In a perfect world we trade Zajac+ for a top2 Dman. Probably have to keep some salary, but it will never happen.
- RubberBiscuitz

Agreed, when top pairing dmen cost teams Hall or swaps of Subban/Weber there isn’t much the Devils can Trade to get one.

More like Butcher and Hischier
- Velcro300

Nico has terrible hair....there I said it

Nico has terrible hair....there I said it
- DDM-Coga

That’s why we need to do a Greene/Lando swap to balance out the leagues hair ratio.

That’s why we need to do a Greene/Lando swap to balance out the leagues hair ratio.
- smellmyfinger

you leave my beautiful swedes alone

Opening night lineup from what I think will happen

Hall-zacha-palms
Johanson-hischier-stafford
Bratt-henrique-quinville
Wood-boyle-blandisi
Noesen

Greene severson
Lovejoy Moore
Mueller butcher
Santini prout as extras

I think santini should be in but they won't take Lovejoy out and Moore will be in and with butcher he brings offense which they need from the back
- dmarsden2988

That 3rd pair of D deserves to be moved up to 2nd pair. In my opinion Moore is a bottom pairing, nothing more, and lovejoy doesn't deserve to put the jersey on at all. Let the guy start his retirement. Butcher and Mueller have played quality hockey together and have shown great speed and passing. And seriously, Henrique is great, but doesn't fit in on the crowded roster of Centers. If he is a third liner while Zajac is on IR, then trade him!!! 2 yr at 4M per season would have many teams offering up very good quality D, or maybe a top 10 draft pick this coming draft. Things we require far more than Henrique on L3. Great problem to have. Tons of positives to take away from the offseason/preseason.

Over the past three years, while the Devils have been doormats, he has started between 55% and 58% of his shifts in the defensive zone, averaged over 2:30 minutes a night short handed and has a better than 2-1 takeaway- giveaway ratio.

In each of the past two seasons he has had the Devils 3rd highest amount of points, the assessment that he is somehow a liability is just plain wrong.
- smellmyfinger

None of these stats are a surprise. I'm not debating that he wasn't out there a lot or didn't play on the PK. But just because you PLAY that role doesn't mean you succeed in that role. Again, I don't recall him having Sid's number, or really causing trouble for other teams top scorers.

I really feel like people see him on the "1st line," see his contract, see the A on his jersey, and see his lack of offense and just say, "oh, well he's a shutdown guy."

Jay Pandolfo had ZERO offensive talent, but that guy was a defensive forward who could shutdown others. That's the example I think of.

None of these stats are a surprise. I'm not debating that he wasn't out there a lot or didn't play on the PK. But just because you PLAY that role doesn't mean you succeed in that role. Again, I don't recall him having Sid's number, or really causing trouble for other teams top scorers.

I really feel like people see him on the "1st line," see his contract, see the A on his jersey, and see his lack of offense and just say, "oh, well he's a shutdown guy."

Jay Pandolfo had ZERO offensive talent, but that guy was a defensive forward who could shutdown others. That's the example I think of.
- jersey1414

Jay Pandolfo put up 38 goals and 67 points in 40 games for Boston University. He scored at a better rate for the Devils then Bobby Carpenter who certainly had a lot of offensive talent. We didn't utilize either guy for their offense and deployed them as defensive specialist. It's not the same role Travis is playing. Guys like Carpenter and Pandolfo might not have scored much but they certainly were big contributors to winning a few of those Stanley Cups and a lot of games.

https://www.bing.com/vide...F2EAFCE8ACF6A&FORM=VRDGAR

https://www.bing.com/vide...28CF9F1F49639&FORM=VRDGAR

You can argue Zajacs term on his contract is bad, you can’t make the argument that NJ is better off without him. He consistently puts up 45ish points while playing against the opponents best and a lot of PK minutes. He’s a 2C, and the team will be better with him.
- smellmyfinger

I get what you guys are saying, but right now, Zajac is the best two-way centre we have. And looking at how they are cracking down on slashing and this new faceoff penalty, a solid pk centre is going to be more valuable than ever. I say keep him, his contract wont hurt the Devs one bit at this point. Lets trade assets while their values are high instead. MOVE HENRIQUE. Guy has high value and doesn't fit. Easy contract to move and I imagine the return could address a area of high concern. That leaves Zajac,Hischier, Johansson,Zacha,Boyle,Quenville, remaining which is a solid group competing for centre heading forward. Either way your not wrong, we've got too many quality centres so let's see who we can move for a quality D or high pick.

Jay Pandolfo put up 38 goals and 67 points in 40 games for Boston University. He scored at a better rate for the Devils then Bobby Carpenter who certainly had a lot of offensive talent. We didn't utilize either guy for their offense and deployed them as defensive specialist. It's not the same role Travis is playing. Guys like Carpenter and Pandolfo might not have scored much but they certainly were big contributors to winning a few of those Stanley Cups and a lot of games.
- Queenie_5_hole

First off, don't bring college stats to a NHL conversation. There's plenty of examples of Jay Pandolfo's all around the league. Reid Boucher scored like 60 goals in the OHL one season, so does that means he's loaded with offensive ability? And Mike Mottau won the freakin Hobey Baker...so what's that worth?

And I'm not suggesting that Zajac, when put in a 3C role, couldn't become a defensive-minded guy with some shutdown abilities. That's quite possible. But TO DATE, he has unfairly been given that label of "shutdown center."

My god I can't believe I agree with you on everything Todd. First, Lovejoy should not start. He had a pre-season that as a rookie would have got him sent down or waived a long time ago. Or at least keep him on bottom 3rd pairing.

Second, people are forgetting Hayes will get a contract and be on the fourth line with Woods. They had nice chemistry last night. Blandisi is 4th line center until Boyle returns and Noesen is extra forward on the RW side. Bratt gets his 9 game audition but Coleman may have a shot at making the team as well. Everyone else is getting sent down.

Third and Last, On Zajac. When he returns he will be 3rd line center or switch with Zacha (depends on how he plays with Hall-Palms). But Zajac will be with Henrique on the wing and another wing as well. But he can now be asked to not see as much PP time as they may not need him on 1st unit.

The opening line up, I would like to see, I know no one eles does and I know it won't happen i'm just saying what I would like.

Hall-Zacha-Palmieri
Henrique-Hischier-Johanson
Bratt-Blandisi-Stafford
Wood-Quinville-Noesen


Greene-Santini
Mueller-severson
Butcher-Prout
as extras Lovejoy Moore
- cu45161

You haven't been watching or reading up on the Devils lately if you think those will be the lines

First off, don't bring college stats to a NHL conversation. There's plenty of examples of Jay Pandolfo's all around the league. Reid Boucher scored like 60 goals in the OHL one season, so does that means he's loaded with offensive ability? And Mike Mottau won the freakin Hobey Baker...so what's that worth?

And I'm not suggesting that Zajac, when put in a 3C role, couldn't become a defensive-minded guy with some shutdown abilities. That's quite possible. But TO DATE, he has unfairly been given that label of "shutdown center."
- jersey1414

Fine,

Jay Pandolfo, in a complete shut down role scored 100 goals in the NHL and put up 226 points. And was talented enough to only get tagged with 164 PIM in 899 games. Completely impossible for a guy with no offensive talent...

Zajac has put up 434 points in 779 NHL Games which may not be the most impressive production for a first line center but is hardly a 'Shutdown center'. Granted he's a lot more defensively responsible then other 1Cs with gaudier numbers but he is what he is.

"I'm going to stir the pot early, before we've seen any regular season results, and say this is why I'm a firm believer that this team is better without Zajac. Look at the construction of this roster. With the exception of Boyle, who's a 4C and PK guy, this team is being built around speed and offensively ability. Zajac simply doesn't fit that mold."

I couldn't disagree with you more. Zajac has a history of performing well with top line players. It isn't because of his speed or high end talent, but because he compliments their games very well in the areas they dont excel in. Puck battles/ positioning/ covering the lanes/ puck possession/ they way he supports the puck carrier and finds the open guy. Goal scorers love playing with the guy. The one thing that really impressed me last year with Zajacs game was all the 1 on 1 battles he was winning along the boards & the loose puck battles he won. His positioning. You rarely catch him out of position. In fact he was one of the best along with Rico on swapping with the points. And again great players did well with him and liked playing with him Examples: Kovy/ Elias/ Parise/ Jagr / Hall & Palmeri. You can say that those players also performed well with other players, but in Palmeri's case all last year when the devils really couldnt find that top line. Palmeri played with multiple centers and linemates. Even played with Hall & Zacha. Chickenparm didnt start putting up the numbers until he had Zajac at center. The year prior he put up a lot of his numbers on the PP with Zajac and started putting up 5v5 numbers once he played with Zajac. I say this all the time to all my friends that dont watch the games and just look at the box score afterwards. You dont appreciate Zajac unless you watch the games. There are so many goals set up by him that dont end up on the scoresheet. Plus he scores big goals against great teams. Had a hat trick last year against Chicago. Just feel like he always comes thru against the top teams.

[quote=Htowntigers89]

I am not saying he's a bad player, an irresponsible player, or anything like that. I simply do not think he's a shutdown forward, and the way this team is being constructed I do not think the Devils will miss him. But...let's circle back in 3 months and see how it's going.

"I'mmm the best!!" in Toad's voice circa Mariokart 64.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQHMAphlcAE

Nico has terrible hair....there I said it
- DDM-Coga

[quote=jersey1414]

He is no John Madden haha, but id say he is the best shut down forward in the metro. Is he 1c material? no, but very close and can really help this team in a 2nd line or 3rd line C roll even with his cap hit. You need 3 centers to really compete in this league. Zacha/ Nico & Zajac will give the devils that strength down the middle to compete with any team. Rico should probably move to Zajacs wing and not be traded.

When you get into the last 20-15 games of the season the game really changes. A lot more contact a lot less space. The playoffs it intensifies. Players like Zajac & Rico that is when they are at their best. You need guys like that on the roster for those games that come down to grit & heart. In addition what those two do together on the PK is invaluable. In my opinion both are part of the long term plan but not in the capacity that we have seen in the past.

You haven't been watching or reading up on the Devils lately if you think those will be the lines-SnipeDevil6

What are you on about, I specifically said I know it won't happen, and secondly I do read and I have been watching, I just choose to go with my own opinions instead of following everyone else like sheep.

you should read the post again

Wonder if Ray will try to pry Anderson from the Jackets. We did do them a solid with Quincey

Wonder if Ray will try to pry Anderson from the Jackets. We did do them a solid with Quincey
- willschulme

Ray totally raped them on that.

We got Dalton 'Tank Master" Prout for our stretch run which delivered the 1st overall pick. We got a bargaining chip for the expansion draft (although that didn't really work out, it's was smart). And this season we still have the new and improved lean mean fighting machine and super 7th defenseman known as Dalton.

An NHL veteran for a bargain $1.5M on an expiring contract. Could be a trade chip at the deadline... or not...

They got a Quincey for 20 regulars season games and 2 playoff games. And none of it really went that well. Suckers.

At first I thought Ray lost on that move and remember saying 'why would you trade a defenseman for a crappier defenseman' but in retrospect Ray was brilliant. Or at least that's how I'm playing it....

Wonder if Ray will try to pry Anderson from the Jackets. We did do them a solid with Quincey
- willschulme

Dude I would love that move

Wonder if Ray will try to pry Anderson from the Jackets. We did do them a solid with Quincey
- willschulme

what kind of player is he?

what kind of player is he?
- MartysBetter88

Big gritty rw that can kind of score

Basically a way better version of Hayes

Big gritty rw that can kind of score

Basically a way better version of Hayes
- shvingter88

2nd line RW perhaps?

2nd line RW perhaps?
- MartysBetter88

More like 3rd line. I had him in 14 team fantasy league last year. He was good. Idk if he's a 2nd line player. Although he might be poised for a breakout year.