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

[Bad Goalie]

HockeyDB.

It would have to be from today as he played both Friday and Saturday. He was recalled and re assigned the same day in a paper game a couple days ago along with others for NJ financial reasons.
I just checked AHL.com and HockeyDB and he doesn't appear in either transaction yesterday or today. Maybe a mistake somewhere that's already been corrected. Nothing mentioned in Utica either.

I'm pretty confident that Simon is still in Utica with the Comets today.

 

[BurntToast]

I said this in the GDT but Allen’s setups are super sexy.

The masks are simple but they are recognizable and clean. I thought the home mask was great but he out did himself with the away mask.

Contrast: I love the idea of Markstrom’s mask but it doesn’t translate at a distance. I prefer his Devil Skull mask but he wore it once? (Probably a loss, to be fare)

Ironically, minus one game, I feel like Allen has also outplayed Markstrom (who isn’t playing bad). Allen was also the best goalie last season.

 

[Bleedred]

I said this in the GDT but Allen’s setups are super sexy.

The masks are simple but they are recognizable and clean. I thought the home mask was great but he out did himself with the away mask.

Contrast: I love the idea of Markstrom’s mask but it doesn’t translate at a distance. I prefer his Devil Skull mask but he wore it once? (Probably a loss, to be fare)

Ironically, minus one game, I feel like Allen has also outplayed Markstrom (who isn’t playing bad). Allen was also the best goalie last season.

It was actually Kahkonen who was the best goalie last season. Did you not see all 4 of his games?

 

[Guttersniped]

It was actually Kahkonen who was the best goalie last season. Did you not see all 4 of his games?

And we let him slip through our fingers.

As did the Avalanche, who dumped him back on waivers after picking him up in Oct.

As are the Jets, who are using Comrie as their back-up while Kahkonen is in the AHL.

Just stunning how every NHL organization is dumber than one very indignant HFBoards poster.

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Wow, Palat’s baby was in the hospital for 7 weeks. Luckily she’s now well enough to go home.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

View attachment 935131

Wow, Palat’s baby was in the hospital for 7 weeks. Luckily she’s now well enough to go home.

Well shit, that absence in the second Prague game makes a lot of sense.

 

[Bleedred]

Well shit, that absence in the second Prague game makes a lot of sense.

That was just for the birth, as I believe she was being born that day or his wife was in labor so he rushed home?

That's very rough that she was in there for 7 weeks, but I'm glad she's out now.

Maybe that would explain his poor start so far? That must be extremely stressful and hockey or work can't mean too much with that in the back of your mind all the time.

Hopefully that's all behind them now and she's healthy.

 

[Lou Bloom]

I've always been a big Nazar fan and he's killing the AHL. If the Sharks grab one of Hagens or Misa I could see Smith being an option.

I'm a fan of Nazar but if Chicago was interested Oliver Moore would be the player I'd want back. Elite Skating, Two Way center, had him as a top 10 pick in 2023, still don't know how he fell to 19th.

 

[Goptor]

View attachment 935131

Wow, Palat’s baby was in the hospital for 7 weeks. Luckily she’s now well enough to go home.

Palat fully committed to NJ. He even added sponsors to his baby pictures.

 

[devilsblood]

Maybe that would explain his poor start so far? That must be extremely stressful and hockey or work can't mean too much with that in the back of your mind all the time.

Hopefully that's all behind them now and she's healthy.

Would very much make sense.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Wow, that is terrifying to have a baby spend any time in the NICU at all, let alone 7 weeks. Glad that all seems well and they’re able to bring their baby girl home.

 

[Xirik]

Devils fans having babies, Players having babies...


Something is in the water!

 

[Guadana]

I'm a fan of Nazar but if Chicago was interested Oliver Moore would be the player I'd want back. Elite Skating, Two Way center, had him as a top 10 pick in 2023, still don't know how he fell to 19th.

Two bad ideas in a row. Or three
Trading Nemec. Trading Nemec not Casey(would like to save both)
Trading Nemec for Moore.

People should chill. Big situational rise of big defenseman in defensive role only who is borderline 4th-5th in ice time will not change of long term plan and will not force team to trade their ex 2nd overall pick who was great in his first season and has slow start in sophomore season because of injury.

 

[Devs3cups]

Still can't wrap my head around why people want to move Nemec.

 

[Goptor]

Still can't wrap my head around why people want to move Nemec.

Nemec for Steve Yzerman, Niklas Lidstrom, and Alex Tanguay.

Would you do it?

 

[Lou Bloom]

Two bad ideas in a row. Or three
Trading Nemec. Trading Nemec not Casey(would like to save both)
Trading Nemec for Moore.

People should chill. Big situational rise of big defenseman in defensive role only who is borderline 4th-5th in ice time will not change of long term plan and will not force team to trade their ex 2nd overall pick who was great in his first season and has slow start in sophomore season because of injury.

It's not an indictment on Nemec to be willing to trade him for a player I had as a top 10 prospect in a loaded 2023 class that fits a big organizational hole at center.

The Devils have Pesce and Hamilton locked in for the next 3 seasons, even if they don't re-sign Kovacevic you're still going to have one of Nemec or Casey as a depth defensemen with Luke, Siegenthaler and Dillon all locked up on the Left side and Silayev hopefully NHL ready in 2 years. As much as depth is important there does come a point where you're hoarding too many valuable defenseman and the forward depth will suffer.

 

[R8Devs]

It shouldn't be hard to find a 3C, even just next year the Devils still have Haula and there'll be guys like Suter and Gourde available in UFA. Doubt any prospect the Devils would get would displace a vet like Haula's usage and they definitely won't displace Nico or Hughes. Meanwhile the Devils have Hamilton who is 31 and Pesce who is 30 so RHD so something which is a strength could soon turn to something the Devils look for if they trade Nemec.

I thought Kovacevic was sort of a mirage from the beginning of the season especially when he started to have some meh games after his start but now I think he's actually what he is showing and if he is that then he will be the be the best RHD on the market this offseason. So I don't think the Devils will be able to re-sign him either if he keeps up his play.

I'd like the Devils to start drafting centers or finding them with college free agents/european free agents as well and all but I don't think they're near a position where they have a need to trade from a strength for a center.

I'd also like to eat crow on Allen lol, super happy with his play

 

[Emperoreddy]

Unless we are getting a very high end player back, we are losing a trade involving Nemec every time.

It should and will cost less to find another bottom 6 center.

 

[Lou Bloom]

It shouldn't be hard to find a 3C, even just next year the Devils still have Haula and there'll be guys like Suter and Gourde available in UFA. Doubt any prospect the Devils would get would displace a vet like Haula's usage and they definitely won't displace Nico or Hughes. Meanwhile the Devils have Hamilton who is 31 and Pesce who is 30 so RHD so something which is a strength could soon turn to something the Devils look for if they trade Nemec.

I thought Kovacevic was sort of a mirage from the beginning of the season especially when he started to have some meh games after his start but now I think he's actually what he is showing and if he is that then he will be the be the best RHD on the market this offseason. So I don't think the Devils will be able to re-sign him either if he keeps up his play.

I'd like the Devils to start drafting centers or finding them with college free agents/european free agents as well and all but I don't think they're near a position where they have a need to trade from a strength for a center.

I'd also like to eat crow on Allen lol, super happy with his play

Even if they're getting on the older side, they're still under contract for 3 and 5 more years respectively after this season. On the Left Side You have Luke (long term), Siegenthaler (3 more seasons after this season), Dillon (2 more seasons after this season) and Silayev in the system likely to be close to NHL ready after next season. If Nemec and Casey are both NHL ready next season (which they both should be) then you'll have to either bench one of your veteran defenseman who have multiple years left on their contracts and are currently playing well or you'll have to leave a good NHL ready prospect in the AHL longer than needed with Silayev on his way to the NHL also.

There's also a big difference between adding a 34 year old Gourde or a mediocre Pius Suter through FA vs acquiring a blue chip forward prospect. Teams like Florida, Vegas and Tampa have won Stanley Cups off having elite center depth.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

It's not an indictment on Nemec to be willing to trade him for a player I had as a top 10 prospect in a loaded 2023 class that fits a big organizational hole at center.

The Devils have Pesce and Hamilton locked in for the next 3 seasons, even if they don't re-sign Kovacevic you're still going to have one of Nemec or Casey as a depth defensemen with Luke, Siegenthaler and Dillon all locked up on the Left side and Silayev hopefully NHL ready in 2 years. As much as depth is important there does come a point where you're hoarding too many valuable defenseman and the forward depth will suffer.

Pesce and Hamilton are both over 30. You don't trade a 20 year old 2nd overall pick because of guys like that.

Hamilton won't finish his contract as a Devil. I would be shocked if he did.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Pesce plays what I would describe as a potentially high risk brand of hockey.

Dougie has had two very serious long term injuries in the last 3 years.

Kovacevic has been good, but also has had a 23 game sample size at a significantly higher level than his career to date would suggest is his true talent.

Trading Nemec would be wild.

 

[Lou Bloom]

Pesce and Hamilton are both over 30. You don't trade a 20 year old 2nd overall pick because of guys like that.

Hamilton won't finish his contract as a Devil. I would be shocked if he did.

Hamilton is only 31 with an NMC and 3 years left at $9M after this season. He's still providing elite level offense and was one of the biggest FA signings in recent memory for the Devils. Unless he starts having injury issues and goes the LTIR route he's finishing that contract.

Pesce just turned 30 and just signed a 6 year FA contract less than 5 months ago. Casey is NHL ready and killing it in the AHL, Kovacevic has been great and could be a potential re-sign candidate.

I'm also not saying to trade Nemec away for some older player, I'm saying if a scenario arises where a team has a similarly talented blue chip forward, it would make sense do to a logjam at RD vs a forward group that is shallow after the top 6.

If there's no team willing or able to make that trade then the Devils just hold onto Nemec and Casey and deal with a good problem in having too many talented defensemen.

 

[R8Devs]

Even if they're getting on the older side, they're still under contract for 3 and 5 more years respectively after this season. On the Left Side You have Luke (long term), Siegenthaler (3 more seasons after this season), Dillon (2 more seasons after this season) and Silayev in the system likely to be close to NHL ready after next season. If Nemec and Casey are both NHL ready next season (which they both should be) then you'll have to either bench one of your veteran defenseman who have multiple years left on their contracts and are currently playing well or you'll have to leave a good NHL ready prospect in the AHL longer than needed with Silayev on his way to the NHL also.

There's also a big difference between adding a 34 year old Gourde or a mediocre Pius Suter through FA vs acquiring a blue chip forward prospect. Teams like Florida, Vegas and Tampa have won Stanley Cups off having elite center depth.

Devils will have a top end center core as long as Nico/Jack keep playing like they have. 3C is not as hard to fill as a long term RHD regardless if it's Gourde/Suter or whoever. Also I don't think the Devils signed Dillon to the deal he has for his 3rd year but more like that they had to offer that extra year to get him to sign here -- so there's no need to make any decisions based on Dillon's 3rd year when he'll be 36

Hamilton and Pesce are both older defenseman and both have just come off long term injuries and Pesce's style of play is of some who end up on LTIR and Hamilton may become a cap casualty anyway (his contract goes from full NMC to a 10 team trade list this offseason)

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Dougie has a 10 team trade clause that kicks in next year I believe. If he puts up another 15+ goals 60+ point season, he should still have some value around the league. He’s the guy you look to move.

Nemec would only be moved for a very select group of players.