njdevils1982
Hell Toupée!!!
went to capfriendly sharks and instantly wondered what in the f*** are they attempting with this roster?!
wow. is there a future?
Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part IV
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went to capfriendly sharks and instantly wondered what in the f*** are they attempting with this roster?!
wow. is there a future?
I thought general sports reporters and team puff pieces were bland and boring but the NHLPA took something potentially fun and took all the fun out and just made me sad.
Do we need to pull up the Devils toilet paper roster again?
- Dec 20, 2018
- 23,082
- 52,235
You didn’t like that?
That’s some solid Jack content to me, he got make fun of Zegras, Caufield, his brothers and himself, and had fun doing it.
kiwidevil
____________________
- Mar 10, 2008
- 8,382
- 392
The D structure or restructure is going to be very interesting this off season.
I can see a scenario where Nemec is pushed down if big upgrades are brought into the group.
Not saying it's the correct move, but age and waiver eligibility may force it.
I can see a scenario where Nemec is pushed down if big upgrades are brought into the group.
Not saying it's the correct move, but age and waiver eligibility may force it.
- May 1, 2011
- 134,964
- 65,679
Doug Wilson put them in a massive hole. He was still trying to compete with that team in 21-22, his last season there, where he took a leave of absence early on citing health issues. And they even re-signed Hertl that year to a contract that began last year.
And then they still wouldn’t publicly acknowledge a rebuild upon Grier taking over, though they’re no longer pretending not to rebuilding.
At least they got Hertl out of there. And I mean that for his own sake. He’ll be in his late 30s by the time that contract ends. Who knows if he’ll even be good enough by then to get to go somewhere competitive to win a cup. I certainly don’t see the Sharks being competitive in the next 5 or maybe even 10 years, but anything can happen in 10 years I suppose.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic is one of the worst players in the entire league. Still has two more years left. I’d have to think they buy him out after this year.
Couture is still there for about 3 more years. He even came out and publicly implied after Hertl was traded that he wouldn’t mind finding a route out of town. But he’s about to turn 35 and basically missed the entire season. Made his season debut on January 20th, came back and played 6 games and got injured again. Hasn’t played since January 31st and won’t be back this year.
At least they have the goalie tandem that the Devils made the playoffs with last year, though Vitek won’t play again this season.
njdevils1982
Hell Toupée!!!
McDuffz88
Smoke the Keefe
- Sep 18, 2019
- 1,636
- 2,255
All I know is Fitz is going to have his hands full this summer. This is going to be his busiest off season by far. In no direct order he needs to
-Find a coach
-Get a goalie
-Get a 2nd line wing
-Get a 3rd line LW
-Get 1 or 2 4th line players depending if we make Lazar 4th line center
-Get a LD
That's A LOT to do. I'm assuming Holtz is traded. All of these can't be random plugs either. We need to start getting bigger, stronger and those players can't just be goons. My ideal targets are Tkachuk or Crouse for 2nd line winger & for that open LD spot we bring in Zadorov. We also need to figure out if we make Lazar 4th line center or keep him as a winger (I prefer him as a winger). If we bring in Tkachuk/Crouse & Zadorov that instantly changes the complexity of this team to be bigger, meaner and have more skill.
Palat-Nico-Meier
Tkachuk/Crouse-Hughes-Bratt
Xxx-Haula-Mercer
Xxx-Lazar?-Bastian
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Zadorov-Nemec
Hughes-Marino
Bahl
-Find a coach
-Get a goalie
-Get a 2nd line wing
-Get a 3rd line LW
-Get 1 or 2 4th line players depending if we make Lazar 4th line center
-Get a LD
That's A LOT to do. I'm assuming Holtz is traded. All of these can't be random plugs either. We need to start getting bigger, stronger and those players can't just be goons. My ideal targets are Tkachuk or Crouse for 2nd line winger & for that open LD spot we bring in Zadorov. We also need to figure out if we make Lazar 4th line center or keep him as a winger (I prefer him as a winger). If we bring in Tkachuk/Crouse & Zadorov that instantly changes the complexity of this team to be bigger, meaner and have more skill.
Palat-Nico-Meier
Tkachuk/Crouse-Hughes-Bratt
Xxx-Haula-Mercer
Xxx-Lazar?-Bastian
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Zadorov-Nemec
Hughes-Marino
Bahl
This is hilarious, but a Devils win and Flyers loss tomorrow puts them 5 pts back of Philly LOL. They have a chance as long as they are 4pts back of Philly by the time they play each other in the penultimate gm of the season.
(Obviously one of Caps/Wings need to falter for this scenario to work out)
All of this just continues to make this season annoying as hell. If they were healthy, they are a playoff team. If they had better goaltending, they are a playoff team. If they had a better coach, they are a playoff team. Just one of those things going our way this season would potentially get us in.
So, if Fitz can improve the goaltending, coaching and bottom 6, and they have a normal season in terms of health? Then NHL should be on notice for a big Devils resurgence next season.
(Obviously one of Caps/Wings need to falter for this scenario to work out)
All of this just continues to make this season annoying as hell. If they were healthy, they are a playoff team. If they had better goaltending, they are a playoff team. If they had a better coach, they are a playoff team. Just one of those things going our way this season would potentially get us in.
So, if Fitz can improve the goaltending, coaching and bottom 6, and they have a normal season in terms of health? Then NHL should be on notice for a big Devils resurgence next season.
Might be a tall order to get Tkachuk from Ottawa without giving up a core player. Not sure if Arizona's in any particular rush to give up Crouse.
Zadorov might be tough with the cap if he's aiming to get something like the Ryan Graves contract. Let's conservatively say Zadorov gets 4 mil AAV and we somehow got Crouse without giving up something on the NHL roster. Now you're left with about 14 million to extend Dawson Mercer, a #1 goalie, and a handful of depth spots.
Maybe you could fit that for one year, but now Luke Hughes needs a new contract in summer 2025. And then Simon Nemec a year after that.
McDuffz88
Smoke the Keefe
- Sep 18, 2019
- 1,636
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We have around 22.5 mill to work with for next season. Let's say we grab Zadorov for 5 mill we're down to 17.5. Tkachuck is 8 mill & Crouse is 4.3. So with Crouse our cap is 13.2 . We spend 3.5 mill on 3rd line winger bringing us to 9.7 . Minus Holtz that gives us 10.5 to work with only needing 1 4th liner spot to fill in (1mill) so 9.5 remaining with Crouse or 6.5 if Tkachuk. We can sign any goalie and we would be fine for next season. Would we be tight? Absolutely but next season we would be perfect. Realistically if we're trading for Tkachuk then Mercer is a goner so you can disregard his contract completely. The following year we can worry about Hughes (Kovalchuk money comes off the books, and cap goes up). Also Idk how big of a contract Luke is going to get unless he takes a sweetheart deal for future potential like his brother or he really levels up next year. Regardless we're fine. Year after that when Nemec is due for a raise we should probably be ready to move on from Hamilton. By then Nemec will be manning the top RD spot and 5 years of Hamiltons contract will be done. At that point you bring in Casey because he should be ready to join the big club. I don't think it will be too hard to shed Hamilton's contract with only 2 years left. Also don't forget Palat's contract will be just about over. We shouldn't need to be thinking 3 years down the line when it comes to the cap. If we're fine for next year and good for the year after that's all that matters. We can figure it out a long the way like all the other playoff teams do.
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Guadana
Registered User
5 years? Ten? They already drafted Smith and most likely will draft Celebrini/Lindstrom. They have pens pick so there is a biggest chance to draft top 4 D from this draft by that pick. I mean top 4 D of this draft with potential to be top pair defenseman. They already traded Mukhamadullin, drafted Musty by our pick, who is destroying OHL, they have Lund, Eklund and Bystedt.
Thats a very good young players core to build around.
Clam Jensen
Registered User
Another oddity of this bizarre season, but the team is basically now top-10 in PP and PK %.
theoptimist
Keep Siegenthaler
- Apr 22, 2014
- 5,325
- 2,999
Your cranky online friend is begging you to trade Siegenthaler
SJinNewJersey
Every single one of us, the devil inside
Having all three retention spots used up for the next two years is really going to hamper them.
Brooklyndevil
Registered User
I’m just glad Fitz sees that we need to get tougher. I’m not saying we need goons, just team more team toughness.
I’m not saying we need goons, just more team toughness. And for Fitz to come out and say it, he’s aware it’s a problem.
- Dec 20, 2018
- 23,082
- 52,235
Ottawa has zero reason to trade Tkachuk and they won’t this off-season.
I doubt Crouse get moved either, and what are you imagining they trading him for here? Draft picks and prospects? They don’t really need more of those.
Edit: It’s tough to find physical wingers who produce, I get that you’re just trying to find solutions.
Unfortunately the options are more giving UFAs like Trenin a generous offer or finding a less sexy trade option.
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What if I call Ottawa and ask really politely?
- May 1, 2011
- 134,964
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Look how long it took us. They were in every bit of as bad shape in 2022 as we were in 2015. And we won two first overall picks in that time. They were probably in even worse shape.
Anything can happen in 10 years, but I’d say easily 5 before they’re good again. EASILY. I don’t think the most optimistic would argue that. Look how many years it’s taken the Red Wings. This is the closest they’ve been to the playoffs since 2016?
That’s how bad off they were.
Look at the Ducks. They’ve been bad for even longer and are still really bad.
It is kind of crazy…for all the parity in the league, the good teams seem to stay good and the bad teams seem to stay bad for much longer than makes sense.
The only “usual suspect” that finally dropped off was Pittsburgh.
The only “usual suspect” that finally dropped off was Pittsburgh.
At some point all those loser points the Islanders have accumulated will start turning into outright losses as that team ages and can't retool effectively with their cap tied up in so many declining guys. You'd think the Caps will deteriorate as well. I'd expect Detroit to play well as they are not decrepit and have some additional youth to add and develop. Probably true of Buffalo as well. The Canes will have cap but who knows what they will do with all their free agents over the next two years. It won't be easy for them. And despite everything going wrong from pervasive injuries to awful goaltending to a young defense to stubborn coaching, the Devils are not that far off a playoff spot. It's hard to see them having such a bad run again next year and it's easy to think they will bounce back if they can sort the pieces that need sorting, primarily the coach and a goalie and one more defenseman.
I think the latter thing is true and the former thing is not. Detroit and New Jersey were good for 20 years and both fell into giant pits that they are still digging out of. San Jose was pretty good for 15 years and now that's over. There's franchises like Dallas and Philadelphia that have never really fallen into the chasm in my hockey-watching lifetime and ones like Boston that have only had a few bad years strung together. I still think the reaper is coming for Boston quite soon as they will start to resemble Pittsburgh and Washington, but they've shown themselves more adept at finding bottom-of-roster talent.
Obviously being bad doesn't mean you will eventually be good because of how the draft works and how much depends on what happened before a 'rebuild' started - Detroit and New Jersey were already being mismanaged long before they acknowledged that it was time to tear it down, and so there was very little to actually tear down.
AfroThunder396
[citation needed]
Green will probably be on the staff next year, he's under contract. The only way he wouldn't be back is if he and the team mutually parted ways like Nasreddine did at the end of 2020. I think they'll ask him if he'd like to come back as an assistant next year, and if he says no they'll release him from his contract.
That being said, if he was the "coach in waiting" and they hired him specifically to be the heir-apparent and slide in after Lindy was fired, they wouldn't have named him interim. Sometimes teams fire their coach and name a permanent replacement immediately, it's not that uncommon. Of the 7 coaches fired this season only 4 have been replaced by an interim. Roy, Hynes, and Knoblauch were named permanent HC with no strings or conditions.
I don't think making the playoffs, however unlikely, is enough for him to be promoted. They team has not played particularly well under him.
That being said, if he was the "coach in waiting" and they hired him specifically to be the heir-apparent and slide in after Lindy was fired, they wouldn't have named him interim. Sometimes teams fire their coach and name a permanent replacement immediately, it's not that uncommon. Of the 7 coaches fired this season only 4 have been replaced by an interim. Roy, Hynes, and Knoblauch were named permanent HC with no strings or conditions.
I don't think making the playoffs, however unlikely, is enough for him to be promoted. They team has not played particularly well under him.
Clam Jensen
Registered User
My wife is sitting in a box tonight at MSG for work, and she totally unintentionally wore red and black, further reinforcing that I made the right decision to marry her.
That’s exactly my point though. It truly does seem like there’s a lot of parity in the league in that any team can beat any team, and playoff upsets are regular occurrences…yet, the good teams do stay good for a long time and the bad teams stay bad. Yes, eventually good teams finally die and bad teams become contenders, but for all the parity, there really isn’t a massive year over year change of who the playoff teams are. It’s way more gradual and nuanced.
- Apr 20, 2005
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Green has apparently said he's a head coach (I think I heard this on the Winnipeg feed). I'd be surprised if he came back as anything other than a head coach here.
But, I also think there's a very good chance Green is the head coach next year. Fitz has identified changes he'd like to see with the team, but I think his issue is with player execution, not coaching. My guess is that Lindy was trying to get the team to do better with puck management, making smarter decisions, etc., but the players just weren't executing. Green already seems like a more hard nosed guy - and he provides continuity with what we know Fitz liked during Lindy's stint. I think that will appeal to Fitz. I don't think Fitz is looking for a wholesale change in how the team plays.
As I've stated before, I'm more in favor of an offense through defense approach, and I'd be all for bringing back Julien. But, I think we'll need to see a new GM before we see a philosophy change.
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