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

[SteveCangialosi123]

I still have no clue if Marchment is any good or what kind of deal he’ll be getting. Would anyone be shocked if he just reverts to being a nobody after this year? He wasn’t even that much of an AHL producer.

 

[Eggtimer]

I still have no clue if Marchment is any good or what kind of deal he’ll be getting. Would anyone be shocked if he just reverts to being a nobody after this year? He wasn’t even that much of an AHL producer.

I know he wasnt great in the AHL but it is somewhat true about what they say about big bodied forwards taking a bit longer to find their game. Look at Thompson in Buffalo this year. Same as Jeannot . They didnt really light the world on fire previously but they look very good now. I have watched Marchment a lot this year and it seems like he is the real deal . Of course there is always the question of if he is being propped up by an amazing team in Florida , but he looks like he is more of a contributor than a passenger.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

I wanted to bring up University of Minnesota center Ben Meyers, who is now a UFA. He's a two-way beast who excels on draws, and although he lacks top-line upside, I'd say he possesses 2nd line upside and is a lock to be a 3rd line guy. He's a good skater who is extremely strong on his skates and the puck. Meyers' skill set is good and he has a very hockey hockey IQ.

The favorite to sign Meyers has to be Minnesota, who is both local and has a clear need for him. But of course the reason I'm mentioning him here is because he would be perfect as 3C for the Devils next year if they decide not to stick with Boqvist. If they do decide to stick with Boqvist, Meyers could perhaps push him down to the 4th line and make McLeod expendable. He'd be an excellent signing for NJ in any regard.

Top NCAA Prospect Ben Meyers is Catching NHL's Attention

An undrafted NCAA star, Ben Meyers has been rumored to have interest from NHL teams for a few years. Thanks to a strong showing with USA's Olympic team, that's only going to grow.

thehockeynews.com

 

[Eggtimer]

I know he wasnt great in the AHL but it is somewhat true about what they say about big bodied forwards taking a bit longer to find their game. Look at Thompson in Buffalo this year. Same as Jeannot . They didnt really light the world on fire previously but they look very good now. I have watched Marchment a lot this year and it seems like he is the real deal . Of course there is always the question of if he is being propped up by an amazing team in Florida , but he looks like he is more of a contributor than a passenger. Unlike other examples like Ritchie. He scored a pile of goals but you could tell he was just a cog in themachine and was getting carried by skilled players. Marchemnt on the other hand , looks like he is skilled and knows how to use his size and abilites to contribute on his own.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I know he wasnt great in the AHL but it is somewhat true about what they say about big bodied forwards taking a bit longer to find their game. Look at Thompson in Buffalo this year. Same as Jeannot . They didnt really light the world on fire previously but they look very good now. I have watched Marchment a lot this year and it seems like he is the real deal . Of course there is always the question of if he is being propped up by an amazing team in Florida , but he looks like he is more of a contributor than a passenger.

His underlying numbers are incredible too, even considering the high shooting percentages he’s riding. I just wonder how much of that is some special sauce Florida has this year that won’t be repeated if he goes elsewhere. That offense is potent.

 

[FooteBahl]

His underlying numbers are incredible too, even considering the high shooting percentages he’s riding. I just wonder how much of that is some special sauce Florida has this year that won’t be repeated if he goes elsewhere. That offense is potent.

Do you think our special sauce can’t be as good as Florida’s sauces? Do you think we have a Kirkland brand sauce? Our sauce is a few Emeril bams away from being a damn good sauce!

 

[RangerDoggo]

LeBrun: With quality goalies potentially available, who could be moved?

It's time to look ahead and ponder what July 13 may look like for a handful of UFA goalies, and two under contract, when free agency opens.

theathletic.com

Good news, there are plenty of goalies for Fitz to go for next year who will shrivel and die once they lace them up for us!

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Nichushkin seems to be a number 1 target for the Devils this offseason. At least many of us think so.

If the Avs can't re-sign him, should Fitz trade a 5th round pick for his negotiation rights? There is a risk that some other team does it. On the other hand, after those deals the player has all the leverage, so there would be a risk that they had to overpay him, just like the Flyers did with Hayes and the Rangers with Goodrow. Any thoughts?

 

[Billdo]

Nichushkin seems to be a number 1 target for the Devils this offseason. At least many of us think so.

If the Avs can't re-sign him, should Fitz trade a 5th round pick for his negotiation rights? There is a risk that some other team does it. On the other hand, after those deals the player has all the leverage, so there would be a risk that they had to overpay him, just like the Flyers did with Hayes and the Rangers with Goodrow. Any thoughts?

I think most of the time when a pick is exchanged solely for the negotiation rights, there's a strong sentiment that they'll sign. Probably via "unofficial" conversations and hypotheticals but does it happen often where they don't? None come to me off the top of my head.

 

[Hisch13r]

Never seen this one before. 14/15 year old Bratt=Peter Forsberg

 

[MachoDiablo]

Just gonna jump on the train for this and say that it's cool to see Boqvist playing well. No clue what his long term future is with this team or how/if he'll continue to grow, but I was floored by how many people were willing to crumple him up and throw him away like flimsy wrapping paper when he was just 22 years old. A lot of kids need time and the chance to develop, and now it's looking like he at least has a chance to become a solid bottom six center who provides plenty of speed and could probably improve with better wingers by his side.

Again, doesn't mean he's a lock to be part of the long term solution here, but expecting any player to fully show you who they are when they're still barely old enough to still be in college tends to be a losing proposition. Hope the bit of added patience in his case is paying off.

 

[Bleedred]

Just gonna jump on the train for this and say that it's cool to see Boqvist playing well. No clue what his long term future is with this team or how/if he'll continue to grow, but I was floored by how many people were willing to crumple him up and throw him away like flimsy wrapping paper when he was just 22 years old. A lot of kids need time and the chance to develop, and now it's looking like he at least has a chance to become a solid bottom six center who provides plenty of speed and could probably improve with better wingers by his side.

Again, doesn't mean he's a lock to be part of the long term solution here, but expecting any player to fully show you who they are when they're still barely old enough to still be in college tends to be a losing proposition. Hope the bit of added patience in his case is paying off.

Well, he played about 70 NHL games before he really looked like he belonged? Maybe even 80. Most players at least show flashes before 70 games.

I guess you can say Boqvist showed flashes last year, but his offensive production over his first 70-80 games in the NHL was pretty damn poor and especially poor his first season/36 games. I think he went almost as many games into his NHL career without getting an NHL assist (or maybe even longer?) as McLeod did without getting his first goal. Which isn't as much his fault as not scoring a goal himself (which he did have 4 in that first year).

That said, I think the mistake was him playing in the NHL at all (I know he kind of had to start the season in the NHL in 19-20 or go back to Europe) in the 19-20. I mean, if he were called up that'd be one thing, but because of his contract (I always forget why the stipulation was) he wasn't able to start the year in the AHL that season, though he ended up there after several months and about 30 or so games.

Like I said, he probably wasn't worthy of anything more than an NHL call up in 19-20, rather than 30+ games in the NHL before ever getting an AHL game, if things went the way they should have with him.

 

[Bleedred]

Speaking of McLeod

He needs a goal tomorrow night to avoid the dubious accolade of three different 25 game goalless streaks in the NHL.

And if he doesn't score in his next 2 games, that'll be his second goalless streak in the NHL of at least 26 games.

He already has 4 different streaks of at least 16 straight games without a goal and 3 different streaks of at least 24 NHL games without a goal.

 

[Eggtimer]

Nichushkin seems to be a number 1 target for the Devils this offseason. At least many of us think so.

If the Avs can't re-sign him, should Fitz trade a 5th round pick for his negotiation rights? There is a risk that some other team does it. On the other hand, after those deals the player has all the leverage, so there would be a risk that they had to overpay him, just like the Flyers did with Hayes and the Rangers with Goodrow. Any thoughts?

He is getting paid regardless and will be seen as an overpay but in my opinion he is worth a slight overpay unless it’s a crazy $ and term.
I’d be fine paying a 5th to try to gain the advantage.
Im pretty sure I am wrong , but if we traded for his rights , would that enable us to offer him the 8th year for term ? Not saying I’d want to offer 8 , just wonder if that works like that .

 

[Hisch13r]

He is getting paid regardless and will be seen as an overpay but in my opinion he is worth a slight overpay unless it’s a crazy $ and term.
I’d be fine paying a 5th to try to gain the advantage

I really don't think he's going to get even slightly overpaid. People will think it's an overpay but in reality it's a deal he's going to be well worth it and will probably be underpaid relative to his actual impact.

 

[Eggtimer]

I really don't think he's going to get even slightly overpaid. People will think it's an overpay but in reality it's a deal he's going to be well worth it and will probably be underpaid relative to his actual impact.

True . I guess what I was trying to say is that he will sign for a number that is higher than what people would think . Or see him as a third liner and nothing more so if when he gets paid for more than that , must people will shit .

 

[devilsblood]

Well, he played about 70 NHL games before he really looked like he belonged? Maybe even 80. Most players at least show flashes before 70 games.

I guess you can say Boqvist showed flashes last year, but his offensive production over his first 70-80 games in the NHL was pretty damn poor and especially poor his first season/36 games. I think he went almost as many games into his NHL career without getting an NHL assist (or maybe even longer?) as McLeod did without getting his first goal. Which isn't as much his fault as not scoring a goal himself (which he did have 4 in that first year).

That said, I think the mistake was him playing in the NHL at all (I know he kind of had to start the season in the NHL in 19-20 or go back to Europe) in the 19-20. I mean, if he were called up that'd be one thing, but because of his contract (I always forget why the stipulation was) he wasn't able to start the year in the AHL that season, though he ended up there after several months and about 30 or so games.

Like I said, he probably wasn't worthy of anything more than an NHL call up in 19-20, rather than 30+ games in the NHL before ever getting an AHL game, if things went the way they should have with him.

Boq was good for most of last year, he just didn't play a lot of minutes.

It's really the first 35ish games where he didn't do much.

 

[Bleedred]

Boq was good for most of last year, he just didn't play a lot of minutes.

It's really the first 35ish games where he didn't do much.

I thought he was alright last year, but he was gonna need a season like this if he had any chance of sticking in the NHL.

I even said quite a few times I’d prefer him to McLeod by a whole lot. Even when I was completely down on him.

 

[devilsblood]

His underlying numbers are incredible too, even considering the high shooting percentages he’s riding. I just wonder how much of that is some special sauce Florida has this year that won’t be repeated if he goes elsewhere. That offense is potent.

The assists are most likely special sauce. Currently over 2 per 60 at 5v5, which is high level playmaking rate, for a guy who has never much of an assist guy.

The goals are maybe inflated but his shot rate is good.

 

[devilsblood]

I thought he was alright last year, but he was gonna need a season like this if he had any chance of sticking in the NHL.

I even said quite a few times I’d prefer him to McLeod by a whole lot. Even when I was completely down on him.

That's fair, but he did need more of an oppurtunity then he was getting too.

I know he's 23 already so he's not a a little kid but I'd like to see him get stronger. Skating is great, puck skills look pretty good, but I think a bit more toughening up would do his game well.

 

[NJDfan86]

The assists are most likely special sauce. Currently over 2 per 60 at 5v5, which is high level playmaking rate, for a guy who has never much of an assist guy.

The goals are maybe inflated but his shot rate is good.

oish% of 11.67% vs a league average of around 8% helps explain the elevated assist rate. FL in general has had the special sauce this year for offense for sure.

 

[The Wumpus]

If we sign Nichushkin can we call him Chewy instead of Nuke

 

[Hisch13r]

oish% of 11.67% vs a league average of around 8% helps explain the elevated assist rate. FL has had the special sauce this year for offense for sure.

He's got more second assists than primary ones as well which is rare for forwards

 

[njdevils1982]

Do you think our special sauce can’t be as good as Florida’s sauces? Do you think we have a Kirkland brand sauce? Our sauce is a few Emeril bams away from being a damn good sauce!

sauce? you got it!

///

"dinner's on the table"

"i aint hungry"

"hey. just because you're kicking in for food don't mean you don't gotta eat. you still gotta eat"

"i got my shirt on, alright"

"so"

"so, i don't wanna get anything on it, that's what"

"you got nothing to be afraid of. your mother's spaghetti sauce don't drip. ...it don't taste, but it don't drip. let's gooo!"

 

[Guttersniped]

Never seen this one before. 14/15 year old Bratt=Peter Forsberg

Baby Bratt skilling it up aww.

Forsberg’s slo-mo moves were slick (that poor goalie) but it almost looked like he pulled something on one of those last goals (he’s still got that Foppa injury magic!).

I wish I understood all the very well produced into graphics “TV-pucken” lol.