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

[Guttersniped]

I mean, yeah. When you have Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and a plethora of other younger players who can play center, it's not the end of the world if your center prospect depth isn't great.

Our forward prospect depth is weaker and it’s particularly bad at both center and with play-drivers.

It’s pretty obvious since Utica has zero drafted players who can be described as such and who knows if/when our two NCAA center prospects get there. Not sure if there’s a winger I would describe as a play driver anywhere.

That’s not a good thing. I assume the team recognizes that and will address it.

I hope they stop fixating on getting guys “who just score goals”, complimentary grit wingers, size etc.

I would like both more play drivers and some higher IQ centers. We could use an offensive talent infusion in the next draft.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Vitek has to be considered a top 10 goalie this season, at least stats-wise, right? 6th in Wins (22), 7th in GAA (2.34) and tied for 13th in Save % (.916)

 

[Blackjack]

Our forward prospect depth is weaker and it’s particularly bad at both center and with play-drivers.

It’s pretty obvious since Utica has zero drafted players who can be described as such and who knows if/when our two NCAA center prospects get there. Not sure if there’s a winger I would describe as a play driver anywhere.

That’s not a good thing. I assume the team recognizes that and will address it.

I hope they stop fixating on getting guys “who just score goals”, complimentary grit wingers, size etc.

I would like both more play drivers and some higher IQ centers. We could use an offensive talent infusion in the next draft.

This is exactly why I’m ambivalent about a Meier trade. We have some real depth issues up front and the assets and cap space moved to get Meier are only going to make it worse unless Nemec is the return (he won’t be and he shouldn’t be)

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

This is exactly why I’m ambivalent about a Meier trade. We have some real depth issues up front and the assets and cap space moved to get Meier are only going to make it worse unless Nemec is the return (he won’t be and he shouldn’t be)

We have plenty of cap space to afford both Bratt and Meier longterm and more. The cap is not an issue whatsoever.

Adding Meier pushes someone in the top 6 down. I don't the team having real "depth" issues if they get Meier.

 

[Blackjack]

We have plenty of cap space to afford both Bratt and Meier longterm and more. The cap is not an issue whatsoever.

Adding Meier pushes someone in the top 6 down. I don't the team having real "depth" issues if they get Meier.

Add Meier and the bottom six is still terrible.

 

[Eggtimer]

I don’t honestly know these two teams cap situations, but is it possible someone like Washington or Pittsburgh can swoop in and get Timo?

They’re almost definitely both first round exits and that’s if both teams even make the playoffs to begin with. Washington wants to keep competing as long as Ovechkin is playing and they got rid of both goalies just to bring in Kuemper this off-season, who will likely be toast before the deal ends.

And like I said, both of these teams are as close as you can get to first round exit locks as is. Neither have won a round since 2018. Caps have been a one and done since the cup win in 2018 and the Pens won the first round the year after their 2017 cup and have won nothing since. They even very embarrassingly lost the play-in round to Montreal in 2020.

Is it possible a team like those two can swoop in?

Just a guess or my take , but I can’t see them have the assets to pull it off unless they go crazy and completely piss their entire future away . No clue what their cap space is like to be able to extend him.
If they want to rent him , they cannot compete with teams paying the cost of an extended Meier .
Id be very surprised if either team landed him but I’ve seen crazier shit happen before.
Pens have zero prospects on the same level as Holtz. I can’t see Caps offer McMicheal or Miroshnichenko
That is literally their entire future.
Only “advantage “ they ha is that their 1st will be a few spots better than ours . Hextall has said he is not willing to move his 1st rounder but who knows for sure .

 

[Nubmer6]

Add Meier and the bottom six is still terrible.

Right now I see the bottom 6 problem being the center. We've seen Shara, Mercer, Tatar, and the other wings produce. The common denominator is 3C.

Inb4 "But Nico is our 3C".

 

[Oneiro]

They'll load up on forwards over the coming drafts, as they did with D the past four years.

It's a fair point; aside from the obvious, no forward beyond Mercer has grabbed their role. And if it seems sensible to walk away from Wood, I'd at least like someone from within who can bring something similar and, beyond Zetterlund, I'm not sure I see anyone with that wrecking ball kind of style and it's not something I want to pay for in free agency.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

If you get Meier with a contract - then i don't care too much what we give up in a trade.

If you're not getting a contact with him - then I'd rather stay the course and see what we have. Or maybe a minor deal.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Add Meier and the bottom six is still terrible.

We would really benefit from moving Wood’s waste of cap space to make room for a quality bottom 6 player. There must be some team out there that thinks he’s good. If reports are to be believed, there are doofus GMs that are considering Josh Anderson and that albatross contract.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Add Meier and the bottom six is still terrible.

Miles Wood doesn't seem like hes coming out of the lineup anytime soon no matter what moves are made, and him being a literal drag on everyone else is one of the big reasons why the bottom 6 hasnt been good

 

[MauDevils]

A lot of consensus here has Sharangovich potentially being traded. So that doesn't really help push anyone down the lineup.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Sick mask to be honest

Its beautiful

Its great.

The only downside is that Vitek said (and I just got this off twitter interview), that he will only wear it for a few games (or 4-5 games), and then he'll take home and put it on his shelf, he seems to be saying its an awesome gift for his house.

(skip to 1:15 and beyond, when he starts to mention that)

 

[Devs3cups]

Jack will have had basically 2+ days of rest. He participated in today’s practice, I doubt it’s major.

He also finished the game against Vancouver (had the winning assist). I highly doubt he doesn’t play tomorrow, let him rest during the morning skate.

 

[Eggtimer]

This is exactly why I’m ambivalent about a Meier trade. We have some real depth issues up front and the assets and cap space moved to get Meier are only going to make it worse unless Nemec is the return (he won’t be and he shouldn’t be)

I have some concern as well about our forward depth. But , if you get a chance to add a potentail 45-50 goal scorimg winger that plays an interior game that helps us in so many different ways , I think you pull the trigger.
A player like Meier that fits this well ( his ability and skill set , our ability to extend him without removing anyone from our current roster , age fits with our core and will be in his prime for the next 6 + years)
Finding bottom 6 players is the easy part. Look at teams like the Lightning. Supplemented their core players with veterans like Maroon , Perry etc on entry level contracts. We still have the assets to easily round out the bottom 6 if need be. It’s not like we need all 6 positions in the bottom 6 . We habe the ability to build a bottom 6 usimg existing players and prospects and if not , acquire it via trade or UFA.
We should have a better idea of what we need to do in our bottom 6 after the playoffs. Maybe we need to add a piece or two that plays a different type of game ? I’m not too worried about it, just a little concerned.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Jack will have basically had 2+ days of rest. He participated in today’s practice, I doubt it’s major.

He also finished the game against Vancouver (had the winning assist). I highly doubt he doesn’t play tomorrow, let him rest during the morning skate.

I wouldn't be mad about this team not having Jack for Seattle. It'll show them he can't carry them nightly and the rest of the team has to show up. Granted that the Hughes line was pretty bad versus Vancouver in regards to possession and shot generation. Also, Seattle has some really bad goaltending, could missing Burkakosvky themselves too.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Utter insanity it would be

View attachment 647274
Jack and Nico are budding stars in this league. They showed signs of their potential every season and it finally came together.

View attachment 647275
Mac is really winning me over these days. His devotion to fight through injury and carry the team on his back is impressive.

View attachment 647276
The majority of the goalies in this league are incredible.

View attachment 647278
Charts are worthless.





@billingtons ghost @Zajacs Bowl Cut @Bleedred @Guttersniped @JimEIV

 

[Devs3cups]

I wouldn't be mad about this team not having Jack for Seattle. It'll show them he can't carry them nightly and the rest of the team has to show up. Granted that the Hughes line was pretty bad versus Vancouver in regards to possession and shot generation. Also, Seattle has some really bad goaltending, could missing Burkakosvky themselves too.

Oh yeah, it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t play. It’s visibly a minor/day-to-day thing as he played Monday and practiced today.

Maybe a few extra days off would be good for him. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he played tomorrow night.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Utter insanity it would be

View attachment 647274
Jack and Nico are budding stars in this league. They showed signs of their potential every season and it finally came together.

View attachment 647275
Mac is really winning me over these days. His devotion to fight through injury and carry the team on his back is impressive.

View attachment 647276
The majority of the goalies in this league are incredible.

View attachment 647278
Charts are worthless.





@billingtons ghost @Zajacs Bowl Cut @Bleedred @Guttersniped @JimEIV

Nah, we have to do this for the playoffs.

Oh yeah, it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t play. It’s visibly a minor/day-to-day thing as he played Monday and practiced today.

Maybe a few extra days off would be good for him. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he played tomorrow night.

They do have a road trip coming up soon and they've pretty good record wise but their game has been slipping a bit there as well. Interested to see what they do as a team in regards to Hughes.

 

[Lou Bloom]

This is exactly why I’m ambivalent about a Meier trade. We have some real depth issues up front and the assets and cap space moved to get Meier are only going to make it worse unless Nemec is the return (he won’t be and he shouldn’t be)

It's a lot easier to find decent, cheap bottom 6 talent than it is to acquire someone like Meier who's an elite play driving power forward.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Its great.

The only downside is that Vitek said (and I just got this off twitter interview), that he will only wear it for a few games (or 4-5 games), and then he'll take home and put it on his shelf, he seems to be saying its an awesome gift for his house.

(skip to 1:15 and beyond, when he starts to mention that)

It's super cool when the guys on the team are also fans of the team and former players. Love the buy-in.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

oh man it looks even better on him

 

[Oneiro]

He's gotta keep that and ditch the other one.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

He's gotta keep that and ditch the other one.

He said maybe 5 games then it's going home on display.

 

[HBK27]

I dunno, I find it quite disrespectful that Vanecek couldn't work Sidorkiewicz's Sai into his helmet design.