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

[KovalchukFistPump]

I would imagine this will be the plan, yes.

I think Blackwood's time here is done. He just can't stay healthy, and is maddeningly inconsistent. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he never played another game in NJ tbh.

Blackwood should be the #3 moving forward. He's useful to keep around if shit hits the fan in the playoffs, but I don't expect anything more than a Louis Domingue-style performance from him

 

[NHL Fanatik]

I would have the intention of re-signing Ehlers as well.

Issue is you cant negotiate with his agent because he has two years left not one, so you're acquiring him with the mindset that we lose him after his deal is done, which means you likely dont make the deal at all

Also Ehlers will be 29 when his deal ends

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I'm not convinced Sharangovich will be traded, he can be brought back for cheap and short term which is a pretty great feature when you are shopping for FAs. It's really hard to project also where the team sees itself and each players' importance until the playoffs end.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I would imagine this will be the plan, yes.

I think Blackwood's time here is done. He just can't stay healthy, and is maddeningly inconsistent. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he never played another game in NJ tbh.

he had so much potential till those heel injuries. I think things went sour with the team back with that covid thing

 

[Bleedred]

so I assume that Blackwood will likely find a new home next season and Schmid will come in as a full time backup or maybe even starter? 1a1b type role? love what I see in him so far even though its tough for me to find NJ games living close to Toronto

Hope to god that's the case.

But the Blackwood stuff here feels like the Black Death pandemic, so I wouldn't be shocked to see this experiment go another year. Especially with Vanecek crapping out recently.

I think it all depends on how Schmid does the rest of this year when he plays, to be honest. Blackwood's qualifying offer is over $3 million dollars and it's an insult to actually give him a raise from what he made on this deal. If they feel he's the best $3+ million dollar goalie they can sign for next year, they may sign him, but my hope is it's Schmid's net for roughly $2.5 million less per year in savings.

 

[Bleedred]

he had so much potential till those heel injuries. I think things went sour with the team back with that covid thing

I'm not sure if it did go sour or not. It appeared it may have at the time, but it's probably water under the bridge right now.

What really should make things go sour is his play the last 3 seasons. He's struggled to maintain .900% and he just can't stay healthy long enough to even prove to people like me that he can maintain and stay over .900%.

His February of 2020 is maybe the best month a Devils goalie has ever had or at least the best 7 games a Devils goalie has had in a calendar month, but it's been all downhill from there. It's went a little back up the hill, but not really enough to justify keeping him around.

HACK Campbell's last 70 games have been worse than his last 70 games though, so he does have that much at least. Only it's taken about 9.5 more calendar months for him to play 70 games than it has Campbell, since he's always f***in injured and on the IR.

 

[bossram]

Issue is you cant negotiate with his agent because he has two years left not one, so you're acquiring him with the mindset that we lose him after his deal is done, which means you likely dont make the deal at all

Also Ehlers will be 29 when his deal ends

As is, they might only have Bratt for one more season. And unless they have an extension agreed to with a different team, that will blunt his trade value.

I don't think it's a perfect solution (I'd much rather have Bratt back!), but I don't think there are ever many realistically available 1st line calibre forwards, especially when the Devils just acquired one of them.

Schmaltz is another interesting one, but it would have to be via a series of transactions because there is no way Arizona is paying Bratt.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I can't imagine Blackwood comes back unless he retakes the net and leads NJ to a finals appearance. Even then they might work out a trade instead.

 

[MadDevil]

We already know how this will turn out. Blackwood will go somewhere else, have a random shutout against us next year, and a few people will say we shouldn't have traded him. Then he'll fade back into the fringe/journeyman backup he'll be the rest of his career.

 

[Blackjack]

I'm not convinced Sharangovich will be traded, he can be brought back for cheap and short term which is a pretty great feature when you are shopping for FAs. It's really hard to project also where the team sees itself and each players' importance until the playoffs end.

His slump has just gone on too long. He’s a great player when he’s on, but it’s just been too inconsistent this year. I love the guy and I hope he finds that consistency on his next stop.

 

[Eggtimer]

For sure I prefer Bratt extended 100x more than trading him.
I cannot see any way we would ever win any Bratt trade.
I cant see getting a player that brings what Bratt brings to the team. The only slight positive might be we find out what we are lacking after our playoff run and address that in a Bratt trade..unless what we need is more of what Bratt brings lol.

 

[Eggtimer]

His slump has just gone on too long. He’s a great player when he’s on, but it’s just been too inconsistent this year. I love the guy and I hope he finds that consistency on his next stop.

Shara is too inconsistent like you said , to be able to push anyone currently in our top 9. And unfortunately, his strengths and weaknesses are most likely even worse suited come playoff time

 

[glenwo2]

 

[My3Sons]

this was posted at roughly 11:30 and nobody commented on the Vitek's hard on ice workout? You are all slipping.

 

[glenwo2]

this was posted at roughly 11:30 and nobody commented on the Vitek's hard on ice workout? You are all slipping.

@FooteBahl , shame on you for not noticing this.

 

[Bleedred]

Wrong thread

DOH!

 

[VoidCreature]

Merced’s gonna get 30

Wrong thread but book it

 

[NHL Fanatik]

Merced’s gonna get 30

Wrong thread but book it

Hes gonna end up costing us more than I originally though lol

Luckily idt hell be a tough contract to get done. I get he feeling guys who's motors run 24/7 and do all the little things right are usually team players off the ice too, so hopefully im right

 

[NjDevsRR]

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Schmid should have the crease moving forward.

 

[Nemec]

Akira is playing so much better than Vitek. What's the plan here ?

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Vanecek against Mon and Schmid against Car. If we want any chance in that Carolina game Schmid needs to steal it on the tail end of back to back.

 

[NHL Fanatik]

Hes gonna end up costing us more than I originally though lol

Luckily idt hell be a tough contract to get done. I get he feeling guys who's motors run 24/7 and do all the little things right are usually team players off the ice too, so hopefully im right

Im gonna quote myself here like a weirdo

The more Mercer keeps impressing the less I wanna pay Bratt what he wants long-term. Im beginning to creep toward a 4/5 year deal for him at a lower hit. Based on the idea that idt he's accepting anything less than 8.75-9 on a 7-8 year deal.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Lindy on Haula

“It’s climate change, he’s HOT HOT”


Mercer, 19 pts in his last 11 gms, OH MY

 

[glenwo2]

I have a feeling we're all gonna have a good night's sleep tonight.