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

[Triumph]

The problem isn't Santini versus Yakovlev, it's Santini versus a replacement-level defenseman - Santini is worse than replacement-level, so the Devils should be looking to upgrade that position.

 

[Bleedred]

The problem isn't Santini versus Yakovlev, it's Santini versus a replacement-level defenseman - Santini is worse than replacement-level, so the Devils should be looking to upgrade that position.

I’m annoyed he’s signed for two more years. I suspected after last year that he was on the outs and one of those guys that wasn’t in our long term plans, much like Quenneville on forward. Then he’s given a three year deal. Well, this year he’s still been used like a guy that’s still on the outs, but he’s signed two more years.

My initial thought was that he was given a three year deal to leave him open for the expansion draft in 2021, when he would have one year left on his deal and be expansion draft fodder like Merrill was. Then they announced that Seattle wouldn’t start up until 2022 and by that time, his deal would be over.

I still don’t understand a three year deal for him after last year, but he’s really no better than a #7 defenseman.

 

[MadDevil]

I’m annoyed he’s signed for two more years. I suspected after last year that he was on the outs and one of those guys that wasn’t in our long term plans, much like Quenneville on forward. Then he’s given a three year deal. Well, this year he’s still been used like a guy that’s still on the outs, but he’s signed two more years.

My initial thought was that he was given a three year deal to leave him open for the expansion draft in 2021, when he would have one year left on his deal and be expansion draft fodder like Merrill was. Then they announced that Seattle wouldn’t start up until 2022 and by that time, his deal would be over.

I still don’t understand a three year deal for him after last year, but he’s really no better than a #7 defenseman.

They were probably hoping he could take Lovejoy's role after he was gone, but I honestly think I'd prefer Lovejoy at this point. Still, he has only played not quite 100 games, so I'm not going to completely write him off yet.

 

[Bleedred]

They were probably hoping he could take Lovejoy's role after he was gone, but I honestly think I'd prefer Lovejoy at this point. Still, he has only played not quite 100 games, so I'm not going to completely write him off yet.

I think it is too early to completely write him off, but I certainly don't think his ceiling goes beyond a bottom pairing PK specialist at this point.

I think his ceiling is actually Jon Merrill, which might be an insult or a compliment, depending on how you look at it. Merrill is a decent bottom pairing NHL defenseman, but nothing special. Maybe the current Lovejoy is a better comparable.

 

[OmNomNom]

Well, we beat Montreal 6-4 on March 6th last year, including 3 PP goals. So that might be a good one. Then there was a SO win against Nashville (although I think we blew a lead late in that one) on the 10th. Then the 8-3 blowout of Vegas on the 14th. Grabner's lone moment of usefulness was on the 17th when he scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over LA that ended up being the game winner.

we just need to rabb.it together, so we can be totally in sync

 

[johnny pierogi]

I've really come to dislike the Jackets. Probably because we haven't beaten them in 10 years. Boone Jenner is also a douche.

 

[Bleedred]

Jackets desperate enough to play Kinkaid tonight? I’m not sure if that would be the desperation move or if just throwing Bob out there again is the desperation move like it was during the second half of the back to back.

I would really love to deal them a pathetic loss tonight. It would soften the blow of the 800 stupid losses we’ve had to them in the last 6 years.

But there’s just one problem! We can’t beat Torts! He refuses to lose to us!

 

[MartyOwns]

I think it is too early to completely write him off, but I certainly don't think his ceiling goes beyond a bottom pairing PK specialist at this point.

I think his ceiling is actually Jon Merrill, which might be an insult or a compliment, depending on how you look at it. Merrill is a decent bottom pairing NHL defenseman, but nothing special. Maybe the current Lovejoy is a better comparable.

honestly at this point i’d be thrilled if he ended up as a jon merrill

 

[AfroThunder396]

It would be hilarious if they started Kinkaid and we scored on him in the first minute.

 

[Blender]

It would be hilarious if they started Kinkaid and we scored on him in the first minute.

It would be, but is he even going to be dressed?

 

[DevilWithin]

I saw Keith Kinkaid yesterday evening at Exchange Place. He was alone and it looked like he was waiting for someone to pick him up.

 

[glenwo2]

@Bleedred

I saw Keith Kinkaid yesterday evening at Exchange Place. He was alone and it looked like he was waiting for someone to pick him up.

Another NHL team?

 

[BenedictGomez]

This thread is currently Fake News.

It should be temporarily retitled as:

AHL 2018-19 team discussion

 

[vtdevils2k]

Nico out tonight along with Vats...

Just end the season already

 

[OmNomNom]

Nico out tonight along with Vats...

Just end the season already

it's so sad - we're not even trying to tank. we just are so bruised up, we cannot ice a good team

 

[GameSeven]

Nico out tonight along with Vats...

Just end the season already

 

[vtdevils2k]

it's so sad - we're not even trying to tank. we just are so bruised up, we cannot ice a good team

Which is why I pray we get a top 2 pick. We desperately need it and deserve it for not intentionally trying to tank.

*positive vibes*

 

[Nocashstyle]

Nico out tonight along with Vats...

Just end the season already

Would love to see them just skate out of the tunnel and do a full lap waving a giant white flag and then exiting back down the tunnel.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Which is why I pray we get a top 2 pick. We desperately need it and deserve it for not intentionally trying to tank.

*positive vibes*

And we still can’t catch Ottawa. God that franchise is a mess.

 

[NJDevils17]

Just gonna toss this bomb out here - are we really going to resign Hall? Or do we trade him....?

 

[BenedictGomez]

And we still can’t catch Ottawa. God that franchise is a mess.

Depending upon just how bad the sick ward becomes, I wouldnt be too sure. This is reaching almost unprecedented levels of injury, etc... I cant recall such a thing happening before.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Just gonna toss this bomb out here - are we really going to resign Hall? Or do we trade him....?

If we get a return like Ottawa did for Karlsson...I’d rather keep him until at least the deadline and feel out signing possibility then if not done already.

If the return is more in line with what an elite player should fetch for one year, then I’d say trade.

 

[Triumph]

Depending upon just how bad the sick ward becomes, I wouldnt be too sure. This is reaching almost unprecedented levels of injury, etc... I cant recall such a thing happening before.

There's almost no chance of the Devils catching Ottawa. The Devils are 7 points ahead with 16 games to play. Unless the goaltending really falters, the Devils will win some of these games - not many, but enough to keep them ahead of a terrible Ottawa squad.

 

[BenedictGomez]

There's almost no chance of the Devils catching Ottawa. The Devils are 7 points ahead with 16 games to play. Unless the goaltending really falters, the Devils will win some of these games - not many, but enough to keep them ahead of a terrible Ottawa squad.

Yes, I agree this is the troubling part. It wouldn't shock me in the least if the Devils keep on losing games.

The problematic part is the Senators need to win 3 game just to make it roughly a Game 82 coin toss. If the Sens even get "mini-hot" and win 2 games in a row, however, things get interesting.

I also wont count out my pick to finish this season dead-last, the unmighty Ducks, but as of today, the Senators have a solid lead on the field.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Just gonna toss this bomb out here - are we really going to resign Hall? Or do we trade him....?

I am very confident he is going to re-sign. I've heard second hand that even prior to the start of last season, that he made it clear to management that he liked living in the area and wanted to be with the team long term. And then after that, wins the Hart and makes a point to thank everyone in the organization for believing in him, which was obviously a dig at other GMs and Canadian media types who talked about his "bad attitude" to the point of spreading rumors about cocaine abuse when he was in Edmonton. If you're playing NJ, you don't have to deal with any of that.

Also, the owner, who has very deep pockets and a lot of cap space, has made it clear that he wants Hall here for the long term and wants to eventually see his number in the rafters. Money will not be an issue.

The only thing that might be an issue is if he has recently soured on what Shero is trying to do, or if it looks like Shero is going to turn into a Sandy Alderson type. That doesn't appear to be the case, although if Shero's big acquisition in the offseason is Adam McQuaid, then yeah, maybe we should start to get worried.

So far as a trade, the return would be a lot better than what Ottawa got for Karlsson. Shero will get take the best deal on the table. Melnkyk supposedly did not want to trade Karlsson to an Eastern Conference team except for an unrealistic return. But again, I'm not worried about that.