Speculation: Camp locks and dark horses

[Blender]

Mueller is a lock as far as I'm concerned.

Agreed. I also think Prout has made it difficult to not dress him in the bottom pairing. Guy played that role perfectly tonight. Safe passes, always in position, not taking chances, etc. Exactly what you need in the bottom pairing, and everything Lovejoy is failing at.

 

[Billdo]

Agreed. I also think Prout has made it difficult to not dress him in the bottom pairing. Guy played that role perfectly tonight. Safe passes, always in position, not taking chances, etc. Exactly what you need in the bottom pairing, and everything Lovejoy is failing at.

Just have Prout play in Lovejoys place, I'm sure 99% of the posters on here wouldn't mind that. Lovejoy blows.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I just don't see how they can justify giving Lovejoy minutes by mid season if the three young guys play like we have seen to start camp.

 

[Bleedred]

Just have Prout play in Lovejoys place, I'm sure 99% of the posters on here wouldn't mind that. Lovejoy blows.

I think I was the only one to say a couple weeks ago, at least publicly, that I already thought Prout was probably better than Lovejoy. Unless Lovejoy is really a lot better than what we saw last year, and it was just a down year. It's not completely out of the question for Lovejoy to bounce back, as he's only 33 and not 35 or 36, with a ton of mileage. I'm not betting on it though.

And while I wasn't publicly shamed for it, I'm sure a few people were probably laughing at the thought of Prout being better than Lovejoy. And now, here we are after just a few preseason games and 99% (or close to it) agree.

 

[MadDevil]

Just have Prout play in Lovejoys place, I'm sure 99% of the posters on here wouldn't mind that. Lovejoy blows.

If Prout played 20 minutes a night and killed penalties as much as Lovejoy did last year, he'd get ripped apart just as savagely.

 

[Bleedred]

If Prout played 20 minutes a night and killed penalties as much as Lovejoy did last year, he'd get ripped apart just as savagely.

Well, I don't think we want him playing 20 minutes a night either. He'd probably get chewed up playing that much.

I also don't think that the Lovejoy that we saw last year would have been good as a third pairing guy. He just wouldn't have looked as bad, because he would have been playing fewer minutes and against weaker competition. I was in that line of thinking, that maybe it was just the too many minutes and too tough of competition. Up until January or February. After that, I just couldn't believe it anymore.

Maybe playing all those minutes might have burnt him out early on, but I'm not so sure about that either. I think it was just a bad season, which he can hopefully recover from, and the best way to ensure that is by not playing him as much as last year. Or it was a bad season, leading to a rapid decline.

 

[Khione]

Lovejoy absolutley sucks.

Objective analysis.com

 

[Billdo]

I REALLY wish Lovejoy would've been claimed by Vegas.

 

[Csonked Out]

Who would have thought that Mueller and Prout would be the surprises of camp on the backend. These two trades were hated on this forum when they were made and for good reason. If these two have really improved this much in the off season it would be absolutely huge for us.

Personally, I have been most dissapointed with Mcleod so far. I just expected more out of him. Unless things change, he will be back in juniors this year.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

IMO I don’t think it would be wise for Speers or Bratt to be on the 4th line. Wouldn’t make sense for their development. Better suited for guys like Coleman/Noesen

 

[Cheddabombs]

Who would have thought that Mueller and Prout would be the surprises of camp on the backend. These two trades were hated on this forum when they were made and for good reason. If these two have really improved this much in the off season it would be absolutely huge for us.

Personally, I have been most dissapointed with Mcleod so far. I just expected more out of him. Unless things change, he will be back in juniors this year.

I haven't seen much of McLeod play, it seems like every game he's in I miss. But as much as I would have loved for him to show enough to make the jump this season, it wouldn't be the worst thing for him to go back to juniors. It'll give him the chance to continue to improve on his strong finish and he'll probably have a big role in the world juniors.

On the flip side, Bratt man. So good. He's going to be a good player one day, I can feel it my bones. But I didn't expect this so soon.

 

[Bologna 1]

Doesn't it seem like all signs are pointing towards the seven defensemen to make the team are: greene, severson, moore, butcher, mueller, lovejoy, prout? I would assume they go 14F-7D, given Boyle will obviously be one of the forwards. prolly want to have another guy with his situation. 8D is never ideal anyways. Seems that Butcher's PP prowess has him on the inside track, and would they bury prout's 1.25 million or whatever he makes in the AHL, given he has had a solid preseason so far? we all know lovejoy is all but guaranteed to not go anywhere, even though that would be the best case scenario.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

IMO I don’t think it would be wise for Speers or Bratt to be on the 4th line. Wouldn’t make sense for their development. Better suited for guys like Coleman/Noesen

Eh I don't think it would be the end of the world. Especially if they get some time on special teams. I think it would be better for Bratt to go back to junior, but it wouldn't hurt to give him a taste like we did with Speers last year.

I would put Blandisi into the lock category at this point. He's versatile, plays the style Hynes likes, can be slotted in on pretty much any line, can play the PP well, and has some NHL experience.

 

[Comparison Ford]

I know it's just preseason, but after watching last nights game, Prout looks great. He looks like what I thought lovejoy could be. Also, I'm a little more biased towards having him, because Prout can fight and protect our younger guys.

Lovejoy, although a big boy, doesn't drop the mitts/isn't as intimidating.

If they're bringing a similar skill set, I'm going with Prout.

 

[HBK27]

I know it's just preseason, but after watching last nights game, Prout looks great. He looks like what I thought lovejoy could be. Also, I'm a little more biased towards having him, because Prout can fight and protect our younger guys.

Lovejoy, although a big boy, doesn't drop the mitts/isn't as intimidating.

If they're bringing a similar skill set, I'm going with Prout.

Prout has certainly been a pleasant surprise this preseason.

 

[OmNomNom]

one could argue maybe prout was just seriously rusted up during last season. the guy hardly played at all during the season calendar. maybe he worked his butt off this offseason. but considering the amount of bottom 4 options for D, even if he starts to degrade as the season goes, we have options for those roles, i'd think

 

[Ben Matlock]

While we still lack that #1 d-man, I feel like our depth has improved enough for me to actually have some form of faith in our defense.

Because they can be sent down, I expect one of Butcher/Santini + Kapla to be cut before opening night. But I like the fact that guys like Lovejoy and Moore actually have to show they belong.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Santini being cut would be a big mistake. The kid needs to play as far as I'm concerned.

 

[NJDevs26]

While we still lack that #1 d-man, I feel like our depth has improved enough for me to actually have some form of faith in our defense.

Because they can be sent down, I expect one of Butcher/Santini + Kapla to be cut before opening night. But I like the fact that guys like Lovejoy and Moore actually have to show they belong.

Kapla's literally got NO shot at making the team. He's already been passed not only by Mueller/Butcher but also arguably by Dyblenko. I'd put him no higher than third on the in-season callup list at best and no higher than tenth on the overall depth chart behind the NHL seven d-men, the Mueller/Butcher 'loser' and Dyblenko.

Santini being cut would be a big mistake. The kid needs to play as far as I'm concerned.

I do think he deserves the first crack over Butcher, but the fact is one of those two is going down because they don't need waivers and everyone else would. Teams just don't cut players on contract before regular season games when they don't have to unless it's a drastic situation (Vegas might have to because they can't trade any of them and have too many one-way guys).

 

[Cult of Hynes]

I wish they would just send Lovejoy down. Rather Santini, Butcher and Prout playing over him. All of them are better than him, and Butcher brings what the team needs, offensive skill from the back end.

 

[Ben Matlock]

I wish they would just send Lovejoy down. Rather Santini, Butcher and Prout playing over him. All of them are better than him, and Butcher brings what the team needs, offensive skill from the back end.

I'll be more than happy if Lovejoy is the #6/7, as opposed to #3. Since they don't need to waive a d-man, why would they?

 

[FooteBahl]

I'm not familiar with the cba and buyouts, but do we have a slot to buyout Lovejoy? I'm not saying this should be done, just asking if it were even possible.

 

[NJDevs26]

If they were going to buy him out they would have done it in the offseason. You can't do another buyout till next offseason (where it'd be more feasible with one year left on the deal anyway).

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I'm not familiar with the cba and buyouts, but do we have a slot to buyout Lovejoy? I'm not saying this should be done, just asking if it were even possible.

not until next June

 

[Devil X]

If everyone keeps playing well, defense is going to be tough to choose. I hold to my statement last night. I have a hard hard time believing they will sit Lovejoy. So Im assuming that the top 4 is set with the vets. Greene Severson; Moore Lovejoy, come combo of those 4. I would give Mueller and Prout the first shot as the bottom pairing. They have played very well together now for 2 games. Id let Brian Strait sit at the 7th Dman.

Id send Butcher and Santini to Bingo to start the season, NOT because they played bad, NOT because they arent NHL Dman, just because they are be sent down without waivers. Let them be a top pairing in Bingo get all kinds of minutes and they will be called up for injuries and at some point likely be placed in the line-up full time at some point during the season.

What i dont want is Butcher and Santini rotating in and out as 7th and 8th dman with Prout or Mueller or whoever had the bad game. I think its better for all of them to just play.