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

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Zacha continues to shred the Canes whenever we play them. Good to see.

Consistency remains the determining factor with this guy. We'll see.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Zacha continues to shred the Canes whenever we play them. Good to see.

Consistency remains the determining factor with this guy. We'll see.

Consistency can improve with age, and he is still young so worth not giving up on him.

Kid absolutely has the goods. You see it when he is out there playing the right way. Just bring it more often and the points will keep coming.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

are the devils actually playing better now or is mb just stealing games...they looked like absolute trash before, goalie included but still.

 

[NJDevs26]

are the devils actually playing better now or is mb just stealing games...they looked like absolute trash before, goalie included but still.

It’s mostly MB and the PK unit so far. This run isn’t sustainable if they keep giving up 40 shots a game. They need to help him out more then maybe we can have something here

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

It’s mostly MB and the PK unit so far. This run isn’t sustainable if they keep giving up 40 shots a game. They need to help him out more then maybe we can have something here

well, it might be if MB actually is the real deal lol. That remains to be seen. I know someone mentioned it before, but if they go on a winning streak they better make the playoffs. I will not be happy if they fall short of the playoffs and have to pick 15 or something.

 

[Darkauron]

Zacha still isnt even 21 yet. Still pretty young

 

[NJDevs26]

well, it might be if MB actually is the real deal lol. That remains to be seen. I know someone mentioned it before, but if they go on a winning streak they better make the playoffs. I will not be happy if they fall short of the playoffs and have to pick 15 or something.

I don't care what goalie it is, nobody survives a 40+ shot onslaught game after game for more than a couple weeks at a time. Blackwood's three starts they've given up 117 shots on net and there was no OT involved. That can't continue, it just can't. I am very encouraged by Blackwood but eventually goals start to leak in with that kind of barrage game after game. Look at what happened to Keith this year, decent-strong early start then collapsed after a few weeks of this nonsense.

 

[My3Sons]

I don't care what goalie it is, nobody survives a 40+ shot onslaught game after game for more than a couple weeks at a time. Blackwood's three starts they've given up 117 shots on net and there was no OT involved. That can't continue, it just can't. I am very encouraged by Blackwood but eventually goals start to leak in with that kind of barrage game after game. Look at what happened to Keith this year, decent-strong early start then collapsed after a few weeks of this nonsense.

And that’s when they can send MBW back down and start KK Corey and Lack in a three man rotation of a downward spiral. Don’t let MBW take a long term beating if the team loses the edge they have so far playing in front of him.

 

[Emperoreddy]

All I know is that our top goalie prospect looking like a top goalie prospect makes life a lot lot easier.

 

[Triumph]

I don't care what goalie it is, nobody survives a 40+ shot onslaught game after game for more than a couple weeks at a time. Blackwood's three starts they've given up 117 shots on net and there was no OT involved. That can't continue, it just can't. I am very encouraged by Blackwood but eventually goals start to leak in with that kind of barrage game after game. Look at what happened to Keith this year, decent-strong early start then collapsed after a few weeks of this nonsense.

They've played Carolina, who averages 37 shots a game, and Boston who averages 32 - against Boston, they led the entire game, and they're playing without 2 of their top forwards. They're giving up what they should expect to give up - Blackwood's made the saves, and he won't always do that, but I don't think they played poorly against Boston, and I don't think they played that poorly against Carolina, either.

 

[Emperoreddy]

If all that comes out of the second half is finding we got something in Blackwood, and a Zacha surge, I will be satisfied.

Would mean a lot for our future.

 

[Nubmer6]

And that’s when they can send MBW back down and start KK Corey and Lack in a three man rotation of a downward spiral. Don’t let MBW take a long term beating if the team loses the edge they have so far playing in front of him.

He kinda takes a beating down in the A too.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

All I know is that our top goalie prospect looking like a top goalie prospect makes life a lot lot easier.

Amen to that.

 

[Darkauron]

Hot off the presses

 

[NinjaKick]

The Devils could very well have the most cap space going into this offseason, and what's going to happen with Cory? He's a prime LTIR candidate... that's potentially alot of money coming off the books. If Shero wanted to, he could offer Panarin the max contract and it wouldn't cripple the Devils at all... it's going to be a very interesting and crucial offseason from the Devils POV.

 

[RSeen]

Zacha needs to keep this shooting mentality. When Hall comes back, they should have Zacha on that same position on the second PP unit...Personally I don't think having both Vatenen and Severson on the same unit is optimal...I'd probably leave Damon on there.

 

[NJDevs26]

If all that comes out of the second half is finding we got something in Blackwood, and a Zacha surge, I will be satisfied.

Would mean a lot for our future.

The 2015 draft turning into a solid one would be a reverse heel turn of the highest order after all the time and angst wasted on it here. It is fitting both Blackwood and Zacha played starring roles today.

I just hope we don't crick our necks rushing to give Shero credit for this draft after people wanted to absolve him when it didn't exactly look great for either guy. It would be hilarious if Conte's last draft was his best in over a decade.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

The Devils could very well have the most cap space going into this offseason, and what's going to happen with Cory? He's a prime LTIR candidate... that's potentially alot of money coming off the books. If Shero wanted to, he could offer Panarin the max contract and it wouldn't cripple the Devils at all... it's going to be a very interesting and crucial offseason from the Devils POV.

My unpopular opinion but realistic is to sign Kevin Hayes. Think he's a winning player.

 

[My3Sons]

The Devils could very well have the most cap space going into this offseason, and what's going to happen with Cory? He's a prime LTIR candidate... that's potentially alot of money coming off the books. If Shero wanted to, he could offer Panarin the max contract and it wouldn't cripple the Devils at all... it's going to be a very interesting and crucial offseason from the Devils POV.

Cory’s contract didn’t look too bad at the time. You need very forward thinking to give a guy a max deal who hasn never played for you before. I’m always skeptical of a player who only signs because of the over payment. Panarin for the same price as Hall or a little more is great. For a lot more than Hall I don’t know.

 

[NJDevs26]

My unpopular opinion but realistic is to sign Kevin Hayes. Think he's a winning player.

I don't know how unpopular it'd really be, he had 25 goals last year and 32 points in 36 games this year. He's a solid middle six player and they'll definitely need at least another one of those guys considering Zacha as a top six player is still VERY suspect, not to mention the wing depth beyond Hallmeri is Bratt and....? next year with MarJo a FA and Wood not taking that next step forward some thought he might.

 

[NinjaKick]

Cory’s contract didn’t look too bad at the time. You need very forward thinking to give a guy a max deal who hasn never played for you before. I’m always skeptical of a player who only signs because of the over payment. Panarin for the same price as Hall or a little more is great. For a lot more than Hall I don’t know.

no one could have predicted Cory's downfall and I agree it's was a solid contract at the time
overall the Devils don't really have any bad contracts, I guess some people think Zajac is overpaid but he's consistently been solid and fits the bill as a "Devil" type of player

Karlsson
Panarin
Stone
Duchene
Bob
Hayes would be a nice pickup like it was stated above
some very interesting names this summer, Devils can easily afford to offer and match a serious contract

 

[MadDevil]

My unpopular opinion but realistic is to sign Kevin Hayes. Think he's a winning player.

We could sign the better brother for once.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

no one could have predicted Cory's downfall and I agree it's was a solid contract at the time
overall the Devils don't really have any bad contracts, I guess some people think Zajac is overpaid but he's consistently been solid and fits the bill as a "Devil" type of player

Karlsson
Panarin
Stone
Duchene
Bob
Hayes would be a nice pickup like it was stated above
some very interesting names this summer, Devils can easily afford to offer and match a serious contract

The Devils will likely need to sign someone to get to the floor if Cory is bought out/on LTIR. The problem with the players you listed is they will have multiple suitors if they make it to FA and the term they will command. Shero addressed this.

""I've said all along, with the support of managing partners, Josh (Harris) and David (Blitzer), that you don't build a team that's rebuilding through free agent signings that would handcuff you in 3-to-4 years," Shero said. "Doing something for the sake of getting a little bit better, or to just say you're doing something, is patchwork and not a plan. There's only one way to do this. The idea is to build something that once you do build it, you're in a good position each year to have a chance to make the playoffs and at a certain point you're considered a Cup contender."

Five Questions with Ray Shero

I personally would have no interest in Karlsson, Duchene, or Bob. Panarin and Stone will be highly sought after. Signing high priced UFA's is no way to build a team long term. When these types of contracts go bad they can really hurt a team as those players become unmovable due to high salary.

 

[Billdo]

My unpopular opinion but realistic is to sign Kevin Hayes. Think he's a winning player.

I'm down with that. I know there will be at least half a dozen dolts on here who whine about it but Hayes is a very good player. Kevin, not Jimmy. Jimmy sucks.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

I don't know how unpopular it'd really be, he had 25 goals last year and 32 points in 36 games this year. He's a solid middle six player and they'll definitely need at least another one of those guys considering Zacha as a top six player is still VERY suspect, not to mention the wing depth beyond Hallmeri is Bratt and....? next year with MarJo a FA and Wood not taking that next step forward some thought he might.

Kevin Hayes will be paid as a top 6 player and may be a top 6 talent