I was just messin' with ya.

St. Louis would be insane to trade off Pietrangelo and NJ are stacked on D prospects anyway. I think Tarasenko would probably be in the conversation. Henrique is sort of geared up to be our next captain, though, so I don't think NJ is keen on moving him.
- archromat

I was just messin' with ya.

St. Louis would be insane to trade off Pietrangelo and NJ are stacked on D prospects anyway. I think Tarasenko would probably be in the conversation. Henrique is sort of geared up to be our next captain, though, so I don't think NJ is keen on moving him.
- archromat

That's how I view him as a player and why I'd love to snag him........but I figured he would be fairly untouchable. Actually, I only brought it up since Ek mentioned the Blues and Devils have been talking. Henrique is the one guy on the Devils that really sticks out to me as someone that fills an obvious hole on the Blues.

Very quiet right now.........rumor is he/his agent want $7 mil or better and the Blues probably don't want to go that high, at least not yet. I'd look for a 1-yr deal (Armstrong, the GM, likes the "give me a reason to give you top dollar" approach), or a long-term deal that probably comes in modestly below $7 mil. He is obviously our most important player, so it is highly likely to get done. But Petro has only limited leverage at this point (RFA with no arb rights) and the Blues seem content to wait him out a bit since an offer sheet is pretty unlikely. For most Blues fans, we would sure as hell prefer to see it done already!
- GSimp1

yeah all these danm players today want so money cough cough parise and clarky, but I pietrangalo imo is worth around 5.5 a year

That's how I view him as a player and why I'd love to snag him........but I figured he would be fairly untouchable. Actually, I only brought it up since Ek mentioned the Blues and Devils have been talking. Henrique is the one guy on the Devils that really sticks out to me as someone that fills an obvious hole on the Blues.
- GSimp1

That's why I don't see the Devils trading for anyone significant. The only real items other teams want are Henrique and Larsson who I really don't want to move.

I could see the Devils doing some simple D-Prospects for O-Prospects swaps. I'd be very in favor of something like that.

yeah all these danm players today want so money cough cough parise and clarky, but I pietrangalo imo is worth around 5.5 a year
- njdevil35

I think it'd really depend on term, I actually think Pietrangelo is arguably a top 10 defenseman in the league right now and he's only 23! I think the Blues either sign him for just 3 years now at around $5.5 and hope they can resign him after that or really anti up to lock him up him long term.

I think it'd really depend on term, I actually think Pietrangelo is arguably a top 10 defenseman in the league right now and he's only 23! I think the Blues either sign him for just 3 years now at around $5.5 and hope they can resign him after that or really anti up to lock him up him long term.
- MannySilvers

agreed

I think it'd really depend on term, I actually think Pietrangelo is arguably a top 10 defenseman in the league right now and he's only 23! I think the Blues either sign him for just 3 years now at around $5.5 and hope they can resign him after that or really anti up to lock him up him long term.
- MannySilvers

I think the Blues would jump at a deal for $5.5 mil...........the issue is that Pietrangelo was awesome 2 years ago, but definitely not as good last year. A lot of that was him trying to do too much, but he got better (obviously) after they paired him with JayBo. He is a great talent and an even better guy, so the Blues want him to be here for the next 12-15 years, but a long-term deal at $7+ just seems a little too much too soon in most people's minds.

I think the Blues would jump at a deal for $5.5 mil...........the issue is that Pietrangelo was awesome 2 years ago, but definitely not as good last year. A lot of that was him trying to do too much, but he got better (obviously) after they paired him with JayBo. He is a great talent and an even better guy, so the Blues want him to be here for the next 12-15 years, but a long-term deal at $7+ just seems a little too much too soon in most people's minds.
- GSimp1

I dunno he was still very very good last year. Finished 14th in Norris voting which while doesn't mean everything is still a decent indicator that he's a top defenseman in the league.

Also I'm a believer that stats for the shortened season should be taken with a grain of salt. Is Chris Kunitz really a top player in the NHL?

We don't need Jagr...

All these Russian players are sketch balls. I wouldn't be surprised if Loktionov packed up and followed Kovalchuk over to Russia.. maybe he'll have to decency to finish out the 1 year deal he just signed before returning home. I mean after all, the Kings let him go because there were rumors surrounding Loktionov that he was un-happy and wanted to return to Russia after his entry-level contract was completed.

That said I would not be content if the Devils traded Henrique to St. Louis for Tarasenko... I would actually be livid if that happened. It's not a good time to have Russian players in the NHL as the centerpiece of your team... look at the current events.

The New Jersey Devils should now be built around Henrique and Larsson going forward.

I dunno he was still very very good last year. Finished 14th in Norris voting which while doesn't mean everything is still a decent indicator that he's a top defenseman in the league.

Also I'm a believer that stats for the shortened season should be taken with a grain of salt. Is Chris Kunitz really a top player in the NHL?
- MannySilvers

Yeah, I can't argue with that. Plus again, he is such a good guy that you want to see a deal get done that guarantees he will stay here. He is the kind of guy I would let marry my daughter. Oh sure, she is only 14 at this point, but I might overlook that if he signs a long-term deal at $7 mil+!

We don't need Jagr...

All these Russian players are sketch balls. I wouldn't be surprised if Loktionov packed up and followed Kovalchuk over to Russia.. maybe he'll have to decency to finish out the 1 year deal he just signed before returning home. I mean after all, the Kings let him go because there were rumors surrounding Loktionov that he was un-happy and wanted to return to Russia after his entry-level contract was completed.

That said I would not be content if the Devils traded Henrique to St. Louis for Tarasenko... I would actually be livid if that happened. It's not a good time to have Russian players in the NHL as the centerpiece of your team... look at the current events.

The New Jersey Devils should now be built around Henrique and Larsson going forward.
- mike12cambria

BTW Jagr is Czech not Russian, though not sure if you were saying that.

In general I agree, I'm really interested to see how Loktionov does this year, it really seemed like what made him fit on our team was Kovy so it should definitely be interesting. Glad Lou just signed him to a 1 year deal.

Devil fans..........I'm bored today, so I throw a question your way - what would it take to get Henrique out of NJ in a trade? Very good young player, but is he an untouchable in NJ? I'd love to get him on the Blues (we still need a center) and wanted to see what might be reasonable from the Devils perspective, especially if Lou has trouble getting him signed (and no, don't suggest an even swap for Pietrangelo!)
- GSimp1

Oshie

Oshie
- shvingter88

- MannySilvers

he's gotta fit in somewhere

he's gotta fit in somewhere
- shvingter88

He should go to Pittsburgh, sure he would love playing under Mario.

He should go to Pittsburgh, sure he would love playing under Mario.
- MannySilvers

Damn........that was good!

He should go to Pittsburgh, sure he would love playing under Mario.
- MannySilvers

But then Mario would ditch him (in a lava pit) for some extra leverage...

To me the best reasonable case scenario would be us signing Brunner and Grabovski for 2/3 years each hopefully under $4mil/year each.

Elias-Zajac-Ryder
Henrique-Grabovski-Brunner
Zubrus-Loktionov-Clowe
Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Though if we can just get one of them and then give Tedenby, Josefson, Olesz a chance I'd be alright with that too. Not to mention if Matteau and Boucher impress at training camp it's not out of the question for one of them to compete for a spot as well.

To me the best reasonable case scenario would be us signing Brunner and Grabovski for 2/3 years each hopefully under $4mil/year each.

Elias-Zajac-Ryder
Henrique-Grabovski-Brunner
Zubrus-Loktionov-Clowe
Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Though if we can just get one of them and then give Tedenby, Josefson, Olesz a chance I'd be alright with that too. Not to mention if Matteau and Boucher impress at training camp it's not out of the question for one of them to compete for a spot as well.
- MannySilvers

Grabo will want around 5. He's talented but not an improvement in the faceoff circle. I don't think he's worth the money. I'd rather get Brunner, and like you said, have the kids duke it out for the last spot. I'm sure one of them will excel.

I would only want Grabo under two conditions:

-He takes under 5 million/year
-He is willing to convert to wing

To me, Henrique is more important to continue developing as our center of the future than whatever Grabovski can provide for us in the short term.

I would only want Grabo under two conditions:

-He takes under 5 million/year
-He is willing to convert to wing

To me, Henrique is more important to continue developing as our center of the future than whatever Grabovski can provide for us in the short term.
- TheJerseyDevil1

4.9mil?

4.9mil?
- shvingter88

deal

deal
- TheJerseyDevil1

I would offer him a two year deal 3.7 a year 7.4 total

Come to think of it I'd rather go Brunner+Raymond than Brunner+Grabo, from a cost, age, and positioning standpoint.

Elias-Zajac-Ryder
Raymond-Henrique-Brunner
Zubrus-Loktionov-Clowe
Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Legitimately not a terrible line-up. No star power, but 4 lines deep. Make it happen Lou.

Come to think of it I'd rather go Brunner+Raymond than Brunner+Grabo, from a cost, age, and positioning standpoint.

Elias-Zajac-Ryder
Raymond-Henrique-Brunner
Zubrus-Loktionov-Clowe
Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Legitimately not a terrible line-up. No star power, but 4 lines deep. Make it happen Lou.
- MannySilvers

I am not a big fan of Raymond firmly believe that Grabo is the more talented player and has the ability to carry the puck and finish plus he has at lot of heart but at this point I don't really care what happens. Just come to work with your work helmets and lunch pails and we will be just fine with any roster.