update?

What is the plausible explanation for complete radio silence?

Maybe they still don’t know if he needs surgery or not?

 

[BostonDevil]

At a quick glance, I don't see any mention of that for Toews - it's an overwhelming positive article for him.

Can't wait to see Patrick Roy's article - will surely be all about his domestic violence charges and the issue of domestic violence in general with athletes.

That’s the thing. They are all positive but this.