new blog, new me.

I'm baffled bloggers/writers are not aware of expansion rules before writing something. The same thing happened in the "Let's Go Devils" podcast also. I believe Sam was doing his own protection list without knowing the rules.

Hey, mistakes happen. I really appreciate the time you guys take to express your fandom. No fame or glory, so I also want to say thank you.

Here's a "correct" suggested protection list:

Forwards: Hischier, Bratt, Zacha, Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Wood, McLeod

--> It's debatable if the final protection spot should go to McLeod, Bastian, Johnsson, and to a lesser extent Wood (the team should not lose Wood for nothing). Merkley is available and so are a few AHL players like Studenic. Even though the likes of Kuokkanen and Sharangovich are rookies, they're technically 3-year pros.

Defense: Severson, Subban, Siegenthaler
--> The team just gave up a 3rd-round pick for Siegenthaler and Subban's cap hit is needed just to make the cap floor.

Goalie: Blackwood
--> I forget who's the goalie the Devils need to expose, but it really doesn't matter.
The Devils are not losing a goalie.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils left McLeod unprotected and protected Johnsson. I'm thinking one of McLeod or Johnsson is the most likely player taken by Seattle.

Maybe the team looks at plugging Maltsev in Johnsson or McLeod's spot. Also, Mercer, Holtz, Studenic, Merkley, Thompson, Clarke, Talvitie, Seney, and Zetterland will battle for the last remaining forward spots (4th line center if McLeod is gone or 3rd/4th line wing if Johnsson is taken).

My list is the same as yours. I wouldn't love losing Bastian, but if you're being real about what each player is, he's 8th.. at least on this list. Maybe 9th if you feel Johnsson is worth keeping. Have to wonder that if they don't protect Johnsson, he's the easy pick for Seattle and that keeps Bastian safe or they want one of the "AHL" types that has more than 4th line upside.

I'm baffled bloggers/writers are not aware of expansion rules before writing something. The same thing happened in the "Let's Go Devils" podcast also. I believe Sam was doing his own protection list without knowing the rules.

Hey, mistakes happen. I really appreciate the time you guys take to express your fandom. No fame or glory, so I also want to say thank you.

Here's a "correct" suggested protection list:

Forwards: Hischier, Bratt, Zacha, Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Wood, McLeod

--> It's debatable if the final protection spot should go to McLeod, Bastian, Johnsson, and to a lesser extent Wood (the team should not lose Wood for nothing). Merkley is available and so are a few AHL players like Studenic. Even though the likes of Kuokkanen and Sharangovich are rookies, they're technically 3-year pros.

Defense: Severson, Subban, Siegenthaler
--> The team just gave up a 3rd-round pick for Siegenthaler and Subban's cap hit is needed just to make the cap floor.

Goalie: Blackwood
--> I forget who's the goalie the Devils need to expose, but it really doesn't matter.
The Devils are not losing a goalie.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils left McLeod unprotected and protected Johnsson. I'm thinking one of McLeod or Johnsson is the most likely player taken by Seattle.

Maybe the team looks at plugging Maltsev in Johnsson or McLeod's spot. Also, Mercer, Holtz, Studenic, Merkley, Thompson, Clarke, Talvitie, Seney, and Zetterland will battle for the last remaining forward spots (4th line center if McLeod is gone or 3rd/4th line wing if Johnsson is taken).
- CardiffGiant

I'm baffled bloggers/writers are not aware of expansion rules before writing something. The same thing happened in the "Let's Go Devils" podcast also. I believe Sam was doing his own protection list without knowing the rules.

Hey, mistakes happen. I really appreciate the time you guys take to express your fandom. No fame or glory, so I also want to say thank you.

Here's a "correct" suggested protection list:

Forwards: Hischier, Bratt, Zacha, Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Wood, McLeod

--> It's debatable if the final protection spot should go to McLeod, Bastian, Johnsson, and to a lesser extent Wood (the team should not lose Wood for nothing). Merkley is available and so are a few AHL players like Studenic. Even though the likes of Kuokkanen and Sharangovich are rookies, they're technically 3-year pros.

Defense: Severson, Subban, Siegenthaler
--> The team just gave up a 3rd-round pick for Siegenthaler and Subban's cap hit is needed just to make the cap floor.

Goalie: Blackwood
--> I forget who's the goalie the Devils need to expose, but it really doesn't matter.
The Devils are not losing a goalie.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils left McLeod unprotected and protected Johnsson. I'm thinking one of McLeod or Johnsson is the most likely player taken by Seattle.

Maybe the team looks at plugging Maltsev in Johnsson or McLeod's spot. Also, Mercer, Holtz, Studenic, Merkley, Thompson, Clarke, Talvitie, Seney, and Zetterland will battle for the last remaining forward spots (4th line center if McLeod is gone or 3rd/4th line wing if Johnsson is taken).
- CardiffGiant

I agree with your forwards, I give mcleod a slight edge over merkley. I would however swap Butcher for Subban, if there is any chance we can get rid of that contract and spend it on someone who can help, I say go for it. (this applies to eating half and trading him when he isnt picked if exposed) I also think we may be able to get a mid round pick for butcher should we want to move on and not just lose him for nothing to Seattle(not a high return but its something). I think/hope we flip wood at the deadline if we are out of it. I could see a conditional 2nd which converts to a first if the team makes it to round _______ if not more for him as he's Coleman lite in my eyes. He's got speed and tenacity, but he doesnt make his line mates better and he has a penchant for dumb penalties.

Since Todd left. Wait until the woo man arrives...
- Banana_Hammock

Wait till you hear who wrote this particular blog

I agree with your forwards, I give mcleod a slight edge over merkley. I would however swap Butcher for Subban, if there is any chance we can get rid of that contract and spend it on someone who can help, I say go for it. (this applies to eating half and trading him when he isnt picked if exposed) I also think we may be able to get a mid round pick for butcher should we want to move on and not just lose him for nothing to Seattle(not a high return but its something). I think/hope we flip wood at the deadline if we are out of it. I could see a conditional 2nd which converts to a first if the team makes it to round _______ if not more for him as he's Coleman lite in my eyes. He's got speed and tenacity, but he doesnt make his line mates better and he has a penchant for dumb penalties.
- JagrBombs19

Just my 2 cents: I give McLeod a clear nod over Merkley. Butcher vs. Subban is a tough choice. I wouldn't mind Seattle taking either but not sure what's better for the team. Don't want to move Miles Wood.

I would however swap Butcher for Subban, if there is any chance we can get rid of that contract and spend it on someone who can help, I say go for it. (this applies to eating half and trading him when he isnt picked if exposed)
- JagrBombs19

If Subban had more years on his contract I would assume management would've left him exposed. Since this is the last year of his current contract, management will eat the cost of the remaining year and try to flip in by the trade deadline. Better to keep Subban around for a year than to sign a bunch of journeyman players just to be cap compliant (hitting the cap minimum).

If Subban gets taken, I think the team would have to spend close to $20 mil just to hit the cap minimum. You figure management would have to sign 5 or more players (or take a bunch of LTIR players). The team would end up with more bad contracts and roster spaces taken away from young players.

I guess if the team manages to trade for Dougie Hamilton's rights and manages to sign him to an 8-year deal, they can expose Subban at that point. It would be nice if this does happen.

Idk what is happening with the blog but you cant protect 8 forwards, 2 D, and 1 goalie. Its either 8 skaters and 1 goalie or 7F/3D/1G. Thats the only 2 options.

The Devils will go 7/3/1, obviously. They will protect:

Forwards: Nico, Bratt, Wood, Zacha, Sharangovich, Kuokkanen, and one of McLeod/Johnsson

D: Severson, Siegenthaler, and the 3rd slot will be either a trade acquisition or one of Subban/Butcher

G: Blackwood

Its that easy, theres essentially zero debate on who this team protects.

new blog, new me.
- Pomegrant

Back on the destiny train?

Wait till you hear who wrote this particular blog
- Devils Advocate

Oh boy... here comes the excuses already, blaming your partner in crime, lol.

Let em have Severson... he's as ineffective a defensive player as Ristolainen is.

Back on the destiny train?
- shvingter88

When Anaheim takes Luke Hughes and then we trade the 4th pick away for some garbage defenseman I'll be a believer again.

Heck even the "Dooooomed" guy is more entertaining.
- JagrBombs19

I'm a little surprised no one is saying they hope Johnsson gets picked up by Seattle. Didn't really do anything all year, looked invisible and didn't mesh. I know it was a shortened and weird year but I'd be thrilled if they took him with the term and money remaining.

I'm a little surprised no one is saying they hope Johnsson gets picked up by Seattle. Didn't really do anything all year, looked invisible and didn't mesh. I know it was a shortened and weird year but I'd be thrilled if they took him with the term and money remaining.
- Bowkes

I will join in that request.

new blog, new me.
- Pomegrant

Still Doomed.

Still Doomed.
- smellmyfinger

big if true

This is an objectively bad blog. Most of the blogs (when there actually is one) have been objectively bad. It’s difficult enough to find anything insightful about NJ on the interwebs but this has gotten dire.

This is an objectively bad blog. Most of the blogs (when there actually is one) have been objectively bad. It’s difficult enough to find anything insightful about NJ on the interwebs but this has gotten dire.
- Franken30

It's as if Devil's ownership has taken over the blog

Just my 2 cents: I give McLeod a clear nod over Merkley. Butcher vs. Subban is a tough choice. I wouldn't mind Seattle taking either but not sure what's better for the team. Don't want to move Miles Wood.
- Queenie_5_hole

You know I looked at his numbers again and Wood's PIMS were down 28 minutes last year (albeit 13 fewer gp). They have also trended down 3 straight years so Im clearly reliving scars from the past. He did however see a spike in shooting percentage (7.8 to 13.4 %), which is likely to regress a bit. I don't dislike him, but I don't know what he wants contract wise, and I believe he has decent value we can re-coop if we are out of it at the deadline(I really hope not). If he is ok with making 2-2.5/per, sure bring him back. He is however perennially a minus player (team stat) and has minimal assists. He is a great 3rd line winger option, we are up playing him due to our lack of true top 6 wingers (without palmieri) and most likely correlates to that spike in percentage. If we want to get better we need better players(all around) not just hope that our players get better(which some of them will-but to what extent). We need better then 35 pt seasons out of top 6 wingers. Could Wood have a 40 or 45 pt season, sure but is that as good as it gets?

Let me ask you this, would you want to pay a max 20 goal(woods current season highs 19g/ 14 a/with 32 pts being the highest total), less then .5ppg, perennial minus player more then 3mill per?

Not a knock on wood, but I'd rather sink 3 mil towards something that can give me more then 35 points and minus play. We have plenty of 3rd line wingers to choose from as well as the cap space to raise the talent standards on this roster.

Perhaps putting better talent around him will help him reach new highs, but there is a lot of hope in that equation.

For me its all relative to the cap hit.

You know I looked at his numbers again and Wood's PIMS were down 28 minutes last year (albeit 13 fewer gp). They have also trended down 3 straight years so Im clearly reliving scars from the past. He did however see a spike in shooting percentage (7.8 to 13.4 %), which is likely to regress a bit. I don't dislike him, but I don't know what he wants contract wise, and I believe he has decent value we can re-coop if we are out of it at the deadline(I really hope not). If he is ok with making 2-2.5/per, sure bring him back. He is however perennially a minus player (team stat) and has minimal assists. He is a great 3rd line winger option, we are up playing him due to our lack of true top 6 wingers (without palmieri) and most likely correlates to that spike in percentage. If we want to get better we need better players(all around) not just hope that our players get better(which some of them will-but to what extent). We need better then 35 pt seasons out of top 6 wingers. Could Wood have a 40 or 45 pt season, sure but is that as good as it gets?

Let me ask you this, would you want to pay a max 20 goal(woods current season highs 19g/ 14 a/with 32 pts being the highest total), less then .5ppg, perennial minus player more then 3mill per?

Not a knock on wood, but I'd rather sink 3 mil towards something that can give me more then 35 points and minus play. We have plenty of 3rd line wingers to choose from as well as the cap space to raise the talent standards on this roster.

Perhaps putting better talent around him will help him reach new highs, but there is a lot of hope in that equation.

For me its all relative to the cap hit.
- JagrBombs19

I know you're a bit frustrated with the quality of the blog, but you certainly wrote a great post. So I'm glad your here and working thru it.

As for Miles Wood, he is a fairly polarizing player. And also a guy who's produced much better numbers in his contract year twice. So that's concerning when looking at what type of value to expect. IMO, we overpaid him on the last contract because of this and I can completely relate on that concerns now.

On the other hand, with RNH signing fairly cheap I don't think we are talking anything huge for Miles. Going with your target of $3M, I'm fine with that because I think Miles contributes more then points. He's somewhat veteran leadership at this point and he's not a pushover on a very soft team. The speed demands attention from the other team and since he's learned to try to make plays he's more dangerous.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is much more upside to Miles and he's not going to take another big step forward. But I think with the lack of legit NHLers on this team, I don't want to lose a guy who's actually contributing and a guy with a somewhat unique set of tools for this team. I'm ignoring in the +/- because -6 isn't bad on a horrible team. Taylor Hall was a plus player here once in four years. He was a -21 for Buffalo this year and then a +15 for Boston. Because garbage team vs. great team (and maybe some motivation).

Yes, I want better talent on the team but I don't think he's the guy you get rid of to add it. All that said, IF he can bring in lopsided assets like the Coleman deal after we resign him, I'd move him. But I'd move anyone at the right price.

Just the other day I was thinking about an Arvidsson trade. Coughing up a 2nd and a 3rd doesn't seem like something we'd be willing to do so it makes sense we didn't get him.

Just the other day I was thinking about an Arvidsson trade. Coughing up a 2nd and a 3rd doesn't seem like something we'd be willing to do so it makes sense we didn't get him.
- Pomegrant

We reserve a package of this ilk for players like Mirco Mueller - A truly rare opportunity it was to snag a player such as he. (although I think we got a 5th with him, which in turn may have had me drink a fifth)

Just the other day I was thinking about an Arvidsson trade. Coughing up a 2nd and a 3rd doesn't seem like something we'd be willing to do so it makes sense we didn't get him.
- Pomegrant

My impression is that's pretty reasonable to cheap for a guy who's put up some nice numbers in this league and is legit NHLer. I would have gladly done this.

My impression is that's pretty reasonable to cheap for a guy who's put up some nice numbers in this league and is legit NHLer. I would have gladly done this.
- Queenie_5_hole

Its a fair trade given his injury concerns and the drop in production since the hit he took from Bortuzzo. I would've easily done that trade though, and hope can he get back to form. Not a bad contract either. Decent 2nd liner with where hes at now but its a steal if he can return to being a top line player