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

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Not a fan at all of Amanda’s work. If there isn’t something newsworthy coming, she’s being a troll.

Eklund says (according to Kevin Weekes) that an 8x8.5 deal for Meier is going to happen. Eklund is a hack and I do not see this on Weekes’ Twitter….so who knows.

Weekes was hinting at that very heavily the other day on Twitter

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Not a fan at all of Amanda’s work. If there isn’t something newsworthy coming, she’s being a troll.

Eklund says (according to Kevin Weekes) that an 8x8.5 deal for Meier is going to happen. Eklund is a hack and I do not see this on Weekes’ Twitter….so who knows.

You can't call Amanda being a troll then mention the two biggest trolls in the hockey forum. People forget she's not a beat writer but she's a Devils content creator and just publishes what the team tells her.

 

[longislanddevil]

You can't call Amanda being a troll then mention the two biggest trolls in the hockey forum. People forget she's not a beat writer but she's a Devils content creator and just publishes what the team tells her.

Fair enough. I will refrain from further critiquing her work right now, as well. I’m really glad we have Ryan though….he’s terrific.

 

[My3Sons]

I want Toffoli or Debrusk first and foremost as I think we really need another top 6er. If they doesn’t work though I’d be down for a Backlund. There’s a few 3rd line options I like. I like Fast. He’s been really good defensively. Maybe that fades outside of Carolina and away from Staal but I think he’s a solid. Then guys like Suter, Engvall, Brown. Brown’s a bit of an interesting one because he was really good and then just didn’t play last year really so not sure how he’d hold up

Salary wise they have sort of committed to Palat as the sixth guy assuming they extend Meier.

 

[Eggtimer]

anyone else here thinking who the f*** is noah cates?

...and what kind of defensive center has a 39.5 FO% (1054 FO)

i'm calling crock of crap

I watch the flames often and always say to myself that Backlund would make the absolute perfect 3c for us. However his cap hit is more of a 2c price .If he came with some retention , I’d love to get him

 

[njdevils1982]

C'mon in the year of our lord 2023 we're really still judging defense by faceoffs?

"faceoffs dont matter"

I see him wearing Yankees gear all the time.

then he might be one of the people that actually is a fan

 

[njdevils1982]

Tbf, who is legitimately watching the 2022-2023 Flyers unless you're grabbing data or just a sick Flyers fan? I did see a ton of praise being given to Cates this year for being good defensively so it probably tracks.

that's fair.

but really, i've never heard of him before today


...and im drunk after coming back from a bluegrass festival and love talking shit

(and im inspired to somehow get a gig in said fest next year with my homemade banjo/guitar....already called a few people i know to get a band together for the event.....there will be bluegrass kiss and bluegrass yo la tengo in the set)

 

[Hisch13r]

Salary wise they have sort of committed to Palat as the sixth guy assuming they extend Meier.

There's still space to add a guy for this year. Maybe next year it's harder because of Mercer's deal but it's definitely possible this year and maybe next year too. 2 years from now when you're also going to have Luke's deal I'm doing whatever I can to dump Palat unless he has some big resurgence and is a top 6 guy himself.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Salary wise they have sort of committed to Palat as the sixth guy assuming they extend Meier.

I think the team will have enough depth next year that Palat COULD be a fixture on the 3rd line without it being seen as a demotion, but I agree that it's likely he'll be a top-6 staple for as long as he's healthy.

And if you assume Hughes, Hischier, Bratt, Meier, and Palat are locks for the top-6, I'm not sure the Devils need to rush to give up assets for another forward. I'd rather let Mercer, Sharangovich, and Holtz battle it out for that last spot in camp. Though if the plan is to trade Rango, then I agree someone like Debrusk should be a priority.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Fair enough. I will refrain from further critiquing her work right now, as well. I’m really glad we have Ryan though….he’s terrific.

Novo's the man, guy is also lucky he started covering them as they got good. Poor guy would've been miserable from 2013-2022.

 

[Hisch13r]

I think the team will have enough depth next year that Palat COULD be a fixture on the 3rd line without it being seen as a demotion, but I agree that it's likely he'll be a top-6 staple for as long as he's healthy.

And if you assume Hughes, Hischier, Bratt, Meier, and Palat are locks for the top-6, I'm not sure the Devils need to rush to give up assets for another forward. I'd rather let Mercer, Sharangovich, and Holtz battle it out for that last spot in camp. Though if the plan is to trade Rango, then I agree someone like Debrusk should be a priority.

Mercer should be the guy already locked in and Palat battling it out for that last spot if there's no addition.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I don't know if this team (or fan base) can handle another Jesper (Bratt, Boq, Fast).

We will literally turn into a bunch of Jespers.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Mercer should be the guy already locked in and Palat battling it out for that last spot if there's no addition.

Fitz apparently doesn't lose RFA contracts. If Mercer was a UFA then we might have to worry a bit about slightly overpaying.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Mercer should be the guy already locked in and Palat battling it out for that last spot if there's no addition.

I don't really disagree, but I also wouldn't mind Mercer being part of a wrecking ball third line that steamrolls favorable matchups.

If you count Shara (which of course is not a given), the Devils have 7 top-6 forwards for next season and that's not including Haula or Holtz. I'm not opposed to adding more firepower but at some point, the logjam is gonna have to be sorted.

 

[Xirik]

Nico is still so young but already comes off as a proud dad when he talks about Hughes.

 

[njdevils1982]

I don't know if this team (or fan base) can handle another Jesper (Bratt, Boq, Fast).

We will literally turn into a bunch of Jespers.

...or an army of pandolfos!

 

[Devs3cups]

Nico Big Head Hockey!

 

[jkrdevil]

Ok, so our mascot giving morning greetings don't mean jackshit huh

It’s Sunday. I’m not sure why anyone expected news to be announced

 

[SKNJD9]

Not a fan at all of Amanda’s work. If there isn’t something newsworthy coming, she’s being a troll.

Eklund says (according to Kevin Weekes) that an 8x8.5 deal for Meier is going to happen. Eklund is a hack and I do not see this on Weekes’ Twitter….so who knows.

JFC, relax

 

[Goptor]

Nico Big Head Hockey!

Its interesting because almost all 1st overall forwards don't bother with defense until much later in their career.

Jack is one of the few guys who has been working on his defense early on and I think its mainly because Hischier is on this team.

 

[njdevils1982]

Nico is still so young but already comes off as a proud dad when he talks about Hughes.

oh man jack dont give f*** to be interviewed

 

[MasterofGrond]

anyone else here thinking who the f*** is noah cates?

...and what kind of defensive center has a 39.5 FO% (1054 FO)

i'm calling crock of crap

He’s a converted winger, hence the low F/O

He’s actually good defensively though. For real.

 

[njdevils1982]

He’s a converted winger, hence the low F/O

He’s actually good defensively though. For real.

so he moved from wing to center?

 

[MasterofGrond]

so he moved from wing to center?

Yeah, this year. Still played a little wing, but primarily center.

I’d take him on the devils in a heartbeat. He’s like if you traded Mikey’s faceoff ability for the ability to actually prevent chances. Might even be better than Mikey offensively, too.

 

[Goptor]

Nico is still so young but already comes off as a proud dad when he talks about Hughes.

"be the best Nico I can be"