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Fitz to Jesper

The organisationis going to massively regret this trade. You all seem to have such short term memories, and have completely skipped over how vital Ty Smith is to the Devil's. He is the sole reason Jack Hughes did not die of malnourishment for the last two seasons. If Ty isn't there with instructions for broccoli or how to grill chicken our franchise player is probably curled up in a corner eating pocket lint. Have some respect.

This place man. fvcking hell. It's like reading a mental patients diary at times, absolutely all over the place. You have to go back to the topic title to even work out what you are supposed to be reading about.

As fans, we’ll always be wired to want to see our teams make that big blockbuster move that makes for great banter and pumps us all up for the possibilities such a move suggests. But Fitz has had a mostly solid offseason, with moves that simply make sense and do collectively make the team better. And at the moment, if you’re a believer that some of the kids here are going to take steps forward (I am), Fitz should be able to sign some of them as their ELC and cheaper deals expire. Cap situation is still good. All this being said, we’re going to start to find out about the kid corral over these next couple of seasons…obviously I’m not expecting finished products (and maybe Fitz still makes a prospects for very good NHLer swap down the line), but we’ll see if guys like Holtz are really meant to a part of this thing…if Sharangovich is a 30 goal scorer in hiding, or a guy who begins to find his groove only when his team is playing in meaningless games. I’m more than ready for this season to get rolling, and to see how these acquisitions help the Devils. I’m ready to see Jack and Nico get through a year where each one plays in at least 70 games. Ready to see if the Jesper Bratt who looked so electric and like a star in the making can keep that up. Ready to watch Dawson Mercer prove why we’ll be glad the Devils didn’t include him in any trades. Ready to not watch Zacha, PK, and the gaggle of “Now what?!” goalies that we saw last season. Oh, and no more nASS. No. More. nASS. Truly addition by subtraction. I’m ready. Let’s goooooooooooo!

this is ban-worthy…

Things were already looking good this off-season, and now Devil killer Bjorkstrand gets traded to the Western Conference. We're one step closer to a playoff spot.

So far this offseason, Fitz has: drafted a defenseman with Adam Fox-like upside traded Zacha (who had no future with this team) for a serviceable 3C (position of need) traded Smith for a more mobile and better shut down defenseman in Marino, who also gives the team excellent RD depth hired Ruff's successor as associate coach, who should be a great replacement signed Palat, who not only brings playoffs experience, but is exactly the type of player this team has been lacking in the top 6 improved the goaltending situation from being in the basement to at least league average "Failure Fitz" is building a playoffs team. All that's left to do is lock Bratt up long term, and try to find a way to ship out Johnsson and/or Tatar, and we will be in good shape. But I think ultimately, theey probably give Tatar another shot. Palat-Hughes-Sharangovich Bratt-Hischier-Mercer Tatar-Haula-Holtz/Zetterlund Wood-Boqvist-Bastian Siegenthaler-Hamilton Graves-Severson Okhotiuk-Marino Blackwood/Vanecek extras: McLeod, Johnsson, Smith Third line could be a little shaky, but I honestly don't feel bad about that going into the season.

Yeah bums me out big time when the cover goes back over the pool (usually late September). Feels like it might as well be 10 years before it will be opened again (and even then the water is usually chilly in May and early June).

It seems that there's this narrative around the fanbase that Holtz is not on a good trajectory, he's got low IQ, he's one dimensional, etc. I'm not saying these people are going to be wrong about Holtz's future, but I don' t know where it's coming from. When Holtz was drafted, if you told me he'd be a point per game rookie AHLer in his D+2 season, I would have no complaints. Holtz has improved each year, and produced at every level. He's not the type of player who is likely to regularly take games over on his own, but he's a hard working kid with a top notch skill set. I would say he is a good bet to be an NHL regular sooner than later. And if he can take his skating to the next level, he could easily be a top 6 staple for this team. I've said this before, but if it weren't for Mercer's incredible showing in the preseason last year, I think Holtz earns a spot. Not much more he could have done, and I expect him to be even better this time around.

I’m glad to have someone. Hopefully he grows into the role like Cangi did. He was never gonna be Doc but he definitely improved as time went on.

he’s great. really good voice, really good inflections, nothing annoying. i’m in

Just saw this too and was about to post. Poor dude, glad the Oilers took him in and made the last little while happy memories for him and his family. Hell even the Blues’ Leila Anderson and him became friends under the awful circumstances. Hope his family gets through this okay

Also great seeing non-ex Pittsburgh hires

4. Simon Nemec, RHD, 18 (New Jersey Devils — No. 2, 2022) This kid turned 18 in the middle of February and he’s already registered 65 points in 112 games at a professional level as a defenceman! Nemec’s statistical profile is as strong as any draft-eligible defenceman we’ve seen in recent years — stamped by an exceptional, record-setting performance in Nitra’s playoff run and into the men’s world championships. This is a kid who has looked a class above his peers whenever he’s played with them, has excelled against NHLers on the senior stage, and is already a top player at his position in his top domestic league (albeit a difficult one to evaluate). Nemec is a calculated and poised three-zone defender who is capable of organizing play from the top of the zone, executing through seams in coverage at a high level, and starting and leading his fair share of rushes. He’s got great edges and four-way mobility, which he uses to manipulate and steer play through intelligent routes on and off the puck. And he also regularly flashes sneaky deception, which blends beautifully with his rare maturity for his age. Though I wouldn’t say he’s a dynamic, game-breaking type offensively, I see plenty of calmness and talent. He knows when and how to push (and when and how to sit back and defend). He’s already got pro size, he plays a polished defensive game, and he’s a righty. I expect him to become the best defenceman out of Slovakia since Zdeno Chara and a first-pairing guy who plays an effective, efficient, play-driving modern game. The game just comes easy to him, with everything happening in front of him and the ice tilted in his favour. His type of game is the direction it’s going.

2. Luke Hughes, LHD, 18 (New Jersey Devils— No. 4, 2021) A year ago, I put Hughes seventh on my final 2021 draft ranking and explained the reasons for it as twofold: He needed to find ways to get off of the perimeter in possession and create more to the middle of the ice for himself. He needed to improve his man-to-man and in-zone defence. On both fronts this season, he passed with flying colours, fully realizing his gamebreaking, star potential and finding another echelon as a prospect as a result (all while playing as the youngest defenceman in college hockey). So much so that I considered slotting him first here. A year later, he did such good job taking his game from roving around the perimeter to attacking the middle-third that he led all NCAA defencemen (regardless of age!) in scoring and points with 17 goals and 39 points, all while making significant strides in his game defensively (while often playing his off-side no less!). He plays an effortless transition style, transporting pucks from A to B better than any D prospect on this list. He’s got the stops and starts into a burst in a different direction. He’s got the step-back into his stance before adjusting onto his toes to change pace. He breezes through holes in the neutral zone. His skating makes him maybe the sport’s most active offensive defenceman, while helping him snuff out more and more rushes so that he can lead them back the other way and then create inside the offensive zone with his feet moving. Add in the instinct that he developed on the attack and he’s nearly impossible to contain off the line or stop on entry at the blue line. The fluidity of his stride (which extends back fully when he’s pushing forward) and the airiness of his edgework will always define his game. They allow him to draw attention, force opposing players into puck-watching, and then open up the play for him. And while he’s still got some work to do to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame, he’s the closest thing to Cale Makar outside the NHL and a true breath of fresh air to watch.

A 5th round pick - who won’t be over here for a least another year? I seriously doubt it. They will want Holtz, Luke, or Nemec. And Holtz is the only one of the 3 I’d be comfortable moving.

I've been sending this to every Flames fan that i know lol

I would love a John Marino trade. Something like for Ty smith and a 3rd. Just spitballin.

Every time this stupid thread gets bumped I think that there’s actual news, and there never is.

Guys I think I’m gonna be a hockey insider too. something might happen in the east but maybe not. Keep an eye on Canada but could be a US team

Seek help.

* Rumor * Brylin will be part of the New Jersey Devils coaching stuff next season. Maltsev said it in interview. They are close from the time in AHL. Will see how it will going.

NOVO SAYS THE PA ANNOUNCER WAS CANNED JOHNNY WHO??? THIS IS THE MOVE OF THE OFFSEASON

I agree that a lot of this offseason has felt like tease after tease. First Slafkovsky, then Gaudreau, and then briefly Tkachuk. The Slafkovsky one still is frustrating. But I'll be honest, I'm still excited about the upcoming season. The defense is looking quite good right now. We can also expect to have somewhere around league average goaltending at worst. And basically every other move Fitz has made has been a good one, even if it doesn't make you jump out of your chair with excitement. I also feel very good about Nico being a 70+ point center, ever since he recovered from that slow start post-injury. Dougie should be back to himself too. Hughes and Mercer will continue to take strides forward. And we finally have a top winger in Bratt! We should all be excited for him to be signed long term once Fitz takes care of that. There are so many ways that this team has gotten better this offseason. It doesn't always have to be the blockbuster that makes a team significantly better.

I know this goes without saying but I don't even care if it's Jack Hughes level of talent. If you participate in a gang rape of a girl you shouldn't be a professional athlete.

He’s better than Ty Smith. Much better.

I would but I don’t need his signature 8 feet to the left on my sofa.

My basement (where the bar and Devils stuff is) walks out to the pool area. I was lucky in that the pool and the finished basement came with the house…the area around the pool needed a TON of work…the pool itself is the only real original part left. The concrete was cracking, there were old railroad ties everywhere, the old fence was on its last legs…back in 2013-14 we put a lot into the whole area. We updated the pool light a few years ago…that one has a bunch of different color settings. I love chillin there, but I also love that it gives my daughter a place to invite her friends to in the summer…I like her friends in general, so I don’t mind if she has one, a few, or if more come over…at least I know where they are, and who they’re with.

Just happy it's not Leah Hextall and just thrilled his voice isn't annoying or grating, we could have ended up with someone absolutely horrible.

“Eeel-eye-ash”. Couldn’t pronounce the greatest forward in our team’s history.

The guy was here for two Cups and was a solid, long-time Devil. Have no idea why anyone would never knock any fan for wearing a White jersey.

Anyone who judges you for wearing a Colin White jersey is a fake fan.

Further evidence of why advanced stats are stupid.

“Failure Fitz” must have been napping when this deal got done…

I mean what an absolute slam dunk of a deal. He's a solid, big bodied top-4 defenseman, and we have him locked up for his age 25-age 30 seasons at a ridiculously affordable cap hit. Writing is on the wall for Severson to be moved, I think. With no-brainers like Luke and Nemec on their way up in a couple of years, plus several other top prospects like Okhtoyuk, Shaq, and Walsh... we're running out of room.

Don't even say that out loud. It won't surprise me if the Devils came up with something based on the below and said "Oh, by RR you meant another Reverse Retro! We thought this time around it was for Rockin' Rollers!"

Oh thank God lol. That guy KILLED us.

you absolutely trade bratt for tkachuk you have the all-skill small guys already with nico, mercer, and jack. getting tkachuk adds a MASSIVE dynamic this team flat out doesn’t have.

Vanacek avoids arbitration. Good cap hit. https://www.nhl.com/news/vitek-vanecek-signs-deal-with-new-jersey/c-335033190?tid=281072352

I’m kind of ready to part ways with him anyway, so it’s real easy to agree that if there is any proof of his involvement, he should be cut loose.

i’m a fan posting on a fan forum. shut the fvck up for once hoooooly sh!t. he has the second most minutes played on pittsburgh last season and third most ATOI/G. they’re calling him top-4 because he’s top-4.

I know the hardcore malcontents won’t be appeased by anything short of the biggest names on the market, but most reasonable people should be able to see what Fitz is doing. This team is going to look radically different next season. And I remember thinking I’d settle for just a new goalie…

Rid of zacha and Ty smith. Fitz #1

I know... nothing about John Marino. But damn, Devils have moved on from two of the most frustrating players on the roster. Fitz gets major credit from me for that.