EK saying Habs may look to Vats .. gimme Caufield and we can talk
- MartysBetter88

Look, I know we got Kuokkanen for free in that trade last year but don't be greedy and take anything we can get okay.

An actual Nico update:

He underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair the frontal sinus fracture. Hes expected to return in approximately 3 weeks

An actual Nico update:

He underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair the frontal sinus fracture. Hes expected to return in approximately 3 weeks
- vlongo4419

so we'll get about a month of productive hockey from him. Nico's injuries couldn't have come at a better time. It's a shortened compressed season, so less painful than a full season. We weren't a good team anyway, even with him.. so without him we get an even better pick. Some great dmen in the draft.. which we need. It is what it is. The only downside is his absence may have contributed to a weak trade return for Palmieri/Gusev..

Why are the sabres dominating after playing last night losing 6-0

With no eichel and hall going down

Why are the sabres dominating after playing last night losing 6-0

With no eichel and hall going down
- dmarsden2988

I think it might have something to do with Ruff not being a good defensive coach which was the criticism of the hire before the season.

.. I didn’t used to really like green.. but she can do no wrong.

.. I didn’t used to really like green.. but she can do no wrong.
- MartysBetter88

Happy St Patrick's Day! Not her best dress, but great color!

.. I didn’t used to really like green.. but she can do no wrong.
- MartysBetter88

Reds her color

Reds her color
- RubberBiscuitz

Every color is her color.

We beat the tire fire that is Buffalo. We got their coach fired. None of which makes me any more optimistic. The trade deadline and the draft.....

Every color is her color.
- MartysBetter88

Is nude still considered a color?

EK saying Habs may look to Vats .. gimme Caufield and we can talk
- MartysBetter88

I’m mean yeah I’d be all for that but no way habs do that

Is nude still considered a color?
- Crushers68

Yes you racist

Kyle Dubas said he's looking to make a trade asap because of the canadian quarantine. Said hes willing to move a top prospect for a forward and would prefer it to be a rental over a hockey deal. Let's hope Fitz is all over this. Palmieri for say, a Sandin or Liljegren?
- vlongo4419

Yes please! Tho I wouldn't mind targeting that Russian they drafted in the 1st rd of this past draft.

With Smith looking great, Walsh and Bahl playing great in Bing, and Shak hopefully returns to form when he recovers from his injury, we already have a solid prospect base on the backend.

I am surprised that things have been so quiet around Murray. I know his numbers are not good, but his play has been rock-solid. I attribute the bulk of Subbans improvements to having him as a pairing. Nobody will take P.K. even 50% retained, but Murray is very underrated as a PK specialist, skater, and shutdown D. He is a +3 who mostly gets defensive zone starts and the toughest matchups. If he isn't traded, he should be re-signed at a reduced AAV

so we'll get about a month of productive hockey from him. Nico's injuries couldn't have come at a better time. It's a shortened compressed season, so less painful than a full season. We weren't a good team anyway, even with him.. so without him we get an even better pick. Some great dmen in the draft.. which we need. It is what it is. The only downside is his absence may have contributed to a weak trade return for Palmieri/Gusev..
- MartysBetter88

Exactly. Sucks for Nico, but this will only help lottery wise. Now lets start selling and playing our guys based on work ethic and results. Gusev/Palms can sit on the shelf during trade negoations. My work ethic based lineup:

Kuok Sharangovich Maltsev
Zacha Hughes Bratt
Wood McLeod Merkley
Johnson Zajac Bastian

A 22M offensive lineup, and hard to argue that the top 6, combining at just 8.5M is not playing our best hockey at the moment. Might as well see what they can do down the stretch while we sell off some vets who clearly have not been earning their paychecks this season.

Yes please! Tho I wouldn't mind targeting that Russian they drafted in the 1st rd of this past draft.

With Smith looking great, Walsh and Bahl playing great in Bing, and Shak hopefully returns to form when he recovers from his injury, we already have a solid prospect base on the backend.

I am surprised that things have been so quiet around Murray. I know his numbers are not good, but his play has been rock-solid. I attribute the bulk of Subbans improvements to having him as a pairing. Nobody will take P.K. even 50% retained, but Murray is very underrated as a PK specialist, skater, and shutdown D. He is a +3 who mostly gets defensive zone starts and the toughest matchups. If he isn't traded, he should be re-signed at a reduced AAV
- bikeguy99

Bahl has been far from great in Bing. In fact, he's been quite bad, he's easily been the worst of the 4 rookie D down there. Walsh has been good offensively and on the PP but still needs a lot of work defensively. We have OK prospects on the back end, outside of Smith and potentially Shak nobody has top pairing upside, and you can even argue nobody else even has top 4 upside. If we can get a B+ or better defense prospect for Palms we better be taking it and running

Bahl has been far from great in Bing. In fact, he's been quite bad, he's easily been the worst of the 4 rookie D down there. Walsh has been good offensively and on the PP but still needs a lot of work defensively. We have OK prospects on the back end, outside of Smith and potentially Shak nobody has top pairing upside, and you can even argue nobody else even has top 4 upside. If we can get a B+ or better defense prospect for Palms we better be taking it and running
- vlongo4419

It’s only 10 games. He’s got to learn how to play in the AHL. Don’t give up on him.

It’s only 10 games. He’s got to learn how to play in the AHL. Don’t give up on him.
- Queenie_5_hole

Im not giving up on him, i was just never high on him in the first place. Most people knew he'd struggle adapting to pro play, and that's been the case, he's looked very out of place so far. He will likely need atleast another 2 years in the AHL. I still think he can be a fine 3rd pairing D, and im hoping he can turn into a good PKer but he has a ways to go

Bahl has been far from great in Bing. In fact, he's been quite bad, he's easily been the worst of the 4 rookie D down there. Walsh has been good offensively and on the PP but still needs a lot of work defensively. We have OK prospects on the back end, outside of Smith and potentially Shak nobody has top pairing upside, and you can even argue nobody else even has top 4 upside. If we can get a B+ or better defense prospect for Palms we better be taking it and running - vlongo4419

Preach

Can we get someone to consistently write on the Devils. Same post up for days unend

Look, I know we got Kuokkanen for free in that trade last year but don't be greedy and take anything we can get okay.
- Pomegrant

Yes! And to further that, Vats was our top D for the bulk of the past 4-5 seasons. In a sense, even if we only get a 3rd, we owe him a shot at a cup run. It benefits us both, and Janne really does look like a top 6 player who is only getting better.

We also got our Nico Daws pick in that trade. Top ranked north american tendy in the draft. Could be another potential stud in the system. With Henrique being a buyout candidate, I'd say we made out like bandits on that one, despite Vats recent slump.

Bahl has been far from great in Bing. In fact, he's been quite bad, he's easily been the worst of the 4 rookie D down there. Walsh has been good offensively and on the PP but still needs a lot of work defensively. We have OK prospects on the back end, outside of Smith and potentially Shak nobody has top pairing upside, and you can even argue nobody else even has top 4 upside. If we can get a B+ or better defense prospect for Palms we better be taking it and running
- vlongo4419

I didn't think Bahl was struggling as bad as your saying, but agree that it is too soon to call him a top 4 NHL D in the making. Walsh is not disappointing tho. NCAA schedule is very lax compared to the AHL, and he hit the ground running. Any defensive issues can be addressed, and he seems to have the tools and hockey IQ to adjust just fine. I do think he needs to stay in the AHL for the remainder of the season, and potentially next year to continue his growth.

Regardless, any trade that brings back one of Toronto's D prospects (especially Sandin), should be considered. I was surprised we couldn't throw our hat in the ring for that Lehtonen guy who was 1ppg in the KHL. Wedgewood is a better goalie then the guy they acquired, and I could care less about our depth in goal as we close out the season. Let Dell help the tank instead.

It'll be interesting to see what this team does in the offseason. They really need a 60+ point caliber winger on Jacks wing, im done having him play with players who cant handle his skill and i don't want to sit through another season of this. With Palms falloff we have ZERO top 6 wingers on this roster right now, and im not throwing a rookie like Holtz or Foote to the wolves and putting them immediately on the top line with him next season. No reason to put that pressure on them. A move needs to be made to bring in a true top 6 winger for Jack, i honestly don't care what it costs at this point

It'll be interesting to see what this team does in the offseason. They really need a 60+ point caliber winger on Jacks wing, im done having him play with players who cant handle his skill and i don't want to sit through another season of this. With Palms falloff we have ZERO top 6 wingers on this roster right now, and im not throwing a rookie like Holtz or Foote to the wolves and putting them immediately on the top line with him next season. No reason to put that pressure on them. A move needs to be made to bring in a true top 6 winger for Jack, i honestly don't care what it costs at this point
- vlongo4419

Amen to that. When Laine holds out in Columbus, swoop in.

I think we all do but, I think it is more mental masturbation than anything. Look at Nico. Solid player. Great guy. However in three seasons he was nowhere near a PPG player. Even the year Hall was practically walking on water he was averaging .63 points per game. (It flushes out if you look at his total games played, 214, and his total points, 138. Comes out to .64 ppg) He is young, sure, but not that young. If he was going to be a bonafide, all-star center, he would be producing a much higher clip, even on a poor team. I think Nico will top out as a decent 2nd pairing centerman, on a competing team.

Jack, it is too early to tell. Kid has flashes of brilliance followed by a half-dozen piss poor puck decisions, blind passes that get picked off, virtually no shot to speak of, and no less than 2 blatant turn-overs per shift. He is super young, so I won't write him off but, I'm definitely not sold on him being a super start #1 center. If he wasn't the first overall pick, I'm not even sure he is in the NHL, again, on a competing team. We have no options so, here he is.

Call me pessimistic but the body of work I've seen, has me leaning more towards the negative. They may both be good players, but as first overall picks of their respective drafts, I get a feeling we're going to be sorely disappointed.
- WayneZ

I think you need to temper your expectations....

There are currently only 6 players that average over 1 PPG over their careers, 12 players that average over .9 PPG, 22 over .8 PPG, and 34 over .7 PPG

There types of players don't grow on trees and goal tending is by far the most improved position over the last 30 years which means scoring will be down.

You need to relax and enjoy the fact that we have 2 young centers that have very high ceilings. The issue is there is no one around them to score and there are some promising prospects in the system. Building a team to be competitive for a long period of time is no easy task.

Be happy that the devils have won 3 cups! Yes, 10 years of being a bottom dwelling team sucks but its better than being Buffalo, EDM, ARI, etc