lol I'm not saying they're bad. I used the word good multiple times in a previous comment. I included Hughes and Nico as guys that could hit 80. But that's really it. The rest are hopes and dreams.
- MartysBetter88

yeah you're so positive that the prospects coming up are just "hopes and dreams".

yeah you're so positive that the prospects coming up are just "hopes and dreams".
- Pomegrant

it's just being objective. None are projected to be 60+pt players, so what else but hopes and dreams is there? not facts or projections.. but hopes and dreams lol.

it's just being objective. None are projected to be 60+pt players, so what else but hopes and dreams is there? not facts or projections.. but hopes and dreams lol.
- MartysBetter88

Where did you get that from, though? Who said they wont be 60+ point players?

Where did you get that from, though? Who said they wont be 60+ point players?
- Devils4ever

He said it. Because he thinks all of our players/prospects are trash.

right, but i'm saying none are projected to be stars.. maybe Hughes.. and none of them certainly look to be surprise stars in the making. But yes, you never know. I'm just saying chances are, we don't have any 100pt players in the system, maybe a few seasons of 80pts from Nico or Jack. Seems more like a bunch of 40-60pt players, plus Hughes and Nico, if these guys continue their development. . which is nice, but how bright is that?
- MartysBetter88

For what its worth I get what you are saying, I love Nico and would sign him to a lifetime contract if that was possible, but if he's your most productive forward from an offensive standpoint its going to be tough to compete. I think if you look at Backes with St Louis as a comparable, for a few years in a row he was there most productive forward, provided good two way play, and they had a number of solid players around him but they definitely lacked the top talent to get to the next level.

However I think you are writing off some players too easy. Foote is huge with a great shot, could easily be a 30 goal player and possibly great next to hughes. Bratt has the talent and creativity but lacks consistency. Hughes' rookie season has largely been a bust, but you can see the skating and vision is there. He needs some help refining his game and I'm not sure Nas, Grier, and Kowalsky are the ones to get him the help, but the potential is there for him to be a high producing player. And on top of that we have a high pick this year and 2 other firsts. Its a little too early to panic.

Blackwood in net, Boqvist in for Hayden

Blackwood in net, Boqvist in for Hayden
- vlongo4419

There is a god then.....Naz just does't know it.....

Where did you get that from, though? Who said they wont be 60+ point players?
- Devils4ever

I'm saying none of our picks outside of Nico and Jack were really projected to be that great, otherwise they would have been drafted higher. That's what I mean when I say projections. Because we don't have that many guys projected to be that great.. it makes me less optimistic than some about our "bright future". I think we have a future, and have some decent prospects, but I'm not sure how bright I'm going to *assume* it's going to be. It could potentially be bright, but any organization can say that. Based on when these guys were drafted, and that none of them are lighting it up *yet*, its hard for me to assume the best out of them. I don't think our prospects are trash, not sure where that came from. I think we have some guys that could be 50-60pt players, but how can I assume more than that when they haven't shown more than that thus far in their development? I'd be assuming based on literally hope.
I hope Hughes and Nico develop into 80pt centers. I hope Bratt brings consistency and further develops into a 65pt winger. I hope Boqvist develops into a 65pt player. I hope Bahl is at least a 2nd pair dman.. same with Smith. It's all based on hope and not much more.. which is fine because we can't predict the future.

Like I said, we don't have many guys projected to be top tier players.. so yea, I'm not sure how bright the future is. I don't think it's dim by any means.. but we don't know the future. For example, compare us to where Toronto was a few years ago. They landed Matthews, drafted Marner, Nylander.. these 3 guys were all projected to be "great" - "franchise-level". We have 2 guys that were projected to be great in Hughes and Hischier. We have some other kids that are showing promise, but I don't have reason to believe they'll be great.. but I certainly hope they will be. Who knew Elias, or anyone picked mid-draft, would amount to Olympic-level? You never know, but I can't assume it.. so it's hopes and dreams.. because back when Elias was drafted.. one could say it was a hope and dream he'd become a borderline hall of famer. That's how I feel about this group with Jack, Nico, Zacha, Boqvist, Merkley, Foote, etc. Hope they pan out. There are good options in there, but I'm not that certain we have a Cup-core in our prospect pool.. but again, you never know.

just saying I'm not feeling strong one way or the other.. more in the middle, while some here feel more positive, which is fine. I feel like we have a potential B- group of youngsters.. which is OK.. but not B+ or even A-. Time will always tell.

For what its worth I get what you are saying, I love Nico and would sign him to a lifetime contract if that was possible, but if he's your most productive forward from an offensive standpoint its going to be tough to compete. I think if you look at Backes with St Louis as a comparable, for a few years in a row he was there most productive forward, provided good two way play, and they had a number of solid players around him but they definitely lacked the top talent to get to the next level.

However I think you are writing off some players too easy. Foote is huge with a great shot, could easily be a 30 goal player and possibly great next to hughes. Bratt has the talent and creativity but lacks consistency. Hughes' rookie season has largely been a bust, but you can see the skating and vision is there. He needs some help refining his game and I'm not sure Nas, Grier, and Kowalsky are the ones to get him the help, but the potential is there for him to be a high producing player. And on top of that we have a high pick this year and 2 other firsts. Its a little too early to panic.
- rmdevil313

I agree with this.

I'm saying none of our picks outside of Nico and Jack were really projected to be that great, otherwise they would have been drafted higher. That's what I mean when I say projections. Because we don't have that many guys projected to be that great.. it makes me less optimistic than some about our "bright future". I think we have a future, and have some decent prospects, but I'm not sure how bright I'm going to *assume* it's going to be. It could potentially be bright, but any organization can say that. Based on when these guys were drafted, and that none of them are lighting it up *yet*, its hard for me to assume the best out of them. I don't think our prospects are trash, not sure where that came from. I think we have some guys that could be 50-60pt players, but how can I assume more than that when they haven't shown more than that thus far in their development? I'd be assuming based on literally hope.
I hope Hughes and Nico develop into 80pt centers. I hope Bratt brings consistency and further develops into a 65pt winger. I hope Boqvist develops into a 65pt player. I hope Bahl is at least a 2nd pair dman.. same with Smith. It's all based on hope and not much more.. which is fine because we can't predict the future.

Like I said, we don't have many guys projected to be top tier players.. so yea, I'm not sure how bright the future is. I don't think it's dim by any means.. but we don't know the future. For example, compare us to where Toronto was a few years ago. They landed Matthews, drafted Marner, Nylander.. these 3 guys were all projected to be "great" - "franchise-level". We have 2 guys that were projected to be great in Hughes and Hischier. We have some other kids that are showing promise, but I don't have reason to believe they'll be great.. but I certainly hope they will be. Who knew Elias, or anyone picked mid-draft, would amount to Olympic-level? You never know, but I can't assume it.. so it's hopes and dreams.. because back when Elias was drafted.. one could say it was a hope and dream he'd become a borderline hall of famer. That's how I feel about this group with Jack, Nico, Zacha, Boqvist, Merkley, Foote, etc. Hope they pan out. There are good options in there, but I'm not that certain we have a Cup-core in our prospect pool.. but again, you never know.

just saying I'm not feeling strong one way or the other.. more in the middle, while some here feel more positive, which is fine. I feel like we have a potential B- group of youngsters.. which is OK.. but not B+ or even A-. Time will always tell.
- MartysBetter88

Kucherov was drafted 58th overall and not projected to be a 100pt producer sooo.. 🤷🏻‍♂️ lol

How did Blackwood make that save? That was a goal.

Kucherov was drafted 58th overall and not projected to be a 100pt producer sooo.. 🤷🏻‍♂️ lol
- Devils4ever

and when he was just starting out would you look at him and say "the future is bright!"? probably not. But you'd look at Stamkos when he was starting and you'd probably say the future is bright. That's what I'm getting at.

and when he was just starting out would you look at him and say "the future is bright!"? probably not. But you'd look at Stamkos when he was starting and you'd probably say the future is bright. That's what I'm getting at.
- MartysBetter88

Sure, you cant disagree with that but I have hope. Lol

Kuokkanen has 4 points in 3 games with Binghamton. Not too bad.

Vegas is so good. Blackwood has been fantastic tonight but generated nothing against this defense.

Alright, I don’t know where you put Hughes, but it’s not top line wing. I was all for it, but it’s not working. This team is bad enough as is, they can’t afford to have a top line that doesn’t click.

Alright, I don’t know where you put Hughes, but it’s not top line wing. I was all for it, but it’s not working. This team is bad enough as is, they can’t afford to have a top line that doesn’t click.
- Devils91

idk what to do with him in general. I'd like to keep Bratt-Zacha-Gusev as a 2nd line next year. Zajac really is a 3rd line center, but perhaps his line and the Hughes line split 3rd line duties, with Zajac getting PK/d-zone starts, and Hughes PP and O zone starts.
I wonder if this year's 1st rd pick will start with us next season. Maybe give them a year to develop and roll with whatever happens next year? Maybe Foote cracks the lineup?

Boqvist-Hischier-Palmieri
Bratt-Zacha-Gusev
Wood-Hughes-Merkley
Foote-Zajac-McLeod

next year will be another in the name of development. Kind of a throw away year. I miss being contenders, let alone a playoff team. We were spoiled growing up. Really about 20 years of being a playoff team. The turnaround is taking some time though.

It would be nice to see someone emerge next year. We need a top line LW to emerge. .. let alone the defense. That defense.

On another note.. we could end up with 5th and 8th overall in this year's draft.. which would really be incredible. Buffalo is on their way down though.. could be 7th and 12th.. but 5th and 8th would be oh so nice.

He said it. Because he thinks all of our players/prospects are trash.
- Pomegrant

They are trash


DOOMED