NJDevs26
Once upon a time...
- Mar 21, 2007
- 67,118
- 31,155
I don't think Tootoo will go to market. He has an interview two days ago where he said he wants to stay here because of the team but also because it was us who gave him his second chance after his issues.
I don't think Tootoo will go to market. He has an interview two days ago where he said he wants to stay here because of the team but also because it was us who gave him his second chance after his issues.
Here's the biggest question, do you want both Tootoo and Bernier to be on the team next year? Gionta already is signed through next year so that pencils him in for 4RW or 4C.
Assuming Gomez returns, Zajac-Henrique/Elias-Gomez-Josefson are probably going to be our centers for next year.
Do we really want both Tootoo and Bernier in our top nine?
I don't mind having Bernier in our top 9. Remember before he was on our 4th liner in 2012, he played 3rd line minutes with Ponikarovsky. Bernier has been great and deserves minutes playing the way he has.
Ok, that's understandable.
Bernier in the top six (or nine) can work nicely complimenting the right players. If we sign Tootoo, who does he play with? Ideally, you would want a more talented guy with Cammalleri, as good as they've looked together. I'm not too sure Tootoo would look good with other players like he has with Cammalleri.
I guess if we kept Bernier on the "second line" and Tootoo on the "third line" it wouldn't be the end of the world. If we could add someone to play on the first line, then I wouldn't complain.
Well one way to do it is your centers to be zajac-gomez-JJ-Gio
LW is Camm-Elias-Rico-Zubs/Matteau (in whatefer order).
Then you can leave Bernier and Tootoo in the bottom 6 on RW.
Which leaves Lou needing to add RW depth.
something tells me zubrus up and retires after the seasons over.
I don't think there's room for both Bernier and Tootoo next year, especially if we're upgrading our top 6 through trade.
I'd like Bernier back, though I don't think he repeats this next year. He also won't be as bad as he was last year either.
Best thing is to try and get rid of one of Ruutu or Zubrus. One of them needs to disappear. Preferably Zubrus IMO. Ruutu is 5 years younger and a better player. If we get rid of one of them, we likely have room for both Tootoo and Bernier.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that realizes Zubrus will have less than 20 points in his last 120 games by season's end. Lou likely realizes it too. We can't rely on him in the top 9 anymore.
The only thing I worry about with Bernier and Tootoo is that one (or both) of them end up playing too much next year. We've seen a coaching staff fall in love with 4th liners and then overplay them before.
The only thing I worry about with Bernier and Tootoo is that one (or both) of them end up playing too much next year. We've seen a coaching staff fall in love with 4th liners and then overplay them before.
Ugh forgot Ruutu.
Possible someone gets shipped out on draft day but maybe Lou can't bring everyone back.
We have to many LWs and not nearly enough RWs.
I say Ruutu for Parenteau.
Or Ruutu for Gionta.
I would take either one of those trades just to open up some room on the LW.
Brian Gionta? He's bad at this point. He might outproduce Ruutu or Zubrus, but he's been awful this year. Too much money too, not to mention signed for 2 more years.
I think we're better off with one more year of Ruutu.
He's been a little better than Ruutu, he also averages almost 6 more minutes of ice time per game. Wouldn't be so bad if he just had one year left, two years is too much. Higher cap hit than Ruutu too.
He could experience a Zubrus like crash by the last year of that contract.
Brian Gionta? He's bad at this point. He might outproduce Ruutu or Zubrus, but he's been awful this year. Too much money too, not to mention signed for 2 more years.
I think we're better off with one more year of Ruutu.
He's been a little better than Ruutu, he also averages almost 6 more minutes of ice time per game. Wouldn't be so bad if he just had one year left, two years is too much. Higher cap hit than Ruutu too.
He could experience a Zubrus like crash by the last year of that contract.
I'd rather the Parenteau trade. He only has one year also.Maybe.
But would you rather have deadweight on the LW taking up space from Boucher/Matteau or would you rather have deadweight taking up space on the RW. Or furthermore, do you want Zubrus or Ruutu at LW prevent Josefson from moving up the line-up when he deserves it because we can't push Henrique or Elias to LW?
I agree the Parenteau trade is more reasonable, but adding Gionta wouldn't be the end of the world.
I'd rather the Parenteau trade. He only has one year also.
It would make sense for the Devils.
Allows the young guys to push their way up the LW chart and we get the flexibility of maybe moving Elias or Henrique to LW if Josefson continues to impress.
Or if we get McDavid, we would have room to fit him in.