Zajac had 46 points this year, I think he's got the 3c locked up. It will be interesting to see what happens to Zacha, but my guess is he's with Zajac and Coleman or traded.
- rmdevil313

I'd definitely want Zajac back as our 3rd line C unless the return is really good. Who's gona win any kind of faceoff without him?

I'm team Hughes and by a long shot. That shiftiness... it's prodigal. I know Kappo is gonna be putting up Rantanen numbers in a couple of years, but Hughes is like MacKinnon or Marner in just how the game slows down when he has the puck.

And yea NJ won two other lotteries, but it wasn't like moving from Karl Alzner to Patrick Kane or anything like that... it was moving Couturier to Larsson and Pettersson to Hischier.

This one, though they move up two spots, matters more than the other two. Hughes and Kakko are a step ahead of Podkolzin et al. This is a HUGHES lotto win for this franchise

I'm team Hughes and by a long shot. That shiftiness... it's prodigal. I know Kappo is gonna be putting up Rantanen numbers in a couple of years, but Hughes is like MacKinnon or Marner in just how the game slows down when he has the puck.

And yea NJ won two other lotteries, but it wasn't like moving from Karl Alzner to Patrick Kane or anything like that... it was moving Couturier to Larsson and Pettersson to Hischier.

This one, though they move up two spots, matters more than the other two. Hughes and Kakko are a step ahead of Podkolzin et al. This is a HUGHES lotto win for this franchise
- archromat

I'm team Hughes and by a long shot. That shiftiness... it's prodigal. I know Kappo is gonna be putting up Rantanen numbers in a couple of years, but Hughes is like MacKinnon or Marner in just how the game slows down when he has the puck.

And yea NJ won two other lotteries, but it wasn't like moving from Karl Alzner to Patrick Kane or anything like that... it was moving Couturier to Larsson and Pettersson to Hischier.

This one, though they move up two spots, matters more than the other two. Hughes and Kakko are a step ahead of Podkolzin et al. This is a HUGHES lotto win for this franchise
- archromat

Yeah, I really like Kaako but I have Hughes just a tiny bit higher and am always in favor of taking BPA. It just sucks that one of our biggest rivals gets #2 when we win the lottery.

Yeah, I really like Kaako but I have Hughes just a tiny bit higher and am always in favor of taking BPA. It just sucks that one of our biggest rivals gets #2 when we win the lottery.
- rmdevil313

Every hero needs a villain.

Yeah, I really like Kaako but I have Hughes just a tiny bit higher and am always in favor of taking BPA. It just sucks that one of our biggest rivals gets #2 when we win the lottery.
- rmdevil313

Free agents will start to come with this talent...

Just my two cents but I think the lines may look like this next year, assuming they add a top 6 forward:

Hall - Nico - Palms
Eberle - Hughes - Bratt
Boqvist - Zajac - Coleman
Wood - Zacha - McLeod

Doesn’t have to be eberle, but I’d assume Ray is gonna add a forward.

I would actually drop Nico to 2nd line and put Hughes with Hall. Nico has started to show he can produce without Hall. I think it would balance the scoring better.
- devilspep

I agree. Nico can drive offense on his own. Let Hughes ride with Hall to start

I agree don't sleep on Boqvist, but I also think there is a 0% chance he plays center next year.
- rmdevil313

Howdy stranger.

Just my two cents but I think the lines may look like this next year, assuming they add a top 6 forward:

Hall - Nico - Palms
Eberle - Hughes - Bratt
Boqvist - Zajac - Coleman
Wood - Zacha - McLeod

Doesn’t have to be eberle, but I’d assume Ray is gonna add a forward.
- dcetlin

I doubt zacha plays on the fourth line if he keeps his play up from the vsecond half of last season

Oh, the possibilities:

Hall-Hughes-Palmieri --> I think Hughes has the talent to start with Hall. He might not win that many faceoffs and there might be some initial defensive shortcomings but this is too good to pass up. Hughes can learn from Hall and Palmieri.

Bratt-Hischier-Bastian --> Bratt and Hischier have good chemistry. I think Bratt is better served to play his natural LW position. Bastian is the big body doing the dirty work a la Tom Wilson but less of a goonish roll. Alternatively, Zacha-Hischier-Bratt if Bastian can't hang.

Wood-Zacha-Anderson or Boqvist-Zacha-Wood

Coleman-Zajac-Anderson

The Devils can consider some sort of package trade that consists of Zacha, Wood, or McLeod, some of their 2nd round draft picks, and a B level prospect. Hopefully for defensive help.

dmarsden2988-I doubt zacha plays on the fourth line if he keeps his play up from the vsecond half of last season

The end of the season not the second half, witch is what he did last year.

Our team got so much better this season. Adding a top 6 forward, a top 4 dman (Smith), swapping Lovejoy for Carrick, and the goalie position appears stabilized. Hall will also be back next year.. and Palmieri.. and Bratt.. it seems like an eternity since we had those guys in the lineup. Zacha will forever intrigue me with his development.

Gotta say.. this is a great blog/forum/thingy. You guys are great. Todd is great. Queenie is great. Pomegrant and Shvincter and of course Larsson (rmdevil313).. and this Lewinen whatever it is kid. And all the other peoples lol. I don't do much social media, but I come here more than once a day most days. An enjoyable place for enjoyable discussion.

Our team got so much better this season. Adding a top 6 forward, a top 4 dman (Smith), swapping Lovejoy for Carrick, and the goalie position appears stabilized. Hall will also be back next year.. and Palmieri.. and Bratt.. it seems like an eternity since we had those guys in the lineup. Zacha will forever intrigue me with his development.

Gotta say.. this is a great blog/forum/thingy. You guys are great. Todd is great. Queenie is great. Pomegrant and Shvincter and of course Larsson (rmdevil313).. and this Lewinen whatever it is kid. And all the other peoples lol. I don't do much social media, but I come here more than once a day most days. An enjoyable place for enjoyable discussion.
- MartysBetter88

I still can't believe we won. 😁😁😁😁

It's exciting to think we will have talent like Hughes and Hischier at the C position for years to come. Hopefully we can either get another good player *winger* via trade or free agency and a defenseman. But either way, it's an exciting time to be a Devils fan!

Our team got so much better this season. Adding a top 6 forward, a top 4 dman (Smith), swapping Lovejoy for Carrick, and the goalie position appears stabilized. Hall will also be back next year.. and Palmieri.. and Bratt.. it seems like an eternity since we had those guys in the lineup. Zacha will forever intrigue me with his development.

Gotta say.. this is a great blog/forum/thingy. You guys are great. Todd is great. Queenie is great. Pomegrant and Shvincter and of course Larsson (rmdevil313).. and this Lewinen whatever it is kid. And all the other peoples lol. I don't do much social media, but I come here more than once a day most days. An enjoyable place for enjoyable discussion.
- MartysBetter88

I gotta agree here with yah bud. I'm glad I found this blog. You guys & Todd are pretty awesome. 😁

Our team got so much better this season. Adding a top 6 forward, a top 4 dman (Smith), swapping Lovejoy for Carrick, and the goalie position appears stabilized. Hall will also be back next year.. and Palmieri.. and Bratt.. it seems like an eternity since we had those guys in the lineup. Zacha will forever intrigue me with his development.

Gotta say.. this is a great blog/forum/thingy. You guys are great. Todd is great. Queenie is great. Pomegrant and Shvincter and of course Larsson (rmdevil313).. and this Lewinen whatever it is kid. And all the other peoples lol. I don't do much social media, but I come here more than once a day most days. An enjoyable place for enjoyable discussion.
- MartysBetter88

you're good people, bud.

it's been a rough patch for Devils fans so it just feels good to have some hope around the team. Feels like we're finally going in the right direction.

I still can't believe we won. 😁😁😁😁

It's exciting to think we will have talent like Hughes and Hischier at the C position for years to come. Hopefully we can either get another good player *winger* via trade or free agency and a defenseman. But either way, it's an exciting time to be a Devils fan!
- Devils4ever

Just think if Hynes stacks the PP with H-H-H-Palms-Smith

Our team got so much better this season. Adding a top 6 forward, a top 4 dman (Smith), swapping Lovejoy for Carrick, and the goalie position appears stabilized. Hall will also be back next year.. and Palmieri.. and Bratt.. it seems like an eternity since we had those guys in the lineup. Zacha will forever intrigue me with his development.

Gotta say.. this is a great blog/forum/thingy. You guys are great. Todd is great. Queenie is great. Pomegrant and Shvincter and of course Larsson (rmdevil313).. and this Lewinen whatever it is kid. And all the other peoples lol. I don't do much social media, but I come here more than once a day most days. An enjoyable place for enjoyable discussion.
- MartysBetter88

Yeah man! The Devils are finally looking like they can start putting things together. Its fun to see what everyone here thinks about all these situations. I have learned a lot more about hockey reading this blog. Todd does a great job.

Yeah man! The Devils are finally looking like they can start putting things together. Its fun to see what everyone here thinks about all these situations. I have learned a lot more about hockey reading this blog. Todd does a great job.- TRDevil

It's not over yet hynes needs to make some signings, and trades, he can't rely on player development like last year.

It's not over yet hynes needs to make some signings, and trades, he can't rely on player development like last year.
- cu45161

Shero said when the time is right to spend $$ he'll do it. He heavily hinted this year is the year to do it. Add in Hall's comments and Shero's comments about lack of talent.

Throw in the UFA pool isnt the best, I think he's going big with EK65 or an offer sheet, trouba, marner...

Actually here is a list of rfa from February, not sure if it changed but the list is nuts.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-preview-list/c-299419564

Just think if Hynes stacks the PP with H-H-H-Palms-Smith
- Leniwm1

😍😍

Shero said when the time is right to spend $$ he'll do it. He heavily hinted this year is the year to do it. Add in Hall's comments and Shero's comments about lack of talent.

Throw in the UFA pool isnt the best, I think he's going big with EK65 or an offer sheet, trouba, marner...

Actually here is a list of rfa from February, not sure if it changed but the list is nuts.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-preview-list/c-299419564
- Leniwm1

I dont think its worth it to go for the big offer sheets and give up either two 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd, or straight up four 1sts. I can see him making a trade with the cap strapped teams that need to sign their big RFA's though and capitalizing on it that way.

I think a lot of the "bigger" named free agents will get way overpaid and get more money than they deserve, someone like Hayes or Duchene, and im hoping we stay away from that. I do agree that i feel he'll be going after EK65 if he hits the open market, and i think he'll try to maybe add a winger if the price is right, maybe a Skinner, Nyquist, or Eberle, or whoever, but not one of the bigger named guys.

It's not over yet hynes needs to make some signings, and trades, he can't rely on player development like last year.
- cu45161

For sure. There is quite a bit of work to do yet in making this any kind of playoff team. But before now, we never had much of a core. Players like Nico, Hall, Palmeiri, Hughes, Bratt, and hopefully Smith are players you can build around long term as they have many prime seasons ahead. Not a single one of them were pre Shero.

I feel, especially now, looking at it all in retrospect, (not like could have known we would get #1) Shero did very well with how things went with his lack of moves since this point and time last year to where we stand now. We made some trades for non long term pieces, got some picks, now we are sitting in a great spot with lots of chips coming into this draft. If Shero signed someone that actually made a difference it would have just ended in us picking 10th or something and may have not been very compatible long term.