Josh Biringer: A Quiet Free Agency, Kevin Bahl and the 3rd RW Possibilities

Holtz has never been given a real chance in the NHL. He’s been nearly a point per game player in the AHL. I don’t think he has anything there left to prove at this point.

Giving him 8-10 mins on a 4th line is not a proper opportunity. Let this kid have a shot with linemates that can actually sustain offense with him. I fully expect him to earn that 3rd line role out of camp. I just hope Lindy pulls his head out of his ass and doesn’t keep handcuffing this kid.

I don't think it'll be anybody but Holtz in that 3rd line RW slot tbh. The team told him how important of a summer and upcoming year this was for him. They wouldn't do that then just flat out block him from even getting a shot to prove if he belongs or not. Foote will be the 4th line LW, Lazar the extra.

If Fitz is working on anything else, which is probably safe to assume since he still hasn't spoken to media, it's way more likely he's trying to acquire a goalie than a forward at this point.

If it’s true that Gibson wants out (and ANA took 1/2 salary) or that Logan Thompson is available, I’d be more on board with adding a goalie like that than overpaying for Hellebuyck

Holtz has never been given a real chance in the NHL. He’s been nearly a point per game player in the AHL. I don’t think he has anything there left to prove at this point.

Giving him 8-10 mins on a 4th line is not a proper opportunity. Let this kid have a shot with linemates that can actually sustain offense with him. I fully expect him to earn that 3rd line role out of camp. I just hope Lindy pulls his head out of his ass and doesn’t keep handcuffing this kid.
- jtylerm

I’d be very surprised if Foote and Holtz are not in the opening night lineup. Coaches raved about Foote last year, complete opposite for Holtz though, he was essentially told this upcoming season is make or break for him during his exit interview.

Holtz has never been given a real chance in the NHL. He’s been nearly a point per game player in the AHL. I don’t think he has anything there left to prove at this point.

Giving him 8-10 mins on a 4th line is not a proper opportunity. Let this kid have a shot with linemates that can actually sustain offense with him. I fully expect him to earn that 3rd line role out of camp. I just hope Lindy pulls his head out of his ass and doesn’t keep handcuffing this kid.
- jtylerm

Reports are he’s a cancer in the locker room

If it’s true that Gibson wants out (and ANA took 1/2 salary) or that Logan Thompson is available, I’d be more on board with adding a goalie like that than overpaying for Hellebuyck
- jtylerm

Gibson looks cooked, I think the Devils might wait to see how they look in goal closer to the trade deadline before they make a move unless something miraculous like Ullmark drops in their laps.

If it’s true that Gibson wants out (and ANA took 1/2 salary) or that Logan Thompson is available, I’d be more on board with adding a goalie like that than overpaying for Hellebuyck
- jtylerm

I honestly want no part of Gibson, even at 50% retained salary. 4 years left for someone who might be cooked? No thanks. At this point hes just a downgrade from Vanecek. Devils are a very analytically driven team, and over the past 4 seasons Gibson has ranked 110th, 112th, 72nd, and 82nd in GSAx. Theres no world the Devils trade for him imo. Let someone else take that risk. I'd rather trade for Hellebuyck and give him a 5 year extension at 8M(which is also a mistake) than trade for Gibson. We atleast know Hellebuyck is still elite.

Logan Thompson is a great shout though, depending on the price. Really cheap contract and would bolster our depth significantly.

Foote is ready for that bottom six role. As for holtz… let the boy watch!

I’m fine staying with VV too. I think his regular season numbers are good enough he’s earned the starting spot to open the season.

I wonder if ruff will try to do what he did at end of last season and try to spread the offense out

Mercer nico holtz
Toffoli Hughes bratt
Palat haula Meier
Bastian McLeod foote/lazar

Play around with top 2 lines, seem to remember Meier was in his own line

Or maybe Meier moves up and toffili plays 3rd line

All this depends on if they want to spread offense around and how holtz does

I’m fine staying with VV too. I think his regular season numbers are good enough he’s earned the starting spot to open the season.
- jtylerm

I'm not sure if VV was burned out towards the end of the season and playoffs but after an incredible start his numbers did fall, so if that's the case would be good to get a good reliable goalie

Schmid may be in the future but he is still young

I'm not sure if VV was burned out towards the end of the season and playoffs but after an incredible start his numbers did fall, so if that's the case would be good to get a good reliable goalie

Schmid may be in the future but he is still young
- dmarsden2988

To be fair, playoffs are a whole different animal than regular season play. Before this year he’s only played 3 postseason games. I think it was a good learning experience even losing this year. He’s more prepared for what to expect. It’s too early to think he couldn’t win a Cup imo. If Binnington, Kuemper and Hill can, so can VV.

To be fair, playoffs are a whole different animal than regular season play. Before this year he’s only played 3 postseason games. I think it was a good learning experience even losing this year. He’s more prepared for what to expect. It’s too early to think he couldn’t win a Cup imo. If Binnington, Kuemper and Hill can, so can VV.
- jtylerm

I think it is more to do with his workload and if he was burned out

Also depends on if he is hot at the right time like those listed above

I wonder if ruff will try to do what he did at end of last season and try to spread the offense out

Mercer nico holtz
Toffoli Hughes bratt
Palat haula Meier
Bastian McLeod foote/lazar

Play around with top 2 lines, seem to remember Meier was in his own line

Or maybe Meier moves up and toffili plays 3rd line

All this depends on if they want to spread offense around and how holtz does
- dmarsden2988

If I recall correctly, didn't Holtz play well in preseason with Jack and Palat? Not positive I have the line right but I think it was something like that. I don't think they ever went back to that lineup after preseason though.

I’d like to see a

Bratt-Nico-Meier
Mercer-Jack-Holtz
Palat-Haula-Toffoli

as the top 9, just to see how’d they do. Meier seems to play better with Nico, you’d be giving Holtz an undeniable chance to prove himself and you’d spread out the offensive grit better having Meier/Mercer/Toffoli on 3 different lines.

Every line has speed, playmaking, a lethal shooter and sandpaper. There’s a lot of possibilities and hockey is very situational so some juggling is expected, but I think this would be a matchup nightmare.

If I recall correctly, didn't Holtz play well in preseason with Jack and Palat? Not positive I have the line right but I think it was something like that. I don't think they ever went back to that lineup after preseason though.
- gmarz16

Can't remember if it was with palat but he did play well with Hughes in preseason then game 1 the lines all changed

Even though there are some decent free agents still out there I would give our guys a shot first. Foote probably makes this team as a bottom 6 forward. He's almost a Wood replacement on the team. I could see him anywhere in this line-up because of his size and shot but probably start out on the bottom 6. As for Holtz, he has to play at least top 9 if not eventually top 6 (hopefully). He's not a "checking forward". So, I believe him and Clarke (very similar) will be battling for the final roster spot (that was held by Boqvist). I think if Holtz makes it he'll start on line 3 but hopefully moves up to the top 2 lines. I believe that would be best for his growth. Unfortunately, the Devils are in a win-now kind of mode and might not give Holtz a lot of leeway. Time will tell, but like others here have said, I hope the Devils give Holtz a long look this year, we could use his shooting and his ELC on this team because of cap space.

Wish we had a crystal ball with Vitek. Was he indeed burned out by the playoffs- or did the consistent higher level of play against him expose him for being not good enough? Was it in fact a learning experience he can learn from and improve through; or again, just being exposed for being not good enough? We really don’t know.
Schmid had like 1 or 2 bad games, and was the savior in the others, and is so young so you’d assume he has the potential to build off that.

Would Thompson or Ullmark really be the proven above-average answer? Idk

Hellebuyck gives us a top 10 goalie. A proven answer. We know goalies can be elite through their mid 30s. And if he tapers off then hopefully Schmid or Daws are in a position to take over. But the price on Connor will be high. But would it be worth it? Idk

What a time to have a crystal ball.

But I’m pumped we have Toffoli as an option to put on different lines. He excites me much more than Tatar.

I think Fitz has done everything I personally wanted for the team in the offseason. All big name RFA got worked out, we brought in a goal scoring winger, and got a depth defenseman. I think a minor thing he can do is figure out another depth bottom 6 player that can rotate in/out when needed.

I'm most happy Fitz didn't get suckered into this insane goalie market in which everybody is asking for a huge amount to move them. Just a lot of very savvy asset management and never has given a critical piece of the puzzle away to improve the team.

No one is offer sheeting Kevin Bahl lmao

You want VV or Schmid to elevate their game, find a D man that cleans out the front of the net!!!!!!

No one is offer sheeting Kevin Bahl lmao
- kfinl170

Go figure

No one is offer sheeting Kevin Bahl lmao
- kfinl170

The fight was so-so, but the hit he laid in the first 10 seconds of this video made him a Devil for me. He (frank)ing stapled Vesey to the boards! I hope he’s here for a long time.

https://youtu.be/I33M0pFCdfY

The fight was so-so, but the hit he laid in the first 10 seconds of this video made him a Devil for me. He (frank)ing stapled Vesey to the boards! I hope he’s here for a long time.

https://youtu.be/I33M0pFCdfY
- jtylerm

Yes! I hope we sign him.