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

[Zippy316]

I think either he or Zetterlund move out for Meier if that happens. I'd probably do a swap of those two guys if the money is close but I think some team will pay Vrana hefty money in UFA. Especially say a team lands Bedard and needs a winger for him, Vrana would be the perfect compliment to him.

I would be so pissed if Zetterlund is the one moved. As crazy as it sounds, I’d much rather see Holtz involved in any trade.

I think we genuinely need Zetterlund’s skill set over Holtz’ moving forward.

 

[tailfins]

I would be so pissed if Zetterlund is the one moved. As crazy as it sounds, I’d much rather see Holtz involved in any trade.

I think we genuinely need Zetterlund’s skill set over Holtz’ moving forward.

For good reason. If Zetterlund is moved, he's not the main prospect. He's more likely to replace Sharangovich than Holtz. From a cap perspective, I think Zetterlund is around / under $1 million next year. Sharangovich, my guess, is closer to $3 million next year. I like Sharangovich a lot, but right now Zetterlund seems like he provides comparable value at far less cost.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I want Fitz to lock up Zetterlund for a while. Even if he has to give him some more AAV than he “deserves” so far in his career, it’ll pay off. I think he’s gonna have a great career.

 

[Mgd31]

Devils should trade for Alexi Ponikarovsky and Marek Zidlicky imo.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Yeah it’s really hard not to love Zetterlund’d game. Calling him an eventual core piece would probably be a little generous, but he’s the exact type of player that rounds out a lineup just perfectly.

 

[Saugus]

I would be so pissed if Zetterlund is the one moved. As crazy as it sounds, I’d much rather see Holtz involved in any trade.

I think we genuinely need Zetterlund’s skill set over Holtz’ moving forward.

Holtz has a ridiculous shot, but hasn't been able to keep up with the pace of the NHL game when he has played. He still has potential, but I don't think we'll be able to bring out his full value here.

Zetterlund is the type of player where you can put him on any line and it works fine. We will need guys like that in our bottom 6 in the playoffs, and it's borderline criminal that he has been getting healthy scratched.

 

[theoptimist]

Dougie having one of the more terrible games of the season and still manages to put up 3 As. On pace to have the best season for a Devils defenseman in almost two decades. Anyone think he’ll break Stevens’ record of 78 points in 93-94?

2 more points would also have him at his career-high.

I appreciate your post

 

[Devs3cups]

Holtz has a ridiculous shot, but hasn't been able to keep up with the pace of the NHL game when he has played. He still has potential, but I don't think we'll be able to bring out his full value here.

Zetterlund is the type of player where you can put him on any line and it works fine. We will need guys like that in our bottom 6 in the playoffs, and it's borderline criminal that he has been getting healthy scratched.

Zetterlund is also 2 years older. Zetterlund is 23 since August. Holtz just turned 21 a few days ago.

At Holtz’s age, Zetterlund had 19 points in 34 AHL games. Holtz last year was PPG in the AHL. I honestly don’t feel Holtz has had a fair look in the lineup, but that’s me. I wouldn’t mind if he was used to get an impact top-6 guy like Meier, but Holtz has a lot of potential and he hasn’t looked bad in his games. He’s played under 30 NHL games, that’s a small sample size to draw conclusions.

 

[Devils731]

Holtz has a ridiculous shot, but hasn't been able to keep up with the pace of the NHL game when he has played. He still has potential, but I don't think we'll be able to bring out his full value here.

Zetterlund is the type of player where you can put him on any line and it works fine. We will need guys like that in our bottom 6 in the playoffs, and it's borderline criminal that he has been getting healthy scratched.

I wonder how Holtz can ever catch up the NHL pace when he basically never gets to play against the NHL pace.

I don’t mean you gift him a spot but he needs to get a run of a few games where he plays a consistent 5 on 5 shift, even if he’s awful, to let him try to get a rhythm. Also may be helpful to Holtz and team to play him with people with complimenting skill sets rather than opposing skill sets.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I would be so pissed if Zetterlund is the one moved. As crazy as it sounds, I’d much rather see Holtz involved in any trade.

I think we genuinely need Zetterlund’s skill set over Holtz’ moving forward.

I would be too but I'm not sure I agree on the latter. Holtz becoming a top 6 player for us would do wonders for this team, they wouldn't have to put assets in trying to acquire another forward.

 

[glenwo2]

What the hell is this? HAHAHAHA!

https://twitter.com/NJDevils

They're really going full-send with this Hat business, apparently.

 

[Incharge1976]

What the hell is this? HAHAHAHA!

View attachment 646787

https://twitter.com/NJDevils

They're really going full-send with this Hat business, apparently.

 

[glenwo2]

^^^ Love me some David Wright.

 

[DevilsHughes86]

I want Fitz to lock up Zetterlund for a while. Even if he has to give him some more AAV than he “deserves” so far in his career, it’ll pay off. I think he’s gonna have a great career.

He is a hard worker for sure, I really wouldn't mind if they locked him up. He probably gets something similar to Wood, 4 year deal at around 3 million per, hopefully 2.5 or 2.75 would be even better for us

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

I want Fitz to lock up Zetterlund for a while. Even if he has to give him some more AAV than he “deserves” so far in his career, it’ll pay off. I think he’s gonna have a great career.

Fitz has discussed. I would think Z is one of the ones he wants to keep around

“And that’s how I want to build our team, so there’s gotta be a will and a want to stay here and play, and understand, and I said this to his agent, ‘Jesper isn’t the only person without a contract. He’s not the only important person without one. We’ve got a lot of important people that don’t have contracts next year.’ It’s figuring out who we want to move forward with.

Fitzgerald talks Hischier’s evolution, Bratt next contract — The Fourth Period

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald speaks with TFP’s James Nichols about Jesper Bratt’s next contract, Nico Hischier’s emergence, the trade deadline, and more.

www.thefourthperiod.com

 

[Billdo]

Devils should trade for Alexi Ponikarovsky and Marek Zidlicky imo.

Needs more Kurtis Foster and Steve Sullivan vibes around here.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Needs more Kurtis Foster

 

[Zippy316]

Holtz has a ridiculous shot, but hasn't been able to keep up with the pace of the NHL game when he has played. He still has potential, but I don't think we'll be able to bring out his full value here.

Zetterlund is the type of player where you can put him on any line and it works fine. We will need guys like that in our bottom 6 in the playoffs, and it's borderline criminal that he has been getting healthy scratched.

To be fair, Zetterlund’s play was slacking off a bit when he was scratched. He still could’ve contributed as a bottom six guy, but the time off wasn’t the worst thing. I don’t really blame the coaching staff much there.

But yeah this is a good summary. He’s the perfect guy to keep around to move up and down and he brings a unique skill set that compliments our top guys incredibly well.

He also seems like the type of player given his career to date that you may be able to convince to sign a 3 year deal at a low AAV that could be an absolute steal when this team needs one. Something like 3 years at 1.5 taking him to one year before RFA (if it does) could be huge.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Looks like the Devils are top-2 in prospect pools along with Minnesota, according to Wheeler. Curious to see what Wheeler thinks of some of the more marginal players in the system, particularly Foote and Thompson (TT may be too old, not sure). I’ve pretty much written off both at this point, but Zetterlund turning the corner at 23 gives me a spark of optimism.

 

[OmNomNom]

Looks like the Devils are top-2 in prospect pools along with Minnesota, according to Wheeler. Curious to see what Wheeler thinks of some of the more marginal players in the system, particularly Foote and Thompson (TT may be too old, not sure). I’ve pretty much written off both at this point, but Zetterlund turning the corner at 23 gives me a spark of optimism.

wallstedt is a huuuuuuuuge lift to the minn pool, as is rossi, but what other huge pieces do they have? yurov? khusnutdinov?

 

[bossram]

Last 25 games, all situations:

CF%: 9th
SF%: 9th
GF%: 14th
xGF%: 18th
SCF%: 9th
HDCF%: 10th

This looks more like a defense problem than anything else, maybe with a little finishing cold streak. Offensively still a top-10 team basically across the board at all situations, but the xGF% looking suspicious.

And for those wondering, the metrics look better at even strength:

CF%: 5th
SF%: 6th
GF%: 14th
xGF%: 14th
SCF%: 6th
HDCF%: 8th

They need to tighten up defensively. Obviously Marino was missing for a while, so that hurts. But Dougie and Siegs have been struggling on the defensive side of the puck for a while.

I'm still on team "stop the swarm system" because whenever there are breakdowns, it's just chaotic. And the system induces breakdowns. Similar to their very aggressive neutral zone forecheck.

 

[Nubmer6]

wallstedt is a huuuuuuuuge lift to the minn pool, as is rossi, but what other huge pieces do they have? yurov? khusnutdinov?

I'm actually wondering how he sees Schmid and Daws on our team. Does he see them as legit NHLers or just some throw-aways.

 

[OmNomNom]

I'm actually wondering how he sees Schmid and Daws on our team. Does he see them as legit NHLers or just some throw-aways.

i hope he considers schmid a potential NHLer, if only as a backup so far. he's got great potential IMO

 

[Cheddabombs]

wallstedt is a huuuuuuuuge lift to the minn pool, as is rossi, but what other huge pieces do they have? yurov? khusnutdinov?

Faber is another piece they added recently that could tip the scales

 

[Clam Jensen]

Faber is another piece they added recently that could tip the scales

Yup, @StevenToddIves has been pumping his tires for years now.