Confirmed with Link: Devils Acquire D Ryan Graves from COL

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

i was taking your post offically declaring that THIS rebuild began in 2015. The point of my post was that if you post something factual about the rebuild and it doesn't meet with the approval of Yoda you will be cast to the dark side. lol.

2021-2015 = 6, not 7.

Also, this has almost basically been 2 rebuilds. They needed to rebuild again after the Hall/Vatanen/Palmieri/etc crew fell short

 

[Unknown Caller]

2021-2015 = 6, not 7.

Also, this has almost basically been 2 rebuilds. They needed to rebuild again after the Hall/Vatanen/Palmieri/etc crew fell short

In my opinion, the rebuild started when the Devils hired Shero. The first picks under his tenure included Zacha, McLeod, Bratt, Hischier, etc. Those guys are all just starting to mature and become core pieces of the lineup now. This is definitely still rebuild 1. In the scenario you ever started trading off those guys (like the Sabres with Eichel and Reinhardt or the Oilers with Eberle, Hall and Yakupov), then you would be on to rebuild 2.

The Hall/Vatanen/Palmieri acquisitions were an attempt at expediting and shortcutting the rebuild, which didn't obviously didn't work out.

 

[Emperoreddy]

In my opinion, the rebuild started when the Devils hired Shero. The first picks under his tenure included Zacha, McLeod, Bratt, Hischier, etc. Those guys are all just starting to mature and become core pieces of the lineup now. This is definitely still rebuild 1. In the scenario you ever started trading off those guys (like the Sabres with Eichel and Reinhardt or the Oilers with Eberle, Hall and Yakupov), then you would be on to rebuild 2.

The Hall/Vatanen/Palmieri acquisitions were an attempt at expediting and shortcutting the rebuild, which didn't obviously didn't work out.

Hall also returned more in the end then what we gave up, which is generally a good thing if the player himself doesn't work out.

Shero's mistakes were his later moves. Mueller, Goose, Subban were all moves that didn't work and didn't return us assets.

 

[Maine Fan]

In my opinion, the rebuild started when the Devils hired Shero. The first picks under his tenure included Zacha, McLeod, Bratt, Hischier, etc. Those guys are all just starting to mature and become core pieces of the lineup now. This is definitely still rebuild 1. In the scenario you ever started trading off those guys (like the Sabres with Eichel and Reinhardt or the Oilers with Eberle, Hall and Yakupov), then you would be on to rebuild 2.

The Hall/Vatanen/Palmieri acquisitions were an attempt at expediting and shortcutting the rebuild, which didn't obviously didn't work out.

And the rebuild continues without getting close to the playoffs 6 or 7 years later. Getting close to making the playoffs. The game is about winning the Cup by winning through the playoffs. Defense is a very big part of winning. The Devils have a terrible defense.

Avs fans were not sad to lose Graves. Avs fans in general had a hatred for Graves. Avs fans blame Graves' poor decisions for not advancing. Avs fans say Graves has the dumbest hockey IQ in the league. Avs fans say the Graves is soft, doesn't hit, not aggressive. Avs fans think Graves is a 5 or 6 D at best and won't miss him.



Welcome Graves to a team with a weak defense that struggles to make the playoffs in a lengthy rebuild.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

the Devils made the playoffs 3 years ago...If you are going to go on a rant, get your facts straight.

I don't really care what Avs fans have to say to be honest. They just lost a playoff series where everyone thought they were going to march to the finals and Graves did not play well, so naturally they all are hating on him now.

 

[Offseason Champs]

Avs fans

My guy, have you read some Devils fans takes? Please.

 

[glenwo2]

And the rebuild continues without getting close to the playoffs 6 or 7 years later. Getting close to making the playoffs. The game is about winning the Cup by winning through the playoffs. Defense is a very big part of winning. The Devils have a terrible defense.

Avs fans were not sad to lose Graves. Avs fans in general had a hatred for Graves. Avs fans blame Graves' poor decisions for not advancing. Avs fans say Graves has the dumbest hockey IQ in the league. Avs fans say the Graves is soft, doesn't hit, not aggressive. Avs fans think Graves is a 5 or 6 D at best and won't miss him.



Welcome Graves to a team with a weak defense that struggles to make the playoffs in a lengthy rebuild.

Is it so difficult to do a simple search on NHL.com to see WHEN the Devils last made the playoffs?

I seem to recall a Hart-Trophy season by an Ex-Devil and a trip to the playoffs 3 seasons ago(3 years) or does that not exist for you for some reason?

And since when do we take stock in what opposing fans have to say?

Avs fans say this...

Avs fans say that...

Avs fans ARE NOT DEVILS FANS.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

wrong thread

 

[My3Sons]

And the rebuild continues without getting close to the playoffs 6 or 7 years later. Getting close to making the playoffs. The game is about winning the Cup by winning through the playoffs. Defense is a very big part of winning. The Devils have a terrible defense.

Avs fans were not sad to lose Graves. Avs fans in general had a hatred for Graves. Avs fans blame Graves' poor decisions for not advancing. Avs fans say Graves has the dumbest hockey IQ in the league. Avs fans say the Graves is soft, doesn't hit, not aggressive. Avs fans think Graves is a 5 or 6 D at best and won't miss him.



Welcome Graves to a team with a weak defense that struggles to make the playoffs in a lengthy rebuild.

Deep breath. I don’t think the team has any illusions that Graves is a top pair defender. He is however someone that has experience at least defending against the other team’s top players with some degree of success. He’s seemingly inconsistent but capable. He’s likely better defensively than Murray or Kulikov. It’s a step in the right direction but it’s not a panacea. The reality is that even if MBW plays well and Smith improves the team will likely not make a move until Nico and Jack step it up. Zacha and Bratt and Shara have shown some ability to be good complementary pieces now it’s up to the centerpieces. If those two hit their stride my guess is that the team will look much better. Maybe not a playoff team but even slightly above NHL 500 would be a big improvement.

 

[Maine Fan]

Is it so difficult to do a simple search on NHL.com to see WHEN the Devils last made the playoffs?

I seem to recall a Hart-Trophy season by an Ex-Devil and a trip to the playoffs 3 seasons ago(3 years) or does that not exist for you for some reason?

And since when do we take stock in what opposing fans have to say?

Avs fans say this...

Avs fans say that...

Avs fans ARE NOT DEVILS FANS.

Time will tell

 

[Maine Fan]

Deep breath. I don’t think the team has any illusions that Graves is a top pair defender. He is however someone that has experience at least defending against the other team’s top players with some degree of success. He’s seemingly inconsistent but capable. He’s likely better defensively than Murray or Kulikov. It’s a step in the right direction but it’s not a panacea. The reality is that even if MBW plays well and Smith improves the team will likely not make a move until Nico and Jack step it up. Zacha and Bratt and Shara have shown some ability to be good complementary pieces now it’s up to the centerpieces. If those two hit their stride my guess is that the team will look much better. Maybe not a playoff team but even slightly above NHL 500 would be a big improvement.

Thanks, I agree mostly with your assessment. I find being slightly over 500 unacceptable after the rebuild started in 2015. That's my opinion. These owners had deep pockets but failed to deliver a competitive team in 6 years. Making the playoffs when Taylor Hall arrived was a fluke, IMO.
You know, as I do that being competitive means you have a good defense. The Devils are far away from good consistent reason. Players like Graves do not deliver consistent defense. I hope he has a better hockey IQ than he has shown so far but hockey IQ doesn't improve with TOI or going to an already bad defense. He could be the best of the bad.

 

[My3Sons]

Thanks, I agree mostly with your assessment. I find being slightly over 500 unacceptable after the rebuild started in 2015. That's my opinion. These owners had deep pockets but failed to deliver a competitive team in 6 years. Making the playoffs when Taylor Hall arrived was a fluke, IMO.
You know, as I do that being competitive means you have a good defense. The Devils are far away from good consistent reason. Players like Graves do not deliver consistent defense. I hope he has a better hockey IQ than he has shown so far but hockey IQ doesn't improve with TOI or going to an already bad defense. He could be the best of the bad.

My thought is the bad state of the defense is on Shero who seemingly did not value it. I think he saw defenders as fungible players and by keeping them fungible you save on the cap. Fitz seems to have a better sense of what will work even if he is maybe a bit old school. The owners don’t know anything about hockey in my view and probably don’t know anything about sports in general. As long as they give Fitz the ability to spend I think they’ve done all you can ask.

 

[Maine Fan]

Is it so difficult to do a simple search on NHL.com to see WHEN the Devils last made the playoffs?

I seem to recall a Hart-Trophy season by an Ex-Devil and a trip to the playoffs 3 seasons ago(3 years) or does that not exist for you for some reason?

And since when do we take stock in what opposing fans have to say?

Avs fans say this...

Avs fans say that...

Avs fans ARE NOT DEVILS FANS.

I always liked you opinions. This time you are wrong, I hope not, but Graves hockey IQ is bad. You can't make a good chicken defense out of chicken $hit. As for the Devils making the playoffs 3 years ago that was a fluke. Hall contributed something he never did before or since. The Devils we're terrible since 2015 up to the year in the first round and have been worse since. You have seen this, you are a true Devils fan that complained last season, and the one before. This is the worse hockey team rebuild in present time. The GM was terrible. The coach was terrible. The trades were terrible. The draft picks have been so so. You have seen this and posted the same. So don't be a Devils' Homer because I told the truth.

Avs fans understand hockey.

Later, stay true to yourself. Please don't make me go back and pull your posts.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I always liked you opinions. This time you are wrong, I hope not, but Graves hockey IQ is bad. You can't make a good chicken defense out of chicken $hit. As for the Devils making the playoffs 3 years ago that was a fluke. Hall contributed something he never did before or since. The Devils we're terrible since 2015 up to the year in the first round and have been worse since. You have seen this, you are a true Devils fan that complained last season, and the one before. This is the worse hockey team rebuild in present time. The GM was terrible. The coach was terrible. The trades were terrible. The draft picks have been so so. You have seen this and posted the same. So don't be a Devils' Homer because I told the truth.

Avs fans understand hockey.

Later, stay true to yourself. Please don't make me go back and pull your posts.

Do you even pay attention to the rest of the NHL? Because that absolutely isn't true

Especially when you consider what the Devils started out with vs what other teams started out with.

 

[Maine Fan]

My thought is the bad state of the defense is on Shero who seemingly did not value it. I think he saw defenders as fungible players and by keeping them fungible you save on the cap. Fitz seems to have a better sense of what will work even if he is maybe a bit old school. The owners don’t know anything about hockey in my view and probably don’t know anything about sports in general. As long as they give Fitz the ability to spend I think they’ve done all you can ask.

Ok, I can't argue against your post. I am not as sure Fitz knows what he is doing. BTW thanks for agreeing with me that the defense has been bad, and I am saying that's Fitz's last couple of defensive trades don't show me much of an improvement or fast enough for my liking. Shero hurt this team's rebuild. Most Devils fans don't understand what you posted. Later

 

[Maine Fan]

Do you even pay attention to the rest of the NHL? Because that absolutely isn't true

Especially when you consider what the Devils started out with vs what other teams started out with.

I read your post. It doesn't deserve a response.

 

[Devil X]

Ok, I can't argue against your post. I am not as sure Fitz knows what he is doing. BTW thanks for agreeing with me that the defense has been bad, and I am saying that's Fitz's last couple of defensive trades don't show me much of an improvement or fast enough for my liking. Shero hurt this team's rebuild. Most Devils fans don't understand what you posted. Later

So I think most of us would agree that defense has been a problem since 2015. But like all of these arguments I always want to know who we missed out on during that time that was traded or signed that would have changed this teams over all trajectory?

Then what assets we had that were worth said players if they were acquired via trade?

If they are FA did it make sense for us to sign them? yes. Did they want to come to a team that was rebuilding with what might be there last big contract? probably not so who did they sign with? Where were they in contention?

Graves trade is a move toward trying to find something. Sometimes just the right partner works for a player to turn a corner. If not then its not a big loss.

Lastly, I read recently I believe it was out of San Jose where they did a presentation for ownership. During their reserch they discovered that of Cup winners nearly 80% of the rosters were made up of home drafted talent. Yes of course you need to add to that at the right time, but first you need to have something close to that to compete. The Devils were bare in 2015 we had NOTHING I dont even think you can debate that. We needed 6 years just to build up the farm system. We also didnt have a ton of assets to sell off to speed things up. Those types of things really hurt the overall rebuild.

Buffalo Edmonton and Arizona IMO are just a few that have hard a longer and bigger issue rebuilding then we have.

 

[Maine Fan]

So I think most of us would agree that defense has been a problem since 2015. But like all of these arguments I always want to know who we missed out on during that time that was traded or signed that would have changed this teams over all trajectory?

Then what assets we had that were worth said players if they were acquired via trade?

If they are FA did it make sense for us to sign them? yes. Did they want to come to a team that was rebuilding with what might be there last big contract? probably not so who did they sign with? Where were they in contention?

Graves trade is a move toward trying to find something. Sometimes just the right partner works for a player to turn a corner. If not then its not a big loss.

Lastly, I read recently I believe it was out of San Jose where they did a presentation for ownership. During their reserch they discovered that of Cup winners nearly 80% of the rosters were made up of home drafted talent. Yes of course you need to add to that at the right time, but first you need to have something close to that to compete. The Devils were bare in 2015 we had NOTHING I dont even think you can debate that. We needed 6 years just to build up the farm system. We also didnt have a ton of assets to sell off to speed things up. Those types of things really hurt the overall rebuild.

Buffalo Edmonton and Arizona IMO are just a few that have hard a longer and bigger issue rebuilding then we have.

It is too difficult to go back to 2015 and see who was available and what went on with the buy or trade. The Devils had money.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I always liked you opinions. This time you are wrong, I hope not, but Graves hockey IQ is bad. You can't make a good chicken defense out of chicken $hit. As for the Devils making the playoffs 3 years ago that was a fluke. Hall contributed something he never did before or since. The Devils we're terrible since 2015 up to the year in the first round and have been worse since. You have seen this, you are a true Devils fan that complained last season, and the one before. This is the worse hockey team rebuild in present time. The GM was terrible. The coach was terrible. The trades were terrible. The draft picks have been so so. You have seen this and posted the same. So don't be a Devils' Homer because I told the truth.

Avs fans understand hockey.

Later, stay true to yourself. Please don't make me go back and pull your posts.

Great, now the Sabres are happy to find out they aren't the worst rebuild.

 

[Maine Fan]

Great, now the Sabres are happy to find out they aren't the worst rebuild.

Are you happy with the Devils? And Their rebuild?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Since no one wants to talk about Graves anymore, and the constant bumping of a confirmed with link thread is making people jumpy