Todd Cordell: On Will Butcher, Ty Smith, and an optimal defense for the New Jersey Devils

Todd Cordell: On Will Butcher, Ty Smith, and an optimal defense for the New Jersey Devils
- Todd.Cordell

I thought Carrick looked good enough to bring back on a small contract. A bottom pair of Smith-Carrick might be ok. Then again I am not a Mueller fan.

Acquire subban, panarin, karlsson = NJD 2020 SC champs 🤗

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Acquire subban, panarin, karlsson = NJD 2020 SC champs 🤗 rcerick

easy peasy

Acquire subban, panarin, karlsson = NJD 2020 SC champs 🤗
- rcerick

Pipe dream. It’s not in NJ’s DNA to make that type of free agent splash. I’d be surprised if we could even get one of those players.

Nice write-up Todd. Your defensive lines look good, but I am concerned as well having Greene on the top pairing

I'm more concerned with Nesreddine behind the bench then Andy Greene on the ice. That said, there is no denying we need a high end defender. Keeping Vats should be a priority. Not because he's the perfect player but because we need him so badly...

Hope Ray Ray can figure something out; but Penguin GMs seem to look at D as something you Band-Aid more then invest in.

Todd Cordell: On Will Butcher, Ty Smith, and an optimal defense for the New Jersey Devils
- Todd.Cordell

I think this group is well below *OK*. And despite shot suppression, I don't think it's good for development to ask a 19 year old rookie to play with Mueller. You can say he's got his back or whatever, but any Devils fan will tell you Mueller is unreliable and more often than not a liability on this ice. You can't possibly send a rookie, especially one you have high hopes will develop into an impact player, out there with that type of partner. Brutal idea.

I think this group is well below *OK*. And despite shot suppression, I don't think it's good for development to ask a 19 year old rookie to play with Mueller. You can say he's got his back or whatever, but any Devils fan will tell you Mueller is unreliable and more often than not a liability on this ice. You can't possibly send a rookie, especially one you have high hopes will develop into an impact player, out there with that type of partner. Brutal idea.
- jersey1414

Fine. Who do you want to send him with?

THose will NOT be our D pairings.....


If they are we will lose HALL. and MISS the Playoffs again.

Todd Cordell: On Will Butcher, Ty Smith, and an optimal defense for the New Jersey Devils
- Todd.Cordell

I just think trading butcher is bad for the team credibility, the dude wanted to play here and he’s good. Though I guess if hall says get a top pair dman or I’m gone then by all means.

Pipe dream. It’s not in NJ’s DNA to make that type of free agent splash. I’d be surprised if we could even get one of those players.

Nice write-up Todd. Your defensive lines look good, but I am concerned as well having Greene on the top pairing
- Crushers68

Greene should be on the 3rd pair and used in a shutdown situations exclusively. But they devils only have poop players and young up and coming players so Greene on the top pair it is lol

Philly will prob dump one of their top D... Maybe a 3 way deal so we dont deal with them one on one?

Anyone?

Fine. Who do you want to send him with?
- Queenie_5_hole

'
Greene (in a bottom-4 role, not top).

Philly will prob dump one of their top D... Maybe a 3 way deal so we dont deal with them one on one?

Anyone?
- Leniwm1

'
Greene (in a bottom-4 role, not top).
- jersey1414

Again fine; but draw up your pairings. So far you said you don't want Ty Smith playing with Mueller and you don't want Greene on the 1st pair. How do you see this playing out? Who is on the top pair?

Green Severson
Butcher Vatanan
Smith Carrick
Mueller

If no trades are made

Again fine; but draw up your pairings. So far you said you don't want Ty Smith playing with Mueller and you don't want Greene on the 1st pair. How do you see this playing out? Who is on the top pair?
- Queenie_5_hole

I guess....

Butcher - Subban
Greene - Smith
Davies/Yakulev/UFA?- Severson

This would be under the assumption that Vatanen is in the Subban deal, which I could definitely envision. And, as you'll see, i'll take any option, even ones that aren't currently on the team, over Mueller.

Got a good feeling some draft day trades are going to improve this roster.

Good article, I definitely agree Andy Greene is not ideal on the 1st pairing. I think Ray does something in free agency or with all these picks to find a piece for the back end. Signing Jake Gardiner would fit the bill nicely if he goes to FA and can entice him. Then the back end looks like this:

Gardiner - Severson
Butcher - Vatanen
Greene - Smith
Mueller - Carrick

Mueller & Carrick are your #7&8 or you let one go somehow and you pick up an extra veteran defensemen to play in the 7/8 spot.

Hell if he uses his picks and some other assets to get a player via a trade, then I think you really need to look at Subban or Trouba. The question always is what you have to give up going the other way. I think one of Severson or Butcher would end up being dealt in a Subban or Trouba trade. If Kris Letang is available, do you look at a trade with Pittsburgh?

Are we done rebuilding?

Because I read that there will be a bunch of 2nd round picks that should have gone in the 1st, and we have a few 2nds so do we use them to draft or trade?

Todd Cordell: On Will Butcher, Ty Smith, and an optimal defense for the New Jersey Devils
- Todd.Cordell

I feel if we traded LJ straight up for a 3rd and Carrick, we can certainly move Greene with 50% retained in his final season for something. Carrick should be in the lineup, and I would have this:

Butch Vats
Smith Severson
Davies/Mueller Carrick

While there are some question marks about the young LD, I feel that the Right side is very solid, and one of the younger LD will be ready to take the next step. If not, Kulikov is available for peanuts, or we could pursue Edler/Gardiner on a short term deal. Greene just can't muster big minutes any longer, and I would love to see this young D core tested at the NHL level.

I guess....

Butcher - Subban
Greene - Smith
Davies/Yakulev/UFA?- Severson

This would be under the assumption that Vatanen is in the Subban deal, which I could definitely envision. And, as you'll see, i'll take any option, even ones that aren't currently on the team, over Mueller.
- jersey1414

Green and Smith is probably something worth trying. I just don't know how much we can pencil in somebody we haven't acquired. I guess if you willing to substitute Vats for Subban it doesn't matter....

Also, I know you don't like Mueller, Carrick, or Santini, but those are the realistic options over Davies who has to earn a roster spot in preseason. Of course this depends on who we sign. Yak is in the KHL. Unfortunate because I liked him.

Are we done rebuilding?

Because I read that there will be a bunch of 2nd round picks that should have gone in the 1st, and we have a few 2nds so do we use them to draft or trade?
- Leniwm1

I dont think we're done rebuilding, i feel we're still another year or two away. I can see the young core starting to be formed though and i see Shero's plan starting to come to fruition, if our prospects pan out and continue to develop. Our core(Nico, Hughes, Bratt, Boqvist, Smith) is a very good young group to build around but i think we still need another one or two young pieces to add to that group, we certainly have some other guys in our system that i hope can take steps forward to add to that group but are still a year or two away(mainly Walsh, Davies, Talvitie, Studenic). The 34 pick has a ton of value this year, as its looking like we can snag a first round talent there, and im not willing to trade it unless we're getting a good young player in return. The deal would need to "wow" me to make me feel okay with moving the pick. Assuming Smith/Boqvist make the team and promote themselves from being a prospect, i think our 34 pick will instantly become our top prospect.

As for moving 55/61, i'm not for or against keeping the picks, moving them out in a trade, or trading both of them to move up to the 45ish range. There will still be pretty good talent available there and im perfectly fine continuing to fill the prospect pool up. Keeping all three of our 2nds this year and making the picks shouldn't be underestimated with how big that is for us.

Acquire subban, panarin, karlsson = NJD 2020 SC champs 🤗
- rcerick

With those 3 we would be over the salary cap already!

Green and Smith is probably something worth trying. I just don't know how much we can pencil in somebody we haven't acquired. I guess if you willing to substitute Vats for Subban it doesn't matter....

Also, I know you don't like Mueller, Carrick, or Santini, but those are the realistic options over Davies who has to earn a roster spot in preseason. Of course this depends on who we sign. Yak is in the KHL. Unfortunate because I liked him.
- Queenie_5_hole

I like Santini. A lot. I'd like to see him play more. and I'm cool with Carrick an 8 and optioning between the AHL.