Todd Cordell: Four potential UFA defense targets for the New Jersey Devils

McKenzie say Laviollete is our new coach.

Ill take DIllion and any one of the rest.. say GUDAS>....


Mermis --PK
Dillion -Smith
Gudas - Severson

Uggh on all those Dmen. Yeah to Lavs if it is true!

I have trouble entertaining the idea that we would bring in a quality UFA so that's pretty much were the Dillon Dream ends... but yeah we need him.

Gudas is POS player but I might hate him less if he's on our team. Maybe not.

I can't see wanting Forbort if he can't play top 4 because we've got a lot of those guys. Maybe not as good defensively but still.

No idea why Big Buff would want to come end his career in Newark...

Byfuglien?...geez pair him with Subban and we have our first ever “Red Light Line” on Defense!!

Fitz doesn't know what he's talking about. Size doesn't equate to toughness or being "tougher to play against". All you need is speed, handles, agility and hockey sense. Throw size out the window, this is 2020!!

Dillon would be great. I got the sense that Gudas is slowing down.. not sure I'd invest much in him, but I could be wrong. He's 30.. 2 years younger than me I'm getting to the age where players slow down. What's left of my life anymore? the dream is over. I'll never be an athlete.

Dillon would be a nice add, but i just dont see him wanting to come here. Cup contenders would, and should, be all over him in free agency. Gudas would be ok too i guess. Who knows whats going on with Buff? I think we should try for smaller deals from cap-strapped teams. I doubt Tampa will move him but they need help with their cap issues, so i'd try to trade for Cernak if possible. But they'll likely just get someone to take a Killorn, Gourde, or Johnson to get their cap relief though

Byfuglien?...geez pair him with Subban and we have our first ever “Red Light Line” on Defense!!
- RussH1964

Red Light Line as in brothels or goals?

If Goals are we talking for or against?

Todd Cordell: Four potential UFA defense targets for the New Jersey Devils
- Todd.Cordell

Buff would be ideal but who knows what he’s up to, gudas and Dillion will have to do.

Fitz doesn't know what he's talking about. Size doesn't equate to toughness or being "tougher to play against". All you need is speed, handles, agility and hockey sense. Throw size out the window, this is 2020!!

Dillon would be great. I got the sense that Gudas is slowing down.. not sure I'd invest much in him, but I could be wrong. He's 30.. 2 years younger than me I'm getting to the age where players slow down. What's left of my life anymore? the dream is over. I'll never be an athlete.
- MartysBetter88

We're gona end up with Raymond over Holtz because another team will look at Holtz for his scoring ability. I don't get the Raymond hype. You can't be both not physically imposing AND not that fast AND not have a lethal shot. Why bother with that kind of player? But maybe I'm wrong. I'm not a scout and the pros have him ranked high. So there's that. I wouldn't be upset if we took Holtz, Perfetti or Drysdale over him.

As it is now, the order is Detroit, Ottawa, Ottawa, LA, Anaheim, NJ.
The top 2 are obviously Laf and By. Who does Ottawa go with at 3? Stuz? or perhaps they want Holtz. Or perhaps they want Dry to add to Chabot. Look at LA.. they're destined to pick Dry. They could use a forward too, but I think they have to take him. But they could surprise us and go offense.

Then the Ducks and the Devils. I think the Ducks need a forward more than Drysdale, so if he's not gone already he could fall to us.

Raymond, Perfetti, Holtz, Rossi, Lundell.. Sanderson looks like the general consensus of where the forwards are ranked.

After us at 6th, you have Buffalo, Montreal, Chicago. Maybe Chicago takes goalie. I just can't imagine Buffalo AND Montreal both passing on one of these 4 forwards. If they did, I'd gladly scoop one up over Lundell or Sanderson at 10.

I think Perfetti and Rossi can move to wing? So I wouldn't be upset with one of them AND Lundell. Lundell coul be another Zacha, or he could be a Couturier. Either way he would make Zacha expendable, or move to the 4th line? I know you typically want an energy guy on the 4th line.. but hey, Hughes has energy! i shouldn't even joke like that.

If Lundell is on the board and Raymond, Perfetti, Holtz, Rossi are gone.. do you go with the potential Couts and floor Zacha, or do you go with someone else?

Reports of 3 players and 2 staffers at Tampa bay lightning have COVID 19. They are shutting down.

Reports of 3 players and 2 staffers at Tampa bay lightning have COVID 19. They are shutting down.
- Queenie_5_hole

Gets worse:
The Phillies confirmed they are dealing with a coronavirus outbreak at their spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla. The outbreak, first reported by NBC Sports Philadelphia, so far includes five players and three staff members who have tested positive for the virus.

Reports of 3 players and 2 staffers at Tampa bay lightning have COVID 19. They are shutting down.
- Queenie_5_hole

Florida is a mess right now. Lightning as well as the Phillies and Bluejays all potentially have cases

Reports of 3 players and 2 staffers at Tampa bay lightning have COVID 19. They are shutting down.
- Queenie_5_hole

jeez. I know it's easy to catch this.. but I also know how you catch it- rubbing infected fingers in your eyes, nose, mouth. .. or inhaling droplets in the air that are infected. All of this seems manageable if you're conscious of your hands at all times and carrying sanitizer with you to use after you touch things in places outside of your home or car... and before you touch your car and things inside of your home.

Those players and staff have a couple weeks to get better. Resume precautions. Resume the season.

Red Light Line as in brothels or goals?

If Goals are we talking for or against?
- Queenie_5_hole

Lets put it this way...Mackenzie wont need to hit Point Pleasant to get the back of his neck tanned!

jeez. I know it's easy to catch this.. but I also know how you catch it- rubbing infected fingers in your eyes, nose, mouth. .. or inhaling droplets in the air that are infected. All of this seems manageable if you're conscious of your hands at all times and carrying sanitizer with you to use after you touch things in places outside of your home or car... and before you touch your car and things inside of your home.

Those players and staff have a couple weeks to get better. Resume precautions. Resume the season.
- MartysBetter88

The big problem is that people who get covid for the rest of their life have reduced lung capacity which is a huge deal for an athlete. Honestly, they need to just cancel the season completely because it's just dangerous. Our country as a whole is a complete poopshow in managing this and it won't be any different in the sports world.

The big problem is that people who get covid for the rest of their life have reduced lung capacity which is a huge deal for an athlete. Honestly, they need to just cancel the season completely because it's just dangerous. Our country as a whole is a complete poopshow in managing this and it won't be any different in the sports world.
- Pomegrant

I have friends in Florida who say most of the state acts as if the Pandemic is pretty much over. It makes it a dangerous place even if you are trying be cautious.

Florida has reported almost 4,000 new cases in one day. OUT OF CONTROL!

This is why the only way to have a successful playoffs is to be able to accurately test players upon arrival to a hub city and then keep them completely locked down. If that is a realistic option or not and if players will agree to it is the issue.

The big problem is that people who get covid for the rest of their life have reduced lung capacity which is a huge deal for an athlete. Honestly, they need to just cancel the season completely because it's just dangerous. Our country as a whole is a complete poopshow in managing this and it won't be any different in the sports world.
- Pomegrant

wow I didn't know that. how severely reduced? I'll have to look into it.

wow I didn't know that. how severely reduced? I'll have to look into it.
- MartysBetter88

From what I've heard there are many lingering health issue for people who survive Covid-19 and of course there is a wide range of severity. In regards to reduced lung capacity, for many folks it is fairly mild but you do have cases where it is significant. Patients who have been put on ventilators typically have the worst outcomes but obviously they were also the patients who were the most ill. There is serious potential for ventilators to cause damage because they have to work hard to keep someone with Covid breathing. This means pumping air in with a lot of pressure. And with this disease every case affects both lungs so it's horrific that way. Pneumonia by comparison generally does not affect both simultaneously.

Just reported that Auston Matthews had Covid-19

Just reported that Auston Matthews had Covid-19
- Queenie_5_hole

welp. that's that.

The big problem is that people who get covid for the rest of their life have reduced lung capacity which is a huge deal for an athlete. Honestly, they need to just cancel the season completely because it's just dangerous. Our country as a whole is a complete poopshow in managing this and it won't be any different in the sports world.
- Pomegrant

Are you referring to just the people who are hospitalized?

I'd like to target Sbisa, Gustafsson, Vats, and Edmonson. All excellent options that will likely take short term low-risk deals.

Krug is going to demand too much term and a massive AAV, so I'd pass on him. Buff would be a fantastic one year risk if possible!