Thanks for making this huge disappointment of a season a little more digestible. Your coverage has been really valuable, especially for out of town fans like me. Looking forward to the off-season takes!
Who would everyone be OK giving up the 1st rounder for? Saros (extended) would be the only rumored goalie I would give it up for since I don’t think Helly is going anywhere.
As much as I’d love the bite to be Brady, there’s no chance we’d want to part with the pieces required. How realistic would it be to bring Coleman back from Calgary? Maybe in the Markstrom deal?
Great coverage Todd as always - it was as consistently good as the Devils were consistently inconsistent on the ice. Besides goaltending and a head coach, they need to strengthen the left side of the defense and oddly enough, improve the overall team speed. Say what you want about Tatar, Wood, Boqvist, Severson and Graves in terms of consistent production, but they were all very good to excellent skaters and just made it difficult on opponents shift after shift. The mix and team speed just looked off and it got more magnified with the loss of McLeod up the middle. They tried playing the same style as last year and while most of those guys were still there, the new guys couldn’t maintain it. Who would be your targets for middle 6 forwards and LD’s?
My biggest concern after the coach is the step back that Seigenthaler and Marino had. If their years weren't blips but the start of diminishing returns the defensive ability of this team is going to be a giant anchor.
Their cap hits are minor in the grand scheme of things, especially with the cap going up. The one thing you have to give GMTF credit for is keeping guys on really good value contracts.
I do give credit to GMTF for keeping cap hits down but I'm talking about their play on the ice. Last year Siegs and Marino had the two best defensive impacts on the team and this year I think they had the two worst defensive impacts on the team at one point.
A lot of the step back defensively that the team took this year is being attributed to having two rookie defensemen but Luke and Simon weren't that bad as far as rookies go. By far the biggest reason why the team took such a step back defensively is because Siegs and Marino turned into pumpkins this year.
I definitely agree with you, they took a big step back this season and it’s tough to say why. Was it Dougie going town and everyone being forced into roles they shouldn’t have been? Were Sever and Graves really the anchors? Just a rare down year? Or was it coaching and scheme?
My point with the contracts (which I admittedly should have expanded on earlier) is that we can easily bury or flip these guys in the future if we need to. There are plenty of teams out there that would take them to either be a 5/6/7 defenseman or plod along on a bad or rebuilding team. This isn’t a pair of monster 8 year contracts we’re stuck with forever.
Thanks for making this huge disappointment of a season a little more digestible. Your coverage has been really valuable, especially for out of town fans like me. Looking forward to the off-season takes!
Thank you for the continued support. I can’t do this without you all!
Who would everyone be OK giving up the 1st rounder for? Saros (extended) would be the only rumored goalie I would give it up for since I don’t think Helly is going anywhere.
Agreed
Feel like we always say this, but man, most important offseason in a LONG time. Let’s see if Fitz makes the right moves. I have faith
I think that middle 6 player needs bite. Stephenson? Bertuzzi? Domi (*hides*)?
Agreed. A lot of the Devils core players remind you more of the Brady Bunch than of Brady Tkachuk.
As much as I’d love the bite to be Brady, there’s no chance we’d want to part with the pieces required. How realistic would it be to bring Coleman back from Calgary? Maybe in the Markstrom deal?
Great coverage Todd as always - it was as consistently good as the Devils were consistently inconsistent on the ice. Besides goaltending and a head coach, they need to strengthen the left side of the defense and oddly enough, improve the overall team speed. Say what you want about Tatar, Wood, Boqvist, Severson and Graves in terms of consistent production, but they were all very good to excellent skaters and just made it difficult on opponents shift after shift. The mix and team speed just looked off and it got more magnified with the loss of McLeod up the middle. They tried playing the same style as last year and while most of those guys were still there, the new guys couldn’t maintain it. Who would be your targets for middle 6 forwards and LD’s?
My biggest concern after the coach is the step back that Seigenthaler and Marino had. If their years weren't blips but the start of diminishing returns the defensive ability of this team is going to be a giant anchor.
Their cap hits are minor in the grand scheme of things, especially with the cap going up. The one thing you have to give GMTF credit for is keeping guys on really good value contracts.
I do give credit to GMTF for keeping cap hits down but I'm talking about their play on the ice. Last year Siegs and Marino had the two best defensive impacts on the team and this year I think they had the two worst defensive impacts on the team at one point.
A lot of the step back defensively that the team took this year is being attributed to having two rookie defensemen but Luke and Simon weren't that bad as far as rookies go. By far the biggest reason why the team took such a step back defensively is because Siegs and Marino turned into pumpkins this year.
I definitely agree with you, they took a big step back this season and it’s tough to say why. Was it Dougie going town and everyone being forced into roles they shouldn’t have been? Were Sever and Graves really the anchors? Just a rare down year? Or was it coaching and scheme?
My point with the contracts (which I admittedly should have expanded on earlier) is that we can easily bury or flip these guys in the future if we need to. There are plenty of teams out there that would take them to either be a 5/6/7 defenseman or plod along on a bad or rebuilding team. This isn’t a pair of monster 8 year contracts we’re stuck with forever.