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

[dgibb10]

I'm not dumping a 1st to move Palat. At least not right now. He has been serviceable enough since moving up to play with Jack and Bratt

Malenstyn has value in the deal I had there but yes I don't think you need to pay a 1st outright. Especially if the cap goes up big, we would a) not NEED to dump palat, and b) would be much easier when all the bottom feeders have boatloads of space and UFAs are costing more and more.

I liked how much fitz got done this offseason.

We basically need nothing next year except a 4C. And funny enough, the 4C/bottom 6 C market this coming UFA has a TON of options

 

[theoptimist]

I like Jack McBain more than Brady Tkachuk

 

[My3Sons]

Hamilton has gotten by far the worst of goalie luck behind him, which makes people think he's been a lot worse defensively than he has.

something like an (EV) 0.870 with hamilton on and a 0.940 otherwise from our tendies.

I can't see moving hamilton this offseason. We don't need to clear 9 mill and there's really nothing to spend the money on. If someone offers me good value for him I take it (I am always in support of making +value moves, like the Marino Pesce swap getting a pair of 2nds for basically free bc pesce took a nice deal).

But this offseason, I don't see anything out there to spend the money on that we wouldn't regret down the line.

Here is what the team looks like without hamilton and a 93 mill cap.

15 mill in space with literally only depth to fill out. I do not like the idea of splurging on an expensive old winger here.

View attachment 935465

I think you bite the bullet and dump palat

if Dillon got $4 mil per, what do you think Kovacevic gets if he keeps up his play? I think it's more than Dillon most likely. I'm happy to keep Dr. Evil but I think Palat will have to go by hook or by crook.

 

[britdevil]

I'm not dumping a 1st to move Palat. At least not right now. He has been serviceable enough since moving up to play with Jack and Bratt

Having an infant daughter in NICU for 7 weeks has got to take a toll too.

Not really interested in paying to get rid of Palat. Would really like to see him in the playoffs again.

 

[Guttersniped]

I love the shoutout to us at the end. "Sickos" is a very apt descriptor. Embrace it.

It’s from an Onion cartoon:

Devils Specific:

From our playoff run in 22-23:

 

[Triumph]

"Get fleeced for your norris contending dman and your 2nd overall pick to sign your UFA depth acquisition after 1 season" is a legitimately insane take I'm sorry.

Nobody said get fleeced. You can't win those trades, but Kovacevic could be a super bargain contract, and Hamilton just has to go almost regardless of what happens.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Things change when your contention window opens. If Kovacevic continues this level of play throughout the season and into the playoffs (hopefully) Fitz will no doubt look to keep him around on a contract within reason. Top 4 level RHD’s with size who play shutdown minutes well don’t grow on trees and he’s exactly the type of player Fitz wants on the blueline. Cross that bridge when we get there of course but his level of play has been such a pleasant surprise.

As much as we all hope and may expect Nemec and Casey to be long term pieces for this organization one of them could also be used to bolster our forward group at some point. That wouldn’t happen this season but Fitz will have some decisions to make this summer and beyond. Integrating them both at the same time is tricky when you’re trying to contend. Not saying we need to trade one of them but just putting myself in the shoes of a GM who has a team that appears ready to take that step.

 

[dgibb10]

Nobody said get fleeced. You can't win those trades, but Kovacevic could be a super bargain contract, and Hamilton just has to go almost regardless of what happens.

Why would Kovacevic be a bargain contract? He will be a UFA. He has no reason, no connection here, no time spent in this team, to have any long term loyalty to give us a discount. He has never made even decent money in his career which means he will likely chase the biggest bag available.

You know how you get a bargain contract. A pre arbitration RFA who's 4 years away from hitting UFA with limited work under his belt. That is who you get the bargains on.

 

[dgibb10]

if Dillon got $4 mil per, what do you think Kovacevic gets if he keeps up his play? I think it's more than Dillon most likely. I'm happy to keep Dr. Evil but I think Palat will have to go by hook or by crook.

If Kovacevic wants more than Dillon let him walk lmao. He might keep it up. He also might go back to what he was and be a boat anchor contract.

Also, I question the logic that GMs will value Kovacevic in UFA, but we wouldn't be able to sell him to those same GMs in a trade.

People suggesting hitching your wagon to a depth acquisition and moving away from premium guys based on 1 year (at this point 20 games lmao) is the kind of short sighted thinking that sinks teams.

Kovacevic has a smaller track record of high level NHL play than Simon Nemec who isn't even old enough to drink. Think about that for a second.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Why would Kovacevic be a bargain contract? He will be a UFA. He has no reason, no connection here, no time spent in this team, to have any long term loyalty to give us a discount. He has never made even decent money in his career which means he will likely chase the biggest bag available.

You know how you get a bargain contract. A pre arbitration RFA who's 4 years away from hitting UFA with limited work under his belt. That is who you get the bargains on.

If Kovacevic wants more than Dillon let him walk lmao. He might keep it up. He also might go back to what he was and be a boat anchor contract.

Also, I question the logic that GMs will value Kovacevic in UFA, but we wouldn't be able to sell him to those same GMs in a trade.

People suggesting hitching your wagon to a depth acquisition and moving away from premium guys based on 1 year (at this point 20 games lmao) is the kind of short sighted thinking that sinks teams.

Kovacevic has a smaller track record of high level NHL play than Simon Nemec who isn't even old enough to drink. Think about that for a second.

Do you not see the contradiction in these posts? You think Kovacevic is a career journeyman with no reputation and is not to be trusted, yet you also think that he is somehow going to cash out on a big AAV deal in free agency that we won't be able to afford?

 

[dgibb10]

Do you not see the contradiction in these posts? You think Kovacevic is a career journeyman with no reputation and is not to be trusted, yet you also think that he is somehow going to cash out on a big AAV deal in free agency that we won't be able to afford?

I don't think he will get a big AAV deal.

I think he will come in at a price that, if we want, we can keep him as an expensive, but not ridiculous 7D next year, and then move hamilton the year after that to accomodate a nemec contract.

I certainly don't expect him to be a "bargain" deal. He will be a high risk signing, with the significant risk being that he turns back into the number 6-7 D he's been his whole career. He will likely go wherever gets him the biggest bag (I think he'll fight for term rather than AAV).

I don't expect any UFA to be a "bargain". It is the free market and they will get a net 0 contract of how the league values them. Outside of guys with some outside reason to take a discount (eg pesce coming home), which I don't think we will see from Kovacevic, who has made very little money in his career. 500k AAV difference is a massive impact to him.

And I understand that there is a significant risk that at some point, the clock will strike midnight and he will turn back into a pumpkin.

 

[My3Sons]

Do you not see the contradiction in these posts? You think Kovacevic is a career journeyman with no reputation and is not to be trusted, yet you also think that he is somehow going to cash out on a big AAV deal in free agency that we won't be able to afford?

I was suggesting he might get a big deal. I’m thinking if Dillon got one then Kivacevic might as well.

 

[Triumph]

Why would Kovacevic be a bargain contract? He will be a UFA. He has no reason, no connection here, no time spent in this team, to have any long term loyalty to give us a discount. He has never made even decent money in his career which means he will likely chase the biggest bag available.

You know how you get a bargain contract. A pre arbitration RFA who's 4 years away from hitting UFA with limited work under his belt. That is who you get the bargains on.

Sometimes a player likes where he is at in his career and says yes. Siegenthaler had been here for 78 games, playing with a team that only lost games, and he said yes. Obviously this possibility is done for once Kovacevic gets even close to UFA, but if Fitzgerald makes the offer in the next 6 weeks, maybe he manages to get the big discount.

 

[dgibb10]

Sometimes a player likes where he is at in his career and says yes. Siegenthaler had been here for 78 games, playing with a team that only lost games, and he said yes. Obviously this possibility is done for once Kovacevic gets even close to UFA, but if Fitzgerald makes the offer in the next 6 weeks, maybe he manages to get the big discount.

Siegs was an RFA.

I would offer him a contract now yes at a discounted rate, but not at a rate that forces us to move on from other players on the roster.

 

[Triumph]

Siegs was an RFA.

I would offer him a contract now yes at a discounted rate, but not at a rate that forces us to move on from other players on the roster.

At contract's expiration, yes, but he had arb rights and was 1 year from UFA.

 

[Billdo]

The only way I can see Kovacevic sticking around is if we offer him a 3 year deal, maybe 4, with the organization believing Nemec is ready after being in Utica again next year AND they're confident in being able to move Hamilton. It's a log jam that I don't see a real way out of.

 

[Comparison Ford]

Having an infant daughter in NICU for 7 weeks has got to take a toll too.

Not really interested in paying to get rid of Palat. Would really like to see him in the playoffs again.

I really need to eat crow on his performance with Hughes and Bratt. I love this ability to just get out their way but still block shots and provide some 5on5 defense.

 

[Nubmer6]

The only way I can see Kovacevic sticking around is if we offer him a 3 year deal, maybe 4, with the organization believing Nemec is ready after being in Utica again next year AND they're confident in being able to move Hamilton. It's a log jam that I don't see a real way out of.

I imagine him getting a Siegenthaller-esque contract.

 

[Billdo]

I imagine him getting a Siegenthaller-esque contract.

Here though? What do they do with Nemec if your answer is yes. Utica for another year and then try and move Hamilton?

 

[My3Sons]

Here though? What do they do with Nemec if your answer is yes. Utica for another year and then try and move Hamilton?

The cap is going to price out Kovacevic. Unless they can get rid of Palat

 

[Nubmer6]

Here though? What do they do with Nemec if your answer is yes. Utica for another year and then try and move Hamilton?

I dunno. That's an option I suppose. I just can't imagine giving up a shutdown guy as effective as he's been though.

 

[Saugus]

The decision on Kovacevic needs to be based on whether we think this is sustainable. Luckily we have some time to prove or disprove that.

 

[Billdo]

I dunno. That's an option I suppose. I just can't imagine giving up a shutdown guy as effective as he's been though.

I'd dislike it but I have no idea what they're going to do bc sooner or later Nemec is going to be ready. I think if they think Kovacevic is the piece then they'd explore moving Hamilton in two years provided Nemec-Pesce-Kovacevic are pushing him out the door.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

 

[Aurinko]

It's going great, but there are areas of improvement as well. Like spreading the wealth of the Sieg-Kovacevic line. Whatever they are doing right, others should take note.

Reminds a bit of the Graves-Marino pairing 2 years ago, who had a hot start to the season and played good hockey until the playoffs (don't remember how they played in the playoffs, but 1-6 doesn't look too good).