Value of: Jamie Oleksiak to NJ

[HugeInTheShire]

With Graves likely departing the Devils should be looking for a replacement, as they may not want to have both Bahl and Luke Hughes in the lineup every night so what would be the cost to get Jamie Oleksiak out of Seattle?

I'm not really sure what Seattle needs or would want.

Click to read more...

 

[Mrfenn92]

Really don’t see any reason for Seattle to move him out

 

[Irie]

At this point Oleksiak is providing great locker room character, but somewhat questionable on ice value.

21-22 he was a defensive rock, more so than even Larsson. Last season he got the scoring bug and started roving, jumping into the play at every possible opportunity, and he put up career highs in points(25) and goals(9), but his new play style probably cost the team more than it helped..

He's a huge part of the team's vet presence and leadership, and I think he can bounce back defensively, as his skills haven't declined, just his decision making and on ice identity, but the Kraken would have a hole in their top four if he left - how difficult he'd be to replace is probably debatable.

Team needs are quality prospects, second line center upgrade, and top 4 defender if they move Oleksiak.

 

[HBK27]

With Graves likely departing the Devils should be looking for a replacement, as they may not want to have both Bahl and Luke Hughes in the lineup every night so what would be the cost to get Jamie Oleksiak out of Seattle?

I'm not really sure what Seattle needs or would want.

Oleksiak is still signed for 3 more seasons at $4.6M per. Your rationale is that you don't think the Devils want Hughes and Bahl in the lineup every night, but your solution is to bring in a guy with 3 years of term and a high cap hit? This makes no sense.

There's no reason why Hughes and Bahl can't both play in the lineup next season. Luke looked great in his limited time in the NHL, is the best defensive prospect out there and followed the same route many other players have had immediate success with in 2 years in the NCAA. Bahl showed he belonged in the NHL last season. Who cares if they're both young.

 

[ShootIt]

What's Graves rough value on his next contract?
Are you assuming he wants out or his next deal will be too rich to pay?

Just curious.

 

[Nocashstyle]

What's Graves rough value on his next contract?
Are you assuming he wants out or his next deal will be too rich to pay?

Just curious.

Probably too rich to pay. Same with Severson but his will be even richer.

Hamilton, Siegenthaler, and Marino are signed long term. L Hughes is already penciled in as a full time NHLer next season. Kevin Bahl established himself during the second half of the season. Nemec seems like he could be ready too, but might just be a victim of depth and start the season in the AHL. There’s also other young guys with legitimate upside within the next few years like Vilen and Casey.

Just doesn’t make sense to extend someone like Graves or Severson for the money and term they’ll command on the open market.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Oleksiak is still signed for 3 more seasons at $4.6M per. Your rationale is that you don't think the Devils want Hughes and Bahl in the lineup every night, but your solution is to bring in a guy with 3 years of term and a high cap hit? This makes no sense.

There's no reason why Hughes and Bahl can't both play in the lineup next season. Luke looked great in his limited time in the NHL, is the best defensive prospect out there and followed the same route many other players have had immediate success with in 2 years in the NCAA. Bahl showed he belonged in the NHL last season. Who cares if they're both young.

I didn't realize he's signed for 3 more years I thought he had 1-2 left.
I definitely don't feel nearly as comfortable with a combination of Bahl, Hughes, Nemec and Smith playing bigger minutes every night as you do though.
Maybe this isn't the right player but relying on those 4 to replace Severson and Graves will probably be a mistake.

 

[BKarchitect]

The Kraken have impressive forward depth but are much thinner on defense. Help is on the way from the farm…I think Evans will be a top four guy at some point for example but he’s a much different style of player. Trading Oleksiak leaves them with a huge hole right now on their blueline and in their locker room.

So there’s no real impetuous for Seattle to move Oleksiak at this point. Unless you are coming in with an actual high end pick or prospect or proposing a hockey trade where they are getting another seasoned top four defender back, not sure there’s a match.

 

[Forge]

Bahl looked like an NHL player last year. No reason to assume that Hughes isn't going to be an every day player next year. I'm letting Bahl fail before I make a move like this

Smith is still around as a 7th D who can fill in if Bahl stumbles.

I have no interest in this type of move for the devils

 

[Forge]

What's Graves rough value on his next contract?
Are you assuming he wants out or his next deal will be too rich to pay?

Just curious.

Projections I have seen are around 5x5.

 

[SML2]

You don't trade away a guy who willingly signed a UFA deal with your expansion team unless He's been passed on the depth chart and you can spin it as you doing him a favor by giving him a chance to play minutes you can no longer give him. Not sure that's the case here.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Graves and Oleksiak aren’t similar players but I do think Oleksiak and Marino would complement each other phenomenally well. I don’t see any way the Kraken would trade him though, unless you’re offering up a piece on par with Marino. They need to add to their defense, not subtract from it.

 

[Eggtimer]

I didn't realize he's signed for 3 more years I thought he had 1-2 left.
I definitely don't feel nearly as comfortable with a combination of Bahl, Hughes, Nemec and Smith playing bigger minutes every night as you do though.
Maybe this isn't the right player but relying on those 4 to replace Severson and Graves will probably be a mistake.

All 4 wouldn’t play at the same time unless there are injuries . I hope we get a 1-2 year stop gap D like Gudas , but Gudas will rightfully get more length and $ than what would be a smart contract for NJ.

Graves and Oleksiak aren’t similar players but I do think Oleksiak and Marino would complement each other phenomenally well. I don’t see any way the Kraken would trade him though, unless you’re offering up a piece on par with Marino. They need to add to their defense, not subtract from it.

Would Soucy be a good fit in NJ ? Or would he easily get a longer next contract than what the Devils would want ? What will his next contract likely look like ?

 

[AfroThunder396]

Luke already has a babysitter named John Marino, who is the Devils most reliable and trustworthy defenseman.

Ryan Graves kinda sucks and someone is going to overpay him because that's just how free agency works with defenseman.

Bahl really shouldn't be a factor here, he's a bottom pairing defenseman and is unlikely to ever be anything more than that. He proves he belongs at the NHL but it's not like he'll be matched up against top forwards in premium minutes. He's a role player and those guys are sheltered by definition.

Fitz has basically said the Luke is penciled in full-time next year. This issue isn't him or Bahl, but Nemec. The way I see it, #6D is a competition between him and Brendan Smith, but Fitz might bring in a better veteran RHD for him to compete with. But I can't imagine trading assets for one when free agency is so close.

 

[Guttersniped]

What's Graves rough value on his next contract?
Are you assuming he wants out or his next deal will be too rich to pay?

Just curious.

Everyone’s guess for Graves seems to be 4-5 years and ~5m.

He’s simply too expensive for the Devils to keep longterm.

Earlier in the season Graves talked like he was planning to stay longterm but he seemed to realize he was a goner by his exit interviews.

 

[Smitty426]

Luke already has a babysitter named John Marino, who is the Devils most reliable and trustworthy defenseman.

Ryan Graves kinda sucks and someone is going to overpay him because that's just how free agency works with defenseman.

Bahl really shouldn't be a factor here, he's a bottom pairing defenseman and is unlikely to ever be anything more than that. He proves he belongs at the NHL but it's not like he'll be matched up against top forwards in premium minutes. He's a role player and those guys are sheltered by definition.

Fitz has basically said the Luke is penciled in full-time next year. This issue isn't him or Bahl, but Nemec. The way I see it, #6D is a competition between him and Brendan Smith, but Fitz might bring in a better veteran RHD for him to compete with. But I can't imagine trading assets for one when free agency is so close.

I was all set to move Bahl in a Timo pkg. After the TDL he proved me wrong. Finally added a bit of snarl to his frame. How much will Demelo cost from Winny? Send Walsh and a low pick, we will lose walsh on waivers if we bounce him around. Could get a merc in Gudas for 1 yr!

 

[MasterofGrond]

Graves will get 4+ over 4+

sure as shit shouldn't though. He's pretty ass.

 

[biturbo19]

I get that Graves is probably going to get...basically the Oleksiak sort of contract from someone. But wouldn't it be better to just keep him and Marino together, instead of spending assets to trade for a similar player at the same price?


Graves will have extra years obviously. But if that's what you want, shouldn't you just go with the devil you know?

 

[Forge]

I get that Graves is probably going to get...basically the Oleksiak sort of contract from someone. But wouldn't it be better to just keep him and Marino together, instead of spending assets to trade for a similar player at the same price?


Graves will have extra years obviously. But if that's what you want, shouldn't you just go with the devil you know?

It's better to just let graves walk and not make any deal for another lhd. Let Bahl / Hughes fail first. There will be lhd available later if needed

 

[Thechozen1]

Do the Devils have a 2nd this year? Brendan Dillon could be available

Or Logan Stanley for Nolan Foote.

 

[Forge]

Do the Devils have a 2nd this year? Brendan Dillon could be available

Or Logan Stanley for Nolan Foote.

They do, but they don't have a first or a third right now, so I'm not sure if they move that second.

I still think it makes way more sense for the devils to add a right handed dman short term as opposed to a lefty though.

 

[biturbo19]

They do, but they don't have a first or a third right now, so I'm not sure if they move that second.

I still think it makes way more sense for the devils to add a right handed dman short term as opposed to a lefty though.

Feels like this is entirely contingent on whether they retain Graves or not. If they keep him...obviously a RHD probably makes more sense. If not...i think it's pretty clear they'll need some sort of defensive-minded LHD. Hughes can play either side, and obviously Nemec is going to play RD for them. But neither of them is going to be a real "stabilizing presence".


Problem is...everyone else in the league is also looking for a stable, defensively responsible RHD. It's going to be more or less impossible to find one of those from outside the organization on a "short-term" deal. It's going to be the sort of player you have to commit 6 years to. Not sure that's really in the Devils best interest either. With Dougie/Siegenthaler/Marino already locked up with some term remaining. That's basically your Top-4 RHD settled for a bunch of years. Add in Nemec who isn't too far off, and Hughes who can play just as comfortably on that off side...and i really don't think they can afford to commit to any RHD with term. So it'd have to be a bottom-pairing caliber filler. Like a Holl/Schenn caliber short-term filler. Which seems like a big downgrade to me. Not sure Hughes is going to step directly into that spot that Graves is vacating either. Obviously more talented, but not necessarily as good a fit with Marino in that role...and keeping Dougie out of a matchup role is a pretty crucial point of emphasis.



I can't help but wonder if the Devils aren't a sneaky contender to sign a guy like Gavrikov. He'd fill that Graves role...but probably more steady. You can afford to sorta push him to a premium "3rd pairing shutdown role" because of the crazy value of Siegenthaler's contract over time too, as Hughes starts to take over. But i don't really see how the Devils could land a RHD that is more than a filler, with the youngins they have coming down the pipeline and already very much on the cusp of cracking the team. It's just one of those positions where anyone decent is going to get stupid $$$ and term because it's so badly needed around the league by so many other teams.

 

[Forge]

Feels like this is entirely contingent on whether they retain Graves or not. If they keep him...obviously a RHD probably makes more sense. If not...i think it's pretty clear they'll need some sort of defensive-minded LHD. Hughes can play either side, and obviously Nemec is going to play RD for them. But neither of them is going to be a real "stabilizing presence".

That's what Kevin Bahl is. He was fine this year. I'm failing him first before making any moves on the left side. Let graves go. Hughes, Bahl and Smith for two spots. Left hand side is fine until it's not, and what you would acquire to fix that problem is a far cry from guys like graves or oleksiak unless Hughes is also a dumpster fire (in which case, the team may not be in a great spot anyway).

 

[biturbo19]

That's what Kevin Bahl is. He was fine this year. I'm failing him first before making any moves on the left side. Let graves go. Hughes, Bahl and Smith for two spots. Left hand side is fine until it's not, and what you would acquire to fix that problem is a far cry from guys like graves or oleksiak unless Hughes is also a dumpster fire (in which case, the team may not be in a great spot anyway).

Fair enough. I don't know that i have as much faith in Bahl filling Graves role as you seem to. He certainly could be that guy. But i just wouldn't leverage my whole season on it.

Devils are definitely in a weird spot where it might take a step backward to actually take that bigger step forward. That roster is going to look very different next year. Not necessarily replacing things with lesser players, but definitely replacing guys with less experienced players.


Just seems to me like Graves is less easily replaceable immediately than a guy like Severson. There's a clear transition there. Either Nemec or Hughes is easily ready to step into that role.

Graves gig...not so much. Not sure either is prepared for that. Not sure either can mimic that chemistry with Marino either. Not sold on Bahl stepping into that role either.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Fair enough. I don't know that i have as much faith in Bahl filling Graves role as you seem to. He certainly could be that guy. But i just wouldn't leverage my whole season on it.

Devils are definitely in a weird spot where it might take a step backward to actually take that bigger step forward. That roster is going to look very different next year. Not necessarily replacing things with lesser players, but definitely replacing guys with less experienced players.


Just seems to me like Graves is less easily replaceable immediately than a guy like Severson. There's a clear transition there. Either Nemec or Hughes is easily ready to step into that role.

Graves gig...not so much. Not sure either is prepared for that. Not sure either can mimic that chemistry with Marino either. Not sold on Bahl stepping into that role either.

Possible we take a step back but not guaranteed we will....We simply cannot afford the term or aav for Graves and in a small sample Hughes showed he can play...Will their be growing pains absolutely but in imo he will be outplaying a player like Graves in the near future ....Much rather see us add a Connor Clifton at RHD if possible....