Credit to Fitz. Great move. 25 year old with 5 years left, starts most shifts in the D zone.

Ty was starting to remind me of Butcher with the early regression. Marino is a solid NHLer at least.

https://twitter.com/jfres...&t=nBv3fVK7tTHPGeMrdbx6kA
- smellmyfinger

Yeah for sure, Marino is a good fit.

https://twitter.com/MikeK...ZayRYB3edXS6dl9W6LEA&s=19

The Devils have traded Ty Smith and a 2023 3rd to Pittsburgh for John Marino
- vlongo4419

I like Marino but that seems like a lot. Smith was coming along nicely.

With Siegenthaler making huge strides and Hughes on the way you can probably say the same thing about Graves days with the team being numbered.
- smellmyfinger

That makes a lot of sense too. When you have Siegenthaler and Marino you have two really strong shutdown defensemen you can pair with more offensive minded players which happens to be the rest of the defensemen on the roster or on the way. It's really smart building by Fitz here and opens up doors to trading surplus defensemen.

I like Marino but that seems like a lot. Smith was coming along nicely.
- TurdFergeson

Smith took a major step back last season. He was legitimately one of the worst players in the entire league. I still think he can rebound and be a good NHL player offensively, but he'll always be an issue defensively and defending the rush. He was expendable with Hughes and Nemec a year or two out from being in the league full-time.

Devils were in big time need for a solid defensive D, and they got him here. Besides Siegenthaler, the rest of the D on the roster and the top D prospects are all offensive-leaning. So this addressed a big need.

Smith took a major step back last season. He was legitimately one of the worst players in the entire league. I still think he can rebound and be a good NHL player offensively, but he'll always be an issue defensively and defending the rush. He was expendable with Hughes and Nemec a year or two out from being in the league full-time.

Devils were in big time need for a solid defensive D, and they got him here. Besides Siegenthaler, the rest of the D on the roster and the top D prospects are all offensive-leaning. So this addressed a big need.
- vlongo4419

I wonder how Jack feels.. They were BFFs

I wonder how Jack feels.. They were BFFs
- Leniwm1

Oh dang i didn't even think of that, they lived together during the season too I believe. He's gotta be sad lol. Don't worry though, Luke will be moving in with him near the end of the season when he signs his ELC after his Michigan season ends!

I wonder how Jack feels.. They were BFFs
- Leniwm1

Will probably enjoy winning games more than watching his friend lose them for him.

Oh dang i didn't even think of that, they lived together during the season too I believe. He's gotta be sad lol. Don't worry though, Luke will be moving in with him near the end of the season when he signs his ELC after his Michigan season ends!
- vlongo4419

I kind of like this side of Fitz, with Zacha, Smith. Hopefully the message was sent to the players, if you arent playing to your potential, Fitz will have no problem shipping them off.

He is really being proactive and making sure the team does take that next step. Its refreshing to see him stick to his plan of rebuilding > playoff team.

I wonder how Jack feels.. They were BFFs
- Leniwm1

His brother will be here in a season.

I kind of like this side of Fitz, with Zacha, Smith. Hopefully the message was sent to the players, if you arent playing to your potential, Fitz will have no problem shipping them off.

He is really being proactive and making sure the team does take that next step. Its refreshing to see him stick to his plan of rebuilding > playoff team.
- Leniwm1

Fitz sending a message to the young guys that we're used to holding roster spots on a poop team that they're turning the corner and it's time to step up. I think this applies specifically to Blackwood too where he needs to prove he is an NHL caliber starter this year or he'll be finding a new team to play for too.

His brother will be here in a season.
- smellmyfinger

Jack can give you 8 million reasons each of the next 8 years on why he will be just fine.

So right now we're looking at our D core next season being:

Siegs-Dougie
Graves-Marino
Smith-Sevo

Bahl/Okhotiuk probably battling Smith for 3LD

That's like, pretty darn good. Can swap Sevo and Marino but I think it'd be better to have a defensive guy paired with an offensive-leaning guy.

Gotta figure out what the plan is for Graves and Sevo though because Hughes and Nemec will be knocking on the door next season, but also need to think about what to do if either of those guys aren't ready yet. No need to rush them.

So right now we're looking at our D core next season being:

Siegs-Dougie
Graves-Marino
Smith-Sevo

Bahl/Okhotiuk probably battling Smith for 3LD

That's like, pretty darn good. Can swap Sevo and Marino but I think it'd be better to have a defensive guy paired with an offensive-leaning guy.

Gotta figure out what the plan is for Graves and Sevo though because Hughes and Nemec will be knocking on the door next season, but also need to think about what to do if either of those guys aren't ready yet. No need to rush them.
- vlongo4419

Brendan Smith is garbage. I can’t imagine him blocking anyone from cracking our bottom pairing.

Brendan Smith is garbage. I can’t imagine him blocking anyone from cracking our bottom pairing.
- jtylerm

He's above average defensively and a good PKer. Brings jam and physicality and will stick up for the kids. Far from garbage actually. Perfectly fine 6/7 D.

He's above average defensively and a good PKer. Brings jam and physicality and will stick up for the kids. Far from garbage actually. Perfectly fine 6/7 D.
- vlongo4419

I think that 3rd pairing left D will be a fine rotator spot for the season. Maybe we'll see one of the young guys who've gotten some games get a bit of an expanded role. I don't really think Bahl/Okhotiuk have much upside outside of 6th/7th defenseman and would like to see Walsh get some games so we know what we've got there.

Think you guys probably robbed Hextall. I am skeptical Smith will develop into a quality 3D like Marino is now and the LD/RD balance is all screwed up on PIT right now.

I think that 3rd pairing left D will be a fine rotator spot for the season. Maybe we'll see one of the young guys who've gotten some games get a bit of an expanded role. I don't really think Bahl/Okhotiuk have much upside outside of 6th/7th defenseman and would like to see Walsh get some games so we know what we've got there.
- Pomegrant

As long as it stops Geertsen from getting in the lineup on defense then I'm cool with it lol. Smith is essentially a better, non-useless, Geertsen lmao.

If Bahl or any of the kids beat out Smith for that 6th spot then that's fantastic, it's essentially the litmus test/measuring bar for them in camp/preseason. You know what Smith is and you know what you will get, let's see if a kid can beat him out. Win-win there for us.

As long as it stops Geertsen from getting in the lineup on defense then I'm cool with it lol. Smith is essentially a better, non-useless, Geertsen lmao.

If Bahl or any of the kids beat out Smith for that 6th spot then that's fantastic, it's essentially the litmus test/measuring bar for them in camp/preseason. You know what Smith is and you know what you will get, let's see if a kid can beat him out. Win-win there for us.
- vlongo4419

Big Mase is getting into games whether you like it or not.

Big Mase is getting into games whether you like it or not.
- Pomegrant

You're probably not wrong

Think you guys probably robbed Hextall. I am skeptical Smith will develop into a quality 3D like Marino is now and the LD/RD balance is all screwed up on PIT right now.
- jfkst1

Both of the trades today from the Penguins are questionable for sure. Matheson had a good season but maybe they are selling high to get a more proven quantity in Petry. But really cost a lot to do so and I don't really think Pens are significantly better with this roster when team defense was a really big strength last season.

Both of the trades today from the Penguins are questionable for sure. Matheson had a good season but maybe they are selling high to get a more proven quantity in Petry. But really cost a lot to do so and I don't really think Pens are significantly better with this roster when team defense was a really big strength last season.
- Pomegrant

Hextall is mediocre IMO. Pens defense was solid last year. Dumoulin was the weak link and Hextall is probably keeping him. These moves are lateral at best and likely leave PIT older slower.

As long as it stops Geertsen from getting in the lineup on defense then I'm cool with it lol. Smith is essentially a better, non-useless, Geertsen lmao.

If Bahl or any of the kids beat out Smith for that 6th spot then that's fantastic, it's essentially the litmus test/measuring bar for them in camp/preseason. You know what Smith is and you know what you will get, let's see if a kid can beat him out. Win-win there for us.
- vlongo4419

I don’t have a lot of faith in Bahl, and I guess it remains to be seen what Shakir turns into.

The one I wonder about is Walsh. 3 very good years at Harvard, a good rookie season, then a very strong 2nd year in the AHL but at 23 has only gotten into one NHL game despite Geertsen, Bahl, Ty Smith and Jaros all getting games in on D. Don’t know what the organization sees for his future, I was hoping he could turn into an ideal 3rd pair defender.

Also, letting Colton White walk and sign a 2 way deal in Anaheim seemed pretty weird. I thought he was pretty solid in the chances he got to play.

I don’t have a lot of faith in Bahl, and I guess it remains to be seen what Shakir turns into.

The one I wonder about is Walsh. 3 very good years at Harvard, a good rookie season, then a very strong 2nd year in the AHL but at 23 has only gotten into one NHL game despite Geertsen, Bahl, Ty Smith and Jaros all getting games in on D. Don’t know what the organization sees for his future, I was hoping he could turn into an ideal 3rd pair defender.

Also, letting Colton White walk and sign a 2 way deal in Anaheim seemed pretty weird. I thought he was pretty solid in the chances he got to play.
- smellmyfinger

I was fine with them trying out young guys last year because we were poop but it seems odd that a couple of guys didn't even get a chance, especially when Geertsen is getting in the lineup playing defense sometimes. Maybe they never see Walsh as an NHL player, and that's fine, but let him play ~5 games and show us what he's got. It wasn't going to hurt anybody if he plays like trash in front of John Gillies and Andrew Hammond.

White is ultimately a guy who is very replaceable. 9-10th defenseman at best and we've already got a log jam for guys who are trying to play. Best to let him go so he can't eat anybody's time in the AHL either.

It would've been one thing if Ty was poop defensively but showed some great offensive upside. He was literally useless at everything. With young talent they usually show you something to keep giving them chances and he was just given playing time all season.
- Pomegrant

Well he was learning from pk so that doesn’t help

He’ll be the next letang now

Hamilton graves
Milano Severson
Smith siegenthalar

Already better than last season and hopefully depending on structure and system be able to cut down some more high danger chances

With better and more consistent goaltending we may be competitive this season