The #NJDevils have made their buying status clear –– and I'm told they're "entertaining everything" before the deadline.
Still, they remain wary about mortgaging the future:
"We’re not going to impair what we want to do going forward in the future."https://t.co/cqpZAmBnWo
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) February 10, 2023
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neverbeentoidaho
32 Comments
This is a confusing statement.
This rhetoric is getting old. It’s an easy out for Fitz to be like it wasn’t me, it was them.
It’s hyperbole to think that one big trade would mortgage the future. It’s hockey. A pick and one of our better (but not even the guys we know are the best) prospects can get us Meier. If our best guys weren’t also young and locked up, I’d be more weary. We’re absolutely in a “make a deal situation” here.
I think he’s talking more about the cap hit than the prospects. We have more good prospects than positions for them to play, particularly on defense, but if Bratt and Meier both want 9.5 it isn’t going to work.
Players like Meier don’t come around often, especially in their prime.
As much as I would love a surprise with the Devils winning the cup, I don’t think we’re there yet. We have one of the best prospects pools in the league and it’s not worth giving up too much as far as players or money.
well we need a top 6 scoring winger. gonna have to give up guys in order to get that one player.
We are more than Timo Mier away from being cup contenders. We need playoff experience. I agree with Fitz. I would rather go after depth defenders and Rico than trade young talent away this year. ( Unless we get a great deal)!
I know most fans want the team to go all in and make a big trade for Timo Meier, but at the end of the day we need to be realistic. Yes the Devils are 3rd place in the league, but lets not kid ourselves, this team is way ahead of schedule in terms of success, before the season no no expected the Devils to be where they currently are.
The Devils are one of the youngest teams in the league, and has one of the best prospect pools. The Devils have quite literally are in the BEST set up to be successful for the next 5+ years of any other team in the league.
So far, the formula has worked, so Im not sure if trading a top prospect, draft picks, and other assets are worth it. I understand that Meier wouldnt be a rental, but if the price to get him is too high, and the price to keep him would be high, then it might not be worth it.
Whether it is Timo or someone else, you have to give to get. You can’t try to trade table scraps and expect gold bars in return.
I don’t want to trade away players that may be stars or are already on their way to being a solid player on the team. I am also not big on rentals. A trade where the Devils control the term is ideal.
However, realistically, how many prospects are going to make it to the show? The Devils are not going to hit on all of them. Luke is off limits (for obvious reasons with his brother), Nemec should be off limits. Outside of that again, you have to give, to get.
If your team is winning, as it is, and you have TONS of prospects, don‘t they then become less valuable?
I am definitely not a fan of trading Holtz.
My commentary on what this could mean is about current players/prospects that Fitzy doesn’t want to give up because he and his staff believe they are a part of this team’s future roadmap. They’d rather consider the offer, and back away if the asking price is too much or can’t be reasonably negotiated.
This means to me that at least Mercer, LHughes, Nemec are not moveable and a part of that plan. It could mean Holtz too. Perhaps he’s willing to offer more picks to let SJ control more of their rebuild process too.
I could ramble on with more conjecture, but have faith in our GM and his staff’s decision making process. They have been really strategic so far with their moves and I’m excited for what’s about to happen this buying season.
1st + Holtz + Muk?
Depending on the cost you go after Timo if you can sign him long-term and/or you think there will be issues signing Bratt. That said giving up our first for this year, Holtz and muk would be fair value.
If you have Bratt in the bag I think you have to really consider trading those assets away though.
An interesting idea would be to sub muk/Holtz with severson with the idea he could also be flipped for probably a first-rounder. Again, this only works if you have a sevo replacement (nemec?) waiting in the wings.
Depending on the cost you go after Timo if you can sign him long-term and/or you think there will be issues signing Bratt. That said giving up our first for this year, Holtz and muk would be fair value.
If you have Bratt in the bag I think you have to really consider trading those assets away though.
An interesting idea would be to sub muk/Holtz with severson with the idea he could also be flipped for probably a first-rounder. Again, this only works if you have a sevo replacement (nemec?) waiting in the wings.
I keep seeing people say « we have great prospects! »
Do we?
Outside of Luke Hughes and Nemec, who is there to be excited about?
Our AHL guys have mostly stunk this year when plugged into the lineup. Only Zetterlund has been decent and he’s been inconsistent at best. I think we need to stop holding on to this idea that we have such an amazing prospect pool and it’ll hurt if we lose some of these guys in a trade.
I’m perfectly ok waiting another year or two to make a serous run at the cup. Will be perfectly happy this year just making the playoffs. Maybe make a little noise in the first round. No need to sell the future to win now.
I’m perfectly ok waiting another year or two to make a serous run at the cup. Will be perfectly happy this year just making the playoffs. Maybe make a little noise in the first round. No need to sell the future to win now.
I agree not trading just to make one run and destroy the future BUT you can’t prospect hug forever like the Yankees either so if we don’t make a move I’m curious to see how we move forward.
I agree not trading just to make one run and destroy the future BUT you can’t prospect hug forever like the Yankees either so if we don’t make a move I’m curious to see how we move forward.
A quiet trade deadline is perfectly fine.
We’ve sent three scouts to Montreal nowhere near any games we had with them. I like Josh Anderson if Timo doesn’t happen.
Fitz will need an iron stomach to not get twitchy and overpay on a move after the Isles and Rags both improved in big trades.
I don’t envy that part of being a GM.
Fitz will need an iron stomach to not get twitchy and overpay on a move after the Isles and Rags both improved in big trades.
I don’t envy that part of being a GM.
Do people on this sub see what happened to the Florida Panthers? Things are always more risky than you think.
If you can get proven returns you get them.
I think Timo is the only player worth going after hard with a good package (1st, Holtz/B-tier prospects) MAYBE Buchnevich for a lesser package. I would take either for a first and any trade chip not named Holtz, L. Hughes, Nemec, or Mercer
We knew the team would be good and opening their window, but not this quickly this season. An expensive rental does not make sense, I would rather they hold as-is and use those assets over the offseason or next trade deadline
This was to hedge the last statement of ‘give us a chance to make a final offer’.
Riding the fine line of ‘we really want Timo and may have more give in our offer’ and ‘we’re not going to sell the car for a new set of wheels’.
Good job Fitzy, I approve of the wordplay.
Re-frrrrrreeessshhhhh-iiiing to hear this. Build for the long run, not just this year.
I trust Fitz will make the correct decision whatever it is. He got us this far.
Panarin / Zibanejad / Tarasenko is a sick scary combo.
Marchand / Bergeron / Smith
Zacha / Krejci / Pastrnak. Again sick scary combos
Stamkos / Point / Kucherov
Lehkonen / Mackinnon / Nichushkin
I see a pattern here.
Think how scary Timo / Jack / Bratt Or Timo / Nico / Bratt would be.
I know we don’t make moves just because others did. We really need a Timo to fill out the top 6 and provide a sick scary combo.
Just IMHO
They could be honestly entertaining Patrick Kane if he comes at a reasonable cost because won’t waive his NTC for many situations. If I’m him, Devils could be one of those situations where he gets to play on Hughes’ wing to buddy up with the other generational American forward #1 overall pick (shoutout Mathews tho) and stick it to the Rangers on a good team. Maybe he just doesn’t wanna be a Devil like we saw with Gaudreau, but if he wants to be in Jersey, the price would be cheaper than people think and likely not « impair what we want to do going forward in the future. » Hawks have no leverage even if they retain half.
Not saying it’s gonna happen due to potential hip concerns but if the guy can still play at least this season at 85% health and Fitz doesn’t remain steadfast about not having rentals, he could change his mind and think that kind of acquisition could help them do some real damage in the playoffs. Hawks won a bunch of cups because of him – having his experience would be huge for our young guys to have a straight up winner in the room.