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

[NJDevs26]

Short press conference. Didn't hear anyone confirm with Fitz if he is actually done or not, but I guess its implied. Was hoping someone would ask him if he was looking to bring in another depth center given the dearth of options we have.

He did emphasize twice he didn’t think the offense needed too much help so that combined with the stuff he’s done elsewhere pretty much says that anyway

 

[NJDevs26]

It was in jest, but he said he spoke with Dan Mackinnon and said what do you think, the big defenseman or the Finnish center? And he basically said "the defenseman is 6'7" and skates incredibly so we're taking him".

That did give me a little PTSD from Shero saying David Conte would have lost it if we didn’t pick Zacha. Even with how loose lipped Fitz is, I’m surprised he was that transparent about #10

 

[Guadana]

After all this talks they clearly drafting for needs.


They should start to draft for higher potential. There are enough of pieces. May be center are huge need. But we have no first and may be we will have no seconds next year(looks like wpg pick will be traded before april), so they will have no chance to try to draft really solid centers. So I hope at least next draft they will target TALENTS. The biggest need of our system.

 

[Xirik]

 

[glenwo2]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1808509664356696387

Until he isn't and starts playing like Holtz....


too soon?

 

[Xirik]

Until he isn't and starts playing like Holtz....


too soon?

 

[Mgd31]

He did emphasize twice he didn’t think the offense needed too much help so that combined with the stuff he’s done elsewhere pretty much says that anyway

Someone should have at least asked about Nikita Gusev "passing by" lol

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Lundell just got 6 x $5 from Florida. Same draft class as Mercer with less pts....

 

[Mgd31]

Lundell just got 6 x $5 from Florida. Same draft class as Mercer with less pts....

He's also a center but also Florida impact, so balances it out. Probably a good comparable on a 6 year deal.

 

[Guadana]

Lundell just got 6 x $5 from Florida. Same draft class as Mercer with less pts....

Much better play off and defensive performance, center role.

Still would be good to sign Mercer for 4.5-5 mil for six years.

 

[JimEIV]

Until he isn't and starts playing like Holtz....


too soon?

Jesper Bratt through the age of 22
4 seasons - 231 games - 44 goals - 86 assist 130 points

Dawson Mercer through the age of 22
3 seasons 246 games - 64 goals - 67 assist 131 points

Ohh we forget the days of no defense and healthy scratch Bratt

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Ya that’s probably around what Mercer would get for 6 years. Slightly higher maybe if it’s 8.
Gonna be less than that for 2 or 3 years I’m guessing.

 

[britdevil]

You want to watch how they are performing on the ice?

How about karts races?

 

[Devs3cups]

I’d sign up for that deal with Mercer. 30 mil / 6 yrs.

 

[EnglishDevil]

After all this talks they clearly drafting for needs.


They should start to draft for higher potential. There are enough of pieces. May be center are huge need. But we have no first and may be we will have no seconds next year(looks like wpg pick will be traded before april), so they will have no chance to try to draft really solid centers. So I hope at least next draft they will target TALENTS. The biggest need of our system.

I know we traded our 1st to Calgary as part of the Markstrom trade, but don't we currently have three 2nd round picks next year?

We have our own, we got one from Winnipeg for Toffoli and two (one this year & next) from Utah for Marino.

Obviously if we're in the playoff hunt at the deadline we'll dangle them for upgrade(s), but I think it's unlikely we won't have at least a single pick in the 2nd round next year.

 

[Bcap88]

I know we traded our 1st to Calgary as part of the Markstrom trade, but don't we currently have three 2nd round picks next year?

We have our own, we got one from Winnipeg for Toffoli and two (one this year & next) from Utah for Marino.

Obviously if we're in the playoff hunt at the deadline we'll dangle them for upgrade(s), but I think it's unlikely we won't have at least a single pick in the 2nd round next year.

One of them is conditionally tied to Allen

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

You want to watch how they are performing on the ice?

How about karts races?

Hope nobody played the video games there. Those things are covered in chicken pox

 

[EnglishDevil]

One of them is conditionally tied to Allen

Right, I just find it unlikely that Allen is going to play 40+ games and trigger that condition now that we have Markstrom. Injuries could obviously change that and I believe relief appearances also count not just starts, but I'd still be surprised if we see Allen in literally half of our games.

 

[Bcap88]

Right, I just find it unlikely that Allen is going to play 40+ games and trigger that condition now that we have Markstrom. Injuries could obviously change that and I believe relief appearances also count not just starts, but I'd still be surprised if we see Allen in literally half of our games.

More so the point is you can’t trade it because it’s conditionally tied to allen

So in reality they have a second round pick from Winnipeg and Edmonton to dangle

 

[Guadana]

I know we traded our 1st to Calgary as part of the Markstrom trade, but don't we currently have three 2nd round picks next year?

We have our own, we got one from Winnipeg for Toffoli and two (one this year & next) from Utah for Marino.

Obviously if we're in the playoff hunt at the deadline we'll dangle them for upgrade(s), but I think it's unlikely we won't have at least a single pick in the 2nd round next year.

Forgot about Marino deal. It should help. To make a trade on the deadline)
I believe Fitz is trying to win now. For me its some kind of okay strategy, but he should draft guys like Mustard or Krutov if you have no high picks. Or He, or Shuravin or even Poirier. We could end this draft with two or even three players with top-9 potential and top-6 ceiling. We drafted bunch of role players. I like Traff, but thats all. Thats all wev got. Guys who will become less productive Coleman if everything will go really well. I know, minimal percent of those high ceiling picks will develop into the NHLers but I believe its the same risk as for role players - may be even there are less risks. We drafted Bratt, Sharangovich and Gritsyuk - two of them are on the NHL deals, Gritsyuk has at least very good KHL career. What do we have from those role players? Nothing.

So, please, you, north americans, go find this Fitzy guy and tell him to start do his job and think about tomorrow. We already have nothing to add to the forward group because of how he drafted forwards in 20 and 21.
If he will continue to dump high picks away and draft players for checking role on the right wing - some day we will have one checking right winger. May be.

 

[Devils731]

Right, I just find it unlikely that Allen is going to play 40+ games and trigger that condition now that we have Markstrom. Injuries could obviously change that and I believe relief appearances also count not just starts, but I'd still be surprised if we see Allen in literally half of our games.

I imagine it’s unlikely enough that you could probably renegotiate the condition with Montreal if you really needed to. Add some extra value to change the year of the pick and ultimately nothing will change hands anyway.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I imagine it’s unlikely enough that you could probably renegotiate the condition with Montreal if you really needed to. Add some extra value to change the year of the pick and ultimately nothing will change hands anyway.

Ya I don’t think that is a thing at all. (Renegotiating the condition)

I doubt it’s even allowed and I doubt even more that is a thing that happens.

 

[dgibb10]

More so the point is you can’t trade it because it’s conditionally tied to allen

So in reality they have a second round pick from Winnipeg and Edmonton to dangle

You can trade conditional picks

For example a very simple fix:

NJD 2nd (if allen condition triggers, becomes 2026 2nd)

or

NJD 2nd (if allen condition triggers, becomes WPG 2025 2nd).

or

NJD 2nd (if allen condition triggers, becomes 2025 3rd+3rd)

Besides when its the deadline and Allen has 18 starts with 20 total games left in the season, nobody is going to give a f*** about this condition

 

[Devils731]

Ya I don’t think that is a thing at all. (Renegotiating the condition)

I doubt it’s even allowed and I doubt even more that is a thing that happens.

I don’t think it’s happened but I believe have trade conditional rewards so you can trade your conditional pick back for a different set of conditional items.

There is no functional reason for it not to be possible. I don’t think it happens because it’s an added complication to deal making that reveals other information that you’d rather be private.

 

[Hisch13r]

Jesper Bratt through the age of 22
4 seasons - 231 games - 44 goals - 86 assist 130 points

Dawson Mercer through the age of 22
3 seasons 246 games - 64 goals - 67 assist 131 points

Ohh we forget the days of no defense and healthy scratch Bratt

Yeah because Hynes being an idiot and scratching Bratt meant he sucked rather than Hynes being an idiot... Bratt was a great playdriver starting with his 2nd year and had the better scoring rates. Bratt was a guy that drove offense while Mercer's been a complimentary guy.