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

[JimEIV]

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

And that's why we aren't paying a goalie that

 

[Forge]

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

Good point

At some point, jobs are on the line. I think its a component that is often forgotten by fans and I think its really hard to gauge the actions with that kind of pressure variable.

Do I think the devils want to pay that much to a goalie? No, I don't.

Do I think it would happen if people start getting scared? Yes I do

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

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.

Ya I would love Duclair

 

[JimEIV]

Good point

At some point, jobs are on the line. I think its a component that is often forgotten by fans and I think its really hard to gauge the actions with that kind of pressure variable.

Do I think the devils want to pay that much to a goalie? No, I don't.

Do I think it would happen if people start getting scared? Yes I do

You have upcoming Luke, Nemec and Mercer contracts

Lesser but still due Bahl and Hatakka, Schmid and Daws

Plus still some roster to fill out assuming McLeod Toffolli, Nosek, Tierney need to be back filled.

There is no room for 8+ million dollar goalie.

 

[Forge]

You have upcoming Luke, Nemec and Mercer contracts

Lesser but still due Bahl and Hatakka, Schmid and Daws

Plus still some roster to fill out assuming McLeod Toffolli, Nosek, Tierney need to be back filled.

There is no room for 8+ million dollar goalie.

I think there probably is if you move Mercer in the deal and I don't think he's an unreasonable return as he starts hitting real money

 

[Bleedred]

You have upcoming Luke, Nemec and Mercer contracts

Lesser but still due Bahl and Hatakka, Schmid and Daws

Plus still some roster to fill out assuming McLeod Toffolli, Nosek, Tierney need to be back filled.

There is no room for 8+ million dollar goalie.

Bahl is not due because I don’t see us keeping him in 2025 when his contract ends. I’ve maintained that for a while now. I’ll be shocked if I’m wrong. He’s not worth more than what he’s making now, that’s for sure.

Hatakka is a long way from anything more than a league minimum contract. He may never even be a regular here.

Daws and Schmid are also a bit away from any significant money deal if they ever get one.

Most of the guys not named Toffoli can be replaced or retained with pretty cheap deals. All of them other than Toffoli are already on cheap deals.

 

[NJDevs26]

Good point

At some point, jobs are on the line. I think its a component that is often forgotten by fans and I think its really hard to gauge the actions with that kind of pressure variable.

Do I think the devils want to pay that much to a goalie? No, I don't.

Do I think it would happen if people start getting scared? Yes I do

It ain’t gonna be Fitz’s job on the line in the near term although the owners did bin off Shero months after he signed an extension so I guess theoretically it’s possible to do the same with Fitz. These owners have never been about win now though, for better and worse.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

To me, it looks closer to how they played when they were at their best last year.

I'm fairly sure the pre-tweak system is the same system they used last season. It's just that this season's roster was terrible at executing it and probably also due to opposing teams having adjusted to it and know how to counter.

 

[JimEIV]

Bahl is not due because I don’t see us keeping him in 2025 when his contract ends. I’ve maintained that for a while now. I’ll be shocked if I’m wrong. He’s not worth more than what he’s making now, that’s for sure.

Hatakka is a long way from anything more than a league minimum contract. He may never even be a regular here.

Daws and Schmid are also a bit away from any significant money deal if they ever get one.

Most of the guys not named Toffoli can be replaced or retained with pretty cheap deals. All of them other than Toffoli are already on cheap deals.

You know Luke and Nemec are getting big long term contracts don't you?

 

[Forge]

It ain’t gonna be Fitz’s job on the line in the near term although the owners did bin off Shero months after he signed an extension so I guess theoretically it’s possible to do the same with Fitz. These owners have never been about win now though, for better and worse.

I do agree with that in general. Given ownership's history here and with the sixers, I don't think they lack for patience for the most part.

I just don't know the behind the scenes goings on to say for sure and I'm not sure that a single regression year is going to spark a fire or anything, but I'm not going to rule it out

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

You have upcoming Luke, Nemec and Mercer contracts

Lesser but still due Bahl and Hatakka, Schmid and Daws

Plus still some roster to fill out assuming McLeod Toffolli, Nosek, Tierney need to be back filled.

There is no room for 8+ million dollar goalie.

There could quite easily be room made for an 8+ million dollar goalie starting in 2025-26 (which is when Saros is up for a deal). Trade Dougie, Casey ELC slides in, boom, there’s your room.

 

[Forge]

There could quite easily be room made for an 8+ million dollar goalie starting in 2025-26 (which is when Saros is up for a deal). Trade Dougie, Casey ELC slides in, boom, there’s your room.

Also, in 2 years Palat drops from a NMC to 10 team.

If he's moved post july 1, he's basically 2 years, 9 million in real cash for a team taking him on.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Lazar mentioned that one of the tweaks is now treating the wingers and center separately. The center will now be asked to cover a lot of the ice while the wingers focus on just their side.

Isn't this how it should be? I found it really weird (and bad) to have all of the forwards responsibilities changing on the fly at any given point. On top of that you had the 2 dman pressuring the puck carrier thing but that's been talked about a lot already.

 

[JimEIV]

There could quite easily be room made for an 8+ million dollar goalie starting in 2025-26 (which is when Saros is up for a deal). Trade Dougie, Casey ELC slides in, boom, there’s your room.

You're going to be adding 16 million for Luke and Nemec.

Here is your gauge:

Owen Power signed a seven-year, $58.45 million contract

 

[Bleedred]

You know Luke and Nemec are getting big long term contracts don't you?

I meant out of the last list of players you named.

Agree on those two, but I think everybody else (other than Toffoli) are either pretty cheaply replaceable or have yet to show that they aren't pretty cheaply replaceable.

If we do acquire a bigger goalie, it will probably be a while before Daws/Schmid get a significant contract, if they ever do here.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

It's probably going to take at least Mercer. Friedman already speculated that Carolina will put Necas on the table for Saros.

If the Canes got Saros, I will be very scared of that team.

 

[Bcap88]

I can see Mercer getting close to the Nico contract as well if they decide to go long term

I would not be trading Mercer for saros

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

You're going to be adding 16 million for Luke and Nemec.

Here is your gauge:

Owen Power signed a seven-year, $58.45 million contract

And we have 2.5+ million coming off from the Cory and Kuokkanen buyouts plus Kovy penalty. Plus the cap will move up. The GM is literally paid to solve problems like this. If we want a top goalie, we will be paying them a contract like this, and will make the necessary moves to make it happen.

 

[AfroThunder396]

If Mercer wants +7.5M on his RFA deal he can go kick rocks

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I'd like to see what Schmid has to offer. After that re-assess and maybe get a veteran goalie. I like Daws but we need another guy to play too. Vitek isn't it but I also don't want to overpay either. Maybe Fleury? Allen?

 

[Forge]

I can see Mercer getting close to the Nico contract as well if they decide to go long term

I would not be trading Mercer for saros

I think there are two primary questions - what does the team believe Mercer's upside moving forward and how well do they think Saros ages?

I get very nervous about paying market rate for guys in their 30s. So that is always scary for me. But teams and GMs do it and sometimes they work for the most part.

 

[JimEIV]

And we have 2.5+ million coming off from the Cory and Kuokkanen buyouts plus Kovy penalty. Plus the cap will move up. The GM is literally paid to solve problems like this. If we want a top goalie, we will be paying them a contract like this, and will make the necessary moves to make it happen.

You're going to add 3 ~58 million dollar contracts for Soros, Nemec and Luke?

I personally don't think our existing roster is good enough to commit 24 to 27 million dollars to 3 players combined with our existing commitments. You do this and your roster has to suffer in other places.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I can see Mercer getting close to the Nico contract as well if they decide to go long term

I would not be trading Mercer for saros

I think the Nico contract was a mistake tbh. I think it'd be a mistake for Mercer too. There's nothing to suggest so far he'll be worth that 7m+ in the future.

 

[Bcap88]

If Mercer wants +7.5M on his RFA deal he can go kick rocks

Nico got that contract and Mercer has similar numbers as Nico did after his first two years

You are probably pushing near 7 aav

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

You're going to add 3 ~58 million dollar contracts for Soros, Nemec and Luke?

I personally don't think our existing roster is good enough to commit 24 to 27 million dollars to 3 players combined with our existing commitments. You do this and your roster has to suffer in other places.

Yeah, sure. Way too many variables in play before any of those contracts would be signed.