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

[RSeen]

McLeod is now on his second of NHL goalless streak of 30+ games.

I forgot what the exact number is, but I kept citing them before the season had ended.

He didn't score his first NHL goal until his 39th game in the league. He also had a 25 game goal drought starting late in the 20-21 season that carried over into the 21-22 season.

And then I think there was one other streak of 16 games without a goal in 20-21.

It's almost hilarious just how bad his goal scoring is.

He is an awful scorer but he is decent defensively and we may not have a long list of players who can play the PK like him. On a line with Bastian and another fast winger (Wood), I think he can be sufficient on the 4th line. I don't necessarily think the Avs or Lightning are playing substantially better 4C's than McLeod.

 

[SKNJD9]

I believe he was one of the first to strongly link NJ and Hamilton.

He’s had misses in regards to NJ too, but again, he’s just a rumor guy. He clearly does have legit sources…to what extent, who knows?

Friedman was the first he had us as a serious destination for dougie for 2 months prior to the start of ufa an pretty much said it was gonna happen the last 10-14 days before ufa began

 

[Triumph]

How large is the sample size with him at wing? Its likely very small. He could adapt to the wing.

He was put there in 2019-20 and was awful, and he was put there returning from his injury and was also awful. Jack had a 47% xG between December 2 and December 25. Jack only took 50 faceoffs in the 11 games between his return and the Christmas break.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

He's made correct calls on other franchises but for us, he's been a zero. I'd listen to him with some skepticism. He can't even pronounce the players' names correctly, held fast to an incorrect call that Ruff was a lame duck coach and has, like the Canadian media, shown absolutely no insight into the Devils future whatsoever.

he was one of the first to have NJ as serious suitors for Hamilton

again there are only a handful of 100% trusted guys but I get the skepticism

 

[Oneiro]

he was one of the first to have NJ as serious suitors for Hamilton

again there are only a handful of 100% trusted guys but I get the skepticism

Fair enough.

To me, seems like a pretty logical and safe conclusion: young team that can't score with a hole on the right side and plenty of cap space wants one of the best offensive RHD.

 

[Devs3cups]

I doubt Fitz is in a big hurry to re-sign Bratt given his RFA status, especially with the draft coming up. I’m sure the focus is put on the draft. It’s a big one for us.

I’m sure talks will heat up after July 8th. Long-term interest has been expressed by both sides, Bratt’s agent has said talks have begun and they want to make it work. I’m really not worried about it.

 

[Nocashstyle]

I doubt Fitz is in a big hurry to re-sign Bratt given his RFA status, especially with the draft coming up. I’m sure the focus is put on the draft. It’s a big one for us.

I’m sure talks will heat up after July 8th. Long-term interest has been expressed by both sides, Bratt’s agent has said talks have begun and they want to make it work. I’m really not worried about it.

You’re probably right, but at this point - with at least three different “insiders” stating the Devils aren’t opposed to the idea of dealing Bratt…it seems clear that they’re at least gauging his value. For whatever reason, Bratt has never seemed to get the benefit of the doubt with management. Fitz didn’t really even start regularly mentionning Bratt’s name as part of the “core” until the last year or so.

I hope they ultimately just sign him long term and be done with it. If their plan is to sign Gaudreau and deal Bratt for assets and using that extra cap space (and more) to sign Gaudreau…yeah Gaudreau is obviously currently better and has a much long we track record, but he’s also 5 years older. Seems short sighted.

 

[SKNJD9]

I think a lot of the Bratt in the media stuff is just both sides using the media to negotiate. What will be really interesting is if we do go hard on Gaudreau and somehow land him... the team would be less inclined to pay Bratt 7+

 

[Devs3cups]

You’re probably right, but at this point - with at least three different “insiders” stating the Devils aren’t opposed to the idea of dealing Bratt…it seems clear that they’re at least gauging his value. For whatever reason, Bratt has never seemed to get the benefit of the doubt with management. Fitz didn’t really even start regularly mentionning Bratt’s name as part of the “core” until the last year or so.

I hope they ultimately just sign him long term and be done with it. If their plan is to sign Gaudreau and deal Bratt for assets and using that extra cap space (and more) to sign Gaudreau…yeah Gaudreau is obviously currently better and has a much long we track record, but he’s also 5 years older. Seems short sighted.

I think that the actual quote was that teams had interest, not that Fitz was looking around to see what he could get for him. Two totally different things imo.

Fitz also said: “He’s a big part of our future. He’s a tremendous young player. We want Jesper here long term. That’s my job, to work out a deal with his agent.”

Here’s an interesting article from last week by the GOAT Ryan recaping the whole thing:

What’s going on with Jesper Bratt’s contract talks? | Latest on Devils’ pending free agent

Jesper Bratt had 73 points in 2021-22. He is a restricted free agent this offseason.

www.nj.com

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

He is an awful scorer but he is decent defensively and we may not have a long list of players who can play the PK like him. On a line with Bastian and another fast winger (Wood), I think he can be sufficient on the 4th line. I don't necessarily think the Avs or Lightning are playing substantially better 4C's than McLeod.

despite his streaks where he looks like the next coming of Pelley or Sestito offensively, he’s still pretty clearly a 20+ point center with good defense and one of the better faceoff skills in the league. That’s perfectly worthy of a fourth line center. And i think he still has a little upside if the Devils ever figure out how to play like a good team.

 

[Ripshot 43]

I think a lot of the Bratt in the media stuff is just both sides using the media to negotiate. What will be really interesting is if we do go hard on Gaudreau and somehow land him... the team would be less inclined to pay Bratt 7+

Personally i would rather keep Bratt if it’s one or the other but I could imagine a scenario where if we were to sign Gaudreau that we would then trade Bratt for help needed elsewhere. It would be smart roster management if Bratt and his agent have truly been difficult (as much as I don’t want to see him leave) and also would keep us from having too much of the same playing in the top 6.

 

[NJDFan4Life]

Have my own Devils Podcast & sat down with NJ.com writer/reporter Ryan Novozinsky. Give it a listen guys he breaks down a ton of off season stuff and where he thinks some things stand.

 

[glenwo2]

LOL nobody's going to jail since they settled the suit and have a confidentiality agreement. And we don't even know if he himself was involved (directly or otherwise) anyway. McLeod's got enough to worry about hockey-wise as it is, I'm still not sold on him as a long-term 4C. I guess points-wise he's fine but he just doesn't do anything for me.

yeah....to me, McLeod is just...there.

Well actually he's slightly more than just there (like Kuokkanen) but still doesn't seem to make much of an impact in the game despite his chemistry with Bastian.

 

[glenwo2]

I think a lot of the Bratt in the media stuff is just both sides using the media to negotiate. What will be really interesting is if we do go hard on Gaudreau and somehow land him... the team would be less inclined to pay Bratt 7+

tbh, I don't think Fitz is going to go ham at going after Johnny Hockey while in negotiation with Bratt. I think he'd like to focus on one thing at a time.

He has Bratt and his Agent in his office basically.

Gaudreau is still in Calgary (for now).

So what is getting done first? Bratt's Contract.

Johnny Hockey comes later(if it comes).

 

[Mgd31]

Have my own Devils Podcast & sat down with NJ.com writer/reporter Ryan Novozinsky. Give it a listen guys he breaks down a ton of off season stuff and where he thinks some things stand.

Thanks man I listened to it yesterday, thanks for putting out Devil related content!

 

[Bleedred]

Listening to NHL Rumors Daily podcast. I’ve never listened before…and he is just a rumor mill, but over the past two years or so he has proven to have some legitimacy.

-he thinks Fitz once again is going to have the green light to spend this off-season and think Gaudreau to NJ makes a lot of sense.
-Braut (yep, not Bratt) negotiations don’t have much “traction” yet in talks, he wouldn’t be surprised to see Bratt’s name thrown around a ton and gauging his value around the league.
-The #2 pick is very much in play because the rebuild should be starting to turnover at this point and they need to take a step.
-Zacha and Blackwood are definitely available
-Jack’s comments probably made Ruff safe for another few months at least
-Devils are in probably in play for Husso but also very much keeping an eye on the Hellenbyuck situation. He also mention Primeau from MTL.

YUCK on the Primeau stuff.

Why would we want him? He has a few more years of pro experience than Nico Daws, but you also have to question if his development was stunted by being forced to play too many NHL games before he was NHL ready.

We need experienced guys or at the very least guys that have played well in the NHL and Primeau has not played well in the NHL.

His .874% in 18 career games in the NHL is significantly worse than 25 games of .893% from Daws. Cayden Primeau has absolutely no use for us at the NHL level right now.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Can I get a golf clap/hats off/pour one out for Devils draft pick legend Nathan Perkovich winning the Kelly Cup?

No? Anyone?

Heartless bastards.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Looks like Malek was left off Czechia's WJC team

 

[Triumph]

Looks like Malek was left off Czechia's WJC team

I would guess this is because he's preparing for his pro season in Finland. The preseason there begins on August 5th, and apparently goes for an entire month? Bizarre but it looks like that's what happens.

 

[Guttersniped]

He's going to turn a bad team into a mediocre team. Torts is a pretty good coach. He's absolutely the wrong coach for the Flyers. The last thing they need is a coach that will prop them up and get them out of the basement and into mediocrity. They need a rebuild. Mediocrity is the Philly way though.



Yes that is exactly what people are going to do. I think it's possible albeit unlikely that the PP ends up being as bad. If they bring in another shit PP coach it could suck. The talent though is good enough that if they bring in someone who knows what they're doing it should be good. Goaltending wise though it's realistically insanely unlikely it ends up anywhere nearly as bad.

Hughes made our PP better, with time on it he’s going to be great at it. So that helps.

Power play production is actually something you typically get out of older forwards and it’s production that last longer on the age curve. We don’t have as many older forwards hanging on making their living as PP specialists like their used to be but it still happens.

Flyers had the worst PP in the NHL (yes, ours was disturbingly bad but theirs was worse). Voracek was a huge loss there, as was Gostisbehere, and the second loss was compounded by the GM mandated that Yandle play every game until he had the record. So Yandle was their PP QB for 77 gamers and not a very productive one (1G & 10 A). And he’s gone.

And Giroux had the second most PP Assists, with 9, and he’s presumably gone too.
If you look at PP goals JVR managed to get 9 because that’s what he does, but the rumor is they’re dumping him for cap space. After him is Giroux with 3 (again, gone), Konecny (3 PP G in 79 GP), Atkinson (2 PP G in 73 GP), Hayes (1 PP G in 48 GP) and Couturier (2 PP G in 29 GP). Nine other players scored 1 PP goal.

Couturier had back surgery in February. Farabee, with one 1 PP in 63 GP, just had Eichel’s neck surgery. Ryan Ellis is ? in terms of his health and also never produced much on the PP in Nashville as the second fiddle anyway. Hayes has never been much of a PP producer and is coming back from abdominal surgery with some nasty complications (that made him a Masterton finalist).

Provorov fell off a cliff a bit, so a turn around from him is pretty essential. They theoretically could get more out of Atkinson. Maybe Cam York or other young players step up. Lindbolm can bounce back but they’re likely dumping him for cap space.

If JVR goes though then it they need to put that money into a offense producer who specifically produces on the PP producer or this is looking more like a soft reset year. I just don’t see where the production will come from and that PP is going to be rough. Voracek, Giroux and Ghost were major pieces that weren’t replaced. Being free of Yandle might be addition by subtraction though.

This is why I do buy them chasing Gaudreau.

(I realized this is the Devils thread but I typed this out so whatever lol)

 

[Hisch13r]

How large is the sample size with him at wing? Its likely very small. He could adapt to the wing.

Why would we ever take the best center on the team out of the middle of the ice? He's a center full stop. You'd move Nico or Wright if anything.

 

[Eggtimer]

I can see Jonny go to Philly. Flames offers him the $$ and 8th year and he still hasn’t signed . It is all about location for him.
Recently married and wife is from the Philly area amd both of their parents, likely starting a family of their own and having the family nepat and is massively important. I’m certain he goes to Philly with a slight possibility NJ might just work for being somewhat close to family ? We can offer a better future as far as team outlook goes, but not sure if it would be considered “home “ for him and his wife and immediate family ?

 

[McDuffz88]

Why would we ever take the best center on the team out of the middle of the ice? He's a center full stop. You'd move Nico or Wright if anything.

If we draft Wright I say throw him on the wing. Nico is too established to move to wing. Much easier for the rookie to adapt in my opinion. Make Wright have to earn a center spot if he want's it. As soon we get an injury Wright gets his chance to shine.

 

[Hisch13r]

If we draft Wright I say throw him on the wing. Nico is too established to move to wing. Much easier for the rookie to adapt in my opinion. Make Wright have to earn a center spot if he want's it. As soon we get an injury Wright gets his chance to shine.

I'd probably throw him right in as the 3C. He gets to learn the NHL game in the middle in a very sheltered role behind 2 great centers. Then you can move him to the wing later. I don't have strong opinions on whether you'd move Nico or Wright to the wing (if either). Nico's a better passer and puck transporter which is better suited to the middle but he's also really good along the boards which could be conducive to success on the wing. Wright's a better shooter than passer which would probably make him better suited as the winger. Either way I don't think it'd matter too much

 

[Eggtimer]

I'd probably throw him right in as the 3C. He gets to learn the NHL game in the middle in a very sheltered role behind 2 great centers. Then you can move him to the wing later. I don't have strong opinions on whether you'd move Nico or Wright to the wing (if either). Nico's a better passer and puck transporter which is better suited to the middle but he's also really good along the boards which could be conducive to success on the wing. Wright's a better shooter than passer which would probably make him better suited as the winger. Either way I don't think it matters too much

Why mess around with our captain ? If Nico wants to play C, play him at C. Move Wright to wing if he deserves top 6 ice time .
If not , play him at 3C.