Todd Cordell: Vatanen trade looking like a steal + 1st round pick watch is on

It would be quite the gut punch if we don't get either of the picks. I fully expect it to happen.

Boqvist and Jacobs sent down, nobody recalled as of now. Reinforcing Bingo for the playoff push

Buffalo and Vancouver won't win another game. MN will run out of steam, Preds have Hynes and will miss, Chicago will continue to push but miss, WPG and AZ will get in. Sharks and Ducks will play below .500. We will go .500 the rest of the way. Someone will win the lotto and we'll pick 8th overall. Doomed.

I like what I've read about Kuokkanen and seen in some highlight videos; but those always make players look like the next great one. As far as prospect ratings how does he compare to Bahl and for that matter Foote?

My impression is Foote is probably the best prospect. Bahl is next but there is a wide variance of opinions on him. And Kuokkanen is a close third; and how does he compare to Boqvist and Merkley?

So many questions....

Our D personnel is a joke.

Vojtec Mozik should have hung out another year.

Our D personnel is a joke.

Vojtec Mozik should have hung out another year.
- Queenie_5_hole

I still think we gave up on Mozik too soon. But he's not in the NHL so.. what do I know.

I like what I've read about Kuokkanen and seen in some highlight videos; but those always make players look like the next great one. As far as prospect ratings how does he compare to Bahl and for that matter Foote?

My impression is Foote is probably the best prospect. Bahl is next but there is a wide variance of opinions on him. And Kuokkanen is a close third; and how does he compare to Boqvist and Merkley?

So many questions....
- Queenie_5_hole

If i had to rank them in terms of upside i'd say: Foote>>>Boqvist>/=Kuokkanen>Bahl>Merkley

Cory in net tonight, Blackwood in tomorrow

If i had to rank them in terms of upside i'd say: Foote>>>Boqvist>/=Kuokkanen>Bahl>Merkley
- vlongo4419

It doesn't look like a stretch that this team can have a decent offense and pretty good goaltending in the near term; but I'm not sure how we can even hope to build a legit defense anytime soon. I mean we are at the point where Mirco Mueller is playing top line minutes.

It doesn't look like a stretch that this team can have a decent offense and pretty good goaltending in the near term; but I'm not sure how we can even hope to build a legit defense anytime soon. I mean we are at the point where Mirco Mueller is playing top line minutes.
- Queenie_5_hole

Yeah its not a great spot to be in defensively. In the pipeline we realistically only have Smith who is projected to be atleast top 4 guy. Outside of Smith, the ceiling of the rest of our D prospects caps out at a #4 at best. A lot can change though, whether its someone we dont expect taking a big step forward or us making a trade to upgrade the position, or even get Drysdale in the draft, ect. But yeah our forward pipeline is pretty good though, and Blackwood has us set in net for the future, just need a reliable backup for him.

What does the 2021 Draft look like? Will Vancouver or Phoenix be any better next year? There is a possibility of 3 lotto picks next year.

Yeah its not a great spot to be in defensively. In the pipeline we realistically only have Smith who is projected to be atleast top 4 guy. Outside of Smith, the ceiling of the rest of our D prospects caps out at a #4 at best. A lot can change though, whether its someone we dont expect taking a big step forward or us making a trade to upgrade the position, or even get Drysdale in the draft, ect. But yeah our forward pipeline is pretty good though, and Blackwood has us set in net for the future, just need a reliable backup for him.
- vlongo4419

If the Arizona and Carolina/Vancouver 1st come thru this year we should definitely target some defensive help. If we end up with just our first rounder this year, I think you have to take best available player.

Sounds like the Rangers will have Shesterkin back tomorrow against us

I think even if they only end up with their own first rounder, provided it isn't top 3, Drysdale has got to be the pick. Drafting for need is not usually the right play, but he fills a need and is also arguably a top 5 prospect. The forward group is coming along slowly but surely, and Blackwood has passed every test put his way to this point. They desperately need to add a blue chip D prospect to round out this group because if we are watching PK play top pairing minutes in year three of this contract then I might cry.

Boqvist and Jacobs sent down, nobody recalled as of now. Reinforcing Bingo for the playoff push
- vlongo4419

So whats our roster looking like? Mueller is the only LD that I know will be playing.....Only asking as a degenerate gambler, as Blues -1 pays out 1.87. Along with the Blackhawks -1 in Detroit, seems to be the most promising line

So whats our roster looking like? Mueller is the only LD that I know will be playing.....Only asking as a degenerate gambler, as Blues -1 pays out 1.87. Along with the Blackhawks -1 in Detroit, seems to be the most promising line
- bikeguy99

We only had an optional skate this morning but from practice yesterday and what Nas said today we'll be rolling out:

Wood-Nico-Palms
Hughes-Zajac-Anderson
Bratt-Zacha-Gusev
Rooney-McLeod-Hayden

Mueller-PK
Mermis-Severson
Carrick-Claesson

Cory
Blackwood

It doesn't look like a stretch that this team can have a decent offense and pretty good goaltending in the near term; but I'm not sure how we can even hope to build a legit defense anytime soon. I mean we are at the point where Mirco Mueller is playing top line minutes.
- Queenie_5_hole

I agree about the D. Smith absolutely needs to be thrust into a top 4 role next season. Winning the CHL Defensman of the year, while breaking a 20+ year old scoring record should have been enough to have him in Binghamton this season. Instead, we sent him back for his senior year, and his development has reached a head. He notched 8 points in one game last week, and needs to be playing with a group that will continue to push him. At this point, I would have him as our top LD to start the season. I know he plays on the right alot, but he's a lefty and we seem committed to Severson/P.K (unfortunately), as our 1/2 RD's.

I think Erik Gustafsson would be a great LD target to acquire. He plays a physical game, and notched 60 points last season in Chicago (17 goals!!!). They traded him for peanuts, which may mean that he can be attained for a reasonable price. He is having a "down" year, which is still better than any of our D's ppgs.

I agree about the D. Smith absolutely needs to be thrust into a top 4 role next season. Winning the CHL Defensman of the year, while breaking a 20+ year old scoring record should have been enough to have him in Binghamton this season. Instead, we sent him back for his senior year, and his development has reached a head. He notched 8 points in one game last week, and needs to be playing with a group that will continue to push him. At this point, I would have him as our top LD to start the season. I know he plays on the right alot, but he's a lefty and we seem committed to Severson/P.K (unfortunately), as our 1/2 RD's.
- bikeguy99

He wasnt eligible for Binghamton unfortunately, but i agree he shouldve been there. He was stuck in that crappy place where he wasnt good enough to crack the NHL roster yet and he was too good to still be stuck in junior but wasnt able to be put in the AHL. The CHL/NHL needs to get rid of that rule tbh.

He wasnt eligible for Binghamton unfortunately, but i agree he shouldve been there. He wasnt good enough to crack the NHL roster yet but he was too good to still be stuck in junior. The CHL/NHL needs to get rid of that rule tbh.
- vlongo4419

My bad. I was not aware that he was ineligible. That rule may need to be re-evaluated. Regardless we haven't burned any of those precious entry level bargain years, and he should be ready to make the leap. I just don't see him elevating his game when the competition isn't forcing him too. As for Bahl, that guy needs to play an AHL season before being entering this league. He's got some great tools to work with, but needs to refine his skills before jumping into this fast league. Big boys take a little longer it seems.

My bad. I was not aware that he was ineligible. That rule may need to be re-evaluated. Regardless we haven't burned any of those precious entry level bargain years, and he should be ready to make the leap. I just don't see him elevating his game when the competition isn't forcing him too. As for Bahl, that guy needs to play an AHL season before being entering this league. He's got some great tools to work with, but needs to refine his skills before jumping into this fast league. Big boys take a little longer it seems.
- bikeguy99

Yeah thats the silver lining to this, that we didnt waste the 1st year of his entry level contract on this dumpster fire of a season. I think he'll be ready to go next season though. As for Bahl i agree, theres a lot of people overhyping him thinking he's going to make the jump next year, and im willing to say theres almost zero chance he's on the NHL roster next season. He needs 1-2 AHL seasons first. He wont be able to dominate just based off of his size alone like he can in juniors, and he'll need to make a huge adjustment to the pro game

I think even if they only end up with their own first rounder, provided it isn't top 3, Drysdale has got to be the pick. Drafting for need is not usually the right play, but he fills a need and is also arguably a top 5 prospect. The forward group is coming along slowly but surely, and Blackwood has passed every test put his way to this point. They desperately need to add a blue chip D prospect to round out this group because if we are watching PK play top pairing minutes in year three of this contract then I might cry.

If Drysdale is the best pick in the spot the Devils are in, then draft Drysdale. If not, always draft based on best available. You can always trade based on need. You can never trade for "best available" without giving something signficant.

If Drysdale is the best pick in the spot the Devils are in, then draft Drysdale. If not, always draft based on best available. You can always trade based on need. You can never trade for "best available" without giving something signficant.
- CardiffGiant

Yeah i'd go this route too, take the best pick available when we're on the clock. If it ends up being Drysdale then great. If not then we're likely getting a very very good forward prospect, if we stay in the top 9, which is also great. Last year we went with the "draft for need" in the middle rounds, particularly 2nd and 3rd rounds with a couple of reaches and we passed on better talent than the guys we actually drafted. Luckily we may have made up on it in the later rounds because Clarke, Moynihan, and McCarthy were all very solid value. Thompson is looking like a very good pick now after most were scratching their heads at it, and a lot of people were saying Pasic could end up being one of the steals of the draft in the 7th. So we'll see. Always take BPA, especially in the earlier rounds, imo

Bratt's gonna score 20 this year, love it.

Bratt's gonna score 20 this year, love it.
- vlongo4419

If he improves his consistency he'll be a 60pt winger. He's so fun to watch when he's on his game.