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

[tailfins]

its funny at the start of the story it mentions how the devils were in on the two guys but didn't land them for stated reasons. then at the end of the story but wait! next year we have 25 million in cap space to be rejected again lol. i know whats done is done but man getting one of the two johnny or matt would've changed this team bigly

Real thing is that players want to join winning teams. Even better if they are winners with good weather and low taxes. But, players aren't looking to go to Anaheim right now despite the weather and kids like Zegras, Terry and Drysdale. And Carolina has only started to pop up as a destination now that they're winning. Before, with all the wacky management stuff Dundon has been pulling, they were seen as a bit of a clown show.

If the Devils start winning, they'll be able to bring in players.

Of course, whether that's the right way to spend cap space is a different question.

 

[Saugus]

On top of Tkachuk’s offer not happening, I don’t want to know what we would have had to have given up if he was willing. The Panthers had to cough up quite a lot.

No joke. We probably don't have an exact equivalent to Huberdeau and Weegar, which means we would probably have had to add even more to Bratt and Severson at a minimum. No thanks.

 

[Triumph]

Real thing is that players want to join winning teams. Even better if they are winners with good weather and low taxes. But, players aren't looking to go to Anaheim right now despite the weather and kids like Zegras, Terry and Drysdale. And Carolina has only started to pop up as a destination now that they're winning. Before, with all the wacky management stuff Dundon has been pulling, they were seen as a bit of a clown show.

If the Devils start winning, they'll be able to bring in players.

Of course, whether that's the right way to spend cap space is a different question.

This seems to forget or not know that the Devils signed 2 of the biggest UFAs on the market in each of the last 2 years. Frankly, I do not think winning has that much to do with where players go in UFA.

 

[NJDfan86]

You have been saying for ages 'who cares about the cap!!1' and now the Devils are capped out. It happens sooner than you think (which, if I'm being honest, would always be true).

It seems pretty clear the idea of budgeting is hard for some to wrap their heads around.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

This seems to forget or not know that the Devils signed 2 of the biggest UFAs on the market in each of the last 2 years. Frankly, I do not think winning has that much to do with where players go in UFA.

and Gaudreau signed in Columbus which has none of the things he mentioned

 

[My3Sons]

This seems to forget or not know that the Devils signed 2 of the biggest UFAs on the market in each of the last 2 years. Frankly, I do not think winning has that much to do with where players go in UFA.

I think it's on the list, but the first three places on the list are all probably occupied by money. Fourth may be georgraphy or family or other off ice considerations.

 

[tailfins]

This seems to forget or not know that the Devils signed 2 of the biggest UFAs on the market in each of the last 2 years. Frankly, I do not think winning has that much to do with where players go in UFA.

True. That's a better response to the OP.

Edit: I don't think I agree that players don't care about winning. Perhaps it's not #1 on the list, but you didn't hear about players forcing trades to Florida or Carolina before they started winning, and few players took less from those teams to sign. But that does happen with winning teams. Not all the time (maybe MacKinnon breaks the bank), but players do understand that winning can come at a cost.

 

[tailfins]

and Gaudreau signed in Columbus which has none of the things he mentioned

But Gaudreau's other choice was the Devils - between the two, it's not unreasonable to say the team that finished 18 points ahead has a better chance at winning.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I would try banana on my pizza next time.

Someone who's on Twitter should submit that video of Holtz liking banana pizza to this account so he can get yelled at: https://twitter.com/ItalianComments

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

But Gaudreau's other choice was the Devils - between the two, it's not unreasonable to say the team that finished 18 points ahead has a better chance at winning.

I mean sure if you think that Gaudreau based his decision purely on the 2021-22 standings, then I guess you're right?

Every player has different priorities. Its silly to box all of them into "well, if team X doesn't win, no one will ever want to sign there". Every player and every situation is different. Some value money the most, some value winning the most, some value playing time the most, some value location the most, etc.

 

[New Jersey]

I mean sure if you think that Gaudreau based his decision purely on the 2021-22 standings, then I guess you're right?

Every player has different priorities. Its silly to box all of them into "well, if team X doesn't win, no one will ever want to sign there". Every player and every situation is different. Some value money the most, some value winning the most, some value playing time the most, some value location the most, etc.

It's almost as if professional athletes are... Human.

 

[NJDevs26]

I mean sure if you think that Gaudreau based his decision purely on the 2021-22 standings, then I guess you're right?

Every player has different priorities. Its silly to box all of them into "well, if team X doesn't win, no one will ever want to sign there". Every player and every situation is different. Some value money the most, some value winning the most, some value playing time the most, some value location the most, etc.

The op is also forgetting if he based his decision on last year’s standings he would have taken more money to stay in Calgary

 

[Mgd31]

View attachment 585156

I knew Holtz got it from somewhere!

 

[My3Sons]

View attachment 585156

OK, that looks like that kid ripped the tooth out of a saber toothed cat and is about to lick the bloody end. Yeah, dark I know, but that's what it looks like to me.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Regarding Tkachuk:

And that’s OK. This Devils team will turn a corner led by its young core of Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer. And getting more saves this season.

Bratt's not listed here but Mercer is huh...hmmmm

 

[tailfins]

The op is also forgetting if he based his decision on last year’s standings he would have taken more money to stay in Calgary

Yeah - but he made the decision to leave Calgary before he knew it was only Columbus and NJ who'd make offers.

The article / reporting that sparked this conversation stated that NJ has significant cap room next year. One poster basically said it's not going to matter if players won't come here.

My point should have been that winning plays a part in making a team attractive.

@Triumph is correct that players are coming to NJ now even without the team having demonstrated that it can win.

We likely missed out on Gaudreau and Tkachuck for a variety of reasons. I believe that winning is part of that - at least for Tkachuck, based on the locations where he would have gone. But, I agree that winning isn't the only reason a player chooses where to go, and may not be the most important reason for a given player.

 

[JrFischer54]

You have been saying for ages 'who cares about the cap!!1' and now the Devils are capped out. It happens sooner than you think (which, if I'm being honest, would always be true).

yeah i'm not concerned about the cap at all. and you certainly shouldn't be worried about the salaries of players that aren't even out into the entry level contracts lol.

On top of Tkachuk’s offer not happening, I don’t want to know what we would have had to have given up if he was willing. The Panthers had to cough up quite a lot.

they got younger and saved money so i don't think they had to give up a super ton to land him.

 

[My3Sons]

yeah i'm not concerned about the cap at all. and you certainly shouldn't be worried about the salaries of players that aren't even out into the entry level contracts lol.



they got younger and saved money so i don't think they had to give up a super ton to land him.

I realize it won't happen this way, but to make a point, what if Shara scores 40 goals this season? He's up for a new deal. What if Mercer scores 60 points? You can extend him after the season. I don't think it's fair to just dismiss future signings as a bunch of guys who have a while to go before their ELCs are up.

 

[JrFischer54]

I realize it won't happen this way, but to make a point, what if Shara scores 40 goals this season? He's up for a new deal. What if Mercer scores 60 points? You can extend him after the season. I don't think it's fair to just dismiss future signings as a bunch of guys who have a while to go before their ELCs are up.

if that happens great but one year isn't going to justify an overpayment on their next contract. considering they will be RFA there isn't much leverage for them either. would they get more then say if they had subpar seasons? sure but not enough to worry about the cap and certainly it won't be enough to make me want to NOT sign a player like johnny or matt to a long term max deal contract.

 

[OmNomNom]

 

[Patrik26]

OK. I'm clueless about where to stream the prospects game from. Anyone have a link please?

 

[NJDevs26]

That’s one way to introduce yourself to the fanbase haha

 

[Rhodes 81]

I'm so ready to overreact to some random collection of prospects playing other prospects with essentially no practice time or experience with each other.

I've got Holtz scoring 40 this year I don't know about you guys.

 

[My3Sons]

I've got Holtz scoring 40 this year I don't know about you guys.

After that game? Why so conservative?

 

[Xirik]

at first i was like "oh one of the Euro players is playing soccer" but then I see the nameplate and go "HUGHES?!?!?!"