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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

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.

I don't think Foote will make the roster tbh. I can easily see him being in a goalie package. Also Holtz will 100% depend on if Clarke makes the roster. Toffoli is basically the only lock out of those 3 which is fine by me. Luke replacing Graves will help in that too since he's a rover dman

 

[Forge]

I don't think Foote will make the roster tbh. I can easily see him being in a goalie package. Also Holtz will 100% depend on if Clarke makes the roster. Toffoli is basically the only lock out of those 3 which is fine by me. Luke replacing Graves will help in that too since he's a rover dman

Also depends on what we do with Bastian / Boqvist. Kind of seems like something is up with those two based on Fitz's comments about making changes on the wing and the comments regarding the RFAs. Could see a situation where one of them is moved in a goalie package and Foote is the guy that steps into the line up given he's only 860K next year.

Honestly, I'd like to get a longer look at Foote in the NHL. I think his numbers in Utica are kind of underwhelming, but I swear every time he's up with the club and in the line up he pops just a little bit. Nothing major all the time, but he's always there and involved.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Also depends on what we do with Bastian / Boqvist. Kind of seems like something is up with those two based on Fitz's comments about making changes on the wing and the comments regarding the RFAs. Could see a situation where one of them is moved in a goalie package and Foote is the guy that steps into the line up given he's only 860K next year.

Honestly, I'd like to get a longer look at Foote in the NHL. I think his numbers in Utica are kind of underwhelming, but I swear every time he's up with the club and in the line up he pops just a little bit. Nothing major all the time, but he's always there and involved.

Would like to keep Bo but Bastian is whatever at this point.

 

[Andre Palot]

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

Aubrey Plaza has nothing on Anna Kendrick.

 

[Killing Joke]

View attachment 723321

View attachment 723322

Oh Toffoli has jacks agent?

 

[Forge]

Aubrey Plaza has nothing on Anna Kendrick.

Will never forget Anthony Beauvillier shooting his shot with her. Hilarious moment on Twitter with the comments

 

[The Wumpus]

The key with Toffoli is that he has only one year. Having a guy like that as your ~5th best forward is a luxury we only have room for this year. Toff's contract is basically keeping the space that will be taken by Mercer's raise warm for a year. It was a super-shrewd move.

 

[Andre Palot]

The key with Toffoli is that he has only one year. Having a guy like that as your ~5th best forward is a luxury we only have room for this year. Toff's contract is basically keeping the space that will be taken by Mercer's raise warm for a year. It was a super-shrewd move.

Except Fitz has already stated he wants to re-sign Toffoli

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Have at thee!

 

[Devils731]

Except Fitz has already stated he wants to re-sign Toffoli

Fitz said he wouldn’t acquire a guy he wasn’t interested in long term…but then also said he wanted Toffoli to play for the team first.

My reading between the lines is Fitz wants to make sure Toffoli fits first. Fitz will evaluate Toffoli as a more than 1 season piece later.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Aubrey Plaza has nothing on Anna Kendrick.

I knew this board had good taste.

They are both great.

 

[HersheyBob27]

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.

I don’t think it is about getting more than they deserve its about the team not wanting to pay them the going rate

 

[The Wumpus]

Fitz said he wouldn’t acquire a guy he wasn’t interested in long term…but then also said he wanted Toffoli to play for the team first.

My reading between the lines is Fitz wants to make sure Toffoli fits first. Fitz will evaluate Toffoli as a more than 1 season piece later.

Toffoli said he was looking for a deal, both in Calgary and now NJ. Fitz isn't going to tell the guy "we're just using you as a one-year stopgap" even though I think he is. We'll see though.

 

[theoptimist]

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.

You can hide Toffoli b/c he is a forward, however you cannot hide poor skating on defense, like with Dougie. Though Dougie is a better skater than Will Butcher.

 

[OlfactoryHughes]

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.

Fitz’s load = sharangovich and a third?

 

[Nico Hischier]

Fitz’s load = sharangovich and a third?

Fit’s load = cap space

I’d say acquiring toffoli took the devils out of the running for making a play for hellebuyck.

If you could only add 1 - toffoli or hellebuyck - I’d take the goalie

Sharangovich was a good trade piece. I felt him plus vitek was a good base for a trade for hellebuyck.

The complaints on here are that the forward group lacks size and grit and the goaltending is good but not good enough now toffoli doesn’t really address any of that. He is a right handed shot and will be a nice complementary piece. I just really would have preferred the elite goalie instead.

 

[NJDevs26]

A) You can’t not add someone who obviously will help just because someone else MAY become available for your price

B) They can still add him if they really want, they just have to flip Vitek to do it. There’s less than a $3 million difference between their salaries this year

C) You can’t wait all offseason to trade Shara given the RFA thing changes the cost, he wouldn’t be as valuable on the 2-6 deal Calgary gave him

 

[Forge]

Winnipeg retaining on helle for a year for a bigger return also isn't out of the question, if a team pays for it

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

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.

While I completely agree with the sentiment, Meier's case for that 300k is unfortunately inarguable considering he was acquired via trade and quite the package at that

And the likelihood is its just GM talk for him wanting to move on from one of Bastian or Boqvist. I highly doubt he has issue with McLeod making 1.25. Hell, Id pay him 1.75 with term; but that goes completely against my argument lol

 

[Cheddabombs]

So... I'm excited for the season to start

 

[BronzeAgeDevilsFan]

Looking at the pool of free agent d-men, I am not sure what we do with it. Anyone have any ideas? I saw some mention Gudas but I think he will be out of price range. I also think Smith is a huge liability, and am actually more worried about the left side than right.

I am more comfortable with Nemec in the top 6 getting 15 minutes with a experienced partner than I am with Luke/Bahl/Smith rotating.

 

[TrufleShufle]

 

[Bcap88]

I’m struggling to value an “elite” goaltending when the difference between vitek and hellebuyck last year was

.09 on the save percentage and -0.04 on the ga
Especially when considering assets and contract

 

[Forge]

Looking at the pool of free agent d-men, I am not sure what we do with it. Anyone have any ideas? I saw some mention Gudas but I think he will be out of price range. I also think Smith is a huge liability, and am actually more worried about the left side than right.

I am more comfortable with Nemec in the top 6 getting 15 minutes with a experienced partner than I am with Luke/Bahl/Smith rotating.

I still think Erik Johnson makes some sense if you can get him 1 yr, 1 million. Blocks shots, kills penalties. Will probably get hurt so you can get Nemec some actual run with the big club.

The guy who hasn't gotten any talk and I am not sure what's going on is Ethan bear. I know he's hurt, but I have no idea if Vancouver is tendering him and I'd be interested.

I think Justin holl gets better than a one year, one million type deal.

Maybe they'll look at an RFA for RFA swap

 

[TrufleShufle]

Looking at the pool of free agent d-men, I am not sure what we do with it. Anyone have any ideas? I saw some mention Gudas but I think he will be out of price range. I also think Smith is a huge liability, and am actually more worried about the left side than right.

I am more comfortable with Nemec in the top 6 getting 15 minutes with a experienced partner than I am with Luke/Bahl/Smith rotating.

It would have to be a guy that is exactly like Smith, doesn't really matter, steady enough not to make terrible mistakes that often (outside of penalties) and low enough on the totem pole that he can be sat for stretches and it not be weird.

For Smith's warts, he was the perfect stop gap for injuries/Bahl/Luke to all happen and/or not and not hurt us in anyway.