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

[Unknown Caller]

Waivers games with eligibility. Want to keep DeSimone as the 7 and aren’t sending anyone else through at the risk of getting poached.

Who cares about DeSimone as the 7th though? He wasn't playing over Hatakka anyway and they're going to have to put him on waivers the minute Siegenthaler is activated. Should not impact the decision at all.

 

[NJDfan86]

Definitely greater than zero percent chance that Nemec comes out of the lineup when Siegenthaler is back. Smith and Bahl played over Luke Hughes for the entire Rangers series last year.

I get that Nemec has NHL experience and Luke didn't at the time, but you haven't been paying attention if you think this team would never scratch Nemec. They value experience and grit

C’mon - Nemec ain’t coming out of the lineup unless he starts sucking or gets hurt.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

If we end up missing the playoffs this year, trade Holtz + for freaking Markstrom, AND resign Toff I will basically lose all faith in Fitz.

Who cares about DeSimone as the 7th though? He wasn't playing over Hatakka anyway and they're going to have to put him on waivers the minute Siegenthaler is activated. Should not impact the decision at all.

Nemo will get sent down instead when Seigs comes back.

 

[Unknown Caller]

He’s playing 20:30 a game, all situations and has been outstanding. Not to mention he’s a righty. It would be the worst lineup decision in franchise history unless Nemec was completely hobbled or burnt out.

They scratched Jesper Bratt for John Hayden in his fourth season in the league with stellar metrics.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

They scratched Jesper Bratt for John Hayden in his fourth season in the league with stellar metrics.

That was short term. There is really no concern of this happening, cmon now. Hatakka was playing well — he ain’t Nemec.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

totally unserious organization sometimes.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

No reason to send our second best dman down in the last couple of weeks but alas unserious franchise

 

[R8Devs]

Who cares about DeSimone as the 7th though? He wasn't playing over Hatakka anyway and they're going to have to put him on waivers the minute Siegenthaler is activated. Should not impact the decision at all.

i don't agree with the decision but they rather have DeSimone sit in the press box than Hattaka. I'd have kept Hatakka in the lineup and just scratched Smith and send DeSimone down but if they're going to play Smith you can see why they went with this thought process. It would have been nice to continue developing Hatakka at the NHL level over a playing a guy who may not be here next year but unfortunately this is how a lot of NHL teams operate

 

[Saugus]

I assume it’s only because of the waiver eligibility that Hatakka was the one to come out when Smith came off IR.

But with our endless injury troubles this year being what they are, I expect he’ll be back up soon when the next guy goes down.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

who gives a f*** about Desimone lol once Siegs is ready in a few days, he'll be gone anyways

 

[longislanddevil]

Man if it's Holtz or Casey...

I know you have to give to get but I’m simply not interested in trading either of them. Is Calgary demanding a top prospect? I’m OK with getting aggressive in terms of draft picks going the other way but if that’s not enough, I would look elsewhere.

Holtz is an ideal replacement for Toffoli, if we don’t bring him back. No….just no.

 

[Devs3cups]

Probably dumb, but I’d rather give Hattaka more time instead of playing Smith.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

This deadline only really has potential to kill us long term. It doesn't have potential to do anything else. I don't see Fitz standing pat and I don't see him trading Toff. This has potential to be a very painful year.

 

[longislanddevil]

CHURCH OF HATAKKA!!!!

I am loving what I’m seeing from this kid. I wonder if the organization has soured on Bahl and if Hatakka moves past him on the depth chart. It’s hard to gauge since Bahl is getting tougher minutes and assignments. Once we get Siegs and Smith back, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bahl as a healthy scratch from time to time. I do think Bahl can be a solid bottom pair d-man. Will being thrust into a role in which he’s in over his head hurt his development? Will gaining that experience ultimately help him? These are the questions that keep me up at night. lol

 

[Billdo]

Probably dumb, but I’d rather give Hattaka more time instead of playing Smith.

Could've just sat Bahl.

Hughes-Marino
Hatakka-Nemec
Smith-Miller

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

I hate this organization sometimes
View attachment 818960

This can't be for real?

 

[longislanddevil]

This Hatakka trade doesn’t looks pretty good right now. Wish we got something better back than Meier.

Devils' Santeri Hatakka: Sent down to AHL

This is legit and I am PISSED!!

 

[tailfins]

Who cares about DeSimone as the 7th though? He wasn't playing over Hatakka anyway and they're going to have to put him on waivers the minute Siegenthaler is activated. Should not impact the decision at all.

DeSimone is a right shot. The Devils have basically no depth on the right side now that Foote is headed to jail. They've got Russo and Felix (who was an ECHL D until recently) in Utica.

It's almost guaranteed that DeSimone gets games, too (if he's even just passable in practice). Last night, Marino went down hard. With the Devils basically playing every other night, I can't see them not needing to go 4 deep on the right side. Yes, Hughes and Smith can play the right side, but why force that when you've got DeSimone already.

 

[NJDfan86]

Could've just sat Bahl.

Hughes-Marino
Hatakka-Nemec
Smith-Miller

They would have had to waive DiSimone which is why they just sent Hatakka down. If Smith is healthy they were going to get him out there.

Since neither of them are playing tonight, made sense to kick the can down the road.

 

[Hisch13r]

lol

 

[OmNomNom]

makes no senseeeeeeee

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

lol

View attachment 818974

Bahl should've benched games ago but they have no leeway, he should be the one out when Siegs returns at the start but alas

 

[Billdo]

Definitely greater than zero percent chance that Nemec comes out of the lineup when Siegenthaler is back. Smith and Bahl played over Luke Hughes for the entire Rangers series last year.

I get that Nemec has NHL experience and Luke didn't at the time, but you haven't been paying attention if you think this team would never scratch Nemec. They value experience and grit greatly.

Strongly disagree. If anyone's coming out it'll be Bahl.

 

[Triumph]

I think they will find a way to keep DeSimone on the roster when Siegenthaler gets back. They're just so shallow at RHD and they tried Hughes/Smith on their opposite sides and that pairing was unplayable. If they have to carry 8 D + Tierney, so be it - the only reason they have 23 on the roster right now is because they're carrying 3 goalies.

 

[Bleedred]

I don’t really care about Bahl, but the fact that Smith went from ending last season as the 7th defenseman to them really not wanting to sit him this year is one of the most regressive things about this season.

Has Smith been a healthy scratch for 10 games this season?

He’s played 34 of 51. His last game was game 41 of the season………..

And I can’t even remember if he missed a game or two for injury earlier in the year or not……

I’m guessing they just want another veteran in to make up for the losses of the two veterans that left this past offseason, but Smith is absolutely cooked.