Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils expected to lose Patrick Maroon

Still no panic. But I hope Shero has a plan....

Any of these losses by themselves aren't that big of a deal. I was on the fence about re-signing Maroon to begin with as players who play that style usually age poorly. I'm nowhere near ready to jump off the proverbial ledge, but it is frustrating that Shero hasn't upgraded the team in any way. I thought Shero and Hynes were trying to create a competitive environment where players had to earn a spot. But the Devils don't even have 12 NHL forwards under contract at this point. Doing nothing is better than doing something stupid, but those aren't the only two options.

And if Shero isn't busy convincing any UFAs to come play in NJ, what is he even doing? He could get the RFAs signed, or find a new pp coach, or replace Sunny Mehta at least. Maybe he's working on something bigger, but if not, I'm not exactly expecting the Devils to make the playoffs again.

So Shero dealt the devils picks knowing we weren’t going to make a deep playoff run, then let them walk away. I can see letting Grabner go, but he should have made a push to keep Maroon. I don’t see what sense those moves made?!? We weren’t winning the cup so why not just keep the picks?

So Shero dealt the devils picks knowing we weren’t going to make a deep playoff run, then let them walk away. I can see letting Grabner go, but he should have made a push to keep Maroon. I don’t see what sense those moves made?!? We weren’t winning the cup so why not just keep the picks?
- brooklyn17

I think the question was making the playoffs. I make that Maroon trade again even today. The real stinker was Grabner.

I can't honestly say I'm too upset losing Grabner and Maroon. Yeah in hindsight it seems like a waste of draft picks but Maroon was instrumental getting the team into the playoffs especially with his play against Toronto when they clinched.

The team should stay the course and focus on staying younger and faster and not overspending on guys who can't live up to their contracts as a lot of these free agents most certainly won't.

Shero is probably working the phones trying to make a trade. If nothing big happens at least it gives the team a chance to see what some of their prospects are made of now that there are some clear roster openings. This team will be built around Hall and Hirschier and they should be the main focus.

You guys could go back to the well with the Oilers. Lucic for Severson... worked out well when you went Larsson for Hall.

You guys could go back to the well with the Oilers. Lucic for Severson... worked out well when you went Larsson for Hall.
- Cecil_the_Lion

No thanks Lucic contract is terrible perfect example of one of those terrible free agent contracts the Devils are trying to avoid

You guys could go back to the well with the Oilers. Lucic for Severson... worked out well when you went Larsson for Hall.
- Cecil_the_Lion

How about Severson for McDavid?

Slow down, we don't wanna rob Shero blindly twice - make it McDavid for Bent Lovetoy

Slow down, we don't wanna rob Shero blindly twice - make it McDavid for Bent Lovetoy
- ChonDerry

Think you could throw in a second ? We need to get a few of those back after our deadline deals.

Would any of nick shore, shane prince or logan shaw be worth signing ? All are 25.

Would any of nick shore, shane prince or logan shaw be worth signing ? All are 25.
- Shampoo

Would rather have any of our prospects

Still no panic. But I hope Shero has a plan....
- redmonsters

the plan is top 10 pick, which was probably the plan last year.. until we had that hot 1st quarter to start the season. Then the Vatanen trade was big.. and so it went. Then we had the novel idea to blow a juicy 2nd round pick on Grabner for a pipe dream playoff run that would take us through 4 rounds of teams vastly superior to us.

maybe we'll see the plan actually work this year and set us up for a beautiful future.

Lose for Hughes.

Relax: losing Maroon sucks and not having a 2nd hurts the cupboards a bit, but that can be recovered from with relative ease. Shero still has capspace to sell and he can use that picking up the kind of prospects you get with 2nds and 3rds anyway.

He's a roster player: I liked his chemistry with Zacha. They'll have to find another power forward that can play with Zacha, that's all. Don't know what will happen with the power play, but hopefully they have it covered.

Zacha's a really good forechecker; I'd like to see him playing with good forecheckers who can make space. They have Bastian in their system who might play that role in the future, as well as McLeod when he sizes up. Maybe they'll need to look outside the club in the end if nobody fits the bill. I want to see him with some high intensity guys, though.

Wow a lot of Cordell posts on Buzz this weekend

StLouis joining the arms race

From previous blog:

Shero's only concern is to make the Devils better. To get more value than he gave up. This "other people better" is the biggest nonsense I've ever heard.
- willschulme

If you are trying to make your team better it's to win the Cup. If making your team better also makes another team better - & better than your team, then you aren't winning the Cup which is the objective, so why make the team better that way when there other ways to do it?

Also, if Karlsson is going to sign with Tampa eventually because of the team & tax benifits (it's all about $$$$$$$), & to be nice & close to his wife's bff, I can't see Dorian letting Karlsson leave for free which opens up other opportunities.

the plan is top 10 pick, which was probably the plan last year.. until we had that hot 1st quarter to start the season. Then the Vatanen trade was big.. and so it went. Then we had the novel idea to blow a juicy 2nd round pick on Grabner for a pipe dream playoff run that would take us through 4 rounds of teams vastly superior to us.

maybe we'll see the plan actually work this year and set us up for a beautiful future.

Lose for Hughes.
- MartysBetter88

I honestly think this would be the way to go if it weren't for the need to re-sign Hall next summer. The Devils have found a few good players with their drafts and there are a few more who could turn out to be very good, but they really haven't done that great of a job. Winning the lottery really saved the rebuild. Because of how atrocious Conte/Lou were at drafting though, it seems like it's been great but those Zacha and McLeod still hurt.

the plan is top 10 pick, which was probably the plan last year.. until we had that hot 1st quarter to start the season. Then the Vatanen trade was big.. and so it went. Then we had the novel idea to blow a juicy 2nd round pick on Grabner for a pipe dream playoff run that would take us through 4 rounds of teams vastly superior to us.

maybe we'll see the plan actually work this year and set us up for a beautiful future.

Lose for Hughes.
- MartysBetter88

There are so many bad teams it’s going to be hard to lose for Huges; if that is in fact the goal.

From previous blog:



If you are trying to make your team better it's to win the Cup. If making your team better also makes another team better - & better than your team, then you aren't winning the Cup which is the objective, so why make the team better that way when there other ways to do it?

Also, if Karlsson is going to sign with Tampa eventually because of the team & tax benifits (it's all about $$$$$$$), & to be nice & close to his wife's bff, I can't see Dorian letting Karlsson leave for free which opens up other opportunities.
- Aussiepenguin

If your team doesn't take the opportunity to be marginally better, another team will happily take your place. You do what you can.

From previous blog:



If you are trying to make your team better it's to win the Cup. If making your team better also makes another team better - & better than your team, then you aren't winning the Cup which is the objective, so why make the team better that way when there other ways to do it?

Also, if Karlsson is going to sign with Tampa eventually because of the team & tax benifits (it's all about $$$$$$$), & to be nice & close to his wife's bff, I can't see Dorian letting Karlsson leave for free which opens up other opportunities.
- Aussiepenguin

NJ isn't even in the same area code as TB. If they can pick up a good asset at the cost of facilitating a Karlsson trade, it's whatever. Plus, maybe that earns Shero some goodwill with Yzerman so next offseason, when he has to figure out a way to extend Point, Kucherov, and Gourde (assuming he's not dealt to Ottawa) he's more likely to make another deal with Shero.

If your team doesn't take the opportunity to be marginally better, another team will happily take your place. You do what you can.
- willschulme

I disagree. You guys made the playoffs, have the current Hart player & are improving. It 'shouldnt' be long till you contend. Making another team that you will have to play better, isn't good business in my opinion. I doubt the Rags are going to contend for at least a couple of years. I do understand what you are saying though.

A good option would be Troy Brouwer pretty much the same player as Maroon.

Except that Brouwer does not really score (6 goals 16 assists last year), does not hit, has a poor shot, barely fights, and passing is not his thing. Did I mention he played a bunch on the Flames PP?

But, he is a nice guy. Like really nice. So it pretty much makes up for all his defects.

Just 2 more years 4.5 million, its a bargain.

A good option would be Troy Brouwer pretty much the same player as Maroon.

Except that Brouwer does not really score (6 goals 16 assists last year), does not hit, has a poor shot, barely fights, and passing is not his thing. Did I mention he played a bunch on the Flames PP?

But, he is a nice guy. Like really nice. So it pretty much makes up for all his defects.

Just 2 more years 4.5 million, its a bargain.
- DuranDuran

Does Kucherov come with him?