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

[Camille the Eel]

One obvious guy for us to move in trade deadline discussions of course is Severson, since we can’t afford to resign him and he’s going to be unrestricted. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come up in this thread.

But maybe that’s because he’s such an integral part of our club right now, whatever one thinks of his periodic gaffes, that we really can’t move him without risking seriously disrupting our club and it’s current chemistry.

 

[Better Call Sal]

One obvious guy for us to move in trade deadline discussions of course is Severson, since we can’t afford to resign him and he’s going to be unrestricted. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come up in this thread.

But maybe that’s because he’s such an integral part of our club right now, whatever one thinks of his periodic gaffes, that we really can’t move him without risking seriously disrupting our club and it’s current chemistry.

Your second point correctly answers the first.

We just cannot afford to deal Severson at the deadline in the position that we're currently in. If that means he walks this summer and we lose him for nothing, so be it, but we're in a position to win and he's helping us in doing so.

 

[Bleedred]

One obvious guy for us to move in trade deadline discussions of course is Severson, since we can’t afford to resign him and he’s going to be unrestricted. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come up in this thread.

But maybe that’s because he’s such an integral part of our club right now, whatever one thinks of his periodic gaffes, that we really can’t move him without risking seriously disrupting our club and it’s current chemistry.

Just keep Severson this year. No reason not to.

Just think of it as not using a pick or player to acquire someone else like Severson at the deadline.

Our defense probably won't be this deep next year, so we should just keep him and go for it.

I see almost 0% chance he's moved.

And in the event he is moved, it'll be to shed cap like the Panthers sending Vatrano to the Rangers to open up space for Giroux and Chiarot (lol) and not just to acquire a pick so he doesn't walk for nothing.

I don't think GM's care as much as about losing a player for nothing as much as the fans of the team do.

 

[FooteBahl]

Look at you bring all mature and thoughtful. How soon they grow up.

I must have blacked out while authoring that post lol

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

Just keep Severson this year. No reason not to.

Just think of it as not using a pick or player to acquire someone else like Severson at the deadline.

Our defense probably won't be this deep next year, so we should just keep him and go for it.

I see almost 0% chance he's moved.

And in the event he is moved, it'll be to shed cap like the Panthers sending Vatrano to the Rangers to open up space for Giroux and Chiarot (lol) and not just to acquire a pick so he doesn't walk for nothing.

Agreed. I could see him traded for a pick at the draft for negotiating rights after the season though.

 

[NJDevs26]

There's only one guy they MIGHT trade Luke for...Quinn

 

[Bleedred]

Amazing what happens when the team gets NHL caliber goal tending.

And as impressive as his personal record is and as good as he's been, he's not really even in the Vezina race.

That just goes to show you what this team could do when we're not icing Jon Gillies (who is even worse in the AHL this year than he was for us in the NHL last year), career minor leaguer Andrew Hammond just a few games before his eventual retirement from pro hockey and Blackwood barely playing.

 

[severian]

One obvious guy for us to move in trade deadline discussions of course is Severson, since we can’t afford to resign him and he’s going to be unrestricted. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come up in this thread.

But maybe that’s because he’s such an integral part of our club right now, whatever one thinks of his periodic gaffes, that we really can’t move him without risking seriously disrupting our club and it’s current chemistry.

You nailed it. Fitz isn't trading Severson. I'd rather him walk in free agency while being a useful cog in a potential playoff run.

There's only one guy they MIGHT trade Luke for...Quinn

No. Luke is bigger and his ELC makes him infinitely more valuable to the Devils at this point. Obviously I know you were kidding.

 

[Bleedred]

I'm starting to really hate Miles Wood even more than Blackwood, if not only because we barely have to see Blackwood anymore and the staff has answered my prayers and calls to keep him the f*** out of the nets as much as possible. I'm sure the next game he plays I won't be hating Wood more.

But Wood is just so terrible and we have to suffer through him nightly. He's to this point immune to being a healthy scratch. Are they afraid to piss him off because he might not re-sign here? I'll be SHOCKED if he's a full time NHL player by 25-26 and the end could come even sooner than that for him.

And for the record, Wood doesn't hurt us as much as Blackwood (lately he kind of has, as Blackwood has been pretty average lately) because goalie is much more important and has much more impact on the game than Wood's minutes and role, but man is Wood terrible lately.

Boqvist should NOT be a healthy scratch over him and I'm no fan of Boqvist. As little as Boqvist scores, I'm pretty sure he has possibly triple the points of Wood in his last 20 games.

Wood went from being on pace for career highs in goals and points after like the first 20 games to now being on pace for at least his lowest point pace since his rookie year. And even in his rookie year he was getting a breakaway every other game due to his ridiculously stupid fast speed, which that's not there anymore. He can't turn on the burners like he used to, be it due to him getting older or just the hip injury? He's not slow, but we don't see the nitrous button come on with him anymore. Maybe a few times earlier this year.

 

[NJDevs26]

You nailed it. Fitz isn't trading Severson. I'd rather him walk in free agency while being a useful cog in a potential playoff run.


No. Luke is bigger and his ELC makes him infinitely more valuable to the Devils at this point. Obviously I know you were kidding.

Yeah I obviously wouldn't trade Luke for Quinn cause of age/control...the point is more they're not even going to entertain trading him for multiple reasons, but it would take something like that to get them to even consider it before turning it down.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Send Holtz back and let him get quality minutes actually playing.

 

[My3Sons]

I'm starting to really hate Miles Wood even more than Blackwood,

That’s one heck of an accomplishment for Wood.

 

[jkrdevil]

One obvious guy for us to move in trade deadline discussions of course is Severson, since we can’t afford to resign him and he’s going to be unrestricted. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come up in this thread.

But maybe that’s because he’s such an integral part of our club right now, whatever one thinks of his periodic gaffes, that we really can’t move him without risking seriously disrupting our club and it’s current chemistry.

They are tied for first in the division right now and a sure playoffs team. You don’t trade away defensive depth. You don’t have to trade away pending UFA’s when you are a contender.

Severson is here through the year and they will let him walk.

 

[Billdo]

One obvious guy for us to move in trade deadline discussions of course is Severson, since we can’t afford to resign him and he’s going to be unrestricted. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come up in this thread.

But maybe that’s because he’s such an integral part of our club right now, whatever one thinks of his periodic gaffes, that we really can’t move him without risking seriously disrupting our club and it’s current chemistry.

You answered the initial question with your last paragraph. They're not moving him.

 

[JimEIV]

I'll quibble with you a bit on Smith. He's not a good player, but he is a veteran presence and serviceable as a 6/7 type.

If the need at forward wasn't so glaring, and our cap space so limited, I would say that a depth defenseman to push him out of the lineup would be a smart deadline add.

Fair. Absolutely fair...but think of it this way...we are quibbling about #6/7 with a #2OA cooking in Utica and a #4OA standing out in Michigan and two serviceable young Dmen in Bahl and Okhotyuk at the ready.

5 years ago after Greene there was no LHD, it was pretty much that way since Salvador retired and our right side wasn't much better once Larsson was moved...now we are trying to figure out how a #2 and #4 overall might "fit" into the lineup. It's been a very long time since we had that type of plenty on the blue line....and Fitz deserves 100% of the credit

 

[Blender]

I'm starting to really hate Miles Wood even more than Blackwood, if not only because we barely have to see Blackwood anymore and the staff has answered my prayers and calls to keep him the f*** out of the nets as much as possible. I'm sure the next game he plays I won't be hating Wood more.

But Wood is just so terrible and we have to suffer through him nightly. He's to this point immune to being a healthy scratch. Are they afraid to piss him off because he might not re-sign here? I'll be SHOCKED if he's a full time NHL player by 25-26 and the end could come even sooner than that for him.

And for the record, Wood doesn't hurt us as much as Blackwood (lately he kind of has, as Blackwood has been pretty average lately) because goalie is much more important and has much more impact on the game than Wood's minutes and role, but man is Wood terrible lately.

Boqvist should NOT be a healthy scratch over him and I'm no fan of Boqvist. As little as Boqvist scores, I'm pretty sure he has possibly triple the points of Wood in his last 20 games.

Wood went from being on pace for career highs in goals and points after like the first 20 games to now being on pace for at least his lowest point pace since his rookie year. And even in his rookie year he was getting a breakaway every other game due to his ridiculously stupid fast speed, which that's not there anymore. He can't turn on the burners like he used to, be it due to him getting older or just the hip injury? He's not slow, but we don't see the nitrous button come on with him anymore. Maybe a few times earlier this year.

We have had no luck with Wood-based players.

 

[TF1970]

I'm starting to really hate Miles Wood even more than Blackwood, if not only because we barely have to see Blackwood anymore and the staff has answered my prayers and calls to keep him the f*** out of the nets as much as possible. I'm sure the next game he plays I won't be hating Wood more.

But Wood is just so terrible and we have to suffer through him nightly. He's to this point immune to being a healthy scratch. Are they afraid to piss him off because he might not re-sign here? I'll be SHOCKED if he's a full time NHL player by 25-26 and the end could come even sooner than that for him.

And for the record, Wood doesn't hurt us as much as Blackwood (lately he kind of has, as Blackwood has been pretty average lately) because goalie is much more important and has much more impact on the game than Wood's minutes and role, but man is Wood terrible lately.

Boqvist should NOT be a healthy scratch over him and I'm no fan of Boqvist. As little as Boqvist scores, I'm pretty sure he has possibly triple the points of Wood in his last 20 games.

Wood went from being on pace for career highs in goals and points after like the first 20 games to now being on pace for at least his lowest point pace since his rookie year. And even in his rookie year he was getting a breakaway every other game due to his ridiculously stupid fast speed, which that's not there anymore. He can't turn on the burners like he used to, be it due to him getting older or just the hip injury? He's not slow, but we don't see the nitrous button come on with him anymore. Maybe a few times earlier this year.

Boqvist actually does have some shades of making plays at times & also his work on the defensive side has been solid plus PK. Has done a nice job of adapting his game in that sense & appears way more willing to go into traffic. Couldn't agree more that he doesn't deserve to come out at the present time. Wood all day should, but it ain't gonna happen it appears. Only hope is he can pot one at some point here & it gets him going a bit.

 

[Billdo]

I'm starting to really hate Miles Wood even more than Blackwood, if not only because we barely have to see Blackwood anymore and the staff has answered my prayers and calls to keep him the f*** out of the nets as much as possible. I'm sure the next game he plays I won't be hating Wood more.

But Wood is just so terrible and we have to suffer through him nightly. He's to this point immune to being a healthy scratch. Are they afraid to piss him off because he might not re-sign here? I'll be SHOCKED if he's a full time NHL player by 25-26 and the end could come even sooner than that for him.

And for the record, Wood doesn't hurt us as much as Blackwood (lately he kind of has, as Blackwood has been pretty average lately) because goalie is much more important and has much more impact on the game than Wood's minutes and role, but man is Wood terrible lately.

Boqvist should NOT be a healthy scratch over him and I'm no fan of Boqvist. As little as Boqvist scores, I'm pretty sure he has possibly triple the points of Wood in his last 20 games.

Wood went from being on pace for career highs in goals and points after like the first 20 games to now being on pace for at least his lowest point pace since his rookie year. And even in his rookie year he was getting a breakaway every other game due to his ridiculously stupid fast speed, which that's not there anymore. He can't turn on the burners like he used to, be it due to him getting older or just the hip injury? He's not slow, but we don't see the nitrous button come on with him anymore. Maybe a few times earlier this year.

There is currently no forward who should be sitting in favor of Wood. None.

 

[Whaddagoal]

So Zetterlund seems to be getting a game back in soon. They interviewed him and it sounded hes ready to go.

Surprised they took Boq out in practice lineup. Wood looks worse. I was watching Woods skating stride last night in person and something is definitely not right. He is not pivoting on his skates very well. Not sure why he cant get a game on the pine to rest and reset.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

We have had no luck with Wood-based players.

Wedge
Black
Miles

Enough carpentry - let's get to some masonry or something.

 

[Blender]

Boqvist has been better than Wood in every single way.

 

[JimEIV]

Boqvist has been better than Wood in every single way.

That's not really saying anything...

Almond Joy have nuts, Mounds don't...ok but they both taste like shit

 

[Saugus]

Wedge
Black
Miles

Enough carpentry - let's get to some masonry or something.

So you want to trade for the Stone brothers?

 

[Devilsgrl35]

Connor Clifton needs promotion?

Well played

 

[MachoDiablo]

The charts about Seattle's skater depth were really interesting. There's been some movement on that in baseball in the last number of years: teams that might not be able to land superstars focus instead on making sure that ever spot in the lineup has a guy in it who's capable of producing at least or slightly above league average WAR, try to develop a few guys better than that, but in the meantime field a club that might not have huge gamebreaking talent in it, but also lacks any real holes or players actively harming their chances to win. Obviously you'd rather have superstars AND depth, but it's just not always possible. As hockey stats progress, have to think there'll be teams focusing on their fourth lines this way; the days of "well, it's the fourth line, they need to be defensive grinders because the puck will always be in their zone" are waning, anyway.

As for Timo...yeah, gotta give if you want to get. This team has the talent to make a run this year and numerous years after, and he'd be a key cog for it, so there aren't too many pieces off the table. Still, it'd be nice to not have to give up a total king's ransom; go ahead and trade the 1st rounder and see what you can get away with after that. SJ might like the pick even if its low: no reason why they couldn't accumulate a few picks in other deals and then trade up in a deep draft if they feel the need.

As for Wood, I kind of feel for the guy, really does seem like he hasn't been the same since getting hit, and sadly he just doesn't have the overall game to overcome any physical shortcomings he's playing through. His locker room presence might be making it tough to sit him out now, but maybe the All Star break will do him some good. There's no denying that the difference between the Devils being a dangerous playoff team and the Devils being an actual Cup contender is the production they get from the bottom six; during the early winning streak they played a big role in creating a relentless attack almost every shift, and that's something they'd had a hard time consistently doing for awhile now. Obviously getting Timo would help there since it'd slot a lot of people down a spot, but again, maybe the break will fix a few ills there.