The dude has barely played and is getting older. Plus, the Devils might not even make the playoffs this year. Toffoli at 7-8 wouldn’t be a problem without Palats contract. You guys act like this team played well before injuries and that wasn’t the case.
Between Hughes returning, Meier improving and Holtz getting more than 12 minutes a night that alone would replace his goal scoring. The Devils' aren't short on goal scoring ability, what they need are more players that can help keep the puck out of their own zone and keep it in their opponent's zone.
Regardless of how we’ve played this year, it just never made sense to sign Severson to that huge long term deal. Our RHD depth was Hamilton ($9 million per year, a top ~20 D in the sport), Marino (coming off an excellent season, signed long term), Miller (fine player, expiring contract), Nemec (one of the best prospects in the entire sport — turns out he’s already really good in year 1). And Casey is not far away from arriving and is one of the best dmen in the NCAA.
If the devils don’t need goal scoring then Fitz absolutely should get bashed for trading for tofolli. Also if this season has taught us anything is that we actually need depth scoring
I don't know about Clemmensen as long term goalie coach. He may not even want that job, because the job he has now doesn't require him to show up to work every day like an NHL goalie coach. He may have an easier job right now and it may even pay more money than what the goalie coach makes. That I'm not sure about.
I think our biggest need is on the left side. Bahl is really struggling, and our best bet of righting the ship might be finding a way to replicate the Graves-Marino pairing.
Well Zadorov might need to go if they are truly trading for Tanev, as VAN will need to clear up cap space. I know he's not ideal, but he could be a "stop the bleeding" type acquisition for our D if management doesn't want to risk assets for a year when it might not make sense (but still might want to at least give it a shot to make the playoffs and see what happens).
Their contention window is now even with the injuries, shit coaching and shit goaltending. This is pure mismanagement by Fitz if he is not trying to get a goalie. When you're in your contention window, you trade what ever you have to so you can fill in holes. The only guys not getting touched are locked up core guys and Nemec and Luke. Everyone else is fair game whether people here want to hear it or not.
Plus Siegenthaler hasn't been very good even when he was healthy. Maybe the time off helps him clear his head, but I'm not counting on it at this point.
We all overvalue our prospects. Casey isn’t a sure thing and the Devils never intended to play Nemec. Its wild to dismiss Graves numbers because he played bad in the playoffs and bank everything on Bahl. The organization tried to portray Bahl as NHL ready when he barely played last year.
Truth bombs away. The salary police and 5 years down road mob are going to come for ya!
Even without Toffoli the Devils still have Hughes, Hischier, Bratt and Meier as proven scorers, to go along with Holtz and Mercer. The Most recent Stanley Cup champions (Vegas, Colorado and Tampa) have all surrounded their stars with multiple guys that can play two way hockey and effect the play in all three zones up and down the lineup. We saw with last year's Devil's team how important it is to control possession and pressure the other team.
Casey isn’t a sure thing, but he’s doing just about everything he possibly can do to track as an NHL player. Luckily Nemec is literally one of the best young players the franchise has ever had. I’m not seeing this dire need for Damon Severson on the right side.
Graves has sucked this year massively. He would not have made a difference here. He also would have cost entirely way too much to keep him. The issue is Siegs fell of a cliff, Marino has fallen off a cliff. Making the losses look worse to anyone not paying attention realizing the massive goals against issue is the gaping hole in net Tom failed to fill and is seemingly not filling right now for some reason.
Every time you mention Nemec it’s music to my ears.
Thankfully, the Palat deal is pretty easily “buyout-able”. Silver lining if it comes to it.
