Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Tomas Tatar - 2 years @ $4.5M AAV

[NJDevs26]

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[mj2sexay]

Reserving comment until we find out term.

If it's a one year prove it deal, or even a two year term, then meh. He's still small, on the wrong side of 30 and has a penchant for disappearing for long stretches.

This honestly feels like Michael Ryder part 2.

 

[MartyOwns]

Reserving comment until we find out term.

If it's a one year prove it deal, or even a two year term, then meh. He's still small, on the wrong side of 30 and has a penchant for disappearing for long stretches.

This honestly feels like Michael Ryder part 2.

assuming this will be a short term deal, which it will be, there is literally 0 risk whatsoever. no brainer.

 

[Captain Lou]

Ryder was 33 when he signed here and scored 18 goals his first year. Admittedly, he did collapse in year 2. At the cost of money only, I don't see a problem here. It's not like Tatar would be blocking anyone.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Ryder was 33 when he signed here and scored 18 goals his first year. Admittedly, he did collapse in year 2. At the cost of money only, I don't see a problem here. It's not like Tatar would be blocking anyone.

That his last club, maybe last 2 clubs, benched or moved him is not reassuring. Maybe I’ve got it wrong however.

 

[HersheyBob27]

I have no interest in this player

A healthy scratch everywhere he goes. Lindy might quit.
Romo and andy like him though what a joke. Softest team gets softer

 

[RyGuy]

Ryder was 33 when he signed here and scored 18 goals his first year. Admittedly, he did collapse in year 2. At the cost of money only, I don't see a problem here. It's not like Tatar would be blocking anyone.

It just feels like the bullshit UFA signing of a guy on the decline that no other team wanted to offer term for. Typical. It stings less because we got Dougie, but the pattern of just snagging guys that don't seem to have anywhere else to go is getting old, and stinks of the late Lou Era.

 

[RangerDoggo]

He’s a worthwhile short term solution to help us reach the next level while the younger guys develop. I’m all for it.

FWIW the guy reporting this is a respected Slovak sports journalist, so he wouldn’t be making this up. Like it or not, it’s happening. And let’s not act like people on this forum looked at him and thought that he’d be a good addition.

 

[NJDevils17]

Tatar is a great signing, I can’t believe some people don’t want him

 

[Billdo]

I have no interest in this player

A healthy scratch everywhere he goes. Lindy might quit.
Romo and andy like him though what a joke. Softest team gets softer

Huge surprise.

 

[Captain Lou]

It just feels like the bullshit UFA signing of a guy on the decline that no other team wanted to offer term for. Typical. It stings less because we got Dougie, but the pattern of just snagging guys that don't seem to have anywhere else to go is getting old, and stinks of the late Lou Era.

He would be a placeholder, that's all. This team is sorely lacking in proven NHL players to play alongside Jack/Nico.

This is exact opposite of what Lou did.

 

[Devils731]

I have no interest in this player

A healthy scratch everywhere he goes. Lindy might quit.
Romo and andy like him though what a joke. Softest team gets softer

In the last 5 full NHL seasons he played in 80 or more games in every one.

He looks like he’s missed like 10 games in the last 7 seasons; it doesn’t appear he is scratched or hurt almost ever.

 

[Devils731]

And let’s not act like people on this forum looked at him and thought that he’d be a good addition.

He’s been frequently brought up by people as a good addition to go after; usually as a contrast to Tarasenko.

 

[Kaners PPGs]

Tatar is a great signing, I can’t believe some people don’t want him

Agreed. Holtz isn't ready. Hughes and the PP needs a winger or two who can score a goal. Hoffman made sense but Tatar on a short deal works as well.

 

[Zippy316]

Tatar is a great signing, I can’t believe some people don’t want him

I think there’s definitely some concern we are adding yet another undersized skilled forward on a team that already has too many of them.

We still need to add some players with size and also some players with a shooting mentality.

 

[FinnishDevil]

I will take Tatar on a 1-2 yr deal over paying any assets for Tarasenko.

 

[NJDevs26]

Reserving comment until we find out term.

If it's a one year prove it deal, or even a two year term, then meh. He's still small, on the wrong side of 30 and has a penchant for disappearing for long stretches.

This honestly feels like Michael Ryder part 2.

I’ll say the same thing I said with Brunner, a long term deal heck no. A one or two year deal I’m totally fine with.

 

[Lindys Lazy Eye]

Even with Tatar i think this lineup still has question marks

Zacha - Hischier - Bratt
Tatar - Hughes - Shara
??? - Boqvist - Kuokkanen
Wood - McLeod - Johnsson

If we can secure Tarasenko without moving roster pieces we can move Sharangovich to the third line. Otherwise it would become a lateral move at best.

Also I would strongly suggest looking at Brassard for a 1 year deal. He's still relatively young and I would feel more comfortable with him as a bottom 6 center vs Boqvist. Good, quality, cheap depth.

 

[jkrdevil]

A good stop gap option until Holtz is ready.

 

[Traitor Zach]

Tatar is much more talented and impactful than Brunner or Ryder. Both those players were deficient by time Lou brought them in as lottery-desperation plays (Ryder couldn't skate anymore and both he and Brunner were horrendous playing off the puck). He also played last couple years with coaches who were extremely rigid in their systems whereas Tatar likes a little more openness and playmaking in neutral-offensive zones.

As long as term and money aren't outrageous, it's worth a gamble for next season so the young bucks have to prove/earn it themselves. In a year or two, ideally you'd hope Mercer, Holtz, Foote earn their way in and Tatar and Johnsson aren't needed.

 

[Forge]

@Hisch13r's wishes upon a star really worked!

 

[aboriginal]

If tatar is going to be on the 3rd line and we get a legit goal scorer then that’s cool. I still think we need to use actual assets and get a sniper for jackoff. But having tatar as a 3rd line threat is a good problem to have. Considering he actually doesn’t blow goats.

 

[Nubmer6]

I would have preferred Tarasenko, but maybe St Louis' ask was just way too high. There was also talk that Fitz was going to add TWO top 6 wingers, so maybe we're still in the running for him, and this just adds more pressure on Army because we'd not be in obvious need for him.

 

[LeedsMonster]

Even with Tatar i think this lineup still has question marks

Zacha - Hischier - Bratt
Tatar - Hughes - Shara
??? - Boqvist - Kuokkanen
Wood - McLeod - Johnsson

If we can secure Tarasenko without moving roster pieces we can move Sharangovich to the third line. Otherwise it would become a lateral move at best.

Also I would strongly suggest looking at Brassard for a 1 year deal. He's still relatively young and I would feel more comfortable with him as a bottom 6 center vs Boqvist. Good, quality, cheap depth.

Tatar should be on the 3rd line before Sharangovich

 

[jkrdevil]

Not sure why Tatar would necessarily preclude a Tarasenko trade. He’s insurance if you can’t get the trade, but there is theoretically room for both.