I don't get the outrage. Two players with hefty salaries, a combined 15 goals on the season, just a hair over 30 points, and both of them are UFAs at the end of the season. The cap is flat AND they both had movement clauses. NJ had zero leverage. Honestly what were people expecting? It's a 1st and a 4th for a handful of games for two guys that are having crap offensive seasons. Just because we love them as players doesn't mean their value is any higher.
- WayneZ

You summed it up quite well. I will be shocked if Taylor halls package is that much better. I could see him going for a 1st and a salary dump with the way the cap is situated this season.

Djurgarden has been eliminated from the SHL playoffs. #HoltzWatch is officially on!
- vlongo4419

You know, I hope they let him rest and get healthy so he can start fresh next year. He got hurt a few times this year. We are not going anywhere.

Amazing what happens with the powerplay when you stop putting Zajac out there and load up on actual offensive players.

I'd just like to point out that we didn't do a drop pass and gained the zone easily on the second PP.

Amazing what happens with the powerplay when you stop putting Zajac out there and load up on actual offensive players.
- Pomegrant

I mean Zajac is 12th in PP toi, it was definitely the tactics not the players.

I'd just like to point out that we didn't do a drop pass and gained the zone easily on the second PP.
- rmdevil313

The drop pass isnt the issue. Its actually the most effective PP zone entry, hence why pretty much every team in the league uses it. Its on the players, not the 'tactic'

Its on the players to read what the defenders are giving them, and make the right decision with the puck. For some reason we just mindlessly throw back a drop pass back and force it even when defenders were giving up the blue line instead of taking advantage of that and gaining the zone for free.

The drop pass isnt the issue. Its actually the most effective PP zone entry, hence why pretty much every team in the league uses it. Its on the players, not the 'tactic'

Its on the players to read what the defenders are giving them, and make the right decision with the puck. For some reason we just mindlessly throw back a drop pass back and force it even when defenders were giving up the blue line instead of taking advantage of that and gaining the zone for free.
- vlongo4419

The drop pass forces the D to either drop in to the zone and give you space to carry in or they stay at the blue line and you have room to dump it in behind. We never wanted to dump it so teams figured out quickly that when you hold the line we would just skate in to a wall and never gain the zone. So maybe the drop pass itself wasn't the issue but forcing it definitely was, and not having a plan to dump it in definitely was. And I would disagree that most teams use it as much as us.

Did I see that correctly?!?

Butcher is 4th in games played for the devils on the roster?

Good to see Hughes get one

Did I see that correctly?!?

Butcher is 4th in games played for the devils on the roster?

Good to see Hughes get one
- dmarsden2988

Its crazy lol. I saw somewhere on twitter earlier tonight that the forward group of the Minnesota State college team playing in the frozen four tonight has an older lineup of forwards than what we're icing tonight. And to think, we could get even younger for a few games if/when guys like Foote and Holtz get a shot at some point

Zacha attacka in full force. My man.

Hughes finally rewarded with a big night Their line completely dominated all game. All the kids in general played well, good response to the trade yesterday

Hughes finally rewarded with a big night Their line completely dominated all game. All the kids in general played well, good response to the trade yesterday
- vlongo4419

Apparently Sharangovich-Hughes-Kuokkanen should stay together. Then give me..
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Johnsson-Boqvist-Merkley

... our team is so bad lolol.

Zacha on pace for 53pts in 82 games.. thank God.

Did I see that correctly?!?

Butcher is 4th in games played for the devils on the roster?

Good to see Hughes get one
- dmarsden2988

I totally forgot about Butcher! Where is he, injured? I dont think I remember hearing anything about him.

I totally forgot about Butcher! Where is he, injured? I dont think I remember hearing anything about him.
- Leniwm1

Healthy scratch

Hard for him to get in the line up since he doesn't offer much defensively and not sure who he would replace

Subban has looked better this season and you aren't taking him out of the line up
Kullikov has been pretty steady
Murray has been good defensively
Smith has been great
Severson gets the most ice time
Vats hasn't been great and hasn't been anywhere near as good as last season but I don't see butcher taking his spot

After the trade deadline that is where he may get in depending if we make any d trades

Healthy scratch

Hard for him to get in the line up since he doesn't offer much defensively and not sure who he would replace

Subban has looked better this season and you aren't taking him out of the line up
Kullikov has been pretty steady
Murray has been good defensively
Smith has been great
Severson gets the most ice time
Vats hasn't been great and hasn't been anywhere near as good as last season but I don't see butcher taking his spot

After the trade deadline that is where he may get in depending if we make any d trades
- dmarsden2988

as soon as he got married...just saying....

Just looked at the standings, if gain 4-5 points in the teams above, with some of those have already played more games that us, we could finish outside the top 10 in the draft

Gusev placed on unconditional waivers for purposes of termination

Gusev placed on unconditional waivers for purposes of termination
- vlongo4419

And an asset goes up in smoke. May have been a little asset. I wish Gusev all the best!

Gusev placed on unconditional waivers for purposes of termination
- vlongo4419

I wonder if there is a reason, seems odd with the season almost over

Guess he can sign with another team but we get nothing

I wonder if there is a reason, seems odd with the season almost over

Guess he can sign with another team but we get nothing
- dmarsden2988

Good for the team because we free up a contract and cap space to make a move. Couldn't trade him because of the size of the contract. Gusev can sign a small deal with a team if he wants to join a team for a playoff run or just go back to Russia right away rather than sitting around doing nothing.

Great tweet from Masisak here: https://twitter.com/cmasi...tatus/1380588366220169217

Devils are 7th in the league in CF% and top 12 in xGF% and SCF%, which is pretty impressive considering they're a very young team(also without Nico for all but 5 games). It just goes to show how badly the special teams and inability to score has hurt this team.

Its also very good when you start to consider that the Devils are an organization that is heavily driven by analytics now. So they know the goals will come, or it will be addressed

I wonder if there is a reason, seems odd with the season almost over

Guess he can sign with another team but we get nothing
- dmarsden2988

That really is bizarre. We just freed up 2 roster spots and are buying out our best scorer from the second half of last season, while we have the lowest payroll in the league.......

Odd. Anyone think Murray gets moved? I feel his play of late has earned some serious consideration. If Savard is generating so much interest (1G, 5A, -19?, 24 pims), why cant Murray who plays a great shutdown roll (0G, 10A, +4, 6 pims). The teams are similar in terms of records, and +/-, yet Murray is winning across the board and looks solid when you watch his play. With Ekholm off the board, Murray should be generating some serious attention. Maybe enough to bring back a 2nd rd?

And an asset goes up in smoke. May have been a little asset. I wish Gusev all the best!
- redmonsters

It pains me that we finally got player to want to play here, (butcher and gusev) and we are just reminding other players why not to come.

OT...Do you think the Devils should go after Laine if he becomes available this trade deadline or even in the offseason? I know he wants to get paid (probably around 8+mil) but he be perfect next to the two centers we have in Nico and Hughes. The Devils will have plenty of cap space and if they are going to spend it at least spend it on top-tier talent who is still very young(22yrs old) instead of aging players like Subban. The Devils also have plenty of draft capital and prospects to make it work.