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

[OmNomNom]

@JimEIV what happened w the chicken

 

[FooteBahl]

boom boom should be really good. get ready for a new kind of crispiness, jim

soy garlic is a great starting point. if you can handle heat, go for the spicy, but be warned!

Boom boom chicken is very good. I met the owners while they were building it. I think they have another location in Fort Lee.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

All this fried chicken talk is gonna force me to order Bon Chon from Newark Ave, damn you all.

And whatever the story is with Bratt, I'm now at the point I am with the MLB trade deadline: Jesus Christ, let's just get there and see what happens, can't take hypotheticals anymore.

can confirm. Had friends in Hoboken and Jersey City - hope you ordered the Bon Chon.

 

[Guttersniped]

According to Natstat this was his best season in terms of 5v5 shot rate. Slightly better than 17-18, and last year. Little bit more distinction if we look at iCF rate.

I got more in the weeds than I wanted to but old habits die hard.

I guess I wanted to show that I do see a path to more production for him, it’s just still a question if he gets there.

So, no, I won’t be shocked or disappointed or embarrassed or whatever if does better on Boston.

I also don’t think that it’s a lock and he could give them an uneven, frustrating year too.

Zacha had 5 points, with 4 goals, in his first 5 GP and 11 points, with 7 goals, in his first first 14 GP.
There were a lot of… uh, interesting reactions on this board. I expect the same, whatever happens.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Fan voting for top Centers.
View attachment 573574
7 = Elite, 6 = Star, 5 = 1st, 4 = 2nd, 3 = 3rd, 2 = 4th and 1 = non NHL level

Cool seeing acknowledgement for Nico for once and LOL at every jack ass that didn't put Matthews, MacKinnon and Leon as 7s.

I dunno about these voters but I'd take Stamkos over a LOT of these guys, at least just for next season.

And if McDavid is a 7, I'm not sure anyone else should be above a 6.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

His production on the top unit was not good, still best on the team during the first quarter of the season(Bratt and Nico each had 2 pp points through 20 games), but certainly not good. When he was taken off the top unit his pp production was pretty much non existent. 4 points through 20, 4 points the final 60. Which isn't that surprising given our PP was terrible in general, so yeah the 2nd unit is going to be really terrible.

But if he were to keep the not good pace of the first 20, that's an additional 8 points, which puts him at a 51 point pace for the season. Heck who knows, perhaps if he stayed on the top unit and found his groove, he may have bettered his early pace in the 2nd half of the year. Get him back near the 57 point pace from last year.

Huh? Half this isn’t remotely what we were talking about. Zacha’s production after the first stretch of games was much worse and it wasn’t because he was taken off the top pp. He was taken off the top pp because he was struggling.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

I think we get Bratt signed. I think he just wants to get paid. Not sure if the devils are offering him a lot I wouldn’t be surprised if they are lowballing Bratt. If we had to trade him I wouldn’t mind a Bratt for Meier swap

Is Meier going to get paid less? I kind of doubt it. In which case, just pay the guy. I can’t imagine what the ask would have to be from Bratt’s camp for the deal to not make sense.

 

[Forge]

Is Meier going to get paid less? I kind of doubt it. In which case, just pay the guy. I can’t imagine what the ask would have to be from Bratt’s camp for the deal to not make sense.

Yeah, I can't imagine Timo is cheaper. Especially with his QO what it is.

May be more amenable to signing long term here though if bratt is resisting. I'm not sure if playing with siegs and Nico long term really matters or not when it comes to signing long term, but it probably doesn't hurt.

 

[Devs3cups]

I think we get Bratt signed. I think he just wants to get paid. Not sure if the devils are offering him a lot I wouldn’t be surprised if they are lowballing Bratt. If we had to trade him I wouldn’t mind a Bratt for Meier swap

What makes you think we’re lowballing him? Nothing from Fitz makes me believe he’s lowballing guys. He certainly hasn’t so far. Shero (who Fitz was AGM to) never did it with us either as far as I can remember.

There’s way more evidence that Bratt’s agent and Bratt are playing hard than Fitz is lowballing, imo.

 

[devilsblood]

Huh? Half this isn’t remotely what we were talking about. Zacha’s production after the first stretch of games was much worse and it wasn’t because he was taken off the top pp. He was taken off the top pp because he was struggling.

What I'm showing you is that it was his pp production which dropped significantly after being taken off the top unit.

But 5v5

3 goals 6 points in his first 20 games.

5 goals 18 pts in his final 50.

So his 5v5 production increased after the first 20 games.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Is Meier going to get paid less? I kind of doubt it. In which case, just pay the guy. I can’t imagine what the ask would have to be from Bratt’s camp for the deal to not make sense.

Meier's going to make more, but he's also more of a Fitz player and his previous boxcar stats are more in line with that sort of payday. I could see Fitz calling that an upgrade.

 

[mdj12784]

Boom boom chicken is very good. I met the owners while they were building it. I think they have another location in Fort Lee.

It's all about the Kung Pao! Ask Costanza!

 

[Nico Hischier]

What makes you think we’re lowballing him? Nothing from Fitz makes me believe he’s lowballing guys. He certainly hasn’t so far. Shero (who Fitz was AGM to) never did it with us either as far as I can remember.

There’s way more evidence that Bratt’s agent and Bratt are playing hard than Fitz is lowballing, imo.

I am just saying I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Bratt wants something like 8x8.5 and devils are offering like 6.5-7.5

 

[glenwo2]

Wayyyyy better than a 2-year deal. With the cap potentially going up and big contracts off the payroll, I could see them agreeing on a long-term deal next off-season with Bratt still an RFA. Especially if he replicates his season.

Massive risk here for Bratt, though.

What if he regressed?

Then he'll get offered even less than he is now, not just from Fitz but from any other team out there where he originally thought he was going to get top dollar from.

His agent is going to ruin his career earnings-wise in the end.

He'll end up firing him (after the fact) but the damage will already be done.

F*** AGENTS!

Starting to think anything other than a 1 year deal is a very long shot.

Also starting to wonder who is the long term replacement for him.

No one is.

Bratt makes anyone on his line better.

 

[Incharge1976]

So basically, if Bratt signs a 1 year deal, he’s still an RFA after next season. So at worst, he signs a 1 year deal next summer as well. We have him for 2 years at a minimum.

Do we feel confident in the chances of signing him to a long-term contract next off-season if he signs a 1 year deal this summer, with more cap and big contracts coming off the board next off-season?

I will have no confidence whatsoever considering it will be twice where it took forever, and it would seem this time that they are far apart if he gets a 1 year deal.

 

[Devs3cups]

I am just saying I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Bratt wants something like 8x8.5 and devils are offering like 6.5-7.5

7-7.5 doesn’t seem like a lowball to me though. Under 7 is rough though.

I will have no confidence whatsoever considering it will be twice where it either forever.

I’d definitively tend to agree with you there.

 

[Triumph]

Meier's going to make more, but he's also more of a Fitz player and his previous boxcar stats are more in line with that sort of payday. I could see Fitz calling that an upgrade.

Grier has spent the offseason purging finesse players and adding physical ones. I don't think adding Jesper Bratt is going to interest him a whole lot.

 

[Forge]

I will have no confidence whatsoever considering it will be twice where it took forever, and it would seem this time that they are far apart if he gets a 1 year deal.

If he goes to arbitration or signs a one year deal, my expectation would be that he's not a devil at this time next year. Just a feeling, of course. Could certainly be proven wrong. Another season line last year and Fitz could blow him out of the water with an offer, but my expectation would be that he's gone next year

 

[Incharge1976]

I'd feel a lot better about giving Bratt $8M+ if he had back to back seasons like his last one. Wouldn't shock me if Fitz feels the same way.

 

[Nico Hischier]

7-7.5 doesn’t seem like a lowball to me though. Under 7 is rough though.


I’d definitively tend to agree with you there.

Do you think they are offering at least nicos aav

I would think if they are, then it should be done by now... or Bratt wants more... or they aren’t offering that high of an aav. I’m starting to think they might not be offering that high of an aav because he had one very good season. However We did see kaprizov get paid after one good season obviously bratts wasn’t as good but still

 

[JimEIV]

If he goes to arbitration or signs a one year deal, my expectation would be that he's not a devil at this time next year. Just a feeling, of course. Could certainly be proven wrong. Another season line last year and Fitz could blow him out of the water with an offer, but my expectation would be that he's gone next year

If he signs a one year he shouldn't play another game as a Devil and we should look to trade him before the season starts.

 

[Forge]

If he signs a one year he shouldn't play another game as a Devil and we should look to trade him before the season starts.

Maybe, though my expectation wouldn't be that we do it.

 

[Devil X]

If he signs a one year he shouldn't play another game as a Devil and we should look to trade him before the season starts.

Im going to agree with Jim here.

Fact of the matter is that, this is the second time the Devils have had a hard time getting a deal done with him. At that point does anyone really wanna go through it again?

I have no idea if we could get the right value for him, mainly because I dunno who would legit be available. But if I was the GM I might be looking. One thing is for sure. Even if a deal isnt found he would be gone next offseason even things open up. Either the draft or before.

 

[MasterofGrond]

If he signs a one year through arb you trade him. It sucks, but I’m sure we could get value for him.

 

[OlfactoryHughes]

If he signs a one year he shouldn't play another game as a Devil and we should look to trade him before the season starts.

I’d call that bluff and play him all year, let him risk injury AND regression, and go out and either earn the contract he wants or regret not taking a long term deal. Pretty sure fitz, is holding a better hand, and he knows it. We can always do this again next year. At which point, I’d definitely trade him.