just gotta hope everyone stays Covid-free. I really want to see playoff hockey. If the 5th seeds in the East and West win, then I consider this a legit playoff.

The 9th and 10th seeds were right there in points.. and the stoppage may have saved some teams like the Islanders, who were trending down.. and the Leafs who were 5-4-1 in their last 10 and tied with Columbus in points for the 8th seed. With 10-13 games to go, anything could've happened. Rags and Florida were 1-2pts out of a playoff spot, Florida winning their last 2 games.

In the West, Nashville, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg were all within 2pts of each other for 6-9th. Nashville and Vancouver tied with 78 but with 1 less gp than Calgary's 79pts, and 2 less gp than WPG's 80pts. Nash had just won 3 straight to go 6-3-1. Vancouver was 4-5-1, Calgary 6-3-1, WPG won 4 in a row to go 6-3-1. The Wild, just 1pt below Nash/Van won their last game and were 7-3-0! So really, the play-in series with at least these 5 teams is completely justified. But you need a 6th. AZ was 3pts below MN, with 1 more GP. AZ was 5-5, losing their last 2. I think it was a relatively safe bet that they weren't going to make the playoffs. Chicago 2pts behind them, same gp, 6-4, wasn't going to make it either.

Pitt-Habs is BS. Edm-Chi is BS. If the 5th seed teams win, and Nash wins, I consider the rest a legit playoff. Habs, Hawks and Yotes have no business contending for the Cup, even if they ""earn it"" by beating teams above them in the standings in this best of 5. They earned not being in the playoffs after playing 85% of the regular season. Instead they have a good enough chance of winning a bogus best of 5 series.. with both teams in each matchup playing ONE exhibition game beforehand. garbage. 5vs12 should never have been a thing in this Covid Cup. Hopefully all goes to plan from an integrity of the game standpoint and the 5th seeds win.. even though we need Chicago and the Habs to win.. for our AZ pick to be 9th overall. I guess the league makes more money by having more teams?

That's the fun of it : )
- MartysBetter88

Alright I'll take a crack at it.

I take the Canes over the Rangers in a long series. I just don't think the Rangers are ready even though they're 4-0 against the Canes.

I take the Islanders over the Panthers decisively. 3-0 against them this season and Trotz is just too good.

Penguins over Canadiens obviously.

I think the Leafs blow it to the hungry Blue Jackets. How funny would that be?

I take Edmonton over Chicago decisively. They can't contain that top line at this point.

I have a gut feeling that Arizona will upset the Preds. Hope I'm wrong.

I think Vancouver will beat the Wild, especially with everyone more or less healthy.

I think Winnipeg will beat Calgary. Amazing that team hasn't had playoff success yet, they're far too good. This will be the year.

For the record, I think the Avs will win it all, probably against the Lightning.

If he plays 5 games in the play-in, would that not qualify for the 4th?
- willschulme

Nope, it would not unfortunately, the NHL has deemed the regular season to be concluded. There's no chance we can get the 4th anymore, but thats the part we can maybe try to argue if it goes to arbitration

Nope, it would not unfortunately, the NHL has deemed the regular season to be concluded. There's no chance we can get the 4th anymore
- vlongo4419

Seems like that would need arbitration then.

Seems like that would need arbitration then.
- willschulme

Well if they beat the Rangers then Vats plays the rest of their playoffs its all a moot point, and we'll get a 3rd. Either way im not worried about it, its not the end of the world either way. Thats probably the last thing i actually care about when the playoffs start

Well if they beat the Rangers then Vats plays the rest of their playoffs its all a moot point, and we'll get a 3rd. Either way im not worried about it, its not the end of the world either way. Thats probably the last thing i actually care about when the playoffs start
- vlongo4419

Yeah I'm happy with Kuokkanen either way

Chayka will be hired as the analytic specialist across all three franchises within a year...

Yeah I'm happy with Kuokkanen either way
- willschulme

Assuming we are not eligible for the 4th round pick, I'm doubtful we will get a 3rd regardless of how many play-in and playoff games Vats plays. It always sounded like an if then situation. IF Vats plays enough regular season games we get a 4th. Then it can be upgraded to a 3rd if he also play enough playoff games. Since we aren't going to meet the criteria for the 4th we won't be able to upgrade to the 3rd.

That's based of what I read about the pick which might be approximating the way it was written in the deal.

But I'm not complaining. Getting Kuokkanen is fine.

no one has any predictions on the play-in rounds?
- MartysBetter88

Devils lose

Devils lose
- shvingter88

awesome lol

The Pens/Flyers game is somewhat interesting to see how Pitt looks, but I'm much more interested in Habs/Leafs. If the Leafs lose, in my mind it's an upset. They have a very very talented group of forwards, a good goalie, and.. a meh defense. But they should be able to win some series. The Habs, to see how great or bad they look against the Leafs. If the Habs could pull off some kind of assbackwards upset against Pitt..
I want #9. Gimme that 9th overall.

The Pens/Flyers game is somewhat interesting to see how Pitt looks, but I'm much more interested in Habs/Leafs. If the Leafs lose, in my mind it's an upset. They have a very very talented group of forwards, a good goalie, and.. a meh defense. But they should be able to win some series. The Habs, to see how great or bad they look against the Leafs. If the Habs could pull off some kind of assbackwards upset against Pitt..
I want #9. Gimme that 9th overall.
- MartysBetter88

are you putting weight into this exhibition games? I am confused.

are you putting weight into this exhibition games? I am confused.
- Pomegrant

just as far as how the teams look out of the gate. Because 1 game isn't gona make much of a difference for these teams. So they could look not all that much different come play-in rounds.

Devils lose
- shvingter88

Doomed.

it is asinine that teams play 1 "exhibition game".. which is really a preseason game after 4 months of no hockey, before playing literally playoff hockey. At least 2.. this is such a crapshoot.

there IS that 25% chance Chicago or Montreal win that lottery.. and we get 10th overall from AZ. There's just no way Habs are beating the Pens. Mmmmaybe Chicago can upset the Oilers. Seeing how rusty all 6 teams looked yesterday, the gap isn't as wide as it would normally be. We're probably looking at 11th, but there is def a chance for 10th or 9th. .. if Nash and Hynes don't blow it.

there IS that 25% chance Chicago or Montreal win that lottery.. and we get 10th overall from AZ. There's just no way Habs are beating the Pens. Mmmmaybe Chicago can upset the Oilers. Seeing how rusty all 6 teams looked yesterday, the gap isn't as wide as it would normally be. We're probably looking at 11th, but there is def a chance for 10th or 9th. .. if Nash and Hynes don't blow it.
- MartysBetter88

Chicago has little to no chance. I guess never say never, but how can they hope to stop McDavid and Drai with that defense and goaltending?

https://thehockeywriters....ils-prospects-march-2020/

Just came across this and I thought it was pretty interesting in how our prospects are ranked by hockey writers. Not to beat a dead horse but if they are right about Janne Kukkonen then we should be pretty happy with the Vats trade; regardless of getting a pick with it or not.

That said, I'm surprised that they Kevin Bahl listed as our #7 prospect with even Nick Merkley ahead of him. I thought Bahl was really the main piece in the Hall trade...

I just hope we stop sucking soon. It's been SO LONG since we were good.

https://thehockeywriters.com/new-jersey-devils-prospects-march-2020/

Just came across this and I thought it was pretty interesting in how our prospects are ranked by hockey writers. Not to beat a dead horse but if they are right about Janne Kukkonen then we should be pretty happy with the Vats trade; regardless of getting a pick with it or not.

That said, I'm surprised that they Kevin Bahl listed as our #7 prospect with even Nick Merkley ahead of him. I thought Bahl was really the main piece in the Hall trade...

I just hope we stop sucking soon. It's been SO LONG since we were good.
- Queenie_5_hole

I think the first round pick was the biggest piece, then Bahl. Next year he will be a lot higher on that list.

https://thehockeywriters.com/new-jersey-devils-prospects-march-2020/

Just came across this and I thought it was pretty interesting in how our prospects are ranked by hockey writers. Not to beat a dead horse but if they are right about Janne Kukkonen then we should be pretty happy with the Vats trade; regardless of getting a pick with it or not.

That said, I'm surprised that they Kevin Bahl listed as our #7 prospect with even Nick Merkley ahead of him. I thought Bahl was really the main piece in the Hall trade...

I just hope we stop sucking soon. It's been SO LONG since we were good.
- Queenie_5_hole

Yeah a lot of people are pretty high on our prospect pool, i've seen multiple people ranked us in the top 5 which is awesome considering we get to add multiple very good pieces to it this year. Crazy that Merkley is that high though, i dont see it. I would have Foote at 2, Kuok at 3, Bahl at 4, and Gritsyuk at 5. Clarke should be on this list too somewhere, he's absolutely a top 10 prospect for us. Every prosepct will likely drop a spot or 2 after this draft too because if we get the AZ pick, our first 2 picks *should* instantly become top 3-5 prospects for us

https://thehockeywriters.com/new-jersey-devils-prospects-march-2020/

Just came across this and I thought it was pretty interesting in how our prospects are ranked by hockey writers. Not to beat a dead horse but if they are right about Janne Kukkonen then we should be pretty happy with the Vats trade; regardless of getting a pick with it or not.

That said, I'm surprised that they Kevin Bahl listed as our #7 prospect with even Nick Merkley ahead of him. I thought Bahl was really the main piece in the Hall trade...

I just hope we stop sucking soon. It's been SO LONG since we were good.
- Queenie_5_hole

I think everyone has tricked themselves into thinking Bahl is a top prospect because that's what we'd thought we would get for Hall. Wasn't even in the conversation for Arizona's top prospect.

I think Merkley's rise is credited to a solid end to the season in the NHL. May not mean much for potential, but says something that he's at least pretty good at the NHL level.

I’m not complaining about this but are you saying that based off the original terms of the deal or a subsequent decision by the league on dealing with the conditional pick.

Vat’s injury was unfortunate for us but realistically everyone seemed to think he was close to returning. He’s been utterly useless to Carolina so hopefully he an help them out.
- Queenie_5_hole

Vatanen is sltting in on the first pair next to Slavin while Hamilton is out.

I think the first round pick was the biggest piece, then Bahl. Next year he will be a lot higher on that list.
- ShoresideDevil

You're absolutely right. I should have said Bahl was the main piece among the three prospects we received from AZ.

Vatanen is sltting in on the first pair next to Slavin while Hamilton is out.
- BINGO!

I liked Vats and I hope he does great in Carolina. He played a good amount of top pairing minutes for us. In a better world you might want to put him on the second pair but he can hold it together wherever you play him and eat a lot of minutes.

I think everyone has tricked themselves into thinking Bahl is a top prospect because that's what we'd thought we would get for Hall. Wasn't even in the conversation for Arizona's top prospect.

I think Merkley's rise is credited to a solid end to the season in the NHL. May not mean much for potential, but says something that he's at least pretty good at the NHL level.
- willschulme

Merkley has been a player that people had in high regards but I think had some injury problems limiting game time and development.