Todd Cordell: Jack Hughes changes everything

I can not get enough jack talk. More! More!

With Hughes, it does feel like the top 6 is one winger away from being pretty legitimate. Hall, Hischier, Hughes, Palmieri, Bratt...I suppose you could make the case that Bratt isn't a bonafide top 6 winger yet but I feel decently good about him. Maybe Boqvist can jump into that role right away, but more likely I expect Ray to add at least one top-6 caliber winger either via trade or in free agency.

Really curious to see what happens with McLeod and Zacha. It's kind of crazy that after picking Hughes, four of our last five first rounders are centers. Whenever you draft a player in the first round, particularly in the top 15, the hope is they eventually become a solid, impact player on the team. Lottery luck has made the Zacha and McLeod picks seem acceptable even if they never become the top-6 center most of us were likely hoping they would when they were drafted.

Todd Cordell: Jack Hughes changes everything
- Todd.Cordell

I'd like to see Coleman get top-6 minutes with some playmakers. I realize his value as a 3rd liner who can produce is great, but I want to see what he can do with at least a little bit of help.

I'd like to see Coleman get top-6 minutes with some playmakers. I realize his value as a 3rd liner who can produce is great, but I want to see what he can do with at least a little bit of help.
- jersey1414

If he had offensive linemates he would have broken 30 goals.

Coleman is such a YUGE gift.

Todd what are your thoughts about McLeod and possibly Zacha playing on the wing full time? I think taking the defensive responsibilities of playing C away could help both of their games and adding a fourth line center (Boyle?) certainly won't break the bank.

If he had offensive linemates he would have broken 30 goals.

Coleman is such a YUGE gift.
- Leniwm1

I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not....regardless, I'm not saying Coleman is a hart candidate waiting to happen, but I was really hoping toward the end of this year he would have gotten top line minutes. I'm still not totally sure what his ceiling is.

I'd like the Devils to try to swing a trade for Phil Kessel. I think his shooting (and of course goals scoring) would be a huge boost for the team. Dealing with Kessel's attitude for 3 years wouldn't be bad. He'll be at least motivated for 2 of the 3 years and when his contract is up, the Devils can use that cap space money to sign key players or a different FA.

Unfortunately, I don't know if the Pens are keen on trading him to a division rival. I get Shero has ties to the Pens, but an asset such as Kessel (and a motivated one) can haunt them. I guess the Pens will try to move Kessel to the Western Conference.

I'd be down for Eberle or even Simmonds for 3 a 3-year contract.

I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not....regardless, I'm not saying Coleman is a hart candidate waiting to happen, but I was really hoping toward the end of this year he would have gotten top line minutes. I'm still not totally sure what his ceiling is.
- jersey1414

Sarcasm? He netted 22 goals with poop linemates. reaching 30 would be cake if he had proper linemates.

bah the quotes thing isn't working for me.

I'll pass on Kessel and Simmonds. They're just going to continue to slow down while the rest of our team remains fast. Not worth their cost. Coleman > Simmonds anyway.

It'll be really interesting to see what Ray does. He could just stand pat and see what happens and add at the deadline if necessary. We COULD try Coleman, Zacha, Wood, Agostino, Bratt on the LW of Hughes, and Palmieri/Bratt on his right. All of those guys have the potential to be good 2nd line wingers. Coleman can even be tried on the top line RW spot or 2nd line RW next to Zacha/Wood/whoever-Hughes.

Wood, Zacha, Coleman, whoever, can also slot in next to Zajac and you'll have a solid 3rd line.

I'm just saying there are decent options. Zacha SHOULD be able to be a 20g/25a player. Coleman has shown he can be a 25g/25a player. Wood has tons of speed and maybe playing with dynamic Hughes would push him to another level? .. or maybe it'll just expose how underwhelming Wood's hockey sense is.

It wouldn't hurt us to add another winger, but that winger CANNOT be a bottom 6 winger unless he's a super-effective one.. like a Tom Wilson or something. We have tons of guys that we know can play bottom 6.. it's just the search for who 2 of the top 4 will be.

Even on defense.. Ray doesn't HAVE to add another guy, but he could, and Carrick becomes the 7th dman.

That's really all I see the offseason as. We could land a top 6 winger, or a top 4 dman. Anything else wouldn't be worth overpaying in free agency.

This should continue to be an exciting off-season.

How about the #1ov for malkin?

Thanks for winning the lottery!

I give it two years before Hughes takes Nico’s spot. Not knocking Nico, but Hughes should end up being better than him.

I'd like the Devils to try to swing a trade for Phil Kessel. I think his shooting (and of course goals scoring) would be a huge boost for the team. Dealing with Kessel's attitude for 3 years wouldn't be bad. He'll be at least motivated for 2 of the 3 years and when his contract is up, the Devils can use that cap space money to sign key players or a different FA.

Unfortunately, I don't know if the Pens are keen on trading him to a division rival. I get Shero has ties to the Pens, but an asset such as Kessel (and a motivated one) can haunt them. I guess the Pens will try to move Kessel to the Western Conference.

I'd be down for Eberle or even Simmonds for 3 a 3-year contract.
- CardiffGiant

I will pass on all 3. Simmonds looks physically spent and has been declining for several years. Kessel is too slow and unmotivated to play our style. And Eberle, although playing well in the playoffs, had 19 goals and 37 points for the season. A whopping 12 more points than Pavel Zacha.

These 3 are NOT the answer!

How about the #1ov for malkin?

Thanks for winning the lottery!
- Ottawa Fan

Absolutely not! Too many injuries and on the back nine of his career. Would need more to give up the 1st overall

How about the #1ov for malkin?

Thanks for winning the lottery!
- Ottawa Fan

no chance. Hughes has 14 years of youth on Malkin. .. and could be a 80-100pt player in his own right.

no chance. Hughes has 14 years of youth on Malkin. .. and could be a 80-100pt player in his own right.
- MartysBetter88

Seeing 100 pts next to a devil is unheard of! But erection worthy.

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG

bah the quotes thing isn't working for me.

I'll pass on Kessel and Simmonds. They're just going to continue to slow down while the rest of our team remains fast. Not worth their cost. Coleman > Simmonds anyway.

It'll be really interesting to see what Ray does. He could just stand pat and see what happens and add at the deadline if necessary. We COULD try Coleman, Zacha, Wood, Agostino, Bratt on the LW of Hughes, and Palmieri/Bratt on his right. All of those guys have the potential to be good 2nd line wingers. Coleman can even be tried on the top line RW spot or 2nd line RW next to Zacha/Wood/whoever-Hughes.

Wood, Zacha, Coleman, whoever, can also slot in next to Zajac and you'll have a solid 3rd line.

I'm just saying there are decent options. Zacha SHOULD be able to be a 20g/25a player. Coleman has shown he can be a 25g/25a player. Wood has tons of speed and maybe playing with dynamic Hughes would push him to another level? .. or maybe it'll just expose how underwhelming Wood's hockey sense is.

It wouldn't hurt us to add another winger, but that winger CANNOT be a bottom 6 winger unless he's a super-effective one.. like a Tom Wilson or something. We have tons of guys that we know can play bottom 6.. it's just the search for who 2 of the top 4 will be.

Even on defense.. Ray doesn't HAVE to add another guy, but he could, and Carrick becomes the 7th dman.

That's really all I see the offseason as. We could land a top 6 winger, or a top 4 dman. Anything else wouldn't be worth overpaying in free agency.

This should continue to be an exciting off-season.
- MartysBetter88

I don't think Ray has the luxury of standing pat again this season unless he wants to lose Hall. He should kick the tires on Eberle but shouldn't drastically overpay for him. He'd be an effective enough RW and Hall and him are friends.

I don't think Ray has the luxury of standing pat again this season unless he wants to lose Hall. He should kick the tires on Eberle but shouldn't drastically overpay for him. He'd be an effective enough RW and Hall and him are friends.
- devilspep

Yea I'd be ok with some Eberle next to Hall-Nico. I'm just hoping Eberle isn't a regular season slouch, especially based off how good he's looked against Pittsburgh. Maybe playing with a similar player to Barzal in Nico, and Hall would inspire his play? Him and Palmieri on the right would be nice, with Nico and Hughes in the middle.. Hall and whoever on the left. It would at least ensure 5 of our top 6 spots would be set.

idk tho. 2 assists in 13 playoff games in the 2017 playoffs. He'll be 30 in May. No more than 20mil/3yrs. Really he's a 5mil player.. but the way salaries continue to go up, 6 might be what he gets.. or more.

No chance Zacha plays 4C... that's ridiculous. No better way to stunt a player than that.

No chance Zacha plays 4C... that's ridiculous. No better way to stunt a player than that.
- archromat

If he still can't crack 30 points then there's no better place for him to be. Besides Zajac won't be around forever. He'll have that 3C in no time.

How about the #1ov for malkin?

Thanks for winning the lottery!
- Ottawa Fan

No!

I give it two years before Hughes takes Nico’s spot. Not knocking Nico, but Hughes should end up being better than him.
- FinnGod

I think they'll end up serving different purposes. Nico slots in better with Hall because he's a more calculated and "responsible" forward so Hall can do whatever he needs to do. Of course, he can keep up offensively, but there's a 2 way aspect to his game.
Hughes is another dynamic offensive player. While putting him with Hall would be fun and would score some goals, they'd have a lot of giveaways just because that's how they play.
It'll be a blurring of what is the top line and the second line.

I give it two years before Hughes takes Nico’s spot. Not knocking Nico, but Hughes should end up being better than him.
- FinnGod

Absolutely

I'd like the Devils to try to swing a trade for Phil Kessel. I think his shooting (and of course goals scoring) would be a huge boost for the team. Dealing with Kessel's attitude for 3 years wouldn't be bad. He'll be at least motivated for 2 of the 3 years and when his contract is up, the Devils can use that cap space money to sign key players or a different FA.

Unfortunately, I don't know if the Pens are keen on trading him to a division rival. I get Shero has ties to the Pens, but an asset such as Kessel (and a motivated one) can haunt them. I guess the Pens will try to move Kessel to the Western Conference.

I'd be down for Eberle or even Simmonds for 3 a 3-year contract.
- CardiffGiant

I wouldn’t hate having Kessel, it would have to be similar to how Florida landed Hoffman.

As for Simmonds, no way. A few years ago absolutely, but he plays a hard game and it’s showing.

I’d be down with ebs too.


Edit: actually Kessel would be great, he could play here until retirement and then he could do a Chico eats type segment during games.