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

[Billdo]

Severson got a lot of shit when he was here, particularly during the Hynes years. He was by far our best defenseman for several of those years.

We were also right not to keep him. We'll be better off for it in a year or two. There's been several players we couldn't keep since the salary cap was put in place (Gionta, Gomez, Rafalski) and even some players we didn't keep before that (Mogilny, Claude Lemieux in 2000) for financial reasons or whatever.

I think we should have kept Rafalski, since we only went and used that money to sign Rolston the next year, who was the same age, despite the fact that he was a forward and Rafalski was a defenseman. I don't think Gomez wanted to stay anyway. Rafalski and Gionta did.

But I'm not gonna sit here and debate a non-signing from 17 years ago, even if we've got nothing but time for it over the next 5 months or so.

I still wish we kept Ryan Carter instead of the other two from CBGB.

 

[BurntToast]

I don't know if his seat is quite hot yet, but if we miss the playoffs again next year then it's gotta be scorching. Shero was fired before he could complete his fourth playoff-less season in five years. Both GM's made the playoffs in their third season as GM. Both followed that up by missing the playoffs in their fourth season. Shero's playoff season appeared to be much more of a mirage than the Fitz playoff berth, as well as being a one man show with Hall and going right down to the wire to even make it in. So the 18-19 season being a bust had to be much more expected and much less shocking than the 23-24 season being a bust.

Shero was canned around the halfway point of his fifth season which was going pretty badly. The team was also in worse shape when he arrived than what Fitz inherited.

I'm not trying to start a Shero vs Fitzgerald debate again (I know this will though), I'm just saying that Shero got fired in the midst of his fourth playoff-less year out of five seasons. We've just went three playoff-less years out of four since the GM change.

The owners may like him more than they liked Shero, as they just made him president of hockey ops. We haven't had a president of hockey ops since Lou was the GM.

I don't think he's on the hot seat yet, though I do think he will be if next year goes bad. And rightfully so.

Maybe dangerously close to being fired. They may give him one more crack in 2025-2026 if we miss the playoffs next year, depending on him they feel about him. I think they're (ownership/the people even higher up than Fitz) writing this last year off to injuries and terrible goaltending (though somehow the goalie coach lives), as the team was competitive for the better part of the year. Even with the terrible goaltending. At least until the last couple of weeks of Lindy, before falling apart in his last 2 weeks and then completely bottoming out under coach bull frog.

I think Fitz will be in a Sero situation if the Devils have another bad start. This year wasn’t terrible as many pointed out but the home losses and no showing most back to backs is a sever lack of accountability. I think injuries, the Lindy sacrifice, and the fact that the Devils were never truly out of the playoff race until the last week of the season, saved Fitz.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Jake Allen on sportnet. He is actually really good. Shit I hope he doesn’t retire

 

[ZYXWVUT]

Jake Allen on sportnet. He is actually really good. Shit I hope he doesn’t retire

Then you could bring back Kahkonen as half of the tandem

 

[Bleedred]

I still wish we kept Ryan Carter instead of the other two from CBGB.

What I thought was weird was we signed Bernier the day he became a UFA after he had a horrible season.

I clearly remember Lou saying he’s trying to resurrect his career lol.

Carter was also a UFA that year, but only got a PTO from us. Minnesota gave him a real contract towards the end of training camp, so he left to go take that.

 

[RSeen]

What I thought was weird was we signed Bernier the day he became a UFA after he had a horrible season.

I clearly remember Lou saying he’s trying to resurrect his career lol.

Carter was also a UFA that year, but only got a PTO from us. Minnesota gave him a real contract towards the end of training camp, so he left to go take that.

That line was very clutch for us. Our bottom 6 depth was non-existent this year.

Seriously need to add a couple of physical forward that can cycle and forecheck.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Then you could bring back Kahkonen as half of the tandem

Just jokin Z. You new here

 

[ZYXWVUT]

Just jokin Z. You new here

Oh I know. But the joke would be the best case scenario hahaha

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I would really, really like to sign a guy like Debrusk or Foegele for the middle 6.

 

[glenwo2]

When asked about the assistants and if they'll return, he acted non-committal, but said ''These are the same assistants we had 112 points with last year''.

I expect McGill and Sarge to be back, but Chris Taylor is probably gone as he was handpicked by Lindy. The new coach probably picks somebody to replace him and/or Green's position.

It sure seems like Rogalski is gonna survive this. Even with the way Allen was talking about staying in touch with him in his exit interview. It wouldn't be the first time a player talked about a coach in the future, but the coach was fired the next day, but the vibes are that either the two new goalies saved him or was never gonna go anyway.

I'm beginning to believe Rogalski has a job 4 life here mainly 'cause Fitz probably doesn't even know the position of Goaltender coach exists (or doesn't think it's important enough to improve it).

As long as he's here, our goaltending will suck and suck even more the following seasons.

 

[MadDevil]

Not to defend Rogalski, but he was also the goalie coach when the goaltending was fine and we won 50+ games. Is it his fault Vitek's playoff collapse may have been permanent? Maybe he could have done something to get his mind straight? How do you fix a goalies confidence in the middle of a season where everything goes wrong? Could he have changed how Vitek plays to not be a bouncy castle of rebounds? I'm not asking to be a smartass either. I genuinely don't know what most goalie coaches actually do, or what kind of adjustments they make in season when guys are struggling. Obviously when nothing seems to work you probably gotta get somebody else, but would our fortunes have been better with somebody other than Rogalski? Who is Boston's goalie coach? Can we kidnap him? He seems to know what he's doing between Swayman and Ullmark lol

 

[RSeen]

I would really, really like to sign a guy like Debrusk or Foegele for the middle 6.

Both could be interesting. Debrusk if we need a potential top 6 option but I'd hope we could do better. He has been inconsistent and is coming off a down year.

Foegele I'd have interest in as well for a 3rd line role. I've been against focusing on grit in the past but we need more two way, physical players in this line up. I'd be targeting players with Foegele, Dakota Joshua and Trenin even if the term is 3-4 years. We should have some flexibility with our cap.

 

[ZYXWVUT]

Both could be interesting. Debrusk if we need a potential top 6 option but I'd hope we could do better. He has been inconsistent and is coming off a down year.

Foegele I'd have interest in as well for a 3rd line role. I've been against focusing on grit in the past but we need more two way, physical players in this line up. I'd be targeting players with Foegele, Dakota Joshua and Trenin even if the term is 3-4 years. We should have some flexibility with our cap.

i like the idea of Michael Amadio. And I think he would prob fly much more under the radar than other options. Can play anywhere, skill guys as a compliment or a more 2W/gritty line.

 

[MB3]

i like the idea of Michael Amadio. And I think he would prob fly much more under the radar than other options. Can play anywhere, skill guys as a compliment or a more 2W/gritty line.

plus i can scream “It’s a me! Amadio” 82 times a season which is nice

 

[MasterofGrond]

I think Fitz will be in a Sero situation if the Devils have another bad start. This year wasn’t terrible as many pointed out but the home losses and no showing most back to backs is a sever lack of accountability. I think injuries, the Lindy sacrifice, and the fact that the Devils were never truly out of the playoff race until the last week of the season, saved Fitz.

No chance Fitz was ever in actual danger this year. Not after last year. GM position just doesn't work that way, it's not like coaching where "you just have to make a change sometimes." If the team regresses next year, maybe you see him go next offseason, but even that I wouldn't be sure about it.

 

[ZYXWVUT]

A guy I also kinda have time for as a 4th line winger is Nic Aube-Kubel. Not a sexy player, did pass through waivers earlier in the season - but he’s an NHL player IMO for sure. Energetic, speedy, gets in on the forecheck, finishes checks, decent stature. Would be cheap.

 

[Billdo]

plus i can scream “It’s a me! Amadio” 82 times a season which is nice

When he scores they can play the Mario music or sound bite too.

 

[Xirik]

plus i can scream “It’s a me! Amadio” 82 times a season which is nice

Just what NJ needs, Another Italian plumber.

 

[Forge]

i like the idea of Michael Amadio. And I think he would prob fly much more under the radar than other options. Can play anywhere, skill guys as a compliment or a more 2W/gritty line.

I was going to bring him up a few days ago. Don't hate the idea of him at all.

 

[ZYXWVUT]

I was going to bring him up a few days ago. Don't hate the idea of him at all.

Call me crazy but I think he could be a good fit on Jack’s right wing. Straight-line guy, gets to the net, can grind a bit, doesn’t need to have the puck. Pretty sure he’s solid 200 foot player. Maybe with Meier on the other side?

 

[BurntToast]

No chance Fitz was ever in actual danger this year. Not after last year. GM position just doesn't work that way, it's not like coaching where "you just have to make a change sometimes." If the team regresses next year, maybe you see him go next offseason, but even that I wouldn't be sure about it.

I agree that Fitz’s wasn’t in any real danger this year but there are some real parallels to Shero’s situation.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I agree that Fitz’s wasn’t in any real danger this year but there are some real parallels to Shero’s situation.

There are so many more cornerstones in place compared to when Shero was canned. The roster is a couple tweaks and some maturing (and good health) away from being really good again.

 

[My3Sons]

I agree that Fitz’s wasn’t in any real danger this year but there are some real parallels to Shero’s situation.

Fitz is specifically parroting the language the higher ups want to stress - collaborative analytics communication etc

 

[BurntToast]

There are so many more cornerstones in place compared to when Shero was canned. The roster is a couple tweaks and some maturing (and good health) away from being really good again.

Therefore another bad start would be super detrimental.

 

[MadDevil]