Speculation: Who Should The Devils Target In Free Agency?

[Cult of Hynes]

Butcher ended the season on the top pairing with Vatanen in the playoffs.

The time to protect him is over, especially with Greene struggling.
Butcher looked fine for Team USA at World Championships. They even gave him some PK time.

Greene can't physically handle the top pairing minutes. Butcher is a better player at any point in Greene's career, and would be a better option for the top pair even if he struggles at times. Better than watching a guy do nothing but block shots and f*** up the offense every shift.

 

[Tretyak 20]

To be honest I wouldn't mind if there are no more moves this off-season. We have so many young players who could make steps forward, plus Mojo who was injured most of last year, plus Yakovlev who has won a world championship plus a Gagarin Cup plus an Olympic gold medal. We're bound to have some improvements.

 

[Devils Dominion]

JVR

Oops, too late. .

 

[jkrdevil]

To be honest I wouldn't mind if there are no more moves this off-season. We have so many young players who could make steps forward, plus Mojo who was injured most of last year, plus Yakovlev who has won a world championship plus a Gagarin Cup plus an Olympic gold medal. We're bound to have some improvements.

IMO, we make no moves (signings or significant trades) we don’t make the playoffs next year. We barely made the playoffs last year and were reliant on guys having a career year, including our best player having a year of a lifetime.

And outside a couple of young players already on the roster like Nico and Butcher we really don’t have much in the pipeline.

 

[JrFischer54]

Yakapov cole Calvert? lol see ya hall in two years


I get there aren’t any sexy ufa but it stings

 

[Devilsfan118]

To be honest I wouldn't mind if there are no more moves this off-season. We have so many young players who could make steps forward, plus Mojo who was injured most of last year, plus Yakovlev who has won a world championship plus a Gagarin Cup plus an Olympic gold medal. We're bound to have some improvements.

No offense, but weak take.

Odds of Taylor Hall having as phenomenal a season again and literally dragging the Devils into the playoffs - doubtful.

Metro is getting better. Devils are losing Moore on the back end (not a huge loss) and probably Maroon up front. We're getting worse this offseason without any significant additions.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I appreciate the OP’s thoughts, and someone like Calvin De Haan would make sense, but Shero needs to be in the business of acquiring impact players, not fillers or reclamation projects like Yakupov (some guys are just busts). Of course, I understand those guys aren’t easy to get, but anything less at this stage and we’re just spinning our wheels.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

IMO, we make no moves (signings or significant trades) we don’t make the playoffs next year. We barely made the playoffs last year and were reliant on guys having a career year, including our best player having a year of a lifetime.

And outside a couple of young players already on the roster like Nico and Butcher we really don’t have much in the pipeline.

outside of Hall and Gibbons, who had a "career" year? aka won't be able to at least duplicate that year again

my God some of ya'lls takes are scorching

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

I'm a bit scared now that if we have lost out on JVR, we are going to overpay to keep Maroon.

Something like offering Maroon the Ryane Clowe deal - 5 years @ $4.8m.

Too much?

 

[My3Sons]

I appreciate the OP’s thoughts, and someone like Calvin De Haan would make sense, but Shero needs to be in the business of acquiring impact players, not fillers or reclamation projects like Yakupov (some guys are just busts). Of course, I understand those guys aren’t easy to get, but anything less at this stage and we’re just spinning our wheels.

That’s the tricky part. A DeHahn for two years is fine as would any other UFA but anyone who is likely to make an obvious impact is probably going to require a four or five year term. Hopefully by then guys like Bratt Anderson McLeod Zacha Boquist or maybe even Zetterlund have made the leap to the top six. At that point you don’t want anchor contracts. Nothing earth shattering and many NJ fans have discussed these concepts but as always some folks think in the short term.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

No offense, but weak take.

Odds of Taylor Hall having as phenomenal a season again and literally dragging the Devils into the playoffs - doubtful.

Metro is getting better. Devils are losing Moore on the back end (not a huge loss) and probably Maroon up front. We're getting worse this offseason without any significant additions.

Losing Moore and Maroon is not getting worse. I agree with your sentiment and wouldn't be surprised if they missed the playoffs. But it won't be because of losing Moore and Maroon or missing out on JvR.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I'm a bit scared now that if we have lost out on JVR, we are going to overpay to keep Maroon.

Something like offering Maroon the Ryane Clowe deal - 5 years @ $4.8m.

Too much?

Way too much. I'd sooner give Grabs that deal, and I don't have any interest in giving Grabs that deal.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Way too much. I'd sooner give Grabs that deal, and I don't have any interest in giving Grabs that deal.

I'd sign Grabner, he's due.

But he is waiting for a Rags offer

 

[Bleedred]

I'd sign Grabner, he's due.

Due for what? Another 20 point season like he had 3 years ago?

 

[Devils Dominion]

Due for what? Another 20 point season like he had 3 years ago?

Sometimes it takes time for guys to fit in to a new team.

My prediction is Grabner has a big season in 2018-2019, hope with us

 

[The Rochester Rocket]

Pretty obvious Greene needs to be playing less minutes. I’m all for Ian Cole or CdH but if we miss out on them, I’d be in on Dan Hamhuis on a 2 year deal. Played 80 games averaging 20 mins, 3 goals and 19 even strength assists to boot.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If we signed Cole or de Haan would Mueller just not play? Greene or Butcher aren’t going anywhere so that leaves one spot on the left side.

 

[Devils Dominion]

If we signed Cole or de Haan would Mueller just not play? Greene or Butcher aren’t going anywhere so that leaves one spot on the left side.

Moore would not be retained

 

[Darkauron]

Cole - Vats
Green - sevs
Mueller - butcher

Done. That is what would happen

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Moore would not be retained

Yeah but that still leaves Greene, Butcher, and the FA signing on the left. With Vatanen, Severson, Lovejoy/Santini on the right.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Yeah but that still leaves Greene, Butcher, and the FA signing on the left. With Vatanen, Severson, Lovejoy/Santini on the right.

Butch to the right

 

[MadDevil]

Butch to the right

Oh good, another year of "Why is Santini in the minors? Hynes you incompetent fool!".

 

[Bleedred]

Oh good, another year of "Why is Santini in the minors? Hynes you incompetent fool!".

My prediction for a while has been that Santini starts the season on the NHL roster, but isn't an every night player, unless there are some injuries at the start of the season.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Oh good, another year of "Why is Santini in the minors? Hynes you incompetent fool!".

Does he need waivers?

 

[Devils Dominion]

Santini is ready for full time duty