Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023 offseason

[njdevil26]

It's mostly a negotiation tactic, to put a time limit on talks, and anchor a number for the contract. I would be very surprised if Meier got to his arbitration hearing.

Yeah I think his contract is happening in the next week or two.

But it's a nice piece of business by the Devils to save some cap space... I see Timo getting 8.5 per year on a long term deal... so capping the arb award at 8.5 lets Fitz work on the rest of the team too.

 

[FinnishDevil]

Somewhere, @Bleedred is praying to whatever god he believes in that Blackwood does NOT get an offer.

I want us to take Blackwood to arbitration and have Bleed represent the Devils.

"Listen, shitbag.."

 

[NjDevsRR]

I want us to take Blackwood to arbitration and have Bleed represent the Devils.

"Listen, shitbag.."

@Bleedred

 

[Eggtimer]

The last 2 Cup goalies are Adin Hill and Kuemper with one eye. There's very very few goalies you can count on to be good. People thought Oettinger was one of those few and then he puts up an .895 this run. Vasi is one of those guys and he had an .875. You never know what you're going to get with goalies.

Ya but the likelihood of a Helle playing hood is way better than someone like VV . Helle has shown the ability to carry a shit team over a season . I’d rather bet on an elite goalie that can consistently play elite over a longer strength thsn a goalie that has shown glimpses and short spurts if being good like VV . So far VV has had two sub par playoffs in a row . He played good for about 20 games and average the rest with no history of playing that many games per season. Helle is a work horse and is way more consistent and proven and I’d be way more confident that he would perform in the playoffs .
Ya average goalies can win cups but it is way more of a gamble than a goalie that is proven. Any goalie can get hot over a stretch of games but the chances of that timing tk be over the playoff run is way more unlikely with an average tender IMO

 

[NJDevs26]

But all that is just TALK until he actually signs on the dotted line.

Gee, that sounds familiar....

It is…but the fact Fitz is so publicly confident is reassuring, especially after he telegraphed Bratt re-signing this offseason after last offseason’s overt frustration over negotiations.

 

[Bleedred]

What a way to head into the weekend: Bratt signed and Timo saying he wants 8 years!


I can’t imagine that Blackwood signs here to be #3.

But, if he was willing to take $1.5 for 1-2 years while knowing he’s behind VV and Schmid, I’d do it.

I wouldn’t sign him for free.

Move the f*** on.

It’s over.

Done.

He sucks.

One of the absolute worst players at his position. The most important position in the game.

 

[My3Sons]

f*** that scab.

Guy is arguably the worst goalie in the national hockey league.

The only guys worse are a bunch of guys that spend more games in the AHL than the NHL every year, and maybe a couple of 37 year olds that (probably) won’t play in the NHL next year.

I’m pretty sure Blackwood is not currently a significantly better goaltender at the NHL level than Keith Kinkaid and Cory Schneider.

Let this miserable era end. Guy already got enough of his freebie warranty miles here. Too many of them, even for how often he spent up on jack stands.

Stop being so passive aggressive and vague. If you don't want NJ to extend Blackwood just say so, we can handle the truth.

 

[NJDevs26]

Whoa!

Which is exactly the right thing to do and say, three failed negotiations would have been one too many and you couldn’t have Bratt go into a walk year without getting crapola back. Timo is a trickier situation because of the fact they gave up so much for him and clearly wouldn’t get that back in trade but given Fitz’s recent comments on him I’m expecting a positive resolution there.

 

[Bleedred]

All those years of "No OnE wAnTs tO pLaY fOr NeW jErSey..."

Only a bunch of losers.

No real winners who want to win, like Zach Parise and Johnny Gaudreau.

 

[bossram]

Ya but the likelihood of a Helle playing hood is way better than someone like VV . Helle has shown the ability to carry a shit team over a season . I’d rather bet on an elite goalie that can consistently play elite over a longer strength thsn a goalie that has shown glimpses and short spurts if being good like VV . So far VV has had two sub par playoffs in a row . He played good for about 20 games and average the rest with no history of playing that many games per season. Helle is a work horse and is way more consistent and proven and I’d be way more confident that he would perform in the playoffs .
Ya average goalies can win cups but it is way more of a gamble than a goalie that is proven. Any goalie can get hot over a stretch of games but the chances of that timing tk be over the playoff run is way more unlikely with an average tender IMO

I think the point that @Hisch13r is making is that because goalies are so unreliable, it makes more sense to invest those resources into increasing the quality of the rest of the team, and simply making the roster so good that you can get by with nearly any goaltender (a la COL or VGK).

VGK was so solid defensively it didn't matter who out of their Ringling Bros Circus Carousel of goalies they threw in there this season. COL was so dominant that even Keumper playing meh didn't slow them down.

I still think Yegor could be a decent fit here, but it’s just getting crowded with the talent we’ve amassed. Maybe there’s a trade out there like the Zacha for Haula swap? Probably just a pick though.

Probably a pick, they'll need the cap space. I like Shara, but he is getting crowded out by other forwards and is looking at a $2.5M+ arbitration deal.

 

[My3Sons]

After years of futility and the majority of the fan experience just hoping for draft lottery luck or guys developing in leagues outside the NHL it is very gratifying to be coming off an excellent season and to have players publicly proclaim their happiness with the team. The future is bright and may even get better. Fitz has gotta wear shades.

 

[bossram]

Dawson seems like a guy who wants to sign an 8 year 5.75AAV deal immediately.

Please please give it to him.

 

[Forge]

I'd guess something like Sharangovich for a third?

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

I'd guess something like Sharangovich for a third?

Hopefully they get a second, but his trade value is probably pretty low.

 

[Forge]

Hopefully they get a second, but his trade value is probably pretty low.

I'll be curious to see if go straight futures or if there there is a hockey style trade we are looking at. Maybe for someone cheaper or waiver exempt, or maybe someone at a different position who may be able to fill a gap short term.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

I'll be curious to see if go straight futures or if there there is a hockey style trade we are looking at. Maybe for someone cheaper or waiver exempt, or maybe someone at a different position who may be able to fill a gap short term.

Yeah, it will be interesting to see what the Devils are doing with him and what teams are interested in him.

 

[Bcap88]

Lucky to have fitz as the gm

He has to be top 5 in the league

 

[Guttersniped]

Whoa!

I assumed Fitz wasn’t going to accept any 2 year deal nonsense and he very much was not lol.

 

[Guttersniped]

Somewhere, @Bleedred is praying to whatever god he believes in that Blackwood does NOT get an offer.

This has the feel of “Zacha is a good player and we’re going to make some evaluations” or whatever.

 

[MasterofGrond]

If you're publicly questioning whether you're going to qualify him, you're not too excited about the guy, I think.

fitz just waiting to see if somebody is dumb enough to trade for him.

 

[Guttersniped]

Awww, hate to see this sweetie go. What a lovable goof.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Meh I think it was a bluff and Fitz would have signed a two year deal if he absolutely had to, though one without a full NTC for sure.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

After years of futility and the majority of the fan experience just hoping for draft lottery luck or guys developing in leagues outside the NHL it is very gratifying to be coming off an excellent season and to have players publicly proclaim their happiness with the team. The future is bright and may even get better. Fitz has gotta wear shades.

 

[glenwo2]

All-time classic.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

The issue with Meier is he has some connection to his countrymen but little connection to the team or area. I’m sure it’s easy to sell him on the future of the team but how much he will sacrifice off the UFA overpay to stay with NJ remains to be seen. I don’t see a contender paying him $9.5 mil per but a bad team or an undesirable team might. Hopefully they can work it out.

“We can work it out”.

where have I heard that before?