I think Dubois is best as a 2C on a team and that won't be happening on Jersey. So doubt it makes much sense for them.

Yeah I don't see the need here - why trade for PLD and play him at wing when he is a C?

Also don't think he would sign that deal - he is looking for $8-9M AAV on his next contract.

It's not a huge stretch to put him on the wing. He played a dozen or so games on the wing in Winnipeg

There is always another center on Hughes’ line. For faceoffs and for defending down low and near net. They want to avoid getting Hughes tied up. Once they turn the other way, especially for transition, Hughes is back in the middle.

It’s like a Hughes line center wing hybrid. Haula played that role mostly last year. Sharangovich in two years before that. Mercer has also filled the spot at times.

Dubois would be there in this lineup.

If you believe the reports, PLD is looking for 8-9M AAV on a long term deal. I think you could entice him to sign if you add 1M to what you have here.

Easiest way to save money is to not sign your 3RD. I would assume Nemec is ready to take that spot, no?

Dubois is signed for 3 years…so will still get the chance to hit UFA and go to MTL, if that is a goal.

Keeping Nemec in AHL saves a lot of money in a few years. And he is still developing. Walsh probably gets first crack at RD3.

If that's his goal, then I don't think NJD should offload assets to acquire him. If you're going to trade for him, try to get him locked up long term.

As for Nemec's money situation, NJD has some of the best long term contracts in the league at the moment. And the cap hasn't gone up significantly yet. Unless he comes out of the gate flying and performs far better than anyone expects, I doubt he costs more than Marino on a short bridge deal, then give him his longer term deal afterwards. I personally think he'd benefit getting into the lineup now with Hamilton and Marino still ahead of him on the depth chart. Perfect opportunity to give sheltered minutes and maybe some PP time if that's the direction they want to go.

NJD are still likely to add one veteran dman and I think Nemec would have to win the spot over that veteran and Reilly Walsh, who has been solid last couple of years in AHL and deserves his chance.

We also don’t want to have too many rookies on blueline at once. Bahl was moved into starting 6 at end of last year and Hughes will in there this coming year. Ideally, we would ease in one at a time and bring Nemec up toward end of 2023-24 or beginning of 2024-25.

I think that is the plan…but Nemec could force a new plan and his development trajectory continues. He had a few struggles at start of last year, but was nearly point-per-game producer and top penalty killer by end of year (didn’t play much power play).

For me that is a pretty good offer, and it helps with our need for RSDs

So, he struggled at the beginning of the season (which is understandable considering it's his first year in North America), and he still finished with 12 goals, just over 0.5 PPG, while not really playing on the powerplay? As a 19 year old?

I'm a little envious that he wouldn't even be NJD's first option to bring up, good problem to have.

The production really progressed well throughout year.

First 26 games: 6 pts
Middle 22 games: 11 pts
Last 23 games: 21 pts

And he did it mostly at even-strength….

All: 13-25-38
ES: 11-29-30
PP: 1-5-6
SH: 1-0-0

Russo and Walsh got all the PP time, he was essentially the 3PP dman. Future is bright for him.

But Walsh was once again fantastic two-way dman at 5v5. Second straight season of 60%+ GF% at even strength. Heady player who is mobile, can hold onto puck…and can lay a hit surprisingly well for guy his size. Now 24, it’s his chance.