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

[Billdo]

This would likely be foolish unless the bottom falls out of either of their games - even still, bridging Luke seems almost impossible at this stage. Also it is not like bridging players is easy, that's rarely what players want and also in the case of Nemec risks an offer sheet.

The cap is going to the moon unless there's a work stoppage/CBA change or the economy falls apart. There is a ton of room for it to grow given where the cap should be based on present revenues, and the NHL has just lost its lowest revenue club and is almost certainly replacing it with a top-half revenue club. The cap should be $100 million by the earliest time that can happen.

EDIT: SBD reported last month that NHL revenues this season are estimated at $6.2B, that means that the cap should be at ~$104 million already. Let's say Utah brings in $50 million more a season than Arizona, that's an increase of ~$800,000 in the cap also.

I get the feeling management will want to sign them to long term deals.

It was just an option fellas. I'm not advocating for it nor do I expect it.

 

[BurntToast]

When It comes to Holtz, I think some of the blame needs to be put back on the organization.

I understand why he wasn’t played 22-23, but they should have sent him down to the AHL.

I feel like Holtz had a great summer, last summer. He play well to begin the year and was one of the better 5v5 scorers. His play tailed off!!? He was out almost a year. I’m not switching the narrative because he was left off the national team.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

When It comes to Holtz, I think some of the blame needs to be put back on the organization.

I understand why he wasn’t played 22-23, but they should have sent him down to the AHL.

I feel like Holtz had a great summer, last summer. He play well to begin the year and was one of the better 5v5 scorers. His play tailed off!!? He was out almost a year. I’m not switching the narrative because he was left off the national team.

He has good results, the process was obviously flawed and the eye test clearly picked up on this. There are key areas in the game where he isn’t NHL level, board battles and compete is one of those areas.

 

[Guadana]

Holtz started quite good for his experience and issues. But he never played so long for many years. It’s covid, or injuries or Ruff or ill. 82 games were a lot for him.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

Re-sign Dawson Mercer - 2/3 years, ~$3.5 million per.
Sign Chandler Stephenson - 5x$5.25 million per.
Sign Adam Henrique - 3x$2.25 million per.
Sign Nick Cousins - 2x$2 million per.

Trade Alexander Holtz to Calgary for Jacob Markstrom (@ $4.25m cap hit)

Henrique - Hughes - Mercer
Bratt - Hischier - Meier
Haula - Stephenson - Palat
Lazar - Bastian - Cousins
Foote, MacDermid

Bahl - Hamilton
Hughes - Marino
Siegenthaler - Nemec
Hatakka

Markstrom
Allen

 

[Darkauron]

We are not trading Holtz for the old body of markstrom

 

[forceten]

We are not trading Holtz for the old body of markstrom

I'd consider if they threw in pick 29

 

[JrFischer54]

We are not trading Holtz for the old body of markstrom

your right calgary would never do that trade.

 

[dgibb10]

When It comes to Holtz, I think some of the blame needs to be put back on the organization.

I understand why he wasn’t played 22-23, but they should have sent him down to the AHL.

I feel like Holtz had a great summer, last summer. He play well to begin the year and was one of the better 5v5 scorers. His play tailed off!!? He was out almost a year. I’m not switching the narrative because he was left off the national team.

He was kept up to work 1 on 1 with Andrew Brunette.

Holtz started quite good for his experience and issues. But he never played so long for many years. It’s covid, or injuries or Ruff or ill. 82 games were a lot for him.

He was top 35 in the league in points/60 and goals/60 at even strength pre all star break.

The talent around him went to shit.

A sniper isn't going to produce much when the guys left to get him the puck are Lazar, Tierney, bastian, Nosek, and Willman.
When he was with McLeod, Haula, Palat, Mercer, Meier, he was producing a ton.

Get him either with Jack in the Toffoli role, or on an insulated 3rd line with Palat and Haula for example

 

[Guadana]

He was kept up to work 1 on 1 with Andrew Brunette.


He was top 35 in the league in points/60 and goals/60 at even strength pre all star break.

The talent around him went to shit.

A sniper isn't going to produce much when the guys left to get him the puck are Lazar, Tierney, bastian, Nosek, and Willman.
When he was with McLeod, Haula, Palat, Mercer, Meier, he was producing a ton.

Get him either with Jack in the Toffoli role, or on an insulated 3rd line with Palat and Haula for example

Im not a big fan of p/60 stats, but the talent is there for sure. But he needs to develop his game. But I think at least as a hidden scorer he could be useful with good forechecking/defensive forwards. May be not for the Devils.

He wasnt good with better partners, because better partners are playing against better opponents.

 

[dgibb10]

Im not a big fan of p/60 stats, but the talent is there for sure. But he needs to develop his game. But I think at least as a hidden scorer he could be useful with good forechecking/defensive forwards. May be not for the Devils.

He wasnt good with better partners, because better partners are playing against better opponents.

He was good with better partners. The Meier portion was interesting because he really only played with Meier in december when meier had 0 MCLs.

He had sub 40% xGoals rates with Bastian, with Tierney, 18% with willman (no idea how he spent time on an NHL roster), 43% with Nosek,

41% with Meier, but again Meier had 0 MCLs for that whole month they spent together

57.5% with Haula, 56% with Jack, 55.5% with Mcleod, 54% with bratt, 50% with Mercer. It's very clear that he needs a play driver alongside him (shocker).

Meier-Hischier-Bratt
____-Hughes-Mercer
Palat-Haula-_____

Put Holtz into either of the ____ slots where he can play alongside 2 guys who drive play better and let him get back to the magic. I think Palat+Haula would be ideal, and then go after a foegele who's speed will pair with Jack

He was half a PPG pre all star break playing 12 minutes a night with sparse PP2 time.

 

[Saugus]

This is probably a make or break season for Holtz in NJ. If he can't put it together under a new coach, with a clear opening in the top 6, he probably won't last here.

I'm hoping that he gets a real opportunity, comes out hot, and runs with it.

 

[Guadana]

He was good with better partners. The Meier portion was interesting because he really only played with Meier in december when meier had 0 MCLs.

He had sub 40% xGoals rates with Bastian, with Tierney, 18% with willman (no idea how he spent time on an NHL roster), 43% with Nosek,

41% with Meier, but again Meier had 0 MCLs for that whole month they spent together

57.5% with Haula, 56% with Jack, 55.5% with Mcleod, 54% with bratt, 50% with Mercer. It's very clear that he needs a play driver alongside him (shocker).

Meier-Hischier-Bratt
____-Hughes-Mercer
Palat-Haula-_____

Put Holtz into either of the ____ slots where he can play alongside 2 guys who drive play better and let him get back to the magic. I think Palat+Haula would be ideal, and then go after a foegele who's speed will pair with Jack

He was half a PPG pre all star break playing 12 minutes a night with sparse PP2 time.

I'm telling about production. He isn't ready to be acceptable enough to play with 13/86. He should be carry by them, but Devils should free them to maximize their potential. Holtz is not a player to structure the game around him.

 

[dgibb10]

I'm telling about production. He isn't ready to be acceptable enough to play with 13/86. He should be carry by them, but Devils should free them to maximize their potential. Holtz is not a player to structure the game around him.

Objectively his production and results alongside competent linemates was quite good.

His production with Scrubs was bad.

Again, play him with Haula and Palat if you don't want to play him with Jack. Holtz had quite good results alongside Haula.

 

[R8Devs]

Probably bad long term (although should be manageable with the rising cap/expiring deals to other vets) but just for the now I wonder if the Devils go after Lindholm in the summer. Seems like a guy fit to play with Jack (right shot, can transition between winger/center, take faceoffs for Hughes, can be the second/third guy on a line as seen with Gaudreau/Tkachuk) and would help the Devils in injury situations with centers.

Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Bratt-Hughes-Lindholm
Palat-Haula-Holtz
XXX-Lazar-Bastian
Macdermid

Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Hughes-Nemec/Marino
XXX-Nemec/Marino
Hatakka

 

[RSeen]

Probably bad long term (although should be manageable with the rising cap/expiring deals to other vets) but just for the now I wonder if the Devils go after Lindholm in the summer. Seems like a guy fit to play with Jack (right shot, can transition between winger/center, take faceoffs for Hughes, can be the second/third guy on a line as seen with Gaudreau/Tkachuk) and would help the Devils in injury situations with centers.

Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Bratt-Hughes-Lindholm
Palat-Haula-Holtz
XXX-Lazar-Bastian
Macdermid

Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Hughes-Nemec/Marino
XXX-Nemec/Marino
Hatakka

Given the level of his decline, I'd have no interest outside of a 1 or 2 year term.

 

[Guadana]

Objectively his production and results alongside competent linemates was quite good.

His production with Scrubs was bad.

Again, play him with Haula and Palat if you don't want to play him with Jack. Holtz had quite good results alongside Haula.

I'm okay to use him with reliable third line twi eat center and forechecker.

 

[theoptimist]

Bratt-Hughes-Lindholm

Siegenthaler-Hamilton

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Man I would love to have Necas on this team. I know it doesn't make a ton of sense, but it would be so awesome.

 

[Blackjack]

Modeling Mercer at 4.78 million (Dobber projection) and Hatakka at $1 million we should have $22.4 million in space for next season with 11 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 1 goaltender under contract.

If for whatever we reason we wanted to trade for a guy whose name rhymes with sharner.

This assumes an $87.7 million cap.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Modeling Mercer at 4.78 million (Dobber projection) and Hatakka at $1 million we should have $22.4 million in space for next season with 11 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 1 goaltender under contract.

If for whatever we reason we wanted to trade for a guy whose name rhymes with sharner.

This assumes an $87.7 million cap.

I can't wait for the replies from the truckulance crew on this one.

 

[Barry Tallackson]

Can't lose sight of the incoming Luke and Nemec deals. These two are pillars for the future and will require quite a good chunk of the cap, they'll be a priority for the org for sure.

Spend to cap, reassess roster when the time comes to give them contract extensions

 

[Blackjack]

Spend to cap, reassess roster when the time comes to give them contract extensions

Figure out who will be “injured” for the regular season

 

[Billdo]

We are not trading Holtz for the old body of markstrom

You're right...

your right calgary would never do that trade.

... because of this.

 

[Blackjack]

I can't wait for the replies from the truckulance crew on this one.

Funny thing is that I actually consider myself part of that crew, but if you have a chance to make Timo Meier the third best wing on the team…