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What needs to be fixed next year

Created by: Devil
Team: 2022-23 New Jersey Devils
Initial Creation Date: Apr. 21, 2022
Published: Apr. 22, 2022
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Devils finish the season bottom 10 in the league against but this year, the team looks better than where they are in the standings. Devils are near the middle of the league (Tied 16th) in goals for, and that is with Hughes and Hamilton having significant injuries this season. With healthy Hughes, Hamilton and Holtz being called up, they should be higher next year. The big problem is goaltending. Devils rank bottom 5 (Tied 5th) in goals against and dead last in goals saved above expected. Main reason for goaltending struggles is injuries. Blackwood and Bernier both missed a majority of the season. Devils had to rely on a 21 year old Nico Daws to help them win games.

Goaltending
Devils need a good, reliable goaltender to head into the season with. There are a ton of options internally and through free agency. I listed a bunch of option in the goalie section that the Devils could be interested in. Im leaning toward Kuemper right now but I assume the Avalanche resign him in the offseason. Another scenario is trading Zacha for Samsonov and then rolling with a tandem of Blackwood/Samsonov for the season. if one of them struggles, call up Daws.

Coaching Staff
Fire Lindy Ruff and Mark Recchi
Devils have a both 5 powerplay despite all of their talent offensively. We haven't scored a powerplay goal since Hughes has gotten injured which is unacceptable. Plus Devils have allowed the most shorthanded goals in the league. Lindy Ruff is not a good fit for the Devils coach. He doesn't have the fast, high paced system that would best fit the Devils. Along with that, his wonky line combos and his inability to own up to mistakes is the reason he should be gone ASAP. Not sure who they would bring in but maybe Kevin Dineen who has done a terriffic job in Utica this year
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
7$7,000,000
2$1,500,000
1$3,000,000
3$3,000,000
1$1,000,000
1$1,000,000
1$1,000,000
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
1$1,000,000
1$1,000,000
1$1,000,000
1$1,000,000
1$1,000,000
Offer Sheets
Offer sheet annual average (AAV) is calculated by dividing the contract value by the lower of: 1. The contract length, or 2. Five years
PLAYERAAVCOMPENSATION
Oettinger, Jake$1,000,000No Compensation
Samsonov, Ilya$1,000,000No Compensation
Vanecek, Vitek$1,000,000No Compensation
Trades
NJD
    Some guys that could get moved this offseason
    Buyouts
    Recapture Fees
    DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
    2022
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the EDM
    Logo of the NYI
    Logo of the CBJ
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    2023
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    2024
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    Logo of the NJD
    ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
    28$81,500,000$66,156,666$0$1,897,500$15,343,334
    Left WingCentreRight Wing
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $2,000,000$2,000,000
    C, LW, RW
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $8,000,000$8,000,000
    C
    UFA - 8
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $894,167$894,167 (Performance Bonus$400,000$400K)
    RW, C
    RFA - 2
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $894,167$894,167 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
    RW, LW
    RFA - 3
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $7,250,000$7,250,000
    C
    UFA - 5
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $7,000,000$7,000,000
    RW, LW
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $1,500,000$1,500,000
    C, LW
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $975,000$975,000
    C
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $825,000$825,000
    RW
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $3,000,000$3,000,000
    LW
    UFA - 1
    Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $3,166,667$3,166,667
    LD
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $9,000,000$9,000,000
    RD
    NMC
    UFA - 6
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $1,125,000$1,125,000
    LD
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $4,166,666$4,166,666
    RD
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $850,833$850,833 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
    G
    RFA - 2
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $863,333$863,333 (Performance Bonus$400,000$400K)
    LD/RD
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $925,000$925,000
    RD
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $850,833$850,833 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
    G
    RFA - 2
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 5
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 5
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 2
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 3
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    RFA - 3
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 1
    $1,000,000$1,000,000
    G
    UFA - 3
    ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $795,000$795,000 (Performance Bonus$82,500$82K)
    LD
    RFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $4,125,000$4,125,000
    G
    UFA - 1
    Logo of the New Jersey Devils
    $1,825,000$1,825,000
    LW, C
    UFA - 1

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    Apr. 22, 2022 at 4:48 p.m.
    #1
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    Really feels like Smith is going to get traded with each passing day. Getting scratched over White, Bahl and now Okhotyuk throughout the season. I just don't think he's Fitz/Ruff's "type". AKA, he's about 3 inches too short.

    I expect Ruff to be back next season, although I'm not a big fan of it. They say bad goaltending can get your coach fired, or win them a Jack Adams.

    There's also a lot of top 6 wingers that should be available this summer. Gotta at least kick some tires.
    Devil liked this.
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 4:56 p.m.
    #2
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    Speak of the Devil
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    Quoting: MellowK
    Really feels like Smith is going to get traded with each passing day. Getting scratched over White, Bahl and now Okhotyuk throughout the season. I just don't think he's Fitz/Ruff's "type". AKA, he's about 3 inches too short.

    I expect Ruff to be back next season, although I'm not a big fan of it. They say bad goaltending can get your coach fired, or win them a Jack Adams.

    There's also a lot of top 6 wingers that should be available this summer. Gotta at least kick some tires.


    Ruff is setting Smith up for failure by pairing him with Subban. Smith looked promising his rookie year and a sophmore slump is common. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

    Ruff blamed Jesper Bratt on the loss yesterday...he has no clue what he is doing.

    Another top 6 forward is a good idea. That basically forces Mercer down to the 3rd line which is unfortunate though
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:07 p.m.
    #3
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    What do you think the Devils will get for Zacha and what will his next contract roughly look like?
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    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:11 p.m.
    #4
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    Quoting: toque
    What do you think the Devils will get for Zacha and what will his next contract roughly look like?


    Pavel Zacha Trade Comps

    Between $3m and $4m for 3-4 years.
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    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:12 p.m.
    #5
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    Quoting: toque
    What do you think the Devils will get for Zacha and what will his next contract roughly look like?


    2nd at best, most likely a 3rd or another teams reclamation project. can't see him getting more than 3M aav on his next deal.
    toque liked this.
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:13 p.m.
    #6
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    Quoting: toque
    What do you think the Devils will get for Zacha and what will his next contract roughly look like?


    Im expecting the next contract to be between the 3-4M range over 2-4 years.

    Im hoping the Devils use Zacha as part of a bigger trade (Boeser, Fiala, etc) but Im predicting he'll be traded in a "hockey trade" (Samsonov, Vanacek)
    toque liked this.
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:18 p.m.
    #7
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    Quoting: Devil
    Ruff is setting Smith up for failure by pairing him with Subban. Smith looked promising his rookie year and a sophmore slump is common. I wouldn't write him off just yet.

    Ruff blamed Jesper Bratt on the loss yesterday...he has no clue what he is doing.

    Another top 6 forward is a good idea. That basically forces Mercer down to the 3rd line which is unfortunate though


    Keep Blackwood, bring in goalie to compete with him (make him earn the job back)

    Add one big, net-front, winger, a Horqvist or Kreider type of player.

    Add a defensively inclined head coach - guy like Lane Lambert who has worked under Trotz for years - to deploy an overall system

    Add a defensive technical coach as assistant - guy like Jim Tortarella, who has turned a number of teenagers into solid NHLers at UNH and Harvard

    Try Sharangovich at 3C. With his reach and quickness, I want him more in middle of ice.
    Devil liked this.
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:27 p.m.
    #8
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    Quoting: NHLfan10506
    Keep Blackwood, bring in goalie to compete with him (make him earn the job back)

    Add one big, net-front, winger, a Horqvist or Kreider type of player.

    Add a defensively inclined head coach - guy like Lane Lambert who has worked under Trotz for years - to deploy an overall system

    Add a defensive technical coach as assistant - guy like Jim Tortarella, who has turned a number of teenagers into solid NHLers at UNH and Harvard

    Try Sharangovich at 3C. With his reach and quickness, I want him more in middle of ice.


    1. Daws or Samsonov
    2. Wood?
    3. I don't want guys like Hughes, Bratt to get stuck in a defensive system like Barzal is in
    4. Sure!
    5. If the winger we acquire can score then Yegor at 3C makes sense
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:33 p.m.
    #9
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    Quoting: Devil
    1. Daws or Samsonov
    2. Wood?
    3. I don't want guys like Hughes, Bratt to get stuck in a defensive system like Barzal is in
    4. Sure!
    5. If the winger we acquire can score then Yegor at 3C makes sense


    Yeah, a lot of the roster questions can be answered from within.

    1. Daws ideally starts as #3 since he is waiver-exempt and can move back and forth from AHL and NHL
    2. Wood, sure, Bastian maybe...just need some consistent "in your face" type winger to mix in up close to net
    3. Neither do I, but the system now has dman chasing in the corners and leaving net-front open. Give me any system that puts more responsibility on wingers down low.
    4.
    5. Would also free up Boqvist as potential trade bait
    Apr. 22, 2022 at 5:54 p.m.
    #10
    me wan da poonani
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    Quoting: NHLfan10506

    2. Wood, sure, Bastian maybe...just need some consistent "in your face" type winger to mix in up close to net


    Quoting: Devil
    2. Wood?


    Think Nichushkin would be a good shout here.
     
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