Devils 2018-19 team discussion (player news and notes) - offseason part VI

[Zippy316]

is anyone else even a little concerned that karlsson’s best days are behind him? not that he’s still not a great player it just seems unlikely you’re going to get 8 years that mirror the past 8 years

May not be the same player, but what makes his special shouldn't degrade too much over time.

You just can't teach those offensive instincts.

EDIT: I know it's really a pipe dream, but imagining Karlsson and Hall playing together would be absolutely ridiculous. It goes that way with a lot of our guys and their speed especially with the way Karlsson lofts 150 foot passes like it's nothing.

 

[Parda71]

Hello guys,
is there anybody who is going to visit preseason game in Bern, CH? Devils will play 1st September in Bern with home team. We are going and we also would like to visit some NJ Devisl practise. Maybe somebody here know Devils schedule in Switzerland? I mean if we should go there one or two days before game.
Thank you!

 

[Triumph]

is anyone else even a little concerned that karlsson’s best days are behind him? not that he’s still not a great player it just seems unlikely you’re going to get 8 years that mirror the past 8 years

I am, yeah. Those leg injuries would give me some trepidation. Without those, I'd be all in on Karlsson - players like that usually age well.

 

[Ol Dirty Bstrd]

Off limits IMO

Hall
Nico
Vats
Bratt
Smith
Palms
Wood
Butch
Walsh
Coleman

For a signed Karlsson, remove everyone other than Hall/Nico. And maybe Palmieri because of our lack of RW depth

 

[AfroThunder396]

The only things I would take off the table for Karlsson are Hall, Nico, Vatanen, and Smith.

 

[MartyOwns]

i think Edmonton makes more sense than us

strickland now reporting that karlsson won’t sign with any team who has more than one vowel in its name. he’s also saying that at this time, y’s and w’s will not be considered vowels, but that could change

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

The only things I would take off the table for Karlsson are Hall, Nico, Vatanen, and Smith.

Does that make much sense - to not include Smith when were getting back the best o-dmen in the league/last few decades?

Vatanen, Hall, and Hischier I agree with. Smith is a bit much

 

[Devilswede]

I'd trade Smith for Karlsson in a heartbeat. Smith is an unknown and has not even played a game in the NHL yet. Karlsson is a talent out of this world.

I would trade Smith, a 1st round pick and Wood/Bratt in exchange for Karlsson without even flinching

 

[Devils Dominion]

EK can't be that good, he failed to score a goal in 12 AHL games in Bingo

 

[NJDevs26]

I'd trade Smith for Karlsson in a heartbeat. Smith is an unknown and has not even played a game in the NHL yet. Karlsson is a talent out of this world.

I would trade Smith, a 1st round pick and Wood/Bratt in exchange for Karlsson without even flinching

For a signed Karlsson that's one thing, but again we're talking about a guy only signed for one more year if he's not. That's a huge roll of the dice for a pending UFA and we're not really a win-now team where you can completely sell out for a 2019 playoff run. There's a big difference between what you can give up for an unsigned Karlsson versus one that is signed.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Does that make much sense - to not include Smith when were getting back the best o-dmen in the league/last few decades?

Vatanen, Hall, and Hischier I agree with. Smith is a bit much

Gun to my head I would probably do it, but I'm extraordinarily high on Smith. Smith is exactly what we need in exactly the position we need it and is controlled long-term.

For a signed Karlsson it would be much easier to swallow, but for a UFA that's a huge price to pay IMO.

 

[Ripshot 43]

If we were a team that attracted big name free agents I could see rolling the dice on acquiring a player early and giving up what I count as 3 young impact players but there isn’t a chance in hell that I give up all of that talent for Karlsson and I even hesitate if he’s signed long term. I don’t hinmpeople realize how much off our roster we are giving up let alone the roster and cap flexibility those guys give us at this stage in their careers.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Hello guys,
is there anybody who is going to visit preseason game in Bern, CH? Devils will play 1st September in Bern with home team. We are going and we also would like to visit some NJ Devisl practise. Maybe somebody here know Devils schedule in Switzerland? I mean if we should go there one or two days before game.
Thank you!

I would try contacting someone in the Devils front office or their press department. With an inquiry like yours, even phoning or emailing cold will yield you a response I believe. It’s a quiet time of year right now too over there.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Put me on the record

If we give up too much for EK it would set the franchise back a decade.

He's becoming too injury prone for my liking

Sure he's elite right now but does he truly make us an Eastern Conference challenger in the next season or two?

I'm not sure.

Of course he makes us much better but would adding him sell out The Rock every night and/or put us up their with Wash, TB or Pitts?

 

[Darkauron]

Do not want Karlsson. Cost too much to get him. It is not worth it

 

[Missionhockey]

Hall, Nico, and Smith are probably the only ones I wouldn't trade for Karlsson.

 

[Emperoreddy]

is anyone else even a little concerned that karlsson’s best days are behind him? not that he’s still not a great player it just seems unlikely you’re going to get 8 years that mirror the past 8 years

Not at all, because I don’t for a second believe we are trading for him.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Put me on the record

If we give up too much for EK it would set the franchise back a decade.

He's becoming too injury prone for my liking

Sure he's elite right now but does he truly make us an Eastern Conference challenger in the next season or two?

I'm not sure.

Of course he makes us much better but would adding him sell out The Rock every night and/or put us up their with Wash, TB or Pitts?

Not saying we should try to trade for Karlsson, but I don't see how he's becoming too injury prone.

He missed 11 games last year and 5 the year prior. Before that, three straight 82 game seasons. Unless you think missing any games at all is injury prone?

 

[booyakasha]

Taylor looking good in the off season.

 

[Call Me Al]

Not at all, because I don’t for a second believe we are trading for him.

well yeah i don’t either. but for everyone willing to mortgage the future for him, i can say with modest confidence that 5 years from now we’d be better off having not traded for him unless we win the cup, but i don’t think he’s necessary for us to be perennial condenters in the near to foreseeable future

 

[Call Me Al]

but for the inevitable responses that he will help us win the cup, that’s not guaranteed and the trade weakens our depth. overall i really like the way we are building and i don’t necessarily want to compromise that for a player towards the end of their prime with a history of multiple lower body injuries

 

[Devilsfan92]

Hall, Nico, and Smith are probably the only ones I wouldn't trade for Karlsson.

Hall and Nico I 100% agree with, but I'll never understand the negativity and disagreement with trading a player that has never even played a game in the NHL. As much potential and promise they have, its nothing until they're playing 82+ games in and out every year.

I'll take the perennial Norris candidate and arguably top 5 player in the world.

 

[glenwo2]

I doubt he ever scores 30 goals, but I think at his peak he could be a Wayne Simmonds type

But less of a Jerk.

 

[glenwo2]

I was pretty down on Wood just a year ago, thought he'd for sure need some AHL time before permanently making it in the NHL.

He improved astronomically and assuming last year wasn't the fluke or aberration, I think he can actually score 30 goals, although probably not perennially. He produced a very good amount for the minutes he played and only like 3 of his points came on the power play. His shooting percentage was a little high, but not Adam Henrique high. He also was able to generate shots on goal at a pretty good clip, especially for those little minutes he played.

I think he could potentially wind up being better than Adam Henrique and that's not the first time that I've said this.

Clarkson never had the skill that Wood does.

Can you imagine Clarktard with Wood's Speed?

He'd be crash-landing into the boards on EVERY PLAY. lol

 

[devilsblood]

is anyone else even a little concerned that karlsson’s best days are behind him? not that he’s still not a great player it just seems unlikely you’re going to get 8 years that mirror the past 8 years

I am. I wouldn't trade for him personally.

In year 2 of his next deal he will be 30 years old.