General Discussion (All Team/Player News/UFA Talk) - Offseason thread part V

[NJDevs26]

Or should we just call this the silly Kovalchuk rumor thread now?

Click to read more...

 

[NC107*]

There was a reason that Lou signed Kovy. It was "Jeff Vanderbeek".

 

[schoenfeld]

kovy is going to be spotted in the rafters of home games till march 2015

 

[BrodeursCups]

Sorry bleed, I just don't see Kovalchuk as being better than Parise right now. Zpar was on pace for about 35 goals this year and is a complete three zone player. Nothing has changed - and he hasn't shown any signs of declining yet.

 

[Bleedred]

kovy is going to be spotted in the rafters of home games till march 2015

1997 sting style?

 

[glenwo2]

kovy is going to be spotted in the rafters of home games till march 2015

....with a baseball bat.

 

[Bleedred]

Sorry bleed, I just don't see Kovalchuk as being better than Parise right now. Zpar was on pace for about 35 goals this year and is a complete three zone player. Nothing has changed - and he hasn't shown any signs of declining yet.

Fair enough. I'd say they might be about equal now. Kovalchuk IS on the decline though, where Parise is not yet.

Judging by his poor KHL production last year, I would say kovalchuk might very well be merely a 65 point player in the NHL at this point.

I'm not even sure if he'd be a 30 goal scorer. His 2013 NHL production and last years KHL production tell me he's not elite anymore.

 

[glenwo2]

Could the Bigger Ice-rink(or whatever that's called) also play a part, Bleed?


Maybe he's just not able to do much anymore on those types of rinks.

Maybe he can still be somewhat effective back on NHL rinks or something?


(you understand what I'm getting at, right?)

 

[MichaelJ]

Quote:


Sweet , we'd just have to ice a peewee team on defense and ask Cory to sign for the minimum
No way that works in a cap world. A 5 million and 3 million dollar player on the 4th line?

Cute, but it works with the cap just fine, up against it but under. Since Schneider's new deal won't take effect until the following year, just roll Zid's salary over to him and replace him with a rookie in 15-16, preferably Severson.

And why should we let salary dictate position on the team or playing time? Zubrus sucks and Clowe can't stay healthy, relying on either for anything significant is a mistake.

....not that I expect Kovy back mind you.

 

[Bleedred]

Could the Bigger Ice-rink(or whatever that's called) also play a part, Bleed?


Maybe he's just not able to do much anymore on those types of rinks.

Maybe he can still be somewhat effective back on NHL rinks or something?


(you understand what I'm getting at, right?)

I just think he has some back issues.

 

[Brodeur]

1997 sting style?

Does that mean Michael Ryder is the fake nWo Sting? And maybe Anton Volchenkov is Lex Luger?

 

[Ripshot 43]

Cute, but it works with the cap just fine, up against it but under. Since Schneider's new deal won't take effect until the following year, just roll Zid's salary over to him and replace him with a rookie in 15-16, preferably Severson.

And why should we let salary dictate position on the team or playing time? Zubrus sucks and Clowe can't stay healthy, relying on either for anything significant is a mistake.

....not that I expect Kovy back mind you.

I'd have to look at it because it doesn't seem like there's any way that we'd get all those guys under contract and under cap. Maybe I'm just thinking we are closer to the cap then we are. Maybe I'm also just not remembering what lineup you posted.

 

[glenwo2]

I just think he has some back issues.

Then why with all that money, hasn't he gone to have back surgery to fix those issues yet?



Wait! I just thought of something :


He could have the back surgery, then take the year off from hockey......*wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*....

 

[MichaelJ]

I'd have to look at it because it doesn't seem like there's any way that we'd get all those guys under contract and under cap. Maybe I'm just thinking we are closer to the cap then we are. Maybe I'm also just not remembering what lineup you posted.

If we can afford to add Stastny as a FA now with the cap room we have, we can add two forwards at an average salary of $6.7M each by jettisoning Ryder, Brunner, Volch, and Salvador.

3.5+2.5+4.25+3.17=13.4
13.4/2=6.7M

I'm thinking Moulson and Kovalchuk could fit into that salary structure. We could alternatively try and trade for an Evander Kane at 5.25M (instead of signing Moulson) since bringing back Kovalchuk and signing Stastny would leave only one top6 spot left and I think we have enough for one big trade.

I had:

Henrique-Stastny-Kovalchuk
Moulson/Kane-Zajac-Jagr
Sekac-Elias-Ruutu
Clowe-Josefson-Zubrus

The Devils could even try to deal Zubrus to clear up cap room and keep Carter instead.

That's a lot of goals, good defense, and Schneider in net...easily a playoff team and could compete with the power teams.

 

[Khione]

If Lou pulls that off...

Well you got to dream. Beacause thats not even a pipdream. Its a im jesus christ put me in a kokohouse dream. No offence.

Edit: put in a smiley.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

lol that team would be so good, not gonna happen though

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

If we can afford to add Stastny as a FA now with the cap room we have, we can add two forwards at an average salary of $6.7M each by jettisoning Ryder, Brunner, Volch, and Salvador.

3.5+2.5+4.25+3.17=13.4
13.4/2=6.7M

I'm thinking Moulson and Kovalchuk could fit into that salary structure. We could alternatively try and trade for an Evander Kane at 5.25M (instead of signing Moulson) since bringing back Kovalchuk and signing Stastny would leave only one top6 spot left and I think we have enough for one big trade.

I had:

Henrique-Stastny-Kovalchuk
Moulson/Kane-Zajac-Jagr
Sekac-Elias-Ruutu
Clowe-Josefson-Zubrus

The Devils could even try to deal Zubrus to clear up cap room and keep Carter instead.

That's a lot of goals, good defense, and Schneider in net...easily a playoff team and could compete with the power teams.

Yea, good luck with all that.

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

I admire your enthusiasm but I just don't see any way in hell this happens. If it did, you'd have to argue we'd be a powerhouse team to rival even the best in the West. Don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more than to see something like this materialize but I just don't see Lou getting rid of that many bodies. As for the return of Kovy rumor, I know TG said he would require approval from all 30 teams unless he sits out for a full calendar year and he's right on that. Let's face it, unanimous consent for him to return and sign with the Devils is not happening. Period. Still, I would love to see us sign Statsny and Moulson as well as Santorelli (I like the guy). If we can't sign Statsny then Grabovski seems like he is going to be available so he would be a cheaper, albeit not quite as good, Statsny replacement. I do get the feeling Lou is not messing around this season as evidenced by early signings and reports of talks. This gives me hope.

 

[AfroThunder396]

There's no way we have that much roster turnover two years in a row.

Trade Ryder and Zubrus
Re-sign Fayne and Carter
Let Gionta and Bernier walk

Sign Sekac
Put in an offer for Stastny and Moulson, unlikely to get either but if they choose to come here it's a bonus.

Give Gelinas and Larsson nice bridge deals.

I assume Sekac is coming over to play with Jagr, and non of our other LW have been better in that spot.

Sekac-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Brunner
Clowe-Josefson-Ruutu
Sislo-Carter-Who cares

Greene-Fayne
Zidlicky-Merrill
Larsson-Gelinas

Schneider-Kinkaid

 

[MichaelJ]

Lol, the crazy house? If we agree that the Devils need to add two forwards as seems to be the consensus, and adding Sekac (not top6 material...yet) is a real possibility the only thing added to it is a mutual desire between Kovalchuk and the Devils for him to return. Everything else is reasonable. If Lou were to sign Sekac (not a huge move) and Stastny as well as add another forward, I'm sure people would say it was a great offseason but not an impossible one. Then later on Kovalchuk wants to come back....you think Lou would say no and not dump salary to make it happen?

I don't see Kovalchuk coming back and I'm expecting Lou to add at least one if not two forwards.

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

There's no way we have that much roster turnover two years in a row.

Trade Ryder and Zubrus
Re-sign Fayne and Carter
Let Gionta and Bernier walk

Sign Sekac
Put in an offer for Stastny and Moulson, unlikely to get either but if they choose to come here it's a bonus.

Give Gelinas and Larsson nice bridge deals.

I assume Sekac is coming over to play with Jagr, and non of our other LW have been better in that spot.

Sekac-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Brunner
Clowe-Josefson-Ruutu
Sislo-Carter-Who cares

Greene-Fayne
Zidlicky-Merrill
Larsson-Gelinas

Schneider-Kinkaid

That forward group is worse then what we just saw this season. If Sekac is our big offseason move then were going to have a tough time next season.

 

[R8Devs]

That forward group is worse then what we just saw this season. If Sekac is our big offseason move then were going to have a tough time next season.

Well Lou could be operating on the fact that 0-13 shootout probably won't happen again and that Schneider starting 60+ games will probably help us a lot.

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

Well Lou could be operating on the fact that 0-13 shootout probably won't happen again and that Schneider starting 60+ games will probably help us a lot.

I'd honestly be shocked if we don't bring in at least one top 6 forward, whether its through trade or UFA. That team last year was awful any way you want to look at it. The shootout was just the icing on the cake, not the main reason we stunk. If we miss the playoffs again next year then Pete and Lou are probably both gone so I expect us to be pretty active this summer.

 

[MichaelJ]

There's no way we have that much roster turnover two years in a row.

Trade Ryder and Zubrus
Re-sign Fayne and Carter
Let Gionta and Bernier walk

Sign Sekac
Put in an offer for Stastny and Moulson, unlikely to get either but if they choose to come here it's a bonus.

Give Gelinas and Larsson nice bridge deals.

I assume Sekac is coming over to play with Jagr, and non of our other LW have been better in that spot.

Sekac-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Brunner
Clowe-Josefson-Ruutu
Sislo-Carter-Who cares

Greene-Fayne
Zidlicky-Merrill
Larsson-Gelinas

Schneider-Kinkaid

Roster turnover? What's the point of holding onto a group that couldn't make the playoffs in a weak conference. Last years turnover was about band aiding the losses and lack of development. Turnover this year would be about building a foundation that can be together for at least a few seasons.

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

As long as we have one of the older forward group's in the league, there's going to be roster turnover every summer. We lost our two franchise players in the span of 13 months. Until we start drafting better and the few young forwards we have in the system are ready to replace what we lost, were always going to have to bring in a few players. That's just the nature of the beast right now. Besides for the cup champions and teams that are right on the brink of winning, every team is going to have roster turnover. Ours is just a special and more serious case because of Parise and Kovalchuk bouncing.