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

[Devils Pride 26]

Hope I'm wrong, but it really could cause the negotiations to go south. Like think about it. If you were Bratt and you decided to take a hometown discount and then some new guy comes in and makes more than you despite not being THAT much better, would you be happy? I think Bratt tries to get as much as he can and Fitz might not cave.

Tough luck. Bratt had a 2 year head start to get something done. Meier is a much better stylistic fit of what they need. He is much more of a priority imo. We have enough puck carriers. We need some power forwards.

I tend to view Bratt as very douchey overall. From getting sat previously due to lack of effort in the dz, to constantly having a sour puss on his face no matter what seems to be going on, to trying to hold the Devils hostage over an extension. If only he worked as hard in the dz as he is in this contract, maybe they’d give it to him

 

[Blackjack]

I tend to view Bratt as very douchey overall.

Lol, okay. There is a part of me that wouldn’t mind Bratt signing somewhere else and torching the team for the next decade.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

TB just lost Stamkos to injury too tonight but they think he'll be fine to return again at some point this year but Cooper didn't think he'll play in the games we have against them this week. We're getting the 21-22 Rangers horseshoe and it feels good to be on this side.

 

[devilsblood]

I wouldn't be opposed to seeing Sharangovich and Lazar in there for MTL but who do you scratch besides McLeod on that fourth line? Wood's been playing his best hockey in like 4 months + Bastian's the best player on the line

Wood definitely seems to have his top gear back.

 

[glenwo2]

Hope I'm wrong, but it really could cause the negotiations to go south. Like think about it. If you were Bratt and you decided to take a hometown discount and then some new guy comes in and makes more than you despite not being THAT much better, would you be happy? I think Bratt tries to get as much as he can and Fitz might not cave.

That's why it's important that Fitz gets Bratt's deal done first before Timo's.

If he does Timo's (and we all know Timo will most likely command at least 9 mil), Bratt's agent will try and shoot for the same number.

 

[NJDevs26]

That's why it's important that Fitz gets Bratt's deal done first before Timo's.

If he does Timo's (and we all know Timo will most likely command at least 9 mil), Bratt's agent will try and shoot for the same number.

Unfortunately I also think that's part of the reason Bratt's agent is being a turd and sitting on another offer.

 

[glenwo2]

Unfortunately I also think that's part of the reason Bratt's agent is being a turd and sitting on another offer.

 

[glenwo2]

@NJDevs26 His agent really wants Bratt to leave the Devils, doesn't he?

Anyway, he personifies what I've been saying about agents in general.

They are NOT your friend.

They work for you but at the end of the day, they are after the highest commission they can get.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Tough luck. Bratt had a 2 year head start to get something done. Meier is a much better stylistic fit of what they need. He is much more of a priority imo. We have enough puck carriers. We need some power forwards.

I tend to view Bratt as very douchey overall. From getting sat previously due to lack of effort in the dz, to constantly having a sour puss on his face no matter what seems to be going on, to trying to hold the Devils hostage over an extension. If only he worked as hard in the dz as he is in this contract, maybe they’d give it to him

Nice, I like the players on the team I root for. A team that’s having one of the best seasons in franchise history!

 

[Guttersniped]

Hypothetically...

If the Bratt situation goes south, would you trade him for Quinn Hughes?

I'm not talking one for one as I don't think Bratt alone gets it done.

There’s no reason for Vancouver to do this deal all though.

They already score a lot, their biggest need is at defense. They’ll have no cap space and actually need to dump some just to be cap compliant next season.

The team that jumps out as making the most sense is Detroit.

I don’t know how many other teams could fit Bratt’s salary next season and would make sense. Any deal would be a brutal loss.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Tomorrow is gonna be the biggest game we’ve played since 2018. While they still have a game in hand, we have a chance to tie them in points and take a one win lead in the overall column. We already lead in ROWs and would tie them in RWs with a regulation win.

I hope everyone comes loud and proud tomorrow. Let’s make a f***ing statement.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

That's why it's important that Fitz gets Bratt's deal done first before Timo's.

If he does Timo's (and we all know Timo will most likely command at least 9 mil), Bratt's agent will try and shoot for the same number.

No, I was talking about what Bratt is thinking. Obviously, Fitz is going to negotiate with Bratt first. To reiterate, Fitz negotiates with Bratt. He takes hometown discount at 7m. Meier comes next and gets 9 million, Bratt probably won't be happy. He's probably thinking about this and probably going to try to get as much as he can.

 

[glenwo2]

No, I was talking about what Bratt is thinking. Obviously, Fitz is going to negotiate with Bratt first. To reiterate, Fitz negotiates with Bratt. He takes hometown discount at 7m. Meier comes next and gets 9 million, Bratt probably won't be happy. He's probably thinking about this and probably going to try to get as much as he can.

Well hopefully Fitz knows that Bratt won't accept anything below 8 because if he thinks he will, he's going to lose him.

Plus, we forget that he was all too willing to give 9 million to Johnny BlueJacket.

Him "offering" 7 mil per to Bratt after he had basically (in my eyes, despite his recent slump) "proved it" again, would be an absolute slap in the face no doubt.

Now if Bratt was asking for 9 mill, then that would be very unreasonable and I think his agent would be the one pushing for that.

Bratt, imo, could "settle" for 8.2 - 8.5 mil per and that would be a fair deal on both sides.

 

[BurntToast]

Well hopefully Fitz knows that Bratt won't accept anything below 8 because if he thinks he will, he's going to lose him.

Plus, we forget that he was all too willing to give 9 million to Johnny BlueJacket.

Him "offering" 7 mil per to Bratt after he had basically (in my eyes, despite his recent slump) "proved it" again, would be an absolute slap in the face no doubt.

Now if Bratt was asking for 9 mill, then that would be very unreasonable and I think his agent would be the one pushing for that.

Bratt, imo, could "settle" for 8.2 - 8.5 mil per and that would be a fair deal on both sides.

There are multiple guys hovering around a ppg, that make just over 7.5. Heck, even Nico is out playing him on a lesser contract. Bratt has these abysmal stretches every year, he was freakin benched last year in the beginning of the season. He hasn’t been that bad this year but those stretches probably cost him .5-1mill.

As fans we are divided. I can say the majority of us would love Bratt but many of you are afraid to lose him. The reality is as the Devils get better it will become harder to keep everyone. Chicago had to trade off half the team after the cup. Tampa gave up almost a full draft to get a cheap guy with term. Timo might be flipped for picks after this season.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Over his last 11 games Nico has:

7 G, 7 A, 14 P, +9, 3 GWG, 17% shooting, 19:14 ATOI

Now a new career high in points with 61 and on pace for his first 30 goal season.

Love our cap!

 

[Devils Pride 26]

There’s no way they trade Timo. That would be horrendous asset management. I look at the Timo deal as Bratt insurance. If anyone goes, it should be Bratt

Over his last 11 games Nico has:

7 G, 7 A, 14 P, +9, 3 GWG, 17% shooting, 19:14 ATOI

Love our cap!

Vs other teams 1s! Nico needs to play with puck hunters, that’s an elite checking line. You’ve got 3 guys there capable of being F1. That’s why I hated Bratt with Nico

 

[Cheddabombs]

I'd be interested in trying

Boqvist - Hughes - Bratt
Palat - Haula - Meier

Meier can do a good job of driving play on his own, maybe playing with Jack is counter-intuitive. This way you have two guys that can take charge and dictate play on separate lines while keeping the dominant 1st line in tact.

Plus that new Meier line could really grind opponents down and do well on the cycle, with Meier providing enough skill to be dangerous on the rush too.

 

[Devs3cups]

At this point, I’m way more confident a deal with Timo will get done than with Bratt. Doesn’t mean I don’t think it’ll happen, but yeah, I just don’t trust Bratt nor his agent to negotiate in good faith right now.

 

[Clam Jensen]

At this point, I’m way more confident a deal with Timo will get done than with Bratt. Doesn’t mean I don’t think it’ll happen, but yeah, I just don’t trust Bratt nor his agent to negotiate in good faith right now.

Same, and TBH with Dawson breaking out and Holtz/Grits in the pipeline, if negotiations just get untenable trade him for assets and focus on signing Timo.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

At this point, I’m way more confident a deal with Timo will get done than with Bratt. Doesn’t mean I don’t think it’ll happen, but yeah, I just don’t trust Bratt nor his agent to negotiate in good faith right now.

I don’t know. That 10 million dollar qualifying offer could look mighty appealing to Timo if he can’t turn on the production.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

So when do we hear that Nico is being held out as a precaution?

 

[NJDevs26]

So when do we hear that Nico is being held out as a precaution?

If he doesn't play today there's a legit concern, there's no precautionary load management in a home showdown for first place.

 

[theoptimist]

Wait one second....we're interested in 1st place? Hmmm...so we do have pride on these forums.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm torn on wanting first place to be honest, I could name like four or five seasons without even thinking where we won a division and lost in the first round (at least 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010) and a couple of those being the top seed in the East. On the other hand, it would be nice to avoid the Ranger headaches in the first round and get a theoretically easier matchup.

Nobody can deny the atmosphere will be lit tonight because of the teams' position in the standings though. That itself is worth savoring.

 

[Better Call Sal]

If he doesn't play today there's a legit concern, there's no precautionary load management in a home showdown for first place.

I totally get what you’re saying but they’re also in the midst of the most brutal part of their schedule. If it is anything at all, it wouldn’t shock me if they opted to sit him. It would suck of course, but they have a tough slate up ahead.