Todd Cordell: On Merrill, Moore and Eberle

So a trade for a top 4 defenseman before the expansion draft is unlikely? I figured Shero would be going all in trying to fleece a team for a defenseman they don't want to lose.... if they don't make a trade for a middle pairing defenseman they missed out on a opportunity to get better

So a trade for a top 4 defenseman before the expansion draft is unlikely? I figured Shero would be going all in trying to fleece a team for a defenseman they don't want to lose.... if they don't make a trade for a middle pairing defenseman they missed out on a opportunity to get better
- Devils314

Yeah, he will definitely try. I misworded the sentence and fixed it.

If the rumors are true, they should go after Niederreiter instead. He's a couple years younger, will be a good mentor for Hischier and has very strong underlying numbers.


Also, trading for a top-4 defenseman is unlikely in the sense that in general a trade is more likely to not happen than happen. But it should still at the top of Shero's list of priorities for this offseason.

Todd Cordell: On Merrill, Moore and Eberle
- Todd.Cordell

Merrill is not the best overall player. Come on. I'd rather keep Lovejoy and have him be a 5/6 defenseman.

Merrill is not the best overall player. Come on. I'd rather keep Lovejoy and have him be a 5/6 defenseman.
- jersey1414

Well, he gets the best results

1. don't forget that teams might move better players other than the ones on the fringe to get to their quota... plenty of deals available...

2. Lovejoy and Kinkaid are the two most likely players on this team to get plucked, I think. Although Lovejoy isn't an attractive D, he's a veteran and can play good minutes without the team buckling.

3. Eberle is not going to get as much as people think... I predict Vegas if he goes anywhere

I'd rather move one of those defenders and get Anton Slepyshev as a big fast RWer. I have said in other places he could be a nice fit in Jersey.
He had 3 goals in 12 games in the POs
4-6-10 in 41 games
He's not lazy skates WAY better than Valeri Nichuskin (Dallas 1st rounder who went back home).
Blow the D up and start moving towards young mobile guys

Well, he gets the best results
- Todd.Cordell

I think Lovejoy was asked to play too big of a role. Let him be a 5 or 6 and he'll be fine. Too many occasions he logged big time minutes and he was exposed.

You can show stats about shot suppression or possession or whatever, but Merrill and Moore both really struggle to get the puck out of their end. Lovejoy might not be worth his contract, but he's a competent player. And, if the Devils do stink again next season there's more value in a guy like Lovejoy to a contender than there is Merrill.

1. don't forget that teams might move better players other than the ones on the fringe to get to their quota... plenty of deals available...

2. Lovejoy and Kinkaid are the two most likely players on this team to get plucked, I think. Although Lovejoy isn't an attractive D, he's a veteran and can play good minutes without the team buckling.

3. Eberle is not going to get as much as people think... I predict Vegas if he goes anywhere
- archromat

Every time I see someone predict Vegas as a trading partner I ask this: what assets do they have to trade? Do you really think, in their first year of existence, they are going to trade multiple draft picks for Jordan Eberle? McPhee isn't the best GM but I find it hard to believe he'll mortgage some of the future before the team even starts out.

Merrill is not the best overall player. Come on. I'd rather keep Lovejoy and have him be a 5/6 defenseman.
- jersey1414

Don't forget we are stronger on the right side where Lovejoy plays. Severson, Santini, Lovejoy and in the future Jacobs all RHD.

After Greene it's Moore/Merrill on the left side.

I think the value out there for Eberle is far below his potential and therefore he'll stay in EDM. If someone overpays (or currently pays his future potential value) he could get traded, but I doubt anyone does that.

If the rumors are true, they should go after Niederreiter instead. He's a couple years younger, will be a good mentor for Hischier and has very strong underlying numbers.


Also, trading for a top-4 defenseman is unlikely in the sense that in general a trade is more likely to not happen than happen. But it should still at the top of Shero's list of priorities for this offseason.
- CaptCrankypants

It would be weird to have niederreiter mentoring someone on the flyers

Don't forget we are stronger on the right side where Lovejoy plays. Severson, Santini, Lovejoy and in the future Jacobs all RHD.

After Greene it's Moore/Merrill on the left side.
- smellmyfinger

Good point. Not to beat up on Lovejoy but if Vegas wants a mediocure 33 year old defenseman making $ 2.67M then best of luck to them....

Eberle would make the Devs better. If the Devs don't overpay the decision should be a no brainer.

Good point. Not to beat up on Lovejoy but if Vegas wants a mediocure 33 year old defenseman making $ 2.67M then best of luck to them....
- Queenie_5_hole

$2.67 mil for a bottom pairing d-man isn't that crazy.

I think Lovejoy was asked to play too big of a role. Let him be a 5 or 6 and he'll be fine. Too many occasions he logged big time minutes and he was exposed.

You can show stats about shot suppression or possession or whatever, but Merrill and Moore both really struggle to get the puck out of their end. Lovejoy might not be worth his contract, but he's a competent player. And, if the Devils do stink again next season there's more value in a guy like Lovejoy to a contender than there is Merrill.
- jersey1414

Moore struggles to get the puck. Once he has it, he can get it out ok. Lovejoy struggles in all areas. He's basically chip-off-glass or bust. He might better if he wasn't playing so far over his head, but Moore can bring more to the table overall. Merrill's only positives right now are that he's a slightly better puck-mover than Lovejoy and is younger.

Moore struggles to get the puck. Once he has it, he can get it out ok. Lovejoy struggles in all areas. He's basically chip-off-glass or bust. He might better if he wasn't playing so far over his head, but Moore can bring more to the table overall. Merrill's only positives right now are that he's a slightly better puck-mover than Lovejoy and is younger.
- CaptCrankypants

I don't get the love for Moore. Yeah, he joins the rush and has had some impact in OT, but his defensive game is horrendous. He gets dominated physically both in the corner and in front of the net, and his breakouts are awful. I feel like people see him skate and join the rush and think he's such an asset, but he's more of a liability IMO.

Every time I see someone predict Vegas as a trading partner I ask this: what assets do they have to trade? Do you really think, in their first year of existence, they are going to trade multiple draft picks for Jordan Eberle? McPhee isn't the best GM but I find it hard to believe he'll mortgage some of the future before the team even starts out.
- jersey1414

Vegas can trade players they acquire in the expansion draft. At the GM meetings, GMGM actually stated something along the lines of: 'everyone I take in the expansion draft is available.'

So if Vegas takes a dman that EDM is interested in, that could be a fit. Also, it depends on what EDM wants and how quickly Vegas is trying to get good. Eberle is an NHL player, whoever they draft may or may not make the NHL and may or may not be any good once he gets there.

I don't get the love for Moore. Yeah, he joins the rush and has had some impact in OT, but his defensive game is horrendous. He gets dominated physically both in the corner and in front of the net, and his breakouts are awful. I feel like people see him skate and join the rush and think he's such an asset, but he's more of a liability IMO.
- jersey1414

It's not love. I don't like Moore either. He's just slightly more useful (or less bad) than Lovejoy and Merrill.

Eberle would make the Devs better. If the Devs don't overpay the decision should be a no brainer.
- redmonsters

I agree it's as simple as that, if it's a similar payment to yakupov maybe a 3rd and an depth roster player then do it. He plays right wing and honestly would be our second best right wing immediately worst comes to worst he puts up 40-50 points for two years.

It's not love. I don't like Moore either. He's just slightly more useful (or less bad) than Lovejoy and Merrill.
- CaptCrankypants

Lol. Well put.

$2.67 mil for a bottom pairing d-man isn't that crazy.
- jersey1414

No, it's not crazy. I meant if Vegas took him we'd clear that salary which I'd be glad to apply to a better defender in free agency. This team needs to get some real defensive talent.

I'd do Eberle for picks and a Dman in a heartbeat. Put him on a line with some talent and hes good for 50pts.

It would be weird to have niederreiter mentoring someone on the flyers
- shvingter88

I'm excited to log on to Hockeybuzz.com to read your rant if the Devils draft Nico #1