Speculation: Nemec not happy with the Devils?
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HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
I say this every time Caufield gets mentioned for the Devils, great player but they are trying to build a team to compete in the playoffs and having Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Cole Caufield as their 3 best offensive threats is a terrible idea. Especially considering the price they'd have to pay to get him, which would obviously be more than Nemec alone.
This is in no way a a shot at Caufield, simply stating the fact that the Devils are small enough without adding another tiny player to their top 6.
That and the salary cap. (This applies to any 8 mill ish forward btw)
Even with a 95 mill cap next year, and shipping out palat, you end up just under 2 mill over the cap with that roster adding caufield.
And the only other piece you realistically want to cut salary on is who?
MAYBE if you want to go real shallow in the bottom 6 and replace haula with a 1 mill guy.
Beyond that it's Hamilton. But you can't move Hamilton if you've just shipped out Nemec.
And so therein is the crux. A big salary piece in means Hamilton out.
Hamilton out means Nemec stays. Ergo, to move Nemec for an expensive forward doesn't make sense.
Caufield has always been a better scorer than Hughes... Even when they were playing together.
One season does not make Hughes a better goal scorer than Caufield.
Were you aware Caufield had a surgery in his shoulder in 2023? Look at his GPG before the surgery... Of course it dropped when he came back.
This year he's back to scoring at a 0.5 GPG even with Laine taking his spot on the left board on the PP.
Golden_Jet
Registered User
- Sep 21, 2005
- 27,824
- 14,773
So a lot ifs and buts and hope, but none of that trumps the actual stats you were provided.
Let’s stick with real stats and numbers, so far Jack Hughes has trumped any goal scoring season of the last 35 years of the habs.
Let’s wait until he actually trumps Jack.
BLONG7
Registered User
Agreed........and I think most habs fans are not wanting to trade Caufield. The story goes that the habs passed on Michkov for reasons you state, not wanting to have too many smaller skilled forwards in the top 6 and already having Caufield in the fold.
Guess
Registered User
This would never happen, Caufield is too established with the team and Nemec isn't. Habs are not San Jose, they need more vets at this point.
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
Jack Hughes
21-22: 49 games played, 26 goals
22-23 : 78 games played 43 goals
23-24 62 games played 27 goals
24-25 50 games played 18 goals
Cole Caufield
21-22: 67 games played, 23 goals
22-23 : 46 games played 26 goals
23-24 82 games played 28 goals
24-25 47 games played 24 goals
You may be losing this battle in their shared time in the NHL Jack Hughes has scored 114 goals in 239 games played while Cole Caufield has scored 101 goals in 242 games played.
Caufield has played more games and scored less goals. He may be turning this around but right now, Hughes has scored more.
I think the year post shoulder surgery of Caufield is the big anomaly here. These take usually about 2 years for the player to get back their shot/stick handling abilities 100%, and what we see basically confirms it.
When they were playing on the same team with the program, Caufield scored 72 goals in 64 games while Hughes scored 34 in 50.
Caufield always had the better shot/release. He is a pure goal scorer.
Hughes is a complete C with the hands,the skating, the playmaking. He has a good shot, but nothing like Caufield.
I think Hughes is a better player by a fair margin, but Caufield is and always has been the better goal scorer.
I am 100% sure if you ask Hughes himself he'll tell you Caufield is the better goal scorer.
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Chiarot 2.0 incoming at that price... He's an ok 3rd pair D... 5.5 is a big mistake.
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
Hughes has had shoulder surgery as well. I prefer the goals being scored at the highest level. For now Hughes has him beat. It could change though.
This isn't a who has a better shot competition it's a who has tucked more goals, and that's Hughes for now.
Like I said, I am 100% sure Hughes would tell you himself Caufield is the better goal scorer. He played with him. He knows.
Caufield's shot is one of the best in the league.
glenngineer
Registered User
Would a Nemec for Saros swap be acceptable, throw in some other pieces to balance out needs and/or salary cap issues?
ZachaFlockaFlame
Registered User
- Aug 24, 2020
- 17,027
- 23,006
Absolutely not, if the Devils wanted Saros it would've been done pre Markstrom not after. They're not doing dumping more assets into a goalie until Markstrom leaves. He still has a year left
not at all, kovacevic is one of the top shutdown d in the league, chiarot was always trash
absolutely
if you use the csss method and compare the games in which caufield scored versus the games jack didn't score, caufield leads by 105 goals.
cut and slice .... eh dry evidence that caufield is the better scorer. if you can't see it, you must be a habs hater.
ninetyeight
Registered User
But what I will do is bookmark this if Nemec gets traded and what the return is
He never said that's what Nemec's value is, but what he personally would want back. I wouldn't trade Nemec to MTL unless we get Caufield. Tom Fitzgerald could trade him for a 4th round pick for all we know.
It's usually the rebuilding teams who get multiple assets. I think no playoff team wants to be the quantity side of the trade, but the one who gets the best piece. So in my mind Devils would be either looking to upgrade Nemec to a proven goal scorer, adding in Picks, Mercer, Gritsyuk, Hämeenaho whoever.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I understand the pry away value but there is no way someone who is not playing full time in the NHL is worth Caufield on a value contract. That's taking the pry away value to astronomical levels. How about we trade Reinbacher for Bratt? See how that looks? Those are flawed pry away trades bud and you know it.
Nemec has very good value but he does not have #2 OA value at this stage. He has to actually play games in the NHL and produce to his ability before you get the value you are shooting for. If traded before that, the pieces offered will be futures. Not someone who is in the top 10 in NHL scoring and on pace for 40+ goals at age 24 on a value contract.
Nemec is an interesting one. Being blocked due to RD depth so it's kind of difficult to know how good or bad he is at this point in time. Also playing on a crap AHL team as well. I personally like him a lot but there is no way of knowing he is a sure shot top 4D. Probability says he is but it's not guaranteed. There is no way I would give him top pairing quality. Top 4RD yes.
Same as Slaf and others in that top 5... they were all projected to be 2nd tier types. Bob M was right.
ninetyeight
Registered User
I mean that wouldn't be 1 to 1, but quantity for quality like I said. So Nemec+1st+prospect or something for Caufield. If Devils were going into rebuild trading Bratt might be fine, but again it would be Reinbacher+1st+prospect or something. Devils and Canadiens don't seem like good trading partners now that both are competing for a playoff spot.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
I wish I could trade Reinbacher, 1st, Prospect for proven young player like Caufield on a value contract. It's a pipe dream. Situations like M Tkachuk wanting to leave Calgary don't come around very often. Usually, it's like the Miller situation and then, you rather not trade for the 30+ contract taking them to age 37... with those types of assets anyways.
Getting the proven young player in their prime and locked up from another team is almost impossible. It's very rare circumstances.
Jerzey Devil
Jerzey-Duz-It
Devils trading Kovacevic back to Montreal solves everyone’s problems.
