A problem like you think he's not prepared to coach in this league or a problem like maybe that ship has sailed?
- Queenie_5_hole

Just a guess, but I think you guys will look at Mike Vellucci in the offseason. He's our HC and GM of the Wilkes Pens. Strangely he made a lateral move from Carolina's AHL team after winning the Calder. There was speculation Sullivan might have been on the hot seat if they had another rough season. Obviously Sullivan isn't going anywhere now.

Ex stars coming back to their former teams seems like a terrible idea unless they're willing to go through the grind of coaching at the lower ranks.

As Todd said, Ray did a great job tearing the team down but really struggled to build it back up. Hindsight is 20/20 but looking back the only move that has really been positive to me from start to finish is the Vatanen trade. How it ended with Hall was really tough to see, each one of his drafts is looking worse by the year, and signings/trades he made just have not panned out even if they sounded smart at the time.

At the end of the day, in four of his five years in charge, they were a bottom three team, and borderline embarrassing. The last season they barely made it to the playoffs, and got railroaded in five games. Circumstances matter of course, but that kind of performance record gets you fired, particularly if you are at odds with your boss, as it appears he was.

Just a guess, but I think you guys will look at Mike Vellucci in the offseason. He's our HC and GM of the Wilkes Pens. Strangely he made a lateral move from Carolina's AHL team after winning the Calder. There was speculation Sullivan might have been on the hot seat if they had another rough season. Obviously Sullivan isn't going anywhere now.

Ex stars coming back to their former teams seems like a terrible idea unless they're willing to go through the grind of coaching at the lower ranks.
- madmike71

He's probably a good candidate but so help me god if we get another player/coach from the W-B Pens

His drafting hasn't been perfect but it wasn't that bad. Besides Hirschier and Hughes, you have Ty Smith, Jesper Boquist, Blackwood and Jesper Bratt. 6 good and projected to be good players in 5 years of work. We wish we had that sort of drafting success under Lou. We could've avoided a rebuild.

Also Zacha, Bastian, McLeod, Seney and Anderson are all decent or potentially good enough to be bottom 6 NHL players. Reilly Walsh has potential. My point is it's been much better the last 5 years drafting then the previous 15 years combined I feel like.

Also Zacha, Bastian, McLeod, Seney and Anderson are all decent or potentially good enough to be bottom 6 NHL players. Reilly Walsh has potential. My point is it's been much better the last 5 years drafting then the previous 15 years combined I feel like.
- devilspep

the people who complain about Shero's drafting just don't understand what development through drafting actually is, because we haven't done that for so long. They just see other teams draft a guy in the 1st round and that they play well when that isn't the norm.

His drafting hasn't been perfect but it wasn't that bad. Besides Hirschier and Hughes, you have Ty Smith, Jesper Boquist, Blackwood and Jesper Bratt. 6 good and projected to be good players in 5 years of work. We wish we had that sort of drafting success under Lou. We could've avoided a rebuild.
- devilspep

Or parise and kovalchuk could have stayed. Rumors were suter and parise we’re going to sign to the same team wether it was Minnesota or New Jersey. They probably could have gone back to the cup with that.

the people who complain about Shero's drafting just don't understand what development through drafting actually is, because we haven't done that for so long. They just see other teams draft a guy in the 1st round and that they play well when that isn't the norm.
- Pomegrant

I have read a few articles now from professionals saying the drafting hasnt been great under Shero so you can scream this till the cows come home but this is a disappointing pool for the 4 and a half years he had to stockpile high end prospects.

I also believe that rebuilding today is completely different then it was in the 80s when rookies where practically 25 and the age of the league is dropping and its becoming a younger mans game so I hope we wouldnt be trying to rebuild today the same way they managed to in the 80s its a completely different game today and its like you say you arent used to it because we didnt need to for over 20 years.

Also Zacha, Bastian, McLeod, Seney and Anderson are all decent or potentially good enough to be bottom 6 NHL players. Reilly Walsh has potential. My point is it's been much better the last 5 years drafting then the previous 15 years combined I feel like.
- devilspep

On what planet is “we had the 5th and 12th overall picks, and they MAYBE will be competent bottom six players” acceptable?

I have read a few articles now from professionals saying the drafting hasnt been great under Shero so you can scream this till the cows come home but this is a disappointing pool for the 4 and a half years he had to stockpile high end prospects.

I also believe that rebuilding today is completely different then it was in the 80s when rookies where practically 25 and the age of the league is dropping and its becoming a younger mans game so I hope we wouldnt be trying to rebuild today the same way they managed to in the 80s its a completely different game today and its like you say you arent used to it because we didnt need to for over 20 years.
- Devilish4

All of the people complaining about the draft only say that they should have just magically have more talent on the team already, with multiple players drafted during Shero's time on the roster.

On what planet is “we had the 5th and 12th overall picks, and they MAYBE will be competent bottom six players” acceptable?
- Za Warudo

On a planet where reality is 5th to 12th overall picks are never 100 percent guaranteed to be NHL players at all.

On a planet where reality is 5th to 12th overall picks are never 100 percent guaranteed to be NHL players at all.
- devilspep

Also, getting a roster player from a draft pick is a success. I'm not sure what the hate is there. Zacha was drafted by Lou, and McLeod still has a chance to become something. And we think Smith certainly looks like top end talent. So Shero "botched" one 1st on McLeod, alright.

On a planet where reality is 5th to 12th overall picks are never 100 percent guaranteed to be NHL players at all.
- devilspep

And the GMs who draft players that high who don’t make the NHL get fired! Like Shero was!

You should be happy, your team will be less of a dumpster fire now.

you should've seen her in person. an angel sent from heaven to make our broadcasts enjoyable.

And the GMs who draft players that high who don’t make the NHL get fired! Like Shero was!

You should be happy, your team will be less of a dumpster fire now.
- Za Warudo

But they did make the NHL...

But they did make the NHL...
- devilspep

He's a Pens fan, he can't help it.

Also, getting a roster player from a draft pick is a success. I'm not sure what the hate is there. Zacha was drafted by Lou, and McLeod still has a chance to become something. And we think Smith certainly looks like top end talent. So Shero "botched" one 1st on McLeod, alright.
- Pomegrant

Looking back at that time our best prospect was John Quinnville. The defense had young guys playing like Larsson, Merrill who were thought to be something obviously things change. Ray said at the time they wanted to get more forwards in the pipeline (drafting Zacha, MM and going heavy forwards early in pretty much every draft).

Starting to see more and more think pieces about Hall being traded out of Arizona. Where there's smoke...

Guess that 3rd will stay a 3rd

Also, getting a roster player from a draft pick is a success. I'm not sure what the hate is there. Zacha was drafted by Lou, and McLeod still has a chance to become something. And we think Smith certainly looks like top end talent. So Shero "botched" one 1st on McLeod, alright.
- Pomegrant

Shero took McLeod and traded with Ottawa one spot (Logan Brown) for an extra pick. That extra pick was Brandon Gignac who is a pretty good player and doing very well in the AHL.

I wanted NJ to take Logan Brown because he was rated well and is huge; but this hasn't played itself out yet. I don't think it was a horrible move.

Nico replacing Palms in the All-Star game, Palms still out with the foot injury

Nico replacing Palms in the All-Star game, Palms still out with the foot injury
- vlongo4419

I know palms earned it as point leader so far but Nico is the best player on the team right now so very happy to see him go despite the circumstances!

Nico replacing Palms in the All-Star game, Palms still out with the foot injury
- vlongo4419

Good for Nico but sucks for Palms especially since that means he misses the next 3 games

The nhl network has a little 3 minute video with EJ Hradek and Stue Grimson ( although he doesnt say much ) listing what the Devils have and dont have. Obviously this is their opinions and I do disagree with some of his thoughts but a lot of it does seem true from my point of view.

So for what we have he has :
Elite young players
Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier

Promising D prospects:
Ty Smith and Kevin Bahl ( didnt mention Walsh I would consider him in that group but maybe he isnt seen that way league wide? )

Valuable vets:
Kyle Palmieri and Blake Coleman ( left of Gusev which I disagree with )

And finally lists 2 first round picks in this draft and cap space

What he put for what we dont have is :
Starting goaltending and depth ( I disagree as I think Blackwood has proven as much as Hart but depth isnt there for sure)
Significant prospect pool
Top pair dman
Additional top 6 wingers ( i disagree because I count Gusev ) he didnt mention scoring for this though and maybe thays why he didnt mention goose as hes more of a passer.
Depth throughout the organization
Real general manger and coach

He also said we are a very thin organization.
Not sure where the have the video online as I watch them on my gamecentre app.

Shero took McLeod and traded with Ottawa one spot (Logan Brown) for an extra pick. That extra pick was Brandon Gignac who is a pretty good player and doing very well in the AHL.

I wanted NJ to take Logan Brown because he was rated well and is huge; but this hasn't played itself out yet. I don't think it was a horrible move.
- Queenie_5_hole

Everyone on here wanted brown, I just didn’t understand why.

Shero took McLeod and traded with Ottawa one spot (Logan Brown) for an extra pick. That extra pick was Brandon Gignac who is a pretty good player and doing very well in the AHL.

I wanted NJ to take Logan Brown because he was rated well and is huge; but this hasn't played itself out yet. I don't think it was a horrible move.
- Queenie_5_hole

I'm not going to pretend I know anything about prospects, because I don't. But Getting two solid prospects instead of one seems like good math to me.