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

[Saugus]

Nah, this is bad. I don't think the Devils should looking to move Holtz, but the time to trade him is now. If he starts to stumble next year and spends significant time in the AHL, his value has already decreased big-time. A guy theoretically unable to crack the roster of a rebuilding team after having that kind of season in the minors, there's big red flags there.

That's fair, his value is definitely higher now than it would be if he misses making the team out of camp. But I also don't think his value is higher to other teams than it is to us, which is a necessary condition for him to get traded.

We're looking for a top 6 winger to play with Hischier or Hughes, and here we have a homegrown guy who looks like he is on the cusp of being able to do that. Unless we pick Slafkovsky and he looks like he's ready to take that role right away, my guess is they will give Holtz every opportunity to be that guy.

He's not untouchable, but we'd have to get a ridiculous offer, and I doubt anyone is enamored enough by Holtz's gaudy AHL stats that they would sell us the farm.

 

[devilsblood]

zachasummerbeerbelly.jpg

Those IPA’s need to go down the hatch though

I think this is why I'm such a fan of Zacha. He's my spirit animal.

 

[FooteBahl]

I think this is why I'm such a fan of Zacha. He's my spirit animal.

Your spirit animal is a p***y?

 

[devilsblood]

someone could piss right into zacha's bowl of cornflakes as he was eating it and he would turn and skate away and not care.

6' 3" .... 210 use the size...show something


...more like spinal tap 16" stonehenge ....

He'd care, he'd just keep it all pent up as he skates away.

I think a lobotomy would do him well.

 

[devilsblood]

Your spirit animal is a p***y?

An IPA loving p***y.

What can I say.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

That's fair, his value is definitely higher now than it would be if he misses making the team out of camp. But I also don't think his value is higher to other teams than it is to us, which is a necessary condition for him to get traded.

We're looking for a top 6 winger to play with Hischier or Hughes, and here we have a homegrown guy who looks like he is on the cusp of being able to do that. Unless we pick Slafkovsky and he looks like he's ready to take that role right away, my guess is they will give Holtz every opportunity to be that guy.

He's not untouchable, but we'd have to get a ridiculous offer, and I doubt anyone is enamored enough by Holtz's gaudy AHL stats that they would sell us the farm.

We shouldn’t be so enamored by his AHL stats either than. We shouldn’t just be getting rid of him but is there’s a deal that makes sense we shouldn’t be against moving him. It doesn’t have to be a ridiculous offer or somebody selling the farm. Holtz just isn’t worth that much.

I’m concerned about his skating as a lot of people seem to be. It could really hold him back at the NHL level. Do we really think Holtz is on the cusp of being able to play effectively in our top 6? He didn’t really look that close in his end of the season showing. I wouldn’t be remotely suprised if he started the season in the AHL again.

 

[Saugus]

I think this is why I'm such a fan of Zacha. He's my spirit animal.

I don't want a spirit animal, I want a power forward who actually uses his size.

 

[devilsblood]

I don't want a spirit animal, I want a power forward who actually uses his size.

Man, I hop onto a joke regarding beer bellies and the Zacha haters get all riled up.

 

[Saugus]

Man, I hop onto a joke regarding beer bellies and the Zacha haters get all riled up.

Nah, it's all good. I just couldn't pass up the snarky comment. I like IPAs too, and I'm not going to hate on anybody who does.

But I'm not a professional athlete.

 

[OmNomNom]

Nah, it's all good. I just couldn't pass up the snarky comment. I like IPAs too, and I'm not going to hate on anybody who does.

But I'm not a professional athlete.

when will we see your 100,000th post sir

 

[JimEIV]

You know the old saying..."You are what you eat."

 

[Triumph]

That's fair, his value is definitely higher now than it would be if he misses making the team out of camp. But I also don't think his value is higher to other teams than it is to us, which is a necessary condition for him to get traded.

Oh, I think it definitely is, but it's just a question of whether or not those teams have a suitable piece to come back the other way. But a 20 year Holtz on a 3 year ELC is massively valuable. For a lot of teams, that is more valuable than a 2nd overall pick, especially with the cap crunch that shows no sign of abating until 2024-25.

We're looking for a top 6 winger to play with Hischier or Hughes, and here we have a homegrown guy who looks like he is on the cusp of being able to do that. Unless we pick Slafkovsky and he looks like he's ready to take that role right away, my guess is they will give Holtz every opportunity to be that guy.

He's not untouchable, but we'd have to get a ridiculous offer, and I doubt anyone is enamored enough by Holtz's gaudy AHL stats that they would sell us the farm.

They would just have to give us a top line winger who is not old and not signed to a bad deal. This is obviously harder than I am making it sound here, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[OlfactoryHughes]

Devils are in position to risk Holtz diminishing his value, in hopes his game does translate and he can be that 40 goal guy. They don’t NEED to maximize his value.

Trading him now, for a player that will command a higher percentage of the cap, to produce at the rate we hope Holtz can while under team control, isn’t the ideal scenario

Unless of course, fitz already has a strong conviction that holtz’s game won’t thrive at the NHL level, then the time is now. But given the excitement he generated producing in the AHL, I really would like to see him have a strong camp, make the team, and put the doubt that’s been festering from his short stints to bed.

Just hate trading someone with his upside before we really know who he is.

 

[RangerDoggo]

I get the anxiety over Holtz and his skating, but we thought he was toast two seasons ago.

 

[devilsblood]

Oh, I think it definitely is, but it's just a question of whether or not those teams have a suitable piece to come back the other way. But a 20 year Holtz on a 3 year ELC is massively valuable. For a lot of teams, that is more valuable than a 2nd overall pick, especially with the cap crunch that shows no sign of abating until 2024-25.



They would just have to give us a top line winger who is not old and not signed to a bad deal. This is obviously harder than I am making it sound here, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Holtz may have significant trade value because of his age and low contract cost.

But the question is: will he provide on ice value?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

 

[SKNJD9]

What about our own kid line next yr

Holtz - Boqvist - Mercer ( I really liked Mercer on the wing )

I'm still a bit old school in the I want a 3rd line shutdown line...but I think I could be okay with that

 

[MartyOwns]

but i was told we need an entirely new team? me confused

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

What about our own kid line next yr

Holtz - Boqvist - Mercer ( I really liked Mercer on the wing )

I'm still a bit old school in the I want a 3rd line shutdown line...but I think I could be okay with that

I think Boqvist will be with Big Z on the 3rd line. And I’d guess Tatar if he’s still here.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

What about our own kid line next yr

Holtz - Boqvist - Mercer ( I really liked Mercer on the wing )

I'm still a bit old school in the I want a 3rd line shutdown line...but I think I could be okay with that

Don’t want Holtz on his off wing. Would much rather Mercer in the top 6 on the wing.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

I think Boqvist will be with Big Z on the 3rd line. And I’d guess Tatar if he’s still here.

If I remember correctly Fitz said something to the effect that Zetterlund took advantage of his chance during his callup. If Bas is back I would guess Big Z has the inside track to that spot.

 

[RangerDoggo]

On paper, this is correct. In reality, they'll probably be stagnant or barely better, because it's not like they've taken a step forward in a decade.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

On paper, this is correct. In reality, they'll probably be stagnant or barely better, because it's not like they've taken a step forward in a decade.

Because they havent had the pieces. They’ve never looked as good on paper as they do right now. We have an incredible young core. We had nothing close to this10 years ago.

Lou left the Devils with absolutely nothing. It’s taken time but we are in position to possibly be one of the best teams in the league.

 

[RangerDoggo]

Because they havent had the pieces. They’ve never looked as good on paper as they do right now. We have an incredible young core. We had nothing close to this10 years ago.

Lou left the Devils with absolutely nothing. It’s taken time but we are in position to possibly be one of the best teams in the league.

We had some of those pieces last year and finished with the worst record since the Reagan administration, and the bad goaltending argument is partially cope.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

We had some of those pieces last year and finished with the worst record since the Reagan administration, and the bad goaltending argument is partially cope.

The bad goaltending argument is very legitimate. No one is saying we’re a contender yet. Just that we have a really good young core and if we’re able to figure a few things out we could become a huge problem for the rest of the league very quickly.

Hence, “sleeping Giant”