EPRinkside has a nice article on Hughes that just went up today if anybody has a subscription to it: https://twitter.com/JFres...tatus/1387120128417009667

Some really good things. Talks a lot about how much his game has improved from last season and the major steps he took defensively. Pretty much all that is missing is the point production

The quote that stuck out most was, "if he can improve his production and offensive efficiency with his current level of defensive effectiveness, it is not an exaggeration to say that he will be on the game's best players."

I'm sure others feel the same way, and i've seen it thrown around in some of the discords and it seems to be a common thought among the analytic guys, but i think Jack will be the first Devil to break 100 points in a season. The future is incredibly bright with this young group and the prospects on the cusp of breaking in.
- vlongo4419

Incoming wall of text. but the full quote:

"This summer, clearly he attended the Mathew Barzal Academy for Playing-Defence-By-Not-Letting-YourOpponent-Have-the-Puck. Per SportLogiq he ranks 12th in offensive-zone possession time per game and accordingly his impact on shot attempts against has skyrocketed to third-best in the entire league. Simply put, when Hughes in on the ice, the other team doesn’t have the puck and doesn’t take shots.

If this holds, it will represent an enormous development in his game that will only further his status as one of the most unique players in the league. Where it previously seemed fair to project Hughes as a high-event offensive star who produces well but gives some of it back at the other end, this is something else entirely.

If he can improve his production and offensive efficiency with his current level of defensive effectiveness, it is not an exaggeration to say that he will be on the game's best players."

Jack's skating is better than everybody he plays against. In a season or two he's going to be a real monster on and off the puck. There are stretches where he can just control the zone all by himself which is really impressive for a second year player. In a league focused on skating he has established himself as an elite talent.

On Zacha front, I think he should be exposed in the draft. He really has regressed this year and I'm not sure moving forward he is even a player we'd want on the team. With Mercer projected to play soon you already have too many effective centermen on the team, and Zacha taking up a winger spot with his bad offensive metrics combined with his now bad defensive metrics he just isn't a quality player. The reason a lot of people defended Zacha in years past was that his underlying numbers were strong. This year has been a disaster from him and maybe exposing him is selling him short but I'd much rather protect McLeod and Johnsson, who has good advanced numbers and is just really unlucky with scoring.

Friedman in his 31 Thoughts article says the Devils are currently working towards an extension for Fitz as GM

https://youtu.be/R20iFYnHqMs

Holtz shift by shift of his first game for Binghamton

@amandacstein
Both Maltsev and Foote are in tonight for #NJDevils

Lines tonight:

Kuokkanen-Hughes-Sharangovich
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Foote-Maltsev-Boqvist
Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Murray-Sevo
Butcher-Carrick
Smith-Tennyson

Mac

Per Frank Seravalli on TSNs insider trading, the draft lottery will be held on June 2nd. And if the Yotes win the lottery, there will be a re-draw.

I'd like to see them move Foote somewhere else in the lineup and see what they can do with him. I like Maltsev and Boqvist but get him on a line with somebody who can really distribute the puck to him.

I just don't understand why they continue to do this with some young players. Foote gets brought up and plays okay in 2 games, then they keep him around and he sits in the press box for multiple games, and when he finally gets put back into a game and gets the least amount of ice time on the team. Like why? Put him back in Bingo to continue playing top minutes and getting PP time.

I just don't understand why they continue to do this with some young players. Foote gets brought up and plays okay in 2 games, then they keep him around and he sits in the press box for multiple games, and when he finally gets put back into a game and gets the least amount of ice time on the team. Like why? Put him back in Bingo to play top minutes and get PP time.
- vlongo4419

Because we’re the Devils and we REALLY need that top 6 of great wingers to stay together because they give us the best chance at winning the game and we REALLY need to win. Kuokkanen isn’t a world-beater and Zacha is whatever he is. Get Foote up there.

Because we’re the Devils and we REALLY need that top 6 of great wingers to stay together because they give us the best chance at winning the game and we REALLY need to win. Kuokkanen isn’t a world-beater and Zacha is whatever he is. Get Foote up there.
- MartysBetter88

Yeah pretty much, i'd really like to see him get some time on Nico or Jacks wing. But even then, his linemates(Boqvist and Maltsev) have played more than him. They were out there with McLeod taking his spot. Just makes no sense to me. Seriously, just play the kid. Theres nothing to lose, let him get some experience

Did we seriously just blow another 3-1 3rd period lead.... are you (frank)ing kidding me

Hopefully they re-sign Murray. He's a good stabilizing presence on the back-end and his outlet passing is good. He's found some chemistry with Wood lately and getting the high flips out of the zone to create offense.

What the hell is this 3rd period? My god this is some bad hockey lmao

It's embarrassing because we're trying so hard to win and it's questionable if we can beat a Flyers team who has not tried at any point during this game.

Holy poop we won a game at home. What a miracle. Thank god that losing streak is over

Hopefully they re-sign Murray. He's a good stabilizing presence on the back-end and his outlet passing is good. He's found some chemistry with Wood lately and getting the high flips out of the zone to create offense.
- Pomegrant

I agree. No harm in bringing him back.

Thanks Mussa for this recent blog from April the 19th.

Hopefully they re-sign Murray. He's a good stabilizing presence on the back-end and his outlet passing is good. He's found some chemistry with Wood lately and getting the high flips out of the zone to create offense.
- Pomegrant

Murray was fantastic in my opinion. In this market, he is probably 3.5M AAV max, which would be money well spent. I still don't understand why Savard was so highly touted at this deadline, and consider Murray to be equally, if not more effective, albeit on the opposite side. Wouldn't mind a 2-3 year deal on him, as he could be exactly the support (even at 3LD) for a guy like Walsh, or Smith should he jump back to the RD someday. He is a veteran we want/need in developing our younger, more offensive minded D.

Other than Smith, he was the most impressive D for me on this squad this season.

Because we’re the Devils and we REALLY need that top 6 of great wingers to stay together because they give us the best chance at winning the game and we REALLY need to win. Kuokkanen isn’t a world-beater and Zacha is whatever he is. Get Foote up there.
- MartysBetter88

I agree. Tho I like Kuokk's game, our wingers currently aren't doing enough. Foote deserves a real look right now, as Mercer/Holtz/Clark make their push coming next fall, beyond whatever we add via draft/UFA's. The talent is coming, and we may be adding another top prospect to the mix shortly.

I agree. Tho I like Kuokk's game, our wingers currently aren't doing enough. Foote deserves a real look right now, as Mercer/Holtz/Clark make their push coming next fall, beyond whatever we add via draft/UFA's. The talent is coming, and we may be adding another top prospect to the mix shortly.
- bikeguy99

I just keep wondering if we get 1 or 2 Ufa forwards, and considering how well our prospects are playing, who that is currently playing (and developing in their own right) gets shuffled out. Would it make more sense for the prospects to stay in the minors regardless of how good they look..? I’m thinking of guys like Maltsev, Kuokkanen, Bastian, who have taken steps forward, aren’t spectacular, but have good games and potential to be better. Do you put a good Ufa next to Hughes and let Kuokkanen figure it out elsewhere? And not let the prospects even try for a job next to Hughes? Seems Sharangovich has earned a spot there but maybe even he could be demoted.

I just keep wondering if we get 1 or 2 Ufa forwards, and considering how well our prospects are playing, who that is currently playing (and developing in their own right) gets shuffled out. Would it make more sense for the prospects to stay in the minors regardless of how good they look..? I’m thinking of guys like Maltsev, Kuokkanen, Bastian, who have taken steps forward, aren’t spectacular, but have good games and potential to be better. Do you put a good Ufa next to Hughes and let Kuokkanen figure it out elsewhere? And not let the prospects even try for a job next to Hughes? Seems Sharangovich has earned a spot there but maybe even he could be demoted.
- MartysBetter88

I say no. And I think Fitz does too. Fitz constantly stressed you have to earn your way to the big club, meaning if you play well enough, you'll get your chance.

Its not much of an incentive for Bing kids to play hard if they know some UFA will just take their potential spot.

Fitz also said he is staying the course and when the time comes to take the next step as an organization (which is prob 1 -2 years away) he'll look to UFA/trades to fill in the gaps.

I take from that is he wants as many home grown kids to make their marks and be NJ Devils and any spare piece (could also mean major player) will be added as needed.

I just keep wondering if we get 1 or 2 Ufa forwards, and considering how well our prospects are playing, who that is currently playing (and developing in their own right) gets shuffled out. Would it make more sense for the prospects to stay in the minors regardless of how good they look..? I’m thinking of guys like Maltsev, Kuokkanen, Bastian, who have taken steps forward, aren’t spectacular, but have good games and potential to be better. Do you put a good Ufa next to Hughes and let Kuokkanen figure it out elsewhere? And not let the prospects even try for a job next to Hughes? Seems Sharangovich has earned a spot there but maybe even he could be demoted.
- MartysBetter88

This is why i think we might end up packing a roster forward with something else to make a trade for a D. Its starting to get crowded, so something needs to happen. I still think it makes sense to try to package Zacha and Isles 1st to get a D, add in another piece if we need to. A lot of GMs are pretty dumb, so i wouldnt be shocked if someone out there still thinks Zacha can be a very good middle 6 center.

I'm not sure what, or even if, we add at forward but i believe we'll be bringing in 2 D, one via trade and one in free agency. I think we'll try to add a veteran 3c, but Holtz, Mercer, and Foote will be given every opportunity to make this team out of camp, especially Holtz. I'm cool with them all starting in the minors though

I just keep wondering if we get 1 or 2 Ufa forwards, and considering how well our prospects are playing, who that is currently playing (and developing in their own right) gets shuffled out. Would it make more sense for the prospects to stay in the minors regardless of how good they look..? I’m thinking of guys like Maltsev, Kuokkanen, Bastian, who have taken steps forward, aren’t spectacular, but have good games and potential to be better. Do you put a good Ufa next to Hughes and let Kuokkanen figure it out elsewhere? And not let the prospects even try for a job next to Hughes? Seems Sharangovich has earned a spot there but maybe even he could be demoted.
- MartysBetter88

Unfortunately this team has made questionable moves when it comes to TOI. Subban, Zacha, and Johnsson have all be overplayed, while guys like Kuokk and Sharan have exceeded expectations. To answer your question, YES, absolutely, if Fitz has a chance on a guy like Hoffman/Hall/Coleman/Danault/Hyman is open to a reasonable deal (ideally short term), then Fitz would be a fool to pass on them.

Not making changes and expecting our rookies to elevate us to the next level is nothing to bank on. We don't know how long it will take for them to hit their stride, and the buyers market has never been so affordable. We sold Hall and Coleman at ideal times, and are in a position to spend if the right opportunities arise. I have high hopes for Mercer/Foote/Holtz, but retaining a year on their ELC's, or having them play a major role in the AHL is just fine with me. Ideally, we would trade the above mentioned veterans that don't seem to move the needle while keeping guys like Sharangovich/Kuokk in the NHL in a bottom 6 role, but something has to be done to change this losing culture.

I just don't understand why they continue to do this with some young players. Foote gets brought up and plays okay in 2 games, then they keep him around and he sits in the press box for multiple games, and when he finally gets put back into a game and gets the least amount of ice time on the team. Like why? Put him back in Bingo to continue playing top minutes and getting PP time.
- vlongo4419

It definitely is a head scratcher but he probably didn't perform in the areas he was challenged too. And you can't just give him minutes if he isn't doing what he's asked to do.

That said, putting him on a line with other youngsters is not ideal for him. Maybe they should move him back down to Bing with Boqvist and have Holtz join that line. See what that Trio can do together in the AHL.