Devils 2017-18 team discussion (player news and notes) VIII - Postseason Edition

[AfroThunder396]

JT is going to stay with the Islanders in the end. Not worth getting your hopes up about it.

Lou won’t let him leave.

If there's one GM in the league who I would bet money on to NOT retain a high profile UFA, it's Lou Lamoriello.

 

[None Shall Pass]

If there's one GM in the league who I would bet money on to NOT retain a high profile UFA, it's Lou Lamoriello.

He will absolutely replace him with a Matt Martin or similar, though.

 

[Zippy316]

I doubt it happens, but I wonder if Lou looks into Zajac. He's the type of player the Islanders could desperately use.

Maybe we can swap Tavares for Zajac this summer.

 

[Zippy316]

Seems like there are 2 major camps forming: a pro-Tavares and a pro-Carlson (there's also a pro-both and a pro-neither). Just wanted to ask, which would you prefer:

-Sign Tavares ($10m):
Center = Add Tavares, drop Boyle (from starting 12)
Defense = Greene, Butcher, Mueller

Hall - Hischier - Bratt
Johansson - Tavares - Palmieri
Coleman - Zajac - Noesen
Wood - Zacha - Anderson

Greene - Vatanen
Butcher - Santini
Mueller - Severson

or

-Sign Carlson ($7.5m):
Center = Hischier, Zacha, Zajac, Boyle
Defense = Add Carlson, move Severson (potentially for LHD or 2C)

Hall - Hischier - Bratt
Johansson - Zacha - Palmieri
Coleman - Zajac - Noesen
Wood - Boyle - Anderson

Klefbom/Greene - Vatanen
Mueller - Carlson
Butcher - Santini

I'd rather go for Carlson + quality second line forward -- either Neal, Nash, Perron, JvR, or Maroon via UFA or a similar player via trade (Severson?). I wouldn't turn away Tavares obviously, but I think that scenario is more realistic.

I think the above addresses our needs better while also allowing the kids an opportunity to play:

Hall - Hischier -
Johansson - Zacha -
Coleman - Zajac -
Wood - Boyle - Noesen

Cycle through Palmieri, Anderson, UFA/Johansson, Quenneville, and Bratt on the right side. If all three young guys struggle, Noesen is fully capable of playing 3RW as well.

Greene - Vatanen
Mueller - Carlson
Butcher - Severson
Lovejoy - Santini

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I'd rather go for Carlson + quality second line forward -- either Neal, Nash, Perron, JvR, or Maroon via UFA or a similar player via trade (Severson?). I wouldn't turn away Tavares obviously, but I think that scenario is more realistic.

I think the above addresses our needs better while also allowing the kids an opportunity to play:

Hall - Hischier -
Johansson - Zacha -
Coleman - Zajac -
Wood - Boyle - Noesen

Cycle through Palmieri, Anderson, UFA/Johansson, Quenneville, and Bratt on the right side. If all three young guys struggle, Noesen is fully capable of playing 3RW as well.

Greene - Vatanen
Mueller - Carlson
Butcher - Severson
Lovejoy - Santini

On Severson, what kind of trade value does he have or what holes is NJ in need of addressing?

 

[Zippy316]

On Severson, what kind of trade value does he have or what holes is NJ in need of addressing?

His value will be hard to gauge and likely differs from team to team. The opinions on him are polarizing on here and I think some teams could value him highly as part of a package for a higher end player and/or a swap for a similar young forward, but others will probably have little to no interest.

Devils main needs are more high-end talent, either a first pairing defender or a second-or-better line center or right winger. For the latter, the player would have to be good enough to justify not playing and developing Zacha or Bratt and to a lesser degree Anderson/Noesen over them.

For example, someone like Connor Brown does very little for the Devils but a versatile veteran guy like Neal or sweetening the package for a top-six forward like Skinner/Simmonds could interest the Devils.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

as it currently stands, the only thing I am trading Severson for is in a package for an upgrade at LHD

if Carlson signs here, that changes, but yeah

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

His value will be hard to gauge and likely differs from team to team. The opinions on him are polarizing on here and I think some teams could value him highly as part of a package for a higher end player and/or a swap for a similar young forward, but others will probably have little to no interest.

Devils main needs are more high-end talent, either a first pairing defender or a second-or-better line center or right winger. For the latter, the player would have to be good enough to justify not playing and developing Zacha or Bratt and to a lesser degree Anderson/Noesen over them.

For example, someone like Connor Brown does very little for the Devils but a versatile veteran guy like Neal or sweetening the package for a top-six forward like Skinner/Simmonds could interest the Devils.

Hmmmmm.....yes thinking from a Leaf perspective. I am a big fan of defense by committee, not spending huge money on one marquee d-man. Seems like a guy who might fit into that mentality.

 

[Zippy316]

Hmmmmm.....yes thinking from a Leaf perspective. I am a big fan of defense by committee, not spending huge money on one marquee d-man. Seems like a guy who might fit into that mentality.

I have a hard time seeing what Leafs offer that makes sense.

Marner/Nylander should never be traded for Severson so there goes addressing the RW there. Devils have similar players to Brown/Leivo so it would make little sense to deal Severson for them.

Kapanen would be the only guy that is interesting, but even then it would be liquidating Severson for pieces rather than getting a comparable given the gap in experience. I don’t think it’s smart to make that type of trade with a <25 defender.

 

[guitarguyvic]

In what world is it a better option to acquire Carlson rather than Tavares (in a one-or-the-other hypothetical)? Tavares is a career point per game first line center. Carlson is a top pairing d-man sure, but it's not like he's a Norris trophy candidate.

If there's anything the last three post seasons has taught us, it's that you can definitely win a Stanley Cup with an average d-core if your forwards are skilled, fast, and unrelenting. Isn't that essentially the model Shero and Hynes are emulating in the construction of this team?

If a choice has to be made, Tavares over Carlson is a no brainer for this team.

 

[Call Me Al]

tavares is the offensive equivalent of landing a doughty or karlsson, he's that good. if we have the opportunity to sign him you do it. carlson is very good but he's not on the same level

 

[Nocashstyle]

In what world is it a better option to acquire Carlson rather than Tavares (in a one-or-the-other hypothetical)? Tavares is a career point per game first line center. Carlson is a top pairing d-man sure, but it's not like he's a Norris trophy candidate.

If there's anything the last three post seasons has taught us, it's that you can definitely win a Stanley Cup with an average d-core if your forwards are skilled, fast, and unrelenting. Isn't that essentially the model Shero and Hynes are emulating in the construction of this team?

If a choice has to be made, Tavares over Carlson is a no brainer for this team.

Carlson isn't a Norris candidate? I'm almost certain he placed in the top 5 this year.

 

[Zippy316]

In what world is it a better option to acquire Carlson rather than Tavares (in a one-or-the-other hypothetical)? Tavares is a career point per game first line center. Carlson is a top pairing d-man sure, but it's not like he's a Norris trophy candidate.

If there's anything the last three post seasons has taught us, it's that you can definitely win a Stanley Cup with an average d-core if your forwards are skilled, fast, and unrelenting. Isn't that essentially the model Shero and Hynes are emulating in the construction of this team?

If a choice has to be made, Tavares over Carlson is a no brainer for this team.

I don't think Tavares is realistic.

Obviously, if he wants to come here and it makes sense, you don't pass up on it. I just personally don't see what the Devils can offer that is better than staying with the Islanders or going to another team. I think Carlson should be the priority and Carlson + second line winger is a more realistic scenario.

Ideally, I'd love to add Tavares + Carlson because there's room there. That would be an absolute haul and could set us up to be competitive now and for a long time.

 

[Call Me Al]

im not sure any other team can offer the opportunity to play with an mvp caliber winger with another potential superstar center to line up behind him on a team on the upswing while still offering the term and dollar value he is demanding

 

[Call Me Al]

the only strike against the devils would be the proximity to the islanders if he wanted to avoid playing near them and their fans if he leaves

 

[Devilsfan992]

Why would he care?

Edit: In reply to the post above me.

 

[Emperoreddy]

He isn't going to leave so it is a moot point.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Also for the 1000th time the rush to trade Severson is foolish.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Also for the 1000th time the rush to trade Severson is foolish.

I agree. I don't think anyone wants to trade him - but his name comes up because he's our most attractive asset that could be considered overvalued and replaceable. I don't see anyone else on the roster that could land anything worth having and/or wouldn't gut the team.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Does anyone think that we can get back to the style of play we were playing the 1st 20 games or so where we were one of the highest scoring teams of the year?

What happened to get away from that? Did other teams adjust to us?

 

[Csonked Out]

I'm curious if we may make a run at P.K. Subban if made available, he would fit in nice here from a talent standpoint.

 

[Csonked Out]

Does anyone think that we can get back to the style of play we were playing the 1st 20 games or so where we were one of the highest scoring teams of the year?

What happened to get away from that? Did other teams adjust to us?

teams adjusted to us with neutral zone defense. They also took a lot of time and space away from Bratt and he struggled to adjust. We just caught more than a few teams by surprise last year early on.

 

[Csonked Out]

I doubt it happens, but I wonder if Lou looks into Zajac. He's the type of player the Islanders could desperately use.

Maybe we can swap Tavares for Zajac this summer.

I could see Lou looking at Greene, honestly.

 

[MartyOwns]

Does anyone think that we can get back to the style of play we were playing the 1st 20 games or so where we were one of the highest scoring teams of the year?

What happened to get away from that? Did other teams adjust to us?

if i remember correctly (and i probably don't) our early season success was due to the unsustainably high scoring we were getting from our bottom 6. then that kind of dried up. but i don't have a bleedred memory so who knows

 

[None Shall Pass]

I'm curious if we may make a run at P.K. Subban if made available, he would fit in nice here from a talent standpoint.

The rumors have him on the block, but we'd have to give up a ton to get him. They'd want more/better than Zacha, Severson, and our 1st, imo.