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

[13BearerOfHope]

What are the chances the Devils can extend both Meier and Bratt?

That’s possible. Who would you like to give up instead of Bratt tho????

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If we miss out on Timo, then I'd rather save the ammo. I'm fine with Rico or a viable 3C/middle six guy if he comes at the price of a 2nd or something like that.

We should be trying for the cup but zero reason for a sub-optimal add. And the team has kept it close with CAR, BOS and TOR in most of those games - you wonder how they'd do over the course of a whole series. Who says you can't tire out a slower, older squad...

Henrique would be a good fit and I know many would hate it, but Parise would be great in a defensive 4th line role instead of Wood. I just hope we don’t go for a clown like Domi. Supposed Mr. Tough Guy with 11 hits on the year.

 

[Oneiro]

MacKinnon won his cup at 26, Crosby won a cup early but then didn’t win another one until he was 28 and 29. Ovi won his cup at 32. McDavid and Matthews were drafted before Hischier and haven’t won shit yet.

I’m not saying they shouldn’t trade for Meier, but it’s not like this urgent trade for a once in a lifetime player. I’m getting more wary of an overpay.

The team is much closer to being the Blackhawks than staying a top heavy squad, though Jack is becoming even better than I imagined.

We have a legitimate chance at a cup now and going forward. The next few seasons the defense won't be as experienced as they are right now. Going for it isn't the worst idea.

If anything, I'd still say they're not tight enough defensively to go all the way, but I also think the competition leaguewide is quite weak beyond Boston.

 

[Nubmer6]

This is going to be an insufferable week off after the ASG, isn't it?

 

[Saugus]

[good player] to [Canadian team]? = clicks

Ovechkin to Winnipeg (e5)

Am I doing this right?

 

[My3Sons]

And here we are, 47 games into this season and 13 games into his season and Mr. Elite Upside .... Blackwood has a positive GSAx now (it's like +1.23 or something).... where he showed this ''Elite upside''.

You are really going all in on the Blackwood train? He's been injury prone and inconsistent at best when healthy. Sure, he has physical skills but "elite upside"? That's the sort of talk I'd expect from his agent. Let's just see if he can function in a backup role playing as necessary behind Vanacek before we brag about Blackwood's resurgence. Takes like that are why people have to eat crow.

 

[Bcap88]

What are the chances the Devils can extend both Meier and Bratt?

Pretty high, you have a influx of elc contracts (hopefully) coming in soon that should replace some of the medium sized salaries

Between bernier and Johansson alone 6.3 is off the books

 

[MauDevils]

Lol I love how the Leafs homer headlines it "Timo Meier to Toronto?" as if that was the real gist of the interview with Friedman.

"Toronto has no assets and no cap space."

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[JimEIV]

Am Lager? 3.7% ....whats that? a beer to have at breakfast?

It's pretty good but it's like a hot summer day I want something more than water kind of beer

BTW the love for Scott Stevens around here is pretty incredible...every single person I talk to this afternoon had a personal encounter with Stevens and everyone loves his gentlemanly and soft spoken attitude.

 

[Hisch13r]

"Toronto has no assets and no cap space."

They have the assets. They’d just have to give up like all the good trade assets they have to get it done and it’d only be as a rental

The team is much closer to being the Blackhawks than staying a top heavy squad, though Jack is becoming even better than I imagined.

We have a legitimate chance at a cup now and going forward. The next few seasons the defense won't be as experienced as they are right now. Going for it isn't the worst idea.

If anything, I'd still say they're not tight enough defensively to go all the way, but I also think the competition leaguewide is quite weak beyond Boston.

There’s been a clear drop off defensively since Marino went down. Earlier in the year I don’t really see how you could say the defense wasn’t good enough for this team to win.

 

[JimEIV]

No. Not from beer...not an unusual occurrence but never from beer

 

[Oneiro]

There’s been a clear drop off defensively since Marino went down. Earlier in the year I don’t really see how you could say the defense wasn’t good enough for this team to win.

Less to do with personnel and more teamwide play. We still beat ourselves too much with poor decisions/execution. The first period we had against Toronto to end the streak is the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

 

[Hisch13r]

Less to do with personnel and more teamwide play. We still beat ourselves too much with poor decisions/execution. The first period we had against Toronto to end the streak is the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

I mean every team is going to have breakdowns. They then tightened up after that first period and gave up nothing. I don’t think you can just gloss over the personnel part of it when that personnel is an elite shutdown guy. That’s a huge loss. Defensively before and after has been a big difference. Before he went down we were definitely good enough defensively.

 

[Incharge1976]

Masisak speculation wasn’t great when he was Devils fan but in his defense it’s hard to say here. What’s the competition? Are we paying extra to get them to take a cap dump like Johnsson back?

I wouldn’t include Mercer and don’t see that happening. Just don’t. I would be enraged and flabbergasted if it did.

Could it be Holtz, Muk & 1st? Maybe. (Maybe they throw in a pick to balance it out.)

Muk seems like a natural choice to me but he’s far from a sure thing. Very much a late 1st first value.

The 1st is looking very late. Not sure the other forward prospects move the needle. So maybe him and Holtz isn’t too much.

No idea really, other than f*** off with the Mercer talk. (Not you, him, just to be clear on who’s f***ing off.) He’s a key roster player, now and in the future.

All the teams being talked about picking up Meier would most likely be giving up a late 1st rounder.

The players going the other way will make more of a difference.

 

[Hisch13r]

Anyone getting Meier is going to be .ost likely given back a late 1st round pick.

All the teams being talked about picking up Meier would most likely be giving up a late 1st rounder.

The players going the other way will make more of a difference.

If Buffalo really gets in on it then that’s their big advantage

 

[MasterofGrond]

If Buffalo really gets in on it then that’s their big advantage

yeah but any team at risk of missing the playoffs (and Buffalo is sub 50% by most systems right now) is going to have protections around that pick. Not saying a mid to late teens pick isn't better than a mid 20s, but it's small enough at that point an extra later pick or a better prospect can easily make up for it.

 

[Oneiro]

I mean every team is going to have breakdowns. They then tightened up after that first period and gave up nothing. I don’t think you can just gloss over the personnel part of it when that personnel is an elite shutdown guy. That’s a huge loss. Defensively before and after has been a big difference. Before he went down we were definitely good enough defensively.

For sure, I'm nitpicking. Simply looking for reasons why we might not be able to go all the way this year. I think the losses against Boston were winnable but it's that level of execution we have to bring. In general, we get behind a bit too often on those kinds of breakdowns - this was true during the streak as well. If Marino is back, I'd argue everyone in the East except for BOS is worse as far as the defense goes.

 

[Blackjack]

yeah but any team at risk of missing the playoffs (and Buffalo is sub 50% by most systems right now) is going to have protections around that pick. Not saying a mid to late teens pick isn't better than a mid 20s, but it's small enough at that point an extra later pick or a better prospect can easily make up for it.

If you’re SJ you take the pick with top 5 or top 10 protection and pray that the pick either ends up just outside that range, or that you have an unprotected 1st in 2024.

I remember after the Hall trade when Arizona looked like they were going to miss the playoffs people were freaked out that they might win the lottery and our pick would get deferred.

Their 2021 pick was 9th so that would’ve been pretty good.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

We don’t know Meier wants to sign here. It’s being treated like a given that he does and will but that is anything but.

The problem is San Jose. They’ll be taking the best deal on the table.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Henrique would be a good fit and I know many would hate it, but Parise would be great in a defensive 4th line role instead of Wood. I just hope we don’t go for a clown like Domi. Supposed Mr. Tough Guy with 11 hits on the year.

Both would fit and should be cheap. Meier is just to perfect a fit and that’s why I don’t see it’s happening, unless Fitz gets crazy with his offer.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

That’s possible. Who would you like to give up instead of Bratt tho????

We traded for Meier[QUOTE="13BearerOfHope, post: 188179041, member: 322607"
That’s possible. Who would you like to give up instead of Bratt tho????
[/QUOTE]

Meier if he signed long term.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We most likely add some kind of conditional pick based on us making the conference finals or something that turns the 2024 2nd into a first or something to top any Buffalo offer

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I can’t see Johnson refusing a trade where he goes from riding a bus in the minors to playing in SJ for a NHL team.
However , it might not be SJ where we try to dump Johnson to as SJ is at the max amount of contracts , so the fewer contracts back the better it may be but …. It would be easy for them to include one or more marginal no name players to make the number of contacts work.

I would HATE to add Mercer but it might come to that if :
1. Lou goes full old man, do or die , make the playoffs mode.
2. Rags do what they do best and pay for he shiniest toy available , even though it makes no sense for them to do so.
3. Canes use their cap room and assets on Meier ,even though they need a D and a C more so.
4. Buffalo decides to go for it , but they need D and dept bottom 6 guys more so.
5. Detroit thinks Meier is the piece that pushes them into the playoffs this year and /or think he is the needed piece moving forward. But … they need C . Especially if Larkin is not extended.

Trading Mercer? He’s a young good and smart player that will only get better. With the Bratt situation up in the air, I doubt Fritz would even consider including Mercer and add in our first rounder that’s a definite no go.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I honestly don't remember a time post-lockout(2005) that I have liked our defense more than right now. We've had some good ones during that time but from D-Corp perspective 1 through 6, what we are icing right now is pretty damn good and should get even better with Luke and Nemec.

Way better hands and smarts.