Josh Biringer: Thoughts on Vegas / Free Agency: RFAs - Mackenzie Blackwood

Definitely try to trade him if you can but I highly doubt anybody will want to. He'll be a non-qualify and become a UFA imo.

Definitely try to trade him if you can but I highly doubt anybody will want to. He'll be a non-qualify and become a UFA imo.
- vlongo4419

The only problem I have is, how ready is Schmid for splitting a decent amount of games? Can he handle 20+

What other moves do we have

Blackwood isn't great

We definitely need to get rid of Blackwood, but I feel bad to him. NJ played him so much due to having nothing but open air as a backup goalie. I think thinking taking on such a heavy workload at such a young age had a negative effect on his body. I appreciate his time here and hoped for a better ending for him. That’s the way she goes though.

Per Pierre LeBrun, Devils and Jesper Bratt are closing in on an 8 year extension, 7.875M AAV

Per Pierre LeBrun, Devils and Jesper Bratt are closing in on an 8 year extension, 7.875M AAV
- vlongo4419

If so not a terrible deal coming in under 8

If so not a terrible deal coming in under 8
- dmarsden2988

Not a terrible deal? Its an excellent deal if under 8.

If so not a terrible deal coming in under 8
- dmarsden2988

It's a fantastic deal lol

Really need to sign timo now

It's a fantastic deal lol
- vlongo4419

With this salary hierarchy Fitz is doing, he's making sure top players will come to NJ because of the team being a perennial cup contender and the location. Not the money. Risky move these days, but brilliant.

It'll weed out the money chasers and leave players that WANT to be in Jersey. Fitz is slam dunking with everything he's doing.

With this salary hierarchy Fitz is doing, he's making sure top players will come to NJ because of the team being a perennial cup contender and the location. Not the money. Risky move these days, but brilliant.

It'll weed out the money chasers and leave players that WANT to be in Jersey. Fitz is slam dunking with everything he's doing.
- Leniwm1

Well you cant win a cup with a team having two or three players eating up 80% of the cap

Well you cant win a cup with a team having two or three players eating up 80% of the cap
- Theathletic is for libs

Exactly.
This is why Dubas is the most useless, overrated GM. 3 players, 33 million. "Why dont we have Defense, Goalies or depth?"

Really need to sign timo now
- Theathletic is for libs

Great point

Josh had him at 7.5 and we got him at 7.8 so that means Timo should be at 8.8?
We have got a really nice team building for the future, just wish I felt better about our goalies, Schmid still has yet to have a body of work and VV burned out during the playoffs, maybe too many games? Not sure there is a short-term answer here there is just not enough cap to pull in another goalie along with signing some RFA's. We need to move on from Rango and Jesper 2 along with Tatar still hoping we sign Haula. LGD!!!!!

As expected, right at the deadline, the Devils have filed for team elected arbitration with Timo. They can still work out a long term deal way before it even gets to that point, but this gives them some protection to take the 10M qualifying offer down to 8.5M on that one year deal. We'll see if it gets to that point or not.(It rarely ever does)

7.875. That’s one mill less than 8.8 and obviously 2.2 less than 10. We win. This is fair. He could’ve broke 8 on the open market, he was mostly invisible in the playoffs, but he’s a top line winger (not the first option but still top line on most teams), for 7.875.. which will feel like 6 by the time Luke and Nemec need new deals. Not too shabby. Just hope he can improve consistency and look like a top line winger for 80% of the regular season and playoffs. You want to see your stars elevate.. and my man didn’t really do that to my eye. He’s young, but has years in the NHL. Happy it’s under 8, but some of his shine wore off in the playoffs for me, especially seeing how effective Timo looked even when he wasn’t scoring- left much to be desired from Bratt.. who will be making only a mil or so less than Timo. Makes you question spending the money on Bratt given that Luke, Nemec and Mercer will need to be paid, while also having a full roster. Hope things workout.

Ugh. Just remembered we have Palat eating up 6 mil that will be verrrry valuable to us in a couple seasons 👀😒

7.875. That’s one mill less than 8.8 and obviously 2.2 less than 10. We win. This is fair. He could’ve broke 8 on the open market, he was mostly invisible in the playoffs, but he’s a top line winger (not the first option but still top line on most teams), for 7.875.. which will feel like 6 by the time Luke and Nemec need new deals. Not too shabby. Just hope he can improve consistency and look like a top line winger for 80% of the regular season and playoffs. You want to see your stars elevate.. and my man didn’t really do that to my eye. He’s young, but has years in the NHL. Happy it’s under 8, but some of his shine wore off in the playoffs for me, especially seeing how effective Timo looked even when he wasn’t scoring- left much to be desired from Bratt.. who will be making only a mil or so less than Timo. Makes you question spending the money on Bratt given that Luke, Nemec and Mercer will need to be paid, while also having a full roster. Hope things workout.

Ugh. Just remembered we have Palat eating up 6 mil that will be verrrry valuable to us in a couple seasons 👀😒
- MartysBetter88

Meh, I'm tired of this Bratt was "invisible" in the playoffs nonsense. He was only "invisible" in the sense that he was snakebitten and didnt put up points. Same as Timo. Top 4 forwards for NJ in the playoffs in terms of chances contributed to per game. 1)Timo - 12.1, 2)Nico - 9.3, 3) Jack - 8.0, 4)Bratt - 7.5. He essentially contributed to as much offense per game as Jack. The Devils generated more high-danger chances with Bratt on the ice than any other Devil during the playoffs. Also, Bratt generated 5.7 high danger shots per 60 in the playoffs, which was UP from 4.6 in the regular season. The only difference was the puck didnt go in. Bratt shot 15.1% in the regular season, but that dropped to 4% in the playoffs. The Devils on ice shooting % with Bratt on the ice in the regular season was 10.78%, that dropped to 6.84% in the playoffs. To dig even deeper, at 5v5 during the regular season Bratt was a 12.58% shooter – but in the playoffs he didn't score on any of his 22 shots (17 of which were high-danger). He also assisted on 41 shots at 5v5, which was only 2nd to Jack(44). He was VERY involved at creating offense. The puck just didnt go in, whether it was him or the teammates he set up.

He was far more unlucky than he was bad.

Palat's contract is more of a burden now than it will be in 2-3 years when the cap has most likely exploded at that point. This upcoming year is probably the worst it'll be for the contract in terms of squeezing the team.

Meh, I'm tired of this Bratt was "invisible" in the playoffs nonsense. He was only "invisible" in the sense that he was snakebitten and didnt put up points. Same as Timo. Top 4 forwards for NJ in the playoffs in terms of chances contributed to per game. 1)Timo - 12.1, 2)Nico - 9.3, 3) Jack - 8.0, 4)Bratt - 7.5. He essentially contributed to as much offense per game as Jack. The Devils generated more high-danger chances with Bratt on the ice than any other Devil during the playoffs. Also, Bratt generated 5.7 high danger shots per 60 in the playoffs, which was UP from 4.6 in the regular season. The only difference was the puck didnt go in. Bratt shot 15.1% in the regular season, but that dropped to 4% in the playoffs. The Devils on ice shooting % with Bratt on the ice in the regular season was 10.78%, that dropped to 6.84% in the playoffs. To dig even deeper, at 5v5 during the regular season Bratt was a 12.58% shooter – but in the playoffs he didn't score on any of his 22 shots (17 of which were high-danger). He also assisted on 41 shots at 5v5, which was only 2nd to Jack(44). He was VERY involved at creating offense. The puck just didnt go in, whether it was him or the teammates he set up.

He was far more unlucky than he was bad.

Palat's contract is more of a burden now than it will be in 2-3 years when the cap has most likely exploded at that point. This upcoming year is probably the worst it'll be for the contract in terms of squeezing the team.
- vlongo4419

All good things to know.
I understand cap going up, but we could be looking at an additional 10-15mil for Luke, Nemec and Mercer. Cap won’t be going up to that degree.

All good things to know.
I understand cap going up, but we could be looking at an additional 10-15mil for Luke, Nemec and Mercer. Cap won’t be going up to that degree.
- MartysBetter88

It certainly could. It's expected to be "well into the 90s" in a few years. We could see a significant jump next offseason, as much as 5 or 6M. We're in fantastic shape cap wise going into the future. Fitz has really been masterful outside of the Palat deal, and a few years from now that 6M is going to be normal for a 3rd liner that nobody will care about it. Like I said, this offseason is really the only one where it's potentially an issue. It would've been real nice to have had that extra 6M to try to add another legit top 6 winger.

7.875. That’s one mill less than 8.8 and obviously 2.2 less than 10. We win. This is fair. He could’ve broke 8 on the open market, he was mostly invisible in the playoffs, but he’s a top line winger (not the first option but still top line on most teams), for 7.875.. which will feel like 6 by the time Luke and Nemec need new deals. Not too shabby. Just hope he can improve consistency and look like a top line winger for 80% of the regular season and playoffs. You want to see your stars elevate.. and my man didn’t really do that to my eye. He’s young, but has years in the NHL. Happy it’s under 8, but some of his shine wore off in the playoffs for me, especially seeing how effective Timo looked even when he wasn’t scoring- left much to be desired from Bratt.. who will be making only a mil or so less than Timo. Makes you question spending the money on Bratt given that Luke, Nemec and Mercer will need to be paid, while also having a full roster. Hope things workout.

Ugh. Just remembered we have Palat eating up 6 mil that will be verrrry valuable to us in a couple seasons 👀😒
- MartysBetter88

Bratt for Wilson

I just want it to be Timo Time again.

I just want it to be Timo Time again.
- Pomegrant

He wants to play in Nash with josi

Some Fitzy quotes from his presser:

-Yesterday was the start of a long and busy summer for him.

-Still negotiating and working out a deal with Timo.

-Spoke with Timo yesterday, and Timo told him that he wants to be a Devil and he told his agent to work out an 8 year deal here.

-He isn't going to change the identity of this team because a 'big and heavy' team won the cup. Points out that Palat plays a heavy game, and mentioned that Nolan Foote can fill that role.(obviously others can too)

-Team has a decision to make on Blackwood. Whether they qualify him, try to negotiate something lower, or try to trade him.

-"If every player takes every crumb they can get, there's not enough money there." Says he had a good discussion with Bratt about team building and that Bratt and other top guys understand they need money on the table for depth pieces.

-Hasn't talked to Mercers camp yet, but he definitely wants to explore signing him long term.

-"It's go time"

On his new pod, Friedman says he believes that "very recently" Fitz told Bratt and his camp that if they did not get a deal done somewhat soon, they were going to put him on the market.

Also mentions that talks on Sharangovich have picked up, and to not be surprised if hes dealt.

On his new pod, Friedman says he believes that "very recently" Fitz told Bratt and his camp that if they did not get a deal done somewhat soon, they were going to put him on the market.

Also mentions that talks on Sharangovich have picked up, and to not be surprised if hes dealt.
- vlongo4419

Fitz we trust!!!!!