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OT: NJ Devils 2023-2024 Thread

Ask Pittsburgh fans how much they hate that Ryan graves contract already . He’s got 5 more years at 4.5 million and he’s been a turd. Luke Hughes makes 950k. I’d take Hughes and Hamilton . Why would we trade Luke a dman,who we are short of “, for a forward who we have plenty of . Devils are tops of the metro in scoring and have the core top forwards bratt , Nico , Jack , timo and hopefully Mercer locked up. Devils need defense . To trade Luke or Nemec would be stupid .
Hamilton is a waste if his offense isnt being used. Hamilton has negative value. Hughes has a ton of value.
 
It really is simple and complicated

We have a stud defneseman that has huge value to the NJ Devils and probably 15-20 NHL teams.

We have a defensemen that is being paid a ton of money that plays the same position as the young one.

We either waste $5-$6M of Hamilton’s contract and keep him playing only 5X5 or we trade a player with tremendous value that would get us a ton back and move Hamilton to PP1 D.

Obviously we’d only make the trade if we got a ton back.

Obviously all this is moot because of Jack.

If the Yankees gave 10 year $300M to a stud catcher and a young phenom came up that played catcher they would trade the young phenom becuase of the value they would get in the trade.
 
Hamilton is a waste if his offense isnt being used. Hamilton has negative value. Hughes has a ton of value.
Last time I checked a majority of the game is played at even strength . Last season Dougie had 46 of his 74 points at even strength . This season 8 of 16 at even strength . He still gets PP on the second unit. How his offense is being wasted by not getting #1 PP time is a ludicrous statement . Let me explain it to you this way. #1 dmen do not grow on trees. Most NHL teams don’t have true #1 dmen . Right now the devils don’t and haven’t had one since Niedermayer left . Luke Hughes has the talent , skills , pedigree and potential to be a true #1 dman . You don’t trade that type of player . Look what his oldest brother Quinn is doing right now in Vancouver . He’s an absolute stud .
 
His offensive talents are being watered down.

Again this is a moot point.

Lets not forget we also have Nemec who will probably be a better all around defenseman. There is defintrly room for bith Nemec and Hughes. Paying Hamilton, who at best is an average defensive defenseman $9,000,000 is a waste of $5-$6 million.

The best solution would be to get rid of Hamilton, but that would actually cost the Devils.
 
They will explore but I doubt Fitz can pull off an impactful trade at this point

What makes you doubt that? I could almost guarantee they make a trade now.

Whether it’s now or in a month, we have the cap to get someone who’s impactful (or two).

We’ll see
 
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I know Fitz is safe, but why not fire Coach McGill who runs the defense. Show the young team there are consequences for failure.

Saying this hoping I'm wrong. Everything about this team, this year screams warning track power to me. They will always be right there, agonizingly close, but will ultimately fall just short IMO.
 
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I know Fitz is safe, but why not fire Coach McGill who runs the defense. Show the young team there are consequences for failure.

Saying this hoping I'm wrong. Everything about this team, this year screams warning track power to me. They will always be right there, agonizingly close, but will ultimately fall just short IMO.
That’s the answer . Let’s fire the D coach bc your 19 year old #8 dman blew a coverage when Mercer failed to get puck deep on a zone entry .
 
That’s the answer . Let’s fire the D coach bc your 19 year old #8 dman blew a coverage when Mercer failed to get puck deep on a zone entry .
Not the entire answer, but it would help set a tone of accountability IMO. Even early on, the D has been a major disappointment!

No like most things, the answer is not 1 thing but multi-pronged. This team under Ruff has never been consistent. They play up and down to the competition, and almost never play hard for 60 minutes!
 
Make it 33 times in 46 games that they've been scored on first - 72% of their games. They wasted no time with it last night. This team hadn't played since Monday and Carolina was in Boston the night prior. As per usual, they came out flat and paid. And I'd love to know how many times they've given up 2 goals in under 90 seconds this year. Last night it was 2 in 25 seconds. Their lone goal of any consequence came off a beautiful pass from Holtz to someone named Justin Dowling. Imagine what Holtz could do with more than 10 minutes on a line with ECHLers. But I'm not the HC.

Looking at the standings, I'm starting to think their best shot at the playoffs might be that 3rd Metro spot. We may finally be seeing the regression to the mean for some of these teams. Philly is starting to slip with 4 straight losses. NJ is tied in points with the Isles who have 20 wins in 48 games, feasting on the loser point. And while the Caps and Pens are still within 3 points of NJ, both are now also sputtering. The Rangers have won 11 of 24 games since December 3, allowing Carolina to crawl back to within 2 points of the lead. Those 2 probably finish 1st and 2nd in the division - leaving that 3 spot open.

Tomorrow at TB is massive. Not only for points, but for the vibe around this team an fanbase. A loss has us dwelling on the shitshow that has been this first half and would put them 8 points behind TB, a team they're chasing in the WC. A win narrows that gap to 4 (with 3 in hand) and maybe provides a spark. Those 10 days will feel very differently given the result.
 
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Again I hope I'm PROVEN WRONG, but when even the Head Coach is getting injured during the game, it is not your year!

Ruff getting hit in the freaking head, by a puck during the game, sums up the whole season.

Looks like a curse.
 
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Like leopards, NHL ref's don't change their spots, they are the gift that keeps on giving!

This cursed year could well be a blessing in disguise. I love watching this inexperienced team play together. This injury ravaged team actually is playing like a team, not just a group of individuals, watching the stars.

I think this will pay dividends in the long run.
 
Turning this thread back to hockey, I have come to post about a trade rumor I'm not real happy with.

Supposedly Calgary and the NJ Devils are talking blockbuster trade.

The Devils would send Alex Holtz and a 2024 1st round pick to Calgary.

The Flames would send the Devils Markstrom and Tanev, keeping 50% of Tanev's 💰.

I would give Holtz up for Saros, not Markstrom. Apparently the Devils are in win now mode. While winning now would be nice, we shouldn't throw away potential years down the line for a pipedream. Keep Holtz and your top pick, and hunt for a young stud goalie. We should not act like we have a grizzled veteran team, whose window is closing.
 
Turning this thread back to hockey, I have come to post about a trade rumor I'm not real happy with.

Supposedly Calgary and the NJ Devils are talking blockbuster trade.

The Devils would send Alex Holtz and a 2024 1st round pick to Calgary.

The Flames would send the Devils Markstrom and Tanev, keeping 50% of Tanev's 💰.

I would give Holtz up for Saros, not Markstrom. Apparently the Devils are in win now mode. While winning now would be nice, we shouldn't throw away potential years down the line for a pipedream. Keep Holtz and your top pick, and hunt for a young stud goalie. We should not act like we have a grizzled veteran team, whose window is closing.
That would be a shitty trade for NJ.
 
Turning this thread back to hockey, I have come to post about a trade rumor I'm not real happy with.

Supposedly Calgary and the NJ Devils are talking blockbuster trade.

The Devils would send Alex Holtz and a 2024 1st round pick to Calgary.

The Flames would send the Devils Markstrom and Tanev, keeping 50% of Tanev's 💰.

I would give Holtz up for Saros, not Markstrom. Apparently the Devils are in win now mode. While winning now would be nice, we shouldn't throw away potential years down the line for a pipedream. Keep Holtz and your top pick, and hunt for a young stud goalie. We should not act like we have a grizzled veteran team, whose window is closing.
Terrible deal for NJ. This would be a win now trade but we are a team that is at the beginning of our window and in the midst of an awful injury riddled season.

Makes no sense. Hope this is purely a media narrative.

Im not a fire Ruff guy, but id much rather fire ruff then trade Holtz.
 
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Terrible deal for NJ. Are we i

Terrible deal for NJ. This would be a win now trade but we are a team that is at the beginning of our window and in the midst of an awful injury riddled season.

Makes no sense. Hope this is purely a media narrative.

Im not a fire Ruff guy, but id much rather fire ruff then trade Holtz.
Spot on.

Holtz can play the game and we should keep our draft pick which will be in the lottery
 
Markstrom ain’t that good anyways

Could get him for much less over the summer if need be.
Exactly! I would rather take a chance, on trading for an Askorov or Knight. A young good looking future star, that will grow with the Nemec's and Luke Hughes of the world.

With Fitzy waiting, I've been afraid of this scenario. Every team sees history is against us, but we're agonizingly close. This potential trade would age poorly fast. We are not like the Rangers in '94, that needed to mortgage their future to get one Cup. We are a young team, with a bright future, if management doesn't screw it up!
 
Exactly! I would rather take a chance, on trading for an Askorov or Knight. A young good looking future star, that will grow with the Nemec's and Luke Hughes of the world.

With Fitzy waiting, I've been afraid of this scenario. Every team sees history is against us, but we're agonizingly close. This potential trade would age poorly fast. We are not like the Rangers in '94, that needed to mortgage their future to get one. We are a young team, with a bright future, if management doesn't screw it up!
As usual, you nailed it bruh
 
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Exactly! I would rather take a chance, on trading for an Askorov or Knight. A young good looking future star, that will grow with the Nemec's and Luke Hughes of the world.

With Fitzy waiting, I've been afraid of this scenario. Every team sees history is against us, but we're agonizingly close. This potential trade would age poorly fast. We are not like the Rangers in '94, that needed to mortgage their future to get one Cup. We are a young team, with a bright future, if management doesn't screw it up!
If Nash trades Askarov they are nuts

Knight is interesting but gets paid a ton for a guy putting up bad numbers in the AHL.
 
If Nash trades Askarov they are nuts

Knight is interesting but gets paid a ton for a guy putting up bad numbers in the AHL.
Just giving examples of what I would be looking for, instead of a 34 year old goalie with an injury history. There are other options, like identifying a stud at the draft, and drafting him. These guys are hard to trade for. This is why I would have targeted a player like Askorov his draft year. Too many late rounders.
 
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