Devils 2018-19 team discussion (news and notes) - part Xl

[Nubmer6]

We need to be drafting D with our first then. Trade up or back if needed.

Many here probably disagree, but I think our need for a 2C outweighs our need for D. We have D we drafted from the last few years finally coming into the system, and hopefully a couple of them can stick over the next few years. Even if they're not 1st paring D men, there have been successful teams that had a defense by committee (swarm it up!).

Our options at 2C are Zacha, McLeod, and Seney. I'm less confident any of them are the 2C we're looking for than I am that one or two of our defensive prospects will become at least 2nd pairing defensemen.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

If Im one of the kids id be saying ‘if Brian can do all of this at his age with what he went through, theres no reason I shouldnt be putting my all into this and not making excuses for myself’

Thats just one of a hundred things I could say Boyle does for the kids. I do hope he comes back (unless he asks not to be moved)

Yeah, well, according to the trade board, those intangibles don’t add to Boyle’s value. Idiots.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Thanks for risking imprisonment. Interesting with regard to Johansson. I think they're going to try and keep him.

Really?

I think it’s a no-brainer for them to recoup the picks they spent on him, and move on.

 

[Billdo]

Really?

I think it’s a no-brainer for them to recoup the picks they spent on him, and move on.

Yeah I don't know, I like what he brings when he's healthy which has obviously been a problem. He was playing well before he got hurt most recently.

 

[Billdo]

Didn't say lord and Xavier, 0/10, see me after class.

I liked how savior and Xavier rhymes but yeah

 

[Bleedred]

The problem with Johansson right now (outside of his really slow first 6 weeks or so of the season) is that he's produced a bit less than he did in Washington and hasn't been healthy enough to show if this is just small sample size or if he just really isn't that good.

I said that if he didn't score 45 points this year, that I don't think I want him back. And if he didn't play enough games to score 45 points, we probably shouldn't bring him back anyway, as he's been missing a bit of time (granted with unrelated ailments and was very healthy in his career before he got here) the last two years and has had a couple concussions.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

I don't want to re-sign Boyle.

He's having a good season but he too damn slow for our game style 5 on 5.

He is kinda of a power play specialist now.

Best thing for the team is get a 2C and push Zacha down the lineup.

Zajac is the perfect 3C.

 

[Devilsfan992]

I don't want to re-sign Boyle.

He's having a good season but he too damn slow for our game style 5 on 5.

He is kinda of a power play specialist now.

Best thing for the team is get a 2C and push Zacha down the lineup.

Zajac is the perfect 3C.

Boyle is a very good 4th liner, slow or not.

Also if Zacha isn't 2C or 3C where does that leave him?

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Also if Zacha isn't 2C or 3C where does that leave him?

4th line with PK time. He will still get good minutes.

I like to roll 4 lines so everyone gets at least 10 minutes of ice time.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

- Hit a homerun on this year’s 1st Stick with best player available - worked well last season to get Ty Smith
- Solve the 2C spot Make a splash for Matt Duchene. Even if we overpay. Time to get out cheque book.
- Re-sign Hall and extend Nico Yes. This is a priority.
- Add a top pair defender or two equivalent to Vatanen I think Jake Gardiner can be that for our team. He is equivalent to Vatanen.
- Find an equivalent replacement for Johansson Silfverberg or Nyqvist.
- Hire a VP of analytics Ok with me
- Replace Pellegrini and Fletcher in the FO; maybe Fitz if he leaves Ok with me
- Extend Butcher Yes. He is a good middle pairing Dman. More than just a PP specialist
- Experiment w/ Butcher/Vatanen pairing Yes. Butcher need more responsibility. He is doing well with increased icetime.
- Add Smith and Boqvist and give McLeod an extended audition Smith yes but i'll take it slow with Boqvist, unless he wows at training camp. McLeod would be a good replacement for Boyle next season
- Trade pending free agents at the deadline Yes. Must replenish prospects/picks lost last year in Maroon/Grabner trades
- Sign Davies and/or Walsh Yes. Our AHL defenseman suck. Kapla hasn't worked out.
- Bring Boyle back No too slow and doesn't fit age profile of a developing team.

My thoughts above in BOLD^

 

[My3Sons]

My thoughts above in BOLD^

I must have blabbered to you about the time Warren Zevon played the Broome County arena and mentioned Peter Sidorkiewicz in Were wolves of London.

 

[MichaelJ]

My thoughts above in BOLD^

- BPA will be a good draft strategy, usually is

- Adding Duchene would be great, but the Devils need multiple backup plans. NJ isn’t a top FA destination and simply overpaying might not get him.

- Gardiner would be a good target, I doubt the Leafs will be able to afford him.

- Boqvist’s path will be dependent on performance. A year in the AHL might be best, but no reason to send him there unnecessarily. I agree that his training camp should dictate.

- McLeod could be a good 4C option next year, but giving him another season at Bing to grow and have more minutes wouldn’t be terrible. That’s why I’d be fine bringing back Boyle for a year.

- Silfverberg would be a solid add to our RW depth.

 

[Nubmer6]

- Gardiner would be a good target, I doubt the Leafs will be able to afford him.

- McLeod could be a good 4C option next year, but giving him another season at Bing to grow and have more minutes wouldn’t be terrible. That’s why I’d be fine bringing back Boyle for a year.

Gardiner is basically a left handed Severson. This board would melt down every bone-headed play he makes, deserved or not.

Boyle has been playing wing. We have other options at C, like Coleman and Seney.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think it’s more likely we try to exploit the cap issues of the team that eventually signs Duchenne then him actually coming here on an overpaid contract.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Hischier is on pace for 64 points while having missed four games and all of this while he has been a bit inconsistent (sophomore slump-esque). I do blame the constant shuffling for some of it and eventually we should be able to find him a permanent winger that isn't Hall...

because while I may be on the Hynes wagon now, I am still against Hall with Hischier. Those two should be on separate lines.

And to think some people were saying Hischier's ceiling is 70 points... HAH. Hes almost on pace for that at 19!! Edit: HE TURNED 20 TODAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICO!

 

[Emperoreddy]

Nico also does almost all of his damage at ES. When he figures the PP out his totals are going to go up.

Kid is a gem.

 

[Bleedred]

Hischier is on pace for 64 points while having missed four games and all of this while he has been a bit inconsistent (sophomore slump-esque). I do blame the constant shuffling for some of it and eventually we should be able to find him a permanent winger that isn't Hall...

because while I may be on the Hynes wagon now, I am still against Hall with Hischier. Those two should be on separate lines.

And to think some people were saying Hischier's ceiling is 70 points... HAH. Hes almost on pace for that at 19!! Edit: HE TURNED 20 TODAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICO!

Aren't you the poster formall known as @Nok Hockey? I can't @ that name anymore, so you must be. I do love the new name, by the way.

Don't wanna put too much Hynes talk in this thread, with the extension going, but what made you jump on the Hynes wagon so suddenly? You were probably the second most anti-Hynes poster on the forum?

 

[Ripshot 43]

Hischier is on pace for 64 points while having missed four games and all of this while he has been a bit inconsistent (sophomore slump-esque). I do blame the constant shuffling for some of it and eventually we should be able to find him a permanent winger that isn't Hall...

because while I may be on the Hynes wagon now, I am still against Hall with Hischier. Those two should be on separate lines.

And to think some people were saying Hischier's ceiling is 70 points... HAH. Hes almost on pace for that at 19!! Edit: HE TURNED 20 TODAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICO!

Whaaaaat? Nico is no longer a teenager? That’s it, he’s a bust, throw him back.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Boyle has those intangibles that some GMs love to over pay for as ell.

 

[Bleedred]

I'm starting to become okay with Boyle being back next year, but I also think you have to trade him. unless he brings back nothing. We can always re-sign him for the same role he's had the last two years and he'd probably come back on a one year deal. I wouldn't give him another two year deal though.

 

[Billdo]

Boyle has those intangibles that some GMs love to over pay for as ell.

I'm starting to become okay with Boyle being back next year, but I also think you have to trade him. unless he brings back nothing. We can always re-sign him for the same role he's had the last two years and he'd probably come back on a one year deal. I wouldn't give him another two year deal though.

I think you approach Boyle and talk about the possibility of him coming back IF there is a deal they can't refuse. He knows the situation, the team can really use the assets he'll return. If he has a problem then so be it but they've got to look at the return and if it's worth it. I genuinely can see a 1st coming back for him. If that happens it's a no brainer. Even a second is a no brainer for me.

 

[Emperoreddy]

If he fetches a 2nd or a 2nd+ I think you have to move him.

 

[Bleedred]

I think you approach Boyle and talk about the possibility of him coming back IF there is a deal they can't refuse. He knows the situation, the team can really use the assets he'll return. If he has a problem then so be it but they've got to look at the return and if it's worth it. I genuinely can see a 1st coming back for him. If that happens it's a no brainer. Even a second is a no brainer for me.

If he fetches a 2nd or a 2nd+ I think you have to move him.

Pretty much this.

I know we all hoped Stempniak would come back after we traded him and Shero probably never even asked him back again, but I think it's different. Stempniak was playing prime forward minutes on the team that year. He also got himself a 2 year deal after that and I don't think Shero was ever gonna give him a 2 year deal after that. And that was a smart choice, because he was pretty bad (I realize also injured) by year two of that deal and no he's no longer in the league.

But Boyle isn't playing almost 19 minutes here and is probably better than the internal options (Pietila? Johnny ''When Ville I Score?'') and the UFA options for his type of player are usually awful.

I'd be shocked if you can find a better 4th liner in the league than him.

Now, he is at an age where he could wind up giving out and being really bad next year, but that's why I say a one year only deal would be good.

 

[EnglishDevil]

I’m fine with trading all of Johansson, Boyle & Lovejoy, at this point it’s actually my preference to do so.

Johanssson isn’t a bad player and he’s been more than a little unlucky in his tenure with us, but he’s a soft perimeter player who doesn’t move the needle enough by himself to justify the cost, at least in my opinion.

Take that money and throw it at Duchene, I think 2C is the biggest hole on this team right now and i’m willing to overpay a little to fix it, especially if we jettison Johansson. Duchene also fits perfectly age wise with our core group of Hall, Palmieri etc, he’s got a lot of good years left in him.

Not to mention I don’t see anyone in the UFA defence class worth splashing the cash on, I think we’ll be waiting on Smith, Davies & Walsh to upgrade the blueline (or a trade).

If our forward group next year were:

Hall - Duchene - Palmieri
Zacha - Hischier - Bratt
Wood - Zajac - Coleman
+ 3-5 of Seney, Anderson, McLeod, Boqvist, Talvitie, Quenneville, Noesen

I think we’d be in good shape overall with much better balance.

 

[Hypernova]

Hischier is on pace for 64 points while having missed four games and all of this while he has been a bit inconsistent (sophomore slump-esque). I do blame the constant shuffling for some of it and eventually we should be able to find him a permanent winger that isn't Hall...

because while I may be on the Hynes wagon now, I am still against Hall with Hischier. Those two should be on separate lines.

And to think some people were saying Hischier's ceiling is 70 points... HAH. Hes almost on pace for that at 19!! Edit: HE TURNED 20 TODAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICO!

I wouldn't get too excited about someone being on pace for 64 points. Let's see if he actually gets there first. Bratt looked amazing last year until the second half of the season hit.