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

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Is this enough to erase any Fitz doubt? Some people were pissed when we didn’t give up 2nd overall pick for Debrincat. Fitz was patient and now got Meier in instead for notably less. And he’s a better fit and more likely to resign long-term.

He's an rockstar GM, I don't want to hear any shit from this fanbase going forward. Every issue this team has had is virtually solved. Now if he can Lindy to stop being a moron and play Holtz in a top 6 we would be cooking with kerosene.

I don’t want to break up that nico line but if the devils feel they need to split up those volume shooters, I damn sure aren’t taking Mercer off of Nico’s wing. Those guys are developing chemistry and i love it. What about something like:

Mercer-Nico-Meier
Bratt-Hughes-Palat
Shango-Haula-Tatar

I like the idea of palat fishing the pucks out for Jesper and Jack. The first line is just 200 foot dominance. And that 3rd line should be able to feast on most other team’s 3rd lines.

Flip Palat and Sharangovich

 

[Xirik]

Based off the Fitz video call about the trade he is either very minimalist or very dedicated to his job. The room he was doing the interview looks like he just moved in and got his t.v set up and is waiting for the delivery truck to arrive.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

He's an rockstar GM, I don't want to hear any shit from this fanbase going forward. Every issue this team has had is virtually solved. Now if he can Lindy to stop being a moron and play Holtz in a top 6 we would be cooking with kerosene.



Flip Palat and Sharangovich

Holtz isn’t and shouldn’t play in the top 6. Maybe later season tryout once we’ve secured our position and some guys are banged up.

I’d also rather Tatar in the top 6 over Palat and Sharangovich. He has more skill than them and creates more. EspeciallY with how hot that line is. It would be stupid to take him out with how well that line has done.

Based off the Fitz video call about the trade he is either very minimalist or very dedicated to his job. The room he was doing the interview looks like he just moved in and got his t.v set up and is waiting for the delivery truck to arrive.

He seems like a pretty down to earth and genuine guy. At least from his interviews and stuff. Don’t see how any devils fan could have any issues with him and what he’s done either.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Holtz isn’t and shouldn’t play in the top 6. Maybe later season tryout once we’ve secured our position and some guys are banged up.

I’d also rather Tatar in the top 6 over Palat and Sharangovich. He has more skill than them and creates more. EspeciallY with how hot that line is. It would be stupid to take him out with how well that line has done.


He seems like a pretty down to earth and genuine guy. At least from his interviews and stuff. Don’t see how any devils fan could have any issues with him and what he’s done either.

More so towards next year, I don't think Holtz sniffs any playing time this year with our top 6 virtually set heading into the playoffs. Also the Devils are going to need some decent contracts to insulate the Meier + Bratt extensions incoming. And god knows if they go long term with Mercer too (which is the smart move btw)

 

[Xirik]

He seems like a pretty down to earth and genuine guy. At least from his interviews and stuff. Don’t see how any devils fan could have any issues with him and what he’s done either.

Just find it interesting that someone of his history and the amount he's gets paid that he would have his house more decorated. especially since he's been here for awhile now.

even down to earth people have keepsakes/memento's and knicknacks.

Devils fans should chant "treat yourself! Furnish your room!"

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Based off the Fitz video call about the trade he is either very minimalist or very dedicated to his job. The room he was doing the interview looks like he just moved in and got his t.v set up and is waiting for the delivery truck to arrive.

Lol I lowkey noticed that too, he might've just been in a quiet part of his house not to distract his wife during this call.

 

[Xirik]

another thing from the interview that I wonder about is that he says that he hangs around the locker room a lot. Is that a normal thing in the NHL or is that something more unique to Fitz?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

This is what we’re looking at right now

Meier-Hughes-Bratt
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Palat-Haula-Sharangovich
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Gritsyuk*-Boqvist-Holtz
Foote-Thompson-Clarke

Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Marino
Bahl-Severson
Hughes*-Smith
Harrington-Nemec
Wotherspoon-Russo

Vanacek
Blackwood
Schmid
Daws


*could join team before end of season



Really like the look of that. If we’re gonna add anything it should probably be some veteran depth forward. Top 9 is great but probably want some who’s played some NHL hockey and could fill in in the bottom 6. Like a cheap 4th round pick trade at most. I’m comfortable with the D as is with Luke coming. He’s gonna step in. Outside of him and and our 7 current guys you’ve got a couple of guys with some NHL experience who could fill in if need be. Only reason to consider touching the goalies would be if Blackwood is out for a long time.

another thing from the interview that I wonder about is that he says that he hangs around the locker room a lot. Is that a normal thing in the NHL or is that something more unique to Fitz?

Guessing it varies but you want to have a good relationship and feel for your players. And sounds like he meets with them a lot and gets their opinion. I like that.
Also seemed like a big reason why Lindy was kept around last off-season.

 

[Xirik]

This is what we’re looking at right now

Meier-Hughes-Bratt
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Palat-Haula-Sharangovich
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Gritsyuk*-Boqvist-Holtz
Foote-Thompson-Clarke

Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Marino
Bahl-Severson
Hughes*-Smith
Harrington-Nemec
Wotherspoon-Russo

Vanacek
Blackwood
Schmid
Daws


*could join team before end of season



Really like the look of that. If we’re gonna add anything it should probably be some veteran depth forward. Top 9 is great but probably want some who’s played some NHL hockey and could fill in in the bottom 6. Like a cheap 4th round pick trade at most. I’m comfortable with the D as is with Luke coming. He’s gonna step in. Outside of him and and our 7 current guys you’ve got a couple of guys with some NHL experience who could fill in if need be.


Guessing it varies but you want to have a good relationship and feel for your players. And sounds like he meets with them a lot and gets their opinion. I like that.
Also seemed like a big reason why Lindy was kept around last off-season.

Vanecek has been good and the Av's have shown that you can win the cup with an average goalie but it still feels like a big weakness for us. Doubt we can get a better goaltender than vanecek at the deadline but perhaps we can get a backup.

Sadly trades for elite goaltenders rarely happen so I guess we are going to have to look inward and hope one of our goalies turns into a star.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Vanecek has been good and the Av's have shown that you can win the cup with an average goalie but it still feels like a big weakness for us. Doubt we can get a better goaltender than vanecek at the deadline but perhaps we can get a backup.

Sadly trades for elite goaltenders rarely happen so I guess we are going to have to look inward and hope one of our goalies turns into a star.

I think you’re overthinking it. Vanacek has been solid to really good at times. Not gonna get a backup unless Blackwood is out long-term and to be fair to him he’s been half ok for the most part. Some good and some bad. Schmid has been lights out and I’m comfortable with him and Blackwood as backups.

In terms of long-term we have to figure it out particularly with Blackwood. But I think Vanacek can provide us some stability. Maybe Schmid can turn into an elite goalie for us. Certainly not out of the question and he’s done and looked great so far this season. Would like to see him get a nice run of games here before the end of the season just to add to the sample size. I think there’s a reasonable possibility that if he plays another 6+ games and does really well that we could be comfortable enough given our cap space to come into next season with him and Vanacek as our tandem. Don’t think that’s that unreasonable if he has 16-20 game sample of really strong play. Would save us some cap and if could be fixed somehow if it fell apart. Daws has shown some potential too.

Not too worried about goaltending. Have some stability and decent young guys. It’s a very unpredictable position anyways. So many guys are elite one year and terrible the next. Really hard to find Consistently elite goalies.

 

[Nubmer6]

This is what we’re looking at right now

Meier-Hughes-Bratt
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Palat-Haula-Sharangovich
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Gritsyuk*-Boqvist-Holtz
Foote-Thompson-Clarke

Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Marino
Bahl-Severson
Hughes*-Smith
Harrington-Nemec
Wotherspoon-Russo

Vanacek
Blackwood
Schmid
Daws


*could join team before end of season



Really like the look of that. If we’re gonna add anything it should probably be some veteran depth forward. Top 9 is great but probably want some who’s played some NHL hockey and could fill in in the bottom 6. Like a cheap 4th round pick trade at most. I’m comfortable with the D as is with Luke coming. He’s gonna step in. Outside of him and and our 7 current guys you’ve got a couple of guys with some NHL experience who could fill in if need be. Only reason to consider touching the goalies would be if Blackwood is out for a long time.


Guessing it varies but you want to have a good relationship and feel for your players. And sounds like he meets with them a lot and gets their opinion. I like that.
Also seemed like a big reason why Lindy was kept around last off-season.

Just for kicks, what if we distributed the firepower:

Tatar - Hischier - Mercer - The line's been money
Palat - Hughes - Sharangovich - Jack can score with ANYONE on his wings
Meier - Haula - Bratt - A 3rd line that can actually be a threat
Wood - McLeod - Bastian - For old times sake
Boqvist - Extra

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Just thought of something. If I was Timo Meier and was fully willing to extend with the Devils and thought their offer was reasonable I probably still wouldn’t right now. Why take say an 8 times 8.5 or 9 extension right now when he could just wait until the summer accept his 10M QO and then sign the same or a similar anytime right after. Gets him an extra year at 10M. Unless the devils lower their offer after that but that’s unlikely given how badly they’ll want to make sure they extend him. If I was his agent that’s what I’d be telling him. Wouldn’t like that as much for the Devils sake.

Actually wait. Can someone answer this. Is there any waiting period after you accept a qualifying offer to agree to an extension? Even if there was he doesn’t need to rush. Would be nerve racking for us fans though.

Just for kicks, what if we distributed the firepower:

Tatar - Hischier - Mercer - The line's been money
Palat - Hughes - Sharangovich - Jack can score with ANYONE on his wings
Meier - Haula - Bratt - A 3rd line that can actually be a threat
Wood - McLeod - Bastian - For old times sake
Boqvist - Extra

Nah that’s no fun.

Meier-Hughes-Bratt all the way
Let them dominate. Think of how exciting that would be.

 

[Nubmer6]

Just thought of something. If I was Timo Meier and was fully willing to extend with the Devils and thought their offer was reasonable I probably still wouldn’t right now. Why take say an 8 times 8.5 or 9 extension right now when he could just wait until the summer accept his 10M QO and then sign the same or a similar anytime right after. Gets him an extra year at 10M. Unless the devils lower their offer after that but that’s unlikely given how badly they’ll want to make sure they extend him. If I was his agent that’s what I’d be telling him. Wouldn’t like that as much for the Devils sake.

Actually wait. Can someone answer this. Is there any waiting period after you accept a qualifying offer to agree to an extension? Even if there was he doesn’t need to rush. Would be nerve racking for us fans though.


Nah that’s no fun.

Meier-Hughes-Bratt all the way
Let them dominate. Think of how exciting that would be.

I'm pretty torn on this. Both Meier and Hughes are volume shooters, but it would be great to have a double shooting threat. Meanwhile, I feel like Nico would really do well with a shooter on his line, but at the same time the Tatar - Hischier - Mercer line has been on fire.

When it all comes down to it, with Ruff behind the bench I'm sure we'll see every possible combination.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Vanecek has been good and the Av's have shown that you can win the cup with an average goalie but it still feels like a big weakness for us. Doubt we can get a better goaltender than vanecek at the deadline but perhaps we can get a backup.

Sadly trades for elite goaltenders rarely happen so I guess we are going to have to look inward and hope one of our goalies turns into a star.

If goaltending turns out to be an issue come playoffs in the next year or two with this roster, I expect Fitz to go out and get an insane goalie. He's not a GM who's just gonna sit idle while his team is missing a piece that's visible.

Just thought of something. If I was Timo Meier and was fully willing to extend with the Devils and thought their offer was reasonable I probably still wouldn’t right now. Why take say an 8 times 8.5 or 9 extension right now when he could just wait until the summer accept his 10M QO and then sign the same or a similar anytime right after. Gets him an extra year at 10M. Unless the devils lower their offer after that but that’s unlikely given how badly they’ll want to make sure they extend him. If I was his agent that’s what I’d be telling him. Wouldn’t like that as much for the Devils sake.

Actually wait. Can someone answer this. Is there any waiting period after you accept a qualifying offer to agree to an extension? Even if there was he doesn’t need to rush. Would be nerve racking for us fans though.


Nah that’s no fun.

Meier-Hughes-Bratt all the way
Let them dominate. Think of how exciting that would be.

Easy, he steps out onto the ice and he blows out his knee first game of the year. There goes his massive contract the following year. Is that 1.5M for one year really worth passing up the security and peace of mind of an extension?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

If goaltending turns out to be an issue come playoffs in the next year or two with this roster, I expect Fitz to go out and get an insane goalie. He's not a GM who's just gonna sit idle while his team is missing a piece that's visible.

Eh he’s patient though and usually more of an under the radar guy. That’s what I would expect in the situation especially given how unpredictable goalies are. He’s not getting a Vasilevsky and outside of the 2-3 goalies on that level it’s extremely risky to trade major assets for a goalie. I’d expect more of a stabilizing move like we’ve seen with Vanacek because a goalie can be absolutely elite one season, you pay a huge pride and then he’s not close to as good the next season. So much harder to predict.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Eh he’s patient though and usually more of an under the radar guy. That’s what I would expect in the situation especially given how unpredictable goalies are. He’s not getting a Vasilevsky and outside of the 2-3 goalies on that level it’s extremely risky to trade major assets for a goalie. I’d expect more of a stabilizing move like we’ve seen with Vanacek because a goalie can be absolutely elite one season, you pay a huge pride and then he’s not close to as good the next season. So much harder to predict.

Saros would easily be the guy to target if Vanecek falters soon/playoffs in the next year or two. Askarov is already chomping at the bit to start + Trotz will turn over that entire roster. I was a massive advocate for Saros last year but Nashville still thought they could compete and the Devils weren't as good so adding a goalie like him would've been confusing at the time.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Easy, he steps out onto the ice and he blows out his knee first game of the year. There goes his massive contract the following year. Is that 1.5M for one year really worth passing up the security and peace of mind of an extension?

I’m talking about him still signing an extension in the off-season. And it’s not an extra 1.5. It’s an extra 10. Basically takes the QO and then signed an 8 year extension.

So he’s basically signing for 9 years with the first year at 10M.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I’m talking about him still signing an extension in the off-season. And it’s not an extra 1.5. It’s an extra 10. Basically takes the QO and then signed an 8 year extension.

So he’s basically signing for 9 years with the first year at 10M.

I'm not sure if that's even allowed? If it is, I mean that's obviously the smart route but not sure why the Devils even play that game.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Saros would easily be the guy to target if Vanecek falters soon/playoffs in the next year or two. Askarov is already chomping at the bit to start + Trotz will turn over that entire roster. I was a massive advocate for Saros last year but Nashville still thought they could compete and the Devils weren't as good so adding a goalie like him would've been confusing at the time.

Again it’s all about the price. I would be really careful throwing major assets at goalies. Might be necessary and worth it in some cases but I would still be careful.

I'm not sure if that's even allowed? If it is, I mean that's obviously the smart route but not sure why the Devils even play that game.

That’s what I was asking towards the end. Does he have to wait a certain period of time after accepting his QO to sign an extension?

And the devils are in a position where they almost have to play his game within reason. They’ve given up a bunch of assets for him and obviously really want to resign him. Meier has quite a bit of leverage here particularly with that QO.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Again it’s all about the price. I would be really careful throwing major assets at goalies. Might be necessary and worth it in some cases but I would still be careful.

I hear you, I'm not the biggest fan of goalie moves because they're so reliant on the teams in front of them but if the Devils have the roster and the goalie is shitting his pants in big moments then you'd have to make a move

 

[MasterofGrond]

guess where the devils are playing wednesday!

i wasn't gonna go because i'm kinda broke but i think i'll have to make it work

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I hear you, I'm not the biggest fan of goalie moves because they're so reliant on the teams in front of them but if the Devils have the roster and the goalie is shitting his pants in big moments then you'd have to make a move

I’m hoping Schmid can turn into something really good. Looks possible with what he’s been showing. Was actually a bit worried he’d be included in the Meier deal especially after throwing up a shutout last night.

 

[Xirik]

Just for kicks, what if we distributed the firepower:

Tatar - Hischier - Mercer - The line's been money
Palat - Hughes - Sharangovich - Jack can score with ANYONE on his wings
Meier - Haula - Bratt - A 3rd line that can actually be a threat
Wood - McLeod - Bastian - For old times sake
Boqvist - Extra

The "Haula win the face-off and then let us do the rest" line.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The "Haula win the face-off and then let us do the rest" line.

Haula isn't even been bad tbf, lol. His finishing has been cataclysmic though

 

[Nubmer6]

I’m hoping Schmid can turn into something really good. Looks possible with what he’s been showing. Was actually a bit worried he’d be included in the Meier deal especially after throwing up a shutout last night.

He just looks solid this year. Completely calm, making the saves he should and getting quite a few he shouldn't.

I'd want to see another year of him to see consistency, but if he's the backup next year and he's just as solid, I'm ok with letting VV walk when his contact is done.