Prospect Info: 2019 NHL Entry Draft Part I

[NJ DevLolz]

The MAIN reason the Devils suck is because they can't get a save and their special teams aren't quite as good. Their underlying numbers are actually better than last year. Getting a high end player like Hughes, Kakko, Dach, etc. is actually what this team needs. One more game breaker and we're set.

 

[Unknown Caller]

The MAIN reason the Devils suck is because they can't get a save and their special teams aren't quite as good. Their underlying numbers are actually better than last year. Getting a high end player like Hughes, Kakko, Dach, etc. is actually what this team needs. One more game breaker and we're set.

This. It amazes me how many people are focused on outcome rather than process. This team is actually slightly better than last year based on underlying numbers. They just have worse special teams and an unsustainably low PDO. When the PDO gets back to normal levels and their competition isn’t Washington, Tampa, Winnipeg, etc. they’ll be decent again. With that said, the best thing for this organization would be to get a top 3 pick. They aren’t winning a cup this year anyway.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

The MAIN reason the Devils suck is because they can't get a save and their special teams aren't quite as good. Their underlying numbers are actually better than last year. Getting a high end player like Hughes, Kakko, Dach, etc. is actually what this team needs. One more game breaker and we're set.

As much as I get butterflies thinking about getting another top 3 pick, I won't believe it until I see it. Lottery odds on top of having to place that low and idk if Shero will allow things to remain the same much longer...

We will see how things go up to January 1st.

As for if we actually placed in the top 3, that'd be incredible for us but unless the kid is jumping into the NHL immediately... the following season could be a major problem.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Good lord, if the Avalanche get a lottery pick this season.

That Duchene trade was beautiful for Colorado. They suckered Ottawa into taking the "sugar high trade", they improved and Ottawa got worse. If we do not get the first pick I am rooting for Colorado to get it.

 

[135ace]

The MAIN reason the Devils suck is because they can't get a save and their special teams aren't quite as good. Their underlying numbers are actually better than last year. Getting a high end player like Hughes, Kakko, Dach, etc. is actually what this team needs. One more game breaker and we're set.

One player isn't all we need, but a top 5 pick combined with Ty Smith making the jump next year as well as 1 good pickup in free agency and we'll be a totally different team. The key for us is ending up with a really high pick as well as getting a cheap asset in FA. My preference is to target Stone and Trouba. I wonder how much it would cost to get Trouba now that he's pretty much bound to leave WPG after next year.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

One player isn't all we need, but a top 5 pick combined with Ty Smith making the jump next year as well as 1 good pickup in free agency and we'll be a totally different team. The key for us is ending up with a really high pick as well as getting a cheap asset in FA. My preference is to target Stone and Trouba. I wonder how much it would cost to get Trouba now that he's pretty much bound to leave WPG after next year.

Very expensive. The Jets are in a cup window. What could we send them back that would help them win the cup?

 

[MichaelJ]

Very expensive. The Jets are in a cup window. What could we send them back that would help them win the cup?

The Jets don’t have a lot of needs, they’ll probably want another RHD to fill the lineup. They’ll want a #1 but I don’t see many teams making the lateral move so they’ll likely get a younger RHD2 with upside and a pick.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

The Jets don’t have a lot of needs, they’ll probably want another RHD to fill the lineup. They’ll want a #1 but I don’t see many teams making the lateral move so they’ll likely get a younger RHD2 with upside and a pick.

I think that is what they will be looking at in the summer. The post I responded to said now. At the moment I would think WPG has a buyers mentality. If they had some injuries or just played worse that expected that could change.

 

[MichaelJ]

I think that is what they will be looking at in the summer. The post I responded to said now. At the moment I would think WPG has a buyers mentality. If they had some injuries or just played worse that expected that could change.

Now? No way they part with him now. None. It’ll be an offseason move if they’re not going to keep him.

 

[AfroThunder396]

The MAIN reason the Devils suck is because they can't get a save and their special teams aren't quite as good. Their underlying numbers are actually better than last year. Getting a high end player like Hughes, Kakko, Dach, etc. is actually what this team needs. One more game breaker and we're set.

This. It amazes me how many people are focused on outcome rather than process. This team is actually slightly better than last year based on underlying numbers. They just have worse special teams and an unsustainably low PDO. When the PDO gets back to normal levels and their competition isn’t Washington, Tampa, Winnipeg, etc. they’ll be decent again. With that said, the best thing for this organization would be to get a top 3 pick. They aren’t winning a cup this year anyway.

There's a lot of good stuff in here. The gloom and doom DEFCOM 1 stuff on this board is way overplayed. We aren't as bad as our record indicates.

Some major problems that need addressing but we knew that anyway - the question is, how do you address them? Overpaying UFAs? Trading away futures? Or do you stay patient and build from within?

It's easy to forget that after Hynes/Shero took over we only had two bad years before making the playoffs again. That's a pretty remarkable turnaround, especially considering we only had one top-5 pick. Look at how long other teams spent rebuilding. Getting to the playoffs last year showed we were ahead of schedule. It was silly to think we were done rebuilding after two drafts and trading for like 4 guys.

 

[135ace]

I think that is what they will be looking at in the summer. The post I responded to said now. At the moment I would think WPG has a buyers mentality. If they had some injuries or just played worse that expected that could change.

Now? No way they part with him now. None. It’ll be an offseason move if they’re not going to keep him.

I'd definitely call and see if something like Vatanen + Wood tempts them. Not sure what else they really need, but we can definitely offer them a replacement for Trouba as well as some F depth if they want to go all in this year and next. Maybe in the summer it could be Butcher++ instead of Sami, but I don't know what else we can really offer them.

 

[Devils Dominion]

There's a lot of good stuff in here. The gloom and doom DEFCOM 1 stuff on this board is way overplayed. We aren't as bad as our record indicates.

Some major problems that need addressing but we knew that anyway - the question is, how do you address them? Overpaying UFAs? Trading away futures? Or do you stay patient and build from within?

It's easy to forget that after Hynes/Shero took over we only had two bad years before making the playoffs again. That's a pretty remarkable turnaround, especially considering we only had one top-5 pick. Look at how long other teams spent rebuilding. Getting to the playoffs last year showed we were ahead of schedule. It was silly to think we were done rebuilding after two drafts and trading for like 4 guys.

We are in year 4 of the Shero era and we are one of the worst teams in the league

 

[Brodeur]

Winnipeg is pretty deep on wing, so I don't know where Miles would fit there. Vatanen is UFA after next season, so I don't know if that fits for them. I could see them having some interest in Severson since he's locked into a contract, but I'd only do that if they granted a negotiation window to make sure Trouba would sign long term.

Off hand, I think Philadelphia could make Winnipeg an interesting offer for Trouba.

 

[Triumph]

We are in year 4 of the Shero era and we are one of the worst teams in the league

Because he's doing it the right way. There were certainly ways to speed this process up, but they would've resulted in the Devils being one of the worst teams again in a few years. Having a 1st round pick in 2019 sure helps things.

 

[AfroThunder396]

We are in year 4 of the Shero era and we are one of the worst teams in the league

We will finish this season as a bubble team, right where we should be. Making the playoffs last year doesn't change our trajectory. This team is not as bad as the record indicates.

 

[Devils Dominion]

We will finish this season as a bubble team, right where we should be. Making the playoffs last year doesn't change our trajectory. This team is not as bad as the record indicates.

I doubt it, I think we will be long gone away from that bubble

 

[Triumph]

I doubt it, I think we will be long gone away from that bubble

If the Devils finish a long way away from that bubble, it will only be because of goaltending. It's a problem, but it's fixable. And if they do finish that far away, a high pick in the 2019 draft will ease that pain somewhat.

 

[MartyOwns]

If the Devils finish a long way away from that bubble, it will only be because of goaltending. It's a problem, but it's fixable. And if they do finish that far away, a high pick in the 2019 draft will ease that pain somewhat.

how can anyone watch these games and say goaltending is the biggest problem?

 

[Triumph]

how can anyone watch these games and say goaltending is the biggest problem?

Because the puck is going in at an insane amount. The Devils are mostly even in terms of Corsi, chances, high-danger chances, and xG, but the goalies are not stopping enough shots. Yes, a lot of the time, it's on higher-percentage chances than the coaching staff would like, but there's going to be some breakdowns no matter how well a team plays - eventually the goalie has to stop something. Kinkaid's below .900 since the winning streak at the beginning of the season and Schneider's well below that. It's impossible to win this way.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Goaltending is certainly a major problem, but I think that falls under the more general umbrella of "everything seems to be going fine most of the game until a 3 minute stretch where everyone forgets how to play hockey and can't recover".

This season is defined by unforced errors spoiling what are otherwise fine performances in winnable games.

 

[MartyOwns]

The Devils are mostly even in terms of Corsi, chances, high-danger chances, and xG

true, plus we’re in the top 10 league wide for shot assists. it must be the goaltending

 

[Saint Beaurivage]

That Duchene trade was beautiful for Colorado. They suckered Ottawa into taking the "sugar high trade", they improved and Ottawa got worse. If we do not get the first pick I am rooting for Colorado to get it.

Yes, but we will need to find a goalie as well. As Lou Lamoriello would tell you, the cornerstone is the goaltender, then you proceed with defense.

 

[glenwo2]

If the Devils finish a long way away from that bubble, it will only be because of goaltending. It's a problem, but it's fixable. And if they do finish that far away, a high pick in the 2019 draft will ease that pain somewhat.

Imagine if we win the Lottery again?

Bill Daly's bald, fat head would explode.

 

[Triumph]

true, plus we’re in the top 10 league wide for shot assists. it must be the goaltending

What I was saying is that by any measure that anyone has thought of, the Devils are getting more chances than they are giving up. Devils' management has also echoed this.

The goalies aren't stopping enough of the opposition's chances.

 

[MartyOwns]

What I was saying is that by any measure that anyone has thought of, the Devils are getting more chances than they are giving up. Devils' management has also echoed this.

The goalies aren't stopping enough of the opposition's chances.

well, my question was how can anyone watch these games and say goaltending is the biggest issue, which should be a measure everyone has thought of. if the advanced stats support the view that we’re doing fine except for goaltending, that’s another nail in the coffin for advanced stats for me.

we have what, one PP goal in our last 6 games? our PK hasn’t been great. we’re didn’t score on a 2 on 0 in OT. our #6 overall 2C is streakier than the windows at michael j fox’s house. i can go on and on, but it’s very apparent by watching the game that while goaltending has been inconsistent, it is not even close to the only problem with this team.