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Opie

Opie
Member Since
May 9, 2017
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New Jersey Devils
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Forum: Armchair-GMAug. 19, 2022 at 8:37 a.m.
Thread: Looking at the possibility
A
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Opie</b></div><div>NJ alternatives at 3RD would likely be Walsh or Nemec ... dont think NJ wants that exposure early in the season. I imagine they take the conservative route &amp; hold on to Severson until the TD. Gives Walsh time as 7th D &amp; Nemec time in AHL. D would get really messy if Severson was traded and Hamilton, Marino or a LD get injured, it's not like they can fall back on their GKs to bail them out. NJ D depth looks good long term, but right now it's thin based on lack of experienced options who are available this season (Bahl, Okhotyuk, Walsh, Nemec etc). Miller is fantastic, but a dubious fit over a potential melt down on the blueline</div></div>

Great post, right side is real good, right now. Fitz did a great job getting support for his Gs. To let that go to start the season is silly, for all the reasons you mentioned. Miller would be nicevbut not at the cost of adding Holtz or similar, 1st round. I'd rather have Meier and will probably cost less.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug. 1, 2022 at 1:23 p.m.
Thread: Is Bratt Trade Bait or do they just want extra room
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>BigShoots</b></div><div>I don't mind this as the start of a trade from Van POV but there would need to be a high pick or high end prospect added in my mind.

For the record I'd say Bratt is better than Garland but then again he was playing PP and with Hughes. Bratt just has higher end talent than Garland offensively.</div></div>

Not really fair to discredit Bratt on the account that he is playing with Hughes, considering Hughes only figured it out this season. So it's more like they did it together than one carrying the other.

I think Vancouver would add something small if anything since Severson is 2 years younger than Miller, and Bratt 3 years younger than Garland. Plus, Miller just had an incredible season but career wise he isn't a PPG player or even close.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 28, 2022 at 2:48 p.m.
Thread: Opening night roster prediction
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Opie</b></div><div>Those three (Walsh or Marino plays offhand, Okhotiuk, Bahl) .... Can't rule out Smith ... And the wild cards ... Mukhamadullin, if he returns for some unexpected reason or even Nemec (him or Marino offhand) if he just exceeds expectations in a significant way &amp; has nothing more to learn in Utica.</div></div>

I believe Mukhamadullin has committed to KHL through this upcoming season. Sounds like door is open to seeing him in AHL or NHL at end of our season (KHL ends early).

If Nemec forces himself into lineup, that's nothing but a good thing (would like a slide year or two though).

Listening to Fitzy on Bahl at end of last year sounded like he thinks he has some things to work on (exit passing, getting pucks on net from point, etc). Whereas he praised Okhotiuk simplicity and execution.

I'm guessing Okhotiuk and Smith start as 6/7. Bahl and Walsh in Utica. Muk in Ufa.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 28, 2022 at 12:45 p.m.
Thread: ZAR question mark
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Opie</b></div><div>I doubt this trade happens, but if it did, wouldn't you want Puljujarvi on Hughes line to give them some size and Defense? Drop Mercer to third line, which (I think) would make it dynamic ... But I could see this set up too. Mercer goes to dirty areas, but he's a bit smaller &amp; despite his history, had a weaker season defensively. I like Puljujarvi but Im not sure McLeod is movable, until that Canada mess is cleared up. Maybe the opportunity to aquire Puljujarvi has passed at this point, sadly.

Also, Sever will get top 4 minutes for sure, probably with Graves ... Marino third pair</div></div>

Mercer and Hughes provide a 1-2 punch of playmaking ability that complements Holtz's shot. Any of the wingers could be anywhere in the top 9, except Bratt who should be in the top 6 no matter what. I'm presuming McLeod's innocence, since that's how due process works, but I understand if he's not movable. You could just as easily sign Milano to fill that roster spot.

As for the defense, it's a toss up in my opinion between Severson and Marino as to who's better. It'll probably come down to who pairs better with Graves.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 23, 2022 at 1:08 p.m.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 23, 2022 at 12:43 a.m.
Thread: Is This What It Wouldve Cost
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Opie</b></div><div>The team is certainly exciting &amp; living in NJ suburbs, so close to NYC must be attractive to many ... Im holding out hope that Pasta want to play on Hughes wing ... but NJ taxes are an absolute killer. To match low tax states like Texas, Florida etc, Devils have to pay considerably more just to get to even. This really matters on those big contracts ... its a progressive tax, but everything over $5 mil is hit 10.75% ... over 500k to 5 mil is nearly 9%. So financially it's real hard to choose NJ.

You gotta figure a guy making $10 mil loses approx $1 mil to NJ state tax ... that's a tough hole to compete from on UFAs</div></div>

You know what, it's ok. I don't think we're there yet to make a trade like this. We're still on the right track with a great core, a solid prospect pool and a good chunk of cap space, especially next summer.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 18, 2022 at 6:36 p.m.
Thread: Meier Makes Too Much Sense
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Rob32sjsharks</b></div><div>Meier is a power forward with size and Speed and Debrincat is undersized (but still awesome, not agueing that here). Still, everyone in the NHL knows Chicago undersold on this deal big time so using him as comparison isn't fair.
I would argue Mercer and the 1st for Meier is the baseline. Johnson adds no value and it purely a cap dump for NJD in this deal so I wont argue his value here.
a 1st and a top prospect/ young promising NHL is fair value for Meier. and if not then the sharks shouldn't deal him as there is no need to right now.</div></div>

The posted trade is Holtz, not Mercer.

And I think you’re severely underrating the risk of acquiring time Meier. He has never done anything to suggest he is worth $10 million but that is his QO next year. 1 season at near a point per game. Other than that a lot of seasons in the mid-60s point pace.

Even if you can negotiate him down from his QO like Boston did with debrusk or Van did with Boeser, you are still looking at probably $8.5 million on a 2 or 3 year deal.

Considering NJD had some serious cap commitments over the next 2-3 years, that is a contract they should heavily avoid.

It’s the same reason that NJD fans don’t want miller, because they know the new contract doesn’t make sense