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

[Devils Trap]

I've been probably the most vocal critic of Mercer this season and even I think sending him out for an ancient goalie and a rental defenseman would be astronomically stupid

If we can sign Hanifin to a deal, ill stomach it.

Mercer is being used as a 3rd liner right now, we can find his level of production for way less

If CGY do Markstrom at 50%, plus take Vitek back thats almost 6 million in savings aka 90% of what Hanifin wants.

We could make it work, not to mention Mercer probably wants 5+ million

 

[Rhodes 81]

It's one dude claiming some other dude on a Calgary Flames forum has insider knowledge.

So it's almost certainly bunk

Yep, no reason to think this is a reality.

Why do we want to trade from a position of weakness for a position of strength? I guess unless the plan is to flip L Hughes or Nemo.

There's definitely a world where a massive trade like this makes sense for both teams. Let's ignore the Mercer+Holtz thing for a minute and just say we're willing to trade Mercer + significant picks/prospects. The plan could be for Hanifin to come in and eat the minutes Bahl has struggled to eat, then maybe trade Seigs in the offseason to free up the money to afford Hanifin and you also get an upgrade in goal that hopefully doesn't blow up in your face in a year or two. Hanifin solidifies the left side until Luke is ready to, and he is not a bad #2 after that. Our present D corp with Hanifin on the top pair and shifting everyone else down a peg is something I could see contending. It would be a huge bet to make by Fitz that this team could be a championship team and he'll figure out the cap in 2 years.

for Calgary, they probably can't get a centerpiece like Mercer by just trading one or the other, but as a package deal they can.

I doubt any of this is happening, though. And I don't care what we would be getting back, selling Mercer+Holtz would be a disaster that I just don't think Fitz would do.

 

[CalamityX23]

We could get Duclair as an option. I don't think we have to resign Tofolli, give Holtz a damn chance. Like someone said, we need a speedier player on the 4th line. Holtz there is just not really a great use but obviously right now there's not many options.

yaaasss

ring in Duclair!!!!

Bring back some speed Fitz!

 

[Emperoreddy]

Yep, no reason to think this is a reality.

There's definitely a world where a massive trade like this makes sense for both teams. Let's ignore the Mercer+Holtz thing for a minute and just say we're willing to trade Mercer + significant picks/prospects. The plan could be for Hanifin to come in and eat the minutes Bahl has struggled to eat, then maybe trade Seigs in the offseason to free up the money to afford Hanifin and you also get an upgrade in goal that hopefully doesn't blow up in your face in a year or two. Hanifin solidifies the left side until Luke is ready to, and he is not a bad #2 after that. Our present D corp with Hanifin on the top pair and shifting everyone else down a peg is something I could see contending. It would be a huge bet to make by Fitz that this team could be a championship team and he'll figure out the cap in 2 years.

for Calgary, they probably can't get a centerpiece like Mercer by just trading one or the other, but as a package deal they can.

I doubt any of this is happening, though. And I don't care what we would be getting back, selling Mercer+Holtz would be a disaster that I just don't think Fitz would do.

Also I would imagine Vitek would be going the other way so that plus some retention on Markstrom would in theory create enough space to resign Hanifin. Nevermind that money that was ear marked for both McLeod and Mercer suddenly doesn't need to be ear marked for that anymore.

All that said while we could do it, I'm not sure we should.

I really don't see a need or reason for Mercer to be involved in this. Holtz+ whatever for Markstrom is rich but fair enough considering how dire out goalie situation is.

 

[Emperoreddy]

There is no reality where Holtz and Mercer is going to Calgary unless someone like Coleman is coming back with Markstrom. It's not happening.

An unsigned Hanifin doesn't make that trade work either.

 

[Devils Trap]

Id much rather a deal like

Markstrom (retained) + Tanev for Holtz, Pick, Prospect

Tanev is more of the mold of what I think we need. And im sure Luke will love playing with him lol

 

[Devils731]

So the guy on the trade board said his source is a poster at CalagryPuck.com.

I checked out there board and his scoop was the Fitz called Calgary last night to re-engage talks.

All the rest seems speculative from people just spitballing.

 

[JrFischer54]

some flames fan you know is just watching your heads explode in this thread smh

 

[guitarguyvic]

Jesus it’s last year’s Mercer for Meier BS all over again. Except even more stupid.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Who do you think pushed for the tweaking of the system because I think Ruff is too stubborn....Last year they said Fitz Marty and Ruff made the decision to go with Schmid but I think it was Fitz and Marty imo never bought that Ruff was on board

That's what I was wondering too. Prob Fitz here as well. It's kind of funny though....their philosophy is to have everyone involved but really we're at a situation where Fitz (presumably) had to tell Ruff to finally change his shitty system. It is interesting what is actually happening behind the scenes.

 

[Emperoreddy]

So the guy on the trade board said his source is a poster at CalagryPuck.com.

I checked out there board and his scoop was the Fitz called Calgary last night to re-engage talks.

All the rest seems speculative from people just spitballing.

I can at least buy talks starting up again because it does make sense as Markstrom doubles as a goalie who doesn't suck and wouldn't cost the farm.

The other options either are pure trash or are going to be wildly more expensive.

Nashville probably wants Mercer and Casey just to start talking.

 

[Devils Trap]

I can at least buy talks starting up again because it does make sense as Markstrom doubles as a goalie who doesn't suck and wouldn't cost the farm.

The other options either are pure trash or are going to be wildly more expensive.

Nashville probably wants Mercer and Casey just to start talking.

That I agree. I dont think a deal gets that close and just dies never to be talked about again

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

We will never know but my opinion is the all-star break is when coaching and management got a lot of free time to huddle, study, and make changes they felt would be beneficial.

Then coming back from the break is when the teaching the players began.

So they need an entire week of doing nothing to come up with changes? Playoffs will be fun then when you have to constantly adjust within games!

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I wouldn't hate Markstrom for a reason that's going under the radar too, he'll be in the mold of PK Subban deal with NSH where if he does suck then you can easily move off of him within a year or two. If we get Saros and god forbid he is bad, we're stuck trying to fix his game over the next contract because I assume that Devils will extend him right off the bat in the offseason.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Will they ever give Schmid another chance? I don't want Vitek ever again if we can afford it.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Reminder any trade would not involve our 2024 1st as it's tied up in the Meier deal. We would be trading our 2025 1st in any mid-season goalie trade.

We probably are not going to the ECF so we should have our 2024 first come draft day.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I can't see any scenario that makes sense to send Mercer to Calgary even if Hanifin and Markstrom with retention are going to NJ. Mercer should be a lifer in NJ.

 

[Devils Trap]

I wouldn't hate Markstrom for a reason that's going under the radar too, he'll be in the mold of PK Subban deal with NSH where if he does suck then you can easily move off of him within a year or two. If we get Saros and god forbid he is bad, we're stuck trying to fix his game over the next contract because I assume that Devils will extend him right off the bat in the offseason.

Also 2 years is exactly when Nico's deal is up no?? So his cap goes away and Daws / Schmid may be ready

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I really hope Ruff doesn’t drive Daws into the ground. Feels like this could have been a good game to get Schmid back in.

Yea I don't understand this

 

[JrFischer54]

markstrom is fine for this team people gotta stop with the ageism. bring him over im guessing vitek going back the other way and since hes getting 3.4 for next year markstrom is very attractive for next year. 6 million his final year isn't scary in the least. gotta remember the guy is willing to come here he wants to win and we are suppose to be contenders so can't see him falling off a big cliff

if markstrom comes here and plays well no issue giving himanother 2 year deal

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Yeah they basically have to play Daws at this point, might give more credence to a goalie trade coming soon if they're doing this and unsure of when Vitek is coming back

markstrom is fine for this team people gotta stop with the ageism. bring him over im guessing vitek going back the other way and since hes getting 3.4 for next year markstrom is very attractive for next year. 6 million his final year isn't scary in the least. gotta remember the guy is willing to come here he wants to win and we are suppose to be contenders so can't see him falling off a big cliff

Idk if my point I made was what you were replying to indirectly but I don't think age matters but more so the ability to get out of his deal if he does suck lol

Also 2 years is exactly when Nico's deal is up no?? So his cap goes away and Daws / Schmid may be ready

Well, at that point, you can try to see what the goalie market is again. But this assumes that Markstrom is either bad or would walk. If he's good, NJ would still keep him for a bit longer until a guy is brought along to take his job

 

[Unknown Caller]

I can't see any scenario that makes sense to send Mercer to Calgary even if Hanifin and Markstrom with retention are going to NJ. Mercer should be a lifer in NJ.

Mercer won't be a lifer in NJ. Your cornerstone lifers are Jack, Luke, Hischier, Bratt, and Nemec. Meier and Hamilton are lifers through acquisition. Everyone else is on the periphery and movable.

 

[Emperoreddy]

They are in desperation mode and Daws is playing well while Scmid hasn't played one good game in months both NHL and AHL.

If Vitek is still hurt next week then Schmid probably sees a game barring a goalie trade

 

[TheUnseenHand]

markstrom is fine for this team people gotta stop with the ageism. bring him over im guessing vitek going back the other way and since hes getting 3.4 for next year markstrom is very attractive for next year. 6 million his final year isn't scary in the least. gotta remember the guy is willing to come here he wants to win and we are suppose to be contenders so can't see him falling off a big cliff

if markstrom comes here and plays well no issue giving himanother 2 year deal

It's less about the fact that he's old and mediocre than it is about giving up good, young cost controlled assets and draft capital for an old, mediocre goalie. If it was just about money, this conversation would be different.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Markstrom would basically be your attempt to stop the vet merry-go-round until one of the young goalies was 100% ready to be the starter.