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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

@JimEIV

Also, Florida just won with Rodrigues and Verhaegae on their top 6. They are good players but nothing special, they just work well with the Panthers top 6 stars. Would anyone be surprised for a Noesen or Cotter to become a 25 goal scorer playing with Jack Bratt or Nico?

I wouldn’t be. Its all about finding good chemistry.

Cotter would be a nasty play in the top 6, that's almost as bad the toilet paper lineups from 2015-2020ish. But who knows lol

 

[JimEIV]

Bratt is also not purely perimeter either.

It was purely before the last couple of seasons...his game has matured a lot over the last few seasons at both ends of the ice...he still a very soft player that stays out of traffic...

It's not a big deal individually and the levels of softness vary from Jack to Bratt to Nico but as a whole it makes for a very gentlemanly top 6...not a lot of jam or abrasiveness...quite pleasant to play against. Like a Sunday afternoon tennis match.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Cotter would be a nasty play in the top 6, that's almost as bad the toilet paper lineups from 2015-2020ish. But who knows lol

Jack and Bratt just needs a garbage man who can keep up. We shall see what happens

 

[JimEIV]

@JimEIV

Also, Florida just won with Rodrigues and Verhaegae on their top 6. They are good players but nothing special, they just work well with the Panthers top 6 stars. Would anyone be surprised for a Noesen or Cotter to become a 25 goal scorer playing with Jack Bratt or Nico?

I wouldn’t be. Its all about finding good chemistry.

That's what started the Florida stuff.... Rodriguez.

Florida can use filler we can't. Their top players are beast and can play in multiple ways....ours can't.

We need our players to be balanced out. Florida doesn't. They can punch you in the face and score 50.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Jack and Bratt just needs a garbage man who can keep up. We shall see what happens

Ya, maybe. I lowkey think they need an efficient shooter. Both of them can set up tremendously but they just need a guy who can skate/has a lethal shot. Easier said than done but we'll see who shakes free at the deadline. The power forward thing is tiring imo especially Brady Tkachuk

It was purely before the last couple of seasons...his game has matured a lot over the last few seasons at both ends of the ice...he still a very soft player that stays out of traffic...

It's not a big deal individually and the levels of softness vary from Jack to Bratt to Nico but as a whole it makes for a very gentlemanly top 6...not a lot of jam or abrasiveness...quite pleasant to play against. Like a Sunday afternoon tennis match.

Jack was the second best player v Carolina in 2023 and he was on the verge of missing game 5 with injury because of Slavin actively trying to hurt him, missed board in game 4. If you want to call him glass, sure, he needs to show he can survive seasons without dying but he's not "soft"

 

[NjDevsRR]

Then give me

Noesen Hughes Bratt
Palat/Tatar Hischier Meier
Tatar/Palat Haula Mercer
Cotter Lazar Bastian/Foote/Mac

Thats enough oomph up and down the lineup

 

[Ripshot 43]

@JimEIV

Also, Florida just won with Rodrigues and Verhaegae on their top 6. They are good players but nothing special, they just work well with the Panthers top 6 stars. Would anyone be surprised for a Noesen or Cotter to become a 25 goal scorer playing with Jack Bratt or Nico?

I wouldn’t be. Its all about finding good chemistry.

I don’t think Rodrigues and Verhaeghe are the same. I think CV is a top 6 staple as compared to Rodrigues being that guy who can plug in and play with the right guys if needed. CV is going to get paaaaaid this next offseason.

 

[JimEIV]

Ya, maybe. I lowkey think they need an efficient shooter. Both of them can set up tremendously but they just need a guy who can skate/has a lethal shot. Easier said than done but we'll see who shakes free at the deadline. The power forward thing is tiring imo especially Brady Tkachuk



Jack was the second best player v Carolina in 2023 and he was on the verge of missing game 5 with injury because of Slavin actively trying to hurt him, missed board in game 4. If you want to call him glass, sure, he needs to show he can survive seasons without dying but he's not "soft"

We got smoked vs Carolina I sat through that first game in Raleigh....it was painful. I got drunk.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

We got smoked vs Carolina I sat through that first game in Raleigh....it was painful. I got drunk.

Alcohol probably saved this Devils fanbase the last decade, so it makes sense. Our livers are probably cooked from it though

 

[JimEIV]

Then give me

Noesen Hughes Bratt
Palat/Tatar Hischier Meier
Tatar/Palat Haula Mercer
Cotter Lazar Bastian/Foote/Mac

Thats enough oomph up and down the lineup

Those top two LW's are garbage. Hot steamy garbage on a 100 degree day

 

[NjDevsRR]

We got smoked vs Carolina I sat through that first game in Raleigh....it was painful. I got drunk.

 

[Whaddagoal]

We got smoked vs Carolina I sat through that first game in Raleigh....it was painful. I got drunk.

Weren't you at the games in Raleigh?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Then give me

Noesen Hughes Bratt
Palat/Tatar Hischier Meier
Tatar/Palat Haula Mercer
Cotter Lazar Bastian/Foote/Mac

Thats enough oomph up and down the lineup

The forwards are gonna be a patchwork in the sense the top 6 winger to Jack will most likely be a revolving door besides Bratt, the defense and Markstrom will have to carry them to the deadline. They'll get goals, Dougie back will assure their powerplay will get back to top 10. I also think Keefe will get them to play a bit more defensive but we'll see.

 

[Triumph]

Palat was a desperation signing at the time because we missed out on the vanilla midget Johnny (can't play) hockey

The Devils were linked with Palat the day before free agency opened. Friedman said the Devils are after Gaudreau and Palat and he wasn't sure how they could fit both.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Those top two LW's are garbage. Hot steamy garbage on a 100 degree day

Lets hope Mercer takes the next step and cements hims as a legit top 6er. If that happens then the bottom 6 will be even better for it

 

[JimEIV]

Weren't you at the games in Raleigh?

Just game one I was going to go to both but after that first one I left and went to Charlotte....got drunk there too

 

[Hisch13r]

I'll give you Jack, but not Nico (and not much of Bratt)

Bratt is also not purely perimeter either. He works really hard in the corners and has gained strength over the last few years and is effective for his size, down low. He often generates nice passes from below the goal line to a guy who puts it away after grinding it out cycling behind the net.

That stuff is like a massive reason Bratt made the roster as a freshly turned 19 year old 6th rounder

 

[NjDevsRR]

That stuff is like a massive reason Bratt made the roster as a freshly turned 19 year old 6th rounder

I remember attending prospect camp in 2017 and was absolutely blown away by Bratt and posted on here that he will be a legit top line winger in this league

What a pick

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'll give you Jack, but not Nico (and not much of Bratt)

Bratt is also not purely perimeter either. He works really hard in the corners and has gained strength over the last few years and is effective for his size, down low. He often generates nice passes from below the goal line to a guy who puts it away after grinding it out cycling behind the net.

The assists v NYR are some of the best plays made from a forward last year tbh. Only thing better was that Timo hand to one handed stick goal this year imo

LOL @ the OT v Boston where he body bagged Lindholm

 

[StevenToddIves]

Cotter would be a nasty play in the top 6, that's almost as bad the toilet paper lineups from 2015-2020ish. But who knows lol

I'm hoping Cotter's flashes of talent (and yeas, watching him on Vegas last year, every so often he made a "wow" play) make him sort of a Randy McKay type acquisition.

I remember when Lamoriello acquired McKay a looooooong time ago (from Detroit for Troy Crowder). McKay was, at the time, considered mostly a goon but he had some flashes of excellent 200-foot play and play with the puck. And McKay turned into a key factor for 2 NJ Stanley Cups. He scored a lot of big goals for the Devils.

Is it impossible for Cotter to become a 15-20 goal guy? I don't think so. I really like him. But I guess we will see how it unfolds this year.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I'm hoping Cotter's flashes of talent (and yeas, watching him on Vegas last year, every so often he made a "wow" play) make him sort of a Randy McKay type acquisition.

I remember when Lamoriello acquired McKay a looooooong time ago (from Detroit for Troy Crowder). McKay was, at the time, considered mostly a goon but he had some flashes of excellent 200-foot play and play with the puck. And McKay turned into a key factor for 2 NJ Stanley Cups. He scored a lot of big goals for the Devils.

Is it impossible for Cotter to become a 15-20 goal guy? I don't think so. I really like him. But I guess we will see how it unfolds this year.

If he gives us a Stevie Bernier or Ryan Carter esque type role with more physicality from the 4th line , I'm content. Expecting the guy to be a Swiss Army knife, like Zetterlund was, is setting him up for failure

 

[JimEIV]

Excuse me Charlottesville not Charlotte.

Lets hope Mercer takes the next step and cements hims as a legit top 6er. If that happens then the bottom 6 will be even better for it

There is really no room for him if Bratt and Meier both play RW

 

[Devils Pride 26]

I agree with the premise that Bratt is a soft skill perimeter player. I pray Keefe can add a little more grease to his game than Lindy ever did. Playoffs are a different game, regular season open ice be damned

 

[HersheyBob27]

@JimEIV

Also, Florida just won with Rodrigues and Verhaegae on their top 6. They are good players but nothing special, they just work well with the Panthers top 6 stars. Would anyone be surprised for a Noesen or Cotter to become a 25 goal scorer playing with Jack Bratt or Nico?

I wouldn’t be. Its all about finding good chemistry.

This post is actually some of the funniest stuff I have seen ever. You think there is a chance one paul cotter can score 25 nhl goals in a single season LOL. Literally zero chance this happens.
Maybe you didn’t notice he scored 7 goals in 70+games last year. Topped off his season by being a healthy scratch to top it off.
Shouldn’t be surprised that you think verhaeghe is nothing special. The guy is clutch and would play top six on any NHL team

 

[Darkauron]

This post is actually some of the funniest stuff I have seen ever. You think there is a chance one paul cotter can score 25 nhl goals in a single season LOL. Literally zero chance this happens.
Maybe you didn’t notice he scored 7 goals in 70+games last year. Topped off his season by being a healthy scratch to top it off.
Shouldn’t be surprised that you think verhaeghe is nothing special. The guy is clutch and would play top six on any NHL team

And then he had 13 goals in 55 games the year before. So about 21 goals adjust over a full season, so yes it is possible he could reach 25 goals. Not a 0 chance it can happen "LOL"