Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023-24 season part II

[Cheddabombs]

In Simon Nemec, the Devils believe they have a foundational piece

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It’s crazy when guys can do so well in a visual medium only to realize they were hampered by bad vision.

Should get all our goalies looked at too while they're at it.

That's pretty neat though. Good observational skills by the Utica coaches

 

[Devils731]

Should get all our goalies looked at too while they're at it.

That's pretty neat though. Good observational skills by the Utica coaches

I remember Blackwood went through something similar with having really dry eyes. He thought it was normal, the doctor found that it wasn’t, and it caused blurred vision.

You’ll see Blackwood doing a lot of eye drops when he plays as the solution to the problem.

 

[Mgd31]

I would do Henrique just for the good vibes. But I would think he is a hot commodity and would cost a lot. Bruins and Rangers should be all over him, in particular.

 

[NJDevs26]

In Simon Nemec, the Devils believe they have a foundational piece

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It’s crazy when guys can do so well in a visual medium only to realize they were hampered by bad vision.

That’s Rick Vaughn from Major League type stuff

 

[Better Call Sal]

That’s Rick Vaughn from Major League type stuff

True, but who knew that the medical staff for a #2 overall pick was worse than that of the California Penal League.

 

[joeskow]

True, but who knew that the medical staff for a #2 overall pick was worse than that of the California Penal League.

The California Penal League? never heard of it...

 

[forceten]

How did Henrique go from waived to hot commodity?

I wouldn't pay anything more than 4th round. We need to stock back up especially at G C and W.

 

[Devils731]

How did Henrique go from waived to hot commodity?

I wouldn't pay anything more than 4th round. We need to stock back up especially at G C and W.

Guys who are overpaid weirdly get more valuable the older they get because the less term they have on their current contract.

 

[JK3]

Ruff going to get a mulligan for this year, he’ll be back.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Anyone who legit listened to the podcast with Friedman and Marek realizes that they brought up Henrique to NYR as well and with the Chytil injury being LTIR they make way more sense than us. There's no reason why this team should buy unless they have a tremendous February.

 

[HBK27]

For as much as people seemingly love Fitz as GM, most of you guys seem to have zero confidence in him and his staff being able to evaluate the coaching position.

I am sure that Ruff is on the hot seat to a degree and that he and his systems will be evaluated in the offseason (assuming he makes it that far, which I think will be the case). I don't automatically assume that if the Devils somehow claw their way into the playoffs and win a round that Fitz will be hoodwinked into keeping Ruff on board because of optics or whatever other reason people believe. Of course that would also mean that something had to go really right for this team down the stretch and maybe coaching wasn't as much of an issue as originally thought, but all this doom and gloom about Ruff finagling his way into keeping the head coaching spot into next season despite it being a clearly bad decision that everyone expect for Fitz can recognize seems overblown.

 

[Call Me Al]

Anyone who legit listened to the podcast with Friedman and Marek realizes that they brought up Henrique to NYR as well and with the Chytil injury being LTIR they make way more sense than us. There's no reason why this team should buy unless they have a tremendous February.

that’s absurd. this team still wants to make the playoffs and with the injuries and thinness at center this is a perfect pickup if it doesn’t cost too much, and they shouldn’t wait until the end of february even

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

that’s absurd. this team still wants to make the playoffs and with the injuries and thinness at center this is a perfect pickup if it doesn’t cost too much, and they shouldn’t wait until the end of february even

At this point, I'd make a run at Henrique in UFA. He has consistently spoke about NJ glowingly and I'm sure he'd love to be on this team again. As for the other point, of course they still want to make it but most of their issues are on in house currently. Underachieving players, coach who's out of his element. What exactly is a trade going to do especially with the exorbitant prices we've heard about in net?

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

 

[Guttersniped]

If we traded for Henrique we better make the the playoffs.

13 years in the league and these are his playoffs:

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Giving assets for a guy who's UFA when we're this far out right now would be Lou level of stupidity

 

[MasterofGrond]

Depends on what the assets are.

 

[Mgd31]

Giving assets for a guy who's UFA when we're this far out right now would be Lou level of stupidity

If its something stupid like a 3rd and some Utica prospect I would do it. No interest in first or second round picks. But I would think someone would give at least a 2nd.

 

[Alex NJD]

Guys who are overpaid weirdly get more valuable the older they get because the less term they have on their current contract.

To add on to this:

At the time he was waived Rico was having the worst season of his career at 31 with 3 more years on his contract at 5.5m.

In the 2.5 years since he's been a .67PPG player and also solid defensively. (Also don't love the stat but being only a -9 over 170 games on a lottery team while averaging 17-18 minutes is surprisingly good)

 

[Triumph]

They're not very far out. I just don't think they can afford Henrique, though - he'd cost a late 1st or a 2nd+.

 

[youryeah]

 

[jkrdevil]

They're not very far out. I just don't think they can afford Henrique, though - he'd cost a late 1st or a 2nd+.

Correct. They are 1 game back of Philly who is the closest thing team to the Devils in terms of percentage. They do have Pittsburgh who is between the Devils and Flyers (a half game in front of NJ and half game back of Philly). But both situations are win the head to head games and you are probably in good shape.

If the teams gets healthy, shores up goaltending and adds reinforcements they can probably not only make the playoffs but maybe do damage. But I’m not sure they can slow play it until the deadline. If they are going to buy, they should buy now.

 

[Blackjack]

Context is he posted Jiricek’s card (which is awful) and of course people immediately asked to see Nemec and Korchinski.

 

[My3Sons]

That doesn’t add up to me. He’s allegedly terrible defensively and he’s a 94 overall? That math seems off.

 

[Mgd31]

That doesn’t add up to me. He’s allegedly terrible defensively and he’s a 94 overall? That math seems off.

In terms of xGF rates he's one of the top D in the league. I think it outweighs the xGA on other end.

He's basically a Hamilton clone right now without the big shot.

Its funny Hamilton is right up there only behind 2 of the EDM defensemen. I miss him.