Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils Q&A: On Hughes, trade deadline, the GM vacancy & more

Good stuff per usual Todd. Wondering what your expectations for Tyce Thompson might be? Just saw that he was nominated for the Hobey Baker

Good stuff per usual Todd. Wondering what your expectations for Tyce Thompson might be? Just saw that he was nominated for the Hobey Baker
- dcetlin

he seems to be coming along pretty well but I still don't expect a ton from him. Maybe a bottom-6 guy

Now he’s Kyle Dubas’ right-handed man in perhaps the most forward-thinking front office in the NHL.

Pass - these guys haven't proven any form of success whatsoever at the NHL level. Toronto is basically out-talenting their opponents at this point - which works well in the regular season, but not so much in the playoffs.

How can you say trade Gusev when he is the greatest to ever play?

would you do this trade now?

Zach Smith + Brandon Saad (+ maybe Gustafsson or Gilbert if you need a dman) for Coleman + J Boqvist + Vatanen (+ picks) ?

Coleman is a devil for life. Deal with it.

would you do this trade now?

Zach Smith + Brandon Saad (+ maybe Gustafsson or Gilbert if you need a dman) for Coleman + J Boqvist + Vatanen (+ picks) ?
- squishy24

This doesn't move us forward at all. In fact, I'd argue it moves us backwards

This doesn't move us forward at all. In fact, I'd argue it moves us backwards
- willschulme

The classic "will you take our bad players for your good players" trade.

would you do this trade now?

Zach Smith + Brandon Saad (+ maybe Gustafsson or Gilbert if you need a dman) for Coleman + J Boqvist + Vatanen (+ picks) ?

This is insulting. If you throw in Kane sure.

Hischler
Hughes
Zacha
Butcher
Blackwood

Would be my untouchables if I were a NJ fan

The classic "will you take our bad players for your good players" trade.
- Pomegrant

LOL, not sure who youre overvaluing. I don't think you even know Saad. You're not going to get a Saad type player just for Vatanen, especially with his expiring contract.

Saad type player = two time Stanley cup winner in the top line, a top 6, 6'0 200 lbs+ defensive forward that averages about 20goals since he came in the league and oh yea, younger than Vatanen.

I understand it doesn't make the Devils any younger, but to say theyre "bad players" is just plain uneducated

would you do this trade now?

Zach Smith + Brandon Saad (+ maybe Gustafsson or Gilbert if you need a dman) for Coleman + J Boqvist + Vatanen (+ picks) ?

This is insulting. If you throw in Kane sure.
- redmonsters

you do realize Vatanen has an expiring contract, right? What kind of return are you expecting for him?

Hischler
Hughes
Zacha
Butcher
Blackwood

Would be my untouchables if I were a NJ fan
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I'm going Hischier, Coleman, Palmieri, Gusev. Those are my untouchables, if I'm being stingy. And I don't care that Palmieri will be 29 in a few weeks. Obviously you only move Hughes or Blackwood if it's some ridiculous obvious win for us coming the other way, like another top 3 pick in this year's draft. I'd rather not move either, and they won't anyway.

This doesn't move us forward at all. In fact, I'd argue it moves us backwards
- willschulme

I have to agree, it does seem like a lateral trade. I was thinking Saad can help in the top 6 flanking Hischier or Hughes.

Hawks is my #1 team, Devils 2nd.

Smith might bring some of the tangibles (except potential ceiling) that we'll lose on Coleman. the difference would even out a Saad/Vatanen swap. As I said in the previous post above this, I doubt Vatanen alone (with expiring contract) is enough for Saad.

I have to agree, it does seem like a lateral trade. I was thinking Saad can help in the top 6 flanking Hischier or Hughes.

Hawks is my #1 team, Devils 2nd.

Smith might bring some of the tangibles (except potential ceiling) that we'll lose on Coleman. the difference would even out a Saad/Vatanen swap. As I said in the previous post above this, I doubt Vatanen alone (with expiring contract) is enough for Saad.
- squishy24

No offense dude, but it was an awful proposal. Coleman is producing at the same level as Saad while being a top tier PKer. Then we're throwing in a good prospect and #2 dman for a 4th line center? This trade makes us a worse team now and in the future.

No offense dude, but it was an awful proposal. Coleman is producing at the same level as Saad while being a top tier PKer. Then we're throwing in a good prospect and #2 dman for a 4th line center? This trade makes us a worse team now and in the future.
- rmdevil313

Saad is also a top tier PK. But I see your point, Coleman is 3x cheaper. Saad is a year younger though and has been consistent for 8 yrs. Saad could be a top liner, he produces everywhere he goes (see his years in CBJ)
I don't even want Saad to be traded, but once again the salary cap crunch for the Hawks is coming.

Vatanen is an expiring contract, are you expecting him to be re-signed to be a 2 dman? (Vatanen as a #2 dman is also a stretch, but that's another debate) or what are you expecting for a return?

I know Zajac is not directly involved in a lot of the offense for his line but the Coleman - Zajac - Gusev trio is scoring 3.26 goals per 60 minutes at 5v5. For perspective of how impressive that is, as a team Colorado leads the league with 3.22 goals per 60 at 5v5.

What perspective does that give? I would hope that they produce more than a group of forwards that includes Nieto, Bellemare and Kamenev. How does 3.26 goals compare to the Avs’ second line? Other second lines? Are they in the top half of the league?

The memories of the 2000 team almost bring a tear to the eye lol. Does anyone remember the more consistent combinations?
Obviously we had the A-line.
Gomez-Mogilny. I know Gomez originally came in as a RW.. then we traded for Mogilny and I guess put Gomez in the middle. Who was on the left? Nemchinov?
Then obviously Pandolfo-Madden.. don't remember if Lemieux of Brylin was on the RW here.
Was Bobby Holik really the 4th line center with McKay on his wing?

then stinkin
Stevens-Rafalski
White-Niedermayer
Daneyko-Malakhov

freaking amazing defense.
There was no shortage of leadership, toughness, then speed and skill. Oh, and a world-class goalie to both stop pucks and be a 7th dman. What a team.

I agree with the Flyers fan,
watched quite a few devils games this year and really like the young group they have. Anyone should like these 3 young forwards he has here,to me Blackwood is a no brainer.
Always been a huge fan of Butcher since his days @ DU and I'd add Severson as well , That kid can play. Very curious in the direction the Devils go with the GM job, think it'll make a big difference on what happens @ the deadline.
And May the lotto balls be kind to you again.

It’s hard to evaluate this team because replacing Hynes with Nasreddine isn’t like bringing a new voice or a new system. And Fitzy hasn’t made any changes yet... so really more of the same.

Saad is also a top tier PK. But I see your point, Coleman is 3x cheaper. Saad is a year younger though and has been consistent for 8 yrs. Saad could be a top liner, he produces everywhere he goes (see his years in CBJ)
I don't even want Saad to be traded, but once again the salary cap crunch for the Hawks is coming.

Vatanen is an expiring contract, are you expecting him to be re-signed to be a 2 dman? (Vatanen as a #2 dman is also a stretch, but that's another debate) or what are you expecting for a return?
- squishy24

And you can bring up vatanens contract, but I wouldn't trade him for Saad straight up, and his value is miles away from Zack Smith.

I think the biggest priority honestly has to be not trading older veterans, but moving youngish guys who Ray and Hynes clearly misevaluated, that may still have some value to other teams if only because of their age. Butcher and Wood immediately come to mind, getting rid of Zacha and McLeod wouldnt hurt either. They're by no means the chief offenders for this train wreck, but these guys have all performed on a scale from disappointing to horrendous, and don't look like pieces that will be productive players on a version of this team that is actually winning games.

I'd rather have the veterans around to show the young guys who will be here long term how to be a professional, then clear them out and have guys like Hischier, Hughes and Boqvist being asked to lead this team while being weighed down by guys who are replacement level at best.

And you can bring up vatanens contract, but I wouldn't trade him for Saad straight up, and his value is miles away from Zack Smith.
- rmdevil313

not sure who you mean by "wouldn't trade HIM". do you mean Vatanen for Saad ?

I get it, this team needs defense more than forwards and you might not like Saad for Vatanen, (i wouldn't like just Vatanen for Saad either) but to say that Vatanen will get you a Saad-type player one-for-one is naïve. Need to add more with Vatanen just to get a Saad

Nobody cares enough for Saad to offer anything for him. Getting Saad solves nothing. If the Hawks want to trade him, a Devils team rebuilding is among the least likely to inquire.