Yeah but why Lehner? He won't accept backup duties or even tandem duties (why he was traded out of Chicago). Mac is the starter and it would take an insane drop off for him to lose that privilege. He just needs an NHL caliber backup. Ideally, that can be Schneider, but we shouldn't count on that.
- willschulme

Miscommunication. I meant being active in free agency was something this team needs to do in general. I did not mean for any particular players and didn't even think of the comments in reference to Lehner.

If we keep Schneider and gamble (again) on him being decent we need some real AHL depth and quality for when that goes bad to fill in.

Yep i agree, we gotta give the kids a chance. Leave the spots open for the kids to take. I dont think McLeod will make the team especially if he's at wing when we still have other guys like Kuokkanen and Bastian who should be in the lineup over him. Plus like you said theres a chance whoever we take with our pick can maybe make the team as well.

If we do anything in free agency i think it'll be to address the defense. There's likely 2 spots open if you say Subban, Severson, and Butcher arent going anywhere, and Smith should be close to a lock to make the roster. Thats the only 4 who are likely guaranteed on the roster. After that I think Carrick could possibly stay. Mueller shouldnt be brought back. None of Claesson, Mermis, or Tennyson should ever be in the top 6. Jacobs has looked okay and i'd rather have him over the previous 3 mentioned, but we dont have anything else in the system right now to jump in. So we have 2 wide open spots for anybody, and i think we could bring in a D to fill it, whether its trade or free agency
- vlongo4419

I'd agree with this but I am curious how some of these guys will do when we have a new defensive system in place. EVERYONE looks like poop on this team for decades. Granted it hasn't been an outstanding group of defenders but how much is on Nasreddine?

Miscommunication. I meant being active in free agency was something this team needs to do in general. I did not mean for any particular players and didn't even think of the comments in reference to Lehner.

If we keep Schneider and gamble (again) on him being decent we need some real AHL depth and quality for when that goes bad to fill in.
- Queenie_5_hole

I wouldn't mind giving Senn a shot at back up. He's played a big role in Binghamton's come back and is taking over that starter role. He has back up potential and I think he's older than Blackwood so it's not like you're throwing a real young kid out there.

Yep i agree, we gotta give the kids a chance. Leave the spots open for the kids to take. I dont think McLeod will make the team especially if he's at wing when we still have other guys like Kuokkanen and Bastian who should be in the lineup over him. Plus like you said theres a chance whoever we take with our pick can maybe make the team as well.

If we do anything in free agency i think it'll be to address the defense. There's likely 2 spots open if you say Subban, Severson, and Butcher arent going anywhere, and Smith should be close to a lock to make the roster. Thats the only 4 who are likely guaranteed on the roster. After that I think Carrick could possibly stay. Mueller shouldnt be brought back. None of Claesson, Mermis, or Tennyson should ever be in the top 6. Jacobs has looked okay and i'd rather have him over the previous 3 mentioned, but we dont have anything else in the system right now to jump in. So we have 2 wide open spots for anybody, and i think we could bring in a D to fill it, whether its trade or free agency
- vlongo4419

What about dman White? I haven't been watching games as intently, but I don't recall him sticking out in a bad way.

I wouldn't mind giving Senn a shot at back up. He's played a big role in Binghamton's come back and is taking over that starter role. He has back up potential and I think he's older than Blackwood so it's not like you're throwing a real young kid out there.
- devilspep

Senn is 10 months older than Blackwood. I say keep him down and let Bing make a playoff run. We'll see him in camp.

Cory is going to put us in another bind if he keeps playing well for the next several starts. Do we roll with him as Blackwood's backup next year? I'm already approaching next year as a development year, so I'm not all that concerned about losing games due to weak goaltending. We'll get another top 10 pick and move on to what I think will be an exciting 21-22 season. It's a shame the rebuild has taken so long. Wish it could've been a 5-year ordeal. We tried with bringing in Hall and Palmieri, rolling with Schneider, but it just wasn't enough.

I wouldn't mind giving Senn a shot at back up. He's played a big role in Binghamton's come back and is taking over that starter role. He has back up potential and I think he's older than Blackwood so it's not like you're throwing a real young kid out there.
- devilspep

Senn and McIntyre have done a good job in the Bing but I don't think they are really reliable NHL backups.

Last night showed they need someone like Drysdale more than ever. - Cmor11794

Not Drysdale, Marco Rossi and Braden Schneider, in my opinion Schneider is the most complete defensman in the draft, and the d man that we need.

Senn and McIntyre have done a good job in the Bing but I don't think they are really reliable NHL backups.
- Queenie_5_hole

Well what's the worst that could happen, we stink again? If we keep throwing darts at a dartboard someone will hopefully grab that back up role. I'm also concerned about Schneider. He played well to end the year last year only to flame out from injury in the very first game this year. He just makes me nervous putting trust in him to not get hurt again and revert back to sucking.

Some interesting things from Friedman's 31 Thoughts just released:

7. In most situations, Tom Fitzgerald’s deadline work in New Jersey would earn him the permanent GM job. This is not “most situations.” Fitzgerald’s been told he is a legitimate contender, but the Devils will go through their search. Most interesting early development: I heard one individual was told he “doesn’t have the skillset” the organization is looking for. With that in mind, it’s not a surprise that former Vancouver GM Mike Gillis was among the first interviewees (if not the first). New Jersey is only talking to untethered candidates until those under contract are available later.

8. If Fitzgerald is not the long-term choice in Newark, he’ll be a serious candidate for other openings.

Not Drysdale, Marco Rossi and Braden Schneider, in my opinion Schneider is the most complete defensman in the draft, and the d man that we need.
- cu45161

Good thing it doesn’t matter

Anyone else think we should get Askarov with the Yotes pick, if he's available?

Anyone else think we should get Askarov with the Yotes pick, if he's available?
- Devils4ever

Depends when the pick is, and who else is still on the board. I wouldnt take him if the pick is in the top 10-11. But if it ends up being 14-15 or later then i'd consider it depending who's still available

Depends when the pick is, and who else is still on the board. I wouldnt take him if the pick is in the top 10-11. But if it ends up being 14-15 or if they make the playoffs and its a bit later than that then i'd consider it depending who's still available
- vlongo4419

It seems like their pick will be something like 10-12.

It seems like their pick will be something like 10-12.
- Devils4ever

Way too early to be saying that, still a lot of games left and points on the table. If they beat the Canucks tonight their playoff chances almost double

Way too early to be saying that, still a lot of games left and points on the table. If they beat the Canucks tonight their playoff chances almost double
- vlongo4419

Yup. Huge game tonight.

Way too early to be saying that, still a lot of games left and points on the table. If they beat the Canucks tonight their playoff chances almost double
- vlongo4419

They haven't exactly shown that they can clutch it out.

They haven't exactly shown that they can clutch it out.
- Devils4ever

Their starting goalie has been hurt since December, when they were in 1st place. He just came back last week and got into his first game in almost 2 1/2 - 3 months. They're more than capable of getting hot and going on a run, especially with him back now. Like i said, if they win tonight they're right back in the thick of things

Their starting goalie has been hurt since December, when they were in 1st place. He just came back last week and got into his first game in almost 2 1/2 - 3 months. They're more than capable of getting hot and going on a run, especially with him back now. Like i said, if they win tonight they're right back in the thick of things
- vlongo4419

Maybe you are right. How is Hall doing?

Maybe you are right. How is Hall doing?
- Devils4ever

He's been okay, pretty much about the same as he was playing with us this season. Nowhere near returned to his MVP form though, which i guess is the norm. Points-wise he had 25 in 30 games here, and currently has 25 in 32 for the Yotes

He's been okay, pretty much about the same as he was playing with us this season. Nowhere near returned to his MVP form though, which i guess is the norm. Points-wise he had 25 in 30 games here, and currently has 25 in 32 for the Yotes
- vlongo4419

So just about the same. Definitely not bad but nothing to write home about.

Nice, Hughes is playing tonight

Anyone else think we should get Askarov with the Yotes pick, if he's available?
- Devils4ever

He's dropped in rankings since getting lit up in the WJ U20 tournament. He will be available, but goalies are simply too risky. As it stands: our picks (without lottery affecting it) are 6, 10, 16 overall....So for fun lets look at the past few years of drafting at those numbers:
2011: Zibenejad, Brodin, Armia
2012: Lindholm, Koekker, Tom Wilson
2013: Monahan, Nichushkin, Zadorov
2014: Virtanen, Ritchie, Milano
2015: Zacha, Rantanen, Barzal (Yikes!!!!)
2016: Matthew Tkachuck, Jost, Chychrun
2017: Glass, Tippett, Valimaki
2018: Zadina, Bouchard, Kaut
2019: Seider, Podkolzin, Newhook

Clearly some picks worked out well, and some were absolute busts. But I would be cautious to consider packaging two 1st's together in an attempt for an earlier pick.

Ducks win

3 teams tied for 7-8-9 in the west including the nucks and yotes

That's insane


And we are only 2 points behind the sabres? How did that happen?

Way too early to be saying that, still a lot of games left and points on the table. If they beat the Canucks tonight their playoff chances almost double
- vlongo4419

You were right lol