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

[Blackjack]

It’s arbitrary. The Kings would be further down if Clarke wasn’t still in the AHL but he is.

This kind of thing is why I like the Pronman method of just doing U23.

 

[forceten]

The Adidas jerseys are completely gone from the site it seems. This is terribly disappointing. I wanted to order one, but I know that the Hughes one won't come in until after the game. THey had a blank one up, but couldn't tell if you could get it customized later. The NHL blows. Bettman should be fired - his time has long gone, he's a dinosaur and the league is suffering for his old way of leading.

 

[njdevils1982]

Everyone on this thread right now
View attachment 815010

and then there's me

 

[McDuffz88]

The Adidas jerseys are completely gone from the site it seems. This is terribly disappointing. I wanted to order one, but I know that the Hughes one won't come in until after the game. THey had a blank one up, but couldn't tell if you could get it customized later. The NHL blows. Bettman should be fired - his time has long gone, he's a dinosaur and the league is suffering for his old way of leading.

I had one in my cart and now it's completely removed. This is actually insane. Idk how they screwed this up so bad. It's baffling.

 

[njdevils1982]

Thanks, homie.

This is cool, but a lil expensive.

Men's New Jersey Devils Fanatics Black 2024 NHL Stadium Series Authentic Pro Fleece Pullover Hoodie

shop.nhl.com

and you know I've gotta get one of these:

New Jersey Devils FOCO Llama Plush Toy

shop.nhl.com

120$ for a hoodie? insanity.

shit, if i wanted something like that i'd go to costco instead and buy a black one and sew on a devils logo myself

...as i realize im actually wearing a black zip up hoodie right now...

 

[My3Sons]

The Adidas jerseys are completely gone from the site it seems. This is terribly disappointing. I wanted to order one, but I know that the Hughes one won't come in until after the game. THey had a blank one up, but couldn't tell if you could get it customized later. The NHL blows. Bettman should be fired - his time has long gone, he's a dinosaur and the league is suffering for his old way of leading.

Many of the owners are also dinosaurs.

 

[RNCDevil]

Nico was happiest when chatting about Bratt. Devils have good dudes. Hockey players are good dudes (in general).

Welcome back Devils faithful.

 

[Guttersniped]

While I don't like to be critical of Wheeler because he's a good guy who puts the work in, I've always felt his rankings were severely lacking.

Still, with no Nemec & Hughes, the Devils severely drop. It's tough to complain, considering Hughes & Nemec both look every bit like future Norris candidates.

Right now, I'd look at our top 7 as something like:

1 Casey
2 Gritsyuk
3 Vilen
4 Bardakov
5 Karpovich
6 Barabosha
7 Orlov


But Wheeler tends to overlook both non-high profile Russians and defensive defensemen, and tends to hang onto his old favorites who haven't developed, so I wouldn't be surprised if he had AHL hopefuls like Salminen and Shlaine in his top 5.

But with the loss of blue-chippers Hughes, Nemec and Holtz, I'd say the strength of the NJ system is Russian depth prospects, since the team has drafted extremely well there in recent years. Still, I agree with you that, right now, it's probably not a top 20 prospect pool.

“Right now, I'd look at our top 7 as something like:
1 Casey
2 Gritsyuk
3 Vilen
4 Bardakov
5 Karpovich
6 Barabosha
7 Orlov”

Why you no like Lenni lol?

We can guess what his list will look like. (Yes, I have overthought this, don’t judge.)

Wheeler had a Top 100 for the 2023 Draft, Hameenaho (#53) & Squires (#90) were listed, while Karpovich was a HM (out of 27 players).

He had a Summer Top 50 Top Drafted Prospects in July 2023: Luke (#7), Nemec (#8), Holtz (#34), and both Casey & Mukhamadullin were HM (out of 77 players). So we have one left there, bit of a drop. (Unless he’s weird about Nemec.)

Orlov was his final cut last Feb. The other graduates could be replaced by some of his other HMs: Edwards, Malek & Schlaine. (And, uh, theoretically Salminen.)

Bardakov & Barabosha? I like Bardakov, and hope he signs, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t on the list.

Barabosha seemingly isn’t the type of defenseman he goes for, but he had Misyul on his list every year somewhere.

Hell, in 2020 he said this about Zaitsev (#20):

Zaitsev is one of those defenders who is unremarkable in most areas but just keeps progressing up levels, earning more minutes and defending well. He’s now an everyday KHL defender who defends the rush and the cycle at a high level for his game and moves the puck efficiently. I think he should give North America a shot — and that the Devils should consider signing him.

Okhotiuk in 2022 (#14):

Picture a shot-blocking, hard-nosed, stay-at-home defender who defends at a high enough level and can move the puck just enough to maybe make that style work in a game with fewer and fewer of those types left. That’s Okhotyuk. A decade or two ago, he would have been closer to the norm than to the exception but now he’s angling to prove he can be the latter. He’s a throwback in the truest sense and a darn good one. And while he’s got some limitations in his defensive game, he’ll be a fine NHLer.

You have to find acceptance in your heart and overlook his boundless enthusiasm for tiny offensive defensemen that he says will perfect for a sheltered 2PP QB (which isn’t a thing anymore Scott).

 

[Andre Palot]

Bring back Reebok

 

[njdevils1982]

Bring back Reebok

CCM

 

[glenwo2]

Oh f***ing god, I forgot Parise signed with the Avs since they're in tomorrow.....

Wait...WHAT?

 

[Satans Hockey]

Bring back Reebok

CCM

You guys spelled Koho wrong

 

[mdj12784]

Whether the Devils, Adidas and/or the NHL, this SS jersey was handled HORRIBLY! So much money was lost. Really head scratching.

 

[glenwo2]

Nico was happiest when chatting about Bratt. Devils have good dudes. Hockey players are good dudes (in general).

Welcome back Devils faithful.

Then my feelings just got sour when at 9:00 of the vid, I heard Ruff say :

"You try to play a system that you think will be the best for the group that you have"

 

[MadDevil]

Whether the Devils, Adidas and/or the NHL, this SS jersey was handled HORRIBLY! So much money was lost. Really head scratching.

I mean, it's the NHL. A league that seems to actively try to make being a fan more difficult.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We got more cap relief coming for *redacted*

Relevant question for this thread, is Fitz going to use any of the freed up cap space from LTIR and other things to try and jump start this team since he won't fire Ruff?

 

[mdj12784]

I mean, it's the NHL. A league that seems to actively try to make being a fan more difficult.

100% so much for “growing” the league.

 

[Guttersniped]

This kind of thing is why I like the Pronman method of just doing U23.

I think they pair well. Pronman was doing Prospect Pool rankings at first and then switched over when Wheeler came. (IIRC but I can’t swear to it lol. Brain melted.)

Wheeler’s intuitive approach to gauging when a player graduates has its pluses and minuses but it can also drive some readers crazy.

In his January 2022 list for Ottawa, Wheeler graduated an injured Shane Pinto but left Erik Brannstrom, who played in more NHL games but also was in the AHL that season, on the prospect list.



I still remember that because it annoyed the shit out of some Sens fans unhappy with with their #17 ranking. Pinto was out for the year and now this lol.

The thing that annoys me personally is his “under 23 (25 for goalies)” rule doesn’t have a declared set date. I guess the article date is the cutoff? He doesn’t make that clear though, and if that’s it then boo hiss, because that’s annoying.

Not sure why he can’t just say Feb 1st or use the Draft age cut off (Sep 15). f***ing anything other than just “under 23” with no explanation.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Soon

 

[HughesCorporation]

ran into Timo at the hoboken terminal an hour ago, asked him how he was and he gave the thumbs up..
my wife goes, how did you know it was Timo? I said theres no way you cant recognize that nose

 

[NjDevsRR]

ran into Timo at the hoboken terminal an hour ago, asked him how he was and he gave the thumbs up..

 

[Clam Jensen]

We got more cap relief coming for *redacted*

Relevant question for this thread, is Fitz going to use any of the freed up cap space from LTIR and other things to try and jump start this team since he won't fire Ruff?

Can we just call him voldemort

 

[Nubmer6]

Soon

Am I the only one extremely concerned that our entire team relies on a single player to function? I mean, I've heard of one-line teams, but one-man teams?

 

[Triumph]

We got more cap relief coming for *redacted*

Relevant question for this thread, is Fitz going to use any of the freed up cap space from LTIR and other things to try and jump start this team since he won't fire Ruff?

It's not clear yet what 'cap relief' means. Is it like the cap relief from LTIR, where the Devils can replace it dollar-for-dollar, or is it as though McLeod and Foote aren't on the cap at all? There's a fundamental difference that could affect what the Devils do. They really don't want to be up at the cap at season's end if they can at all help it.

 

[McDuffz88]

ran into Timo at the hoboken terminal an hour ago, asked him how he was and he gave the thumbs up..
my wife goes, how did you know it was Timo? I said theres no way you cant recognize that nose

You should of asked him what he thinks of Lindy Ruff. He probably would of gave a thumbs down lol