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

[StevenToddIves]

Besides from an elite goal scorer, what are the Devils biggest needs and what players are or could be available?

Devils off-season needs:

1 Goaltending
2 3rd defense pair (plus trade return for Smith)
3 3rd line (plus trade return for Zacha and maybe Johnsson)
4 More interior play/physicality (can be achieved when rebuilding 3rd D pair and 3rd line)

I'd say goal scorer is not on the list. Sharangovich should top 30 next year, and Holtz could also achieve this in the next season or two. Devils were league average in goal-scoring despite missing a half season of their best offensive player in Jack Hughes, who would have also topped 30 goals were it not for injury.

The Devils had the greatest discrepancy in the NHL between goals scored on the rush (3rd in the league) and goals scored off the cycle (22nd). The Devils goal-scoring totals will rise into the league elite if they get more interior forwards to score off rebounds, deflections and screens.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

A 3rd line is more important than a top 6 forward, because if Holtz develops the Devils will have 6 of them, and if Gritsyuk comes over next year that would make 7.

The Devils 3rd line this year has -- at least over the second half of the season -- been the absolute worst in the NHL. No scoring, no physicality, no defense, no interior play. Devils opponents essentially get a breather every 4th shift.

Like many others, I was hoping Zacha would build on his career year of 2020-21, but this year he's really regressed. Johnsson had a hot start and then has fallen apart completely -- not quite the liability he was last year, but he's still such an easy out for opposing defenders it's almost embarrassing. Tatar has shown flashes of effectiveness and then flashes of invisibility, and you have to wonder if its age or compete level. There's a reason this guy was a perennial playoff scratch, and giving him two years was probably Fitzgerald's biggest contractual mistake as GM.

When you put any two of those three around Jesper Boqvist, the opposing defense does not have to worry about getting hit or a tough forecheck. They can take their time with the puck and make player through neutral ice with their heads up or down, it doesn't matter. No one crashes the crease, there is no cycle down low. There is basically nothing except Boqvist giving the Devils a nice speed element and Zacha's shot being something opposition D must caution against.

I think the final 10 games of the year determine whether Boqvist is in the NJ future plans as 3C. But Zacha, Johnsson and Tatar simply have to go. They do not score enough for a top 6 role and they have no elements necessary for an effective 3rd line. You can't play any of them on the PK except Zacha, and you can't play any of them on the PP except Tatar. They're like a black hole, no roles, no energy, nothing.

I agree maybe Zetterlund can take a spot here. But let's go after guys like Nichushkin and Niederrreiter who would add a physical element and some interior play. Though Niederreiter's best scoring days may be in the past, Nichushkin can play top 6 and push a player down to the 3rd line who would make the unit more offensively dangerous, like Holtz or Mercer. Marchment might be a good call too, though we can't be sure of what his contractual demands would be.

Zacha and Johnsson both likely go. Wood comes back, possibly both Zetterlund and Holtz make the team. Where is the room for more than one additional forward?

Sharangovich-Hughes-New Guy
Bratt-Nico-Holtz
Tatar-Mercer-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

That’s with Boqvist losing his role too. We’re jam packed. I’m in favor of going after Nichushkin or Nino. Both of those guys get a top 6 role if added. This team just doesn’t have much room even after subtracting multiple players.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I meant Wyatt Johnston, sorry.

Haha, spelling is important.

Johnston had a ridiculous year this year. He missed his entire draft-eligible campaign because of injury, and no one realized how good he had gotten. I'd say he's certainly int he conversation with Holtz. They're different players though, Johnston is not going to score as much as Holtz, but he's also a very good two-way center, which ups his overall value.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Zacha and Johnsson both likely go. Wood comes back, possibly both Zetterlund and Holtz make the team. Where is the room for more than one additional forward?

Sharangovich-Hughes-New Guy
Bratt-Nico-Holtz
Tatar-Mercer-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

That’s with Boqvist losing his role too. We’re jam packed. I’m in favor of going after Nichushkin or Nino. Both of those guys get a top 6 role if added. This team just doesn’t have much room even after subtracting multiple players.

I agree with you on adding Nichushkin or Nino (or both), of course. The other guy to go should be Tatar. He's no longer offensively dangerous and he's easy to play against. Get two guys who are competent two-way and physical (ie: Nino and Nuke) and the Devils will have the best blend of skill/speed/power in their top 9 since they were winning Stanley Cups.

Sharangovich-Hughes-Nichushkin
Bratt-Nico-Holtz
Niederreiter-Mercer-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Okhotyuk/Bahl-Lyubushkin

To me, with even slightly-below-average goaltending, that's a playoff team.

Get 2nd round picks for Zacha and Smith, maybe a 7th for Johnsson, buy out Tatar's last year. Easy peasy! Playoffs here we come!

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I just don’t get why Tatar is easy to play against. He has 67 hits in 69 games. He’s one of our better players at actually winning puck battles along the boards which is reflected in him getting 53% of shot attempts when he’s out there. His on ice shooting percentage is under 7%, that won’t get worse next year. I just don’t see him as the soft euro that has been implied. Effort hasn’t been an issue at all.

 

[Buck Dancer]

I just don’t get why Tatar is easy to play against. He has 67 hits in 69 games. He’s one of our better players at actually winning puck battles along the boards which is reflected in him getting 53% of shot attempts when he’s out there. His on ice shooting percentage is under 7%, that won’t get worse next year. I just don’t see him as the soft euro that has been implied. Effort hasn’t been an issue at all.

Him throwing bodychecks is completely irrelevant, just like Garland throwing his weight around does what exactly? There's a difference between an effective play and a play that does absolutely nothing but looks good only on stats. Both those guys install the same level of fear when throwing their weight around as would casper the friendly ghost. You have to look at the impact it generates and not just the number of useless checks he threw in a game.

Tomas Tatar is the perfect example of a player who's not good enough to crack our top #6 when everyone's healthy and not good enough to play a bottom #6 role. Fitz took the fat kid who get's picked last at dodgeball and instead of giving him one crack at it, he told him he could play in back to back games.

The red flags were everywhere with Tatar and we signed him hoping he wouldn't be as bad as he's been, which didn't happen. This is the perfect example of pumping someone's tires based on stats alone when everyone else was willing to let the parade go by without sending him an offer.

I would bet that he'll either sign a PTO come next summer or he'll be playing somewhere else than the NHL when his contract will run out. His effort is there, but it leads to absolutely nothing, just like Johnsson for that matter. Skating around with your arms waiving eveywhere gives the false hope that he's busting his ass when in reality, he's just getting winded for no good reason.

 

[Guttersniped]

It's crazy, from the lists 2015 through 2020, unless I missed some, the only guy we have on there is Ty Smith......

Needless to say, we've turned things around.

Part of it was our 1sts went directly to the NHL, except McLeod (who wasn’t good) and Smith.

Most of the lists are 1st round picks. Our three guys on the list are 1st round picks.

We haven’t picked much in the 2nd round lately.

The 19 non-1st rounders in latest Top 50 list only had 6 non-2nd round picks and two of those were Rd 7 non-tall goalies who are awesome despite the not tallness. (Also Button used to do a separate list for the top Canadian teams’ affiliated prospects and is often very friendly to their guys.)

19 Evangelista, RW NSH (2020 Rd 2 #42)
21 Niemela, D TOR (2020 Rd 3 #64)
23 Brink, RW PHI (2019 Rd 2 #34, our pick)
24 Zellweger (2021 Rd 2 #34)
27 Knies (2021 Rd 2 #57)
28 Levi, G BUF [drafted by FLA] (2020 Rd 7 #212)
29 Wolf, G CAL (2019 Rd 7 #214)
31 Peterka, RW BUF (2020 Rd 2 #34)
33 Bordeleau, C SJS (2020 Rd 2 #38)
37 Faber, D LAK (2020 Rd 2 #45)
38 Roy, RW MTL (2021 Rd 5 #150)
39 Doan, RW ARI (2021 Rd 2 #37)
40 Raty, C NYI (2021 Rd 2 #52)
41 Stankoven, C DAL (2021 Rd 2 #47)
42 Chromiak, RW LAK (2020 Rd 5 #128)
46 N. Robertson, LW TOR (2019 Rd 2 #53)
48 Rathbone, D VAN (2017 Rd 4 #95)
49 Morrow, D CAR (2021 Rd 2 #40)
50 Andrae, D PHI (2020 Rd 2 #54)

The 13 2nd picks: #34, #34, #34, #37, #38, #40, #42, #45, #47, #52, #53, #54, #57

 

[StevenToddIves]

Part of it was our 1sts went directly to the NHL, except McLeod (who wasn’t good) and Smith.

Most of the lists are 1st round picks. Our three guys on the list are 1st round picks.

We haven’t picked much in the 2nd round lately.

The 19 non-1st rounders in latest Top 50 list only had 6 non-2nd round picks and two of those were Rd 7 non-tall goalies who are awesome despite the not tallness. (Also Button used to do a separate list for the top Canadian teams’ affiliated prospects and is often very friendly to their guys.)

19 Evangelista, RW NSH (2020 Rd 2 #42)
21 Niemela, D TOR (2020 Rd 3 #64)
23 Brink, RW PHI (2019 Rd 2 #34, our pick)
24 Zellweger (2021 Rd 2 #34)
27 Knies (2021 Rd 2 #57)
28 Levi, G BUF [drafted by FLA] (2020 Rd 7 #212)
29 Wolf, G CAL (2019 Rd 7 #214)
31 Peterka, RW BUF (2020 Rd 2 #34)
33 Bordeleau, C SJS (2020 Rd 2 #38)
37 Faber, D LAK (2020 Rd 2 #45)
38 Roy, RW MTL (2021 Rd 5 #150)
39 Doan, RW ARI (2021 Rd 2 #37)
40 Raty, C NYI (2021 Rd 2 #52)
41 Stankoven, C DAL (2021 Rd 2 #47)
42 Chromiak, RW LAK (2020 Rd 5 #128)
46 N. Robertson, LW TOR (2019 Rd 2 #53)
48 Rathbone, D VAN (2017 Rd 4 #95)
49 Morrow, D CAR (2021 Rd 2 #40)
50 Andrae, D PHI (2020 Rd 2 #54)

The 13 2nd picks: #34, #34, #34, #37, #38, #40, #42, #45, #47, #52, #53, #54, #57

Literally every player whose rights belong to a Canadian team on this list is too high. Ratings!

Oh, and someone find my draft write-up of Luke Evangelista, because I actually agree with Button on that kid.

Gritsyuk needs to be in the top 20 range. Can't believe Button left him off the top 50. Joshua Roy over Gritsyuk is almost sad in its abject poor conception.

I did cry a tear when I realized Martin Chromiak was taken two picks before the Devils took... Artem Shlaine. Holy crap, remember when we were the best NHL team drafting in the 5th/6th rounds?

 

[Hisch13r]

I just don’t get why Tatar is easy to play against. He has 67 hits in 69 games. He’s one of our better players at actually winning puck battles along the boards which is reflected in him getting 53% of shot attempts when he’s out there. His on ice shooting percentage is under 7%, that won’t get worse next year. I just don’t see him as the soft euro that has been implied. Effort hasn’t been an issue at all.

The idea that both Tatar and Johnsson are soft is so bizarre and just not based in reality. If their names were like Thomas Taylor from Oakville and Andrew Johnson from Minnesota it wouldn't be a thing.

 

[My3Sons]

Part of it was our 1sts went directly to the NHL, except McLeod (who wasn’t good) and Smith.

Most of the lists are 1st round picks. Our three guys on the list are 1st round picks.

We haven’t picked much in the 2nd round lately.

The 19 non-1st rounders in latest Top 50 list only had 6 non-2nd round picks and two of those were Rd 7 non-tall goalies who are awesome despite the not tallness. (Also Button used to do a separate list for the top Canadian teams’ affiliated prospects and is often very friendly to their guys.)

19 Evangelista, RW NSH (2020 Rd 2 #42)
21 Niemela, D TOR (2020 Rd 3 #64)
23 Brink, RW PHI (2019 Rd 2 #34, our pick)
24 Zellweger (2021 Rd 2 #34)
27 Knies (2021 Rd 2 #57)
28 Levi, G BUF [drafted by FLA] (2020 Rd 7 #212)
29 Wolf, G CAL (2019 Rd 7 #214)
31 Peterka, RW BUF (2020 Rd 2 #34)
33 Bordeleau, C SJS (2020 Rd 2 #38)
37 Faber, D LAK (2020 Rd 2 #45)
38 Roy, RW MTL (2021 Rd 5 #150)
39 Doan, RW ARI (2021 Rd 2 #37)
40 Raty, C NYI (2021 Rd 2 #52)
41 Stankoven, C DAL (2021 Rd 2 #47)
42 Chromiak, RW LAK (2020 Rd 5 #128)
46 N. Robertson, LW TOR (2019 Rd 2 #53)
48 Rathbone, D VAN (2017 Rd 4 #95)
49 Morrow, D CAR (2021 Rd 2 #40)
50 Andrae, D PHI (2020 Rd 2 #54)

The 13 2nd picks: #34, #34, #34, #37, #38, #40, #42, #45, #47, #52, #53, #54, #57

Not that they would have been total losses, but I'm skeptical NJ picks a right handed defender or or good goalie with any of the seconds that were traded away. Maybe they would have come up with a prospect center in there, but if you look at Shero's record, he tended to go with small and shifty (the lone second in Boquist, Gritsyuk, Bratt, Smith, I'm sure I'm missing someone). That works well for wingers, not as well for centers or defenders absent truly elite ability. Just my thoughts.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Him throwing bodychecks is completely irrelevant, just like Garland throwing his weight around does what exactly? There's a difference between an effective play and a play that does absolutely nothing but looks good only on stats. Both those guys install the same level of fear when throwing their weight around as would casper the friendly ghost. You have to look at the impact it generates and not just the number of useless checks he threw in a game.

Tomas Tatar is the perfect example of a player who's not good enough to crack our top #6 when everyone's healthy and not good enough to play a bottom #6 role. Fitz took the fat kid who get's picked last at dodgeball and instead of giving him one crack at it, he told him he could play in back to back games.

The red flags were everywhere with Tatar and we signed him hoping he wouldn't be as bad as he's been, which didn't happen. This is the perfect example of pumping someone's tires based on stats alone when everyone else was willing to let the parade go by without sending him an offer.

I would bet that he'll either sign a PTO come next summer or he'll be playing somewhere else than the NHL when his contract will run out. His effort is there, but it leads to absolutely nothing, just like Johnsson for that matter. Skating around with your arms waiving eveywhere gives the false hope that he's busting his ass when in reality, he's just getting winded for no good reason.

You see what you want to see. Tatar wins puck battles all the time and facilitates possession. There are stats you can look at that will show you some of the impact he has made in his career that you won’t understand and will call pie charts.

I agree, hits are meaningless. But they’re something you seem to care about when convenient. Who gives shit about “instilling fear”, whatever that means. Your narrative is almost entirely built upon “being benched in the postseason” and the fact that he’s European. He isn’t “soft”.

 

[My3Sons]

The idea that both Tatar and Johnsson are soft is so bizarre and just not based in reality. If their names were like Thomas Taylor from Oakville and Andrew Johnson from Minnesota it wouldn't be a thing.

I don't see them as soft so much as ineffective in that aspect of the game. They will try and they have competitive spirit, but they are small and are good but not great skaters which limits them to some extent. I think in Johnsson's case he's been working hard all season but he's wearing down trying to compete with guys three to five inches taller and twenty to forty pounds heavier most games. Tatar is smarter about it but as a result he's less involved physically, which is smart in terms of him staying healthy, but again, it limits him. Just my thoughts.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I just don’t get why Tatar is easy to play against. He has 67 hits in 69 games. He’s one of our better players at actually winning puck battles along the boards which is reflected in him getting 53% of shot attempts when he’s out there. His on ice shooting percentage is under 7%, that won’t get worse next year. I just don’t see him as the soft euro that has been implied. Effort hasn’t been an issue at all.

I'm not sure which Tomas Tatar you're watching. Look, I don't hate the guy -- he's ok with the puck and he tries hard. But if we're judging the physicality of a player on "67 hits in 69 games", we are not understanding physicality. When you're an opposing defenseman and you look up and the forecheckers are Tatar and Johnsson or Zacha, it's like an automatic zone exit. Tatar is a mostly-perimeter forward who doesn't offer anything more than average defensive play, average offense, little energy and no physicality/interior play. He's on the other side of 30 and not getting better, and he was a perennial playoff healthy scratch before we got him.

I'm not harping on Fitzgerald -- I get that he was desperate for a top 6 forward and rolled the dice. But the dice roll was a losing one, and it's time to upgrade. Count your losses, see if you can get something back for Tatar, and if not buy him out. Devils need a 3rd line which makes a positive impact, not one which is a placeholder for the other 3 NJ lines and a breather for the opposition. It's not just Tatar, I get it -- it's also Zacha and Johnsson being essentially useless. If I keep one player from the 2022 3rd line rotation it's Boqvist, who has been ok and could still have room to get better.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I don't see them as soft so much as ineffective in that aspect of the game. They will try and they have competitive spirit, but they are small and are good but not great skaters which limits them to some extent. I think in Johnsson's case he's been working hard all season but he's wearing down trying to compete with guys three to five inches taller and twenty to forty pounds heavier most games. Tatar is smarter about it but as a result he's less involved physically, which is smart in terms of him staying healthy, but again, it limits him. Just my thoughts.

Johnsson wins one puck battle every 10 or 11 games. Tatar at least wins maybe one every 2 or 3 games. Zacha sometimes decides to actually engage in a puck battle.

If these are your 3rd line wingers, you have a problem. They're the easiest 3rd line to play against in the Metropolitan division, and it's not close.

 

[Hisch13r]

I don't see them as soft so much as ineffective in that aspect of the game. They will try and they have competitive spirit, but they are small and are good but not great skaters which limits them to some extent. I think in Johnsson's case he's been working hard all season but he's wearing down trying to compete with guys three to five inches taller and twenty to forty pounds heavier most games. Tatar is smarter about it but as a result he's less involved physically, which is smart in terms of him staying healthy, but again, it limits him. Just my thoughts.

This is fair. I still think they're both fine for what they are. I think the biggest issue for Tatar is that he's just not as good as he used to be. That's not all that surprising considering last year while he was still good he took a bit of a dip and the fall off can come quick for some non 30+ year old guys. I think Johnsson's still pretty good and can help push play in the right way and has still shown he has the capability to produce with talent which is something Tatar and Zacha have both struggled to do this year.

 

[Hisch13r]

Not that they would have been total losses, but I'm skeptical NJ picks a right handed defender or or good goalie with any of the seconds that were traded away. Maybe they would have come up with a prospect center in there, but if you look at Shero's record, he tended to go with small and shifty (the lone second in Boquist, Gritsyuk, Bratt, Smith, I'm sure I'm missing someone). That works well for wingers, not as well for centers or defenders absent truly elite ability. Just my thoughts.

Walsh is one you're missing lol

 

[NJDevs26]

Mercer really should be the third line center next year. Or bring someone else in. But I could see a scenario where Mercer-Wood-Zetterlund is the third line people want. You need another legit top six winger regardless, we don’t even know if Mercer is better at wing or center yet but I don’t get giving up the ghost on him at center, it’s not like his play has been dramatically different.

 

[StevenToddIves]

The idea that both Tatar and Johnsson are soft is so bizarre and just not based in reality. If their names were like Thomas Taylor from Oakville and Andrew Johnson from Minnesota it wouldn't be a thing.

I have a buddy named Thomas Taylor. Really good college baseball player.

If anything, I pay more respect to Slovakian and Czech prospects than anyone in the draft-writing business. I'm always trying to give them proper due, as they tend to be sorely under-watched by N. American draft writers.

I'm not calling them soft... well, maybe Johnsson, but not Tatar. But they are certainly not effective on the interior, or physically in any respect. Neither is a good forechecker, and they're both easy outs for defenders in one-on-one battles. We can throw Zacha in there too. Devils need a 3rd line which is not the worst 3rd line in the division. Keeping the guys on the 3rd line as is is clearly not the way to accomplish this, so I'm not sure what the debate is, really.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I'm not sure which Tomas Tatar you're watching. Look, I don't hate the guy -- he's ok with the puck and he tries hard. But if we're judging the physicality of a player on "67 hits in 69 games", we are not understanding physicality. When you're an opposing defenseman and you look up and the forecheckers are Tatar and Johnsson or Zacha, it's like an automatic zone exit. Tatar is a mostly-perimeter forward who doesn't offer anything more than average defensive play, average offense, little energy and no physicality/interior play. He's on the other side of 30 and not getting better, and he was a perennial playoff healthy scratch before we got him.

I'm not harping on Fitzgerald -- I get that he was desperate for a top 6 forward and rolled the dice. But the dice roll was a losing one, and it's time to upgrade. Count your losses, see if you can get something back for Tatar, and if not buy him out. Devils need a 3rd line which makes a positive impact, not one which is a placeholder for the other 3 NJ lines and a breather for the opposition. It's not just Tatar, I get it -- it's also Zacha and Johnsson being essentially useless. If I keep one player from the 2022 3rd line rotation it's Boqvist, who has been ok and could still have room to get better.

Perennial playoff scratch is just ridiculous hyperbole. He got scratched once in Vegas when he clearly didn’t fit after they traded a ton to get him. And he got scratched after 5 games in MTL when they went on a fluke run. He was on one of the best lines in the entire NHL in the years before that. Sure, “perennial playoff scratch” is a fair way to sum up his career.

Tatar seems to be one of our only forwards that has a clue what to do along the boards. I constantly see him making the correct play to exit the dzone and to facilitate possession in the ozone. The puck just isn’t going in when he’s on the ice nor is the goalie making saves when he’s out there.

 

[Hisch13r]

Mercer really should be the third line center next year. Or bring someone else in. But I could see a scenario where Mercer-Wood-Zetterlund is the third line people want. You need another legit top six winger regardless, we don’t even know if Mercer is better at wing or center yet but I don’t get giving up the ghost on him at center, it’s not like his play has been dramatically different.

Outside being great I think Nuke is the best one to target because he can be that top 6 guy for now. You can move Mercer back to 3C with Tatar and idk maybe Zetterlund. Then in the future if we want to move Mercer back to a top 6 wing Nuke's easily a guy who can still play great in a lesser role with lesser talent around him.

 

[NJDevs26]

Perennial playoff scratch is just ridiculous hyperbole. He got scratched once in Vegas when he clearly didn’t fit after they traded a ton to get him. And he got scratched after 5 games in MTL when they went on a fluke run. He was on one of the best lines in the entire NHL in the years before that. Sure, “perennial playoff scratch” is a fair way to sum up his career.

Tatar seems to be one of our only forwards that has a clue what to do along the boards. I constantly see him making the correct play to exit the dzone and to facilitate possession in the ozone. The puck just isn’t going in when he’s on the ice nor is the goalie making saves when he’s out there.

You guys waste way too much time arguing about Tatar. I don’t think they MUST replace him this offseason but I’d bet money he’s not here after his contract is up, especially with declining production offensively.

 

[FooteBahl]

Outside being great I think Nuke is the best one to target because he can be that top 6 guy for now. You can move Mercer back to 3C with Tatar and idk maybe Zetterlund. Then in the future if we want to move Mercer back to a top 6 wing Nuke's easily a guy who can still play great in a lesser role with lesser talent around him.

If we’re blessed by the lottery gods again a third line of Slafkovsky-Mercer-Zetterlund would be nice

 

[Eggtimer]

A 3rd line is more important than a top 6 forward, because if Holtz develops the Devils will have 6 of them, and if Gritsyuk comes over next year that would make 7.

The Devils 3rd line this year has -- at least over the second half of the season -- been the absolute worst in the NHL. No scoring, no physicality, no defense, no interior play. Devils opponents essentially get a breather every 4th shift.

Like many others, I was hoping Zacha would build on his career year of 2020-21, but this year he's really regressed. Johnsson had a hot start and then has fallen apart completely -- not quite the liability he was last year, but he's still such an easy out for opposing defenders it's almost embarrassing. Tatar has shown flashes of effectiveness and then flashes of invisibility, and you have to wonder if its age or compete level. There's a reason this guy was a perennial playoff scratch, and giving him two years was probably Fitzgerald's biggest contractual mistake as GM.

When you put any two of those three around Jesper Boqvist, the opposing defense does not have to worry about getting hit or a tough forecheck. They can take their time with the puck and make player through neutral ice with their heads up or down, it doesn't matter. No one crashes the crease, there is no cycle down low. There is basically nothing except Boqvist giving the Devils a nice speed element and Zacha's shot being something opposition D must caution against.

I think the final 10 games of the year determine whether Boqvist is in the NJ future plans as 3C. But Zacha, Johnsson and Tatar simply have to go. They do not score enough for a top 6 role and they have no elements necessary for an effective 3rd line. You can't play any of them on the PK except Zacha, and you can't play any of them on the PP except Tatar. They're like a black hole, no roles, no energy, nothing.

I agree maybe Zetterlund can take a spot here. But let's go after guys like Nichushkin and Niederrreiter who would add a physical element and some interior play. Though Niederreiter's best scoring days may be in the past, Nichushkin can play top 6 and push a player down to the 3rd line who would make the unit more offensively dangerous, like Holtz or Mercer. Marchment might be a good call too, though we can't be sure of what his contractual demands would be.

I wish I could like one post multiple times over. I took a screen shot of this and will reference it when need be . I have been preaching this for a long ass time but it seems like most people do not agree with this take
It is 100% completely true and a ton of good points are brought up.
Its not as sexy as adding someone like Forsberg to the roster , but I find it more important and makes us a more rounded team and would have more overall success if you replaced Tatar Johnson Zacha with Nuke , Neiderrieder Marchment types amd used our cap on one or more of those guys , plus a good RHD , than one big ticket winger.
I dream that we somehow get a Tanner Jeannot clone of our own. That kid is exactly the type of player that would fill a massive need on the Devils.

 

[StevenToddIves]

If we’re blessed by the lottery gods again a third line of Slafkovsky-Mercer-Zetterlund would be nice

I think Slafkovsky could use one more year of development, but then he's a guy I'd staple to Hughes for the ensuing decade.

 

[Hisch13r]

If we’re blessed by the lottery gods again a third line of Slafkovsky-Mercer-Zetterlund would be nice

Jiricek>