Sam Woo: RAISING HELL: Devils Lose SO in Vegas, Mercer’s Goal Streak Continues

The arena is called Mullet Arena. Mullet.

Mercer should have been traded

Lines in practice today:

Tatar-Nico-Mercer
Meier-Jack-Bratt
Palat-Haula-Boqvist
BMW

Sharangovich skating as the extra, Lazar is not with the team yet.

Same D

Meier is working in the bumper slot on PP1, replacing Palat. Palat has slid down to PP2 replacing Wood.

Lines in practice today:

Tatar-Nico-Mercer
Meier-Jack-Bratt
Palat-Haula-Boqvist
BMW

Sharangovich skating as the extra, Lazar is not with the team yet.

Same D

Meier is working in the bumper slot on PP1, replacing Palat. Palat has slid down to PP2 replacing Wood.
- vlongo4419

Is LW Meier's normal position?

Could be a deadly line

Mercer should have been traded
- shvingter88

For McDavid and a pick.

Is LW Meier's normal position?

Could be a deadly line
- dmarsden2988

Plays both sides

Rags are 2-6 in their last 8. Tickles the innards.

The arena is called Mullet Arena. Mullet.
- MartysBetter88

Named after benefactors Donald and Barbara Mullet.

Still funny…

Lines in practice today:

Tatar-Nico-Mercer
Meier-Jack-Bratt
Palat-Haula-Boqvist
BMW

Sharangovich skating as the extra, Lazar is not with the team yet.

Same D

Meier is working in the bumper slot on PP1, replacing Palat. Palat has slid down to PP2 replacing Wood.
- vlongo4419

Meier-Hughes-Bratt has so much talent, I think they need to be the de facto first line.

Regardless, it’s an exciting lineup. Remember when Jordan Tootoo was on our top line? Devant Pelly-Smith? Times have changed!!! D P-S officially retired end of 2022

Meier-Hughes-Bratt has so much talent, I think they need to be the de facto first line.

Regardless, it’s an exciting lineup. Remember when Jordan Tootoo was on our top line? Devant Pelly-Smith? Times have changed!!! D P-S officially retired end of 2022
- Queenie_5_hole

Talking about retirement I saw we are still paying Schneider 2mill next year

That’s one cap hit I don’t mind paying. Cory was nothing but gold for us, we just had each other at the not most ideal time, and then he got hurt.

On another note, a Rags fan commented that Jack Hughes isn’t built for the playoffs. I was like, my guy.. your boy Kane is listed as 2lbs more and 1” shorter than Hughes.

There was nothing wrong with buying out Schneider except that we did it a year early. When you buy out a contract it doubles the length at 1/3 the cap hit. If we did it one year later it would have been two less years and we wouldn't have the 2mil hit this year and next year. At the time we were spending very little toward the cap so it didn't look like it mattered but now it makes all the difference.

Damn, I didn’t think about that. An extra 2 mil could’ve brought the missing piece for the 3rd line. There goes the Cup. But at least we have 6M Palat 😁

Damn, I didn’t think about that. An extra 2 mil could’ve brought the missing piece for the 3rd line. There goes the Cup. But at least we have 6M Palat 😁
- MartysBetter88

It doesn't really matter for this season but next season it might be tough. If we're doing 8.5 for Meier and Bratt we're going to need every bit of the cap to fill the roster out. Especially if we want to spend to get another goalie too.

Damn, I didn’t think about that. An extra 2 mil could’ve brought the missing piece for the 3rd line. There goes the Cup. But at least we have 6M Palat 😁
- MartysBetter88

Meh, we'll be fine. The expectation is Bratt and Meier come in at ~18M, that leaves ~18M to fill out the roster. Which realistically is our RFAs(Bastian, McLeod, Boqvist, Sharangovich unless traded, and Bahl), maybe one of Graves/Sevo or a depth D in FA, a bottom 6 forward or Haula brought back, and a backup goalie(unless they go with Schmid). And that's without the cap increasing multiple-million like all of the insiders have speculated it will. So it'll be tight, but there's plenty of space tbh. It'd be nice to have that extra 2M, but it won't make or break anything.

Meh, we'll be fine. The expectation is Bratt and Meier come in at ~18M, that leaves ~18M to fill out the roster. Which realistically is our RFAs(Bastian, McLeod, Boqvist, Sharangovich unless traded, and Bahl), maybe one of Graves/Sevo or a depth D in FA, a bottom 6 forward, and a backup goalie(unless they go with Schmid). And that'd without the cap increasing multiple-million like all of the insiders have speculated it will. So it'll be tight, but there's plenty of space tbh. It'd be nice to have that extra 2M, but it won't make or break anything.
- vlongo4419

Well, I think Bally's going bankrupt and screwing over the TV deal money will be a big problem. Will be interesting to see how much/little the cap increases especially with how important the regional sports network TV deals are to smaller market teams.

Well, I think Bally's going bankrupt and screwing over the TV deal money will be a big problem. Will be interesting to see how much/little the cap increases especially with how important the regional sports network TV deals are to smaller market teams.
- Pomegrant

Doesn't seem like its going to cause much of an issue, it's been within the last week that all of the insiders said they expect the cap to increase 3-3.5M this upcoming offseason.

Ruff confirms tonight is Timo Time!

Doesn't seem like its going to cause much of an issue, it's been within the last week that all of the insiders said they expect the cap to increase 3-3.5M this upcoming offseason.
- vlongo4419

That's good for us next season at least. Maybe it'll have repercussions in seasons after but should give us plenty of room to make it work.

Same lines as practice yesterday, Vanecek back in net.

That's good for us next season at least. Maybe it'll have repercussions in seasons after but should give us plenty of room to make it work.
- Pomegrant

Yup, we have plenty of room either way. Especially if the team expects both Luke and Nemec to be regulars next season, insane ELC value there. I wouldn't be shocked if someone like Clarke pushes to be in the rotation on the 3rd line too(especially if Sharangovich and/or Holtz is moved out).

Yup, we have plenty of room either way. Especially if the team expects both Luke and Nemec to be regulars next season, insane ELC value there. I wouldn't be shocked if someone like Clarke pushes to be in the rotation on the 3rd line too(especially if Sharangovich and/or Holtz is moved out).
- vlongo4419

Tatar is having a nice season and is definitely worth the contract he is making but I can see another team giving him a more sizeable contract with term that would price us out. Also, that's a spot you can see them trying to promote from within to have somebody take. Somebody like Holtz/Boqvist could be in that spot.

I also think spending money to keep Graves around is smart because that means you'd have two extremely dependable defenseman pairs as well as the rookies coming in.

Tatar is having a nice season and is definitely worth the contract he is making but I can see another team giving him a more sizeable contract with term that would price us out. Also, that's a spot you can see them trying to promote from within to have somebody take. Somebody like Holtz/Boqvist could be in that spot.

I also think spending money to keep Graves around is smart because that means you'd have two extremely dependable defenseman pairs as well as the rookies coming in.
- Pomegrant

Agreed, I fully believe Tatar/Graves were who Fitz was talking about when he said he believes some guys could re-price themselves to stay in NJ. I think keeping Tatar around would be nice for Nemec too, having another countryman here to help him out.

Severson is going to get a big contract in FA from somebody this offseason and it'll be well deserved.