First, Quinn Hughes is not options for Devils (seen a lot of recent ACGMs with Quinn Hughes signing offer-sheet in NJ. Dougie Hamilton likely is their main off-season target.
Quinn Hughes: Everyone should read: https://www.capfriendly.com/faq#102c. Quinn is not eligible to sign an offer-sheet this year.
Dougie Hamilton: GM Fitzgerald has said he is not going make a huge free agent acquisition this off season. But, Hamilton would qualify as an exemption to that. I expect Devils to make major play for Dougie.
Others: I think there are a few possible big names like Werenski, Jones, Lindholm, etc that he will go after if they are available and Hamilton does not sign.
---
Our Needs
(a) a top-pair d-man
(b) a 2nd pair d-man
(c) a veteran RW/C for 3rd line
(d) a back-up goalie
(e) a middle-six scoring winger
(f) maybe another depth d-man to but time until kids ready
---
This is what I expect to happen
A bigger off-season to last year (when we added Murray, Kulikov, and Crawford). There will likely be 1-2 big name guys added that take the team up another level, probably on defense.
The kids develop. Bahl, Holtz, Mercer, Foote will be on NJD roster at some point over next year. Okhotyuk, Vukojevic, Graeme Clarke, Studenic and Thompson will be given chances. Their #1 pick will go to Michigan, return to Frölunda or go back to Barrie (or wherever).
One or two role players may come in via trade or free agency.
---
THE FITZYPLAN:
(a) 3RD RETENTION SPOT
Fitzy has indicated he will use his 3rd spot to retain salary on 2020-21 contracts. He has a 9-day window to retain before the pre-expansion roster freeze. Part of the reason he did not trade Murray or Vatanen was so that he could hang onto this last retention spot (which is a little strange since its only good for about a week, unless it is a multi-year contract). He said he plans to use it before expansion draft (he used first two retention spots on Palmieri and Zajac at trade deadline). He likely has something already in mind.
(b) 3RD DEFENSEMAN TO PROTECT
They likely protect 7-3-1. Forwards are clear (Hischier, Bratt, Sharangovich, Zacha, Kuokkanen, Wood and McLeod). And two of the defense spots are set (Severson and Siegenthaler). Last Def spot between Subban and Butcher, both UFAs after the season. Likely Butcher if they think Seattle won't take Subban at $9 million for a year. Could be new trade acquisition.
(c) WHAT VETERAN DEFENSEMAN WILL AVAILABLE
They could re-sign Murray or bring in new veteran d-man. Maybe both. But I'd expect one top-pairing d-man to added (maybe Hamilton) and one additional veteran d-man in on short-term deal. Its unclear who the best trade targets will be.
(d) BACKUP GOALIE
Their backup goalie will likely found in UFA pool. Maybe Wedgewood returns to be #3. But Akira Schmid could be darkhorse to win spot. There are countless options available as free agents so no point in naming them all.
(e) CAP MOVES
While I'd love to get some free picks for swallowing contracts (not my money), I do not think Fitzy will ultimately take the pick + player for nothing types of deals. I think he would rather find useful veterans from teams that are squeezed on cap or due to expansion draft.
---
It will be an important off-season in NJ.
We hopefully will land a couple guys who step us up a level on blueline.
Steady, smart building elsewhere.
Unfortunately, I agree with you that this offseason will be boring.
I was also a bit confused why Murray or Vatanen weren't traded with 50% retained at the deadline but I think Fitz might try to make a move at the expansion draft.
I think we should protect Subban over Butcher 100%. He's been the better defensemen and more important to the team
The Veteran defensemen I'm looking at are Martinez and Larsson. If we get Martinez, Smith moves to the right side. If we get Larsson, he'll fit with smith
The Veteran goalie I'm looking at is Bernier or Halak
If the Devils don't start going after legit veteran players in FA or through trade then they're complete fools. Signing one big free agent contract to fill an area of need, is not going put the Devils in any kind of cap trouble or negatively impact their rebuild. It's time to start trying to win.
As much as I like the young players on the team, I think we tend to overvalue how good some of them are or will be. In order to be a good team, you have to bring in GOOD players and I think expecting all of these prospects to hit is a recipe for disaster.
If the Devils don't start going after legit veteran players in FA or through trade then they're complete fools. Signing one big free agent contract to fill an area of need, is not going put the Devils in any kind of cap trouble or negatively impact their rebuild. It's time to start trying to win.
As much as I like the young players on the team, I think we tend to overvalue how good some of them are or will be. In order to be a good team, you have to bring in GOOD players and I think expecting all of these prospects to hit is a recipe for disaster.
End of rant.
Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop.
Use FA's to fill holes once we become competitive.
But minus maybe one more top-4 d-man...we likely have our core in place.
Not even about cap space as it is about what is the best course of player development. We have a lot of young talent that need opportunity to develop to pro game. Keep the powder dry for when we are 1-2 pieces away.
Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop.
And look at the guys we have drafted in later rounds. Wood, Coleman, Bratt, Sharangovich...(and in pipeline, Gritsyuk, Edwards, Schmid, Pasic). If we sign UFAs just for the sake of filling the cap, none of those guys play.
Not even about cap space as it is about what is the best course of player development. We have a lot of young talent that need opportunity to develop to pro game. Keep the powder dry for when we are 1-2 pieces away.
Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop.
And look at the guys we have drafted in later rounds. Wood, Coleman, Bratt, Sharangovich...(and in pipeline, Gritsyuk, Edwards, Schmid, Pasic). If we sign UFAs just for the sake of filling the cap, none of those guys play.
BUT DO EXACTLY WHAT BUFFALO DID WITH HALL , ONE YEAR DEAL AND FLIP AT DEADLINE FOR PICKS
What do people think about the Devils targeting a player that a team can't protect in the expansion draft? I was thinking Matt Dumba from Minnesota, who already has 3 defenseman who are on NMCs and must be protected. The Wild could protect 8 skaters to protect him but it seems like they would be left exposing too many desirable forwards then. Thoughts?
NHLfan10506 liked this.
Reply
Holtz,
CapFriendly
CapFriendly