Todd Cordell: Ranking the New Jersey Devils' contracts: Part 2

Time for a new head coach and a new defensive system. Maybe some of these guys won't seem as bad. We didn't have any big name defenders on the 2012 cup run and those guys outperformed expectations. Now it seems everyone does worse here.

Subban should be dead last, he (frank)ing blows.

Subban should be dead last, he (frank)ing blows.
- shvingter88

Yes, he does. He's only receiving so much TOI because Management doesn't want to admit he is a bottom pairing D in a deal that turned sour, or to get some stats in the hopes of trading him with some cap retention. I mean Dion was traded.....twice!!!! Whether it is the "eye-test", or Analytics, you would be hard pressed to say that P.K. is any better than Mermis/Carrick/Mueller. And that is just sad.

But bang on assessment Todd. Same as Part 1. Severson has been a stud, and his contract is an A+. Imagine if he ever had a true #1LD partner. I wouldn't be surprised if he broke 50 points if he was paired with a quality player on the left.

As for Schneids, I still have some hope that he can play easier matchups in a backup role, while being a fantastic mentor for our new starter. It is a shame, but I still believe we won the trade. Horvat is good, but not great. We had 3 seasons where Cory was a top 5 goalie. The hip injury was simply unfortunate.

All good points and just serves to highlight how much of a tire fire they still are on the back-end. Really frustrating to have all of the wheeling and dealing Shero did to revamp the team yield not one guy who is/was a long term solution on D, and shows how wrong a lot of people (myself included) were about how this team was trending.

Blackwood has proved he can hold down the fort but I just hope that they can tighten it up to some degree while he is still growing into the role, and isnt learning by facing 40 shots and 20 high danger chances a night.

All good points and just serves to highlight how much of a tire fire they still are on the back-end. Really frustrating to have all of the wheeling and dealing Shero did to revamp the team yield not one guy who is/was a long term solution on D, and shows how wrong a lot of people (myself included) were about how this team was trending.

Blackwood has proved he can hold down the fort but I just hope that they can tighten it up to some degree while he is still growing into the role, and isnt learning by facing 40 shots and 20 high danger chances a night.
- Cmor11794

It's hard to see how we can cobble together a decent defense from who's left.

When Dakota Mermis is you standout defender you're a not in a good place.

All good points and just serves to highlight how much of a tire fire they still are on the back-end. Really frustrating to have all of the wheeling and dealing Shero did to revamp the team yield not one guy who is/was a long term solution on D, and shows how wrong a lot of people (myself included) were about how this team was trending.

Blackwood has proved he can hold down the fort but I just hope that they can tighten it up to some degree while he is still growing into the role, and isnt learning by facing 40 shots and 20 high danger chances a night.
- Cmor11794

Ya that back-end has really not given a fair chance to see what Severson or Schneids are capable of. I do feel Severson will be a long term solution for this team (at least another 6 years of good hockey), and Smith has all the tools to be a top 4 D, if not a #1D on this team for a long time.

Hopefully Bahl can continue to develop. All great offensive D require stable, stay at home D. Bahl could certainly develop into a big minute D that opponents hate to play against. If he can work on his skating, he could play a big role in Bing next season. He's faster than he looks, but still not NHL ready yet.

If we can ditch PK with some cap retention, and use that to acquire Sbisa and Gustafsson (i'd be surprised if the duo combined for more than 5.5MAAV).....I would be thrilled. But we need new blood, the current depth on D is not getting the job done. Butch could potentially become our #3LD if competing with these boys

Butch Severson
Gustafsson Smith
Sbisa Mermis