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

[PizzaAndPucks]

Could've been different if the video review called that a goal under Daws pad.

I could of sworn I thought it went in but we didn't get the best replays. It would of put Nashville up 2 to 1 earlier in the game but the Devils still came back from a 2 to 1 deficit with less time left in the game. I'm not sure it changes it too much. But yeah those little moments of a game can always change the outcome. If you watch the replay on the Lazar block it hit the shade of his stick , we caught a good break but it was deserved because Lazar was 100% in the right place at the right time.

I was annoyed we traded for Lazar last year but once I saw he had 2 more years on his deal and his cap hit I figured it wasn't that bad of a deal. The guy is a gamer though and is someone you want in your bottom 6 on a contender.

 

[JimEIV]

If you watch the replay on the Lazar block it hit the shade of his stick , we caught a good break but it was deserved because Lazar was 100% in the right place at the right time.

How does that saying go..."the harder I work, the luckier I get"

 

[Bcap88]

Yea I would be reluctant to trade grits as well. It seems like he’s in line for a toffoli replacement

 

[Devils731]

How does that saying go..."the harder I work, the luckier I get"

I actually think the Devils work less hard in the defensive zone for better results after the tweaks.

Players are in better spots to make plays now instead of chasing behind the play without being able to affect it.

 

[Bcap88]

I actually think the Devils work less hard in the defensive zone for better results after the tweaks.

Players are in better spots to make plays now instead of chasing behind the play without being able to affect it.

The biggest thing you see now is that the opposing d men don’t have the room to walk up and down the blue line uncontested. The points seem to have better coverage to them

 

[Rhodes 81]

I'm at a 3-5 right now on the Danometer. 3 if we can get one of the goalies to perform with some consistency, 5 if we don't. The competition for the spots is the state of Pennsylvania for the Metro 3rd spot and Detroit for WC2. We just need to beat 2 of those 3 to make it. We have a game in hand and 5 more wins than the Isles, and both they and Washington have been in free fall. They're not out of the race, but I would be surprised if either of those end up jumping us at the end of the year.

The Flyers have gone on a bit of a tear concurrent with our improved play and the Pens have 3 games in hand and only 5 points back. Detroit has been pretty consistent as well. We probably need to get about 18-20 wins in the final 30 games to make what the others do irrelevant, but if any of those 3 drop off it can make the race much easier.

 

[CalamityX23]

what is this change of system apparently I'm just picking up on from the comments?

I also want speed back in the lineup..... i feel like we're still a tad bit slower than last season...

we need to get back to speed demon type hockey(with the coordinated and improved system roles ofc)....

Trade for Duclair would be nice...... lol gonna write it into existence.

 

[Rhodes 81]

what is this change of system apparently I'm just picking up on from the comments?

Some players and the announcers indicated that they were overhauling the D-zone coverage a few games ago. Others here are probably more knowledgeable than me, but just to my eye-test the major difference is that they seem to have made it the center's responsibility to cover the slot rather than interchanging that between the centers and wingers, and also reduced the dependence on the two-D swarm so one defender is more likely to be covering the net front if the center isn't there instead of that being left up to the winger as well. Essentially it should simplify the reads for the forwards so the D have better support when they do win the puck back. To me, it looks closer to how they played when they were at their best last year.

 

[Devils731]

A little visual. I think the wingers are actually more spread but this change just happened so hard to tell for sure.

 

[Devils Trap]

Any reason why all the Flames fans assume Hanifin is in the Markstrom deal as well ???

Did I miss something or?

 

[HBK27]

I would love to acquire Saros, but I'm not sure I would love the cost. I'm fine with giving up draft picks and some prospects. Roster players - I am not really in the mindset of giving up Mercer or Nemec. As far as prospects, I think anyone but Casey or Gritsyuk would be OK. I'd be OK with Holtz but that guy is going to be a 30 goal scorer in the league and when he's working he does good things.

Trotz may not need a goaltender but he may need to move one. Askarov isn't going to sit in the minors forever, and while Lankinen is UFA after this season, he plays the backup role well. Askarov won't want to, I don't think.

1st + [Holtz OR Bahl] + [Vilen OR Misyul OR Hatakka] + Clarke (unless Holtz is roster player) + Vanacek (to replace Lankinen) for Saros with extension.

1st, Holtz, Misyul/Vilen/Hatakka, Vanacek
1st, Bahl, Clarke, Misyul/Vilen/Hatakka, Vanacek

I don't know. I just feel like as solid as our roster is it's threadbare in spots and opening a new hole to plug another hole might not be great.

Saros is signed through next season, so he can't be extended until this summer (or is it Jan 1st '25?) - regardless, any trade for him now only guarantees 1 1/2 seasons, though I don't see why NJ would have any difficulty extending him given he'd be playing on a Cup caliber team for many years.

I'd be fine with any of those packages, but I don't think it gets it done.

Wonder if Nashville would consider moving Askarov and extending Saros or if NJ would even be interested in taking that risk of bringing in a 21-year old goalie to help with this season?

 

[Bcap88]

Saros is signed through next season, so he can't be extended until this summer (or is it Jan 1st '25?) - regardless, any trade for him now only guarantees 1 1/2 seasons, though I don't see why NJ would have any difficulty extending him given he'd be playing on a Cup caliber team for many years.

I'd be fine with any of those packages, but I don't think it gets it done.

Wonder if Nashville would consider moving Askarov and extending Saros or if NJ would even be interested in taking that risk of bringing in a 21-year old goalie to help with this season?

Askarov would probably cost the same if not more than saros

If NJ is looking for a young and probably cheaper goalie, I would dial up Florida on the line and ask about Spencer knight. He seems to have fallen out of favor

 

[Guadana]

I would love to acquire Saros, but I'm not sure I would love the cost. I'm fine with giving up draft picks and some prospects. Roster players - I am not really in the mindset of giving up Mercer or Nemec. As far as prospects, I think anyone but Casey or Gritsyuk would be OK. I'd be OK with Holtz but that guy is going to be a 30 goal scorer in the league and when he's working he does good things.

We should save Gritsyuk for Brandon Saad trade.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[Cheddabombs]

That's my captain!

 

[NjDevsRR]

23 pts in 19.

COOKING

 

[forceten]

Two things around goalies:

1. I'm worried about another goaltending starved NHL team signing Isaac Poulter to an NHL contract. Why aren't we doing this ourselves? and
2. The Devils blogosphere suggested that we poach another team's AHL goalie who went undrafted three times - Tomas Suchanek - a 6'2" playing for Anaheim's Gulls AHL team.

Tomas Suchanek Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Tomas Suchanek, a hockey player from Prerov, Czech Rep. born Apr 30 2003 who was active from 2021 to 2024.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[Forge]

Any reason why all the Flames fans assume Hanifin is in the Markstrom deal as well ???

Did I miss something or?

Probably just a "makes sense" sort of thing.

I haven't heard any sort of rumor that tied Hanafin to a Markstrom acquisition though

 

[Nocashstyle]

Nothing crazy. But more smoke that Trotz maybe more open to dealing Saros than what’s been led on.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Any reason why all the Flames fans assume Hanifin is in the Markstrom deal as well ???

Did I miss something or?

I'm wondering this too, I think they just are hoping to get a huge return and think that maybe would increase it? They must realize Markstrom alone would not necessarily return a haul.

I think NJ just gave up a lot for Markstrom alone retained personally, basically buying cap space as well as acquiring the player. Basically like the TB deals where they gave up assets for cost controlled term not just the talent.

 

[forceten]

Nothing crazy. But more smoke that Trotz maybe be more open to dealing Saros than what’s been led on.

Askarov doesn't want to be in the AHL and he doesn't want to be a backup. He's 21 years old (22 after the season ends), 6'3", was drafted 11th overall, and has been 91% or better everywhere he's been (please do not quote his one game stat line). It's a nice problem to have, but it's still a problem.

Saros is 29 (well, turns 29 in April). He's 5'11". He's also been 91% or better except for this season (90.3) and one other (a short 9 game AHL stint in which he otherwise was in the NHL where he was 90.6).

If you don't think you're going to compete in the next 5 years for a cup, or the very end of 5 years, Saros will be 33-34 and Askarov will be in his PRIME.

 

[JimEIV]

"Saros’ camp is eyeing the seven-year, $59.5 million deal"

Get the hell out of here.... we're not paying s goalie 8+ million dollars.

 

[forceten]

Probably just a "makes sense" sort of thing.

I haven't heard any sort of rumor that tied Hanafin to a Markstrom acquisition though

One recent tweet or article had something to that extent in a "clickbait" headline saying both players might be available and the New Jersey Devils are interested... but I didn't take the bait so I'm not sure that the article REALLY said they were a pair in a single transaction.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

"Saros’ camp is eyeing the seven-year, $59.5 million deal"

Get the hell out of here.... we're not paying s goalie 8+ million dollars.

For one of the best goalies in the league? We pay a wing more than that.

 

[Forge]

"Saros’ camp is eyeing the seven-year, $59.5 million deal"

Get the hell out of here.... we're not paying s goalie 8+ million dollars.

I don't think the team will, but I do think there's a breaking point where the team just throws caution to the wind