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The "What FAs are you hoping the Devils target this offseason"


PWW

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Well, this year is over and the draft is a bit of a ways away, so I figured I'd see who you guys were looking at that you'd like to see in red and black. Honestly, there are a couple of guys I'd love to see the Devils target on offense that are due to be free agents.

 

1. Michael Frolik - We need a RW and he could slot right into the top 6 for us. He's not afraid to shoot, scoring 15+ goals each of the last two years and I don't know if anyone else can offer him an immediate top 6/PP role like we could. Plus, he's also a consistent + player so he'd fit right into the Devils way of thinking. I'd see no issue putting him on a line with Zajac and Cammalleri. And he's also only 27.

 

2. Mike Fisher - Yes, he doesn't make us any younger but of all the free agents at center this year, I think he'd be the best fit. He's an ideal 2nd line center who has 35 points in 51 games this year (16 goals) and would solidify us up the middle for a couple of years until a draft pick is ready to take his spot (Barzal possibly?). I'd like to see him on the 2nd line with Henrique and Elias on his wings.

 

3. Matt Beleskey - Depth scoring...we need it. He'd immediately help us fill that need as a guy who can finish in the middle 6. He's also only 26 right now. Put him with a playmaking center like Gomez and he could put up 15-20 goals on the 3rd line.

 

So with those 3 additions, I'm looking at a line-up like this:

 

Camm - Zajac - Frolik

Elias - Fisher - Henrique

Beleskey - Gomez - Boucher

Matteau/Gionta/Zubrus - Josefson - Ruutu

 

Bernier would be a casualty of "too many bottom 6'ers" and will probably get offered a better role elsewhere. Ultimately I'd like to see Zubrus bought out and have JJ, Ruuts, Gionta, and Matteau fight it out for 4th line duties. Unfortunately it also pushes out Tootoo. I just don't believe in him as a long term solution and think with his play he gets a better offer from a team that overpays.

 

Defense:

 

Greene - Larsson
Gelinas - Severson
Merrill - Hrabarenka
 
Lots of youth which is a bit scary, but at least we'll have more goals coming up front to bail them out. It's not a perfect line-up, but it's at least possible and reasonable. This is of course assuming no trades and such.
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Even with a big trade we're gonna need more pieces. Fisher is a long shot to leave Nashville but it'd be worth it to at least try. Vermette would be great in the same role. Heck, I'd be happy with Carl Soderberg up the middle as well.

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Boucher has never played with a center with the playmaking ability of Gomez. Give him a shot. If he won't produce there he probably won't ever and the team can move on. 

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Boucher has never played with a center with the playmaking ability of Gomez. Give him a shot. If he won't produce there he probably won't ever and the team can move on.

LOL move on? He's 21 and has played 23 NHL games. I hope if he doesn't produce with Scott Gomez as his center we'd have a little more patience than one NHL season.

Clearly he's been disappointing in Albany this year but it's not like we have a ton of other options in the pipeline.

Edited by dmann422
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Fisher's production this season is a mirage. He's closer to done than his production suggests.

 

I give him some credit, he hasn't exactly played with players this season, who have boosted his totals. That said, his production isn't all that great period and he might never score on the Devils. Or the Devils don't pick up a first line forward and then they would end up playing a guy like Fisher on the top line, and he would score 40 points again. 

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None of these players will make an impact on this team...  Any impact player will have to come through trade which is going to deplete another position of strength.  The Devils are still in deep sh!t and all this winning over the last month has just made it worse.  This team needed a top 3 pick more than anyone else in the league.  Hopefully the hockey gods will have some mercy on them and they get lucky and win the lottery...

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Fisher isn't good anymore.  I expect Lou to look at Soderberg or Vermette or Mathias.  We need a center.

 

My fear is we make a move on a Drew Stafford to fill a RW spot.  But we're definitely going to have to make at least one trade for a decent forward.

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Not a FA signing, but I keep seeing people posting about how the Devils should trade for Kessel. I'm not exactly on board with this because I feel like Kessel would be too expensive, and will not make the team much better on his own (and once you factor in the prospects/picks/roster players we'd be giving up, it would make the future look worse). Plus, he seems like the type of player that will decline quickly, but I could be wrong about that.

 

What do people think about trying to trade for Kadri instead? His value is probably as low as it will ever be, and he could be a first line center for us as soon as next year. We'd be in good shape with Kadri, Zajac, Gomez, and Josefson down the middle, with the option of putting JJ on a wing if they want him to play more minutes.

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It sounds like the Leafs might try and keep Kadri now that Carlyle isn't their anymore. Not sure I would trade a ton for Kadri. Lou might be prudent to try and snag a decent offensive forward from a team that needs to get cap space considering we do have a few extra picks the next year or so in Rounds 2 and 3. Might not be a top line guy but one who would be an upgrade.

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It sounds like the Leafs might try and keep Kadri now that Carlyle isn't their anymore. Not sure I would trade a ton for Kadri. Lou might be prudent to try and snag a decent offensive forward from a team that needs to get cap space considering we do have a few extra picks the next year or so in Rounds 2 and 3. Might not be a top line guy but one who would be an upgrade.

 

Your point are correct... but there is no way we are a playoffs team with simple upgrade... Our offense need vitamin. boost. A gamebreaker, a Kessel type of player...

 

Zajac with Kessel

Henrique with cammy and we have 2 dangerous duo. And become a playoff team especially with our defense and goaltending.

 

Zajac dont get his share of point this year, but put him with a guy like kessel and we will have the old Zajac back.

Edited by caron14
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We would have to give up that defense to get Kessel.

Your point are correct... but there is no way we are a playoffs team with simple upgrade... Our offense need vitamin. boost. A gamebreaker, a Kessel type of player...

Zajac with Kessel

Henrique with cammy and we have 2 dangerous duo. And become a playoff team especially with our defense and goaltending.

Zajac dont get his share of point this year, but put him with a guy like kessel and we will have the old Zajac back.

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I think we are going to end up with the 14th or 15th pick. Tradeable if brings us back a 1st line RW.

In what world are 15 teams finishing below us next season? They're playing pretty far over their heads as it is, and I think you're in the minority in thinking we're icing a significantly better team next year. I think after next year's draft, we're looking at a potential competitor. We've already given up or lost the opportunity to draft top ten twice, why can't we just draft a few times without everyone wanting to throw our picks around.

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