Line Combos: Guess the 22-23 Opening Night Lineup

[Eggtimer]

I would love to see a third line of Wood-Boqvist-Zetterlund. That's a quick line that would bang and be able to chip in offensively.

Id like to see that line as well but I think we need a more defensive line in my opinion . Habe one defensive specialist on it or added somewhere in the lineup . Who are our PK”s going to be next year?

 

[Billdo]

Mercer-Nico
Boqvist-Shara
Zacha-Mcleod

Any combo of these 6

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

I don’t see Foote starting the season in the NHL and I certainly wouldn’t want him playing with McLeod, he has a more offensive game than that.

Wood also isn’t a top six forward.

Koukkanen has 1.825m cap hit but makes 2.05m next year and turns 24 on May 25th. He’s probably hanging around but he shouldn’t necessarily be penciled in on the 3rd line. That depends on what the forwards on PK unit will be too I guess.

I didn’t mean it to be a prediction. I’m just illustrating that even with zero new additions AND removing three wingers from this season’s roster AND assuming Holtz and Thompson take more time in the AHL, the Devils can still fill a lineup with forwards reasonably expected to be better than Rod Pelley.

That’s why i thought it was particularly interesting time to speculate on next year’s opening night roster.

 

[Brodeur]

How much competition will there be for the bigger UFA goalies this offseason? TOR will need a goalie and BUF will need a goalie but how many teams either need a goalie and have cap or don't need a goalie that badly they overspend on another one in UFA? Does Anaheim spend on another goalie with Gibson already overpaid? Same for OTT with Murray? Etc. My guess is that NJ may be one of the few teams that has to spend on a goalie this summer.

Ballpark estimation:

ANA: Gibson|Stolarz
CGY: Markstrom|Vladar
EDM: Smith|
LAK: Quick|Petersen
SEA: Grubauer|Driedger
SJS: Reimer|Kahkonen|Hill
VAN: Demko|
VGK: Lehner|Broissoit|Thompson?

ARZ: Vejmelka|
CHI: |
COL: |Francouz
DAL: Oettinger|Khudobin?
MIN: Talbot|
NSH: Saros|
STL: Binnington|
WPG: Hellebuyck|


BOS: Ullmark|Swayman
BUF: |
DET: |Nedeljkovic
FLO: Bobrovsky|Knight|Johansson?
MON: Price?|Allen|Montembeault?
OTT: Forsberg|Murray
TBL: Vasilevskiy|Elliott
TOR: |Mrazek

CAR: Andersen|Raanta|Kochetkov
CLB: Merzlikins|Tarasov?
NJD: Blackwood|Bernier
NYI: Varlamov|Sorokin
NYR: Shesterkin|Georgiev
PHI: Hart|
PIT: Jarry|
WAS: Vanecek|Samsonov

Starter: Kuemper|Fleury|Campbell|Saros
Backup: Holtby|Korpisalo|Jones|DeSmith|Lankinen|Wedgewood|Comrie|Anderson|Halak|Koskinen|Rittich|Greiss

Open starter spot: Edmonton (limited cap), Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto, Colorado.

Edit: Connor Ingram may be earning himself a backup gig.

 

[My3Sons]

Ballpark estimation:



Open starter spot: Edmonton (limited cap), Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto, Colorado.

That's not too bad. I'd expect a UFA goalie chooses Toronto and Colorado for similar money over any of the other teams (but I expect Kuemper to return to Colorado anyway) but beyond that there isn't any obvious landing spot that says no way a guy signs with NJ if they make a fair offer. Edmonton is certainly a better team, but not everyone wants to play in Canada these days. Chicago and Detroit have more appeal but are they necessarily any better than NJ? Same for Buffalo. I can at least with a straight face argue that a good goalie vaults NJ ahead of Detroit, Chicago, Buffalo, and maybe puts them in the same vicinity as Edmonton. I would think that's a decent landing spot for a goalie on the rise.

 

[Brodeur]

Toronto has ~79.2 mil committed for its roster next season. So they might not be able to spend big on a goalie.

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable going all-in on say Ville Husso, but maybe a scenario where we sign somebody and dangle Blackwood (attractive 2.8 mil cap hit) to Edmonton/Toronto?

 

[My3Sons]

Toronto has ~79.2 mil committed for its roster next season. So they might not be able to spend big on a goalie.

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable going all-in on say Ville Husso, but maybe a scenario where we sign somebody and dangle Blackwood (attractive 2.8 mil cap hit) to Edmonton/Toronto?

I am not sure how realistic it is to get two new goalies over the summer. I don’t expect Bernier to return to NJ. If Blackwood starts as the backup and shows he can play again and the new goalie gives confidence he can play well for a solid number of years then maybe you can move Blackwood but right now you might be looking at a minimal return.

 

[Bleedred]

Toronto has ~79.2 mil committed for its roster next season. So they might not be able to spend big on a goalie.

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable going all-in on say Ville Husso, but maybe a scenario where we sign somebody and dangle Blackwood (attractive 2.8 mil cap hit) to Edmonton/Toronto?

Fine with me.

I kind of want him off the team as long as Ruff is here. Ruff will no doubt give him a long leash if whoever we acquire this offseason starts to struggle for a stretch, no matter how much he's outplayed Blackwood.

UNLESS we get Hellebuyck or somebody that's a legit starter. Someone like Reimer, Husso, Blackwood's gonna get too much time if he's splitting with someone like that. Reimer would only even be a good option if we had a legit starter.

I just don't see Blackwood having a future here. Even if he does play well next year, what exactly do you sign him for? A one year deal that takes him right to UFA? Like how many years do we give him? Do we give him a raise, despite how poorly he played on the first two years of this deal?

 

[Brodeur]

Now that the draft lottery is done, I can put my armchair GM jacket on.....

Draft Day: Take Slafkovsky,

DET: C/LW Pavel Zacha
NJD: RD Antti Tuomisto, STL2(2023)

Similar parameters to the Sam Bennett to Florida trade. Zacha gets a fresh start and can play with the other Czechs in Detroit. Tuomisto is a big stay at home RD who helped DU win the NCAA title. Detroit has drafted a small army of big D since Yzerman has taken over, so they could afford to deal one away.

ARZ: LW Andreas Johnsson
NJD: C John Farinacci

Johnsson's 3.4 mil cap hit and 750K salary is perfect for a cash strapped Coyotes team looking to hit the floor. Farinacci was a pick from the previous administration and could go the UFA route August 2023 (at least according to CapFriendly, wasn't sure he might get extended a year since Harvard didn't play last season). As a bonus, he's an NJ native.

Free agency: If we can't work out a trade for Kevin Fiala, sign Nino Niederreiter to a Brandon Saad deal (5x4.5). Sign Ville Husso to a Chris Driedger contract (3x3.5). If the doctors give Bernier a clean bill of health, maybe dangle Blackwood at 50% retained to Edmonton/Toronto and see how high a pick can be extracted. If Bernier looks iffy, try to smooth things over with Blackwood. He needs to perform this year for his next contract regardless.

Sign Ian Cole (2x3) to be Ben Lovejoy to Ty Smith's Will Butcher. Cole is a lefty but has played the right side with regularity. Sign a veteran warm body RD like Greg Pateryn to be the healthy scratch 7th D that we never hope to see on the ice. Sign a veteran C/RW like Riley Nash to a PTO, leave a spot for Slafkovsky/Holtz to claim. If neither guy is ready, sign Nash to hang out with Pateryn in the press box.

Forwards:
Nieddereiter-Hischier-Bratt
Sharangovich-Hughes-Mercer
Tatar-Boqvist-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
-------------------------------------
Kuokkanen-(Nash)-Holtz*
Slafkovsky*
-------------------------------------
Foote-Thompson

Defense:
Graves-Hamilton
Siegenthaler-Severson
Smith-Cole
--------------------------------------
Pateryn
--------------------------------------
Bahl-Walsh
Okhotiuk
Mukhamadullin?

Goaltending:
Blackwood-Husso-Bernier?
--------------------------------------
Daws-Schmid

PP1: Bratt-Hischier (bumper)-Nieddereiter (net front)-Hughes-Hamilton
PP2: Sharangovich-Mercer-Tatar-Smith-Severson (sub in Holtz/Slafkovsky if they make team)

PK1: tbd-McLeod-Siegenthaler-Cole (somebody will have to claim Vesey's spot, maybe Zetterlund/Boqvist?)
PK2: Sharangovich-Hischier-Graves-Severson

Summer 2023: Tatar/Graves are UFA. Slafkovsky/L.Hughes slide into their roster spots.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Get ready for some Kevin Costner draft day shit:

1. NJD 1st Round Pick 2, NJD 2nd Round Pick, A.Johnsson and J.Boqvist traded to CBJ for CHI 1st Round Pick 6, CBJ 1st Round Pick 12, rights to Corson Cuelemans.

2. CBJ 1st Round Pick 12, NJD 3rd Round Pick, traded to MIN for K.Fiala, MIN 1st Round Pick 24.

3. MIN 1st Round Pick 24, A.Holtz, T.Smith, P.Zacha traded to SJS for T.Meier, J.Reimer

4. NJD 4th Round Pick, T.Tatar traded to ARI for T.Emberson

At the draft Pick 6: take one of Jiricek/Nemec/Gauthier.

Lines:
Bratt-Hughes-Sharangovich
Fiala-Hischier-Meier
Kuokkanen-Mercer-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Sigenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Bahl-Subban

Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier

 

[theoptimist]

Get ready for some Kevin Costner draft day shit:

1. NJD 1st Round Pick 2, NJD 2nd Round Pick, A.Johnsson and J.Boqvist traded to CBJ for CHI 1st Round Pick 6, CBJ 1st Round Pick 12, rights to Corson Cuelemans.

2. CBJ 1st Round Pick 12, NJD 3rd Round Pick, traded to MIN for K.Fiala, MIN 1st Round Pick 24.

3. MIN 1st Round Pick 24, A.Holtz, T.Smith, P.Zacha traded to SJS for T.Meier, J.Reimer

4. NJD 4th Round Pick, T.Tatar traded to ARI for T.Emberson

At the draft Pick 6: take one of Jiricek/Nemec/Gauthier.

Lines:
Bratt-Hughes-Sharangovich
Fiala-Hischier-Meier
Kuokkanen-Mercer-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Sigenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Bahl-Subban

Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier

I like the players you added, but I vomited when I saw 59 at 3LW…no bueno

 

[Bleedred]

Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier

Get ready for some Kevin Costner draft day shit:

1. NJD 1st Round Pick 2, NJD 2nd Round Pick, A.Johnsson and J.Boqvist traded to CBJ for CHI 1st Round Pick 6, CBJ 1st Round Pick 12, rights to Corson Cuelemans.

2. CBJ 1st Round Pick 12, NJD 3rd Round Pick, traded to MIN for K.Fiala, MIN 1st Round Pick 24.

3. MIN 1st Round Pick 24, A.Holtz, T.Smith, P.Zacha traded to SJS for T.Meier, J.Reimer

4. NJD 4th Round Pick, T.Tatar traded to ARI for T.Emberson

At the draft Pick 6: take one of Jiricek/Nemec/Gauthier.

Lines:
Bratt-Hughes-Sharangovich
Fiala-Hischier-Meier
Kuokkanen-Mercer-Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Sigenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Bahl-Subban

Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier

I like the players you added, but I vomited when I saw 59 at 3LW…no bueno

Some people will probably vomit over the Bahl-Subban bottom pairing, but I most vomited over the Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier triple threat, which to me looks like quite the reliable tank.

The only way that tandem works is if Reimer has probably his best season since he was in his 20's and/or Blackwood has the best case scenario of a season.

Reimer is fine as a backup/1b at most, but not on a team where the other NHL goalie is going to be a guy that's been an .893% over his last 55 games played in the NHL, on top of having all kinds of health issues in that time period and even further beyond it.

Reimer and some other guy, preferably a legit 1a goalie at the WORST (and the only thing that says Blackwood is a 1a is a few month span that will be over 2.5 years ago by the start of next year, on top of nothing but faith and hope) would be fine.

Reimer and Blackwood is better than Blackwood-Gillies, Daws-Gillies, Daws-Hammond, Hammond-Gillies, but that's all I got. Reimer is 34 years old and Blackwood has had his own problems staying on the ice and when he has been on the ice he performed almost historically bad (by Devils standards, not all time league standards) over the last 55 games.

 

[My3Sons]

Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier


Some people will probably vomit over the Bahl-Subban bottom pairing, but I most vomited over the Blackwood-Reimer-Bernier triple threat, which to me looks like quite the reliable tank.

The only way that tandem works is if Reimer has probably his best season since he was in his 20's and/or Blackwood has the best case scenario of a season.

Reimer is fine as a backup/1b at most, but not on a team where the other NHL goalie is going to be a guy that's been an .893% over his last 55 games played in the NHL, on top of having all kinds of health issues in that time period and even further beyond it.

Reimer and some other guy, preferably a legit 1a goalie at the WORST (and the only thing that says Blackwood is a 1a is a few month span that will be over 2.5 years ago by the start of next year, on top of nothing but faith and hope) would be fine.

Reimer and Blackwood is better than Blackwood-Gillies, Daws-Gillies, Daws-Hammond, Hammond-Gillies, but that's all I got. Reimer is 34 years old and Blackwood has had his own problems staying on the ice and when he has been on the ice he performed almost historically bad (by Devils standards, not all time league standards) over the last 55 games.

NJ picked the wrong offseason to need a goalie. My thought is they try to overpay for a UFA and if that fails they overpay for Gibson. Either way it won't be much more than a stop gap solution.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

less vomiting, more accepting everyone’s outlandish guesses please

 

[ninetyeight]

Bratt hasn't signed, Nico, Jack, Siegenthaler, Mbw, Bernier and Dougie are all injured, no trades were made.

Johnsson Zacha Tatar
Kuokkanen Mercer Sharangovich
Wood Boqvist Zetterlund
Geertsen McLeod Bastian

Smith Walsh
Bahl White
Severson Graves

Gillies
Daws

Recchi re-hired since Fitz couldn't find other assistants.

 

[youryeah]

Bratt hasn't signed, Nico, Jack, Siegenthaler, Mbw, Bernier and Dougie are all injured, no trades were made.

Johnsson Zacha Tatar
Kuokkanen Mercer Sharangovich
Wood Boqvist Zetterlund
Geertsen McLeod Bastian

Smith Walsh
Bahl White
Severson Graves

Gillies
Daws

Recchi re-hired since Fitz couldn't find other assistants.

I just got anxiety reading that and may need to see a specialist

 

[Nico Hischier]

4. NJD 4th Round Pick, T.Tatar traded to ARI for T.Emberson

Just for fun

Make that Trade ^
Sign Gaudreau and Kane

Gaudreau-Hughes-E.Kane
Bratt-Hischier-Mercer
Sharangovich/Johnsson/Kuokkanen/Boqvist/Zetterlund
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Sigenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Bahl/Okhotyuk/Smith

Blackwood
Bernier
Daws

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

Alright we’re almost a full day into the Devils’ offseason. I wanna see everyone’s best guess as to what next season’s opening night roster looks like. Be as outlandish or conservative as you like. I’ll bump this periodically after the draft, free agency, any trades, etc to see if anyone’s hit the mark. No prizes other than the admiration and respect of your peers. No rules other than…uh….if I think of any i’ll let you know. I will not be going first.

Shara Hughes Bratt
Tatar Hischier Mercer
Slafkovsky Zacha Zetterlund
Wood McLeod Bastian

Graves Hamilton
Siegs Sevs
Bahl Smith

Fleury
Blackwood

Yep, Fleury.

 

[Eggtimer]

There is potential for a shit ton of movemenf happenig league wide. Possibly …. ( some will move for sure as UFA‘s , but some in the list are very doubtful to be moved , but still possibly traded ) I just listed ones I’d be somewhat interested in .

Malkin , Letang , Gaudreau , Tkachuk , DeBrincat , E Kane , Fiala , Meier , Gibson , Husso , Keumper , Nichushkin , Marchment , Trochek , Lyubushkin, Neiderrieder , Copp , Kakko (offersheet) Puljujarvi , Pastrnak , Chychrun , Manson

Here is my fantasyland , probably over the cap , dream lineup.

Nichushkin Hughes Mercer
???? Nico Bratt
Slafkovsky Boqvist Puljujarvi
Bastain McLeod Wood


The ???? is one of (in order of preference ) Tkachuk , Meier, ………………Fiala , DeBrincat ( Debrincat is very good but the cost to get him will be lots) I prefer to sign a UFA over using Pick #2 / Holtz / 2023 1st rounder on a forward.


Graves Hamilton
Siegs Severson
Okhotiuk / Shakir Lyubushkin

Blackwood
Ottenger ( offersheet ) or Hellebuyck ( holtz plus ? trade ) Neither will ever happen so …
Gibson

 

[Puckclektr]

Sharangovich-Hughes-Holtz
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Nichuskin-Mercer-Thompson
Wood-Mcleod-Bastian
Boqvist-Kuokkanen


Graves-Hamilton
Seigs-Seves
Smith-Okhotiuk/Bahl

Husso
Blackwood

Tatar and Johnsson traded for picks or a depth defenseman with one year left.

sign Zacha. give him 1 year and tell him to earn a contract and play like he can play and With all the development in Utica he WILL be sent down if he doesn't perform this year. I think Zacha can be a really good second lineplayer. I also think he can be a really good second line AHLer.

 

[My3Sons]

Sharangovich-Hughes-Holtz
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Nichuskin-Mercer-Thompson
Wood-Mcleod-Bastian
Boqvist-Kuokkanen


Graves-Hamilton
Seigs-Seves
Smith-Okhotiuk/Bahl

Husso
Blackwood

Tatar and Johnsson traded for picks or a depth defenseman with one year left.

sign Zacha. give him 1 year and tell him to earn a contract and play like he can play and With all the development in Utica he WILL be sent down if he doesn't perform this year. I think Zacha can be a really good second lineplayer. I also think he can be a really good second line AHLer.

No Zetterlund?

 

[Puckclektr]

No Zetterlund?

Forgot. Throw him in there somehwere. It will be a battle between him Kuok, Boq and Thompson IMO>

 

[My3Sons]

Forgot. Throw him in there somehwere. It will be a battle between him Kuok, Boq and Thompson IMO>

Maybe a Swede this line of Johnsson Boquist and Zetterlund? I’d prefer a more veteran defensive third line but that may have to wait another year for them to figure out what they have in Boquist and Zetterlund and maybe they prove they can win against other teams’ bottom six lines.

 

[Nico Hischier]

Gaudreau-Hischier-Tkachuk
Slafkovsky-Hughes-Holtz
Tatar-Mercer-Johnsson
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Sigenthaler-Hamilton
Graves-Severson
Bahl/Okhotyuk/Smith

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Bratt hasn't signed, Nico, Jack, Siegenthaler, Mbw, Bernier and Dougie are all injured, no trades were made.

Johnsson Zacha Tatar
Kuokkanen Mercer Sharangovich
Wood Boqvist Zetterlund
Geertsen McLeod Bastian

Smith Walsh
Bahl White
Severson Graves

Gillies
Daws

Recchi re-hired since Fitz couldn't find other assistants.

still better than a lot of those rosters between 2014 and 2018