Edited Dec. 22, 2022 at 8:47 a.m.
Quoting: IDKtbh
Is this team in its current form, a Stanley Cup contender?
What areas on the team need to be addressed in order to compete with and/or win a series against the juggernauts of the league?
No, probably not this year.
In my view their competitive window starts in 23/24, this core needs to show that they can make the playoffs first before penciling them in as a contender.
The process by which they are generating offense and suppressing scoring chances against is VERY promising though, meaning that they should be able to sustain a pace throughout the season good enough to challenge for the division title.
The Devils are likely a top 5 team 5v5 right now, but shooting talent has been the biggest issue over the latest losing streak.
I'm not too bothered by it though as it's much better to be running a low shooting percentage than being consistently outshot and outchanced.
I don't think the Devils should do much of anything in terms of in-season trades or acquisitions.
This team is good enough to make the playoffs, and when (if) they make it there I expect them to be very competitive against any other more experienced opposition.
For future playoff rounds the Devils have time on their side in that they are one of the three youngest teams in the league and as such there is a lot of development left in younger guys and prospects that hasn't
occurred yet.
As such in 2-3 years when Nemec, Casey, Hughes, Holtz and Mukhammadulin are all arrived and fully settled into the league, the Devils will most likely be the juggernaut of the NHL.
Quoting: IDKtbh
Do you see Severson returning next year? Graves? Siegenthaler? Everyone will be due raises or not return.
Severson - no, he'll likely walk as UFA, which I'm more than fine with.
Graves - I hope not, I hope the LD corps for 23/24 are made up by Siegenthaler, Luke Hughes and Bahl / Smith, there's no need for Graves here and the Devils could do without whatever contract he lands in FA.
Siegenthaler - already extended to a steal at 5 x 3.4m, likely to play on the Devils top pair for the rest of the decade.
Quoting: IDKtbh
How many of the current forwards with a year left on their deals will return next year? The RFAs will be expensive.
Between Haula, Tatar, Wood, Johnsson I don't think any of them returns for next season, maybe 1 of Tatar or Wood at the most.
All the RFA's will be resigned but a lot of cap is coming off also, this is not going to be an issue.
(With McLeod we will have to see how the Hockey Canada situation plays out)
Quoting: IDKtbh
Luke Hughes & Simon Nemec are incredible prospects but how far away are they? Next year? The year after?
Two years out from being drafted at #4 I have Luke Hughes pretty much penciled in as 2LHD for 23/24, most likely to be paired with John Marino.
Nemec is a bit up in the air, he was drafted just a few months ago so there's less certainty with how his development will play out.
As of now I lean against playing Nemec in the NHL right away for the 23/24 season, another year of AHL development should do him a lot of good.
Reilly Walsh is losing his waivers exemption for next season and will be 24 years of age in October 2023
I expect Walsh to be the better hockey player over Nemec for the start of 23/24 and should win the 3RHD job in camp next year.