Todd Cordell: On life without Travis Zajac

Its just depressing. With our luck we will finish dead last and pick fourth...I know we won the lottery last year, but lighting doesn't strike twice, except in Edmonton.

Its just depressing. With our luck we will finish dead last and pick fourth...I know we won the lottery last year, but lighting doesn't strike twice, except in Edmonton.
- redmonsters

this makes no sense.

Its just depressing. With our luck we will finish dead last and pick fourth...I know we won the lottery last year, but lighting doesn't strike twice, except in Edmonton.
- redmonsters

We won the lottery the year we picked Adam Larsson. In that respect the team has been pretty lucky.

Losing Travis is going to be really tough. This is going to get ugly.

#FallinforDahlin

Even after losing Zajac they're going to have a tough time "beating" Colorado, Vancouver, Detroit, and Vegas for the worst record. Maybe Arizona as well, now that Chychrun is out long-term.

We won the lottery the year we picked Adam Larsson. In that respect the team has been pretty lucky.

Losing Travis is going to be really tough. This is going to get ugly.
- Queenie_5_hole

Boyle will take over the defensive responsibility.
Who knows...it may be a blessing to give Zacha more responsibility centering in a top 6 role. Maybe he and Hall hit it off.

Odd how the team who jumped from 8th to 1st in the draft is complaining about luck..

It should be pretty easy to get 2 points from this team in 17/18. I wonder why they haven't considered trading Cory and starting a full rebuild with Nico and another top 3 pick as well as several other picks from pieces.

this makes no sense.
- stormey

If we finish as the 31st team, and three teams with better records win the lottery, we would drop to fourth, no?

If we finish as the 31st team, and three teams with better records win the lottery, we would drop to fourth, no?
- redmonsters

Yeah....but when you say with our luck, followed by the fact that you won the lottery last year....it doesn't make sense.

I'd say your luck was pretty good...no??

Boyle will take over the defensive responsibility.
Who knows...it may be a blessing to give Zacha more responsibility centering in a top 6 role. Maybe he and Hall hit it off.
- stormey

not to mention Nico.

Boyle will take over the defensive responsibility.
Who knows...it may be a blessing to give Zacha more responsibility centering in a top 6 role. Maybe he and Hall hit it off.
- stormey

It would be great for Zacha to work well with Hall but it seems dangerous to throw him into such a difficult situation. 1st line Center has got to be one of the hardest positions in the league.

not to mention Nico.
- stormey

He's a baby. And he holds the future of our franchise in his little baby hockey gloves. Don't ruin his career by throwing him into this to fast.

It would be great for Zacha to work well with Hall but it seems dangerous to throw him into such a difficult situation. 1st line Center has got to be one of the hardest positions in the league.
- Queenie_5_hole

Let him play. If he can handle it, great! If he can't, who cares? It's not like he's going to get worse by being on the ice more.

He's a baby. And he holds the future of our franchise in his little baby hockey gloves. Don't ruin his career by throwing him into this to fast.
- Queenie_5_hole

McDavid, Matthews, Eichel....all seemed to do ok.
He was drafted first overall...the expectations should be high.

Let him play. If he can handle it, great! If he can't, who cares? It's not like he's going to get worse by being on the ice more.
- BINGO!

Yeap...big kid. Drafted 3 drafts ago...it's time for him to take a big step.
Maybe not first line...but top 6.

Yeah....but when you say with our luck, followed by the fact that you won the lottery last year....it doesn't make sense.

I'd say your luck was pretty good...no??
- stormey

Definitely yes, but that was one bright spot in a years of ugliness. And as good as it was (and it was) it moved us up 4 slots in an off draft year. Its all relative.

Definitely yes, but that was one bright spot in a years of ugliness. And as good as it was (and it was) it moved us up 4 slots in an off draft year. Its all relative.
- redmonsters

Nobody is going to feel sorry for a team that had Broduer for 20ish years.

At this time, I am guessing that the Devils will go into opening day with Henrique as their #1 center with Hall and Palmieri. Zacha and Hischier will compete for the #2 center spot to play with Johansson on LW and Noesen or perhaps McLeod on RW.

McDavid, Matthews, Eichel....all seemed to do ok.
He was drafted first overall...the expectations should be high.
- stormey

Hischier weighs like 7 lbs

Hall-Rico-Palms
MoJo-Zacha-Jagr
John Q-Nico-McLeod
Wood-Boyle-Speers

Hopes of having a decent season:



Hopes of a decent pick:

This goes without saying with our current D-Core were knew that we are screwed this year. Zajac obviously be a big hit for us defensive and for the young d-man to gain confidence..

My biggest concern though, is I would bet good money that Will butcher see's this and is saying oh hello no at this point. he knows our D is week, He will be thrown to the wolves making him look bad without a defensive center like zajac to help therefore lowering his value for years to come, and in effect hampering his career in a big way.
I'd be shocked if he signed with us at this point.. not That we had the greatest chance to begin with

Maybe Henrique takes this chance and runs with it!!! He seemed to shine when he was surrounded by talent in 2012..