Getting a winger like Tatar (or Sprong if they went that route) should be to keep Haula at C.
I would love another NHL center but it will be difficult. At minimum, Fitz should be stocking up on AHL centers, and we see what reveals itself on the trade market.
I've been begging for Fitz to just get us one AHL #1 center for this the 4th year and you want him to load up on them.
The only centers on the roster are the same 4 they finished the season with:
- Dowling
- Schmelzer
- Bowers
- Engaras
The first 3 on this list are Vets by AHL rules. Only Dowling can be considered a quality AHL center and he would be a #2 on most teams. There are no NJ prospect centers here.
The Comets already have 4 vets under contract (RD Colton White is he other. A good center is likely a vet. They can only play 5 vets with 1 VE. They don't have a VE at the moment. That gives them 2 openings and the FA centers are flying off the shelves.
There are also 2 VET D-men in the wings that have been brought back all 3 seasons, Wotherspoon and Russo. The Comets roster currently list 6 D-men. 2 are rookies, Casey and Diotte, 2 others are in their 2nd pro seasons in Vilen and Misyul, and Hatakka (4th yr) would join White as the 2 experienced D-men. They need at least 2 more and would have to expect them to have time on their resumes and 1 likely a vet DeSimone would fill that spot if NJ were to try and slip him down through waivers with the mass cuts all the teams make before solidifying their rosters. That would leave Hatkka (LD) and DeSimone (RD) as the 2 D Call-ups for the Devils.
As for centers it's Dowling and Bowers. Happy with that? That's all there is and we are not happy with that either. Schmelzer has perfomed as the best Comets' center and he is really a #3 (and a damned good #3) when building a solid AHL roster.
Bastian, DeSimone, and MacDermid are all Vets by AHL rules.
With the acquisition of Kovacevic I've seen posts sending MacDermind to Utica.
I've Seen posts advocating sending the other 2 there as well.
The reason is to make cap space for another wing. Send any one of them and the Vet number is over the legal limit for a game. Many believe 2 of the 3 should get a chance to clear waivers for the same reason, both Bastian and McDermid while holding onto DeSimone because they consider him important as the right side backup. This means carry 8 D and 13 F.
The Devils now have a good group on D with solid backups. There's not a lot of forward depth here to provide the Devils with much and there are no centers that are NHL effective on any line. That point was made crystal clear last season and those are the guys that will be available again + Mike Hardman.
Maybe some of you guys could start demanding the acquisition of some FA centers for the farm that the Devils might find bottom 6 capable if injuries strike the Devils and we know from experience that it's possible at any time.