Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - season begins!

[Andre Palot]

I’m not saying it will or should happen, but it could happen. They will be highly valuable assets that could bring in a missing piece.

The most plausible scenario for me would be if Nemec or Casey is the main piece in a deal to bring Quinn to NJ. He would have one year left in 26-27 and if Vancouver thinks he’s on the outs at the end of the year, they could recoup some assets.

Collecting Hughes brothers like infinity stones

 

[MadDevil]

Collecting Hughes brothers like infinity stones

They are inevitable.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Todd giving us permission to debate the topic. Nice.

I'm here if any one wants in.

No one wanted to debate you

 

[glenwo2]

No one wanted to debate you

Because @devilsblood is a master debater.

......

......what?

 

[devilsblood]

No one wanted to debate you

Apparently not.

Bunch of scaredy cats.

Because @devilsblood is a master debater.

Probably the best post anyone on this forum has ever posted.

 

[Devs3cups]

I hope Nemec is sent down after the Western Canada trip. He needs to play. Let him join Casey down in the AHL.

 

[JrFischer54]

please just play markstrom for the rest of the trip

 

[dzubrus8]

I’m on board. Given the holes in the forwards corps and at goalie (Allen will be an FA too) I’m open to signing Kovy to a 2x2 (think that’s close to fair value here) trading one of Nemec/Casey and then having the other one in the NHL next year as the 6/7. At that point Kovy might be an expensive 7 or a great value 6.

Thought exercise. If Kova stays so successful here, what would be the reason to not try to re-up him on a team friendly deal?

I know our pipeline is stacked, but let's say we are winning nicely with him forging a role that undeniably part of the key success. I hate to lose nice things, that's how you build a good team too. You find unexpected gems that become core of the team.

Is it that we would expect him to be priced out based on such a successful year? Or we just have so much faith in the pipeline being even better?

Realistically I get that Kovacevic may not carry this forward all year, but what if he does?

 

[dgibb10]

I'd assume DeSimone as the 7D to sit in the press box if we send nemec down?

 

[dgibb10]

Tbh if Kovacevic keeps this up and the value is right I sell him at the deadline. At this point he's by far better than any other RD available (Codi Ceci or David Savard lol).

If I could flip him into a rental winger and a 4C while preserving futures I would. I know contenders don't tend to do that.

I know I wanted to potentially sell one of Graves/Severson as a rental in 22-23 to be replaced with Luke

turn it into this playoff lineup

RENTAL-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Noesen
Lazar-4C-Bastian

(Palat/Tatar can be subbed in for any injury or for bastian)

Hughes-Pesce
Siegs-Hamilton
Dillon-Nemec
Casey

 

[MB3]

Besides the team not leaving I find it impossible to find this as a good thing when the fans don't see any benefit from it. Lower costs of tickets? Nope, higher. Lower costs of concessions? Nope, higher. Lower costs of merch? Nope, higher.

Maybe everyone's actually been buying the ridiculously priced item of the games...

View attachment 923903View attachment 923904

I just paid $265 in groceries for what feels like 6 bananas and some chicken breasts. I know fans would like to think that these owners are running a charity, but inflation is still applicable to your favorite sports teams even if you really really wish it wasn't.

 

[Satans Hockey]

I just paid $265 in groceries for what feels like 6 bananas and some chicken breasts. I know fans would like to think that these owners are running a charity, but inflation is still applicable to your favorite sports teams even if you really really wish it wasn't.

That would make more sense if prices for concessions, merch and tickets weren't already too high long before inflation and everything else post covid.

 

[NJDevs26]

Isn’t a huge part of ‘franchise value’ tied up in the Prudential Center itself? Obviously their non-hockey show business continues to increase.

I’d get a little more wrapped up in that if increasing franchise value = winning, exhibit A of it not doing so is the Cowboys

I just paid $265 in groceries for what feels like 6 bananas and some chicken breasts. I know fans would like to think that these owners are running a charity, but inflation is still applicable to your favorite sports teams even if you really really wish it wasn't.

Inflation is one thing but going to a sports event is often inflation times two or three, and not just for food and drink (parking and merch as well).

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Tbh if Kovacevic keeps this up and the value is right I sell him at the deadline. At this point he's by far better than any other RD available (Codi Ceci or David Savard lol).

If I could flip him into a rental winger and a 4C while preserving futures I would. I know contenders don't tend to do that.

I know I wanted to potentially sell one of Graves/Severson as a rental in 22-23 to be replaced with Luke

turn it into this playoff lineup

RENTAL-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Noesen
Lazar-4C-Bastian

(Palat/Tatar can be subbed in for any injury or for bastian)

Hughes-Pesce
Siegs-Hamilton
Dillon-Nemec
Casey

There is no shot that any team should trade a D playing as well as Kovacevic is for a 4C that will play 5 minutes per night. That would be terrible asset management.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Tbh if Kovacevic keeps this up and the value is right I sell him at the deadline. At this point he's by far better than any other RD available (Codi Ceci or David Savard lol).

If I could flip him into a rental winger and a 4C while preserving futures I would. I know contenders don't tend to do that.

I know I wanted to potentially sell one of Graves/Severson as a rental in 22-23 to be replaced with Luke

turn it into this playoff lineup

RENTAL-Hughes-Bratt
Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Cotter-Haula-Noesen
Lazar-4C-Bastian

(Palat/Tatar can be subbed in for any injury or for bastian)

Hughes-Pesce
Siegs-Hamilton
Dillon-Nemec
Casey

If Kovy keeps this up we'd have one of the best shutdown defensive pairs in the league with him and Siegs. It'd be insane to trade him, even if the value is right, especially if the team is a position to make some noise in the playoffs.

 

[dgibb10]

There is no shot that any team should trade a D playing as well as Kovacevic is for a 4C that will play 5 minutes per night. That would be terrible asset management.

"If I could flip him into a rental winger and a 4C"

eg Kovacevic for 1st

then go get a Giroux/Granlund (both can win faceoffs for Jack as well) or a Vatrano etc

and a 4C like an Eller or a Sturm or a Granlund.

I think the gap between Granlund and Palat/Tatar and Sturm and Bastian is bigger than the gap between Kovacevic and Nemec going into a playoff run.

And saving those assets then makes it a lot easier to stomach dumping palat in the offseason.

 

[dgibb10]

If Kovy keeps this up we'd have one of the best shutdown defensive pairs in the league with him and Siegs. It'd be insane to trade him, even if the value is right, especially if the team is a position to make some noise in the playoffs.

going into this season I was more than happy to go into the playoffs with

Luke-Pesce
Siegs-Hamilton
Dillon-Nemec

I still am.

I'd rather go into the playoffs with (for example)

Giroux+Sturm+Nemec (Casey/Tatar/Bastian as scratches) than Tatar+Bastian+Kovacevic (Nemec+Macdermid+idek) as scratches.

Going back to Ryan Graves. Who would have said to trade him in the 22-23 season? He was having a great season too

Roll into the playoffs and he lost his spot to Luke and Bahl anyway. We'd be in a much better spot now with an extra 1st, and I don't think it would have hurt our playoff chances.

A lot of fans want to add a top 6 winger at the deadline, and then dump palat in the offseason. Where are we getting the assets to pay for that? Giving up both our 1sts until 2027??

 

[Devils731]

I know it’s only a 2 game winning streak after a 4 game losing streak but having watched the games, in the last 4 the Devils looked very strong in 2, good in 1, and ok in 1.

If the team can keep this type of play up over a longer stretch they should end up with a very good record by end of year.

I still don’t think we’ve seen the best this years team will look but they also haven’t hit all their road bumps yet, so we will see.

 

[MartyOwns]

I just paid $265 in groceries for what feels like 6 bananas and some chicken breasts.

no, you didn't lol. and grocery store prices have outpaced inflation since the pandemic. as usual, this all comes back to corporate greed whether it’s a supermarket or a devils game. as long as people are dumb enough to pay a ridiculous price for a beer, that will be the price of a beer.

 

[MB3]

That would make more sense if prices for concessions, merch and tickets weren't already too high long before inflation and everything else post covid.

Merch and tickets are among the cheapest in the NHL for any non-southern team. Concessions seem directly in line with the rest of the league, anecdotally. I've been places where they're cheaper (last year I was baffled at how cheap Stars concessions were, but I needed to take out a second mortgage to buy a burger and a soft drink where the Panthers play.

 

[dgibb10]

Backlund also having another excellent season.

He'd be pricey and likely wants to retire in CGY but god damn would he be elite with Noesen and Cotter

 

[MB3]

no, you didn't lol. and grocery store prices have outpaced inflation since the pandemic. as usual, this all comes back to corporate greed whether it’s a supermarket or a devils game. as long as people are dumb enough to pay a ridiculous price for a beer, that will be the price of a beer.

hy·per·bo·le
/hīˈpərbəlē/
noun

1. exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
"he vowed revenge with oaths and hyperboles"

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I’m not trading any dmen during the season. In the offseason I look to get the Subban return for Dougie if Kovacevic keeps up his play all year.

 

[My3Sons]

hy·per·bo·le
/hīˈpərbəlē/
noun

1. exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
"he vowed revenge with oaths and hyperboles"

I think it can also be an adjective?

 

[My3Sons]

If not trading any dmen during the season. In the offseason I look to get the Subban return for Dougie if Kovacevic keeps up his play all year.

If Kovacevic plays this well all season he may be priced out of NJ with or without Hamilton returning as I see it. He will be a big right shot top pair defender under 30. He has not had much success prior to now and he really needs to milk this season for every nickel he can get. If that's with San Jose or Detroit or whatever struggling team will overpay a bit for him in UFA he really has to go that route. I'd be happy to keep him with NJ but they shouldn't overpay for him with Nemec and Casey to consider as well.