Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - offseason edition

[MauDevils]

I don’t think arbitration would work in Bratts favour though so it could be a risky card to pull. He would likely get much less than he wants and that would give the devils some leverage.

His options out of that could end up coming down to:

Take this cheap 1 year contract and hope you have another great year to drive up your value and earn a big contract next off-season where he’ll be an rfa again.

Or

Take a long term decent value contract from the devils.

The fear with arbitration isn't money. It's that he could put himself in a position similar to Meier/Boeser where he walks himself to free agency.

If he gets to UFA he will easily make back any discount he took to get there.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

The fear with arbitration isn't money. It's that he could put himself in a position similar to Meier/Boeser where he walks himself to free agency.

If he gets to UFA he will easily make back any discount he took to get there.

That’s an incredibly different situation. Those guys have huge qualifying offers. Who wouldn’t take 10M for a year to get to UFA or 7.5M as Brock Boeser. They get to be overpaid for a year and then be UFA’s. They also aren’t coming off a breakout career year.

Bratt would likely be underpaid if he went to arbitration and he would have to do that for 2 more years. Not a chance in hell he would want to do that and it’s so far from true that he would necessarily get more or make that money back if he went to UFA in 2 years. Look how long it took him to get to this point and have a breakout season.

Him being a ppg player is far from a guarantee over the next 2 years and he should and likely is looking to cash out now.
Not take a discount 1 year deal, hope he stays healthy. hope he has a great year again and then try again next summer. I think arbitration could literally give the devils more leverage.

 

[devilsblood]

That’s an incredibly different situation. Those guys have huge qualifying offers. Who wouldn’t take 10M for a year to get to UFA or 7.5M as Brock Boeser. They get to be overpaid for a year and then be UFA’s. They also aren’t coming off a breakout career year.

Bratt would likely be underpaid if he went to arbitration and he would have to do that for 2 more years. Not a chance in hell he would want to do that and it’s so far from true that he would necessarily get more or make that money back if he went to UFA in 2 years. Look how long it took him to get to this point and have a breakout season.

Him being a ppg player is far from a guarantee over the next 2 years and he should and likely is looking to cash out now.
Not take a discount 1 year deal, hope he stays healthy. hope he has a great year again and then try again next summer. I think arbitration could literally give the devils more leverage.

Ya good point. Bratt coming off a big season should strike when the iron is hot.

I get betting on yourself, but he just had a big season, risk reward doesn't suggest going for more.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Ya good point. Bratt coming off a big season should strike when the iron is hot.

I get betting on yourself, but he just had a big season, risk reward doesn't suggest going for more.

Ya even if him and his agent are incredibly confident and he wants to bet on himself there’s other risk.
For example, he gets hurt, misses half the season and takes some time and struggles for a bit when he finally does get back. That certainly wouldn’t drive up his price.

Bratt should by all means be trying to get a nice long term deal right now.

 

[devilsblood]

Ya even if him and his agent are incredibly confident and he wants to bet on himself there’s other risk.
For example, he gets hurt, misses half the season and takes some time and struggles for a bit when he finally does get back. That certainly wouldn’t drive up his price.

Bratt should by all means be trying to get a nice long term deal right now.

And the Dev's should be doing the same. All about those AAV'$.

 

[SKNJD9]

Bratts camp trying to negotiate through the media...if true that can't phase me I'm a 49ers fan.....

 

[McDuffz88]

If you read the article the dude is completely right with us when it comes to our coaching situation.

 

[devilsblood]

If you read the article the dude is completely right with us when it comes to our coaching situation.

What job is Brooks actually proposing the Dev's should hire Lemieux for?

 

[Mgd31]

If you read the article the dude is completely right with us when it comes to our coaching situation.

You can make the argument for a new coach for sure. But he loses me at freaking Claude Lemieux

 

[devilsblood]

You can make the argument for a new coach for sure. But he loses me at freaking Claude Lemieux

Seems Brook is actually suggesting Lemieux as a front office guy? But I'm not sure.

Definitely not looking to hire a guy with no coaching experience (i'm assuming herethat Claude has none) to be our next head coach.

 

[glenwo2]

What job is Brooks actually proposing the Dev's should hire Lemieux for?

Being a pain in the ass?

I mean....he's good at that against our opponents during his playing days.

Maybe he'll annoy management into doing something useful.

 

[OlfactoryHughes]

If you read the article the dude is completely right with us when it comes to our coaching situation.

Im not a Larry Brooks fan. But it’s hard to disagree. I keep hoping that Fitz, and boardroom GM’s have an ace up their sleeve(s)…. But I’m growing skeptical… are they really running back Ruff?!?? This is real life?!

FWIW, that ace better not be Claude freaking Lemieux….

 

[Bleedred]

If we're at the point where Ruff has to be fired mid-season, then Fitz's decision to keep him is gonna look even worse than when Shero still came into the 19-20 season with Hynes.

Realistically, Hynes was not getting fired after the 18-19 season when we had just made the playoffs the year before. The only other time a Hynes firing would have really made sense was after the 16-17 season and even then, we were probably supposed to be as bad as we finished that season and were in our second season into the rebuild.

Hynes really should have been fired when the stupid sending Fitz to the bench to babysit stuff happened. That was useless and if we really needed to send the assistant GM down to the bench to help out Hynes or whatever the stupid idea was about, then we should have just fired Hynes. Now that was only about 3 weeks into the season, but I don't think he was getting fired and replaced during the 2019 offseason. He shouldn't have survived October though.

If we don't make a serious improvement at the goaltending position then we also would have been calling for the new coach's head pretty quickly anyway. I think it's MUCH more imperative we get a new goalie(s) than a new head coach, but I also don't see Ruff lasting here much longer.

Then again, I also was almost certain he'd be fired shortly after the season ended and he's not, so maybe he can survive yet another brutal season or two, but I'd have to think there's a GM change within the next 1-2 years if Ruff isn't axed and we continue to suck.

 

[SKNJD9]

Ruff has one real season under his belt with the worst goalie situation in maybe recent nhl history due to injury. He's getting the benefit of the doubt...but I agree with bleed if he's fired 20-30 games in Fitz likely goes with him deserving of it or not

 

[Bleedred]

Ruff has one real season under his belt with the worst goalie situation in maybe recent nhl history due to injury. He's getting the benefit of the doubt...but I agree with bleed if he's fired 20-30 games in Fitz likely goes with him deserving of it or not

I don't think Fitz will get fired this year if he has to fire Ruff in-season.

I meant if he keeps him bringing him back and we're not a playoff team.

I'd like to say that playoffs are mandatory for Ruff this year or he doesn't come back next year, but I also thought for sure he was out after this year and he wasn't. So I'm about to give up on trying to figure out just how long he has left.

You would think if we aren't a playoff team this year, Ruff likely goes, especially since he's not under contract (as of now) for next year. I think only one current head coach has survived 3 full seasons of no playoffs and that's DJ Smith in Ottawa and they're probably the most poorly run franchise in the entire league. Blashill survived 5 straight before they finally just fired him after 6 straight.

Bob Boughner in San Jose hasn't really had 3 full seasons and by full I don't mean 82 games, but I mean the maximum amount of games played in those years. He was brought in mid-season in December of 2019 when they were already out of a playoff spot and missed that year and the next two. I doubt whoever the new GM in San Jose is brings him back anyway though.

 

[devilsblood]

Realistically, Hynes was not getting fired after the 18-19 season when we had just made the playoffs the year before. The only other time a Hynes firing would have really made sense was after the 16-17 season and even then, we were probably supposed to be as bad as we finished that season and were in our second season into the rebuild.

Hynes really should have been fired when the stupid sending Fitz to the bench to babysit stuff happened. That was useless and if we really needed to send the assistant GM down to the bench to help out Hynes or whatever the stupid idea was about, then we should have just fired Hynes. Now that was only about 3 weeks into the season, but I don't think he was getting fired and replaced during the 2019 offseason. He shouldn't have survived October though.

If we don't make a serious improvement at the goaltending position then we also would have been calling for the new coach's head pretty quickly anyway. I think it's MUCH more imperative we get a new goalie(s) than a new head coach, but I also don't see Ruff lasting here much longer.

Then again, I also was almost certain he'd be fired shortly after the season ended and he's not, so maybe he can survive yet another brutal season or two, but I'd have to think there's a GM change within the next 1-2 years if Ruff isn't axed and we continue to suck.

You make the good points, but then head straight back to an irrational conclusion.

Hynes shouldn't have been fired after 18-19. And given the goalie situation, which you more then anyone would agree undermined the past couple seasons(undermined Hynes as well for that matter). Ruff probably deserves another chance as well.

So why do we get all bent out of shape about this and act like Ruff could get another 2 years of awful results?

Though I do agree, Fitz babysitting Hynes looks like amateur hour. Forgot all about it actually. Was that on Shero? Or do we think it goes higher up then that?

 

[devilsblood]

I don't think Fitz will get fired this year if he has to fire Ruff in-season.

I meant if he keeps him bringing him back and we're not a playoff team.

I'd like to say that playoffs are mandatory for Ruff this year or he doesn't come back next year, but I also thought for sure he was out after this year and he wasn't. So I'm about to give up on trying to figure out just how long he has left.

You would think if we aren't a playoff team this year, Ruff likely goes, especially since he's not under contract (as of now) for next year. I think only one current head coach has survived 3 full seasons of no playoffs and that's DJ Smith in Ottawa and they're probably the most poorly run franchise in the entire league. Blashill survived 5 straight before they finally just fired him after 6 straight.

Bob Boughner in San Jose hasn't really had 3 full seasons and by full I don't mean 82 games, but I mean the maximum amount of games played in those years. He was brought in mid-season in December of 2019 when they were already out of a playoff spot and missed that year and the next two. I doubt whoever the new GM in San Jose is brings him back anyway though.

You wonder if we are in playoff contention, with our young guys looking like emerging stars, but just miss the playoffs. Does Ruff deserve to come back?

If we make the playoffs, I think he'd absolutely be coming back, if he wanted.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

You wonder if we are in playoff contention, with our young guys looking like emerging stars, but just miss the playoffs. Does Ruff deserve to come back?

If we make the playoffs, I think he'd absolutely be coming back, if he wanted.

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t the case. He’s out of contract and he was never brought in thinking he was the guy to lead us to the Stanley cup. He was brought in as an experienced coach who could help develop our young players which he has done.

I think it’s possible they get someone else who they think could lead us to a cup whether we just miss the playoffs or even just get in.

I could also see then bringing him back either way if Fitz really believes in him.

 

[McDuffz88]

What job is Brooks actually proposing the Dev's should hire Lemieux for?

You can make the argument for a new coach for sure. But he loses me at freaking Claude Lemieux

I'm not suggesting Lemieux as a coach. I should of been more specific. What I meant is that he's right in the regard that we need a real coach. That the team should be much better then what we are. We are a team playing below then what we should be. A good coach makes bad teams good. Ruff isn't giving us any extra wins. We are only winning because we have a lot of talent. When you have 4 20 goal scorers (almost 5) & Hughes is carrying the team your going to get wins. He points out how all these other teams are hiring coaches while we are standing pat with Ruff for no reason other then pure loyalty.

 

[Guadana]

Sorry, guys, but I say it’s naive to wait new coach here and now. We don’t have a goalie. No one will accept to join this situatio. It could cost a career for the coach. Only after Fitz will find(if he will) a new proven goalie, some good coach could only start to negotiate. Before that you just don’t fire your coach if you afraid to stay without no one.

 

[Bleedred]

You wonder if we are in playoff contention, with our young guys looking like emerging stars, but just miss the playoffs. Does Ruff deserve to come back?

If we make the playoffs, I think he'd absolutely be coming back, if he wanted.

If you just miss the playoffs but are in the running the entire year, does he come back? That's actually a really good question. I give up on trying to figure that out though.

If we make the playoffs then yeah I think he's coming back for 23-24, although I'm not sure if his leash will wind up becoming the length Hynes was after he made the playoffs in 2018 and was able to miss the next year, as we're (supposed to be) in a much later stage of our rebuild. But like I said, I'm giving up on trying to figure this out.

 

[Eggtimer]

To Tor- Alex Holtz, Pavel Zacha, Reilly Walsh and a top 5 protected 23 1st

To NJ- William Nylander, Nick Robertson, and Petr Mrazek

Nylander gives us a top 6 goal scoring threat who happens to go way back with Jack. Robertson is a decent middle 6 prospect with good potential. Mrazek is coming off of an injury plagued season and is only 29. I think he could be due to have a bounce back and could be a really solid 1b like he was in Carolina. Due 3.2M for 2 more years. Maybe ask for 1M retention from Toronto. This trade also enables us to keep 2OA and draft Slafkovsky.

Google “Nylander gives up “ . He is not what we need . We already have too many of how he plays .

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Google “Nylander gives up “ . He is not what we need . We already have too many of how he plays .

Come on man that’s stupid. You could make a video like that on every player.

He actually plays very hard, makes life hell for defensemen and is a great possession forward.

 

[minibrodeur]

Lol Larry Brooks? Have to take everything he writes with a grain of salt. The guys as biased as it gets and enjoys the fact that NJ fans have little to no coverage. Anything to get a reaction out of us.

 

[Eggtimer]

Come on man that’s stupid. You could make a video like that on every player.

He actually plays very hard, makes life hell for defensemen and is a great possession forward.

I’m just not a Nylander fan and each time a fan base wants to run a player out of town ( like Leaf fans and Nylander ) it makes me question why .