GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (37-15-5) vs. Los Angeles Kings (32-19-7), 7 PM, MSGSN

[Better Call Sal]

This crowd shot of Nico's goal gave me chills.

 

[mdj12784]

This crowd shot of Nico's goal gave me chills.

Beautyful

 

[Billdo]

I couldn't agree with you more on virtually everything you're saying here.

I'd also like to add that if the Devils were willing to give up Dawson Mercer (which I'll also add would be a monumentally stupid decision), the trade would be done already. Sharks' GM Mike Grier is no dummy, he wants to "win" his first huge trade, which he clearly would if he got Mercer-plus for Meier. But Devils' GM Tom Fitzgerald is also a smart man, and he's not trading a guy who could be a 30-goal scorer next year on an ELC for a guy who will score 10 more goals for $9 million dollars more per year.

Simply put, you don't really move the needle by trading your 4th best forward for a player who would be your 3rd best forward. When you factor in the difference in age and pay scale between Meier and Mercer? Well, the idea just gets dumber and dumber the more you think about it.

I'd still say the Devils are the front runner for Meier, because quite frankly no other team in the running has a better young talent base to trade from. The Devils can give a 1st and multiple players who would immediately become the Sharks best wing prospect (Holtz, Gritsyuk) or best defense prospect (Mukhamadullin, Casey) or in the running for top 2 defense prospect (Bahl, Okhotyuk).

Just offer 1st, Holtz, and Muk or Casey. If they say no, move on. I'm getting tired of this. I'd almost rather them get a guy like Nino or Barbashev and a depth defenseman while staying the course anyway.

This crowd shot of Nico's goal gave me chills.

It's beautiful.

 

[Saugus]

This crowd shot of Nico's goal gave me chills.

Normally I hate the behind the net angles, but it just works so well here.

 

[DerekDevils30]

This Devils team is GUTSY.

A lot of folks in this GDT were calling game after it being 2-0. This team deserves the benefit of the doubt every single night.

I learned a few months ago to never count these guys out

Tonight was impressive though. 2-0 down is one thing when you have multiple periods to get it back. But to give up the 3-2 goal with 4 minutes left and find the will to tie it late is commendable. These guys have another gear when the goalie is pulled. Nothing but solid plays when they entered the zone and hard work along the boards to free up the puck.

 

[Devs3cups]

Recap:

CF%: 61.9%
SCF%: 67.92%
HDCF%: 64%
xGF%: 65.91%
xGF: 3.96
xGA: 2.05
Shots: 31-22

Oh we back.

 

[AfroThunder396]

SJ is absolutely right to ask for Mercer and we are absolutely right to tell them no way. For a young player of his caliber to be moved for a rental would be unprecedented.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I don’t disagree. I never said the Devils will or should give up Nemec or Mercer. That’s just the price from the Sharks to get a deal done. I wouldn’t do it either.

The Devils can easily outbid Seattle unless Seattle includes Wright, which they won't. The Devils can easily outbid Winnipeg unless Winnipeg includes Perfetti, which they won't. The Devils can easily outbid Carolina unless Carolina includes Nikishin, which they won't. Unless Buffalo decides to enter the Meier sweepstakes, I really don't see a team who can compete with NJ, even if the Devils start the bidding by saying Luke Hughes, Nemec and Mercer are all untouchable.

I'd also like to use this opportunity to add that I strongly pulled for the Devils to draft Nikishin in 2020, just because I enjoy people knowing when I was right.

 

[britdevil]

This Devils team is GUTSY.

A lot of folks in this GDT were calling game after it being 2-0. This team deserves the benefit of the doubt every single night.

SOME SPICY HOT DELICIOUS TAKES

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[NJDevils17]

Mercer reminds me so much of Parise it’s uncanny. Just that drive on each shift and the skill to match. Quickly becoming part of the “core” core. Cost controlled and half a decade younger? No chance SJ pulls him.

 

[DerekDevils30]

This crowd shot of Nico's goal gave me chills.

Bratt with the pirouette near the blue line. He really is a “figure skater“ out there as a few of our esteemed posters would say. Classic perimeter play.

 

[Blender]

Look at how badly he's being hooked there.

 

[Unknown Caller]

The Devils can easily outbid Seattle unless Seattle includes Wright, which they won't. The Devils can easily outbid Winnipeg unless Winnipeg includes Perfetti, which they won't. The Devils can easily outbid Carolina unless Carolina includes Nikishin, which they won't. Unless Buffalo decides to enter the Meier sweepstakes, I really don't see a team who can compete with NJ, even if the Devils start the bidding by saying Luke Hughes, Nemec and Mercer are all untouchable.

I'd also like to use this opportunity to add that I strongly pulled for the Devils to draft Nikishin in 2020, just because I enjoy people knowing when I was right.

What about St. Louis? Also, Carolina can offer a 1st, Morrow and Drury and be competitive with the Devils package.

 

[Hisch13r]

Re-sign Tomas Tatar. Thank you.

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[Devs3cups]

Re-sign Tomas Tatar. Thank you.

Was thinkin the same thing. He won't get a raise, but I'd keep him at about 3/3.5 per on a 2-year deal.

 

[njdevils1982]

Big Bahl.

had radio on for the first....

"bahl scratched the last two games"

-matt

 

[NJDevils17]

A Tatar extension hasn’t been discussed a bunch but I’m not opposed depending on the number. He’s been solid and we’re going to need a little depth to fill out the roster. Would love a 2x3M deal.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Hope we can get him locked in on a long term deal. He’s going to be so damn good.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Just offer 1st, Holtz, and Muk or Casey. If they say no, move on. I'm getting tired of this. I'd almost rather them get a guy like Nino or Barbashev and a depth defenseman while staying the course anyway.


It's beautiful.

I think we need to analyze the psychology of the situation, rather than just focusing on our own issues.

This is to say that Mike Grier is a rookie GM negotiating his first huge deal. The pressure he probably feels to "win" the trade is immense. It's probably safe to say more seasoned, veteran GMs are okay with the idea like: "we had to give up a lot to get what we wanted". But I'm fairly confident Grier lacks such scope, since he's literally never been in this situation before.

In a sense, we can say the same about Fitzgerald, who has pulled the trigger on deadline "seller" deals but never a deadline "buyer" deal. But the reason I feel Fitzgerald is blossoming into an elite GM is that he has stuck to his own plan despite outside/fan/media pressures and even improved in areas where he knew he had to (see: difference between the 2022 draft strategy compared to 2020 & 2021).

Ultimately, I think Fitzgerald will wait this one out. Grier is hoping to hit a home run by getting a Perfetti or Shane Wright or Mercer. But as the deadline ticks closer, Grier will have to simply take the "best available offer" -- and if that offer is from the Devils, that's the deal we'll see happen. If not, I'm confident Fitzgerald has a Plan B and Plan C. This is not a man who has shown any panic in his managerial style.

 

[Cheddabombs]

This crowd shot of Nico's goal gave me chills.

Amazing

 

[Better Call Sal]

Love the message from Lindy in the first tweet.

 

[Devs3cups]

21 comeback wins.

The most in the NHL.