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

[Oneiro]

Actually forgot that Steve Mason did alright later for a few seasons.

 

[MasterofGrond]

show me zero UFA signings this year Fitz

 

[R8Devs]

So at the draft interview Fitz made the comment about perhaps making changes on the wing. Am I reading that as an oblique comment on Boquist and/or Bastian coming in high on a contract demand? Given the Bratt and Meier signings and the Toffoli trade and Fitz's comments about loving Mercer it's hard to see any obvious wing changes for this season in the top six.

I think it could also just mean they are not going to sign Tatar and Wood who are still technically Devils at the moment and were mainstay on the wings last season.

The qualifying offer comment was about a player potentially getting more than they are worth through arbitration but bringing them back even though they won't qualify them. So that could be about Bastian? He has the highest production/goal rate of the remaining RFAs with arb rights.

I feel like if Mcleod didn't get a qualifying offer it will be for other reasons.

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

I'd always keep in mind that this league has a long history of exciting rookie goalies who never quite get back to their peak.

It also has a recent history of average goalies winning Cups by either getting hot at the right time or by being carried by their team and just making timely stops.

 

[MB3]

if there’s a complaint to be made about our forward group it’s that they lack size and grit.

what does Hathaway expect to make? a big fast douchebag sounds like a nice addition to the team.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The only problem is that i don't think teams ever really love rental goalies that they have to rely on.

Yep, I worry about that too. Goalies are the weirdest athletes when it comes to routines and such that trading for one at the deadline kinda weirds me out esepcially a high end starter. I'd prefer them starting the season with whoever they have in net. I also think the PLD trade gave WPG sometime to see if cooler heads prevail there with Helly.

 

[My3Sons]

Only way it makes much sense is if he's planning on eating up a large sum of that ~10m in cap left in a goalie or a higher-priced winger to round out the top-9

Normally their QO's arent an issue; but if each is pushing a million, for a team fighting for hundred's of thousands to make another deal or two, I can see the impasse

If Fitz is trying to nickel and dime the extra $300k out of these guys to make up for the extra $300k he probably budgeted for Meier that's harsh. At a combined $4 mil for those four that's peanuts. It's not like any decent replacements would be less on the AAV.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

show me zero UFA signings this year Fitz

Pretty sure he said yesterday they'd might get RHD stopgap/emergency if Nemec isn't ready unless they switch last second and go with Brendan Smith

 

[Oneiro]

It also has a recent history of average goalies winning Cups by either getting hot at the right time or by being carried by their team and just making timely stops.

For sure. It's a question of the assets being given up, that's all. And there will be a big market for Thompson if he forces VGK's hand.

It's a tricky situation, the goalie thing. I feel like the department was created to avoid this kind of behavior but I also understand Fitz seeing the state of the league's older teams and the slow progress of other younger teams and wanting to seize the opportunity.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

My number 1 crush is Aubrey Plaza. Id like to sign her

Back off man.

 

[Darkauron]

Back off man.

Have at thee!

 

[My3Sons]

Have at thee!

So my kids are about 4 years apart. When my oldest was about 12 I got him started on classic comedies. He watched Holy Grail. About a week later my youngest was running around the house with a toy sword saying it was only a fresh wound. He said fresh instead of flesh which made it much funnier. My wife was not happy.

 

[Darkauron]

So my kids are about 4 years apart. When my oldest was about 12 I got him started on classic comedies. He watched Holy Grail. About a week later my youngest was running around the house with a toy sword saying it was only a fresh wound. He said fresh instead of flesh which made it much funnier. My wife was not happy.

Those kids are going places! Good lads!

 

[Devil X]

if there’s a complaint to be made about our forward group it’s that they lack size and grit.

what does Hathaway expect to make? a big fast douchebag sounds like a nice addition to the team.

I was coming to suggest this very guy as a bottom 6 addition. If he hits the salary range it might be a good addition to the team.

 

[Nico Hischier]

if there’s a complaint to be made about our forward group it’s that they lack size and grit.

what does Hathaway expect to make? a big fast douchebag sounds like a nice addition to the team.

Fitz blew his load on cement skates toffoli who also doesn’t bring any size or grit. Now devils don’t really have cap space to add a bertuzzi or Hathaway. At least toffoli is an upgrade over tatar and is a right handed shot. Hathaway and bertuzzi will both will probably get paid nicely so it is what it is.

 

[Forge]

if there’s a complaint to be made about our forward group it’s that they lack size and grit.

what does Hathaway expect to make? a big fast douchebag sounds like a nice addition to the team.

The problem for me is the complaint that we lack "forward grit" is probably more of a top 6 complaint (Timo acquisition not withstanding) and adding a guy like hathaway just doesn't do much for that. You can have all the grit in the bottom six that you want and your top two scoring lines are getting run over. It's not going to change that and I don't want to put Hathaway on Jack's wing.

When people are saying "the devils are too small" or "the devils need grit", they should be talking in a top 6 (or lets say top 7/8) manner (and to be clear, I don't know that the way the top 6 is set up right now is an issue or not with regards to "grit") Having a Hathaway just doesn't move the needle for me in that regard because you shouldn't be playing him more than his talent demands just because he's big or gritty. If you're concerned about getting run over and dominated up front because you're small, you should be looking at someone like a Tom Wilson because he's someone you can actually play in the top 6.

 

[MB3]

Fitz blew his load on cement skates toffoli who also doesn’t bring any size or grit. Now devils don’t really have cap space to add a bertuzzi or Hathaway. At least toffoli is an upgrade over tatar and is a right handed shot. Hathaway and bertuzzi will both will probably get paid nicely so it is what it is.

who cares if toffoli is slow? not everyone in the top-6 needs to skate like jack and jesper.

toffoli brings something different to the top-6 which is awesome. heavy shot, possession monster, he’s a great ying to the jack/jesper yang.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I rather have a bottom 6 guy like Gauthier than Hathaway, Gauthier plays this team's speed + he's bound to regress back to the mean with regards to his shooting %. I don't want to get slower on purpose just because Carolina bodied us. That more had to do with the defense handling the puck like a grenade than anything else. Luke Hughes dominated 2 out of the 3 games he played and he weighed 185. So spare me the this team needs to get heavier for the playoffs. They need Nemec + L Hughes to be good to the next step which is pretty evident they will be then signing plugs in the bottom 6 to erase our identity.

Fitz blew his load on cement skates toffoli who also doesn’t bring any size or grit. Now devils don’t really have cap space to add a bertuzzi or Hathaway. At least toffoli is an upgrade over tatar and is a right handed shot. Hathaway and bertuzzi will both will probably get paid nicely so it is what it is.

>complains about Toffoli on a 1 year deal

>wants Bertuzzi who'll be a shell of himself half way into his new deal

HFboards, baby

 

[NJDevs26]

As blase as I've been about the draft this year is about as blase as I am about free agency...for once we not only don't have any key FA's of our own, but also don't have much cap space to be delusional about outside adds. Especially if Fitz is saving every dime left keeping the porch light on for Helle.

 

[Rhodes 81]

I do worry a bit about making too many more changes to the forward group with regard to our style of play relying so much on team speed. I'm particularly thinking of all the pressure we were able to put on opponents in the offensive and neutral zones to force turnovers and win puck battles. Toffoli, Holtz, and Foote already would have been the slowest forwards on the team last year and are all looking at being regulars this year.

I don't necessarily think it's wrong to try to upgrade a Boqvist or Bastian or whatever, but if you do you need to make sure it's someone that can keep up.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Fitz blew his load on cement skates toffoli who also doesn’t bring any size or grit. Now devils don’t really have cap space to add a bertuzzi or Hathaway. At least toffoli is an upgrade over tatar and is a right handed shot. Hathaway and bertuzzi will both will probably get paid nicely so it is what it is.

How did we “blow our load” by adding a bonafide top 6 wing at 4.25 for a guy that signed for 3.1 and lost his role here? That’s very savvy business.

Anyway, never wanted any part of Bertuzzi on a long term deal, he’s glass. Hathaway could still be fit in at the right price, and if he signs for more somewhere, that ain’t the right price.

 

[Clam Jensen]

not OP but my number 1 crush is swayman. needs a new contract but he’s young and he’s incredible. if boston isn’t finding suitors for ullmark they’ll probably look to move him. we’d need to find a team to take vanecek (should be easy enough). I wonder what kind of trade package would have to go back the other way.

does holtz+ get the tires rolling?

The post so nice he stated it thrice

 

[Forge]

I do worry a bit about making too many more changes to the forward group with regard to our style of play relying so much on team speed. I'm particularly thinking of all the pressure we were able to put on opponents in the offensive and neutral zones to force turnovers and win puck battles. Toffoli, Holtz, and Foote already would have been the slowest forwards on the team last year and are all looking at being regulars this year.

I don't necessarily think it's wrong to try to upgrade a Boqvist or Bastian or whatever, but if you do you need to make sure it's someone that can keep up.

The nice thing about the way that they are building up the forward group is that I think that they want a fairly interchangeable top 8 or 9. I won't at all be surprised next year when there's a stretch where we have a third line Timo - Mikey - Toffoli. So we can adjust lines on the fly to yield different results in certain areas

 

[Nico Hischier]

I rather have a bottom 6 guy like Gauthier than Hathaway, Gauthier plays this team's speed + he's bound to regress back to the mean with regards to his shooting %. I don't want to get slower on purpose just because Carolina bodied us. That more had to do with the defense handling the puck like a grenade than anything else. Luke Hughes dominated 2 out of the 3 games he played and he weighed 185. So spare me the this team needs to get heavier for the playoffs. They need Nemec + L Hughes to be good to the next step which is pretty evident they will be then signing plugs in the bottom 6 to erase our identity.



>complains about Toffoli on a 1 year deal

>wants Bertuzzi who'll be a shell of himself half way into his new deal

HFboards, baby

Bertuzzi and toffoli are nothing alike. Bertuzzi is a pest and agitator and can get under opponents skin. I said toffoli is slow and doesn’t bring size or grit to the top 6 but he is a right hand shot and an upgrade on tatar. I also said bertuzzi is probably going to get paid well. So again. It is what it is.

 

[Nubmer6]

As blase as I've been about the draft this year is about as blase as I am about free agency...for once we not only don't have any key FA's of our own, but also don't have much cap space to be delusional about outside adds. Especially if Fitz is saving every dime left keeping the porch light on for Helle.

I think you're going to have to pay attention. It definitely sounded like Fitz wasn't going to qualify at least one of our RFAs with arbitration rights. That probably opens up room for adding someone else. As @R8Devs implied, I'm wondering if McLeod isn't getting qualified due to his off ice issues, which possibly opens up space for that Helle trade everyone keeps talking about.