Why are the Devils 21-4-1? insane easy schedule, makes perfect sense.

[Classic Devil]

I think the Devils can absolutely use one LD. It upgrades Smith today (if we're not gonna give Bahl any play), and next season replaces Graves when Luke Hughes comes into the fold. Ideally it'd be a guy in the Siegs/Marino mold of mobile, defensive guy who can make good puck decisions even if he's not an offensive catalyst, since he'd be the Severson partner today and the Nemec partner looking forward (if Severson is not retained).

Yes. I'm not sure who that guy would be, but I agree entirely.

 

[bobbyking]

the illuminati

 

[Arthur Morgan]

was a mistake not getting Bratt signed long term. hope NJ manages to keep him around 8m

 

[MasterofGrond]

Yes. I'm not sure who that guy would be, but I agree entirely.

Yeah me neither. Those guys don't just grow on trees (except for Fitz, I guess lol).

It's more a nice to have than anything, though. Not an urgent need since even with Smith being actively bad half the time, Severson is dragging him to first pairing quality results.

 

[glenwo2]

I'm a sharks fan bro, you don't get to play that card on me. congrats on the squad though

But..your name is Kopitar...

I thought you would be a Kings fan.

 

[haak84]

was a mistake not getting Bratt signed long term. hope NJ manages to keep him around 8m

Devils didn't really have a chance to resign him. Bratt's agent was hell bent on a one year deal.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Devils didn't really have a chance to resign him. Bratt's agent was hell bent on a one year deal.

Im scared he's going to get like 10m with the cap going up

 

[Devils090]

was a mistake not getting Bratt signed long term. hope NJ manages to keep him around 8m

Wasn’t for lack of trying, Fitz is going to do everything he can to lock him up long term.

 

[Aurinko]

There is hard to find a player who is playing below expected. I would not have seen Siegenthaler, Tatar and Graves on top of the plusminus. It's not a perfect stat, but you cant be on top of your team if you are playing sloppy.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Im scared he's going to get like 10m with the cap going up

Which, honestly, he's worth in a rising cap world. The $8M AAV ship has sailed and the Devils have a bunch of expiring contracts. They can fit him no problem.

 

[PWiz30]

To be fair once he started playing as a rookie a number of NJ fans saw him as a unicorn.

He faded down the stretch that season but he had like 6 points in his first 2 games as a 19-year-old. The potential was pretty evident to just about all of us.

 

[Hisch13r]

Tatar is playing probably the best hockey of his career. I don't know if I want to re-sign him, but as long as he keeps it up I don't see any reason to make him a scratch. Boqvist is already going to get subbed out when Palat comes back, so ... as long as the kids keep performing, it's hard to see where we need to add someone.

Now, in the offseason, I really want us to poach Kuzmenko from the Canucks... or try to sign Patrick Kane to a 2-3 year contract...

I'm not opposed to looking at upgrades on Smith, though.

Tatar's just playing at the level he played at in Montreal

I think the Devils can absolutely use one LD. It upgrades Smith today (if we're not gonna give Bahl any play), and next season replaces Graves when Luke Hughes comes into the fold. Ideally it'd be a guy in the Siegs/Marino mold of mobile, defensive guy who can make good puck decisions even if he's not an offensive catalyst, since he'd be the Severson partner today and the Nemec partner looking forward (if Severson is not retained).

LD is more than fine both short term and long term. In the semi short term RD is the one that'll pose an issue next year (unless they have Luke play the right side and then yeah the left side's an issue). I do not think Nemec will be ready next year so that'll leave a hole there for next year.

Devils didn't really have a chance to resign him. Bratt's agent was hell bent on a one year deal.

That's not even true.

 

[Hisch13r]

Wasn’t for lack of trying, Fitz is going to do everything he can to lock him up long term.

I doubt we actually offered him the contract he would've deserved. 8x8 likely would've gotten it done and I don't think we went there.

Im scared he's going to get like 10m with the cap going up

Sucks when we probably could've gotten him for 8 but I'm more than fine with 10. That's still less than an 8.5 average for Nico, Jack, and Bratt.

 

[Killing Joke]

Yes. I'm not sure who that guy would be, but I agree entirely.

It should be Bahl. His metrics have been actually really really good. The winning streak is the only reason he hasn’t gotten another look. They don’t want to f*** with the line up winning

 

[Classic Devil]

It should be Bahl. His metrics have been actually really really good. The winning streak is the only reason he hasn’t gotten another look. They don’t want to f*** with the line up winning

If he can handle it - and we should definitely give him the chance before we trade for anyone - then I'm completely in favor.

 

[TBF1972]

I think the Devils can absolutely use one LD. It upgrades Smith today (if we're not gonna give Bahl any play), and next season replaces Graves when Luke Hughes comes into the fold. Ideally it'd be a guy in the Siegs/Marino mold of mobile, defensive guy who can make good puck decisions even if he's not an offensive catalyst, since he'd be the Severson partner today and the Nemec partner looking forward (if Severson is not retained).

neither smith, nor graves are long-term solutions. lhd is the devils deepest position in the prospect pool. so i would love to see first, what we have between
bahl, okhotyuk, l.hughes, mukhamadullin, vukojevic and vilen.

 

[mphmiles]

Which, honestly, he's worth in a rising cap world. The $8M AAV ship has sailed and the Devils have a bunch of expiring contracts. They can fit him no problem.

Yeah, even if he does get 10mm, (Which I think he will) it's fine.

You're getting 3 star forwards, all of whom are still pretty young, for a combined 25 million- signed when they're all going to be in their prime for most of the duration of the contracts. NJ should be in excellent shape cap-wise for years.

 

[Lateralous]

neither smith, nor graves are long-term solutions. lhd is the devils deepest position in the prospect pool. so i would love to see first, what we have between
bahl, okhotyuk, l.hughes, mukhamadullin, vukojevic and vilen.

Don’t forget Seamus Casey.

I would like for the Devils to try and retain Graves.

 

[TBF1972]

Don’t forget Seamus Casey.

I would like for the Devils to try and retain Graves.

Casey is a RHD.

 

[beekay414]

What about 14-3 OP?

 

[beekay414]

The Devils are set up nicely on the blue line. Obviously not everyone will work out but they're dominating now there and they haven't even added their #2 and #4 overall picks yet. Add in the fact that they have Bahl, Mukhamadullin, Okhotiuk and Casey just waiting around adds into their depth and at least gives them more proverbial shots in the barrel. The question becomes 1) can their goaltending sustain it and 2) is their reliance on all 4 lines sustainable. For me? I think the answer is unequivocally yes. Vanecek isn't going to be a Vezina candidate but the Devils just need league average goaltending and they are golden.

This team is set up for now and the future. A decade of futility is going to lead to a decade of dominance. I feel bad for the Devils fans that couldn't see that or stick around to see it through.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Tebowz]

The Devils are for real. Should be the favorite for the cup right now.

 

[centipede2233]

The Devils are for real. Should be the favorite for the cup right now.

Agreed. They are the cup favourites, and I’m serious.

 

[Hisch13r]

"Makes no sense"