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

[Capt Nico Poo]

I wonder what the Devils do with all the young talent in the system. It feels like we're about hit some bottlenecks in terms of playing time.

Example: Holtz went to Utica and had (what sounds like) a fantastic game yesterday. He needs to be a top 6 player eventually. But, with Mercer, Timo, Bratt as the top 6 wings for the next 5-8 years (assuming re-signings), it's pretty difficult for Holtz. Especially if Timo plays RW.

If I were one of these "retooling" teams - Vancouver, St Louis, etc. - I'd be looking at the Devils to see if I could pluck some talent off the roster. Sharnagovich seems like an obvious immediate candidate - I have no idea if he could fit into the Devils cap next year or beyond. May be worthwhile if the Devils could send him out for a 2nd round pick this offseason. I also wonder about Bastian. He feels like he could be a good third line player in this league. If he gets a 1 or 2 year deal this off-season, I wonder if the Devils end up looking to move him at some point to capture value before he leaves as UFA?

Has Bastian developed that much since getting waiver by Kraken?

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Has Bastian developed that much since getting waiver by Kraken?

Bastian is what he is. Not the player you're looking to make improvements. This is a good thing though because it should mean he'll be cheap. He'll probably be a very good player to have for the value he brings and the cheap contract. HOPEFULLY. He might demand a contract way more than he's worth, who knows.

 

[devilsblood]

Bastian is what he is. Not the player you're looking to make improvements. This is a good thing though because it should mean he'll be cheap. He'll probably be a very good player to have for the value he brings and the cheap contract. HOPEFULLY. He might demand a contract way more than he's worth, who knows.

Doesn’t score enough to get overpaid.

 

[Forge]

O’Reilly not at practice for the leafs today.

Tavares skating in a non contact extra

Could be a break for the devils on Tuesday

 

[MauDevils]

Matthews I assume will be a game time decision?

 

[Clam Jensen]

Jesus. They turned half their lineup over during the deadline and now have injuries to 2 of their top 3 C. Devils need to come out with their hair on fire tomorrow.

 

[Better Call Sal]

A matchup that is prime for the taking tomorrow. Hope the boys are amped to get back home. The crowd should be on fire.

 

[bossram]

Tampa is weird right now. They lost 5-3 against Buffalo, and in the third period the entire Kucherov/Point/Stamkos line was benched. Cooper said that decision gave them the best chance to come back and win the game. They responded in their next game by losing 6-0 to Carolina. IDK what the hell is going on down there.

Tampa does this every year. Just coast the last third of the season down to the playoffs. Then they turn it on in the post-season.

The games left literally mean nothing to them. They're playing Toronto. No point going all out.

Toronto should be in the same boat. With injuries and the like, they should just load manage until the playoffs. The games are meaningless to them now.

So hopefully the Devils can take advantage.

 

[glenwo2]

again....I hope the Devils don't get 3 goals called back tomorrow.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

again....I hope the Devils don't get 3 goals called back tomorrow.

I'll drive to Newark just to throw my beer

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Very winnable game tomorrow with ROR and Tavares out

 

[NjDevsRR]

Tampa does this every year. Just coast the last third of the season down to the playoffs. Then they turn it on in the post-season.

The games left literally mean nothing to them. They're playing Toronto. No point going all out.

Toronto should be in the same boat. With injuries and the like, they should just load manage until the playoffs. The games are meaningless to them now.

So hopefully the Devils can take advantage.

Eh, Rags and Tampa aren’t exactly locked into their current spots

 

[DevilsHughes86]

Very winnable game tomorrow with ROR and Tavares out

We would smash them even with both in the lineup!! I have a great feeling about tomorrow night, like the game against Philly

 

[Emperoreddy]

Canes have a couple of cake games this week so we gotta do what we can to keep pace

 

[forceten]

Canes have a couple of cake games this week so we gotta do what we can to keep pace

 

[bossram]

Eh, Rags and Tampa aren’t exactly locked into their current spots

Tampa would have to lose a ton for someone in the Atlantic to pass them.

 

[Zippy316]

I wonder what the Devils do with all the young talent in the system. It feels like we're about hit some bottlenecks in terms of playing time.

Example: Holtz went to Utica and had (what sounds like) a fantastic game yesterday. He needs to be a top 6 player eventually. But, with Mercer, Timo, Bratt as the top 6 wings for the next 5-8 years (assuming re-signings), it's pretty difficult for Holtz. Especially if Timo plays RW.

If I were one of these "retooling" teams - Vancouver, St Louis, etc. - I'd be looking at the Devils to see if I could pluck some talent off the roster. Sharnagovich seems like an obvious immediate candidate - I have no idea if he could fit into the Devils cap next year or beyond. May be worthwhile if the Devils could send him out for a 2nd round pick this offseason. I also wonder about Bastian. He feels like he could be a good third line player in this league. If he gets a 1 or 2 year deal this off-season, I wonder if the Devils end up looking to move him at some point to capture value before he leaves as UFA?

Sharangovich is almost certainly gone via trade this off-season.

Just a matter of whether it’s for picks or for a stylistic swap. Something along the lines of Sharangovich for Ross Colton could make a ton of sense for both teams, for instance. I could also see another Zacha/Haula type swap where Shero trades him for a veteran forward on a good contract.

 

[FooteBahl]

Very winnable game tomorrow with ROR and Tavares out

I think the whole “we need to bring it against team x” narrative needs to die. These motherf***ers need to get ready for US!

 

[NjDevsRR]

Tampa would have to lose a ton for someone in the Atlantic to pass them.

Buff only 5-7 (i think) pts back if they win their games in hand. Obviously big if. But they are there.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I think the whole “we need to bring it against team x” narrative needs to die. These motherf***ers need to get ready for US!

Phrased that wrong probably but with our March schedule, it's one of the games we should wipe the floor with. I think they'll come out rolling against a banged up Leafs team.

 

[Bleedred]

This is the first time in a long time I can say I have zero complaints with any of the forward lineup.

Probably the same goes for the defense.

I don't think I had any complaints with the forward lineups for pretty much most of this year, outside of Wood just being a drain.

He's still a bit of a drain, but I thought that line had at least a couple of good games in a row there against Colorado and Vegas, and Wood had goals in both of those games, one on the power play.

I can't really see benching anyone for Lazar, other than as a means of load management and you're not gonna scratch someone on any of those top-2 lines unless they're nursing something or we have nothing to play for. So I can understand scratching a Bastian every few games for Lazar, though I'd prefer Bastian for sure.

Boqvist really shouldn't be touched right now. He's got a respectable point total for a guy that's only averaged 11.5 minutes this year.

And I think I'm now back to what I suspected may be the case earlier in the year, that Kevin Bahl is better than Brendan Smith. Bahl was really rough for a while there, but has come out of that.

All in all, I don't have much of an issue with Smith, but he just takes too many minors and it makes us have to kill penalties more than otherwise.

 

[Guttersniped]

I think he’ll be treated like a 13th forward too, but I imagine they’ll immediately give him a look though. And seeing as Wood has never been a healthy scratch and has actually scored a few goals recently, seems like Bastian would be the guy to come out.

Lazar plays C and RW so it would most likely be Bastian *sob*.

 

[Billdo]

Lazar plays C and RW so it would most likely be Bastian *sob*.

I worry it'll be Boqvist more tbh.

 

[tailfins]

Has Bastian developed that much since getting waiver by Kraken?

I think he's done great. He’s 200 in the league in ES points / 60. That’s not everything, but I think that at least gets him in the conversation for third line for many teams in the league.

Seattle is weird in that they had a lot of NHL depth forwards from the expansion draft. He’s nowhere close to waiver fodder here.

 

[Saugus]

Jesus. They turned half their lineup over during the deadline and now have injuries to 2 of their top 3 C. Devils need to come out with their hair on fire tomorrow.

They'll be ok, maybe they can play one of the 10,000 NHL defensemen on their roster at center to fill the gap.