Anyone else worried that Hughes isn't going to sign a contract extension 10 years from now?
- CardiffGiant

We'll have a completely different set of problems by then. No need to worry yet.

Really? We didn't lose MoJo, Boyle and Lovejoy - which is probably a push/win with Carrick. We didn't lose Noesen and Agastino; which isn't a huge deal but you know accuracy counts.

Did we need a legit 2nd line winger last year? (frank) yes and the solution was Drew Stafford. This year it's Wayne Simmond who might not even be a top 6 guy anymore.

Adding PK is certainly an improvement over last year but doesn't address the same problem with the 2nd line winger or our forward depth. How many of Five or SIX guys we are adding are NHL regulars? Because that's the same (frank)ing problem.
- Queenie_5_hole

You're freaking out over replacement level players mostly.

Really? We didn't lose MoJo, Boyle and Lovejoy - which is probably a push/win with Carrick. We didn't lose Noesen and Agastino; which isn't a huge deal but you know accuracy counts.

Did we need a legit 2nd line winger last year? (frank) yes and the solution was Drew Stafford. This year it's Wayne Simmond who might not even be a top 6 guy anymore.

Adding PK is certainly an improvement over last year but doesn't address the same problem with the 2nd line winger or our forward depth. How many of Five or SIX guys we are adding are NHL regulars? Because that's the same (frank)ing problem.
- Queenie_5_hole

Except every guy we "lost" we added upgrades over them so they wouldnt even be on the team. We traded Lovejoy for Carrick, who is just a better player and younger. Our forwards added to the lineup replacing Noeson and Agostino are straight up better. Noeson and Agostino are career 4th liners/AHLers that we're replacing with guys like Boqvist, Hughes, and Simmonds who are just flat out better players. Addition by subtraction. MoJo is definitely a loss but come on, he's one concussion away from his career being over. He was never on the ice for us to show us what he had, and when he was on the ice he barely did much to impress.

Of those 5 or 6 added players, they are all NHL regulars or will be(Hughes, Smith, Subban, Simmonds) except for Hayden, who is a borderline bottom 6/AHL guy. Boqvist will be an NHL regular, just not sure if it'll be this season. He should make the team but we'll see. You're arguing to add more trash to make our bottom 6 more crammed than it already is. We have like 5 players fighting for one final spot on the fourth line(McLeod, Anderson, Bastian, Hayden, Seney, and Rooney). The rest of the roster is filled. No reason to bring in more career bottom 6 players when we're already flooded with them or to take away spots from the kids that earn it and deserve the spot. Why the hell is this even an argument, holy poop

I think Ray HAS made this team leaps and bounds better!
How did we turn LJ into Carrick and a 3rd?
How did we trade KK for anything?
How did win another lottery landing a potential franchise player
How did we land the CHL defenseman of the year with our 17th overall selection?
How did we PK for pennies on the dollar?
Why is Severson so cap friendly?
What bad contracts do we have under Ray?

These are all moves that drastically improved our squad. Yes he could have panicked, and overpaid for UFA talent two years ago, making us a fringe playoff team. But instead he developed our players, won the draft lottery, and made us a very young, talented, affordable team. Ray is doing great. Just look at what Lou is doing in NYI...... Yikes
- bikeguy99

You got that right. People just will complain about basically everything,but if you look at the state of the team when Ray took over, to what it is now.... come on.

Let's just make a trade for Point and call it an off season. The final piece to the puzzle, and we will be parading in Newark come June next year.

I think Ray HAS made this team leaps and bounds better!
How did we turn LJ into Carrick and a 3rd?
How did we trade KK for anything?
How did win another lottery landing a potential franchise player
How did we land the CHL defenseman of the year with our 17th overall selection?
How did we PK for pennies on the dollar?
Why is Severson so cap friendly?
What bad contracts do we have under Ray?

These are all moves that drastically improved our squad. Yes he could have panicked, and overpaid for UFA talent two years ago, making us a fringe playoff team. But instead he developed our players, won the draft lottery, and made us a very young, talented, affordable team. Ray is doing great. Just look at what Lou is doing in NYI...... Yikes
- bikeguy99

Everyone recognizes that Ray has brought this team to a much better place, no one is criticizing him for making the team worse off.

The issue is that there has been one consistent problem on this team, depth, that as of now is being addressed in the same manner it has been for the past few years, by having guys who have not shown any potential above being replacement level again being counted on to step up. This could be the year some of them break through, but this go around it is particularly tough to see so many guys who are proven, who undoubtedly could have helped, go to other teams (a number of them within the division no less) on very affordable deals.

At the end of the day, at least we are not Rangers fans. Go Devs

Everyone recognizes that Ray has brought this team to a much better place, no one is criticizing him for making the team worse off.

The issue is that there has been one consistent problem on this team, depth, that as of now is being addressed in the same manner it has been for the past few years, by having guys who have not shown any potential above being replacement level again being counted on to step up. This could be the year some of them break through, but this go around it is particularly tough to see so many guys who are proven, who undoubtedly could have helped, go to other teams (a number of them within the division no less) on very affordable deals.

At the end of the day, at least we are not Rangers fans. Go Devs
- Cmor11794

Simmonds is not being counted on to improve depth in a meaningful way. Hughes and Boqvist are. Zacha is expected to step up. Bratt and Nico are expected to continue upward trajectory.

If anything, you can make a case for the team hedging its bets on rookies too much, but I don't understand how you can point to Simmonds, a rental, and compare that to signings like Cammaleri and even a MoJo. Meaningful change in a team doesn't come from free agency and in the rare case that it does, it comes with overpayment. We're doing fine.

Also, this is not directly at you but more so at this general feeling

Let's just make a trade for Point and call it an off season. The final piece to the puzzle, and we will be parading in Newark come June next year.
- rawwdogg88

he plays left wing, correct?

he plays left wing, correct?
- MartysBetter88

Point is a center.

I forgot where I saw this. But it was proposed we offer Marner $12. Lose out 4 #1s. Trade Hall to recoup some of those assets, in effect we trade one first line winger for another at similar $ costs - only we get younger in the process (prime years coming up, not already passed). Of course that all depends on Marner. I thought it was stupid at first but starting to think better about it.

I forgot where I saw this. But it was proposed we offer Marner $12. Lose out 4 #1s. Trade Hall to recoup some of those assets, in effect we trade one first line winger for another at similar $ costs - only we get younger in the process (prime years coming up, not already passed). Of course that all depends on Marner. I thought it was stupid at first but starting to think better about it.
- redmonsters

I was thinking of that same scenario. Could work... maybe if it was NHL 19 lol.

You're freaking out over replacement level players mostly.
- rmdevil313

Yeah, sort of.

Obviously Mojo wasn't replacement level and Boyle was a good 4C. But yeah.

The point was they are still losses and our forward replacements aren't better or are not proven NHLers. Free Agency was an opportunity to add; even if it was just finally getting that 2nd line RW we've needed for the last 3 seasons.

So while I think Ray Ray has done some great things with trades and draft picks I wish we just had the payroll to add that final piece; instead of hoping a lot of guys step up and the lack of depth doesn't hurt us.

Yeah, sort of.

Obviously Mojo wasn't replacement level and Boyle was a good 4C. But yeah.

The point was they are still losses and our forward replacements aren't better or are not proven NHLers. Free Agency was an opportunity to add; even if it was just finally getting that 2nd line RW we've needed for the last 3 seasons.

So while I think Ray Ray has done some great things with trades and draft picks I wish we just had the payroll to add that final piece; instead of hoping a lot of guys step up and the lack of depth doesn't hurt us.
- Queenie_5_hole

Mojo put up barely .5 ppg. I would bet on Hughes matching or beating that. Simmonds will easily be able to replace Boyle's spot in front of the net on the PP, and with Hughes we definitely have better center depth than last year. Everyone else is spare parts, betting on the young kids isn't a bad thing.

Mojo put up barely .5 ppg. I would bet on Hughes matching or beating that. Simmonds will easily be able to replace Boyle's spot in front of the net on the PP, and with Hughes we definitely have better center depth than last year. Everyone else is spare parts, betting on the young kids isn't a bad thing.
- rmdevil313

I don’t disagree but I’m not looking at Hughes as Mojos replacement. He’s (hopefully) the legit 2C that Zacha hasn’t been. And it’s probably a better bet that Hughes will out produce Zacha. But the issue is still the 2nd line winger.

I also think it’s fair to say Mojo was a better player then his production with us represents.

Conversely, I do believe Wood, Zajac, Zacha, Simmonds and Coleman are excellent 3rd or 4th line players. If the top six works with Hall, Hischier, Bratt, Boqvist, Hughes and K Palms we will be in good shape. Just nervous about leaning in Bratt (Health/Stamina) and Boqvist (no NHL experience/Rookie).

Love the Hughes pick but I’m nervous about him too. Just the expectations...

You're freaking out over replacement level players mostly.
- rmdevil313

Depth wins championships

Depth wins championships
- rangerdanger94

It does help.

So do guys like Panarin.

Depth wins championships
- rangerdanger94

Kenny Agostino and Stefan Noesen don't.

I don’t disagree but I’m not looking at Hughes as Mojos replacement. He’s (hopefully) the legit 2C that Zacha hasn’t been. And it’s probably a better bet that Hughes will out produce Zacha. But the issue is still the 2nd line winger.

I also think it’s fair to say Mojo was a better player then his production with us represents.

Conversely, I do believe Wood, Zajac, Zacha, Simmonds and Coleman are excellent 3rd or 4th line players. If the top six works with Hall, Hischier, Bratt, Boqvist, Hughes and K Palms we will be in good shape. Just nervous about leaning in Bratt (Health/Stamina) and Boqvist (no NHL experience/Rookie).

Love the Hughes pick but I’m nervous about him too. Just the expectations...
- Queenie_5_hole

IN a way yes, you always felt like he should be putting up more points. But it's not like he was adding an excellent 2 way game or adding physicality.

I also think peoples concerns about Bratt are way overblown. Boqvist has no experience and wasn't a top pick, so I understand people being nervous about him, but our other top 6 forwards are fine.

IN a way yes, you always felt like he should be putting up more points. But it's not like he was adding an excellent 2 way game or adding physicality.

I also think peoples concerns about Bratt are way overblown. Boqvist has no experience and wasn't a top pick, so I understand people being nervous about him, but our other top 6 forwards are fine.
- rmdevil313

I’m fine with Bratt skill wise. Just want to see him stay in the lineup and not fade. I’m sure it’ll happen as he gets older just not sure if this is the year.

I’m fine with Bratt skill wise. Just want to see him stay in the lineup and not fade. I’m sure it’ll happen as he gets older just not sure if this is the year.
- Queenie_5_hole

He faded once when he was a 19 year old rookie, I'm sure he's been working out. He got injured last year because a puck broke his jaw, and because a puck did something to his leg. He's got a ways to go before he's at Josefson's level.

Point is a center.
- redmonsters

Can he play the point?

Nathan Bastian will save us!

He could be the RW we need.

Can he play the point?
- shvingter88

Does this question have a point?

Two points?

Does this question have a point?

Two points?
- Queenie_5_hole

I heard he was vacationing at point Judith

Can he play the point?
- shvingter88

I see what you did there