I don’t understand how the Devils are this bad. Pre-season, I thought their ceiling was sky-high, and expected them to compete for a top six spot in the conference

I don’t watch them much - is it coaching?? Because it seems like all their big players are underachieving terribly (Nico, PK, Hughes, etc)

Still in a good spot overall. Draft high, overpay for a goalie, hope the young kids get back on track
- AxlRose91

I think its a blend of coaching, chemistry, team chemistry... I watch other teams play and they cover for one another by anticipating the play. Seems we are always late to the puck and stuff. Other teams play 'fast' on their feet, they move the puck quick. We dont. Stevens actually made a point of it, saying why do the players on the backend circle back and wait for the perfect pass. It needs to be out of the zone ASAP. Also, we need selfless players. Players that care about each other and the team. PK, Wayne, those guys dont give a poop because they are new and no loyalty to the devils.

The team is young. They need to grow with each other, trust each other and things will get better. You are seeing it with Zacha, Bratt, Nico and look at that, they all came on board roughly the same time.

On the bright side, Adam Larson got you 1 MVP season, 2 x #1 draft picks, 1 late first, 3 prospects, and a third (potentially but unlikely to be a first)

Shero better make the best possible coaching choice of his life because I don't see how his job doesn't depend on it. Enough already with the former Pens BS.
- devilspep

Should've traded Hall to the Isles for Trotz.

So again, it was Hall for a late 1st that will hopefully be earlier. The prospects are sad. It is what it is.

Yotes are dumb. You don't trade for Hall for a playoff run. You trade for him to win the lottery / #1 pick, which you can't do if you make the playoffs. Fools!

At least we got a return and it didn't turn to Parise 2.0. I'm hopeful Bahl pans out and we hit on the 1st rounder. Either way, I can't wait until Wednesday. We get back to Devils hockey and no more Hall saga.

Bigger picture: Hall left because he had no hopes of the Devils improving.

This is a massive failure on Shero’s part.

All our D are puck movers Needed someone with size and Bahl has it. Hes first pairing for JRs.

And a #1 .... We wont get two #1s as Hall will never sign with Arizona . so make it a #3 .
The other 2 players are throw ins to help BINGHAMTON who sucks also...


Wish we would have gotten more grit..... but I will take
A D PROSPECT with size and Grit...
A #1 ......


Gusev - Nico - Palmieri
Zacha - Hughes - Bratt
Coleman -Zajac - Boquist
Wood - Mcleod - Simmons

First off this is a rental deal. As rental deals go this is on the high side.

Second off this is Taylor Hall. There is literally a 50/50 chance at best that he will actually help the team he is in win games. He is the stereotypical one dimensional high risk/reward winger. When he isn't scoring like mad he hurts the team he is on.

If you think of Hall as a former MVP the return as a rental us slightly disappointing but still ok as you mentioned. If you think of Hall in any other way the deal just gets better and better.

OK is a pessimistic assessment. Without a crystal ball the Devils did good. A lot would have to go right for Arizona for this to be a great move for them. And depending on the picks prospects the Devils may have made out like bandits.

I could care less about his offensive game. We need someone to focus on what being a defenceman is. If is positioning is solid, I think he'll be top 4 for us.
- Leniwm1

You could? Well glad you have low expectations. I think we just picked up a Mark Fraser. And please no one say he was decent.. he was a fringe guy his whole career.

You could? Well glad you have low expectations. I think we just picked up a Mark Fraser. And please no one say he was decent.. he was a fringe guy his whole career.
- MartysBetter88

The key differences is Bahl can actually skate really well for his size, has good hands, and can efficiently move the puck out of the zone and up the ice. He addresses a big need in our system that we currently dont have, its just a matter of it he can make it and stick.

I know this is obvious, but Hall all but declaring he wouldn't be signing an extension regardless of where he was traded really diminished his trade value. Still, what I don't get is, what was the rush to trade him? There's no guarantee, but you'd figure if Shero waited until the deadline to deal Hall, then there might've been another team or two desperate enough to give up a little more to get Hall than what NJ got trading him in December. Why was it so important to trade him now? Is he that much of a headache in the locker room, or was Shero worried Hall would get hurt again before he could move him? It's not the return so much that surprises me as the timing of the move, and the seeming haste in which it was made.

You could? Well glad you have low expectations. I think we just picked up a Mark Fraser. And please no one say he was decent.. he was a fringe guy his whole career.
- MartysBetter88

You make it sound like having a steady crease clearing D is a bad thing? We have Butch, Ty and Sev for the O.

Also, Fraser didnt take poop from anyone. Our D takes poop from everyone.

I honestly like him as a player and hopefully he proves everyone wrong about his low ceiling, but like Todd said if we dont hit on the picks it could be looking rough.
- Devilish4

Ya the "lacking" offense despite great OHL numbers doesn't concern me. Vlassic/Seabrook/Chara, were all huge reasons to their teams success. They didn't need to put up big numbers, but snuff out the other teams talent, and stay home while their offensive D-partner chipped in on the other end of the rink. Lets face it, next season it looks like we have Severson/Butcher/Smith/P.K..... So we had better get a D just like Bahl to come and help out Blackwood. Personally, I only see benefit in having one offensively driven D per team, and we have 5. I would love to take a stab at Muzzin as well come UFA. I hate to say it, but Butcher has been a defensive nightmare, and just isn't developing as hoped. He may be a tradable asset. I know he chose this team to sign with, and I do appreciate it, but its a business and he can't be paired with Severson or P.K.

For team Canada, Smith is top pairing, Bahl is second pairing and Byram third pairing.
- Leniwm1

Smith and Bahl are both LD, but they'd seem like exactly the type of pairing you want. Smaller, faster point producer with a stay at home guy.

Kind of like Carrick and Mueller if that wasn't such a train wreck.

I know this is obvious, but Hall all but declaring he wouldn't be signing an extension regardless of where he was traded really diminished his trade value. Still, what I don't get is, what was the rush to trade him? There's no guarantee, but you'd figure if Shero waited until the deadline to deal Hall, then there might've been another team or two desperate enough to give up a little more to get Hall than what NJ got trading him in December. Why was it so important to trade him now? Is he that much of a headache in the locker room, or was Shero worried Hall would get hurt again before he could move him? It's not the return so much that surprises me as the timing of the move, and the seeming haste in which it was made.
- Squatchy

There is only a 3% chance of this, but imagine if the Dev's land the #1 pick again, and draft another 1st round prospect on top of that. Maybe Hall reconsiders a Dev's return.

Your first POST TAYLOR HALL fun facts of the day:

New NHL Goaltending backup Gilles Senn make 25% more salary then Starter McKenzie Blackwood. WHAT???

Combined the NJ Devils are sporting a Lilliputian $ 1,515,000 in total goaltender salaries on the active roster.

AHL backup Cory Schneider is making almost 4 times that amount...

There is only a 3% chance of this, but imagine if the Dev's land the #1 pick again, and draft another 1st round prospect on top of that. Maybe Hall reconsiders a Dev's return.
- bikeguy99

I think it's more likely Hall (or his agent) pushed along the idea that they weren't going to negotiate with NJ or anyone until Free Agency and suggested it was best for Ray Ray to get a trade going for everyone's benefit ASAP.

Your first POST TAYLOR HALL fun facts of the day:

New NHL Goaltending backup Gilles Senn make 25% more salary then Starter McKenzie Blackwood. WHAT???

Combined the NJ Devils are sporting a Lilliputian $ 1,515,000 in total goaltender salaries on the active roster.

AHL backup Cory Schneider is making almost 4 times that amount...
- Queenie_5_hole

Do we know how Jack is getting to the rink these days?

Do we know how Jack is getting to the rink these days?
- Leniwm1

Cory Schneider's wife is packing him a bag lunch and driving him.

She's very motherly.


https://www.bing.com/imag...ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6

I know this is obvious, but Hall all but declaring he wouldn't be signing an extension regardless of where he was traded really diminished his trade value. Still, what I don't get is, what was the rush to trade him? There's no guarantee, but you'd figure if Shero waited until the deadline to deal Hall, then there might've been another team or two desperate enough to give up a little more to get Hall than what NJ got trading him in December. Why was it so important to trade him now? Is he that much of a headache in the locker room, or was Shero worried Hall would get hurt again before he could move him? It's not the return so much that surprises me as the timing of the move, and the seeming haste in which it was made.
- Squatchy

Why not he’s not exactly having a mvp kind of season. Trade him early maximize your assets and move on. The team is obviously not working and ray gets to see more of what he has without hall. The season is lost and let’s guys see if they can take the spot or fill it with hopefully Lafreniere.

Kovy to NJ (e4)

Do we know how Jack is getting to the rink these days?
- Leniwm1

I'm sure the team can afford a car service.

Not sure I am buying much of what Ray is selling from this press conference...

On the bright side, Adam Larson got you 1 MVP season, 2 x #1 draft picks, 1 late first, 3 prospects, and a third (potentially but unlikely to be a first)
- James_Tanner

Agree James, some fans just aren't seeing that, they think this is NHL 20 here and trade difficulty is set at easy. I feel Arizona actually paid a little more then expected but I feel they had to do it because they have a good team but sorely need scoring.