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

[Better Call Sal]

As the founding Tatar Bazaar member, I can't tell you how excited I was to see him help do the dirty work that lead to Dougie's game winner. He still has that ability. I hope he gets some more opportunities.

 

[Emperoreddy]

That's more meat for us to chew on, at least. At what point will the rest of the league catch up to us in terms of games played?

Not sure exactly when, but they have started to catch up a bit. Metro teams were closer to 5 games played behind us at one point. It's 2 or 3 now.

 

[Emperoreddy]

As the founding Tatar Bazaar member, I can't tell you how excited I was to see him help do the dirty work that lead to Dougie's game winner. He still has that ability. I hope he gets some more opportunities.

He has been solid all year, just hasn't been asked to do a lot, and not much you could do playing with Big Mac and Dowling.

Really good game last night though.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

As the founding Tatar Bazaar member, I can't tell you how excited I was to see him help do the dirty work that lead to Dougie's game winner. He still has that ability. I hope he gets some more opportunities.

Underrated play of that goal too, Tatar started that shift by winning a puck battle in the defensive zone after he dangled himself into 2 Canes.

 

[RSeen]

The wishlist come trade deadline should likely be a top nine forward, a fourth line center, and maybe a depth LD similar to DeSimone unless the Devils are content with Hatakka.

Gritsyuk is definitely coming over so that could be a top nine forward. Depending on how they feel on him maybe they could look for a player like Arvidsson who would fulfill a complimentary second line winger role. Someone like Nelson would be a grand slam but cost a ton too. Hughes - Nelson - Bratt would be so much fun to watch though.

The forward depth is weak outside of energy line guys so I would definitely want a back up to Lazar to center the fourth line. The same goes for LD options behind Hatakka, if he returns. White looked awful in preseason and counting on Misyul or Casey playing LD is a risky gamble.

Another LD wouldn't be terrible but feel that one of the D could move over such as Casey if needed, if we have an injury. Perhaps a more shut-down type would be a better fit though.

I'm fine with Lazar as 4th line C but definitely think we need depth given injury risk. Someone who can play C and having Lazar slide to RW wouldn't be a terrible move.

Is Gritsyuk for sure able to come over at the end of this year? That could be a good addition but still could be a risk if he can't translate to North America hockey quickly.

I think how much investment we make on rentals could be dictated by how good we are, but definitely think we could use a few pieces up front. Nelson would be a great addition but would be expensive.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Watching Jack and Bratt play together is like witnessing a work of art. Lately they're responsible for at least two insane plays a game.

 

[Better Call Sal]

And I'm sure he got credit (or at least I hope he did) in the GDT when it happened, but full marks to Palat for making that play happen on the first goal and picking off that pass before it left the zone. Perfectly timed.

I'm happy he's contributing.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Wholesome thread

 

[Mgd31]

Wholesome thread

What? I thought this whole time Jack and Luke were brothers!?

 

[NjDevsRR]

What? I thought this whole time Jack and Luke were brothers!?

Aunt/Family Friend. Each player can bring one person, since they share the same Mom I guess they were allowed someone else

 

[Bad Goalie]

No, they got called up for LTIR reasons to maximize the amount of money the Devils were spending, it was a paper transaction.

Thanx.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Wholesome thread

Ellen needs a statue next to Marty's if the Devils bring back cups to NJ with Jack/Luke on the roster, I don't make the rules

 

[TheBeerNerd]

Ellen needs a statue next to Marty's if the Devils bring back cups to NJ with Jack/Luke on the roster, I don't make the rules

I'd watch a 30 for 30 or similar documentary about her, she has a fascinating story. Real shame she never got to play in the Olympics after she had been pushing for years. If I have my timeline correct, Jack was in utero when she did sideline reporting for the 1999 Women's World Cup (EDIT: she was pregnant with Quinn, not Jack).

 

[HersheyBob27]

Cotter took an extremely dumb penalty against the Panthers 2 games ago also. He's been weak defensively all season but it's easy to look the other way when he's involved in the offense.

Seems like the some the honeymoon phase is over with mr cotter. You knew vegas has some issues with his game to give him up

 

[dgibb10]

A bit harsh with Cotter?

The 4th line doesn't feel as much of a punishment with Macdermid not on it

 

[dgibb10]

I saw the TSN Core 4 Teams list discussed here somewhere but I can’t find it.

Anyhoo, they released a list version and that’s way better (because of who’s on top lol).

Jumpin' Jack Flash: Hughes tops TSN's Top 50 Under-24 players | TSN

Twenty-three year-old Jack Hughes is No. 1 and 19-year-old sophomore Connor Bedard is No. 2 in our 2024-25 ranking of the Top 50 Under-24 players.

www.tsn.ca

Here’s the Top 10 from the
TOP 50 U24 - TSN Core 4
(Previous rank in parentheses)

1/ Jack Hughes (3)
2/ Connor Bedard (1)
3/ Macklin Celebrini (New)
4/ Tim Stutzle (4)
5/ Owen Power (9)
6/ Brock Faber (36)
7/ Matvei Michkov (16)
8/ Cole Caufield (8)
9/ Moritz Seider (6)
10/ Ivan Demidov (New)

Devils have one other player in the Top 50: Luke Hughes 15 (13)

Team Breakdown
6: MTL
5: ANA
4: SJS
3: CBJ, DAL, DET, MIN, UTA
2: CGY, CAR, CHI, NJD, OTT, TOR, WSH
1: BUF, LAK, NYR, PHI, SEA, VAN
0: BOS, COL, EDM, FLA, NSH, NYI, PIT, STL, TBL, VGK, WPG




2023

Connor Bedard, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes headline TSN's Top 50 Under-24 players | TSN

Chicago's sensation is No. 1 on TSN’s annual list of the Top 50 NHL-affiliated players and prospects aged 23 or younger as of this season’s start.

www.tsn.ca

Graduated Players:
2/ Quinn Hughes
5/ Rasmus Dahlin
11/ Noah Dobson
12/ Andrei Svechnikov
28/ K’Andre Miller
32/ Evan Bouchard

2022

TSN's NHL Core 4 under-24 Top 50 Player Ranking from Craig Button | TSN

Cale Makar is the standard-bearer for the NHL’s younger generation. Makar is No. 1 in Craig Button’s ranking of the Top 50 U-24 NHL-affiliated players and prospects who were 23 or younger as of the start of the NHL season Oct. 11.

www.tsn.ca

Nikishin sticks out as overrated here.

I get what he's doing in the KHL is great but he's 23. Putting him over Wyatt Johnson who's a year younger and tearing up the NHL seems questionable. And if you're gonna rate the KHL that highly, you can't ignore

Also that 2022 draft is in the ugly spot of being pre breakout years generally, but no longer shiny new prospects tearing it up against kids for gaudy stats.

I question 4 goalies in the top 50, let alone no Wallstedt.

I question no Nemec or Silayev (unsurprisingly for a defensive KHL guy to get basically forgotten tho)

Who the hell let Matthew Knies into the top 50 let alone at 36th

 

[Guttersniped]

Nikishin sticks out as overrated here.

I get what he's doing in the KHL is great but he's 23. Putting him over Wyatt Johnson who's a year younger and tearing up the NHL seems questionable. And if you're gonna rate the KHL that highly, you can't ignore

Also that 2022 draft is in the ugly spot of being pre breakout years generally, but no longer shiny new prospects tearing it up against kids for gaudy stats.

I question 4 goalies in the top 50, let alone no Wallstedt.

I question no Nemec or Silayev (unsurprisingly for a defensive KHL guy to get basically forgotten tho)

Who the hell let Matthew Knies into the top 50 let alone at 36th

The whole list is kind of a mess to be honest but Nikishin is a monster who broke out in 22-23.

55 points in 65 GP as 21 year old defender in the KHL? Who’s also 6’4” and 216? Yeah, he should be rated pretty high.

Drop someone else to put Johnston higher if you want.

 

[Triumph]

Seems like the some the honeymoon phase is over with mr cotter. You knew vegas has some issues with his game to give him up

He wasn't playing a whole lot there. He's not going to be a superstar. He's still a solid player and the Devils have him for another season on a minimum contract.

 

[dgibb10]

The whole list is kind of a mess to be honest but Nikishin is a monster who broke out in 22-23.

55 points in 65 GP as 21 year old defender in the KHL? Who’s also 6’4” and 216? Yeah, he should be rated pretty high.

Drop someone else to put Johnston higher if you want.

My view is that doing it in the NHL is simply more impressive

We are talking about every draft class since 2019 here, so 5 draft classes.

12th puts Nikishin as a top 3 player in his class as an estimate.

Is what Nikishin has done in the KHL more impressive than

Sanderson, Stutzle, Raymond, Faber, Jarvis, Lafrenière? That's 6 from his draft class right there I'm taking over him who are legit nhl studs already.

Guhle, Mercer, Byfield, Lundell, Peterka, Quinn, Rossi, etc etc also have been productive NHLers already at that age.

I think I'd have him 9th in his draft class at the highest tbh.

Sanderson, Stutzle, Raymond, Faber, Jarvis, Lafrenière, Guhle, Byfield,

Unless the claim is that the 2020 draft is a generational class, I don't buy it. I don't take elite KHL over top tier NHL.