Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) - season begins!

[RememberTheName]

That's a perfectly reasonably perspective, but I disagree that Henrique can't be a part of our future, he's only 27. A winning team needs a mixture of veterans and younger players, Zajac is still an integral part of our team at 32 years old.

The big concern with Henrique is what his next contract will look like, i'd certainly be a little reluctant to sign an inconsistent 28-year old Henrique to anything more than a 4-5 year deal at around $5 million per. I feel his reputation around the league might be a little inflated compared to what he actually brings to the table, therefore it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up getting significantly overpaid in UFA.

As such, there's definitely a convincing argument for keeping Zacha over Henrique, even though I think losing the latter subtracts more from our team in the here and now. Regardless of who we part with, we need a defender with some experience coming back, I think Larsson is a great young player but i'd be wary of throwing him into an already very young defensive group with Butcher, Santini, Mueller & Severson. I think we need someone a little more seasoned to bring some additional defensive stability, especially since one of our 'veterans' in John Moore tends to be a little bit of a wildcard back there as it is. I'd give a kings ransom to get someone like Chris Tanev from Vancouver, but I highly doubt he's available.

Yea, the reason why I am worried about Henrique is because of the large contract he is going to want. I'd probably even go less than what you suggested and say that I would be worried to go over 4X4.5. He just isn't worth anything more than that at this point, and any more will leave gms regreting they signed him to that contract

 

[Tretyak 20]

well then

At least it's not a concussion.

 

[Bcap88]

He literally played 3 games on the top line. That' not a real chance. Plus like i said he shouldn' be playing center. Last year he thrived playing on wing. He put up point playing with a ****ty center in josefson. Give him a shot with a good center and let' see what happens.

No he put up points on tbe powerplay in fact 13 of his points came on tbe powerplay. Right now there isn’t a center that he should be playing over and my suspicious is noesen is in because Zacha can’t play RW

 

[Tretyak 20]

we already have Schenn, right?

No. He currently plays for the Toronto Butt Plugs.

 

[devilsblood]

I'm not trading Zacha because of McLeod.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

No. He currently plays for the Toronto Butt Plugs.

f***ing awesome lmao

 

[NJDevs26]

At least it's not a concussion.

I mean I get why people say that but concussions can also only last a week or two. Concussions are only a big deal if there's multiple ones in a short period of time, or if it's a major one where it takes weeks to recover. We're so skittish about the concussion bogeyman but each concussion in a vaccum is not a big deal and I have no idea if Mueller's ever had one before.

But we already know this injury's going to keep Mueller out a LONG time, and just when he was starting to find a groove. This isn't exactly getting off easy here.

 

[EnglishDevil]

Yea, the reason why I am worried about Henrique is because of the large contract he is going to want. I'd probably even go less than what you suggested and say that I would be worried to go over 4X4.5. He just isn't worth anything more than that at this point, and any more will leave gms regreting they signed him to that contract

He's a difficult player to value because when he's on his game he's worth $6m+ easily, but when he's off he plays like an AHL scrub. I'm inclined to agree that he doesn't deserve a significant raise from his current salary, but when you consider that he's already been earning $4m/yr through his year RFA years and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at only 28 years old, it's hard not to see him getting one. His reputation around the league is definitely inflated, plus he's decent defensively and plays a position that tends to get overpaid as it is, it's hard not to see him commanding at least $5.5m/yr, he's definitely a player that has UFA mistake written all over him.

Don't get me wrong, i'd still love to keep him, but I think he'll end up getting top dollar from some desperate team who doesn't realize how bad his consistency issues are.

 

[Zippy316]

But we already know this injury's going to keep Mueller out a LONG time, and just when he was starting to find a groove. This isn't exactly getting off easy here.

From the perspective of a player and with all the recent science on multiple concussions, I think I'd take a broken collarbone over any concussion.

Also, clavicles aren't as long-term of a recovery as they used to be. I'd say he's back in a little over 2 months.

 

[Tretyak 20]

I mean I get why people say that but concussions can also only last a week or two. Concussions are only a big deal if there's multiple ones in a short period of time, or if it's a major one where it takes weeks to recover. We're so skittish about the concussion bogeyman but each concussion in a vaccum is not a big deal and I have no idea if Mueller's ever had one before.

But we already know this injury's going to keep Mueller out a LONG time, and just when he was starting to find a groove. This isn't exactly getting off easy here.

I get where you're coming from and I'm definitely not happy about it. The hit was flat dirty. No question about it. He missed the shoulder entirely and it was basically a hit to the head. Should have been a suspension. It's just that a collar bone will heal and then it's done. A concussion is something you're always worrying about in the future.

 

[Billdo]

It’s funny to me that when we talk about Henrique the word inconsistent or the like comes up. As a full time NHLer he consistently puts up between 40-45 points. That’s certainly consistent but I understand the consistency aspect during the course of the season is the reason why we have such a sour taste in our mouth over him. If he didn’t take month long sabbaticals he might be closer to a 50-60 player which would go a long ways. I guess I just didn’t expect him to have the same point totals give or take a few year after year.

 

[Darkauron]

We are half way through the month and Henrique only has 1 point. Maybe he can wake up for the 2nd half of november? Movember has sucked so bad for him the past few years.

 

[NJDevs26]

I get where you're coming from and I'm definitely not happy about it. The hit was flat dirty. No question about it. He missed the shoulder entirely and it was basically a hit to the head. Should have been a suspension. It's just that a collar bone will heal and then it's done. A concussion is something you're always worrying about in the future.

And I get that part of it, it just seems to me a little excessive to go WHEW when a guy suffers an injury that's probably gonna keep him out like 3-4 months.

 

[devilsblood]

The league takes much better care of concussions nowadays.

It was a much bigger issue when guys wouldn't miss a shift, let alone a game. Now guys are given plenty of time to let their heads recoup.

Edit: Outlawing the shoulders to head hits has also helped, as has the lesser # of fights.

 

[devilsblood]

I get where you're coming from and I'm definitely not happy about it. The hit was flat dirty. No question about it. He missed the shoulder entirely and it was basically a hit to the head. Should have been a suspension. It's just that a collar bone will heal and then it's done. A concussion is something you're always worrying about in the future.

I wouldn't rule out that Mueller had a concussion in addition to the collarbone. That was straight up shoulder to head.

 

[Zippy316]

The league takes much better care of concussions nowadays.

It was a much bigger issue when guys wouldn't miss a shift, let alone a game. Now guys are given plenty of time to let their heads recoup.

That's true. We likely won't know for years but I wonder if the difference in treatment/awareness dramatically helps to prevent all the issues that come with repeated concussions or if it is just the number of them that affects the brain.

 

[R8Devs]

Someone for Jacob Larsson please and thanks

+1000

 

[Billdo]

We are half way through the month and Henrique only has 1 point. Maybe he can wake up for the 2nd half of november? Movember has sucked so bad for him the past few years.

Maybe he’s just too consumed with his supplement and apparel sponsorships

 

[glenwo2]

I get where you're coming from and I'm definitely not happy about it. The hit was flat dirty. No question about it. He missed the shoulder entirely and it was basically a hit to the head. Should have been a suspension. It's just that a collar bone will heal and then it's done. A concussion is something you're always worrying about in the future.

So in other words, as bad as this was, Mueller dodged a bullet here.

 

[OmNomNom]

i would kill for michael matheson

 

[Darkauron]

i would kill for michael matheson

That would be pretty good. I wonder what Panthers needs really are?

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I don't understand why people see expendable forward talent on this roster. The depth is an illusion as far as I'm concerned. I don't think we are far enough into the rebuild to be trading key young pieces like Zacha. We are super weak on D, but we aren't stacked with forward talent. We are relatively shallow there too. Just give it a couple more years, unless a no-brainer deal comes along.

 

[RememberTheName]

That would be pretty good. I wonder what Panthers needs really are?

Apparently they need a scoring winger. So..... how about a slightly used Jimmy Hayes?

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Is there, like, literally any other D man in Binghamton that can play? Can we trade future considerations for Gelinas or something? I really don' want to watch lovejoy...

LD

Strait 1 G, 2 A, 14 PIM, +3, 10 GP
Kapla 1 G, 1 A, 8 PIM, -8, 8 GP
White 0 G, 2 A, 0 PIM, -2, 5 GP
MacDonald (AHL contract) 4 G, 5 A, 6 PIM, -1, 11 GP

RD

Jacobs 0 G 6 A 21 PIM +5 12 GP
Loov (injured) 1 G, 6 A, 4 PIM, -6, 11 GP
Dyblenko 0 G, 3 A, 6 PIM, E, 10 GP

Strait and Loov were the last cuts in preseason.

Strait has been mentoring Jacobs.

Jacobs leads the team in +/-, although was -3 over the last two games (Marlies). He looks promising as a defensive D, but still needs more time. He is still looking for his first professional goal in 63 GP (includes 1 GP with Adirondack). 17 of his 21 PIM were on one play for sticking up for a hit on Blandisi. (Roughing, Instigating, Misconduct).

Loov and Jacobs have played some 2 LD last season. Dyblenko played one game at 3 LD and was injured for two games.

Kapla moved up to 1 LD for two games when Strait was injured. Kapla and White have been alternating scratches at 2 LD. White sat the first four games and then played a three game weekend for Adirondack before getting into regular rotation with Kapla.

MacDonald has been 2 LD and 3 LD and has been healthy scratched once this season. He is the QB on the first PP unit.


TLDR: No. Binghamton is carrying 7 D since releasing Erixon from his PTO.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I don't understand why people see expendable forward talent on this roster. The depth is an illusion as far as I'm concerned. I don't think we are far enough into the rebuild to be trading key young pieces like Zacha. We are super weak on D, but we aren't stacked with forward talent. We are relatively shallow there too. Just give it a couple more years, unless a no-brainer deal comes along.

How is the depth an illusion when we legit can’t fit everyone on the roster?