Devils Team Discussion (current team/player news and notes) ‎2014-2015 Part VII

[NHL Fanatik*]

Have to look past this year before deciding to trade defense.

One maybe two vets will be gone and their roles will need to be filled.

Gely (and Lars when he was in trade rumors) have the potential to be studs. Needs to be something more then Semin to pry them out of here.

Santini? Helgelson? Not to mention older vets for bottom pairing D can be had for cheap near every season.

Not every season a guy signed long term who has the best shot in the NHL is a healthy scratch.

 

[Sascha Goc]

Oh my, really? Eriksson has looked pretty awful since leaving Dallas. He would be just another middle 6'er, while Semin can be top line and have Cammy play second. That's a sniping, dynamic top 6. Eriksson is just more of the same.

Eriksson is definitely more talented than most of what we have, I think he can still play despite having a rough go of it in Boston. You also only have to deal with him at 2 yrs 4.25 if he doesn't produce, rather than lock into a guy who basically got a lot worse after he got his payday til 2018 (who you prob also would have to worry about defecting back to Russia if he were to come to NJ).

 

[Emperoreddy]

Just because Gely isn't playing right now doesn't mean we should be trading him for a complimentary piece.

Semin doesn't make us a contender so leave it and think long term in the future (and he isn't going anywhere next year. His agent has zero leverage despite how nuts he is)

 

[Fear the Wushu]

Clowe and Zubrus are both washed up. Why keep them if we have a chance to get a better forward? Do you still not believe Zubrus is finished? The last 100 games says he is. What's it gonna take to realize he's done and is no longer useful? Clowe may not be completely finished yet, he's only looked bad for 11 games.

I understand not wanting to get rid of a defenseman, but Zubrus is a relic at this point. Clowe might not be far behind.

If Zubrus is a relic, does that make Jagr a fossil?

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Just because Gely isn't playing right now doesn't mean we should be trading him for a complimentary piece.

Semin doesn't make us a contender so leave it and think long term in the future (and he isn't going anywhere next year. His agent has zero leverage despite how nuts he is)

That's where we differ in opinion, I think Semin does make us a contender.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Santini? Helgelson? Not to mention older vets for bottom pairing D can be had for cheap near every season.

Not every season a guy signed long term who has the best shot in the NHL is a healthy scratch.

There is a reason he is a healthy scratch.

Also you don't know if Heg will pan out as an NHL player (and honestly we don't know if Santini will either) and we don't know when they will be ready or arrive. Especially with Santini.

Also filling two holes left by vets with two raw rookies is risky.

Don't trade away parts of the future for a guy that you don't know will even show up every night on a bad contract.

 

[Emperoreddy]

That's where we differ in opinion, I think Semin does make us a contender.

This team needs the blue line to gain more experience and a true 1C to be a contender.

Not a floaty winger.

 

[EnglishDevil]

Just because Gely isn't playing right now doesn't mean we should be trading him for a complimentary piece.

Semin doesn't make us a contender so leave it and think long term in the future (and he isn't going anywhere next year. His agent has zero leverage despite how nuts he is)

Given that both Clowe and Semin have 3 more years after this one and both are horribly overpriced, i'd still rather have Semin in all honestly. We need more skill, Clowe really brings absolutely nothing to the table because we have too many players like him.

It doesn't make us a contender, but it at least potentially makes us a better team if Semin regains any kind of form. I agree Gelinas would be a tough pill to swallow, giving him up for such a risky proposition in Semin probably isn't great asset management, but that's the only way they'd consider it i imagine.

I view Gelinas as somewhat surplus to requirements anyway; Severson, Merrill, Larsson and Greene are the core, and if Zidlicky & Salvador both walk/retire after this season i imagine we'd sign a replacement veteran in FA.

If we don't want to give up any of our premium prospects (i think Gelinas has less value than the others) we won't get a premium forward; i don't want to lose the other guys so i'd consider moving Gelinas for someone like Semin, even if it could potentially backfire.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

This team needs the blue line to gain more experience and a true 1C to be a contender.

Not a floaty winger.

Well than if that is the case, we won't be contenders for at LEAST 5 years.

If waiting for the d to get experience is the key, Zajac will be past prime and we won't have Elias, Jagr, Havlat, and Camm will be past prime.

If you ask me, we should look to compete NOW, without losing too many young assets and picks.

 

[Cheddabombs]

That's where we differ in opinion, I think Semin does make us a contender.

A contender for what? The playoffs? Surely not the cup. I think Semin is sometimes underrated and given a bad reputation around here, but he's not good enough to give up Gelinas, or any other pieces that would need to be added on. Don't let our current position fool you, we are still very much a mediocre team. And giving up an asset in Gelinas is not something we should be even considering right now. If anything Zidlicky should be on his way out to make room for Gelly.

 

[Emperoreddy]

A contender for what? The playoffs? Surely not the cup. I think Semin is sometimes underrated and given a bad reputation around here, but he's not good enough to give up Gelinas, or any other pieces that would need to be added on. Don't let our current position fool you, we are still very much a mediocre team. And giving up an asset in Gelinas is not something we should be even considering right now. If anything Zidlicky should be on his way out to make room for Gelly.

Ya barring a blockbuster trade, moving Zids should be all we do unless we fall off a cliff

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

Ya barring a blockbuster trade, moving Zids should be all we do unless we fall off a cliff

So you're content with being mediocre for years until we fall off?

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

BTW, I created a poll on the roster. Curious what others think of it.

 

[Emperoreddy]

So you're content with being mediocre for years until we fall off?

I'm content to compete for the playoffs in a weak east as the team retools with better drafting and smart pick ups.

This isn't the old days where the team was good enough to go cup or bust every year.

I think realistic expectations have to be considered. We have our goalie long term. We are building a blue line long term.

We need to draft and make some smart signings to fix the forward situation. Smart sells on old redundant players (Zids) will help too.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

I'm content to compete for the playoffs in a weak east as the team retools with better drafting and smart pick ups.

This isn't the old days where the team was good enough to go cup or bust every year.

I think realistic expectations have to be considered. We have our goalie long term. We are building a blue line long term.

We need to draft and make some smart signings to fix the forward situation. Smart sells on old redundant players (Zids) will help too.

Our goaltender is already 29 IIRC, so even if it only took 2-3 years to BEGIN competing... That's 3-4 of our best players past/just ending their primes. Not to mention three of our top point producers retiring.

This team's makeup is more suited for the now, rather than later, I feel.

 

[Bleedred]

If Zubrus is a relic, does that make Jagr a fossil?

You're gonna argue that Jägr is less useful than Zubrus? Really? One guy has 8 points in 11 games this year. The other has 2 points in 11 games and can't even produce with Jägr on his line.

Let's be serious here. One is a good NHL player still, the other is an NHL 4th liner and PK specialist at best.

 

[DenisSamson3]

You're gonna argue that Jägr is less useful than Zubrus? Really? One guy has 8 points in 11 games this year. The other has 2 points in 11 games and can't even produce with Jägr on his line.

Let's be serious here. One is a good NHL player still, the other is an NHL 4th liner and PK specialist at best.

I think he was joking around. Other NHL tteams might still show interest in Jagr, Zubrus probably not.

 

[JimEIV]

Jagr as a first line player is embarrassing.

Soon as Jagr, Zubrus and Clowe are gone the sooner we can move forward. These guys are so slow and they drag down each line they are on.

Jagr still has lots of skill but watching him to skate threw 2 zones is painful.

We will never see a quick counterattack with Jagr, Clowe and Zubrus on each of the top 3 lines.

 

[Zippy316]

I like Semin, but I feel like he is more of a complimentary player rather than a core player. If we traded Gelinas or Larsson, I want someone different than Semin.

Semin is better off going to a team where they have their core set and he comes in to compliment them and not be the focal point of the team. Kind of like Gaborik in LA.

 

[MadDevil]

Our goaltender is already 29 IIRC, so even if it only took 2-3 years to BEGIN competing... That's 3-4 of our best players past/just ending their primes. Not to mention three of our top point producers retiring.

This team's makeup is more suited for the now, rather than later, I feel.

Maybe, but you have to be careful not to sacrifice too much of the future for the now. If we're dealing the kids, it really should be for younger forwards not 30 year olds on big ticket contracts. Is dealing a package with one of the kids and picks worth 3 years of Semin?

 

[Zippy316]

Jagr as a first line player is embarrassing.

Soon as Jagr, Zubrus and Clowe are gone the sooner we can move forward. These guys are slow they drag down each line they are on.

Jagr still has lots of skill but watching him to skate threw 2 zones is painful.

We will never see a quick counterattack with Jagr, Clowe and Zubrus on each of the top 3 lines.

It doesn't mean he is not effective though.

Jagr's asset is his play in the offensive zone and as long as the Devils can give him linemmates that keep him there for a majority of the time then he's fine in that role. What we need to do is have lines with different dynamics.

Zajac and Jagr's line can be the line that cycles and creates in the offensive zone. Elias-Havlat is the line for the quick counteract, and so on and so forth.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm content to compete for the playoffs in a weak east as the team retools with better drafting and smart pick ups.

This isn't the old days where the team was good enough to go cup or bust every year.

I think realistic expectations have to be considered. We have our goalie long term. We are building a blue line long term.

We need to draft and make some smart signings to fix the forward situation. Smart sells on old redundant players (Zids) will help too.

I think BECAUSE the East is so wide open it'll preclude Lou that much more from 'selling' Zidlicky.

 

[JimEIV]

It doesn't mean he is not effective though.

Jagr's asset is his play in the offensive zone and as long as the Devils can give him linemmates that keep him there for a majority of the time then he's fine in that role. What we need to do is have lines with different dynamics.

Zajac and Jagr's line can be the line that cycles and creates in the offensive zone. Elias-Havlat is the line for the quick counteract, and so on and so forth.

No it doesn't mean he is not effective... it means he should be a 3rd line player and the fact that we don't have a single RW better to play the 1st line spot is what is embarrassing ...
But when you have Jagr on the 1st line, Zubrus on the 2nd line and Clowe on the 3rd, the team is essentially playing with 1 leg.

 

[ScottyK]

Loui ericsson plays rw right ? Might be a good time to take a chance and buy low on him

 

[R8Devs]

I would take Eriksson.