StevenToddIves
Registered User
The Taylor Hall trade must go down as one of the greatest trades in New Jersey Devils history. It is rare in the NHL when an elite, gamebreaking forward is traded just as he is entering his prime. To make matters better, Hall is signed at a team-friendly $6 million per through 2020-21.
The loss of Larsson (though getting Hall straight up for him is an almost uncanny bargain), indeed leaves a gaping hole on the Devils blueline. Right now, the pairings stack up as such:
1st pairing: LHD Greene - RHD Severson
2nd pairing: LHD Moore - RHD ?
3rd pairing: LHD Merrill - RHD Santini
This is, of course, a problem. Though Greene is rock solid and Severson offers a ton of two-way upside, this is something most educated hockey fans would be far more comfortable as a second pairing entering the season. Greene is rock-solid, very heady, a leader. But he is not an elite shut-down guy. Severson has shown flashes of brilliance, but has yet to consistently assert himself as a top-4 NHL-er.
Moore and Merrill are both third-pairing talents, and Merrill is coming off major injury concerns. Santini is very very intriguing -- one of the most underrated prospects in the entire NHL, he has "stud mobile shut-down D" written all over him, is incredibly smart and competitive and oozes character. But it's also important to keep in mind that he's a rookie.
There is a strong possibility of Shero making a couple of low-cost re-signings of Schlemko and Warsofsky, but while they are both solid third-pairing foot-soldiers, they do not exactly strike fear into the heart of the opposition.
So what is Ray Shero to do?
Well, there are a few options out there. The first one to come to mind is...
LHD Cam Fowler: rumored to be shopped by the Anaheim Ducks for the better part of the off-season, no one makes better sense than Fowler. He is a NJ native, and played junior hockey for the Windsor Spitfires alongside Adam Henrique and Taylor Hall. He is an electrifying skater, which would fit in with Shero's new emphasis on team speed. He moves the puck well, is solid in his own zone and an effective outlet passer. The question is: what would the cost be to get him?
The obvious answer would be an unpopular one: Mike Cammalleri. The Ducks have long-sought a LW to play alongside the deadly top-line combo of Getzlaf/Perry, and Cammalleri would fit in perfectly there. Of course, that would negatively affect the Devils' scoring depth. Perhaps Shero could work some more trade magic and entice the Ducks with some configuration built around Reid Boucher, who rocketed down the depth chart with the Hall acquisition? Boucher showed flashes of his big-time scoring upside down the stretch last season, he features a lethal shot in space. Of course it would take more than Boucher to get this done, but as long as the Devils were not parting with a #1 pick or their top 5 prospects, anything would be worth discussing.
I'm going to bring another trade option up which no one else has yet:
RHD Alex Petrovic: The 24-year old Florida rearguard emerged last-year as a tough, gritty crease-clearing defensive defenseman last season -- the type of player to win in the corners, stand up for his teammates and deliver a physical price to opposing forwards who dare skate through scoring areas.
In short, he's exactly what the Panthers are trying to phase out, with their new analytic-based front office. I'm not going to turn this into another Corsi/Fenwick debate, but let's just say that Florida's jettisoning of Erik Gudbranson and reputed shopping of Nick Bjugstad is a precursor to the entire restructuring of a team (which, notably, won the division last year). Petrovich's "old school" and physical styles of play are something the front office is devaluing, meaning Shero and the Devils brass has a golden opportunity to pick him up for pennies on the dollar. I think this is the type of deal which would be far easier to execute than Fowler. As poorly as the Panthers drafted last weekend (arguably worse than even Boston), I could see Josefson and a late-round pick being enough to get this done. Pull the trigger, Ray -- Petrovic is the type of physical, defensive D the Devils sorely lack and need to protect Cory Schneider.
RHD Matt Dumba: The Minnesota Wild are reputedly shopping this very exciting young kid, a player who combines top-end skating, untapped offensive potential and a penchant for initiating physical play. He's be an outstanding addition to the Devils blueline and would not come cheaply. The Wild are, however, desperately seeking help up the middle. One of my favorite prospects is John Quenneville -- I absolutely love that kid, I think he's going to be a 2-way second line stud for years to come. But if he were the cost for Dumba? The Devils have Henrique, and now two future bluechip studs in Zacha and McLeod rocketing through the pipeline. Not even to mention next years QMJHL top breakthrough candidate in Brandon Gignac, whom The Draft Analyst's Steve Kournianos thinks was the best mid-round value pick in the entire 2016 NHL draft. I would hate to see Quenneville go, but I would love to see Dumba arrive.
FREE AGENCY CANDIDATES:
Like we all know already, Schlemko and Warsofsky could easily be had on the cheap. But what else is out there?
RHD Jason Demers: an amazing season/playoffs last year, but will have several suitors and likely to be overpaid.
LHD Willie Mitchell: would love his character/leadership/physical presence on a cheap one-year deal, but nearing the end and possibly too slow to keep up with Hynes' style of play.
RHD Roman Polak: another gritty, physical guy. Hits and blocks shots, but does not move puck well. Could be a nice stop-gap if paired with offensive LHD.
RHD Ben Lovejoy: see Polak above
IN CONCLUSION:
Shero has done an outstanding job so far, I'm curious what he is thinking here. A high-cost move acquisition of Fowler makes more sense than Dumba, but Dumba is a solid fall-back. Fowler is better right now and can step into the top pairing on the left side, moving an aging Greene down to a more suitable role on the second pairing.
Petrovic is a guy I would love the Devils to get, the addition of him and Santini would certainly add a more physical dimension to the New Jersey blueline. I could really get behind a blueline of:
1st pairing: LHD Fowler - RHD Petrovic
2nd pairing: LHD Greene - RHD Severson
3rd pairing LHD Moore - RHD Santini
spares/AHL: Merrill, Auvitu, Schlemko, Warsofsky
Any other suggestions out there? I'd love to discuss them.
WRITER'S NOTE: Please do not reply by cursing my unborn children for saying the Devils should trade Cammalleri or Boucher or [insert name of Devil you love] -- I'm just throwing a bunch of possibilities out there for discussion.
The loss of Larsson (though getting Hall straight up for him is an almost uncanny bargain), indeed leaves a gaping hole on the Devils blueline. Right now, the pairings stack up as such:
1st pairing: LHD Greene - RHD Severson
2nd pairing: LHD Moore - RHD ?
3rd pairing: LHD Merrill - RHD Santini
This is, of course, a problem. Though Greene is rock solid and Severson offers a ton of two-way upside, this is something most educated hockey fans would be far more comfortable as a second pairing entering the season. Greene is rock-solid, very heady, a leader. But he is not an elite shut-down guy. Severson has shown flashes of brilliance, but has yet to consistently assert himself as a top-4 NHL-er.
Moore and Merrill are both third-pairing talents, and Merrill is coming off major injury concerns. Santini is very very intriguing -- one of the most underrated prospects in the entire NHL, he has "stud mobile shut-down D" written all over him, is incredibly smart and competitive and oozes character. But it's also important to keep in mind that he's a rookie.
There is a strong possibility of Shero making a couple of low-cost re-signings of Schlemko and Warsofsky, but while they are both solid third-pairing foot-soldiers, they do not exactly strike fear into the heart of the opposition.
So what is Ray Shero to do?
Well, there are a few options out there. The first one to come to mind is...
LHD Cam Fowler: rumored to be shopped by the Anaheim Ducks for the better part of the off-season, no one makes better sense than Fowler. He is a NJ native, and played junior hockey for the Windsor Spitfires alongside Adam Henrique and Taylor Hall. He is an electrifying skater, which would fit in with Shero's new emphasis on team speed. He moves the puck well, is solid in his own zone and an effective outlet passer. The question is: what would the cost be to get him?
The obvious answer would be an unpopular one: Mike Cammalleri. The Ducks have long-sought a LW to play alongside the deadly top-line combo of Getzlaf/Perry, and Cammalleri would fit in perfectly there. Of course, that would negatively affect the Devils' scoring depth. Perhaps Shero could work some more trade magic and entice the Ducks with some configuration built around Reid Boucher, who rocketed down the depth chart with the Hall acquisition? Boucher showed flashes of his big-time scoring upside down the stretch last season, he features a lethal shot in space. Of course it would take more than Boucher to get this done, but as long as the Devils were not parting with a #1 pick or their top 5 prospects, anything would be worth discussing.
I'm going to bring another trade option up which no one else has yet:
RHD Alex Petrovic: The 24-year old Florida rearguard emerged last-year as a tough, gritty crease-clearing defensive defenseman last season -- the type of player to win in the corners, stand up for his teammates and deliver a physical price to opposing forwards who dare skate through scoring areas.
In short, he's exactly what the Panthers are trying to phase out, with their new analytic-based front office. I'm not going to turn this into another Corsi/Fenwick debate, but let's just say that Florida's jettisoning of Erik Gudbranson and reputed shopping of Nick Bjugstad is a precursor to the entire restructuring of a team (which, notably, won the division last year). Petrovich's "old school" and physical styles of play are something the front office is devaluing, meaning Shero and the Devils brass has a golden opportunity to pick him up for pennies on the dollar. I think this is the type of deal which would be far easier to execute than Fowler. As poorly as the Panthers drafted last weekend (arguably worse than even Boston), I could see Josefson and a late-round pick being enough to get this done. Pull the trigger, Ray -- Petrovic is the type of physical, defensive D the Devils sorely lack and need to protect Cory Schneider.
RHD Matt Dumba: The Minnesota Wild are reputedly shopping this very exciting young kid, a player who combines top-end skating, untapped offensive potential and a penchant for initiating physical play. He's be an outstanding addition to the Devils blueline and would not come cheaply. The Wild are, however, desperately seeking help up the middle. One of my favorite prospects is John Quenneville -- I absolutely love that kid, I think he's going to be a 2-way second line stud for years to come. But if he were the cost for Dumba? The Devils have Henrique, and now two future bluechip studs in Zacha and McLeod rocketing through the pipeline. Not even to mention next years QMJHL top breakthrough candidate in Brandon Gignac, whom The Draft Analyst's Steve Kournianos thinks was the best mid-round value pick in the entire 2016 NHL draft. I would hate to see Quenneville go, but I would love to see Dumba arrive.
FREE AGENCY CANDIDATES:
Like we all know already, Schlemko and Warsofsky could easily be had on the cheap. But what else is out there?
RHD Jason Demers: an amazing season/playoffs last year, but will have several suitors and likely to be overpaid.
LHD Willie Mitchell: would love his character/leadership/physical presence on a cheap one-year deal, but nearing the end and possibly too slow to keep up with Hynes' style of play.
RHD Roman Polak: another gritty, physical guy. Hits and blocks shots, but does not move puck well. Could be a nice stop-gap if paired with offensive LHD.
RHD Ben Lovejoy: see Polak above
IN CONCLUSION:
Shero has done an outstanding job so far, I'm curious what he is thinking here. A high-cost move acquisition of Fowler makes more sense than Dumba, but Dumba is a solid fall-back. Fowler is better right now and can step into the top pairing on the left side, moving an aging Greene down to a more suitable role on the second pairing.
Petrovic is a guy I would love the Devils to get, the addition of him and Santini would certainly add a more physical dimension to the New Jersey blueline. I could really get behind a blueline of:
1st pairing: LHD Fowler - RHD Petrovic
2nd pairing: LHD Greene - RHD Severson
3rd pairing LHD Moore - RHD Santini
spares/AHL: Merrill, Auvitu, Schlemko, Warsofsky
Any other suggestions out there? I'd love to discuss them.
WRITER'S NOTE: Please do not reply by cursing my unborn children for saying the Devils should trade Cammalleri or Boucher or [insert name of Devil you love] -- I'm just throwing a bunch of possibilities out there for discussion.
