The 2021 Offseason Thread

[devlman]

37 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

The answer is, they do not do that at all. 

If my friend across the street's mom didn't work for a company that had Devils season tickets, I probably would never have been a hockey fan nor played hockey. Back then, there was very little exposure to hockey in Staten Island. That has improved a lot. When I was in high school, the options were play for the H.S. club, which my parents wouldn't let me because of the time/money commitment. They used to practice in NJ or Brooklyn (we didn't have a suitable local rink) at 6AM before school, my parents were having none of that. The other option was a roller hockey league, which I did play in for a season before aging out (the 16-18 year old division didnt get enough players and it folded). Other than that it was all street hockey and open ice hockey, which I would never have known about or gone to without the other exposure. 

But its still Rangers country, with a few carryover Islanders fans from their 80's success and of course some bandwagon jumpers now. 

There are many more Devils fans now than there were pre-Stanley Cup, I can tell you that. I can count the number of Devils fans I knew in high school on one hand, and two of them are me and my buddy with the season ticket hookup. 

For what its worth, all of the Rangers fans on Staten Island know how easy it is to get to Newark and they account for a large portion of the guys in blue at Devils games. I have known Rangers fans who have specifically said they only go to games in Newark, because getting to MSG from Staten Island is too time consuming and annoying.

Interesting that it really only serves as a base for ranger fans to come to our rink during those specific games. I guess advertising to ranger fans to come see a random, non-ranger NHL game wouldnt be a wise use of resources. Add to that it doesn’t seem like an easy market to try and convert/flip.

From an NHL exposure perspective, half a million people live there in this major market, you’d expect to see more NHL publicity around. At least it is growing somewhat.

[mfitz804]

9 minutes ago, devlman said:

Interesting that it really only serves as a base for ranger fans to come to our rink during those specific games. I guess advertising to ranger fans to come see a random, non-ranger NHL game wouldnt be a wise use of resources. Add to that it doesn’t seem like an easy market to try and convert/flip.

From an NHL exposure perspective, half a million people live there in this major market, you’d expect to see more NHL publicity around. At least it is growing somewhat.

I don’t spend a lot of time at the local rink, but last time I was there they had some posters up for some kind of program sponsored by the Rangers. Nothing about the Devils. 

Even the sporting goods store usually have racks of Rangers stuff and then a couple of Devils jerseys hidden away in a corner. 

[RunninWithTheDevil]

 

 

[mfitz804]

10 minutes ago, RunninWithTheDevil said:

 

 

That is a dumb question. 

Obviously, we have a handful of players that would not be available to us if they were on other teams and we were doing an expansion draft. Jack, Nico, Blackwood, and basically all of the guys that we are protecting would likely be unavailable. 

Do I want to give all of those guys up and take a player from every team who was unwanted enough to not be protected? No, no I do not. 

[RunninWithTheDevil]

17 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

That is a dumb question. 

Obviously, we have a handful of players that would not be available to us if they were on other teams and we were doing an expansion draft. Jack, Nico, Blackwood, and basically all of the guys that we are protecting would likely be unavailable. 

Do I want to give all of those guys up and take a player from every team who was unwanted enough to not be protected? No, no I do not. 

What if you're Buffalo? 

[mfitz804]

24 minutes ago, RunninWithTheDevil said:

What if you're Buffalo? 

You’re implying their roster is worse than ours, it probably is but it’s not by much. At least they had one 25 goal scorer last year, we didn’t have a single 20 goal scorer. 

But for argument’s sake, give away Dahlin, Reinhart and Eichel for free, and try to start again with scrubs? No. I would rather trade those guys for a pile of draft picks than do that. 

[RunninWithTheDevil]

I'm honestly more just curious to ask as a thought exercise, I wouldn't scrap our current team to draft unprotected leftovers

[SterioDesign]

6 hours ago, Devil Dan 56 said:

How much of every meeting will involve him referencing Crosby for no reason?

and active sticks

[Brewskies]

17 hours ago, mfitz804 said:

I am quite vocal about how New Jersey isn’t what people want when they want to play in New York, but Labanc is from Staten Island, and there is no hockey team closer to Staten Island than the New Jersey Devils. 

Same analysis as everyone else, what is it going to take to get him?

As much as I liked Henrique and was sorry to see him go, ha’s now an almost $6m 3rd liner with 3 more years on his contract on the wrong side of 30. I don’t really think he fits in with what we’re doing over here. 

 

 

 

What is it that "we're doing over here?" What are we doing over here? 

[mfitz804]

3 hours ago, Brewskies said:

What is it that "we're doing over here?" What are we doing over here? 

Building a team of younger, faster, more talented players. At least so far. We have 5 guys on the roster now who are younger and cheaper than Henrique and provide the same or more than he provides. 

[Brewskies]

2 hours ago, mfitz804 said:

Building a team of younger, faster, more talented players. At least so far. We have 5 guys on the roster now who are younger and cheaper than Henrique and provide the same or more than he provides. 

I like that objective. They do seem to acquire players that lack the talent part however. Are you opposed to adding more experienced players that will get them to the playoffs sooner, Understanding the goal will be to drop the experienced with our own youth?

[mfitz804]

2 minutes ago, Brewskies said:

I like that objective. They do seem to acquire players that lack the talent part however. Are you opposed to adding more experienced players that will get them to the playoffs sooner, Understanding the goal will be to drop the experienced with our own youth?

Not at all, but there’s no way on earth Henrique is that guy. At this point he is a 3rd liner with a history with the team and the fans would like it. 

If you have to choose between Henrique and say, Blake Coleman, who do you pick?

Edited July 13, 2021 by mfitz804

[Satans Hockey]

Devils sent out a survey to season ticket holders, one of the questions was how wearing masks would affect the amount of games you go to. 

I'm not interested in getting into any debate about the subject cause it's been beaten to death by everyone on either side of the debate since this all started but my opinion is that it seems like the Devils are debating going the route of requiring masks for this season vs something like requiring vaccination proof like MSG has been doing. I also simply don't think they will require vaccination proof because they didn't last season and neither did the 76ers during their playoff run. 

[mfitz804]

42 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

Devils sent out a survey to season ticket holders, one of the questions was how wearing masks would affect the amount of games you go to. 

I'm not interested in getting into any debate about the subject cause it's been beaten to death by everyone on either side of the debate since this all started but my opinion is that it seems like the Devils are debating going the route of requiring masks for this season vs something like requiring vaccination proof like MSG has been doing. I also simply don't think they will require vaccination proof because they didn't last season and neither did the 76ers during their playoff run. 

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel. I was unwilling to go last season regardless of what the requirements were. Now that we’re maskless at a lot more places, maybe I feel a little better about returning. 

I wouldn’t care about having to show proof of vaccination, but my daughter (my game partner) remains unvaccinated and I’m not sure I would expose her to a full arena until she is.

Whether or not we had to wear masks doesn’t factor in for me, because I would likely wear one anyway. But assuming they are NOT asking for proof of vax, and they are NOT requiring masks if you are vaccinated, the end result would be an arena full of unmasked, unvaccinated people. 

[Satans Hockey]

8 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel. I was unwilling to go last season regardless of what the requirements were. Now that we’re maskless at a lot more places, maybe I feel a little better about returning. 

I wouldn’t care about having to show proof of vaccination, but my daughter (my game partner) remains unvaccinated and I’m not sure I would expose her to a full arena until she is.

Whether or not we had to wear masks doesn’t factor in for me, because I would likely wear one anyway. But assuming they are NOT asking for proof of vax, and they are NOT requiring masks if you are vaccinated, the end result would be an arena full of unmasked, unvaccinated people. 

I don't even think they know what they are doing yet. There's a concert and a boxing match this month so that might give us a more clear answer as to what the plans on. I'm also a Red Bulls ticket holder and haven't been going to games there either, they aren't requiring masks or vaccine proof either but at least that is outside.

I'm sorta sitting out everything for a bit longer, also helps both teams are mediocre to awful so it makes the decision to skip for now easier. Red Bulls were nice enough to roll over the games for this season that I'm missing to next season for me in credit, I don't see the Devils being willing to do that come October. 

[mfitz804]

1 minute ago, Satans Hockey said:

I don't even think they know what they are doing yet. There's a concert and a boxing match this month so that might give us a more clear answer as to what the plans on. I'm also a Red Bulls ticket holder and haven't been going to games there either, they aren't requiring masks or vaccine proof either but at least that is outside.

I'm sorta sitting out everything for a bit longer, also helps both teams are mediocre to awful so it makes the decision to skip for now easier. Red Bulls were nice enough to roll over the games for this season that I'm missing to next season for me in credit, I don't see the Devils being willing to do that come October. 

That said, I do have Broadway tickets for September 4. But that’s a way smaller venue, and I assume there will be many fewer drunk, unmasked slobs yelling at the actors in Waitress. 

[RunninWithTheDevil]

Definitely a touchy subject for sure.  The way I look at it, more and more people in NJ are being vaccinated every day; at some point you have to let people make their own bad decisions i.e. the anti-mask crowd.   "Don't want the vaccine? Fine, wear a mask. Don't want to wear a mask? Okay, just as long as you're aware of the risk to your health, sign here stating so, so that you and your family can't hold Prudential Center accountable if you do contract the virus in the next few weeks."  Not that there'd be any way of enforcing that at all but in a perfect world, I'd be okay with that, but these plague-rats are potentially spreading it to folks who physically cannot receive vaccines. Hopefully by this time next year, covid will be talked about like we talk about cold and flu season; but these variants could be spelling out something bad in the tea leaves for sure. 

[mfitz804]

15 minutes ago, RunninWithTheDevil said:

Definitely a touchy subject for sure.  The way I look at it, more and more people in NJ are being vaccinated every day; at some point you have to let people make their own bad decisions i.e. the anti-mask crowd.   "Don't want the vaccine? Fine, wear a mask. Don't want to wear a mask? Okay, just as long as you're aware of the risk to your health, sign here stating so, so that you and your family can't hold Prudential Center accountable if you do contract the virus in the next few weeks."

I mean I guess, but an idiot signing a waiver and then potentially exposing everyone else in the arena? Not what I would want to do if I was the Prudential Center. 

But again, I think the current mask policy of "you only need it if you are vaccinated, and nobody will ever ask you if you are or not" is stupid. At that point you might as well just say "we think you should wear one, but nobody has to". 

[RunninWithTheDevil]

10 minutes ago, mfitz804 said:

I mean I guess, but an idiot signing a waiver and then potentially exposing everyone else in the arena? Not what I would want to do if I was the Prudential Center. 

But again, I think the current mask policy of "you only need it if you are vaccinated, and nobody will ever ask you if you are or not" is stupid. At that point you might as well just say "we think you should wear one, but nobody has to". 

Yeah I absolutely get were you're coming from; obviously the waiver idea would never work, and mask-fatigue is a real thing (I haven't worn one at work since I got vaxxed) but in terms of admission policy, there's a very small chance you could still contract the virus while fully vaccinated (J&J single-dose has a bit higher of a chance), but even if you do wind up being in that small group, it most likely will not affect you as badly as someone who is unvaccinated. You basically need to tell everyone to wear masks (vaccined or unvaccinated), and hope they listen.  Or just straight-up avoid all that and require proof-of-vaccination to attend games, which I think is going to be a very controversial move if they do decide to go that route. At this point, I think you have to let people make their own mistakes, but unfortunately that comes at the expense of the greater public health.  On the other hand, I don't necessarily think a 'vaccinated section' is good optics either, because that hints to the vaccine-hesitant folks that they don't really have to get it because others will course-correct for them. 

[Brewskies]

5 hours ago, mfitz804 said:

Not at all, but there’s no way on earth Henrique is that guy. At this point he is a 3rd liner with a history with the team and the fans would like it. 

If you have to choose between Henrique and say, Blake Coleman, who do you pick?

I never even thought of Henrique, I wouldn't want him back. Just to answer your question, Coleman. I didn't have any names in mind, my question to you was in general: all youth without great talent, except for a few, as they have done vs a mixture of experience with talent and youth. mfitz804, my issue is the lack of talent in general and their failure to make the playoffs, first round. There is no reason for me to think that this coming season won't be the same as last season with this team. They need a back up goalie that can win games. They need defense that can defend and as we all know, players that can pass and put the puck in the net. That is a tall off season order in my opinion. I read that people are suggesting Halak as backup goalie, can he win a game anymore? I read people talking about bringing back Henrique and I say are you kidding me. The fans should not be excepting what has been put on the ice and in the coaches box, not speaking about present coaches, but they show up in the seats when they could for this crap and the owners love it, why change, just tweak. 

[mfitz804]

1 hour ago, RunninWithTheDevil said:

Yeah I absolutely get were you're coming from; obviously the waiver idea would never work, and mask-fatigue is a real thing (I haven't worn one at work since I got vaxxed) but in terms of admission policy, there's a very small chance you could still contract the virus while fully vaccinated (J&J single-dose has a bit higher of a chance), but even if you do wind up being in that small group, it most likely will not affect you as badly as someone who is unvaccinated. You basically need to tell everyone to wear masks (vaccined or unvaccinated), and hope they listen.  Or just straight-up avoid all that and require proof-of-vaccination to attend games, which I think is going to be a very controversial move if they do decide to go that route. At this point, I think you have to let people make their own mistakes, but unfortunately that comes at the expense of the greater public health.  On the other hand, I don't necessarily think a 'vaccinated section' is good optics either, because that hints to the vaccine-hesitant folks that they don't really have to get it because others will course-correct for them. 

You aren't wrong, but most of my decision is based on my daughter not being vaccinated. Every day I feel like she should be, and then I remember those early studies (which I believe were later disproven) that spoke of fertility and reproductive complications in the future for females and that makes me want to not do it. In a way, I almost wish her high school that she is starting in the Fall would require it so it was out of my hands.

Perhaps its not rational, but I just don't want to go because I know there are unvaccinated people not following protocol and its too many people in one place when that is the case. So for me, its either everyone has to wear a mask, everyone has to be vaccinated, or I will just stay home until its no longer necessary to have such protocols. 

As much as they have relaxed the protocols, sorry, its still not over and I wouldn't put my daughter at risk.

In fairness, I am not a big fan of crowds even before COVID, and this has not helped me with that.

[SterioDesign]

1 hour ago, mfitz804 said:

You aren't wrong, but most of my decision is based on my daughter not being vaccinated. Every day I feel like she should be, and then I remember those early studies (which I believe were later disproven) that spoke of fertility and reproductive complications in the future for females and that makes me want to not do it. In a way, I almost wish her high school that she is starting in the Fall would require it so it was out of my hands.

Perhaps its not rational, but I just don't want to go because I know there are unvaccinated people not following protocol and its too many people in one place when that is the case. So for me, its either everyone has to wear a mask, everyone has to be vaccinated, or I will just stay home until its no longer necessary to have such protocols. 

As much as they have relaxed the protocols, sorry, its still not over and I wouldn't put my daughter at risk.

In fairness, I am not a big fan of crowds even before COVID, and this has not helped me with that.

Well not to get too deep in these topic. But it's slightly irrelevant cause vaccinated people can still get covid and can spread it too. The vaccine is just helping them to fight it and get rid of it faster.

[mfitz804]

9 minutes ago, SterioDesign said:

Well not to get too deep in these topic. But it's slightly irrelevant cause vaccinated people can still get covid and can spread it too. The vaccine is just helping them to fight it and get rid of it faster.

It’s not irrelevant at all. Do you just tell people their opinion is irrelevant in Canada and people don’t think that’s a d!ck move?

Sure, it’s not 100% effective. Not having a vaccine is 100% ineffective. 

Transmission rates are low now, and reduce that by 98% and I would be comfortable going to the arena. But you don’t have that reduction with unvaccinated people.

Edited July 13, 2021 by mfitz804

[RunninWithTheDevil]

2 hours ago, mfitz804 said:

You aren't wrong, but most of my decision is based on my daughter not being vaccinated. Every day I feel like she should be, and then I remember those early studies (which I believe were later disproven) that spoke of fertility and reproductive complications in the future for females and that makes me want to not do it. In a way, I almost wish her high school that she is starting in the Fall would require it so it was out of my hands.

Perhaps its not rational, but I just don't want to go because I know there are unvaccinated people not following protocol and its too many people in one place when that is the case. So for me, its either everyone has to wear a mask, everyone has to be vaccinated, or I will just stay home until its no longer necessary to have such protocols. 

As much as they have relaxed the protocols, sorry, its still not over and I wouldn't put my daughter at risk.

In fairness, I am not a big fan of crowds even before COVID, and this has not helped me with that.

Ah yeah honestly I don't have kids yet and that didn't even cross my mind, my bad. Hopefully we get more studies in the coming weeks, I could see the FDA authorizing full-use in the next month or two. If we wind up with a mutation that infects younger kids, that could be bad news bears for a long time. Anyway people, just wear your fvcking mask

[mfitz804]

1 minute ago, RunninWithTheDevil said:

Ah yeah honestly I don't have kids yet and that didn't even cross my mind, my bad. Hopefully we get more studies in the coming weeks, I could see the FDA authorizing full-use in the next month or two. If we wind up with a mutation that infects younger kids, that could be bad news bears for a long time. Anyway people, just wear your fvcking mask

No reason to say it’s your bad, if you don’t have kids, that’s not something you have to think about. I was just pointing it out for myself.