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

[Eggtimer]

Any news on Severson? You have to be looking to trade him if he won't sign a reasonable extension. I guess you could wait til the deadline, but it's risky.

He has come out and said he likes it here and can see the Devils eventually become something special. I don’t think he wants to leave and from what I can gather , he won’t try to hold out for a crazy amount . But who knows ?

 

[Zippy316]

ABDOQ

Anybody But Dineen Or Quinn

It's not that I'm opposed to either of them being assistants here, but I would be irrationally paranoid that if either were hired to be assistants that whatever one we hire (god forbid it's both) would become head coach if Ruff is quickly blasted into outer space.

Sounds like the Boston HC job is between Quinn or Leach right now.

I’d imagine for the Devils sake, they’re likely going to like to have someone with a ton of NHL experience, either as a player or as a coach. I’ve said it before but a combo like Bowness/Gronborg sounds like a perfect compliment to Ruff or maybe a couple of former NHL players with some coaching experience like John Madden.

With this teams youth, they definitely need to look at getting as much NHL experience as possible behind the bench. That was likely the thought process behind Recchi as well, so likely the Devils follow in those foot steps.

 

[Bleedred]

Sounds like the Boston HC job is between Quinn or Leach right now.

I’d imagine for the Devils sake, they’re likely going to like to have someone with a ton of NHL experience, either as a player or as a coach. I’ve said it before but a combo like Bowness/Gronborg sounds like a perfect compliment to Ruff or maybe a couple of former NHL players with some coaching experience like John Madden.

With this teams youth, they definitely need to look at getting as much NHL experience as possible behind the bench. That was likely the thought process behind Recchi as well, so likely the Devils follow in those foot steps.

I really don't want Bowness anywhere near the head coaching position, but he's been a pretty solid assistant for a couple decades now before his return to head coaching in Dallas.

Since he's so old (like 5 years older than Ruff) I don't think he'd been in consideration for Ruff's successor, like I would be scared Quinn or Dineen would be.

I did hear Friedman say Boston is interested in Quinn, so I wonder if he becomes an assistant there if they do with Jay Leach as the head coach?

 

[Zippy316]

I really don't want Bowness anywhere near the head coaching position, but he's been a pretty solid assistant for a couple decades now before his return to head coaching in Dallas.

Since he's so old (like 5 years older than Ruff) I don't think he'd been in consideration for Ruff's successor, like I would be scared Quinn or Dineen would be.

I did hear Friedman say Boston is interested in Quinn, so I wonder if he becomes an assistant there if they do with Jay Leach as the head coach?

Bowness seems like the type of coach content to be an assistant. Personally my thought process there would be he offers a nice contrast to the offensive style Ruff has this team playing. Plus in the event Ruff is fired, you would have that other assistant take over with Bowness as a sounding board.

Last time the Devils canned Hynes the rest of the bench was so inexperienced they brought down a scout in Horachek for Nasreddine. I think it’s likely the Devils bring in an inexperienced assistant to protect against that again, especially with how vague Fitzgerald was about Ruff’s future.

 

[Guttersniped]

I honestly don't think Subban was that bad. His actual salary was 2 million last year because of bonuses and contract structure. If his cap hit matched his salary, people wouldn't be complaining about him as much as they are.

Signing bonuses count as salary, you just just hand them a big check before the season starts. Subban salary was 8m last year and we were responsible for all.

I don’t particularly care about that at all considering he was going to be a UFA and we didn’t have any cap issues. The one problem for us was Subban’s 9m cap hit made him basically untradable at the TDL, we needed a team who wanted him enough to get a 3rd team to retain 50% on him and that didn’t happen.

The only time the split between a signing bonus and a base salary is helpful is if you pay the signing bonus and then trade the player.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I think it probably played into it. And I'm fine with that. Hughes started to blossom under Ruff, and he likes him, if the reverse were true, ie Hughes struggled and didn't like him, then booting Ruff is the easiest of calls.

You don't hire/fire coaches based on how the players feel (within reason). That's just ridiculous.

For example, Jack thrives under Ruff next season and goes on 100+ point pace, but we're still out of the playoffs. You better fire his ass, doesn't matter what Jack says. Obviously, he would love Ruff.

Just an example though, I don't see the point of firing him midseason, should've been done by now...o well.

 

[Nubmer6]

Did he provide any reasoning to support his prediction?

His underlying numbers were horrible his rookie season, but he made up for it in the eye test by scoring a lot on the PP. Without PP time this last season, he was useless.

Also, I think he has trade value. There are teams who value scoring defenseman regardless of their defensive inabilities. Look at how Gardner and Risto got signed to big deals.

 

[My3Sons]

His underlying numbers were horrible his rookie season, but he made up for it in the eye test by scoring a lot on the PP. Without PP time this last season, he was useless.

Also, I think he has trade value. There are teams who value scoring defenseman regardless of their defensive inabilities. Look at how Gardner and Risto got signed to big deals.

I'd like to see NJ trade Smith for a player that can help. Maybe there is a sputtering former first round pick who can be a future 3C out there. Someone that can wrest the job from Hischier. Alternatively, a change of scenery right handed defender that can defend would be nice too.

 

[Eggtimer]

I'd like to see NJ trade Smith for a player that can help. Maybe there is a sputtering former first round pick who can be a future 3C out there. Someone that can wrest the job from Hischier. Alternatively, a change of scenery right handed defender that can defend would be nice too.

Kings are a perfect trade partner. They have very very little LHD and an abundance of RHD amd they are looking for a puck moving , PP2 guy. Exactly what Smith is .

 

[My3Sons]

Kings are a perfect trade partner. They have very very little LHD and an abundance of RHD amd they are looking for a pick moving , PP2 guy. Exactly what Smith is .

No way they'd move Faber for him but that would be a nice swap.

 

[Zippy316]

Kings are a perfect trade partner. They have very very little LHD and an abundance of RHD amd they are looking for a pick moving , PP2 guy. Exactly what Smith is .

Don’t think it makes much sense to move Smith for a young RHD (which is where the Kings are abundant). If we’re going to add a RD, we are better off adding a veteran guy to PK and play with the kids behind Severson/Hamilton.

 

[McDuffz88]

Any news on Severson? You have to be looking to trade him if he won't sign a reasonable extension. I guess you could wait til the deadline, but it's risky.

If you listen to his exit interview it's obvious he's waiting to see the results of this season. So if he signs it's not going to he until later on when he has an idea of how competitive we are & that's only if we take the next step. He said he likes it here & want's to stay but he made it clear from his quotes he is tired of being on a losing team. I'll read off a few of his quotes & it's obvious what he is thinking. "We're a young team, is no longer acceptable", "The rebuild is over", "We can no longer blame our problems on age, that has to be in the rear view mirror", “Next year if we’re standing here talking this time of year while other teams are gearing up for the playoffs, it would be a huge disappointment.” So yeah for Severson he's basically saying put up or shut up. Either we finally take the next step or I'm out. Which is why I've been so adamant on getting a real coach this year. If we lose Severson next year oh boy that will be another large hole to fill. It's like the cartoon you plug up one water hole just for 2 more to appear. That's why it's very important we must ditch this loser mentality.

 

[Bleedred]

Maybe he's waiting to see what we do in goal? Severson really fired shots at the goaltending this year in the interview on the final post game of the season.

And I say good for him. Somebody other than some random guy (me) on a message board really needed to do it.

 

[Guadana]

Don’t think it makes much sense to move Smith for a young RHD (which is where the Kings are abundant). If we’re going to add a RD, we are better off adding a veteran guy to PK and play with the kids behind Severson/Hamilton.

Trading Smith for anything good would be great. If it is a prospect with potential or if it is a regular NHL player, doesn`t care. Our goaltending svcks, our rhd prospect pool svcks, our regular rhd pool is svcks(Hamilton, Severson, that`s all, Walsh isn`t NHL ready and he isn`t even defensively reliable on AHL level), our center prospect depth is close to svcks, and even more importantly - Smith svcks. We should bring SOMETHING usefull.

Btw it`s about Shero drafting. I know, everybody loves late rounders, but look at how he did draft defensemen in his 4 years(freaking four years!), and who were the first round picks outside first overall.

 

[Brodeur]

Kings are a perfect trade partner. They have very very little LHD and an abundance of RHD amd they are looking for a pick moving , PP2 guy. Exactly what Smith is .

Depends on which RD they decide to keep. Durzi seems fine as their PP2 guy and they have Brandt Clarke on the horizon.

They were rumored for Jakob Chychrun which would make sense since they are a little bit smaller on the back end (especially the left side). Not sure if Smith is necessarily the guy they'd want.

LD Tobias Bjornfot 6'0
LD Mikey Anderson 5'11
LD Jacob Moverare 6'2 -- probably more of a #7

RD Drew Doughty 6'1
RD Matt Roy 6'1
RD Sean Walker 5'11
RD Sean Durzi 6'0 -- I've walked by Durzi in street clothes, if he's 6'0 I had a temporary growth spurt that day

 

[Eggtimer]

Don’t think it makes much sense to move Smith for a young RHD (which is where the Kings are abundant). If we’re going to add a RD, we are better off adding a veteran guy to PK and play with the kids behind Severson/Hamilton.

I kmow very very little about the Kings RHD prospects. Just that they have a shit ton. Maybe they have someone similar to what Seigenthaler was in Washington? A kid buried in the depth chart but is a good defensive player?
A RHD version of Seigenthaler would be perfect amd I’d trade Smith for that in a heartbeat.

 

[Bleedred]

I would really be feeling good if we could just get Zacha out of here soon.

If we sign him to anything more than one year that brings him straight to unrestricted free agency, then we're simple just signing him to sign him. There's no need for him to be here past this year.

He isn't a bad player, but he's not a good investment. He would really be the first player in the post-Lou era that we just kept to keep if he gets a multi year deal this offseason. I don't care that he's only 25.

I have even less interest in seeing him play another game for us than I do Blackwood, and I'm really not psyched about the idea that Blackwood will play 25-30 games for us next year.

You send Zacha to anybody that wants him, for whatever they feel like giving for him if you can't get anything better, unless you wanna lose him for free to UFA next year, which is still better than giving him a multi year deal.

I hope his agent tells him to take his qualifying offer and run after this year.

 

[MadDevil]

Maybe he's waiting to see what we do in goal? Severson really fired shots at the goaltending this year in the interview on the final post game of the season.

And I say good for him. Somebody other than some random guy (me) on a message board really needed to do it.

He knows his big UFA opportunity is coming up next summer. There's no rush for him to get a deal done right now.

 

[SKNJD9]

That 3 way MTL,CLB,NJ rumor is making the rounds again I see lol. Only way that makes any sense at all is if we like Cutter Gauthier as much as some here think

 

[StevenToddIves]

That 3 way MTL,CLB,NJ rumor is making the rounds again I see lol. Only way that makes any sense at all is if we like Cutter Gauthier as much as some here think

Let me guess -- the Devils give up 2OA, Columbus deals 6OA, Montreal gets both picks, NJ gets Josh Anderson and Columbus gets Jeff Petry?

 

[SKNJD9]

Let me guess -- the Devils give up 2OA, Columbus deals 6OA, Montreal gets both picks, NJ gets Josh Anderson and Columbus gets Jeff Petry?

Columbus gets 2, we get 6 an mtl gets 12 in the one I saw going around but yeah we end up with Anderson as well. I just can't wait for draft day, make the pick and move on

 

[Csonked Out]

I just have a hard time making any massive moves until we figure out this goaltending situation. Adding another top 6 forward, or top pairing dman and giving up valuable assets to do so seems kind of pointless if we witness in net this coming year.

I don't know what the answer is in net but at this point i'm trading blackwood and assuming Bernier won't give us much with that hip injury.

 

[Bleedred]

I just have a hard time making any massive moves until we figure out this goaltending situation. Adding another top 6 forward, or top pairing dman and giving up valuable assets to do so seems kind of pointless if we witness in net this coming year.

I don't know what the answer is in net but at this point i'm trading blackwood and assuming Bernier won't give us much with that hip injury.

I'm fine with keeping Blackwood for a year, but I don't trust him to do better than like a .904% or something and that's if he's even healthy.

After YEARS of the perpetual waiting on Cory to bounce back (which left some people turning into a pile of bones) my fuse is blown with waiting for this guy.

I'd LOVE to move the f*** on from him and get two new goalies in here, as long as it's not trade him and have to take back an equally or even more questionable goalie like Samsonov.

One more bad year and he absolutely needs to take a hike. He'll be 26, need a new contract and have more bad years than good at that point.

I wouldn't be surprised if he struggles and gets waived and Daws has to come back, just like the Cory shit in 2019. But Daws has not shown to be anywhere near NHL ready.

 

[Csonked Out]

I'm fine with keeping Blackwood for a year, but I don't trust him to do better than like a .904% or something and that's if he's even healthy.

After YEARS of the perpetual waiting on Cory to bounce back (which left some people turning into a pile of bones) my fuse is blown with waiting for this guy.

I'd LOVE to move the f*** on from him and get two new goalies in here, as long as it's not trade him and have to take back an equally or even more questionable goalie like Samsonov.

Ville Husso is at the top of my list right now

 

[Bleedred]

Ville Husso is at the top of my list right now

I don't really want him if Blackwood is still here. We need someone more proven.

I'd rather Campbell if it's only 3 years, but Campbell/Husso would be sweet, but I know that's not gonna happen.

I don't have any interest in seeing ANY of last year's goalies on this team. If Bernier wasn't so old and not coming off a major injury I would be more open to seeing him though.

None of the other guys are any good. Including Daws. At least not YET for Daws.