Confirmed with Link: Santini Re-Signs

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Kind of interesting to have four d-men on the right side making over a million. Anyone think somehow Lovejoy disappears or Severson gets traded?

for as much crap as Lovejoy gets, hes fine enough to have around for the 7th DMan spot

if all these other guys show they really belong, maybe you can even pawn him off for a 4th or something at the deadline. He is gone after this year anyways.

 

[HBK27]

Kind of interesting to have four d-men on the right side making over a million. Anyone think somehow Lovejoy disappears or Severson gets traded?

No - Lovejoy is a good vet presence that can also sit if necessary. Depth beyond the top 7 is weak for NJ and the cap hit doesn't really matter.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

If they do trust Santini, I wonder if Shero would move LJ to Edmonton for a late pick. He wasn't awful last year and they need a one year stopgap due to the Sekera injury

 

[HBK27]

If they do trust Santini, I wonder if Shero would move LJ to Edmonton for a late pick. He wasn't awful last year and they need a one year stopgap due to the Sekera injury

It's one thing to trust Santini (which I still don't just yet), but why would you also get rid of a perfect 7th defenseman for a late pick?

You want a vet as the 7th so the young guys can play or develop in Binghamton. We've already seen that he won't complain about playing time, by all accounts he's a great locker room presence for a young team and I believe is the only player to have won a Cup. NJ's depth also drops dramatically after the top 7, unless someone like Smith or Yakovlev come out of nowhere to suprise with an amazing camp. Injuries are also going to happen and right now I don't trust anyone out of that top 7 to take an NHL shift.

I'm assuming Yakovlev has a decent enough camp and can lock down the #8 spot and Smith is eventually sent back to the WHL. I have not clue who would even be 9th on the depth chart at this point - would've been MacDonald but with him gone I guess it's Kapla or maybe Jacobs?

For a team that will likely be battling to the end of the season again for a playoff spot it's not worth getting rid of Lovejoy for some late round pick.

 

[My3Sons]

It's one thing to trust Santini (which I still don't just yet), but why would you also get rid of a perfect 7th defenseman for a late pick?

You want a vet as the 7th so the young guys can play or develop in Binghamton. We've already seen that he won't complain about playing time, by all accounts he's a great locker room presence for a young team and I believe is the only player to have won a Cup. NJ's depth also drops dramatically after the top 7, unless someone like Smith or Yakovlev come out of nowhere to suprise with an amazing camp. Injuries are also going to happen and right now I don't trust anyone out of that top 7 to take an NHL shift.

I'm assuming Yakovlev has a decent enough camp and can lock down the #8 spot and Smith is eventually sent back to the WHL. I have not clue who would even be 9th on the depth chart at this point - would've been MacDonald but with him gone I guess it's Kapla or maybe Jacobs?

For a team that will likely be battling to the end of the season again for a playoff spot it's not worth getting rid of Lovejoy for some late round pick.

As long as he is truly the 7th defender. I wouldn’t want him standing in the way of for another season.

 

[glenwo2]

Slight overpayment but still glad he got re-signed.

Now let's finish up with Wood and we're golden.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Slight overpayment but still glad he got re-signed.

Now let's finish up with Wood and we're golden.

If they play him consistently like he should’ve been the last few seasons, this contract will look like a steal for us.

 

[HBK27]

As long as he is truly the 7th defender. I wouldn’t want him standing in the way of for another season.

It's in everybody's best interests if Lovejoy is the 7th defender as it means that Santini and Mueller outplayed him and earned that spot. Even if it's close, you have to figure the younger guys have a slight advantage since they are still expected to develop further and improve their game.

If Lovejoy is in the lineup, it's going to be because he deserves it and outplayed Santini or Mueller to earn that spot. He wouldn't be "standing in the way" of the other guys - one of them would've just dropped the ball and not earned a spot in the lineup.

 

[My3Sons]

It's in everybody's best interests if Lovejoy is the 7th defender as it means that Santini and Mueller outplayed him and earned that spot. Even if it's close, you have to figure the younger guys have a slight advantage since they are still expected to develop further and improve their game.

If Lovejoy is in the lineup, it's going to be because he deserves it and outplayed Santini or Mueller to earn that spot. He wouldn't be "standing in the way" of the other guys - one of them would've just dropped the ball and not earned a spot in the lineup.

I’m not convinced that Hynes goes with the young player if it is close. I hope he does. If Lovejoy outplays either Mueller or Santini it will be disappointing

 

[Billdo]

As long as he is truly the 7th defender. I wouldn’t want him standing in the way of for another season.

I mean they said last year that the only reason Santini was sent down was because of his waiver eligibility.

 

[devilsblood]

I mean they said last year that the only reason Santini was sent down was because of his waiver eligibility.

Was def a big part. I'd say another part is their desire to pair a vet with a young guy in Butcher.

But yes, now that waiver eligibility runs out(or once it does?) I'm pretty sure Santini will be in the lineup.

I think we all agree we disliked Santini's usage last year, but the Devils willingness to play him in ridiculously tough minutes tells us how they feel about him.

And Lovejoy will be an excellent #7. I would not trade.

 

[My3Sons]

I mean they said last year that the only reason Santini was sent down was because of his waiver eligibility.

Sure but my concern is Hynes seems to favor the vets on defense which I get why but I think allowances for developing players on a developing team have to be part of the plan.

 

[HBK27]

Sure but my concern is Hynes seems to favor the vets on defense which I get why but I think allowances for developing players on a developing team have to be part of the plan.

I think a vast majority of NHL coaches "favor vets" on defense as that's the toughest position for young players to adapt to the NHL game and mistakes usually wind up in the back of the net.

We already saw how much rookies were utilized last year by Hynes - I don't think he favors vets on defense any more than the average NHL coach.

Last year, Hynes probably came into the season with a little less job securing after a poor '16-'17 season. After making the playoffs ahead of schedule last year, you have to think he has more job security and maybe even a little bit more of a long-term view (if things went bad again last season, it's not a stretch to think he could've been fired). He knows for this team to take the next step players like Butcher, Mueller and Santini need to play and develop...but he's not going to do that at the risk of sitting a better player in Lovejoy if he truly does outplay one of them.

 

[MadDevil]

Sure but my concern is Hynes seems to favor the vets on defense which I get why but I think allowances for developing players on a developing team have to be part of the plan.

Severson has played all but 18 games in the last three seasons and Butcher played all but 1 game last year as a rookie, so it's not like there's a pattern of kids not being given chances under this staff. It's why I believe them when they say it was his waiver status and having too many bodies that led to Santini ending up in the AHL.

 

[Nubmer6]

Severson has played all but 18 games in the last three seasons and Butcher played all but 1 game last year as a rookie, so it's not like there's a pattern of kids not being given chances under this staff. It's why I believe them when they say it was his waiver status and having too many bodies that led to Santini ending up in the AHL.

I'd like to also point out that Lovejoy started last season riding the pine in favor of Santini, and that was before we got Vatanen. Hynes definitely wasn't afraid to play the kids.

 

[Billdo]

Sure but my concern is Hynes seems to favor the vets on defense which I get why but I think allowances for developing players on a developing team have to be part of the plan.

I said it a few months ago but I wouldn't be shocked if Severson is traded at some point.

 

[Stephen Gionta]

This is what I would want to see to start the season on defense.

Mueller - Vatanen
Butcher - Santini
Greene - Severson
Lovejoy

Spread minutes out evenly at 5 on 5.

Special teams
PP1: Butcher
PP2: Severson, Vatanen

PK1: Greene, Vatanen
PK2: Mueller, Santini

 

[Camille the Eel]

I was certainly surprised to see how good our record was with him in the lineup. Plus the other stats including blocked shots and hits. The stats made a pretty good case for him.

Significant commitment by Shero.

We do badly need to do a better job of clearing the crease and riding people away from our goalies. Maybe he’s the guy.

 

[glenwo2]

I was certainly surprised to see how good our record was with him in the lineup. Plus the other stats including blocked shots and hits. The stats made a pretty good case for him.

Significant commitment by Shero.

We do badly need to do a better job of clearing the crease and riding people away from our goalies. Maybe he’s the guy.

Who was out of the lineup when Santini was in the lineup?

Was it LoveJoy? Moore?

 

[Camille the Eel]

Who was out of the lineup when Santini was in the lineup?

Was it LoveJoy? Moore?

Probably mostly Lovejoy, also Muellar was on I.R. forever with a shoulder, right?

 

[MadDevil]

Probably mostly Lovejoy, also Muellar was on I.R. forever with a shoulder, right?

We also didn't have Vatanen until the trade in December. Lovejoy sat for most of that first month we had Vats, but then became a mainstay around the middle of January.