All three of those players you mentioned are better than MDC and Johnston in the top six. The only teams better than the isles in the East are the caps and bruins. Time to step up is now. Improve this team and make a run. You don’t have to sell the farm. Make a smart hockey trade and let’s go.

Senators were out of playoff contention before the season started😂

How about another Ranger castoff Duclair? 🤮
- Cptmjl

Oh yeah, they were out before game one


As Chiefs said, he has started to find his game up there.

All three of those players you mentioned are better than MDC and Johnston in the top six. The only teams better than the isles in the East are the caps and bruins. Time to step up is now. Improve this team and make a run. You don’t have to sell the farm. Make a smart hockey trade and let’s go.
- Dan Petriw

In all seriousness, it is time to take a shot

I’m good with A rental, but not that. If that’s a rental, that’s a terrible trade for Arizona, just awful.....no rental is worth all of that, no matter how good he is. When you make a trade like that, you have to win. HAVE TO. I’m not trading our equivalent of that (say Wilde, Koivula, Bellows and potentially 2 first round picks) for anything.

All three of those players you mentioned are better than MDC and Johnston in the top six. The only teams better than the isles in the East are the caps and bruins. Time to step up is now. Improve this team and make a run. You don’t have to sell the farm. Make a smart hockey trade and let’s go.
- Dan Petriw

I agree Dan. Lou has to get creative and make some moves.

I’m good with A rental, but not that. If that’s a rental, that’s a terrible trade for Arizona, just awful.....no rental is worth all of that, no matter how good he is. When you make a trade like that, you have to win. HAVE TO. I’m not trading our equivalent of that (say Wilde, Koivula, Bellows and potentially 2 first round picks) for anything.


- dcb1

How can you win if you don’t make the deal and try?

Athletic breakdown of the prospects the Devils got. Pretty unspectacular, but I think it's becoming clear that the market is in an ongoing adjustment where GM's are starting to value their first rounders and top prospects more and more. Even higher-end rentals aren't going to go for as much as they may have in the past.

The key to this package is the 2020 first-rounder. Devils fans should be openly rooting against the Coyotes because it provides the most hope for an elite player. Even though it’s protected outside the top three, if it’s a top 10 pick that changes the equation here. But if Arizona continues to play well and it drops well into the 20s, that lowers the appeal.

“I don’t think there’s much difference in this draft between 20 and 40,” said one talent evaluator on Monday.

The Coyotes were able to add a star without touching their most prized prospects – Barrett Hayton and Victor Soderstrom. One source also pointed out that none of the prospects in this deal were drafted since Lindsay Hofford was named director of scouting in Arizona, so they’re from a previous regime.

Of the three prospects, the Devils are most excited about defenseman Kevin Bahl, who is currently playing for the Ottawa 67’s. They love his size (he’s 6-foot-7) and his mobility. He appears to be a legit NHL prospect, the debate is more about his ceiling.

“I appreciate the way he plays,” said an amateur scout on Monday. “He’s very simple. He’s not going to wow you. There’s a connection there with (New Jersey) and Ottawa. They’ve drafted quite a few kids with Ottawa. He’s going to be a PK guy, physical. But puck skills and being able to make high end plays – that’s not him.”

This scout saw him as a good skating, hard playing, shut down defensive defenseman. A nice piece but not top pair.

Schnarr is a third-round pick from 2017 who is in his first AHL season.

“Two-way center. I don’t see him more than possible third or fourth line upside,” said an amateur scout. “Borderline AHL call-up.”

Merkley is a first-round pick from 2015 but still hasn’t made his impact at the NHL level in part because of injury issues. He has a completely torn ACL on his record along with a history of shoulder injuries.

He’s a player loved by teammates.

“When (the Coyotes) drafted Merkley, I think their projection was a little bit higher,” said an amateur scout. “He’s got lots of character. He’s a rink rat. It’s his skating. I’m a little bit concerned what he’s going to be able to do at the NHL level because of it.”
- eichiefs9

Of course, six or seven years ago, they would have told you Pelech, Mayfield and our captain couldn’t skate well enough to take a regular NHL shift, so....if the Devils get three or four solid players out of that, and Hall signs with Calgary in July, after not winning anything in Arizona...it’s a large risk...

Of course, six or seven years ago, they would have told you Pelech, Mayfield and our captain couldn’t skate well enough to take a regular NHL shift, so....if the Devils get three or four solid players out of that, and Hall signs with Calgary in July, after not winning anything in Arizona...it’s a large risk...
- dcb1

Gotta take risks to win Garth

How can you win if you don’t make the deal and try?
- nyisles7

Not THAT deal. Not for a rental. That’s insane.

Gotta take risks to win Garth
- nyisles7

Hey, I’ll trade our first round pick straight up, no problem. We should be able to get something for that....

Hey, I’ll trade our first round pick straight up, no problem. We should be able to get something for that....
- dcb1

You’re not getting a Hart trophy winning, legit top line player, for a first alone. Break it down to;

Most likely 20 -25 first
Two prospects that suck and will most likely never make the NHL
3rd rd pick
One ok prospect that if the game stays the way it is may at best be a top 4 most likely bottom 6 defender that’s if he makes the NHL.

They’re most likely not resigning him and I have a feeling they won’t make the 2nd round. Maybe I’m wrong who knows they make it to the 2nd round and that 3rd becomes a 2nd.

That to me is pretty underwhelming. Yotes win this trade but I don’t think it was the right time to do it for that team. I think it is the right time for us. I do that trade for any prospect not named Wahlstrom or Dobson. The equivalent is not even Bellows and Aho they’re better than what the Devils gave up. Pretty much any legit prospect we have in the bridge is better than these kids. Just my opinion.

Of course, six or seven years ago, they would have told you Pelech, Mayfield and our captain couldn’t skate well enough to take a regular NHL shift, so....if the Devils get three or four solid players out of that, and Hall signs with Calgary in July, after not winning anything in Arizona...it’s a large risk...
- dcb1

That’s a reach. I think you need to read up on those prospects.

Not THAT deal. Not for a rental. That’s insane.
- dcb1

It’s not a good return for the devils. At all

It’s not a good return for the devils. At all
- Dan Petriw

Meh.
If the Yotes bomb the second half and the first is top 10 ( unlikely) then the Devils could get a nice top prospect with the 1st. If they stay where they are it’s a crap shoot. Bahl is the the prospect that will be in the NHL. Probs a solid d first, non flashy, 2nd pair. Big body with a nice span and good stick. So there’s some value there. Better than zero.

Obviously the Yotes didn’t get the warm and fuzzy Hall was resigning which I think most teams realized.

Meh.
If the Yotes bomb the second half and the first is top 10 ( unlikely) then the Devils could get a nice top prospect with the 1st. If they stay where they are it’s a crap shoot. Bahl is the the prospect that will be in the NHL. Probs a solid d first, non flashy, 2nd pair. Big body with a nice span and good stick. So there’s some value there. Better than zero.

Obviously the Yotes didn’t get the warm and fuzzy Hall was resigning which I think most teams realized.
- nyisles7

That seems to be a bit of a reach. He’s a big, defense first kind of player. I haven’t read anything saying he’s a bonafide nhl player let alone a first pairing defenseman. I’m not going to make pretend I know crap about the kid besides what I’ve just read but he’s a decent not great prospect from what I got. I doubt the Yotes bomb they’re more a middling first round exit club imo.

With all of that said who knows maybe Bahl becomes the next chara but I assume Chayka has a better idea of his capabilities than any of us...

Ben Shelley: Islanders should steer clear of deadline rentals
- Ben Shelley

Wrong, you should totally give NJ a bunch of picks for Simmonds.

That seems to be a bit of a reach. He’s a big, defense first kind of player. I haven’t read anything saying he’s a bonafide nhl player let alone a first pairing defenseman.
- Cptmjl

No I said D first, 2nd pair guy.

Wrong, you should totally give NJ a bunch of picks for Simmonds.
- smellmyfinger

Amazing what you can do with Simmonds and a little crisco

No I said D first 2nd pair guy.
- nyisles7

Ok gotcha. Misunderstood your post. That seems to be what most describe as his ceiling which he may or may not ever reach. I’m not going to make pretend I know crap about the kid besides what I’ve read today😂

No I said D first 2nd pair guy.
- nyisles7

The Devils are developing him now, he will now be a 6/7th Dman who can kill penalties.

Ok gotcha. Misunderstood your post. That seems to be what most describe as his ceiling which he may or may not ever reach. I’m not going to make pretend I know crap about the kid besides what I’ve read today😂
- Cptmjl

same. But everything I read said he is big and skates well. The skates well part is important obviously. Especially for a big body.

Just one thing I read.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...aft-prospects/c-298534100

The Devils are developing him now, he will now be a 6/7th Dman who can kill penalties.
- smellmyfinger

😂

I still think the Devils get at least two solid players out of that, maybe as many as four, if they draft well and luck out. Actually though, IDGAF about either of the teams in question. I’m looking at the team we root for.

The reality is this 22-7-2 team simply CANNOT fit what Taylor Hall is going to make next year under their cap, which means it’s a straight up rental. I’m just not giving up all of that potential for a rental. Also, and I don’t put too much stock into this kind of stuff, but if it turns out the rumblings about him not being the greatest teammate in the world are true, all that talent may not help with the winning.

This team has two specific needs: a sniper on the power play, and a 3rd line center. 5 on 5, I think simply getting that center leaves Brassard to the wing, which should add to the offense right now. I think we should be able to get that player for the pick, and possibly a second tier prospect like Koivula or Dal Colle.

As for the pure goal scorer, that might have to wait until FA after the season, but then again, we may be able to get someone who can score, but who hasn’t been doing much because of the situation he’s in. I’d be willing to trade a better prospect like Wilde along with the pick (and maybe a conditional pick) to take a flyer on a Toffoli, for example, especially given the pick will likely be near the bottom of the first round.

I just think that once you start moving out 5 assets for a guaranteed rental, it becomes a real gamble. I also think that a team with 46 points in its first 31 games doesn’t want to screw up the locker room too much.

I still think the Devils get at least two solid players out of that, maybe as many as four, if they draft well and luck out. Actually though, IDGAF about either of the teams in question. I’m looking at the team we root for.

The reality is this 22-7-2 team simply CANNOT fit what Taylor Hall is going to make next year under their cap, which means it’s a straight up rental. I’m just not giving up all of that potential for a rental. Also, and I don’t put too much stock into this kind of stuff, but if it turns out the rumblings about him not being the greatest teammate in the world are true, all that talent may not help with the winning.

This team has two specific needs: a sniper on the power play, and a 3rd line center. 5 on 5, I think simply getting that center leaves Brassard to the wing, which should add to the offense right now. I think we should be able to get that player for the pick, and possibly a second tier prospect like Koivula or Dal Colle.

As for the pure goal scorer, that might have to wait until FA after the season, but then again, we may be able to get someone who can score, but who hasn’t been doing much because of the situation he’s in. I’d be willing to trade a better prospect like Wilde along with the pick (and maybe a conditional pick) to take a flyer on a Toffoli, for example, especially given the pick will likely be near the bottom of the first round.

I just think that once you start moving out 5 assets for a guaranteed rental, it becomes a real gamble. I also think that a team with 46 points in its first 31 games doesn’t want to screw up the locker room too much.
- dcb1

You’re literally giving up more than what the Devils got back for a far worse player in Toffoli than Hall unless you’re hung up on a 3rd round pick and two kids that’ll never make the NHL most likely. By all accounts Wilde is a better prospect then Bahl from what I can gather at least with huge offensive upside and Toffoli is a reclamation project at this point where as Hall is a legit top line winger. Good thing with this trade is it may impact Pageau’s trade value a bit. Just my two cents.

You’re literally giving up more than what the Devils got back for a far worse player in Toffoli than Hall unless you’re hung up on a 3rd round pick and two kids that’ll never make the NHL most likely. By all accounts Wilde is a better prospect then Bahl from what I can gather at least with huge offensive upside and Toffoli is a reclamation project at this point where as Hall is a legit top line winger.
- Cptmjl

Again, we’re talking about 2 assets instead of 5. Tell me which scouts 7 years ago thought Pelech, Mayfield or Anders Lee were going to be solid NHL Players. If you’re not talking players the level of a Dobson or a Wahlstrom, it’s difficult to tell whether any of them are going to take a regular shift.

I happen to think he’s solid at both ends of the ice, but Toffoli is just a name I threw out there- put anyone you like there in the spot. If I can get someone decent for one or two assets, I’m fine with it, especially if it’s someone I have a REALISTIC chance of signing, as opposed to the guy who’s going to be the king of the hill on July 1st, and knows it. I still think the Devils did OK here.