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

[Emperoreddy]

They wouldn’t sign severson to a long term deal but now all of the sudden want to sign hanifin to one ? lol

We aren't going to pay Severson that money to be a bottom pairing guy. Hanafin would be a top 4 guy here his entire contract.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I think I’d rather just give up some crumbs for Jake Allen lol

 

[Emperoreddy]

Holtz and Mercer for those two would be way too much though.

They can have Holtz for just Markstrom with futures or they can have Mercer for Markstrom and Hanifin and futures, but not both. That would be stupid

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

They wouldn’t sign severson to a long term deal but now all of the sudden want to sign hanifin to one ? lol

Fitzgerald needs to know when to hold em and when to fold em

This is the time you told em

It could be a simple LHD v RHD situation.

Severson was always going to be behind Hamilton and Nemec.

With Hanifin on board we can shift Siegenthaler off the top pair.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I mean if they get Hanifin, their defense would be the best in the league. You could've made that case with Nemec/Luke fully developed anyway but getting a bonafide top 4 without worry of dropping in play would be insanity. He's also probably perfect for the skating system as well

 

[Emperoreddy]

It could be a simple LHD v RHD situation.

Severson was always going to be behind Hamilton and Nemec.

With Hanifin on board we can shift Siegenthaler off the top pair.

It would absolutely be that. You can invest even more money into our right side then we have, but you can on the left. Especially as it seems like Siegs has turned back into a pumpkin and Bahl is probably not better then a 3rd pairing guy.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I trust Fitz

 

[Emperoreddy]

I mean if they get Hanifin, their defense would be the best in the league. You could've made that case with Nemec/Luke fully developed anyway but getting a bonafide top 4 without worry of dropping in play would be insanity. He's also probably perfect for the skating system as well

I would 100% assume the plan would be to lock him up too, so it's not just a move for this year.

I'm skeptical this actually happens though. Idk it feels too large a deal.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Also I don't get why Hanifin would also play if he was in this deal and it's this close. Would be utterly stupidity by both GM's

 

[Emperoreddy]

Also I don't get why Hanifin would also play if he was in this deal and it's this close. Would be utterly stupidity by both GM's

It's a fair point, but both teams would be making this deal for beyond this year so I'm not sure a minor injury either way would nuke it.

 

[DerekDevils30]

I mean if they get Hanifin, their defense would be the best in the league. You could've made that case with Nemec/Luke fully developed anyway but getting a bonafide top 4 without worry of dropping in play would be insanity. He's also probably perfect for the skating system as well

As I wrap my brain around that possibility it’s hard not to see it as a good move really. A top 4 borderline top pairing D (according to Flames fans) who skates like the wind and matches up against top competition. It would stink to lose Mercer but if you can have Hanifin locked up plus Markstrom for another 2 seasons while allowing Daws to develop as a backup it sounds much more palatable.

A D corps of Hanifin, Hamilton, Hughes, Nemec, Siegs, Marino is about as good as it gets in the coming seasons. Of course there will need to be some cap gymnastics to be done but GM’s have shown it’s doable. Would put us in a full on contention push the next few seasons.

Downside is it could really hurt our forward depth and would stink to lose Mercer who I think is going to be a very good player.

All this thought for what will end up being Vladar to the Devils for a late pick.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Wings lost in regulation BTW so still only 2 points out of WC2

 

[Emperoreddy]

As I wrap my brain around that possibility it’s hard not to see it as a good move really. A top 4 borderline top pairing D (according to Flames fans) who skates like the wind and matches up against top competition. It would stink to lose Mercer but if you can have Hanifin locked up plus Markstrom for another 2 seasons while allowing Daws to develop as a backup it sounds much more palatable.

A D corps of Hanifin, Hamilton, Hughes, Nemec, Siegs, Marino is about as good as it gets in the coming seasons. Of course there will need to be some cap gymnastics to be done but GM’s have shown it’s doable. Would put us in a full on contention push the next few seasons.

Downside is it could really hurt our forward depth and would stink to lose Mercer who I think is going to be a very good player.

All this thought for what will end up being Vladar to the Devils for a late pick.

It would mean Toffi is probably here to stay, and I think you start to count on Gritz coming in down the line more then before.

Also really need Holtz to pan out assuming he isn't in the deal (hard time believing we trade both Holtz and Mercer).

Fitz gotta draft more forwards well though too

 

[Reinhart]

Did Dougie play with him in Calgary? That might be the option come playoff time when Dougie comes back like the Undertaker if we make it

They were never in Calgary together. In fact, Hamilton was part of the package going to Carolina in the trade that featured Hanifin in a package coming back to Calgary. It was:

To Carolina:
Hamilton
Ferland
Rights to Fox (who wouldn't sign in Calgary, and who ended up not signing in Carolina either)

To Calgary:
Lindholm
Hanifin

If Hanifin ends up being part of the trade, then it is a bit funny that the Devils end up with both Hamilton and Hanifin.

 

[NjDevsRR]

We are deep at RW.

Bratt
Toffoli
Meier
Mercer
Holtz

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

I mean if they get Hanifin, their defense would be the best in the league. You could've made that case with Nemec/Luke fully developed anyway but getting a bonafide top 4 without worry of dropping in play would be insanity. He's also probably perfect for the skating system as well

Only problem is they shouldn't have drafted defense heavy only to trade forwards for older defenseman when they are fwd poor in the system...I can see Holtz but not Mercer....Hopefully it's wrong if not just stupid management move by Fitz and I know Hanifan isn't old but how does the cap work....My point is the strength of our system is defense now u trade for it makes no sense...

 

[Emperoreddy]

As I wrap my brain around that possibility it’s hard not to see it as a good move really. A top 4 borderline top pairing D (according to Flames fans) who skates like the wind and matches up against top competition. It would stink to lose Mercer but if you can have Hanifin locked up plus Markstrom for another 2 seasons while allowing Daws to develop as a backup it sounds much more palatable.

A D corps of Hanifin, Hamilton, Hughes, Nemec, Siegs, Marino is about as good as it gets in the coming seasons. Of course there will need to be some cap gymnastics to be done but GM’s have shown it’s doable. Would put us in a full on contention push the next few seasons.

Downside is it could really hurt our forward depth and would stink to lose Mercer who I think is going to be a very good player.

All this thought for what will end up being Vladar to the Devils for a late pick.

Also it's hard not to see a both a skill and depth issue on our left side. This season.

Luke is a stud and will continue to grow into a bigger one, we know that. But Siegs has not been able to handle the bigger minutes one bit this year.

Bahl I think gets undue hate but he isn't a top 4 Dman either.

I do think we were going to need to make a move there at some point if we want to win a cup.

I like Hatakka, but I sure as f*** don't want to count on him becoming a top 4 dude

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

As I wrap my brain around that possibility it’s hard not to see it as a good move really. A top 4 borderline top pairing D (according to Flames fans) who skates like the wind and matches up against top competition. It would stink to lose Mercer but if you can have Hanifin locked up plus Markstrom for another 2 seasons while allowing Daws to develop as a backup it sounds much more palatable.

A D corps of Hanifin, Hamilton, Hughes, Nemec, Siegs, Marino is about as good as it gets in the coming seasons. Of course there will need to be some cap gymnastics to be done but GM’s have shown it’s doable. Would put us in a full on contention push the next few seasons.

Downside is it could really hurt our forward depth and would stink to lose Mercer who I think is going to be a very good player.

All this thought for what will end up being Vladar to the Devils for a late pick.

There's some cons to this, not sure what Lindy did to deserve a massive trade like this but at the same time, he has next to no excuses if it goes through. Maybe the idea with trading Mercer is they've invested so much on that side that they can cut back a forward or two. This team still needs to find room for Holtz in the top 9 + Gritsyuk will apparently be over within a year according to him telling a fan in Russia. Maybe that's Fitz's thinking, I don't necessarily agree with it but just going through the logic in my head

 

[NjDevsRR]

There's some cons to this, not sure what Lindy did to deserve a massive trade like this but at the same time, he has next to no excuses if it goes through. Maybe the idea with trading Mercer is they've invested so much on that side that they can cut back a forward or two. This team still needs to find room for Holtz in the top 9 + Gritsyuk will apparently be over within a year according to him telling a fan in Russia. Maybe that's Fitz's thinking, I don't necessarily agree with it but just going through the logic in my head

Plus Timo if they ever wise up and play him at RW. Along with Bratt Toff and Holtz that RW depth chart is wild.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

We are deep at RW.

Bratt
Toffoli
Meier
Mercer
Holtz

Can't sign Toffolli and Hanifan ...Mercer is outplaying Meier in a down year

 

[DerekDevils30]

Also it's hard not to see a both a skill and depth issue on our left side. This season.

Luke is a stud and will continue to grow into a bigger one, we know that. But Siegs has not been able to handle the bigger minutes one bit this year.

Bahl I think gets undue hate but he isn't a top 4 Dman either.

I do think we were going to need to make a move there at some point if we want to win a cup.

I like Hatakka, but I sure as f*** don't want to count on him becoming a top 4 dude

100%. Hanifin slotting in on the left side allows Luke to breathe. He’s clearly hit a bit of a wall. Bahl isn’t a top 4 guy and might never be. And who knows with Siegs but I’d love to see him in a 2nd pair role.

 

[Emperoreddy]

There's some cons to this, not sure what Lindy did to deserve a massive trade like this but at the same time, he has next to no excuses if it goes through. Maybe the idea with trading Mercer is they've invested so much on that side that they can cut back a forward or two. This team still needs to find room for Holtz in the top 9 + Gritsyuk will apparently be over within a year according to him telling a fan in Russia. Maybe that's Fitz's thinking, I don't necessarily agree with it but just going through the logic in my head

I don't think Fitz does this to reward Lindy. I think he does this for beyond just this season.

Markstrom would be one half of our goalie tandem next year and probably the year after.

I would be shocked if Fitz trades for Hanifin as a pure rental so he would be a core piece of our blueline for our entire window as well.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Can't sign Toffolli and Hanifan ...Mercer is outplaying Meier in a down year

Yeah you can. Vitek will be gone this year if he isn't included in the trade. We don't have tk extend McLeod anymore, same with Mercer.

Markstrom is also almost 100 having salary retained.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We are deep at RW.

Bratt
Toffoli
Meier
Mercer
Holtz

I keep forgetting Timo can play RW just fine because Ruff keeps playing him on the left side for reasons I'm not sure about.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Can't sign Toffolli and Hanifan ...Mercer is outplaying Meier in a down year

Oh we def can