Sam Woo: Raising Hell: Bratt, Thompson, Vanecek File Arbitration

So with 13mill in cap space

Bratt 7millish
Vanacek 2.5mill?
Wood 2.5mill

We do have bernier on LTIR which helps

Didn't realize we were that close to the cap

So with 13mill in cap space

Bratt 7millish
Vanacek 2.5mill?
Wood 2.5mill

We do have bernier on LTIR which helps

Didn't realize we were that close to the cap
- dmarsden2988

I'd be fine with letting Wood go. He's an awesome human being, but the only thing he has as a player is speed. He can't shoot can't pass better than anyone else we could bring up to replace him. He's really nothing special other than an insanely fast skater.

I would like to know if they do move Severson, what would be their plans for the point on the power play and having a defenseman that could move the puck out of the zone?

My opinion, no way he gets traded.

I'm hesitant to give Bratt big money yet. He's only had ONE 70+ pt season. I hope he has many more, but this could be a RFA David Clarkson situation here. 4 of his 5 years in the NHL he's only had 30-35 pts per season. Now he hits over 70 one time and we're supposed to hand out Nico Hischier money? Bratt should only get $5-$6 million/yr.

So with 13mill in cap space

Bratt 7millish
Vanacek 2.5mill?
Wood 2.5mill

We do have bernier on LTIR which helps

Didn't realize we were that close to the cap
- dmarsden2988

Johnsson probably gets shipped out at this point as a cap dump, too. So thats another 3.4M. They're fine. Close to the cap, but fine. What a turn of events, we're gonna be a cap team this season. The owners are cheap crowd is pretty quiet nowadays.

Unfortunately, if anything, this limits what they could do in terms of adding a top 6 scoring winger.

Cap space goes away fast, and now we're in a position where we need to get creative if we want to make another big move for this upcoming season. Still in great shape moving forward beyond this season though.

I would like to know if they do move Severson, what would be their plans for the point on the power play and having a defenseman that could move the puck out of the zone? .
- Shadyron

I think we'll have a better answer by the trade deadline. Luke Hughes and Nemec should both be NHLers by the time Severson's deal is up. We also don't know what Walsh can do at the NHL level yet. There's options to replace Damon with if we can trade him. If we can't trade him, then I'd be fine letting him hit free agency next summer. Our D pipeline is too stacked to create a logjam resigning him.

Bratt is prob askin 8-9.
Giving contracts based on one season is how things are done these days so Bratt will get top dollar.

I'd love if he took less so the team can get competitive and have quality depth, but he certainly isn't obligated to and if things dont work out, I wish him well on another team.

I'm hesitant to give Bratt big money yet. He's only had ONE 70+ pt season. I hope he has many more, but this could be a RFA David Clarkson situation here. 4 of his 5 years in the NHL he's only had 30-35 pts per season. Now he hits over 70 one time and we're supposed to hand out Nico Hischier money? Bratt should only get $5-$6 million/yr.
- jtylerm

Bratt has done more than Nico.

Brtt has been our most explosive offensive player for 2-3 years now .

Severson we need his PP and offense till Hughes and Nemec are ready ( which they re not yet ) . Smith fell off the planet and was terrible last year.

Wasn't Wood out top goal scorer his last full season ? Yes he was .... and adds grit to a grittless lineup.

Still need one more top 6 scorer but might have to wait. where does Boqvist , Johnson , Holtz , THompson , Zett fit in ? too many players. now .....

Palat-Hughes-Shak
Bratt - Nico - Holtz
Wood - Huala - Tatar
Zett - Mcleod -Bastian

Bratt has done more than Nico.
- Leniwm1

Has he? As an overall player outside of this season thats very debatable. Before this season Bratts point paces have been 39, 53, 43, and 53 while Nicos have been 52, 56, 51, and 43. This year obviously Bratt was 79 and Nico was 71. Then splitting hairs Bratt is a borderline elite play-driver while Nico still a very good and well above average player-driver. Nico is much better defensively than Bratt. Nico is also the captain and does way more intangibles that dont show up on the scoresheet than Bratt does. Nico also plays a premium position.

I wouldnt give Bratt more than Nico let alone into the 8M range. I wouldnt give him anything more than 7M max tbh.

Kevin Fiala just got 7.8M and had a better career year this year than Bratt and has had a better consistency throughout this career so far than Bratt. Bratt shouldnt come close to that number. This issue though is that Ottawa and St. Louis gave out awful 8x8 contracts to Norris and Thomas, who Bratt is better than. That is where we could get bit in the ass. Should be interesting to see how it plays out in the end and what they settle on.

Johnsson probably gets shipped out at this point as a cap dump, too. So thats another 3.4M. They're fine. Close to the cap, but fine. What a turn of events, we're gonna be a cap team this season. The owners are cheap crowd is pretty quiet nowadays.

Unfortunately, if anything, this limits what they could do in terms of adding a top 6 scoring winger.

Cap space goes away fast, and now we're in a position where we need to get creative if we want to make another big move for this upcoming season. Still in great shape moving forward beyond this season though.
- vlongo4419

Yeah my comment was more about not realizing just how close we were to a cap team when all things are done (based on no other trades) I knew we were above the floor just didn't realize how close we were to the ceiling after the potential signings.

I saw a comment about wood. Yes he is speedy and missed a bunch of time but also brings an aspect we have been missing where he will battle and take one for the team but isn't just out there to fight. As long as you don't play him top 6 he is effective

I know we will have johnsson and tatar off the books after this season but if we keep Severson and Graves they will most likely get raises and would still need to fill the departures of johnsson and tatar

Yeah my comment was more about not realizing just how close we were to a cap team when all things are done (based on no other trades) I knew we were above the floor just didn't realize how close we were to the ceiling after the potential signings.

I saw a comment about wood. Yes he is speedy and missed a bunch of time but also brings an aspect we have been missing where he will battle and take one for the team but isn't just out there to fight. As long as you don't play him top 6 he is effective

I know we will have johnsson and tatar off the books after this season but if we keep Severson and Graves they will most likely get raises and would still need to fill the departures of johnsson and tatar
- dmarsden2988

Yeah I highly doubt we keep both Graves and Sevo, because they both will require long-term deals which would just block Luke and Nemec from getting a spot. I think we could keep one, but i wouldnt be completely shocked if both are gone. We'll have ~31M in cap next offseason(which is more than we had going into this summer), so we'll be fine going forward.

I could see Sevo being packaged for a winger upgrade before the season but that'll be really hard to make work with where we're at cap-wise now unless one or both of AJ/Tatar are shipped out. I think he'll likely be kept until the deadline then they'll decide what to do.

Has he? As an overall player outside of this season thats very debatable. Before this season Bratts point paces have been 39, 53, 43, and 53 while Nicos have been 52, 56, 51, and 43. This year obviously Bratt was 79 and Nico was 71. Then splitting hairs Bratt is a borderline elite play-driver while Nico still a very good and well above average player-driver. Nico is much better defensively than Bratt. Nico is also the captain and does way more intangibles that dont show up on the scoresheet than Bratt does. Nico also plays a premium position.

I wouldnt give Bratt more than Nico let alone into the 8M range. I wouldnt give him anything more than 7M max tbh.

Kevin Fiala just got 7.8M and had a better career year this year than Bratt and has had a better consistency throughout this career so far than Bratt. Bratt shouldnt come close to that number. This issue though is that Ottawa and St. Louis gave out awful 8x8 contracts to Norris and Thomas, who Bratt is better than. That is where we could get bit in the ass. Should be interesting to see how it plays out in the end and what they settle on.
- vlongo4419

I just saw that Norris deal. I wonder if thats what Bratt's camp was waiting for, some bogus deal they can use as leverage.

I just saw that Norris deal. I wonder if thats what Bratt's camp was waiting for, some bogus deal they can use as leverage.
- Leniwm1

Yeah i could totally see that being the case, and now that they filed for arb that essentially puts a deadline on Fitz to get a deal done. Really putting the pressure on him.

Mind bottling that people keep slotting Holtz into our top 6. Keep in mind this was a guy that didn't make the team out of camp last season, looked terrible when he did finally get the call up, and other than his shot has no NHL-caliber assets to speak of. I watched a fair bit of AHL games and even in games where he scored he just seemed like an ineffective perimter floater for large stretches of time.

I think he has at least another season in the AHL coming before he even sniffs the big club. If they even think of having him flank Jack or playing opposite of Bratt they better be ready for their productivity to tank cause they'll spend all their time waiting on Holtz to catch up to the play.

Yeah I highly doubt we keep both Graves and Sevo, because they both will require long-term deals which would just block Luke and Nemec from getting a spot. I think we could keep one, but i wouldnt be completely shocked if both are gone. We'll have ~31M in cap next offseason(which is more than we had going into this summer), so we'll be fine going forward.

I could see Sevo being packaged for a winger upgrade before the season but that'll be really hard to make work with where we're at cap-wise now unless one or both of AJ/Tatar are shipped out. I think he'll likely be kept until the deadline then they'll decide what to do.
- vlongo4419

I'm pretty sure some team will give Graves 5.5 and Severson 6.5 with term. Great for them but if our main goal is to build for the future while trying to transition into playoff contention you let those guys go.

Bratt has signed!!!!

Ok fine his younger brother to a PTO with Utica

Flames electing arbitration for Tkachuk is interesting. Forces a time table for re-signing but also might force them into a trade since arbitration will yield a one year contract which will probably be big money then make it so they wouldn't be able to qualify him next year.

Mind bottling that people keep slotting Holtz into our top 6. Keep in mind this was a guy that didn't make the team out of camp last season, looked terrible when he did finally get the call up, and other than his shot has no NHL-caliber assets to speak of. I watched a fair bit of AHL games and even in games where he scored he just seemed like an ineffective perimter floater for large stretches of time.

I think he has at least another season in the AHL coming before he even sniffs the big club. If they even think of having him flank Jack or playing opposite of Bratt they better be ready for their productivity to tank cause they'll spend all their time waiting on Holtz to catch up to the play.
- WayneZ

I'd imagine Haula plays 3C which puts Mercer at #2RW and Holtz on line 3 I guess? I would imagine before full camps are open the projected top 6 would look like:

Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Sharangovich-Nico-Mercer


As far as AHL goes, 26 goals and 51 points in 52 games means he doesn't have a lot left there to prove. He's going to get every opportunity to make the NHL team, especially if they can find a taker for Johnsson.

I know one of not both of graves and severson may move, but Graves isn't old and I thought had a solid season, though I haven't looked at advanced stats. We have unknowns in Luke and Nemec, but at least they play opposite sides. Then Dougie on the right.. No guarantee how good Siegenthaler gets.. He may just be a great #5 on a playoff team, which would be great.. Or maybe Luke just ends up an average offensive dman. Bahl and the rest may amount to nothing and will get injury call ups anyway. It might not be a bad idea to keep Graves. I like Severson.. But now that we have 25yr young Marino, who seems like a great bottom pair and decent #4, plus some confidence Nemec likely will at least be an NHLer .. Maybe Severson really should go, especially with Marino and Hamilton signed 5+ years. But we run risk if nemec flops or Marino struggles. I lean more to keeping Graves than opening up that left side to just Siegenthaler and Luke.

I know one of not both of graves and severson may move, but Graves isn't old and I thought had a solid season, though I haven't looked at advanced stats. We have unknowns in Luke and Nemec, but at least they play opposite sides. Then Dougie on the right.. No guarantee how good Siegenthaler gets.. He may just be a great #5 on a playoff team, which would be great.. Or maybe Luke just ends up an average offensive dman. Bahl and the rest may amount to nothing and will get injury call ups anyway. It might not be a bad idea to keep Graves. I like Severson.. But now that we have 25yr young Marino, who seems like a great bottom pair and decent #4, plus some confidence Nemec likely will at least be an NHLer .. Maybe Severson really should go, especially with Marino and Hamilton signed 5+ years. But we run risk if nemec flops or Marino struggles. I lean more to keeping Graves than opening up that left side to just Siegenthaler and Luke.
- MartysBetter88

I think siegenthalar while may not be fancy and put up offensive numbers is our best defensive dman and one of the better ones on the NHL as being very steady and you know he will rarely cost you.

I think the Marino trade was great and will give better depth and strong play. Last season Graves started very strong but did seem to trail off with his play as season went on but was still good.

Severson is the more offensive dman in comparison and had a good season overall

The devil's will have to decide what to do at the deadline depending where the team is on who to trade and who to keep. This season is fine since we don't have anyone that really is pushing them out of the line up it's the next season moving forward.

Hughes we know is going back to Michigan, Nemec if he has a very strong camp has a chance to play in the NHL but said he is also willing to play in the AHL which I think the team will want so that he can adjust to the game. They may give him a couple games but if they do it may be on the 3rd pair and 2pp

Graves Hamilton
Siegenthalar Severson
Marino smith

If nemec plays he would replace smith

The following year is where it will be more crowded

? Hamilton
Siegenthalar Hughes
Marino Nemec

That's assuming siegenthalar signs as I believe would be an RFA which unless traded we will sign him

Also think Marino won't be bottom pair

On top of that we still have Walsh, Shakhir, and lesser extent Bahl and Ok that may look for a spot

I'm pretty sure some team will give Graves 5.5 and Severson 6.5 with term. Great for them but if our main goal is to build for the future while trying to transition into playoff contention you let those guys go.
- Pomegrant

Agreed, I don't think either guy will be back, especially at the cost it'll take to keep them. Severson has no spot beyond this year, period. So keeping him is pointless. I could see an argument for Graves since outside of Siegs and Luke next season, Graves is by far the best option to fill in on the left side, and you can just have Brendan Smith as the 7th D(he's signed for 2 years). But then the question is do you want to locked Graves up at the term and $ he'll get to be a 3rd pairing guy? Because Siegs and Luke will be ahead of him in the lineup. I'd lean no.

I think it's just a question of if we trade those guys or use them as self rentals and let them walk at the end of the year.

Next year with both of them gone and zero outside additions we're looking at D core of:

Siegs-Hamilton
Luke-Marino
Smith/a kid-Nemec

Not bad considering we'd be losing both of Graves and Sevo. We probably sign a depth guy or two in this instance in case Luke and/or Nemec arent ready for a full time spot yet.(This is where the argument is to possibly keep Graves, for the left side if Luke isn't ready for a full-time top 4 role yet. The right side is fine even if Nemec isn't ready, Dougie/Marino lock down the top 2 pairings)

The Devils and Vitek Vanecek have agreed on a contract extension, 3 years at 3.4M AAV.

Now sitting at 9.6M cap space remaining with Bratt, Wood, Boqvist, Zetterlund, and Thompson needing a deal. Someone is definitely getting moved out(Probably AJ)

The Devils and Vitek Vanecek have agreed on a contract extension, 3 years at 3.4M AAV.


- vlongo4419

That's wild.