Todd Cordell: Vatanen's injury doesn't change anything for the Devils

Yep - Vats sorry to say is the odd man out at least IMO - you give very good reasons why - he is still a valuable piece to any lineup - with skating ability and a solid shot - cost controlled at a very reasonable #
- the leverage the Devils or any team for that matter have is the league knows the Ducks have to move a piece or perhaps even 2 - The Ducks conversely know that young mobile cost controlled RHD are a very hot commodity and can get a bidding war started - I just don't want him in the west - Tampa - Devils - Rangers - Habs - Bruins - Det - Leafs perhaps even Philly - all viable options -

If shero can get him without giving alot up, id do it. Severson and santini can hold the fort till sami is ready. Only problem is it can complicate things. Sami is RHD and that can throw a wrench into acquiring a shattenkirk/shultz/dumba who can probably be the 1st paring RHD. I feel devils should really go get a left handed defenseman first , like a jonas brodin so that greene can move down a spot because merill and moore aint anything special. Then that allows you to get that right handed defense, whether via trade vatanen/dumba or FA shatty/schultz...

Can Kovy somehow play into this, sweetening the deal for both sides?

If shero can get him without giving alot up, id do it. Severson and santini can hold the fort till sami is ready. Only problem is it can complicate things. Sami is RHD and that can throw a wrench into acquiring a shattenkirk/shultz/dumba who can probably be the 1st paring RHD. I feel devils should really go get a left handed defenseman first , like a jonas brodin so that greene can move down a spot because merill and moore aint anything special. Then that allows you to get that right handed defense, whether via trade vatanen/dumba or FA shatty/schultz...
- Jamincito

I'm curious how much handedness affects Shero's plans. A lot of people believe the Devils are going to throw a massive contract at Shattenkirk, but that doesn't guarantee he'll take it. I'd prefer a defender acquired in expansion be left handed myself as well, but if you do Vatanen + Smith instead, that's ok as long as Castron (and Shero) draft a few guys that have high-end potential as well.

Yep - Vats sorry to say is the odd man out at least IMO - you give very good reasons why - he is still a valuable piece to any lineup - with skating ability and a solid shot - cost controlled at a very reasonable #
- the leverage the Devils or any team for that matter have is the league knows the Ducks have to move a piece or perhaps even 2 - The Ducks conversely know that young mobile cost controlled RHD are a very hot commodity and can get a bidding war started - I just don't want him in the west - Tampa - Devils - Rangers - Habs - Bruins - Det - Leafs perhaps even Philly - all viable options -
- dozerD10

I'm curious as to what Ducks fans feel his return would be, keeping in mind that the Devils can take on a bad contract very easily. So any trade with NJ would probably be Vatanen+Stoner/Bieksa, with Prout going the other way to give Anaheim an expansion eligible defender.

Sami's injury helps and hurts the Ducks position. On one hand, I think Murray can leave him exposed in the Vegas draft and I would seriously doubt Mc Fee would take him. Why would you take a defense man who might not play at all next year.
Unfortunately, Sami's injury also devalues him as a trade possibility. New Jersey isn't going to trade a scoring wing of any value if the guy coming back isn't going to help you out this year. Murray my just end up keeping Vatanen and use him for LTIR cap relief.

I'm curious as to what Ducks fans feel his return would be, keeping in mind that the Devils can take on a bad contract very easily. So any trade with NJ would probably be Vatanen+Stoner/Bieksa, with Prout going the other way to give Anaheim an expansion eligible defender.
- CaptCrankypants

I don't know enough about what - A. Devils needs are and where they feel they have an abundance of players - B. how they are positioning themselves for exp. draft - if 8 and 1 or 7/3 and 1 -
I think Murray may even do it for draft picks as Ducks 1st this yr went to Dallas on Eaves deal - 2nd & 3rd might just do it -

If shero can get him without giving alot up, id do it. Severson and santini can hold the fort till sami is ready. Only problem is it can complicate things. Sami is RHD and that can throw a wrench into acquiring a shattenkirk/shultz/dumba who can probably be the 1st paring RHD. I feel devils should really go get a left handed defenseman first , like a jonas brodin so that greene can move down a spot because merill and moore aint anything special. Then that allows you to get that right handed defense, whether via trade vatanen/dumba or FA shatty/schultz...
- Jamincito

Schultz or Dumba as 1st pairing D?

I'm curious how much handedness affects Shero's plans. A lot of people believe the Devils are going to throw a massive contract at Shattenkirk, but that doesn't guarantee he'll take it. I'd prefer a defender acquired in expansion be left handed myself as well, but if you do Vatanen + Smith instead, that's ok as long as Castron (and Shero) draft a few guys that have high-end potential as well.
- CaptCrankypants

i just hope they target the left handed dman first. They seem very limited this offseason.. names that stick out are brodIn, smith, fowler, de zotto alzner (fowler seems like he staying in ANA/alzner is all defense and zitto sucks defensively.. brodin seems like good trade guy, and smith is s good FA guy but i worry about his point totals, he had one 15 and 19 point season, after that they have all been below 10. Devils need LHD that can produce some points and be a top-4. Acquire the LHD first

I don't know enough about what - A. Devils needs are and where they feel they have an abundance of players - B. how they are positioning themselves for exp. draft - if 8 and 1 or 7/3 and 1 -
I think Murray may even do it for draft picks as Ducks 1st this yr went to Dallas on Eaves deal - 2nd & 3rd might just do it -
- dozerD10

A. They need defensemen and have an abundance of bad defenseman and young C/LWs prospects that may or may not be any good.
B. Right now the Devils could go 8+1 and protect 6 F, 2 D and anyone they lost would probably be addition by subtraction.

Schultz or Dumba as 1st pairing D?


- Larsson_fan

So what, if you had any of the two, would you put them under lovejoy or severson ? Nooo

So what, if you had any of the two, would you put them under lovejoy or severson ? Nooo
- Jamincito

Haha, I guess not. It's just that Dumba and sn3rd pair in Minni and Schultz can't be put in that position if you want him to succeed.

Just to be clear, if shero can acquire sami, he should.. i just hope shero can find someway to upgrade the left side of the defense too..

Dmen who miss camp usually take quite a long time to get their legs. Merrill . VOKI when he broke his leg. Merrill was horrible to February.
Now -add in the fact that your being traded . from a stanley cup contender to a bottom team , from west coast to East coast.

This a bad move.

Can the DEVILS use a healthy vitamaen yes... Can they afford to wait till February ---NO ..... season could be ove rby then and we can not go 6 seasons without making the playoffs. W are loosing out on so many players because no one wants to sign with the bottom teams .

Dmen who miss camp usually take quite a long time to get their legs. Merrill . VOKI when he broke his leg. Merrill was horrible to February.
Now -add in the fact that your being traded . from a stanley cup contender to a bottom team , from west coast to East coast.

This a bad move.

Can the DEVILS use a healthy vitamaen yes... Can they afford to wait till February ---NO ..... season could be ove rby then and we can not go 6 seasons without making the playoffs. W are loosing out on so many players because no one wants to sign with the bottom teams .
- thechezman

Thats what im worried about.. if sami is acquired, who plays till he is ready? Lovejoy/if he aint picked by vegas, severson, and santini ? How well did that play out this past season? The one good thing i see about acquiring sami is that it improves us long term

Thats what im worried about.. if sami is acquired, who plays till he is ready? Lovejoy/if he aint picked by vegas, severson, and santini ? How well did that play out this past season? The one good thing i see about acquiring sami is that it improves us long term
- Jamincito

Well how would you feel about Ducks also mixing in Stoner - who although not fast can clear the net - drop the hammer on guys getting stupid - and plays decently only 1 more yr @ 3.25 - could be a filler and eat minutes while not being a total liability - and to boot a LHD man -

And just another personal opinion, i hope the devils dont do a move that blocks santini.. i see alot of promise in him

Todd Cordell: Vatanen's injury doesn't change anything for the Devils
- Todd.Cordell

Good article

Dmen who miss camp usually take quite a long time to get their legs. Merrill . VOKI when he broke his leg. Merrill was horrible to February.
Now -add in the fact that your being traded . from a stanley cup contender to a bottom team , from west coast to East coast.

This a bad move.

Can the DEVILS use a healthy vitamaen yes... Can they afford to wait till February ---NO ..... season could be ove rby then and we can not go 6 seasons without making the playoffs. W are loosing out on so many players because no one wants to sign with the bottom teams .
- thechezman

If we can get a quality Dman at the right price you do it. Oct vs Feb should not enter the equation, we will not be raising the Cup next year either way. Think long term, get a good young Dmen.

Dmen who miss camp usually take quite a long time to get their legs. Merrill . VOKI when he broke his leg. Merrill was horrible to February.
Now -add in the fact that your being traded . from a stanley cup contender to a bottom team , from west coast to East coast.

This a bad move.

Can the DEVILS use a healthy vitamaen yes... Can they afford to wait till February ---NO ..... season could be ove rby then and we can not go 6 seasons without making the playoffs. W are loosing out on so many players because no one wants to sign with the bottom teams .
- thechezman

We're going to miss the playoffs next season regardless. If one of your key acquisitions misses a good chunk of the season, that'll just give them better lottery odds. My only goals for them next season is have underlying numbers that are closer to slightly below average instead of horrifyingly terrible, Schneider has a bounce back season, and they break the 200 goal plateau. If they achieve those things and finish around the same standings wise, I'll be happy.

This is assuming they actually make the effort to improve the defense of course.

Sorry to butt in , just want to know who you guys want Nolan or Nico and who you expect Shero to take. Thanks

Sorry to butt in , just want to know who you guys want Nolan or Nico and who you expect Shero to take. Thanks
- flyerscup2011

We seem to be 50/50 on this board, Shero is keeping things quiet which way he is leaning and one of the main devil bloggers who follows the team and interviewed Shero yesterday says he thinks Shero is taking Nico but from the same interview others feel that it is more Nolan

Who really knows

Sorry to butt in , just want to know who you guys want Nolan or Nico and who you expect Shero to take. Thanks
- flyerscup2011

Brendan Lemieux.

Brendan Lemieux.
- smellmyfinger

I think we picked the better guy man... I haven't seen Lemieux since the he left the Colts and I understand he has done well for himself but I really like the way Q looks and plays... I wouldn't be shocked if he turned out a little better then Rico ( and I love Rico )