Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023 offseason part II

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I completely forgot we had him. I mean, "I would have bet money he never played for us" kind of forgot.
I remembered we had him, I just kind of don't have any real memories of him playing here, which isn't the worst thing. I have memories of guys like Seth Helgeson playing here and they aren't good ones. I'd rather have no memories of Helgeson than the memories I do have.
 
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It will be the only thing i think of when i hear Vern Fiddler’s name for the rest of my life.

 
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So are we going to announce Lindy’s new deal the first day of camp or is it going to leak he had a team option all along lol…Lou would be proud of the secrecy here

Honestly kind of weird.
It's almost assuredly a non-story, but cap friendly (which is not gospel, by the way, nor do they even know half the head coaches salaries) have both us and Calgary as having no head coach under contract. The Flames announced Ryan Huska as the head coach almost 3 months ago.

It doesn't mean he hasn't been signed yet. I think he'll be ready for opening day of training camp and is likely already in meetings with the rest of the staff. He didn't do the development camp back in July, but the way Fitz seems to run that camp is without the NHL coaching staff and with Kevin Dineen and the development coaches. Lou always had the NHL coaching staff on hand, as did Shero when he was here. 2022 would have been the first development camp under Fitz (none in 2020, nor 2021 because of covid) and I don't think Ruff was in attendance for the 2022 camp either.

Some organizations don't have their NHL coaching staff on hand for those and some do. And ever since we've been doing the rookie camp a week before vets report/rookie tournament (which has only been in the post-Lou years) I don't think we use the NHL coaching staff for those either. It's usually just the AHL staff and maybe some of the development coacvhes. We may have even had Patrik Elias on hand as one of the coaches one year (maybe I'm wrong on that) for that.
 
It's almost assuredly a non-story, but cap friendly (which is not gospel, by the way, nor do they even know half the head coaches salaries) have both us and Calgary as having no head coach under contract. The Flames announced Ryan Huska as the head coach almost 3 months ago.

It doesn't mean he hasn't been signed yet. I think he'll be ready for opening day of training camp and is likely already in meetings with the rest of the staff. He didn't do the development camp back in July, but the way Fitz seems to run that camp is without the NHL coaching staff and with Kevin Dineen and the development coaches. Lou always had the NHL coaching staff on hand, as did Shero when he was here. 2022 would have been the first development camp under Fitz (none in 2020, nor 2021 because of covid) and I don't think Ruff was in attendance for the 2022 camp either.

Some organizations don't have their NHL coaching staff on hand for those and some do. And ever since we've been doing the rookie camp a week before vets report/rookie tournament (which has only been in the post-Lou years) I don't think we use the NHL coaching staff for those either. It's usually just the AHL staff and maybe some of the development coacvhes. We may have even had Patrik Elias on hand as one of the coaches one year (maybe I'm wrong on that) for that.
I’m skeptical either team is without a head coach under contract. It’s too close to camp.
 
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I just realized I forgot to listen to the Fitzy interview on Spittin Chiclets, maybe he spilled the beans there lol...they do get into Lindy at about the hour and thirty minute mark but it wasn't much other than the platitudes we've heard before, I doubt they really ever got into contract stuff.

 
Who should the devils sign a PTO contact to? Ideas?

The one that comes to mind would be Jaroslav Halak. Anyone else?
Halak seems a great pickup on paper, I like him alot, but being 38 yo. they probably have other ideas about the goalie position.

I wouldn't mind seeing Nick Holden taken. He's also bit overage being 36, but might be exactly the kind of stay at home guy the Devils are missing. I could see a world where the current defense is trying to play too hard or too cute. Holden has been in teams that know how to shut it down.
 
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I have to think the team has some kind of exit strategy regarding Lindy. IMO they planned to have him be a transitional coach to teach the young kids and build culture, and then fire him after 3 years and bring in either someone young and hungry (Brunette) or a Cup chaser.

Unexpectedly being this good put them in a bit of a bind where now they've attached themselves to a mid coach that they can't really justify firing. But you also don't want to waste your young core's prime with a retread coach that hasn't done anything in 15 years. And obviously Lindy won't leave on his own, this is a sick gig and he doesn't really need to do much other than be the supportive kindly grandpa in the room.

I have to wonder if there's a wink-wink-nudge-nudge kind of understanding that he'll coach one more year before either "retiring" with a generous financial package or being "promoted" to chief pro scout or something at the end of this season. That way they can save face by not firing him while still being free to find a new guy more equipped for Cup chasing.
 
Who should the devils sign a PTO contact to? Ideas?

The one that comes to mind would be Jaroslav Halak. Anyone else?

Halak seems a great pickup on paper, I like him alot, but being 38 yo. they probably have other ideas about the goalie position.

I wouldn't mind seeing Nick Holden taken. He's also bit overage being 36, but might be exactly the kind of stay at home guy the Devils are missing. I could see a world where the current defense is trying to play too hard or too cute. Holden has been in teams that know how to shut it down.

I think we should bring in 2 PTO forwards, and 1 PTO goalie.

- 2 of Zach Parise, Tomas Tatar, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, or Zach Aston-Reese
- Halak
 
Bratt - Hughes - Toffoli
Meier - Hischier - Holtz/Mercer
Palat - Haula - Mercer/Clarke
Foote - McLeod - Bastian
Nosek, Lazar

If Holtz proves to not be ready for full time top 6 duty, Mercer claims a top 6 slot.

Clarke would then have the opportunity to land a spot alongside Palat and Haula on line 3. If he proves to not be ready for that role, that's where a PTO can step in. or maybe even Foote can play a 3rd line role.

McLeod also a huge wildcard here. If he's suspended for any lengthy period of time, Devils definitely need to sign an additional forward.
 
I have to think the team has some kind of exit strategy regarding Lindy. IMO they planned to have him be a transitional coach to teach the young kids and build culture, and then fire him after 3 years and bring in either someone young and hungry (Brunette) or a Cup chaser.

Unexpectedly being this good put them in a bit of a bind where now they've attached themselves to a mid coach that they can't really justify firing. But you also don't want to waste your young core's prime with a retread coach that hasn't done anything in 15 years. And obviously Lindy won't leave on his own, this is a sick gig and he doesn't really need to do much other than be the supportive kindly grandpa in the room.

I have to wonder if there's a wink-wink-nudge-nudge kind of understanding that he'll coach one more year before either "retiring" with a generous financial package or being "promoted" to chief pro scout or something at the end of this season. That way they can save face by not firing him while still being free to find a new guy more equipped for Cup chasing.
I think this was definitely the plan all along.

But I also don’t hate the idea of Ruff as the HC, if he has a strong group of assistants around him. He seems to be able to push the right buttons and he’s far from a dinosaur that a lot of the old coaches are. He’s adapted to the times and has found success in a different era that the one he played in and started coaching in.

It’s also crazy to think he’s only 63. I’ve always thought he was so much older.
 
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Also - I think the trade deadline is going to be a time to add for us.

Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, Scott Laughton, Noah Cates, Colton Sissons, Yakov Trenin, and Adam Henrique all strike me as great options at forward.

Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, Brendan Dillon, Dylan Demelo, and Jacob Middleton all are good options on defense.
 
I think we should bring in 2 PTO forwards, and 1 PTO goalie.

- 2 of Zach Parise, Tomas Tatar, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, or Zach Aston-Reese
- Halak
I doubt Parise/Tatar will be PTO options. The only way would be if it is an agreement of a PTO-to-contract or if Parise isn’t 100% on if he wants to return.

Aston-Reese makes a lot of sense, especially since it seemed like he was coming as a PTO last year. He could be another McLeod insurance as Fitz seems to be trying to add more safe guys to the bottom six.

Same for Halak as just a back up option in case the Devils think Schmid needs more time and nothing breaks their way on the waiver wire.

It seems like we are quite low on veterans for pre-season. Haven’t exactly looked into it too deeply, but might be nice to have an extra option or two for the early pre-season games.
 
So are we going to announce Lindy’s new deal the first day of camp or is it going to leak he had a team option all along lol…Lou would be proud of the secrecy here

Maybe they have some kind of gentleman's agreement on bringing Ruff back, or maybe there is a dispute about how many years to give him?

I don't think it could be kept secret this long if he was already re-signed, but I don't know what the hold up is.
 
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