You aren't wrong. Except Gusev can't shoot like Pasta, Palms will never become a pest (even tho he hits everybody). But Hisch, he could very well reach Bergeron status in a couple of years.

Anyway, the massive POSITIVE here is 80% of the teams in this league are screwed by the flat cap for the next two seasons. So many teams inked extensions expecting the cap to jump close to 88M, and now they are going to be forced to shed good players to become cap compliant. We can offer sheet Barzal, or simply take Leddy for pennies on the dollar. Same goes for Sergachev. Many GM's are scrambling, and hoping to move $$$ out ASAP. Devs/Kings/Sens/Det are about the only teams to have some real space going forward. LA will likely be a top destination, but I am sure we are better suitors than Ott and Det
- bikeguy99

I'd definitely do it, especially if it's a decent player that could be useful for 5 years. 2022-23 and 23-24 are important years cap-wise for us. Lots of ELCs will be done with, including Hughes, Smith, this year's hopefully 7th and 10th overall picks. I know PK, Butch, Wood and Schneider will be off the books, but I'm hoping Palms and Gusev stay, and as many of our kids as possible earn big paydays. Between now and 2023/24, that's Hughes, Bratt, Boqvist, Zacha, Smith, Bahl, Blackwood (assuming he signs a bridge deal now), 7th, 10th, and Severson's deal will also be up. If all those guys get paid, we won't have much room... but hopefully we won't have much need either. This team could soon remind us of the 95 Devils, minus the tenacious leadership of Stevens, Driver, MacLean, Daneyko, Lemieux.. but there were a lot of young players and guys just coming into their primes.

Riddle me this: Who makes the playoffs first? And how many years until that happens?

NJ Devils or Seattle?

Wow. Surprised but given its the devils of course it would happen lol (dammit) ..jus hoping Lindy can guide this young team but I jus don't see it

Got Shane Wright who was granted exceptional status coming in 2022. Ruff should be gone by then.
- smellmyfinger

The next Sean Day.

Absolutely not the case. Jack will hopefully become an elite player. But he has to prove he is a top 6 forward on this team. Objectively, If you are basing that statement on his performance (7G, 14A, 0.34PPG and weak defensively), he deserves to be in Bing. I know that won't happen, but to hand the kid the keys to the castle is not the answer. He will be better, hopefully significantly, but throwing him every opportunity based on his draft position just isn't fair.
- bikeguy99

Thats fine if you dont agree, its not going to make me change my mind. Jack needs to be THE guy offensively for this team, he's the most offensively talented player on our roster, no question about it. We're supposed to be building around him and Nico as our 1/2 centers and pillars of the future. If he fails, we're going to be in a much worse spot going forward. He's not going to turn into a superstar over night, but theres no doubt he should be at the very least a 50-60+ point player at the very least coming out of his ELC in 2 years. His ceiling is still being a 90+ point player, he needs to hit as close to that as possible. I keep saying it, and i 100% stand by it, that this team will only go as far as Jack and Nico take us. Ruff needs to be able to get them going offensively(which he has been known to do with his players), so hopefully he can do that

At this point pretty much everything that was supposed to work out over the past few years, worked out like poop so maybe Ruff will surpise us and be decent.

Thats fine if you dont agree, its not going to make me change my mind. Jack needs to be THE guy offensively for this team, he's the most offensively talented player on our roster, no question about it. We're supposed to be building around him and Nico as our 1/2 centers and pillars of the future. If he fails, we're going to be in a much worse spot going forward. He's not going to turn into a superstar over night, but theres no doubt he should be at the very least a 50-60+ point player at the very least coming out of his ELC in 2 years. His ceiling is still being a 90+ point player, he needs to hit as close to that as possible. I keep saying it, and i 100% stand by it, that this team will only go as far as Jack and Nico take us. Ruff needs to be able to get them going offensively(which he has been known to do with his players), so hopefully he can do that
- vlongo4419

meh. he's the best on his edges, maybe best handles, but that doesn't make him the most offensively talented player on the roster. Neither of our pillars were ever projected to be elite #1 centers. I'm hoping we can at least end up with a Boston situation.. with a young Bergeron and Krejci. I'm hopeful Hughes can be an 80pt guy, but I'm not breathing a single sigh of relief until I see him look like at least a competent NHL center. He was one of the worst players on our team last year, which is true regardless of his age. I'm hopeful he can be an 80pt guy because of that young age and development to come, but last season showed me good edges and handles and that's just about it. No elite speed, no elite shot, no elite hockey sense, no elite playmaking ability, no elite power. I expect all of that to change, but last year was not pretty.

meh. he's the best on his edges, maybe best handles, but that doesn't make him the most offensively talented player on the roster. Neither of our pillars were ever projected to be elite #1 centers. I'm hoping we can at least end up with a Boston situation.. with a young Bergeron and Krejci. I'm hopeful Hughes can be an 80pt guy, but I'm not breathing a single sigh of relief until I see him look like at least a competent NHL center. He was one of the worst players on our team last year, which is true regardless of his age. I'm hopeful he can be an 80pt guy because of that young age and development to come, but last season showed me good edges and handles and that's just about it. No elite speed, no elite shot, no elite hockey sense, no elite playmaking ability, no elite power. I expect all of that to change, but last year was not pretty.
- MartysBetter88

What? Hughes was absolutely projected to be a #1 NHL center while Nico was projected to be a top 6 center. I cant even take you seriously if you say he last season he showed you absolutely nothing besides good edges and handles. Thats just a joke. He was bad last season, yes, but he absolutely showed flashes of elite playmaking, hockey sense, and speed/skating. His projection shouldnt change after one season. He still has the potential to be a 90+ point player. From a pure skill-wise standpoint he is the best player on this team, and he needs to be in the future.

https://twitter.com/FauxC...tatus/1277736627079483392

Jack was able to do what he does best, at a high level. He was certainly not great this season but he was definitely unlucky at times. He's never going to overpower players, score 35-40 goals, or be a stud defensively but thats not his game, im still extremely excited for what he can become in the future. He should easily be able to become a 55-60 assist/80 point player. We need to hope he can reach being a 90+ point player.

The biggest thing is that Hughes played with plugs for most of the season, he'll never succeed that way, he needs goal scorers on his line. And Ruff already seems on the right page as he has already acknowledged that and said the most important thing for Hughes aside from getting stronger is to find the right players to play with him

What? Hughes was absolutely projected to be a #1 NHL center while Nico was projected to be a top 6 center. I cant even take you seriously if you say he last season he showed you absolutely nothing besides good edges and handles. Thats just a joke. He was bad last season, yes, but he absolutely showed flashes of elite playmaking, hockey sense, and speed/skating. His projection shouldnt change after one season. He still has the potential to be a 90+ point player.

https://twitter.com/FauxC...tatus/1277736627079483392

Jack was able to do what he does best, at a high level. He was certainly not great this season but he was definitely unlucky at times. He's never going to overpower players, score 35-40 goals, or be a stud defensively but thats not his game, im still extremely excited for what he can become in the future. He should easily be able to become a 55-60 assist/80 point player. We need to hope he can reach being a 90+ point player.

The biggest thing is that Hughes played with plugs for most of the season, he'll never succeed that way, he needs goal scorers on his line. And Ruff already seems on the right page as he has already acknowledged that and said the most important thing for Hughes aside from getting stronger is to find the right players to play with him
- vlongo4419

ok I'll give you flashes. very brief, very inconsistent.. flashes. He was projected to be a #1, but that's different from being an elite #1. Barzal is a #1, but he's not elite in my mind. McDavid is, but he's also generational lol.

ok I'll give you flashes. very brief, very inconsistent.. flashes. He was projected to be a #1, but that's different from being an elite #1. Barzal is a #1, but he's not elite in my mind. McDavid is, but he's also generational lol.
- MartysBetter88

Its just crazy to me how down people are on Hughes after 1 season, as a pure 18 year old making the jump from the USHL to the NHL, which NEVER happens. He was expected to struggle. Remember, Kakko was supposedly more NHL ready and will definitely be better in the first few years? Well as bad as Hughes was, Kakko was worse from essentially every standpoint while playing on a better team. Was he worse than even some projected? Sure, but atleast he had moments where he shined that gave you glimpses of what he can do and what to expect in the future.

I guess it all depends on your definition of elite but I still think both him and Hischier can become elite, in their own rights. If Nico can become a 70 point Selke candidate, i'll consider him elite, like a Bergeron/Couturier. If Hughes eventually takes over as the top center and becomes an 80-90 point+ player i'll consider him elite. As for your Barzal example, i think he is very very good, but not elite. If he continued his point pace of his rookie year and he consistenly put up 80+ points then i'd consider him elite, but i think he'll settle in as a 60-70 point player, which isnt bad. And i think Hughes can be better than him. Not everybody is going to be a McDavid and consistently put up 100+ points from the start of their careers. Theres only what, ~15-20 players who hit the 90 point mark any given season, then another 20ish who hit 80?

Its just crazy to me how down people are on Hughes after 1 season, as a pure 18 year old making the jump from the USHL to the NHL, which NEVER happens. He was expected to struggle. Remember, Kakko was supposedly more NHL ready and will definitely be better in the first few years? Well as bad as Hughes was, Kakko was worse from essentially every standpoint while playing on a better team. Was he worse than even some projected? Sure, but atleast he had moments where he shined that gave you glimpses of what he can do and what to expect in the future.

I guess it all depends on your definition of elite but I still think both him and Hischier can become elite, in their own rights. If Nico can become a 70 point Selke candidate, i'll consider him elite, like a Bergeron/Couturier. If Hughes eventually takes over as the top center and becomes an 80-90 point+ player i'll consider him elite. As for your Barzal example, i think he is very very good, but not elite. If he continued his point pace of his rookie year and he consistenly put up 80+ points then i'd consider him elite, but i think he'll settle in as a 60-70 point player, which isnt bad. And i think Hughes can be better than him. Not everybody is going to be a McDavid and consistently put up 100+ points from the start of their careers. Theres only what, ~15-20 players who hit the 90 point mark any given season, then another 20ish who hit 80?
- vlongo4419

I think it can both be true that Hughes deserved a better statline and showed a lot of raw skill, but also has a lot to learn to become elite at the NHL level.

I think it can both be true that Hughes deserved a better statline and showed a lot of raw skill, but also has a lot to learn to become elite at the NHL level.
- rmdevil313

Absolutely, but he also needs to be put in a position to succeed as well. Playing with who he played with last season isnt going to do anything for him. Ruff gained a couple of points with me already by making those comments on Jack. Even though it'll still take guys like a Jack a few more years, I think Ruff will be able to up the offensive output from the young guys on these team and it'll be good on them in the long term. But again, we still need to get more talent onto this roster in general

I think it can both be true that Hughes deserved a better statline and showed a lot of raw skill, but also has a lot to learn to become elite at the NHL level.
- rmdevil313

always the peacemaker. we'd be in annual chaos without you

Its just crazy to me how down people are on Hughes after 1 season, as a pure 18 year old making the jump from the USHL to the NHL, which NEVER happens. He was expected to struggle. Remember, Kakko was supposedly more NHL ready and will definitely be better in the first few years? Well as bad as Hughes was, Kakko was worse from essentially every standpoint while playing on a better team. Was he worse than even some projected? Sure, but atleast he had moments where he shined that gave you glimpses of what he can do and what to expect in the future.

I guess it all depends on your definition of elite but I still think both him and Hischier can become elite, in their own rights. If Nico can become a 70 point Selke candidate, i'll consider him elite, like a Bergeron/Couturier. If Hughes eventually takes over as the top center and becomes an 80-90 point+ player i'll consider him elite. As for your Barzal example, i think he is very very good, but not elite. If he continued his point pace of his rookie year and he consistenly put up 80+ points then i'd consider him elite, but i think he'll settle in as a 60-70 point player, which isnt bad. And i think Hughes can be better than him. Not everybody is going to be a McDavid and consistently put up 100+ points from the start of their careers. Theres only what, ~15-20 players who hit the 90 point mark any given season, then another 20ish who hit 80?
- vlongo4419

yes yes. I hope he can be a 70-80pt guy. I don't see star center on him, like a Stamkos or a Kane that plays center. I'd be thrilled with 70-80, while being able to backcheck just as strong as he forechecks. I'd gladly take a Barzal-level output from Hughes.

yes yes. I hope he can be a 70-80pt guy. I don't see star center on him, like a Stamkos or a Kane that plays center. I'd be thrilled with 70-80, while being able to backcheck just as strong as he forechecks. I'd gladly take a Barzal-level output from Hughes.
- MartysBetter88

I agree with that. I just think his ceiling is higher than Barzal's. But we'll see, he needs to put in a lot of work over the next few years to reach that potential. And we need some of our other prospects to work out. If we can get, like Foote and hopefully whoever we get at 7/AZ pick(pref Holtz), and eventually get each of them on the wing of Nico and Hughes it could spell good things going forward

Completely off topic, but i hope the AHL season is able to happen next year. I think Bing will be very fun to watch, as they were really tearing it up down the stretch prior to the stoppage of the season and now they should be getting some more talent in Foote, Bahl, Okhotyuk, (maybe Walsh if he decides to sign, and maybe a full year of any of Smith/Bo/Kuok if they arent on the big club). Should be a really fun team to watch

i'm dying inside
- MartysBetter88

I hear and feel for you. But time to man up and move on....

- smellmyfinger

Nice

Ruff is the coach. Time to stop belly aching and start getting behind him. I am all in.
- redmonsters

(frank) yourself

Riddle me this: Who makes the playoffs first? And how many years until that happens?

NJ Devils or Seattle?
- Crushers68

Seattle in their first season, they make it all the way to the cup and lose to the caps.

Like Carter Hart?
- Crushers68

lol 😂

pretty much -- but unlike lindy -- carter can change his harts - err spots

I think Ruff can be a decent coach.. I think the guys could respect him.. I'm just not sure if the age gap will be too great, combined with the lack of success the past several years.. just seems like a generational gap. I don't get the same feeling when I hear Q or Hitch speak, and they're older guys. So it could work.. but I don't have much confidence.

Wow, this was an eyeopener from The Hockey News:
Instead, Hughes went bust like no No. 1 overall pick since Nail Yakupov. Forget the fact Hughes managed just seven goals and 21 points in 61 games. Even if we compare Hughes only to his peers, his year was terrible. Among 17 rookie forwards who played 500 or more minutes at 5-on-5, Hughes was 16th in goals per 60; 16th in points per 60; first in giveaways per 60; and 16th in team Corsi when he was on the ice. The only rookie forward who graded out worse was, oddly enough, Kaapo Kakko, the other “can’t-miss” 2019 prospect, who went second overall.

Wow, this was an eyeopener from The Hockey News:
Instead, Hughes went bust like no No. 1 overall pick since Nail Yakupov. Forget the fact Hughes managed just seven goals and 21 points in 61 games. Even if we compare Hughes only to his peers, his year was terrible. Among 17 rookie forwards who played 500 or more minutes at 5-on-5, Hughes was 16th in goals per 60; 16th in points per 60; first in giveaways per 60; and 16th in team Corsi when he was on the ice. The only rookie forward who graded out worse was, oddly enough, Kaapo Kakko, the other “can’t-miss” 2019 prospect, who went second overall.
- redmonsters

So we made the right choice!!!