Vanek is easily the best ufa
- shvingter88

i waited all night and you only answered the easiest of the questions..
leaving price out of this, and if he's the only top 9 player we acquire, how would you guys feel about him on the Devils? Would you be disappointed??

how much would you feel comfortable giving him? what's your tipping point where it's just too much or too long?

and what do project for NJ if all we do is bring back Carter and Gionta, dump a pylon, and sign Vanek?

Everyone seems to hate the picks. We drafted big physical players that work the boards and may-or-may not have hands.

So why is everyone pissed? Didn't the LA Kings just win the Cup with a slower team than the Rangers, but had 4 lines of forwards. Small, quick forwards are way cool, but they don't win Cup after 2 months of playoff hockey. The cycle game and deep teams win.

I'm not saying all (or any) of these players will have the talent of the players of the Kings, but building a team around bigger players that play the system well is not a bad thing.

Remember, LA was a terrible scoring team in the regular season.

Remember, LA was a terrible scoring team in the regular season.
- Chieppa1

And then they went and got that one FW who can score when he's on his game in Gaborik and it paid off for them with a Cup.

If they had him all season I think they'd obviously be higher in terms of gpg.

To me, that's what NJ is missing. A true top 6 FW who can score.

Not a top 6 guy who can pass, not a top 6 who can play the boards, not a top 6 who sits in front of the net & gets some lucky tip-ins (Clarkson).

A guy who can find the net plain and simple at a better than 20G/season rate(Parise & Kovy).

according to fairies, Caps, Flames, Devils in on Vanek.

Would you all agree he's the best LW available?

Is he the best forward on the market??

leaving price out of this, and if he's the only top 9 player we acquire, how would you guys feel about him on the Devils? Would you be disappointed??

how much would you feel comfortable giving him? what's your tipping point where it's just too much or too long?
- MartysBetter88

Yes best LW and UFA on the market in my eyes, making him a prime target for us.

I would hope that he would help synergize the team effort and make the Devils that much better - directly and indirectly. We do have a motley crew so it is hard to tell how all of the pieces would work together. I do fear that the "pass it to Kovy" style of play would re surface, which I fear could take away whatever he would add by reducing others motivation. So if we add him and don't really do much more, we would be better yes, but how much better I do not know. One thing for sure is HE WOULD HELP ON THE SHOOTOUT!!! unless he gets part of the crazy voodoo curse the rest of the team had last year.

We absolutely are lacking in high end offensive talent so I would say we could really use him. I would see a 6-7 mill / 5 maybe 6 year deal necessary to net him any more than that or longer would make me more nervous than optimistic.

That is my novice opinion. Here's my novice questions:

If we do get Vanek to sign what line mates would you think he would do best with?
What about Vanek/Henrique/Brunner? could be a dynamo! If Vans could get Ryder to play consistently he could really do well. When Ryder is hot he is HOT but when not, well you know.

Could he possibly inspire players like Ryder and Brunner to play on another level?

Do you think Jagr could keep up if Vanek was on his line? Could be magic! Could be a lot of line changes just before something awesome happens also.

Everyone seems to hate the picks. We drafted big physical players that work the boards and may-or-may not have hands.

So why is everyone pissed? Didn't the LA Kings just win the Cup with a slower team than the Rangers, but had 4 lines of forwards. Small, quick forwards are way cool, but they don't win Cup after 2 months of playoff hockey. The cycle game and deep teams win.

I'm not saying all (or any) of these players will have the talent of the players of the Kings, but building a team around bigger players that play the system well is not a bad thing.

Remember, LA was a terrible scoring team in the regular season.
- Chieppa1

LA won with Kopitar, Gaborik, Carter, Williams, annnd Doughty. Don't forget those guys. They're not slow, and they're not big physical players that work the boards. They're Selke winners, snipers, and all-stars. .. and a Conn Smythe winner.

if we dumped Ryder, Pylon Pair, added Vanek AND Hemsky, I think we're a team that can at least compete in the playoffs.

Vanek would fit great on the 1st line LW spot, that will forever remain vacant because we have no top line LW in the system anywhere.. soon we'll also be without a top RW lol. And we haven't had a top line center since...
Right now top LW seems to be our biggest need (unless you have Henrique/Elias as LWs and sign a center). Vanek-Zajac-Jagr is a solid 1st line. Elias-Henrique-Hemsky is a dynamic 2nd line. Addresses the need for scorer/speed/skill guys.

I'd give 30 year old Vanek 6 years 7mil per and be content with that, knowing what the market value is.
I'd give soon to be 31 year old Hemsky 5 years 5mil per and be content with that too.

30 isn't old. It's not young, but they're still in their prime for 2-3 years and then we'll see the slow drop off. But a lot of guys are still very good in their mid-30s and beyond. Even so, a 34 year old "past his prime Vanek/Hemsky" is still more valuable than anything we have now. And also, keep in mind Jagr and Elias will be gone in 1-2/3 years. Vanek and Hemsky will still be good at that point, and will be even more needed to partake in the scoring aspect of hockey. I think they'd be good guys to have with hopefully a Boucher or 2 coming up.

unfortunately we can't sign both. no room. even with Sal traded, Volch bought out, Ryder traded.. can't fit. I re-signed Fayne for 3.3, Larsson for 1.5, gave the RFAs about 300k bump, leaves us with about 10 in space, including Kinkaid, Carter + Gio. That Ruutu deal was layers of stupid. We have Clowe, Zubrus and Carter.. yet we acquire Ruutu.

since we can't sign both, i'd rather have Vanek. We have Brunner, Ryder, Zubrus, and Boucher for the right side. .. and Matteau and Clowe for the LW.

Would be great to unload him too. I just think adding Vanek and Hemsky really gives us a lot of what we need for this year and the next 5ish.

if we dumped Ryder, Pylon Pair, added Vanek AND Hemsky, I think we're a team that can at least compete in the playoffs.

Vanek would fit great on the 1st line LW spot, that will forever remain vacant because we have no top line LW in the system anywhere.. soon we'll also be without a top RW lol. And we haven't had a top line center since...
Right now top LW seems to be our biggest need (unless you have Henrique/Elias as LWs and sign a center). Vanek-Zajac-Jagr is a solid 1st line. Elias-Henrique-Hemsky is a dynamic 2nd line. Addresses the need for scorer/speed/skill guys.

I'd give 30 year old Vanek 6 years 7mil per and be content with that, knowing what the market value is.
I'd give soon to be 31 year old Hemsky 5 years 5mil per and be content with that too.

30 isn't old. It's not young, but they're still in their prime for 2-3 years and then we'll see the slow drop off. But a lot of guys are still very good in their mid-30s and beyond. Even so, a 34 year old "past his prime Vanek/Hemsky" is still more valuable than anything we have now. And also, keep in mind Jagr and Elias will be gone in 1-2/3 years. Vanek and Hemsky will still be good at that point, and will be even more needed to partake in the scoring aspect of hockey. I think they'd be good guys to have with hopefully a Boucher or 2 coming up.

unfortunately we can't sign both. no room. even with Sal traded, Volch bought out, Ryder traded.. can't fit. I re-signed Fayne for 3.3, Larsson for 1.5, gave the RFAs about 300k bump, leaves us with about 10 in space, including Kinkaid, Carter + Gio. That Ruutu deal was layers of stupid. We have Clowe, Zubrus and Carter.. yet we acquire Ruutu.

since we can't sign both, i'd rather have Vanek. We have Brunner, Ryder, Zubrus, and Boucher for the right side. .. and Matteau and Clowe for the LW.

Would be great to unload him too. I just think adding Vanek and Hemsky really gives us a lot of what we need for this year and the next 5ish.
- MartysBetter88

Hopefully Lou resigns Cory long term on day one that would and a lot of questions about what to do going forward

Hopefully Lou resigns Cory long term on day one that would and a lot of questions about what to do going forward
- blizzzard

true.. and there goes more cap space. we have room for only 1 5+ mil player.

Most overrated goalie of all time. Very good...not the legend he's portrayed to be. I'd take Roy, Hasek, amongst others, over him in a heartbeat
- Blueshirts16

So would Sather in all likelihood. And that's why your organization has two cups in the last 75 years.

if we dumped Ryder, Pylon Pair, added Vanek AND Hemsky, I think we're a team that can at least compete in the playoffs.

Vanek would fit great on the 1st line LW spot, that will forever remain vacant because we have no top line LW in the system anywhere.. soon we'll also be without a top RW lol. And we haven't had a top line center since...
Right now top LW seems to be our biggest need (unless you have Henrique/Elias as LWs and sign a center). Vanek-Zajac-Jagr is a solid 1st line. Elias-Henrique-Hemsky is a dynamic 2nd line. Addresses the need for scorer/speed/skill guys.

I'd give 30 year old Vanek 6 years 7mil per and be content with that, knowing what the market value is.
I'd give soon to be 31 year old Hemsky 5 years 5mil per and be content with that too.

30 isn't old. It's not young, but they're still in their prime for 2-3 years and then we'll see the slow drop off. But a lot of guys are still very good in their mid-30s and beyond. Even so, a 34 year old "past his prime Vanek/Hemsky" is still more valuable than anything we have now. And also, keep in mind Jagr and Elias will be gone in 1-2/3 years. Vanek and Hemsky will still be good at that point, and will be even more needed to partake in the scoring aspect of hockey. I think they'd be good guys to have with hopefully a Boucher or 2 coming up.

unfortunately we can't sign both. no room. even with Sal traded, Volch bought out, Ryder traded.. can't fit. I re-signed Fayne for 3.3, Larsson for 1.5, gave the RFAs about 300k bump, leaves us with about 10 in space, including Kinkaid, Carter + Gio. That Ruutu deal was layers of stupid. We have Clowe, Zubrus and Carter.. yet we acquire Ruutu.

since we can't sign both, i'd rather have Vanek. We have Brunner, Ryder, Zubrus, and Boucher for the right side. .. and Matteau and Clowe for the LW.

Would be great to unload him too. I just think adding Vanek and Hemsky really gives us a lot of what we need for this year and the next 5ish.
- MartysBetter88

Vanek & Hemsky



We are also sparse for talent in the middle, outside of Zajac and Henrique, which are great players, but would be second line if that on many of the teams we compete against. I think we have yet to see the best of Henrique so maybe he will blossom into a true first line player. Zajac plays Devils hockey, he is more of what Lou refers to as a "Prototype Devil" - 2 way forward, which I do like but wonder if we aren't seeing his top game now. Who do we have as a third line center? Zubs?

What the Devils need is a complete elite first line really, Elias/Zajac/Jagr would make a killer second line.

How do we free up enough cap space to get both?

Would you prefer Fayne or Hemsky? if it was either or with available cap what do you think would make the team better overall?

No Fayne - Buy out Volch - Trade Clowe? retain some cap hit to make it even feasible or buy him out.

I like Clowe but wonder if Lou isn't holding on to the last buyout for Mr. Concussion as that is an ugly contract which might be more advantageous to get out of in the long run.

I feel we should keep Carter and let Gionta and Bernier walk or play in the AHL as back up fourth liners for a song if they don't get any good offers. Keep JJ as fourth line center.

Thoughts?

Here is all you need to know about the state the Devils are in. Instead of viewing the ability to talk to free agents early as a chance to improve an organization that has missed the playoffs the past two years, Lou views it as a distraction. A distraction from what I'm not sure, since he still view drafts as the scouting departments job and he hasn't even been in contact with our top FA (Fayne).

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ml#incart_related_stories

we are 100% signing erhoff july 1st



sabres just brought him out

we are 100% signing erhoff july 1st



sabres just brought him out
- dmarsden2988

6 years 42 million. Book it.

Here is all you need to know about the state the Devils are in. Instead of viewing the ability to talk to free agents early as a chance to improve an organization that has missed the playoffs the past two years, Lou views it as a distraction. A distraction from what I'm not sure, since he still view drafts as the scouting departments job and he hasn't even been in contact with our top FA (Fayne).

http://www.nj.com/devils/...ml#incart_related_stories
- smellmyfinger

i kinda agree with Lou and the timing of the discussion period and free agency with the draft, they should have started the discussion phase today (after the draft) and pushed back free agency so there would be a full week

at this point i dont mind about losing fayne if it means we actually get to see larsson and merrill/gelinas in the line up regularly instead of lou's speech of we will have room for young dmen.........wish we could have traded fayne even for a low pick if he wasnt even talking to his camp (but i thought TG tweeted a week or so ago that faynes agent said that they were talking?)

i kinda agree with Lou and the timing of the discussion period and free agency with the draft, they should have started the discussion phase today (after the draft) and pushed back free agency so there would be a full week

at this point i dont mind about losing fayne if it means we actually get to see larsson and merrill/gelinas in the line up regularly instead of lou's speech of we will have room for young dmen.........wish we could have traded fayne even for a low pick if he wasnt even talking to his camp (but i thought TG tweeted a week or so ago that faynes agent said that they were talking?)
- dmarsden2988

I kind of like this free agent talking period. Everyone knows tampering happens. Gomez with a max deal minutes after free agency opened? Every year there seems to be a monster deal that happens moments after free agency starts, So you know teams are already doing it. Plus it gives teams an ability to match. The agent can always come back to the GM and say team so and so is willing to offer this, are you willing to match?

I kind of like this free agent talking period. Everyone knows tampering happens. Gomez with a max deal minutes after free agency opened? Every year there seems to be a monster deal that happens moments after free agency starts, So you know teams are already doing it. Plus it gives teams an ability to match. The agent can always come back to the GM and say team so and so is willing to offer this, are you willing to match?
- smellmyfinger

i like it to, just not the timing of it, just push signing day a couple days back so there is a week of talking to UFA's after the draft not before or during it

The most skilled anyway... I'd like to see what kind of player he becomes if molded by the Devils' system.
- archromat

A 20 goal 2way player

i waited all night and you only answered the easiest of the questions..
leaving price out of this, and if he's the only top 9 player we acquire, how would you guys feel about him on the Devils? Would you be disappointed??

how much would you feel comfortable giving him? what's your tipping point where it's just too much or too long?

and what do project for NJ if all we do is bring back Carter and Gionta, dump a pylon, and sign Vanek?
- MartysBetter88

I don't want him that's why I left it out, idk he probs would want 8.2 mil a year to play for the devils

Edit: I'd be cool with a 6 year 36 mil contract, nothing more.

I kind of like this free agent talking period. Everyone knows tampering happens. Gomez with a max deal minutes after free agency opened? Every year there seems to be a monster deal that happens moments after free agency starts, So you know teams are already doing it. Plus it gives teams an ability to match. The agent can always come back to the GM and say team so and so is willing to offer this, are you willing to match?
- smellmyfinger

The thing I see is a cultural difference in my opinion. Todays world is fast and complex, we are multitasking at extreme levels. Some people (not all) from Lou's era are having a difficult time re-acting to the 'virtual' new world order. Hockey is a business. I worked at office a year ago owned by an 78 year old where everything was required to be done on paper because the owner 'didn't trust' technology. I since then started my own company and my business partner is a paperless/wireless animal. At first I was resistant as what's on a screen seems that much less tangible to me than something on paper. Eventually I assimilated and now a year later I do 4 or 5 times the amount of work each day as I used to. Now that I am familiar, I can take advantage of the resources available. Technology is great, but only if you can assimilate. If you can't it is overwhelming. I wonder if the 'distraction' is lack of ability to process the amount of information that people are forced to these day to appropriately interact in the business world of today. Hockey is a business.

I could be wrong, but we all knows Lou like to take his time with things, some things in today's world you have to be quick and decisive with to properly take advantage of.

I don't want him that's why I left it out, idk he probs would want 8.2 mil a year to play for the devils

Edit: I'd be cool with a 6 year 36 mil contract, nothing more.
- shvingter88

With erhoff being available now you got to think it changes lous mind about buying out sal or a train to be able to get erhoff in here I will say though erhoff and Greene would be great mentors for the kids

With erhoff being available now you got to think it changes lous mind about buying out sal or a train to be able to get erhoff in here I will say though erhoff and Greene would be great mentors for the kids
- blizzzard

If the Devils sign Erhoff this off season I won't even know anymore haha. Not that Erhoff's bad but literally the LAST thing the Devils need is another D-Man over the age of 30. Maybe if Sal, Volchenkov, AND Fayne were all gone I'd be alright with it.

If the Devils don't buy out Volchenkov it'd be nice to have someone come forward and just say it was a money thing from management. There is legitimately no legitimate reason what-so-ever from a hockey/cap perspective to not compliance buyout Volchenkov. I'm dumb-founded if they don't unless they somehow trade him..

With erhoff being available now you got to think it changes lous mind about buying out sal or a train to be able to get erhoff in here I will say though erhoff and Greene would be great mentors for the kids
- blizzzard

If sal and volch are gone then yeah sure