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https://theathletic.com/4543071/2023/05/23/connor-hellebuyck-trade-jets-nhl/?source=user_shared_article

I don’t even really agree the Devils should be all that interested, but here’s her take:

The other team linked to Hellebuyck on the trade board is New Jersey.

After an abysmal year in 2021-22 in net, New Jersey found a bit more consistency with Vitek Vanecek. The Devils didn’t make their goalie face a ton of shots, but he responded well to his workload until some late regular season struggles that may have been attributed to him adjusting to an expanded workload.

The playoffs are when their goaltending issues really became costly. For the second straight year, Vanecek lost his starting net early in the playoffs. And he was below average in three of four appearances against Carolina, too. While Akira Schmid stood tall against the Rangers, he stumbled against the Hurricanes and only earned one quality start.

With New Jersey’s window opening this year, management has to capitalize on it. That’s why there may be more emphasis on the goaltending position, despite some of the highs of this past regular season.

Hellebuyck is as ‘right now’ of an option as it gets, and the free agent market isn’t exactly inspiring between the likes of Jonathan Quick, Semyon Varlamov, Tristan Jarry, Frederik Andersen, and Antti Raanta. The most attractive options likely include Joonas Korpisalo and Adin Hill, but they may be spoken for if they stick around with their current teams. So management may have to look for a goalie via trade if they aren’t comfortable and confident in what they have. But acquiring Hellebuyck would create a roadblock for Schmid, especially if he looks for a deal that’s more than three or four years.

The Devils, like the Sabres, can spend to acquire a high-end goalie. The cap situation may take a bit more balancing, though, because there are two key forward contracts, among a few other pending free agents, to manage first.

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23 minutes ago, Nicomo said:


https://theathletic.com/4543071/2023/05/23/connor-hellebuyck-trade-jets-nhl/?source=user_shared_article

I don’t even really agree the Devils should be all that interested, but here’s her take:

 

In the white text I see you're saying that you don't agree with the take, and I'm with you.  We're letting young players throughout the lineup grow into their positions. For the life of me, I cannot see why we wouldn't allow Schmid to do the same given his body of work this season.   Also, if we trade for Hellebuyck, are we sending VV back as part of the move or is it at the expense of Schmid spending another year in Utica?     

Given how calculated Fitz seems with be with both assets and cap space, I assume (hope!) this is just fan/media speculation.  

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38 minutes ago, Lateralous said:

In the white text I see you're saying that you don't agree with the take, and I'm with you.  We're letting young players throughout the lineup grow into their positions. For the life of me, I cannot see why we wouldn't allow Schmid to do the same given his body of work this season.   Also, if we trade for Hellebuyck, are we sending VV back as part of the move or is it at the expense of Schmid spending another year in Utica?     

Given how calculated Fitz seems with be with both assets and cap space, I assume (hope!) this is just fan/media speculation.  

Yeah I don't understand why some writers seem to act like the Devils are already in Year 3 or 4 of their competitive window, with what are largely young core pieces suddenly running out of time...THAT'S when you make a big move for a guy like Hellebuyck, if you're that convinced that your current netminders are that incapable of helping their team win a championship.    

Hellebuyck has a GSAA of 3 in 40 playoff games...by comparison, Schmid had a GSAA of 3.7 in this year's playoffs alone, in his 9 GP.  Of course I have no idea if Schmid will be the guy or not...but one too many writers seems to act like the Devils' goaltending is now this horrible weakness and that Schmid's future as "not good enough" has already been written in stone...apparently based off one playoff series where there was blame to go around.  And Hellebuyck has a playoff record of 17-23, and his Jets have won all of one playoff round over their last four playoff appearances.  Not saying that it all falls on him, but not like this guy has this history of tearing it up come playoff time, or making some major difference...put it this way, I can't say I'm looking to spend $9 million AAV for a guy who's entering his 30s and hasn't shown himself to be a guy who consistently steps up in the postseason.  

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17 minutes ago, Devil Dan 56 said:

I’d be comfortable rolling into next year with Schmid and Vanecek and a semi competent #3 stashed in the minors for injuries 

And I do think that most Devils fans agree with this take.  It’s the media that seems bent on trying to make it sound like Fitz should be going hard after Hellebuyck…without having much to back it up.

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Hellebuyck has never interested me. Guy is the definition of an average goaltender.  He doesn't steal games or carry his team on his back, and with him on the bad side of 30, now is absolutely NOT the time to throw money and/or a long contract at him. His best season was a .924 sv percentage that came 6 years ago. 

Ride Vanecek and Schmid who, together as a tandem this past year, were very capable and led us to the 3rd best record in the league.  Schmid is on the up and up, not headed downward. It's worth exploring his potential and using our money elsewhere, like on a replacement for Bratt and one more solid D man.

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9 minutes ago, NJDfan1711 said:

Hellebuyck has never interested me. Guy is the definition of an average goaltender.  He doesn't steal games or carry his team on his back, and with him on the bad side of 30, now is absolutely NOT the time to throw money and/or a long contract at him. His best season was a .924 sv percentage that came 6 years ago. 

Ride Vanecek and Schmid who, together as a tandem this past year, were very capable and led us to the 3rd best record in the league.  Schmid is on the up and up, not headed downward. It's worth exploring his potential and using our money elsewhere, like on a replacement for Bratt and one more solid D man.

He did win a Vezina and can handle a heavy workload...he's not definitely not just average.  But even with a Vezina under his belt, I'm not at all remotely eager to pay him elite-goaltender money when I'm not at all convinced he's actually top-level elite.  If the Devils wound up getting him, I'd be thinking more "Did Fitz really have to do this?" as opposed to "Damn, we got Hellebuyck, here we come muthafvckas!"  It feels like he's getting treatment from the media that I don't think he's rightly earned.  This isn't Patrick Roy suddenly being made available by the Canadiens here.  

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1 hour ago, Lateralous said:

I can’t verify this but it’s getting texted around between all my buddies who are Flyers fans 

 

image.thumb.jpeg.d0ba23c19c6776ce4558f6f24cd28b1b.jpeg

An outdoor game in our area = Rags involved. Would be totally surprised if it’s us.

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Just now, devlman said:

An outdoor game in our area = Rags involved. Would be totally surprised if it’s us.

I saw this too, someone said it will be us hosting the flyers for 1 game and Islanders hosting the Rangers for another.

We'll have to wait and see

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Just now, devlman said:

An outdoor game in our area = Rags involved. Would be totally surprised if it’s us.

I wouldn't be honestly, because the Devils now have bright young stars truly worthy of the attention...starting with the Hughes bros.   

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2 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

I saw this too, someone said it will be us hosting the flyers for 1 game and Islanders hosting the Rangers for another.

We'll have to wait and see

The bolded makes a ton of sense...the whole set-up gets to be used for more than one game, and if you're going to split up the four teams into two matchups, that way is the way to go, even with the Devils - Rangers having plenty of sizzle of their own (especially coming off a playoff series the season before).  

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4 minutes ago, Satans Hockey said:

Here's where it came from... 

 

It’s Rags-Isles at Met Life. An absolute slap in the damn face in OUR fvckING STATE. 

IMG_0720.jpeg

You know the Devils-Flyers outdoor game will be in Philly. 

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2 minutes ago, MadDog2020 said:

It’s Rags-Isles at Met Life. An absolute slap in the damn face in OUR fvckING STATE. 

IMG_0720.jpeg

You know the Devils-Flyers outdoor game will be in Philly. 

SNY used the tweet I posted as a source so we are hosting the Flyers there too. 

Personally I'm fine not playing the rangers so I can enjoy the game since flyers fans have been mellow for ages now. 

Don't care about both isles and rangers playing there too. 

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, MadDog2020 said:

It’s Rags-Isles at Met Life. An absolute slap in the damn face in OUR fvckING STATE. 

 

You know the Devils-Flyers outdoor game will be in Philly

Isn't that saying both games will be in MetLife stadium?   It makes sense that they can hold two separate games involving 4 different franchises while only needing to set up and break down a rink once.    

Edited by Lateralous
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5 minutes ago, Lateralous said:

Isn't that saying both games will be in MetLife stadium?   It makes sense that they can hold two separate games involving 4 different franchises while only need to set up and break down a rink once.    

Ah you’re right- I just saw Pagnotta’s tweet.

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Posted (edited)

I'm more surprised they aren't doing Devils hosting the Rangers and Islanders hosting the Rangers like they did at Yankee Stadium. 

Financially besides some signage even if the the Devils vs Flyers game doesn't sell out they will still be making a ton on it cause they already rented the building out anyway, paid for the rink and the whole setup.

Edited by Satans Hockey
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