Confirmed with Link: Sami Vatanen signs with Devils 1yr 2m

[JK3]

Didn't people want another D signed all summer? We need the depth. All our young guys should start in the AHL outside of Smith.

Yeah I wanted another D man even after we added Murray and Kulikov. Ruff was asked today how this affects the younger kids and he basically said a lot of the kids look good but when we get to the real games it's another level and good to have another vet. He said there would be injuries so it was good to have some insurance. A couple of these guys are made of glass and with the condensed schedule it's not the worst idea to bring back Vats.

 

[billingtons ghost]

blech.

 

[Goptor]

I imagine that if a team was looking for a player like Butcher, they would have signed Vatanen a long time ago.

Its fine how the Defense is now though. Kulikov and Murray may be the two most injured defensemen over the past couple years. Its one thing to hope for them both to stay healthy but its safer to be prepared if something does happen.

 

[Guttersniped]

I imagine that if a team was looking for a player like Butcher, they would have signed Vatanen a long time ago.

Its fine how the Defense is now though. Kulikov and Murray may be the two most injured defensemen over the past couple years. Its one thing to hope for them both to stay healthy but its safer to be prepared if something does happen.

I feel like you’re underestimating Vatanen’s ability to be injured here. (I’m glad we signed him btw, but he’s Sami Glassanen.)

The schedule is so condensed this season that even if these guys stay healthyish I can see the need to give them games off, particularly Murray.

 

[glenwo2]

blech.

It's only for one year, Bill.

 

[Edmonton East]

Weird. Much of this board told me he was better and more valuable than Severson.

Surprised he couldn't get more on the market.

 

[Davegarri]

Am a big fan of this signing. I'm happy Vats has a home for this crazy season.

Good trade candidate at the deadline too lol

 

[EnglishDevil]

Nothing wrong with having actual competition for places, at least we have a bit of depth given that a number of them can't be relied on to stay healthy.

Murray - Severson
Smith - Subban
Kulikov - Vatanen
Butcher - Carrick
Tennyson

 

[ThePrideofStockholm]

So Ben Lovejoys Vatanen suit is ready

 

[ninetyeight]

I'm very happy about this, a great guy who can be a top4 guy when he's 100%. I love that he actually wanted to return here, even if it's only for a year. Sometimes I get the feeling that some guys we trade are just counting their contracts to end.

 

[britdevil]

Nothing wrong with having actual competition for places, at least we have a bit of depth given that a number of them can't be relied on to stay healthy.

Murray - Severson
Smith - Subban
Kulikov - Vatanen
Butcher - Carrick
Tennyson

Tennyson hanging on by the seat of his undies.

eNJoy the ride!

 

[TheUnseenHand]

How quickly we forget...

I don't think Hayes was slower than Butcher is.

 

[MadDevil]

I'm sure there were plenty of defensemen back in the late 90's to early 2000's who were worse skaters than Butcher. They just clutched, grabbed, hooked, and generally assaulted opposing forwards and called it defense. Not one of them could probably make a pass or puckhandle like Butcher can, and the puck moves faster than players do. It's not like Butcher is getting blown by or being exploited every time he's on the ice. He's limited for sure, but not nearly the liability some people make him out to be.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Just as long that it doesn’t interfere with Smith, I’m down with the additional depth.

 

[Billdo]

Maybe they want Smith to start in the AHL to acclimate to playing on the left? Vatanen makes no sense as a partner for Smith or Butcher. That leaves him playing with either Murray or Kulikov

Murray- Severson
Butcher- Subban
Kulikov- Vatanen
Carrick

I also wonder what the signing means for Zacha PP wise

Smith makes sense with Vatanen if he's playing the left side with Vatanen on the right. If we roll Subban, Severson, Vatanen it gives every left side defender a proven and experienced defensive pairing.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Interesting. The other day Tom Fitzgerald was talking about "blockers" (veterans signed that prevent talented prospects from getting the ice time they need to develop).

Vatanen would seem to fit that category.

 

[The 29th Pick]

It's only for one year, Bill.

and one year is only what 56 games, and he'll probably be traded before the end anyway, and with injuries to our D during the season...I can go on and on
(it's a good signing, we can all deal with it)

 

[The 29th Pick]

blech.

did you mean Bleach ?

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Interesting. The other day Tom Fitzgerald was talking about "blockers" (veterans signed that prevent talented prospects from getting the ice time they need to develop).

Vatanen would seem to fit that category.

If I remember correctly he was referring to Fs. I might be misremembering, but I am pretty sure he was talking Fs. The difference is the Devils have multiple Fs in the 22-23 year old range while the D prospects are a little younger. As others have mentioned some of our veteran D have a difficult time staying health, so there will be opportunities considering that and the condensed schedule.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

agree that I’m not sure what Kukikov has left in the tank if anything. He put up big minutes with Florida back when we beat them and went to the finals with Kovy and gave us fits in our 7 game series. But that’s 8 years back. He’s always moved very well, however, and had a knack for moving into open spaces.

It’s not hard to skate better than Butcher. His limitations on carrying the puck on the rush are compounded by the fact that he hasn’t handled pressure well when playing the point - and, being slow, has to bail out and backpedal fast when challenged out high, to head off the short handed threats.

No point in my beating a dead horse as to my opinions. It’s always tempting to do so. I should avoid negativity about players because it always will offend and, well, it’s just negative. So we shall see. Onward to this season. Hope he proves me absolutely wrong.

Are you talking about Kulilov? If so he is a 1 year stop gap veteran. I doubt anyone in the organization or here is expecting anything much other than to play minutes at a replacement level.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Are you talking about Kulilov? If so he is a 1 year stop gap veteran. I doubt anyone in the organization or here is expecting anything much other than to play minutes at a replacement level.

No I was talking about Butcher, as I had gotten a little strident.

 

[My3Sons]

Interesting. The other day Tom Fitzgerald was talking about "blockers" (veterans signed that prevent talented prospects from getting the ice time they need to develop).

Vatanen would seem to fit that category.

To me a block on defense is a third pair veteran defender on a developing team with prospects that need to start playing in the NHL since the protected minutes should be given to guys like Smith and Bahl and Okhotiyuk, etc. when they rotate into the lineup. Vats may be blocking Walsh but for one season that's probably not a big deal. If not Vats, then Carrick would have blocked Walsh anyway and I'm not worried if Walsh has to spend a year across the hall in the AHL. My guess is that they can still find a few games to play Walsh in the NHL if he shows promise. I'm more concerned with clogging up the third pair on the left side where I hope that a number of guys like Smith, Bahl, and Okhotiyuk, can all maybe get in a few NHL games and they would need to be sheltered. At least NJ only has short term deals on defense that hopefully give way to the young guys in a couple of years.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I imagine that if a team was looking for a player like Butcher, they would have signed Vatanen a long time ago.

Its fine how the Defense is now though. Kulikov and Murray may be the two most injured defensemen over the past couple years. Its one thing to hope for them both to stay healthy but its safer to be prepared if something does happen.

As they say, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

 

[Bleedred]

I'm sure there were plenty of defensemen back in the late 90's to early 2000's who were worse skaters than Butcher. They just clutched, grabbed, hooked, and generally assaulted opposing forwards and called it defense. Not one of them could probably make a pass or puckhandle like Butcher can, and the puck moves faster than players do. It's not like Butcher is getting blown by or being exploited every time he's on the ice. He's limited for sure, but not nearly the liability some people make him out to be.

Colin White was one of the worst skaters we’ve ever seen, yet somehow he played like 12 years in the NHL.

He couldn’t do shit with the puck and would regularly lose his man, but convinced everyone he was such a good defensive player because he blocked shots, got glued in his D-zone all night and never scored any points.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

To me a block on defense is a third pair veteran defender on a developing team with prospects that need to start playing in the NHL since the protected minutes should be given to guys like Smith and Bahl and Okhotiyuk, etc. when they rotate into the lineup. Vats may be blocking Walsh but for one season that's probably not a big deal. If not Vats, then Carrick would have blocked Walsh anyway and I'm not worried if Walsh has to spend a year across the hall in the AHL. My guess is that they can still find a few games to play Walsh in the NHL if he shows promise. I'm more concerned with clogging up the third pair on the left side where I hope that a number of guys like Smith, Bahl, and Okhotiyuk, can all maybe get in a few NHL games and they would need to be sheltered. At least NJ only has short term deals on defense that hopefully give way to the young guys in a couple of years.

My fear is that Sami will be higher than a 3rd pair/power play specialist. If that is the case, the defense corps isn't much better than a year ago.

And in that situation, would rather see those minutes going to players whose careers are progressing.