Until we focus on improving this defense not just skirting around the subject and if Blackwood keep proving he can't let up less than 5 goals a game...this team will be stuck in the basement.

Just filled my gas tank. I am willing to drive the entire defense (minus Ty Smith) as far away from the Rock as possible. Every team knows “stand in front of the net they won’t touch you”. Dump the puck in and punish them in their own end. There won’t be a response. My god put your big boy pants on!!! This is disgraceful.

He's apparently hurt. Skated off the ice gingerly after the faceoff
- vlongo4419

Ruff doesnt have an update on Zacha but says him not finishing the game is "not promising"

Did Fitz play his hand too early or did Dubas just overpay? Ill go with the later. Lets see what Hall gets, because there's still rumors that he won't get a 1st.
...
Im glad we somehow got a 1st, because Palms isnt worth one
- vlongo4419

What happens with Hall remains to be seen, but if Foligno gets a first and a fourth, savard gets a first and a third, and Ek is claiming ekholm would go for a first (which, yeah, I know, it’s ek. Who knows), why is a top 6 forward who regularly puts up 20-30 goals when not surrounded by undeveloped kids not worth a first? Especially when you throw in a somewhat strong two way player in zajac? And retain half of both salaries to boot. And take back two guys with zero value.

Idk if there was any better possible outcome, idk if waiting longer would have increased or decreased the return. I’m not saying fitz screwed this up. I’m just confused and a bit frustrated because it seems to me that the value the Devils got for their biggest trade chip was not commensurate with what other teams are getting for not-outstanding talent.

What happens with Hall remains to be seen, but if Foligno gets a first and a fourth, savard gets a first and a third, and Ek is claiming ekholm would go for a first (which, yeah, I know, it’s ek. Who knows), why is a top 6 forward who regularly puts up 20-30 goals when not surrounded by undeveloped kids not worth a first? Especially when you throw in a somewhat strong two way player in zajac? And retain half of both salaries to boot. And take back two guys with zero value.

Idk if there was any better possible outcome, idk if waiting longer would have increased or decreased the return. I’m not saying fitz screwed this up. I’m just confused and a bit frustrated because it seems to me that the value the Devils got for their biggest trade chip was not commensurate with what other teams are getting for not-outstanding talent.
- Sashamook

Why is Ekholm even being brought into the discussion? Hes not a rental and is a bonafide top 4 D, so obviously hes getting a 1st. Also, the rental D market =/= rental forward market so Savard is irrelevant as well.

Foligno gets a 1st and 4th because a soft Leafs team values his playoff-type style and the grit he adds to a lineup. He was just made for the playoffs and he's a decent middle 6 player so Dubas overpaid for what he brings to a lineup that has zero of his type. Zajac had a full no move and it was pretty obvious he was only going to waive to the isles, so there's zero leverage there for Fitz. Palms is a fine player, hes more of a middle 6 guy over a top 6 player, but was having a down year compared to the standards we hold him to. It was reported Fitz wanted a 1st for Palms but nobody was willing to give that up for him. Its certainly possible teams around the league just don't think as highly of him as we do, and lets be honest, we over-value our players. It was reported that Palms alone was not getting a 1st, from anybody, and Zajac being thrown in was why Lou gave up the 1st. In the end, we got a 1st for our best rental. I dont see the reason to complain here.

It was even reported by LeBrun that he fully believes if the Devils waited to closer to the deadline to move Palms, they don't get more than a 2nd. I fully expected a 2nd and a low end B prospect as the return, so im thrilled to have gotten a 1st, even with Zajac as a throw in. Now Hall should get more of a return than we got, but imagine if the Sabres dont get a 1st? I still believe Palms is worth a 1st so I'll take that for sure 1st when given the opportunity over gambling and trying to squeeze more out of it. Fitz did fine, it was fair value all things considered

Tomorrow is finally the day.

anyways, Saad, Granlund, Hopkins, Schwartz, Hoffman, Iafallo, Goodrow, Lowry.. could be nice adds up front.

.. maybe bring back Coleman as well?? Give us some true grit again.. eh, they'll probably ride with Bastian for that.

do we look at an Edler, or Hamonic, or.. Larsson.. Jamie Oleksiak 6'7 255lbs lol

We need the perfect pieces to help this young group, without creating a logjam or making the kids feel less empowered by some big names coming in.

I like what I'm seeing from Sharangovich in his rookie season. Maybe keep him with Hughes and add one of these UFAs? Kuokkanen has been hit or miss.

We could put Zacha at LW of Hischier and Bratt.. or have him in the middle and put one of these UFAs with Hischier and Bratt.

Wood-Zacha-Holtz could be interesting.. or a disaster. Meh. I'll stop.

Looks like Boston and Buffalo made a deal involving Hall

Looks like Boston and Buffalo made a deal involving Hall
- vlongo4419

Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar to the Bruins. Sabres eat 50% and get back Anders Bjork and a 2nd.... Yeah i'll take the 1st for Palms all day over waiting to try to get better lmao. What a horrible return for the Sabres

Roger Mussa: Welcome Siegenthaler and more news
- Devils Advocate

I hate this move.

Safe to say Butcher is bought out? I thought that Smith/Murray were playing good on the LD? No faith in Shak/Bahl going forward? Some great options like Mete on the waiver wire, and we are potentially buying out Vats?

To give up a 3rd for a guy who doesn't move the needle one bit is not what this club needs right now. We aren't buyers, and we don't need any assets to add heading into the expansion draft. This guy has 13 points through 97 NHL games, and registered 6 points through 34 games in his best ppg AHL season....... What am I missing and why did we need to spend a cent at this point in the season?

Someone please explain

What are you even talking about? Why would be buy out Vats when his contract expires at the end of this season? Butcher has one year left, why buy him out when he can be exposed in the expansion draft?

I hate this move.

Safe to say Butcher is bought out? I thought that Smith/Murray were playing good on the LD? No faith in Shak/Bahl going forward? Some great options like Mete on the waiver wire, and we are potentially buying out Vats?

To give up a 3rd for a guy who doesn't move the needle one bit is not what this club needs right now. We aren't buyers, and we don't need any assets to add heading into the expansion draft. This guy has 13 points through 97 NHL games, and registered 6 points through 34 games in his best ppg AHL season....... What am I missing and why did we need to spend a cent at this point in the season?

Someone please explain
- bikeguy99

I hate this move.

Safe to say Butcher is bought out? I thought that Smith/Murray were playing good on the LD? No faith in Shak/Bahl going forward? Some great options like Mete on the waiver wire, and we are potentially buying out Vats?

To give up a 3rd for a guy who doesn't move the needle one bit is not what this club needs right now. We aren't buyers, and we don't need any assets to add heading into the expansion draft. This guy has 13 points through 97 NHL games, and registered 6 points through 34 games in his best ppg AHL season....... What am I missing and why did we need to spend a cent at this point in the season?

Someone please explain
- bikeguy99

What are you talking about? You're clearly missing a lot. You know it's not all about points right? You actually need guys who you know, actually play defense and are good on the PK. Why would we buy vats out when he's an expiring contract? Why would we buy Butcher out when he has 1 year left and we need a D to expose to Seattle? Bahl and Shak are both still extremely raw and it'll be awhile before we see them with the big club. We can still grab Mete on the wire if we wanted, i doubt we do but its not because of this trade, they play a completely opposite style of game.

Are you trolling or what? Because nothing you just said makes any sense... Theres nothing to hate about this move. At all.

I really hope we don’t regret Holtz over Rossi. Please please please.
- MartysBetter88

We will regret every draft pick ever

Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar to the Bruins. Sabres eat 50% and get back Anders Bjork and a 2nd.... Yeah i'll take the 1st for Palms all day over waiting to try to get better lmao. What a horrible return for the Sabres
- vlongo4419

Terrible lol. Yea I’d say this makes me feel a bit better about Palms. Yikes.

We will regret every draft pick ever
- shvingter88

Hahaha

I hate this move.

Safe to say Butcher is bought out? I thought that Smith/Murray were playing good on the LD? No faith in Shak/Bahl going forward? Some great options like Mete on the waiver wire, and we are potentially buying out Vats?

To give up a 3rd for a guy who doesn't move the needle one bit is not what this club needs right now. We aren't buyers, and we don't need any assets to add heading into the expansion draft. This guy has 13 points through 97 NHL games, and registered 6 points through 34 games in his best ppg AHL season....... What am I missing and why did we need to spend a cent at this point in the season?

Someone please explain
- bikeguy99

What you’re missing is this guy is currently the best defensive dman in our system.

Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar to the Bruins. Sabres eat 50% and get back Anders Bjork and a 2nd.... Yeah i'll take the 1st for Palms all day over waiting to try to get better lmao. What a horrible return for the Sabres
- vlongo4419

I came here just to say how good the devils did getting what they got because of Hall.

If Hall went first I could see first rounders being taken off trade tables.

We can all enjoy the misery of Buffalo together

Brayden Coburn for a 7th rounder? That's just a cap dump but prices are bargain basement right now. Would rather keep Butcher and Kulikov. If we Can get a 5th for Vatanen, probably take it and run. I think we should look for a prospect for Murray and retain some salary since the contract expires this year anyway - maybe Winnipeg? And if someone is willing to take andreas Johnson and his contract for next year, take a bag of pucks...

Getting what we did for Palms and Zajac I guess now doesn't seem so bad seeing Hall only get a 2nd back. Wonder what that says about his option in UFA this summer.

Hopefully Fitz can get a second or third for any remaining UFA. Although that Hall haul makes it more difficult. Hall was never the same player after that last injury.

Great move by NJ.

As a Caps fan, I am sad to see Siegenthaler. The writing was on the wall in D.C. when they brought in all these UFA defensemen in the offseason. The Caps extended Trevor van Riemsdyk on March 21st to a two year deal. He has barely played for Washington. The Caps simply had too many Dmen and had to flip someone for a pick or risk getting nothing in return.

Personally, I would have stuck with Siegenthaler. He is great on the PK and can play in the 3 or 4 spot if given the opportunity. He still has some work to do but most young bucks do. I wish him the best of luck in NJ.

Great move by NJ.

As a Caps fan, I am sad to see Siegenthaler. The writing was on the wall in D.C. when they brought in all these UFA defensemen in the offseason. The Caps extended Trevor van Riemsdyk on March 21st to a two year deal. He has barely played for Washington. The Caps simply had too many Dmen and had to flip someone for a pick or risk getting nothing in return.

Personally, I would have stuck with Siegenthaler. He is great on the PK and can play in the 3 or 4 spot if given the opportunity. He still has some work to do but most young bucks do. I wish him the best of luck in NJ.
- Brian Sickles

Thanks! That's encouraging to hear.

Personally, I love defenders who can actually play defense. I think the league has gotten a little to crazy about those guys putting up points.

If we end up moving out or losing Kulikov (and/or Murray), I don't see how we are improving as a defensive group. This team seems really good at treading water and cutting payroll.

Thanks! That's encouraging to hear.

Personally, I love defenders who can actually play defense. I think the league has gotten a little to crazy about those guys putting up points.

If we end up moving out or losing Kulikov (and/or Murray), I don't see how we are improving as a defensive group. This team seems really good at treading water and cutting payroll.
- Queenie_5_hole

I’m beginning to wonder if it’s less about our players and more about how they’re coached and developed. Like we’re getting this young guy from Washington and I feel like our staff is just going to screw him up and make him a soft passive pylon. Please someone tell me otherwise..