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

[billingtons ghost]

He doesn’t even have to good or better than Meier for it to be a bad trade idea.

If he’s slightly worse than Meier, how is it a good trade? We make a slight upgrade? How much better are we then?

Mercer isn’t a prospect, he’s an important player now. Meier can’t even replace his versatility since he can’t play center.

The reason playoff teams trade futures instead of roster players is so you don’t take out a piece that makes your team worse right now. When they trade roster players it’s to usually to clear cap space or move guys they aren’t going to keep anyway. (Beauvillier in the Horvat is a prime example of the latter.)
Again, find me a TDL where a team got a return like Mercer. I’m pretty confident won’t find one.

The June 2016 Zibanejad trade was for older RFA one year from arbitration. The Sens didn’t want to pay him. Brassard had a 3 year/ 5m deal that only cost 12m in real money. And everyone knew this was a bad trade made for financial reasons.

I don't know to whom you're replying. I haven't made any posts about Dawson Mercer for days. Who would ever deal that guy. Pfft.

Lalalalalala can't hear you.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I don't know to whom you're replying. I haven't made any posts about Dawson Mercer for days. Who would ever deal that guy. Pfft.

Lalalalalala can't hear you.

 

[StevenToddIves]

If he's cheap to acquire, fine. But I'm not spending valuable assets on that type of player coming off knee surgery. Besides, I don't think they're selling him anyway. They're going to try to at least stay somewhat competitive so Ovy can chase the goals record.

Wilson is not a player type at all, he's extremely unique.

I think the problem is people watch hockey mostly when their team is playing and develop an "Us Vs. Them" mentality. Sure Wilson has thrown a lot of infuriating hits on "our" team's players over the years, but he's also an extremely good hockey player. Were he 5'11-190 instead of a hulking giant, he'd still have the skills and speed to compliment a 2nd line on an NHL team.

When you combine this with the fact (when healthy), Wilson is the most intimidatingly physical forward in the league, he becomes unique. You're talking a guy who almost singlehandedly got the Rangers entire front office fired and changed the face of their team. In maybe the funniest way possible, Tom Wilson is the root cause of the Rangers trading Pavel Buchnevich for Sammy Blais.

I'm not going to stump too hard for trading for the guy because I'm not even sure he's available, but I'm just saying that to dismiss him as lumbering goon is just very, very far from the reality. He's a tremendous asset to a hockey team.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Absolutely love Mercer because of his work ethic and IQ. But the number one reason why I love him is his unique skating and stickhandling style. It’s choppy (in a good way) and unpredictable. Makes him slippery as hell and a pain in the ass for the opposition to defend. He is also not afraid to crash the net.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Absolutely love Mercer because of his work ethic and IQ. But the number one reason why I love him is his unique skating and stickhandling style. It’s choppy (in a good way) and unpredictable. Makes him slippery as hell and a pain in the ass for the opposition to defend. He is also not afraid to crash the net.

I love his move from behind the goal line. It’s like he backs his way to the front of the net. He did it on the Tatar goal tonight.

 

[Guttersniped]

This is just...wrong.

What Isles goalies is sad ass enough to feature f***ing Sparky the Dragon on their helmet?

It’s the worst mascot in the NHL, though the perfect Charles Wang mascot. A borrowed Arena Football mascot lol.

Though they dug up this monstrosity from the late 1990s for the Reverse Retros.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Ah yes because once a penalty a game Brendan Smith and a guy who legit can't skate as well as Luke Hughes would be the better option or someone like Kevin Bahl.

Tbh, I think some of the pretty savvy vet plays Smith more than makes up for his penalties.

I'm all for replacing him, but the guy who does should be a vet, and should be big strong and physical and will take a hit to make a play. A big reason we rolled through November was a really stable Severson-Smith bottom pair. One patented Seversonism is coughing the puck up right next to the trapezoid when hit. I'd rather have Smith be that guy.

 

[Bleedred]

I don’t know if I could stomach rooting for Tom Wilson but all that aside.

Let’s say we got him, then he pulls some of his shit and the league finally decides “Yeah, he’s done it now, 50 games” and it doesn’t get appealed.

Then we got Wilson and hardly got him use out of him.

Or he’d get hurt, which is a very safe bet.

He’s the type of player (like Wood) that doesn’t age well. And yes, he’s much better than Wood, but he can grenade at any moment, just like Wood.

Since he’s better than Wood, I can’t imagine the plunge would be as extreme, but it could be bad enough that he’s just a really good 3rd liner once we get him.

 

[TrufleShufle]

It would be funny that after the Rangers traded away all their anti-Tom Wilson players they have to face him again.

I was on the fence about wanting him, but after reading this, Nemac+Hughes+7th round.

 

[MadDevil]

It might be worth him getting a lengthy suspension if he took out Trouba's headhunting ass.

 

[Lou Bloom]

Yes NHL players who are playing at NHL speed and used to the strength of NHL players.

It’s the playoffs dude that’s a terrible time to bring in a rookie who’s played maybe 2 or 3 games in the NHL.

Luke is going to be a very good player but to me throwing him in that situation is putting him in a bad spot.

We've already seen it done with McAvoy and Makar, We probably would have also seen it with Quinn if the Canucks made the playoffs in 2019. We've seen a clear trend of highly drafted defensive prospects making a big impact straight out of college (Makar, McAvoy, Quinn Hughes, Sanderson, Werenski, etc...) and unlike most of those players the Devils wouldn't have to roll out Luke for 20+ minutes a game.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

It's crazy Tatar is a +33 this year. He has already surpassed last years point total too. He's been a bit better this year for sure. His backhand has to be the best on this team , it's a thing of beauty. We should try to sign him to a 1 or 2 year extension IMO.

 

[Guadana]

Wilson is not a player type at all, he's extremely unique.

I think the problem is people watch hockey mostly when their team is playing and develop an "Us Vs. Them" mentality. Sure Wilson has thrown a lot of infuriating hits on "our" team's players over the years, but he's also an extremely good hockey player. Were he 5'11-190 instead of a hulking giant, he'd still have the skills and speed to compliment a 2nd line on an NHL team.

When you combine this with the fact (when healthy), Wilson is the most intimidatingly physical forward in the league, he becomes unique. You're talking a guy who almost singlehandedly got the Rangers entire front office fired and changed the face of their team. In maybe the funniest way possible, Tom Wilson is the root cause of the Rangers trading Pavel Buchnevich for Sammy Blais.

I'm not going to stump too hard for trading for the guy because I'm not even sure he's available, but I'm just saying that to dismiss him as lumbering goon is just very, very far from the reality. He's a tremendous asset to a hockey team.

I don’t know if I could stomach rooting for Tom Wilson but all that aside.

Let’s say we got him, then he pulls some of his shit and the league finally decides “Yeah, he’s done it now, 50 games” and it doesn’t get appealed.

Then we got Wilson and hardly got him use out of him.

Or he’d get hurt, which is a very safe bet.

He’s the type of player (like Wood) that doesn’t age well. And yes, he’s much better than Wood, but he can grenade at any moment, just like Wood.

Since he’s better than Wood, I can’t imagine the plunge would be as extreme, but it could be bad enough that he’s just a really good 3rd liner once we get him.

Im ok for trading for Wilson, but next spring. Will see where his form will be in the moment, and ofcourse save a-type assets.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

I was thinking about Boston acquiring Orlov, and I’m wondering if Fitz should make a bold counter move by trading for Chychrun.

If we have the following assets set aside for Meier: Holtz, 2023 1st round pick, Casey, one of Zetterlund/Sharangovich

Would we be comfortable giving up a 2024 1st round pick, Mukhamadullin, Bahl, Johnsson (cap) for Chychrun.

It would kill our current prospect D depth and future depth, given we won’t have 1st rounders for two years. But the top 6 D would be absolutely elite. And Chychrun is not a rental. He is still under contract for 2 seasons after this one.

In this scenario Graves and Severson walk at end of season. And we can pair Luke Hughes with Marino and Nemec with Chychrun. Or move Siegenthaler down and have Chychrun log big minutes with Hamilton.

Arizona’s ask is two first round picks, maybe we can convince them Muk is still a 1st round talent. And they might want Bahl back.

 

[RSeen]

You cannot trade Mercer under any circumstance. Meier is nice but Mercer is much younger and is progressing.

 

[forceten]

You cannot trade Mercer under any circumstance. Meier is nice but Mercer is much younger and is progressing.

Correct. rc > i

 

[Saugus]

Wilson is a guy you absolutely love on your team. If he’s cheap, I’d take him. Only a year left after this season .

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He had some dirty dirty hits. But for a year and a few months? Id see how it goes.

But thats just me bullshitting, it will never happen.

I would take Wilson at the right price. We need a new Claude Lemieux to put with our group of choir boys.

I still want Fitz to focus on Meier as his primary target though, and I don't think both moves are possible.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I didn't even think about Chychrun because a winger like Meier is such a need seemingly. He's got 2.5 more years so perfect stopgap to Luke Hughes's 2nd contract. It could really make the blueline magical for the next 3 years.

 

[njdevil26]

You cannot trade Mercer under any circumstance. Meier is nice but Mercer is much younger and is progressing.

I really just think San Jose realizes they have the best player on the market. They are probably asking Carolina for Jarvis and the Devils for Mercer and will negotiate when both teams don't want to give up those players.

 

[HBK27]

I really just think San Jose realizes they have the best player on the market. They are probably asking Carolina for Jarvis and the Devils for Mercer and will negotiate when both teams don't want to give up those players.

I'm sure that was the ask, but it's clear neither team is going to give up those players. It's a tough situation for NJ and Carolina since they're rivals going after the same player. If either one just walks away from the deal, the other team likely gets him at a cheaper cost. So in that aspect, both teams are a bit at the mercy of Grier to wait this out before making other moves, but I can't see Fitz or Waddell panicking and doing something stupid. Probably going to be a long next week.

 

[Omar Little]

Tom Wilson would be a great addition for the Devils but I doubt he's available

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I was thinking about Boston acquiring Orlov, and I’m wondering if Fitz should make a bold counter move by trading for Chychrun.

If we have the following assets set aside for Meier: Holtz, 2023 1st round pick, Casey, one of Zetterlund/Sharangovich

Would we be comfortable giving up a 2024 1st round pick, Mukhamadullin, Bahl, Johnsson (cap) for Chychrun.

It would kill our current prospect D depth and future depth, given we won’t have 1st rounders for two years. But the top 6 D would be absolutely elite. And Chychrun is not a rental. He is still under contract for 2 seasons after this one.

In this scenario Graves and Severson walk at end of season. And we can pair Luke Hughes with Marino and Nemec with Chychrun. Or move Siegenthaler down and have Chychrun log big minutes with Hamilton.

Arizona’s ask is two first round picks, maybe we can convince them Muk is still a 1st round talent. And they might want Bahl back.

We could play some moneyball and get McCabe with retention (would be 2 mil for the next 2 years) and Lafferty (1.15 through next year). That would very cheaply plug some holes for a couple seasons.

 

[Better Call Sal]

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[OmNomNom]

View attachment 655881

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not the point (i know) but wow, i had no idea raymond had so many points already

 

[Better Call Sal]

not the point (i know) but wow, i had no idea raymond had so many points already

He had a really strong rookie year. He's a little off pace this year, but still playing fairly well.