Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Ben Lovejoy

[Emperoreddy]

Him being here also creates a logjam along with Prout. We need to add someone because LJ didn't work out, but that also means we need to ship someone out too.

It would be for the best if Shero can convince Vegas to take him off our hands. Free up space and money for someone else.

 

[MadDevil]

I think Lovejoy will still be here next year, unless we somehow convince Shattenkirk to sign or bring in another RHD. Chances are if we dump Lovejoy we'd just end up making Prout a regular or signing some other stopgap half the board will hate by December.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Him being here also creates a logjam along with Prout. We need to add someone because LJ didn't work out, but that also means we need to ship someone out too.

It would be for the best if Shero can convince Vegas to take him off our hands. Free up space and money for someone else.

I rather keep LJ over Prout.

I think LJ as a bottom pairing dman is fine. The question then becomes is it too soon for Santini to play top 4 minutes? What if the Devils pull a coup and sign Shattenkirk. Does that then force Santini back to AHL or switch LJ to left side.

 

[Billdo]

I rather keep LJ over Prout.

I think LJ as a bottom pairing dman is fine. The question then becomes is it too soon for Santini to play top 4 minutes? What if the Devils pull a coup and sign Shattenkirk. Does that then force Santini back to AHL or switch LJ to left side.

Is he though? I was under the impression he would be too but his play the last few months has been Salvador bad. Sheltered third pairing and PK mins can't hide his deficiencies IMO. I think he might be ok if he only got that but I'm not sold on it.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Get rid of LJ & Prout this summer.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Get rid of LJ & Prout this summer.

you post things like this and don't offer a solution as to how.

who is going to take them? for what compensation?

you can't just "Get rid" of players

 

[tr83]

Talk about a thread bump. I thought they extended him. Three years was way too long to begin with. I was going to rage.

you post things like this and don't offer a solution as to how.

who is going to take them? for what compensation?

you can't just "Get rid" of players

Buy him out. It would be a $1M for 4 years. They won't. He'll be a very expensive 7D next year.

 

[MadDevil]

Drop Lovejoy's ice time by 3-4 minutes a night with not quite as much PK duty and he'd be okay. Which I think will happen naturally as Santini grows into that role.

I think the left side is a bigger issue than the right side. We've got an aging Greene, an idiotic Moore, Merrill, and Auvitu (assuming we even bring him back). Nobody outside of Greene is a top 4 defenseman (I like Merrill, but he's more of a third pairing type).

 

[Billdo]

To me Santini has already passed him on the depth chart regardless of what Hynes does on a nightly basis. We should have a top four of Greene-Severson Merrill-Santini.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I'm still very intrigued to see what happens at the expansion draft.

We know the following 6 players will 100% be protected

Hall
Zajac
Palmieri
Henrique

Greene
Severson

past that, who knows? As I've said, I would not be shocked if they protected Lovejoy. I would definitely NOT do that, but its not up to me.

 

[MadDevil]

To me Santini has already passed him on the depth chart regardless of what Hynes does on a nightly basis. We should have a top four of Greene-Severson Merrill-Santini.

Which I think is the plan long term (well, maybe not Merrill being in the top 4). I think this year they're just bringing along a kid slowly whose career high in GP at any level was like 41 before this year.

 

[Billdo]

I'm still very intrigued to see what happens at the expansion draft.

We know the following 6 players will 100% be protected

Hall
Zajac
Palmieri
Henrique

Greene
Severson

past that, who knows? As I've said, I would not be shocked if they protected Lovejoy. I would definitely NOT do that, but its not up to me.

I'd protect Merrill as well as Bennett.

 

[captainscott]

To me Santini has already passed him on the depth chart regardless of what Hynes does on a nightly basis. We should have a top four of Greene-Severson Merrill-Santini.

greene/ shatty
merrill/severson
Moore/ santini

the above is very decent NHL defense...

that would be what i would like next year with lovejoy as our #6 or 7 deepening on who is playing well.

i like jon more as our 5 or 6 he is very good in 3 on 3 can skate, and has some offense to his game. i like moore on this team more so than lovejoy or prout ... but as mentioned how to make this happen becomes the issue..

prout is not an NHL caliber top 6 he is an emergency call up type at best that can protect a little out there if needed..

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I'd wager a lot of money that John Moore gets taken by Las Vegas

 

[captainscott]

I'd protect Merrill as well as Bennett.

how does the expansion draft work? is anyone exposed ? can someone explain the short version?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

how does the expansion draft work? is anyone exposed ? can someone explain the short version?

We will have to protect 7 forwards, 3 DMen, and 1 goalie OR 8 skaters and 1 goalie

the players protected have to have a contract for at least 2017-18

Las Vegas has to select at least one player from each team

 

[captainscott]

We will have to protect 7 forwards, 3 DMen, and 1 goalie OR 8 skaters and 1 goalie

the players protected have to have a contract for at least 2017-18

Las Vegas has to select at least one player from each team

ok thanks for the explanation... is there a limit to how many they can take from each team?

 

[captainscott]

We will have to protect 7 forwards, 3 DMen, and 1 goalie OR 8 skaters and 1 goalie

the players protected have to have a contract for at least 2017-18

Las Vegas has to select at least one player from each team

and which of our players are protected as first or 2nd year players? thanks

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

ok thanks for the explanation... is there a limit to how many they can take from each team?

only 1 player per team.

 

[Zippy316]

and which of our players are protected as first or 2nd year players? thanks

Any player in his first or second pro season this year is exempt.

Blandisi, Zacha, Wood, Santini, JQ are some examples of that.

Here's an accurate guideline for who is and isn't protected and who fills the 40/70 for each team: https://www.capfriendly.com/expansion-draft

 

[Devils Dominion]

Talk about a thread bump. I thought they extended him. Three years was way too long to begin with. I was going to rage.



Buy him out. It would be a $1M for 4 years. They won't. He'll be a very expensive 7D next year.

Yes, or waive him.

If there is a will to shed LJ off the roster, there is a way.

 

[NJDevs26]

Of course you can get him off the roster if you really want but what are you replacing him with, Prout? Unless you sign Shatty or make a trade there's no huge RH upgrade walking through the door anytime soon.

If you think he's a negative-replacement level player well that's likely all you're replacing him with anyway, at least internally.

 

[Wingman77]

Lovejoy is useful when he doesn't have the puck. When he has the puck, everything from his shot to even his ability to hold onto it is a liability.

I was more comfortable when Stollery or hell even when Prout has the puck than I am with Lovejoy.

 

[John Pedro]

Not a fan of Lovejoy, but why would you waive him when we don't have any NHL ready D prospect waiting for a shot? He's an okay bottom pairing D...

 

[Zippy316]

Lovejoy is useful when he doesn't have the puck. When he has the puck, everything from his shot to even his ability to hold onto it is a liability.

I was more comfortable when Stollery or hell even when Prout has the puck than I am with Lovejoy.

Which is why we need to find him a partner that can move the puck.

I think he can be salvaged, but playing him with Greene, Merrill, Moore, or any other LD we have is clearly not going to work.