The OFFICIAL Off-Season Thread

[NJDevils1214]

1 hour ago, capo said:

I really like Jespar Bratt and I appreciate him for what he's done and how he's come from being a 6th rounder. The story is great.  But, I want Fitz to move him for a bigger stronger winger. The D are going to be fast and get the puck down low. We need bangers to take it from there and get the puck to the net for chippy dirty goals. That's not Bratt's game. He doesn't fit a need any more. The Devils have 3 other guys that can do what he does. Maybe they haven't done it at his level but they don't need them to. They are an evolving team.  They need Timo but he's going to be expensive and Claude is going to do what he does. He learned a lot about negotiating in his playing days. The Devils HAVE to pay for Timo.

I wouldn't be mad if they grabbed a guy like Hathaway for the bottom 6 either. He probably wouldn't break the bank, he knows how to play physically, and can chip in a goal here and there. It's unfortunate the team really doesn't have anyone internally with that kind of build. Foote, Clarke, and Holtz might get a shot but none of them bring size or toughness.

EDIT: Zetterlund was the only young forward in the org like that, actually. I do kind of wonder how having both him and Timo in the playoffs might have been instead.

Edited May 14 by NJDevils1214

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

3 hours ago, NJDfan1711 said:

I could certainly be wrong, but at 25 and 21 or whatever their ages are, I just don't see Nico or Jack having that type of Convo with Bratt.  They're all around the same age and I feel like it would be rare/difficult for kids (young adults) nowadays to have that foresight and actually have that serious conversation. I could see it coming from someone who was in there early 30s and had a significant age difference from them - someone who's experienced a little more in their careers and can appreciate the situation they're in. 

Not trying to sell them short by any means, I just know I personally wasn't thinking that far in advance when I was that age and that type of advice certainly didn't come from people my age. And that's without all the fame, money, technology, and other distractions that people that age are faced with today. 

One of them wears the C and was bestowed that honor for a reason, and the other wears an A and is hands-down the most talented player on the team…a legit superstar who figures to get even better.  In the hockey world, they’re not your typical 24 and 22 year olds.  And the fact that Jack said what he did during his exit interview makes me think he might not be afraid to bring something like that up to Bratt in a more private setting.

Basically a “Hey, I’m here for at least seven more years, Nico for at least another four, we got more talent coming up, don’t you want to be a part of this?” kind of conversation.

I’m with @capo though that I’m not sure Bratt is meant to be part of this thing going forward.  Regular season production of course matters too, but he seems like a guy who’s not going to be hard to shut down come playoff time.  Just doesn’t have the right game for it.

[Aitchmack]

5 hours ago, MadDog2020 said:

So 80 year old Lou is being offered a three year extension by the Islanders https://eyesonisles.com/posts/report-ny-islanders-to-offer-lou-lamoriello-a-contract-extension-01h0ax82whhk

Don't you miss the five page thread of bickering this would have generated a few months ago? Me neither. 🤣

Lou doing Lou things and keeping the Isles ticking over without really moving them forward.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 minute ago, Aitchmack said:

Don't you miss the five page thread of bickering this would have generated a few months ago? Me neither. 🤣

Lou doing Lou things and keeping the Isles ticking over without really moving them forward.

It’s been mentioned but Lou really hasn’t done that great of a job there, especially given what he inherited.  Kinda feels like the game has truly passed him by.

[Aitchmack]

1 hour ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

It’s been mentioned but Lou really hasn’t done that great of a job there, especially given what he inherited.  Kinda feels like the game has truly passed him by.

And yet there's talk of him getting an extension. I agree with you, he seems out of step with todays game.

[Nicomo]

 

[NJDevils1214]

1 hour ago, Nicomo said:

 

mikepeluso8 must be seething right now. 😂

[RizzMB30]

2 hours ago, Nicomo said:

 

I believe this team when I hear team members saying that they want to be back here next year and want to get another shot. I love that so many apparently love playing here and especially love what Fitz is building. 

Jack taking the lead and not mincing words at all. Love it from a core guy. Love hearing it from Siegs too. I don't feel like Bratt is pressured either. Feels like he wants to be here. 

Let's make the money work now. 

[jagknife]

15 hours ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

It’s been mentioned but Lou really hasn’t done that great of a job there, especially given what he inherited.  Kinda feels like the game has truly passed him by.

 

14 hours ago, Aitchmack said:

And yet there's talk of him getting an extension. I agree with you, he seems out of step with todays game.

I felt the game passed him by the the lockout and he had no real answer for losing Neids.

Then his credibility took a hit when he let Vandercreep bully him into making moves he didn’t really want.

Then, he had no backup plan and went with moves that probably woulda worked prelockout.

THEN he wasted some pretty good lineups in Toronto.

lastly, took an ECF team and made it old, slow and boring, neutralizing the best aspects of its youthful rebirth 

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 hour ago, jagknife said:

 

I felt the game passed him by the the lockout and he had no real answer for losing Neids.

Then his credibility took a hit when he let Vandercreep bully him into making moves he didn’t really want.

Then, he had no backup plan and went with moves that probably woulda worked prelockout.

THEN he wasted some pretty good lineups in Toronto.

lastly, took an ECF team and made it old, slow and boring, neutralizing the best aspects of its youthful rebirth 

Feels like he’s getting by almost strictly on rep now…and that some are waiting for Lou to have some magical offseason that will have his supporters screaming “See, he’s still got it!”

I think he jumped the shark more when he not only signed Kovy to that megadeal, but when he did it in a way where he’d already been warned that his first attempt wasn’t going to be approved by the NHL…but he arrogantly insisted anyway, press conference and all.  So of course he got his hand slapped…but the Lou of old never signs Kovy to such an insane deal to begin with.  Kinda felt like he was throwing whatever he could in the hopes that it might stick.

But getting back to the present, yeah, I think other GMs could’ve done a better job with what Lou inherited as the Islander GM.  And firing Trotz was a very questionable move that has hardly paid off.  Think the jury is also out on signing Horvat to his deal.  

[The U 1509]

This will get deleted almost immediately, but hi there -- MB3 checking in. I'm hoping DM will let it stay up, I'm just going to say my piece and delete this account. 

It was weird celebrating a fun season without some people I've been talking Devils-hockey with for nearly two decades. I've had several people reach out to me on HFBoards and Reddit, gotten a few texts from old guys I was close with here. You guys rule. The last time the Devils won a playoff series I was celebrating with you guys while studying abroad in Europe. It's been 11 long and dark years. 

I won't get into the ban. I can disagree with the specific reason I was prema-banned but I cannot disagree that it was eventually deserved. I've had it coming for years. SD's had it coming for years, too. Mfitz -- I still strongly feel that he did not deserve the ban, and I'm sad for him. He got caught up in a messy situation and was unfairly lumped into the MB3-SD category. He didn't cross a line. I've lurked (hard to go cold-turkey from a place that you spent every day at for 17 years of your life) and I see some of you are pushing for him to be reinstated. I encourage you all to continue that, I think he deserves it. The board is better with him. 

You'll probably find it funny that the singular most unusual friendship was created from the ban. Me, SD and Mfitz are in a group-chat. We talk every single day. All day every day, weirdly enough. We talk bout the Devils, about stupid stuff, about life decisions, about our families, about our jobs, about SD drinking milk out of bags and about Mfitz being repeatedly hit on by his daughter's friend. Mfitz is a hottie. It's goofy and stupid and goes off on tangents that every one of you here could've predicted.

There are many reasons I'm posting this. I think all of you know that I became a dad 18 months ago. I grew up with a lot of you, and this information feels like it should be shared. My son will be undergoing an emergency brain surgery on Wednesday, May 24th. It is a dangerous and risky surgery for a dangerous ailment that would've killed him within the next few years -- so it is necessary. If you have a minute to say a prayer, or send good vibes, or whatever your affliction might lead you to do, I'd appreciate it. 

I'm not asking to be reinstated. I'm just popping by to say hello, since it feels weird that I haven't done that in months. If/when DM or msweet is reading this, I will log off from this account and I will not continue to post from it. I'm not trying to sneak my way back on here. 

Go devils

-MB3. 

[RunninWithTheDevil]

Hey MB3, glad to hear you 3 are all getting along. Your son and family will be in my prayers. 

[NJDevils1214]

22 minutes ago, The U 1509 said:

This will get deleted almost immediately, but hi there -- MB3 checking in. I'm hoping DM will let it stay up, I'm just going to say my piece and delete this account. 

It was weird celebrating a fun season without some people I've been talking Devils-hockey with for nearly two decades. I've had several people reach out to me on HFBoards and Reddit, gotten a few texts from old guys I was close with here. You guys rule. The last time the Devils won a playoff series I was celebrating with you guys while studying abroad in Europe. It's been 11 long and dark years. 

I won't get into the ban. I can disagree with the specific reason I was prema-banned but I cannot disagree that it was eventually deserved. I've had it coming for years. SD's had it coming for years, too. Mfitz -- I still strongly feel that he did not deserve the ban, and I'm sad for him. He got caught up in a messy situation and was unfairly lumped into the MB3-SD category. He didn't cross a line. I've lurked (hard to go cold-turkey from a place that you spent every day at for 17 years of your life) and I see some of you are pushing for him to be reinstated. I encourage you all to continue that, I think he deserves it. The board is better with him. 

You'll probably find it funny that the singular most unusual friendship was created from the ban. Me, SD and Mfitz are in a group-chat. We talk every single day. All day every day, weirdly enough. We talk bout the Devils, about stupid stuff, about life decisions, about our families, about our jobs, about SD drinking milk out of bags and about Mfitz being repeatedly hit on by his daughter's friend. Mfitz is a hottie. It's goofy and stupid and goes off on tangents that every one of you here could've predicted.

There are many reasons I'm posting this. I think all of you know that I became a dad 18 months ago. I grew up with a lot of you, and this information feels like it should be shared. My son will be undergoing an emergency brain surgery on Wednesday, May 24th. It is a dangerous and risky surgery for a dangerous ailment that would've killed him within the next few years -- so it is necessary. If you have a minute to say a prayer, or send good vibes, or whatever your affliction might lead you to do, I'd appreciate it. 

I'm not asking to be reinstated. I'm just popping by to say hello, since it feels weird that I haven't done that in months. If/when DM or msweet is reading this, I will log off from this account and I will not continue to post from it. I'm not trying to sneak my way back on here. 

Go devils

-MB3. 

Good luck with everything, and I mean that sincerely.

This next part is also sincere... please don't come back. This place has been so much better without you. DM, please don't let any of them back.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Jesus H...hope the surgery for your son goes well MB3, sincerely.  I can't imagine how I'd feel if I found out my daughter ever needed emergency brain surgery.  

Edited May 15 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Chimaira_Devil_#9]

1 hour ago, The U 1509 said:

This will get deleted almost immediately, but hi there -- MB3 checking in. I'm hoping DM will let it stay up, I'm just going to say my piece and delete this account. 

It was weird celebrating a fun season without some people I've been talking Devils-hockey with for nearly two decades. I've had several people reach out to me on HFBoards and Reddit, gotten a few texts from old guys I was close with here. You guys rule. The last time the Devils won a playoff series I was celebrating with you guys while studying abroad in Europe. It's been 11 long and dark years. 

I won't get into the ban. I can disagree with the specific reason I was prema-banned but I cannot disagree that it was eventually deserved. I've had it coming for years. SD's had it coming for years, too. Mfitz -- I still strongly feel that he did not deserve the ban, and I'm sad for him. He got caught up in a messy situation and was unfairly lumped into the MB3-SD category. He didn't cross a line. I've lurked (hard to go cold-turkey from a place that you spent every day at for 17 years of your life) and I see some of you are pushing for him to be reinstated. I encourage you all to continue that, I think he deserves it. The board is better with him. 

You'll probably find it funny that the singular most unusual friendship was created from the ban. Me, SD and Mfitz are in a group-chat. We talk every single day. All day every day, weirdly enough. We talk bout the Devils, about stupid stuff, about life decisions, about our families, about our jobs, about SD drinking milk out of bags and about Mfitz being repeatedly hit on by his daughter's friend. Mfitz is a hottie. It's goofy and stupid and goes off on tangents that every one of you here could've predicted.

There are many reasons I'm posting this. I think all of you know that I became a dad 18 months ago. I grew up with a lot of you, and this information feels like it should be shared. My son will be undergoing an emergency brain surgery on Wednesday, May 24th. It is a dangerous and risky surgery for a dangerous ailment that would've killed him within the next few years -- so it is necessary. If you have a minute to say a prayer, or send good vibes, or whatever your affliction might lead you to do, I'd appreciate it. 

I'm not asking to be reinstated. I'm just popping by to say hello, since it feels weird that I haven't done that in months. If/when DM or msweet is reading this, I will log off from this account and I will not continue to post from it. I'm not trying to sneak my way back on here. 

Go devils

-MB3. 

Can't imagine how you must be feeling. Hoping it all goes well and your son makes a full and speedy recovery. It's amazing how tough kids are. 

I have often been wondering how the three of you would have been reacting to that Rangers series. Feel like we missed out on some highly emotional content. 

Anyway, wishing you and your family all the best. Will be keeping you in my thoughts on the 24th. 

[MadDog2020]

Your son is in my prayers bro 🙏

[NJDevils1214]

I saw Sharangovich was going back to Belarus this summer to show off his baby to the family. Kind of hoping he may reconsider or make it a short trip now.

[Nicomo]

2 hours ago, NJDevils1214 said:

Good luck with everything, and I mean that sincerely.

This next part is also sincere... please don't come back. This place has been so much better without you. DM, please don't let any of them back.

This x a million. 

I don’t know where this “push for Mfitz to come back” has been happening (I certainly haven’t seen it), but PLEASE no!!!

[DevilMinder]

MB3, prayers to your son and hopeful for a full recovery. I sincerely hope your son gets to live a full life.

 

Way down in importance, I am glad the three of  you found each tolerable off the forums. But as others have said, this place has been way more enjoyable without the three of you taking over all the threads.

Best of luck to you too Mfitz, since I see you just attempted to register too.

[Aitchmack]

4 hours ago, The U 1509 said:

This will get deleted almost immediately, but hi there -- MB3 checking in. I'm hoping DM will let it stay up, I'm just going to say my piece and delete this account. 

It was weird celebrating a fun season without some people I've been talking Devils-hockey with for nearly two decades. I've had several people reach out to me on HFBoards and Reddit, gotten a few texts from old guys I was close with here. You guys rule. The last time the Devils won a playoff series I was celebrating with you guys while studying abroad in Europe. It's been 11 long and dark years. 

I won't get into the ban. I can disagree with the specific reason I was prema-banned but I cannot disagree that it was eventually deserved. I've had it coming for years. SD's had it coming for years, too. Mfitz -- I still strongly feel that he did not deserve the ban, and I'm sad for him. He got caught up in a messy situation and was unfairly lumped into the MB3-SD category. He didn't cross a line. I've lurked (hard to go cold-turkey from a place that you spent every day at for 17 years of your life) and I see some of you are pushing for him to be reinstated. I encourage you all to continue that, I think he deserves it. The board is better with him. 

You'll probably find it funny that the singular most unusual friendship was created from the ban. Me, SD and Mfitz are in a group-chat. We talk every single day. All day every day, weirdly enough. We talk bout the Devils, about stupid stuff, about life decisions, about our families, about our jobs, about SD drinking milk out of bags and about Mfitz being repeatedly hit on by his daughter's friend. Mfitz is a hottie. It's goofy and stupid and goes off on tangents that every one of you here could've predicted.

There are many reasons I'm posting this. I think all of you know that I became a dad 18 months ago. I grew up with a lot of you, and this information feels like it should be shared. My son will be undergoing an emergency brain surgery on Wednesday, May 24th. It is a dangerous and risky surgery for a dangerous ailment that would've killed him within the next few years -- so it is necessary. If you have a minute to say a prayer, or send good vibes, or whatever your affliction might lead you to do, I'd appreciate it. 

I'm not asking to be reinstated. I'm just popping by to say hello, since it feels weird that I haven't done that in months. If/when DM or msweet is reading this, I will log off from this account and I will not continue to post from it. I'm not trying to sneak my way back on here. 

Go devils

-MB3. 

Unbelievably sh!tty situation with you son MB30. I truly hope the 24th goes well for him. All the best mate.

[RizzMB30]

MB3, In my thoughts and prayers re: your son. Can only imagine what you & spouse are going through. 



 

[Devil Dan 56]

Hoping for the best for you and your family, MB3. That’s scary stuff, hope all goes well on the 24th

 

[Puckbuster]

VV and Akira at $4.25M cap hit is a huge asset for average goaltending.  I think they are good at goal.

Someone made the comment that the Devils have 3 other players that can do what he does.  No, they don’t.  They don’t have any wingers, other than Meier, that can score 70 points a season.  Yes, it was an underwhelming playoff, but most Devils were underwhelming.  Bratt is hardworking and I am willing to bet he will do whatever it takes to be better during the offseason.

Personally, I think it all came down to coaching.  This team can win and they can win big games.  They never adjusted to overcome Carolina’s forecheck or the team wasn’t listening.  The back checking was horrendous and they were constantly out of position.  To make matters worse, they were undisciplined taking tons of penalties.

[Puckbuster]

14 hours ago, The U 1509 said:

There are many reasons I'm posting this. I think all of you know that I became a dad 18 months ago. I grew up with a lot of you, and this information feels like it should be shared. My son will be undergoing an emergency brain surgery on Wednesday, May 24th. It is a dangerous and risky surgery for a dangerous ailment that would've killed him within the next few years -- so it is necessary. If you have a minute to say a prayer, or send good vibes, or whatever your affliction might lead you to do, I'd appreciate it. 

My family will pray for a successful surgery and for a quick recovery.  May God be with your family and provide your family the strength and guidance to overcome this difficult time.

[moustic]

Let's go for another dead season altogether... 
It will quiet after a moment... We will have some highlight (draft, Bratt/Timo watch, Grave/Sevz situation, probably not coach changing news but who know... at least to keep CR1976 entertain ; )   )

But as usual, i will spend my whole day around here... Same routine since 20 years ! Let's have a good time together until october !