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

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Capfriendly has the Devils projected cap hit at $57.2 and projected cap space at $25.3

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Thank you for the amazing 9 years

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[Captain3rdLine]

Capfriendly has the Devils projected cap hit at $57.2 and projected cap space at $25.3

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Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Not completely sure what he’s talking about but think he might be referring to the summer of 2023 when he says next summer. Not really sure tbh.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Not completely sure what he’s talking about but think he might be referring to the summer of 2023 when he says next summer. Not really sure tbh.

Thanks.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Not completely sure what he’s talking about but think he might be referring to the summer of 2023 when he says next summer. Not really sure tbh.

You must be right. I do not think that means much. They only have 4 players signed - Jack, Nico, Dougie and Mercer's ELC. I would hope they would have a lot of cap space to sign 19 players.

 

[MauDevils]

I wish Fiala was a righty.

 

[devilsblood]

Yes, if you read the entire post, it literally says " The Devils have $27M committed to 4 players in 2023-24, I have no worries at all about them figuring out how to put together a team with an addition of ~$7M at forward." the implication being that I'm not concerned abotu that. To be clear, I don't want them to trade for Fiala unless they get a better deal than is being proposed, and I also agree with people who think that it's not the best move for them overall. But it absolutely can be done and afforded.

But that doesn't include Bratt who we know is going to get a sizable deal, Sev's who either gets a sizable deal, or leaves a gaping hole, nor does it include a single goalie. Never mind a bottom 6 or a RHD this side of OK. What having 4 guys signed in 23-24 means to me is that we have a bunch of guys to sign.

So when I state that my concern is that we have to sign a bunch of guys, and you tell me, "no sweat we only have 4 guys signed" that is not really soothing that concern.

As the conversation has gone on I'm finding myself wanting to be swayed, but the details are just not there.

And I for one care less about the assets going the other way, especially if Holtz is the centerpiece, then I do about long term cap structure.

 

[NJDfan86]

I wish Fiala was a righty.

This is an underrated point as well. The Devils have one top 6 RH forward on their roster.

 

[devilsblood]

I wish Fiala was a righty.

Truthfully with Mercer, Zetterlund and Bratt's proven effectiveness at RW I don't really have a preference.

Especially if Holtz isn't part of the trade, though I do prefer that he is.

 

[devilsblood]

Well you're only going to set yourself up for disappointment if you're expecting him to be an offensive dman. That's not what he is.

4 years is a long time btw...

I'm not expecting offensve D-man, but if he is a potential NHL player, I'm expecting note worthy defense. Are we hearing that at all? The signs are not pointing that way.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Adam Pelech got 8x5,75M, and he is definately a better defenseman than Siegenthaler and he also had much longer track record. I think Siegenthaler gets something around 4-4,5M.

About that Fiala rumour. Apparently it was Russo, not Marek, who brought up the Devils.

I hate to play the "word game", but all Russo said is the Devils make sense. It seems like everytime a player that will have a fairly high cap hit is available the Devils are mentioned because we have cap space and needs all over the roster. Seems a lot more concrete that OTT is in as opposed to NJ

 

[Captain3rdLine]

You must be right. I do not think that means much. They only have 4 players signed - Jack, Nico, Dougie and Mercer's ELC. I would hope they would have a lot of cap space to sign 19 players.

But that’s still a good thing. It means they have an almost fresh slate which a lot of teams would die for. Should also include. Holtz, Hughes, Mukhammadullin, Okhotiuk, Bahl, and maybe others on ELC’s.

But lots of teams have bad contracts. We’re gonna sign Bratt right now and take up some of that but the point is we aren’t likely gonna be in cap trouble anytime soon even if we were to acquire and sign a 7M forward.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Well nobody other than you is talking about him coming as the 3RD next season. He just isn’t that good. He’s a 4th round pick who’s been pretty good in college. It’s very fair of me to assume he will spend time in Utica before getting a shot in New Jersey. In fact people weirdly haven’t even been talking much about the Devils signing him although I think most of us would think should try to. I think you’re really reaching talking about him coming in as a 3D next year. That’s probably what his ceiling in 2-4 years is.


But I’d bet even STI who likes him doesn’t think he’s good enough to step in as a 3RD next season.

@StevenToddIves
We’re talking about McCarthy

Well, first I'd like to state again that numbers are pretty irrelevant when it comes to assessing defensive-minded defensemen, so there's really no way to track their progress by stat-watching.

And you are correct in your assessment that McCarthy is not NHL ready. He's the Devils top RD prospect, sure, but he's better off remaining at Boston University for his senior season. After that, I'd say he needs at least a full season in the AHL to acclimate to the speed of professional hockey. And finally, we're talking about a likely bottom-pairing, stay-at-home RD who plays a responsible, high-compete game game with solid physicality.

In a nutshell, the Devils absolutely need to get a good 3-RD for the 2022-23 season, it's of the utmost importance. My top choice, as I've stated at length, would be Ilya Lyubushkin. My back-up plan would be Josh Manson, and my desperation scenarios would probably be a one-year deal to Gudbranson or Braun.

There's been a great deal of talk about trading Minnesota for Fiala, but Matt Dumba also may also represent a salary they could move to get under the cap, and he's a very good two-way RD with good physicality, although his propensity for injuries makes me a bit anxious.

Still, my first choice would be Lyubushkin, because he's an excellent defender and the Devils desperately need to get more physical and more difficult to play against.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

But that doesn't include Bratt who we know is going to get a sizable deal, Sev's who either gets a sizable deal, or leaves a gaping hole, nor does it include a single goalie. Never mind a bottom 6 or a RHD this side of OK. What having 4 guys signed in 23-24 means to me is that we have a bunch of guys to sign.

So when I state that my concern is that we have to sign a bunch of guys, and you tell me, "no sweat we only have 4 guys signed" that is not really soothing that concern.

As the conversation has gone on I'm finding myself wanting to be swayed, but the details are just not there.

And I for one care less about the assets going the other way, especially if Holtz is the centerpiece, then I do about long term cap structure.

The Devils have to room in their long term cap structure for Fiala. They don’t have any noticeably bad contracts right now which most teams would love to have. (Assuming Dougie bounces back). And that’s really how you get into trouble.

I hate to play the "word game", but all Russo said is the Devils make sense. It seems like everytime a player that will have a fairly high cap hit is available the Devils are mentioned because we have cap space and needs all over the roster. Seems a lot more concrete that OTT is in as opposed to NJ

Believe they said the Devils like him too.

 

[devilsblood]

He was named AC for next year at BU so I assumed Case McCarthy was going back for another year.

It’s not like these have been normal seasons, and he played a meager 12 games in 2020-21 due to COVID and injury. He’s only played a total of 70 games all three years there.

Who knows how the org feels about him but 2020-21 was basically a lost season, he took a nice step forward this season but another year in College might not be a bad idea. Yes, we could lose him but guys sign with the teams that draft them all the time after staying 4 years.

A shortened 20-21 season goes for just about every player. He came back in 21-22 and gave us a season that left NJ mgmt to say, "nah, not yet".

And I'm not sweating NJ losing him, cause if they thought much of him, they would have brought him in. But hey, I'm all for signing him next year, sticking him in Utica for awhiles and see if he develops.

 

[devilsblood]

Well, first I'd like to state again that numbers are pretty irrelevant when it comes to assessing defensive-minded defensemen, so there's really no way to track their progress by stat-watching.

And you are correct in your assessment that McCarthy is not NHL ready. He's the Devils top RD prospect, sure, but he's better off remaining at Boston University for his senior season. After that, I'd say he needs at least a full season in the AHL to acclimate to the speed of professional hockey. And finally, we're talking about a likely bottom-pairing, stay-at-home RD who plays a responsible, high-compete game game with solid physicality.

In a nutshell, the Devils absolutely need to get a good 3-RD for the 2022-23 season, it's of the utmost importance. My top choice, as I've stated at length, would be Ilya Lyubushkin. My back-up plan would be Josh Manson, and my desperation scenarios would probably be a one-year deal to Gudbranson or Braun.

There's been a great deal of talk about trading Minnesota for Fiala, but Matt Dumba also may also represent a salary they could move to get under the cap, and he's a very good two-way RD with good physicality, although his propensity for injuries makes me a bit anxious.

Still, my first choice would be Lyubushkin, because he's an excellent defender and the Devils desperately need to get.

Dumba seems like a guy we'd acquire if we were not going to sign Sev's. But I'd rather just keep Sev's as opposed to trading for and then signing Dumba.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Believe they said the Devils like him too.

I have no doubt they do. I would think every NHL team likes him. I just think the Devils come up in these reports a lot because we have the cap space that most other teams do not have. I have little doubt the Devils have discussed it with Minn- GMs talk all the time. I just have my doubts things like pick 5-6 or Holtz straight up are what is being discussed.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

No to trading this year's 1st for Fiala, but I would be happy to trade next year's 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Fiala. Either as a trade or offersheet.

 

[Guttersniped]

A shortened 20-21 season goes for just about every player. He came back in 21-22 and gave us a season that left NJ mgmt to say, "nah, not yet".

And I'm not sweating NJ losing him, cause if they thought much of him, they would have brought him in. But hey, I'm all for signing him next year, sticking him in Utica for awhiles and see if he develops.

So? It was still 12 games because BU got hit particularly hard by COVID and he was dealing with an injury so he played poorly. He didn’t make the U20 team either, which is how other guys got more games. (No one on BU ended up making it to that tournament because of a COVID outbreak.)

Does letting defensemen play three years in the NCAA seem reasonable to you? Well guys, including McCarthy, lost development time. It’s not all about rushing guys to AHL. He’s getting a leadership position on the Terriers, who have gone nowhere lately and are hoping for a stronger season.

Domenick Fensore was named Captain. He was drafted in the 3rd rd (#90) in 2019 by Carolina. Do you think Carolina is dumping Fensore too? Or maybe just letting him develop longer?

 

[devilsblood]

Domenick Fensore was named Captain. He was drafted in the 3rd rd (#90) in 2019 by Carolina. Do you think Carolina is dumping Fensore too? Or maybe just letting him develop longer?

Who said anything about dumping? But do I think Carolina is extremely high on Fensore? Not really.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

No to trading this year's 1st for Fiala, but I would be happy to trade next year's 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Fiala. Either as a trade or offersheet.

Huh why in the world would we do that. Next years first alone could be close to or even more valuable even if do better and challenge for a playoff spot. Much deeper draft with lots of high-end talent at the top. And give up a 2nd and 3rd round pick. Like what is the logic in this?

 

[R8Devs]

I have no doubt they do. I would think every NHL team likes him. I just think the Devils come up in these reports a lot because we have the cap space that most other teams do not have. I have little doubt the Devils have discussed it with Minn- GMs talk all the time. I just have my doubts things like pick 5-6 or Holtz straight up are what is being discussed.

russo is plugged into the wild but he's also friends with Fitz, he was on Russo's podcast a couple months ago and he's known Russo since Fitz played for the Panthers.

The speculation is on the price the Devils will pay bc I think people are drawing a lot out of that Fitz comment about being open to trading the 1st. But there's not many teams that have both the assets + cap space to accommodate Fiala, and with the Devils need of an elite wing -- it's a natural fit

 

[Devilsgrl35]

Russo is one of the best at what he does. If he's saying it there's definitely smoke.

 

[Smitty426]

I was reading something on Phillys need for a new coach. They discusses Rick Tocchet. I'm not much for retreads, but i like how the writer broke down why he's a good fit in Philthy. Help run the pp in Pitt, turnee AZ aroubd aa best he could. He's actively looking for a gig, anyone have any insight on him behind our bench? Seems like a no nonsense kinda guy. Just thinking outside the box,tell me why it sucks?

 

[devilsblood]

Man we still have Schneids on the books for 2 more years. Next year we will be paying Schneids, Bernier, Blackwood, and whoever else we bring in.

I also see that Matthews is a UFA after the 23-24 season. Currently on the books $11.6 per. Does he get more than that on his next deal?

 

[Triumph]

But that doesn't include Bratt who we know is going to get a sizable deal, Sev's who either gets a sizable deal, or leaves a gaping hole, nor does it include a single goalie. Never mind a bottom 6 or a RHD this side of OK. What having 4 guys signed in 23-24 means to me is that we have a bunch of guys to sign.

So when I state that my concern is that we have to sign a bunch of guys, and you tell me, "no sweat we only have 4 guys signed" that is not really soothing that concern.

As the conversation has gone on I'm finding myself wanting to be swayed, but the details are just not there.

And I for one care less about the assets going the other way, especially if Holtz is the centerpiece, then I do about long term cap structure.

I don't think this is that challenging to do. The Devils have a cheap Holtz, cheap Luke Hughes, Zetterlund should be cheap, Boqvist should still be cheap, What if Daws can be a backup goalie? He's on an ELC. McLeod and Bastian should still be cheap. And you can replace some of these guys with e.g. Thompson, Clarke, Foote, whomever. This is 7 players who should not cost more than $11M. So now you're looking at 11 players at $38M, and now you have 11 players to sign at $44M, you sign Bratt and Severson and Fiala for $21M and now you have to sign 8 players at $23M, which is perfectly reasonable for what needs to be filled in. You just can't upgrade anything.