Todd Cordell: Three reasons to be optimistic about the New Jersey Devils in 2019-20

I get the feeling Shero aint done.. Perhaps his biggest splash is near?

I get the feeling Shero aint done.. Perhaps his biggest splash is near?
- Leniwm1

There have been rumors of Shero looking to trade for Boeser and Lanine.

It would definitely make sense for Ray Ray to check in with teams that are having RFAs or cap issues. There could be some real opportunities to improve the team.

On the other hand, I'm also getting nervous that he thinks he isn't going to be able to sign Taylor Hall and wants to add someone major.

So I'm wondering if this is just Shero doing his due diligence or if he's really trying because he feels he needs to.

IF if if we get Laine.. we'd have quite the top 6.

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Laine

swap wingers as necessary. Maybe a more responsible Palmieri would be better next to Hughes.
This of course bumps Bratt down a line

Bratt-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Coleman

I wonder who would be sent back in that kind of swap. A Wood, Bratt, Boqvist, Zacha, etc. IF a Severson is sent back then we'd have..

Butcher-Subban
Greene-Vatanen
Mueller-Smith
Carrick

Maybe we sign Gardiner if Severson is moved. Otherwise, I'd rather just keep him.. the D is pretty weak otherwise.

Gardiner-Subban
Butcher-Vatanen
Greene-Smith

Our depth up front would be terrific if we added a top 6 winger.
And if Hall doesn't come back, we'll still have a top flight winger on the team, and maybe Gusev is a 60pt guy. Bratt, Boqvist and whoever should continue to develop and maybe is eventually a top 6 winger.


I don't think it's going to happen though.

There have been rumors of Shero looking to trade for Boeser and Lanine.

It would definitely make sense for Ray Ray to check in with teams that are having RFAs or cap issues. There could be some real opportunities to improve the team.

On the other hand, I'm also getting nervous that he thinks he isn't going to be able to sign Taylor Hall and wants to add someone major.

So I'm wondering if this is just Shero doing his due diligence or if he's really trying because he feels he needs to.
- Queenie_5_hole

IF we get a top line winger, I'm not sure how much I care if Hall re-signs or not. He'll be 28, he's injury prone, and he'd cost 11+ probably. IF we get a top line winger, we'd be ALL-IN this year, and maybe Gusev or our younger LWs develop into a steady top line winger. If our right side is a Palmieri with Boeser/Laine, the left side doesn't necessarily have to be Hall-level.

Not including Zacha, we have 8.7mil in cap space. If a player like 4mil Severson aand maybe 2mil Wood goes the other way, we could make a top line winger happen and mmaybe a Gardiner.

There have been rumors of Shero looking to trade for Boeser and Lanine.

It would definitely make sense for Ray Ray to check in with teams that are having RFAs or cap issues. There could be some real opportunities to improve the team.

On the other hand, I'm also getting nervous that he thinks he isn't going to be able to sign Taylor Hall and wants to add someone major.

So I'm wondering if this is just Shero doing his due diligence or if he's really trying because he feels he needs to.
- Queenie_5_hole

Probably both, its his job to plan now and future. If Hall wants out, replace him with another top winger.

Also, Zacha isnt signed. Camp is a few weeks away.

The Laine "rumor" is completely baseless and from a bs website. Ignore it.

The Laine "rumor" is completely baseless and from a bs website. Ignore it.
- Pomegrant

You don't have to ignore it completely.. Jets have a couple RFA and they cant afford everyone. It is a realistic possibility something goes down, but maybe not with the Devils.

Isn't a rumor just a fact that hasn't happened yet?

You don't have to ignore it completely.. Jets have a couple RFA and they cant afford everyone. It is a realistic possibility something goes down, but maybe not with the Devils.

Isn't a rumor just a fact that hasn't happened yet?
- Leniwm1

Jets are going nowhere if they can't get him signed. Yes, Scheifelelele however it's spelled, but what else? Connor? The D took a big hit. Wheeler isn't the future. They CANNOT afford to lose Laine unless they get a significant return to build with. Same for Vancouver. They NEED Boeser. These are the top young players for these teams. They won't be had easily just because they're RFAs and tight on cap.

Jets are going nowhere if they can't get him signed. Yes, Scheifelelele however it's spelled, but what else? Connor? The D took a big hit. Wheeler isn't the future. They CANNOT afford to lose Laine unless they get a significant return to build with. Same for Vancouver. They NEED Boeser. These are the top young players for these teams. They won't be had easily just because they're RFAs and tight on cap.
- MartysBetter88

I get what you mean, but the cap is the cap. Caps don't care about needs and feelings. If they cant get everyone under the cap, trades will be made. I'll gladly take many people from Jets, they have great players, so maybe if it isn't Laine its someone else?

Also on Wheeler, you might not think he is the future but they certainly (wrongly) gave him the contract that shows he is. Jets are f*ed and they will be forced to do something.

I heard one rumor where Shero gives up to 3 1st round picks for Laine. No way Shero does that (nor should he).

The starting point for Laine is Severson, I can believe that. They're in need of a 2nd line pass-first center, ironically for Laine. If they trade Laine, do they still need that pass-first center?

If the Devils can trade for Laine, what do the Jets want besides Severson and what's Shero willing to give up that's not 1st round draft picks?

For Laine, it's got to be Severson, Boqvist and one of (Bratt, Zacha, or McLeod) and sprinkle a draft pick of some sort.

What will things look like?

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Laine
Coleman-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Anderson/Hayden/Rooney

Butcher-Subban
Mueller-Vatanen
Greene-Smith
Carrick

I get what you mean, but the cap is the cap. Caps don't care about needs and feelings. If they cant get everyone under the cap, trades will be made. I'll gladly take many people from Jets, they have great players, so maybe if it isn't Laine its someone else?

Also on Wheeler, you might not think he is the future but they certainly (wrongly) gave him the contract that shows he is. Jets are f*ed and they will be forced to do something.
- Leniwm1

I just mean Wheeler isn't young like Scheifele, Laine, Copp, Conner. They have 17mil to give a chunk to Laine. They'll get it done. They have to.

Canucks are stupid IMO. They should've just played the season and got another top pick, THEN add next season. That Eriksson 6mil for the next 3 seasons is killer. Signing Myers and Miller instead of locking in Boeser was DUMB. Just 5mil in cap space right now.

I heard one rumor where Shero gives up to 3 1st round picks for Laine. No way Shero does that (nor should he).

The starting point for Laine is Severson, I can believe that. They're in need of a 2nd line pass-first center, ironically for Laine. If they trade Laine, do they still need that pass-first center?

If the Devils can trade for Laine, what do the Jets want besides Severson and what's Shero willing to give up that's not 1st round draft picks?

For Laine, it's got to be Severson, Boqvist and one of (Bratt, Zacha, or McLeod) and sprinkle a draft pick of some sort.

What will things look like?

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Laine
Coleman-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Anderson/Hayden/Rooney

Butcher-Subban
Mueller-Vatanen
Greene-Smith
Carrick
- CardiffGiant

exactly, and I don't want Mueller sniffing the lineup unless we're down 2 starters.

IF if if we get Laine.. we'd have quite the top 6.

Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Laine

swap wingers as necessary. Maybe a more responsible Palmieri would be better next to Hughes.
This of course bumps Bratt down a line

Bratt-Zajac-Simmonds
Wood-Zacha-Coleman

I wonder who would be sent back in that kind of swap. A Wood, Bratt, Boqvist, Zacha, etc. IF a Severson is sent back then we'd have..

Butcher-Subban
Greene-Vatanen
Mueller-Smith
Carrick

Maybe we sign Gardiner if Severson is moved. Otherwise, I'd rather just keep him.. the D is pretty weak otherwise.

Gardiner-Subban
Butcher-Vatanen
Greene-Smith

Our depth up front would be terrific if we added a top 6 winger.
And if Hall doesn't come back, we'll still have a top flight winger on the team, and maybe Gusev is a 60pt guy. Bratt, Boqvist and whoever should continue to develop and maybe is eventually a top 6 winger.


I don't think it's going to happen though.
- MartysBetter88

I don't have too much to say about this specific topic, but as a NYR fan, I have to say that I do not like the potential depth your line up is showing!! Hoping we can keep pace and make the rivalry come back to life!!
Also as a NYR fan, I hope you guys do sign Gardiner and put him with Subban! That would be as one-directional a pairing as you could assemble!


Best of luck this season!! Exciting times.

If you want a good laugh

A sabres fan suggested a hall for ristolanian trade, 1 for 1...maybe add a sweetener

If you want a good laugh

A sabres fan suggested a hall for ristolanian trade, 1 for 1...maybe add a sweetener
- dmarsden2988

a sweetener!

I don't have too much to say about this specific topic, but as a NYR fan, I have to say that I do not like the potential depth your line up is showing!! Hoping we can keep pace and make the rivalry come back to life!!
Also as a NYR fan, I hope you guys do sign Gardiner and put him with Subban! That would be as one-directional a pairing as you could assemble!


Best of luck this season!! Exciting times.
- Tonybere

Thanks Tony. Same to you.

I don't think anyone here is very happy about what your team is doing either. Been one hell of an offseason. Metro is going nuclear and fun times ahead.

Highly doubt we sign Gardiner. Seems like Shero would have done that if he really wanted to.. but you never know.

Looking forward to

Hughes vs. Kakko
PK vs. Trouba
Gusev vs. Panarin

and all the other insanity.

Going to the Rock on the 20th to get a peak first hand....

I'm just not sure if Buthcer can play on the top line a full season

Thanks Todd agreed, good article. Also, I would expect the off-season has jazzed up Devils fans and we should see an uptick in home attendance this year. With heavier home attendance, Devs fans will be more vocal, which should lead directly to additional home wins. Wins that we may not have had in the last few years. So yes, I am thinking attendance will equate to more wins, beyond the points you've made.

Thanks Tony. Same to you.

I don't think anyone here is very happy about what your team is doing either. Been one hell of an offseason. Metro is going nuclear and fun times ahead.

Highly doubt we sign Gardiner. Seems like Shero would have done that if he really wanted to.. but you never know.

Looking forward to

Hughes vs. Kakko
PK vs. Trouba
Gusev vs. Panarin

and all the other insanity.

Going to the Rock on the 20th to get a peak first hand....
- Queenie_5_hole

Dont the Rags have a star goalie in the making?

Dont the Rags have a star goalie in the making?
- Leniwm1

They have a very able backup for Lundqvist right now in Georgiev and a potential star goalie prospect in Igor Shesterkin. He put up a .953 saver percentage and 1.11 GAA last year in the KHL. Scary stuff.

"The New Jersey Devils, of the National Hockey League, will have a potent, multi-layered offense for the first time in franchise history."

Todd, I know you were but a wee little babe at the time, but the 2000-2001 Devils were the highest scoring team in the league. They had two 40 goal scorers, 8 players over 50 points, two dynamic forward lines, two elite offensive defenseman, and were lethal on the penalty kill (thank you Mad Dog Madden). The 1999-2000 team wasn't bad either, they finished second in the league, 20 some goals behind the Red Wings.
This team will be good, but these teams set a high bar, but for some reason never get any credit for how good they were offensively.

"The New Jersey Devils, of the National Hockey League, will have a potent, multi-layered offense for the first time in franchise history."

Todd, I know you were but a wee little babe at the time, but the 2000-2001 Devils were the highest scoring team in the league. They had two 40 goal scorers, 8 players over 50 points, two dynamic forward lines, two elite offensive defenseman, and were lethal on the penalty kill (thank you Mad Dog Madden). The 1999-2000 team wasn't bad either, they finished second in the league, 20 some goals behind the Red Wings.
This team will be good, but these teams set a high bar, but for some reason never get any credit for how good they were offensively.
- robvl22

I pity any devils fan who never witnessed the A line work their magic. What a time to be a Devils fan.

"The New Jersey Devils, of the National Hockey League, will have a potent, multi-layered offense for the first time in franchise history."

Todd, I know you were but a wee little babe at the time, but the 2000-2001 Devils were the highest scoring team in the league. They had two 40 goal scorers, 8 players over 50 points, two dynamic forward lines, two elite offensive defenseman, and were lethal on the penalty kill (thank you Mad Dog Madden). The 1999-2000 team wasn't bad either, they finished second in the league, 20 some goals behind the Red Wings.
This team will be good, but these teams set a high bar, but for some reason never get any credit for how good they were offensively.
- robvl22

If you only didnt cut off the next sentence in that quote...

I pity any devils fan who never witnessed the A line work their magic. What a time to be a Devils fan.
- devilspep

That was special. Brilliant hockey by those 3. Best line in Devils history? They were dominant, and you could tell really enjoyed playing with each other.