Todd Cordell: On Taylor Hall's next contract and testing Wayne Simmonds in the top-6

Just reading down Amanda Stein's Twitter today just brought my excitement up further. So many hype trains to get on

Simmonds was a top six talent. Unless he got some other injuries or his big injury took more then a year to recover he is best suited for bottom 6. One thing is for sure, he won’t stop or take a shift off. All heart. Will always be my favorite flyer player because of where he came from and how hard he fought to be where he is. Very outgoing for his community as well. Hell of person. I wish him all the luck and I’ll cheer him on.

Just reading down Amanda Stein's Twitter today just brought my excitement up further. So many hype trains to get on
- willschulme

Like how hynes isn't going easy and making sure things are done right

I know lines will change but based on the scrimmage it does make it interesting to see how things look

Hall hischier palms
Boqvist zajac bratt
Gusev Hughes Simmonds
Wood zacha Coleman

Todd Cordell: On Taylor Hall's next contract and testing Wayne Simmonds in the top-6
- Todd.Cordell

Gotta re-sign Hall, this coming from a non Devils fan. The good thing is that the contracts of Greene and Vatanen come off the books next year. So that frees up just south of 10 million dollars. As for what the AAV should be, would have to more than what Marner and Panarin got. Hall as something neither of them have, a Hart trophy. Would hav to imagine his next deal would be 12 million per, for 8 years.

Gotta re-sign Hall, this coming from a non Devils fan. The good thing is that the contracts of Greene and Vatanen come off the books next year. So that frees up just south of 10 million dollars. As for what the AAV should be, would have to more than what Marner and Panarin got. Hall as something neither of them have, a Hart trophy. Would hav to imagine his next deal would be 12 million per, for 8 years.
- ScrantonDangler

Problem is the devils don't really have anyone to take vatanens place if we don't re-sign him. Our best D prospect is smith who may make the team this year and don't have any other dprospect that would possibly be impactful next year, maybe a little bit down the line

Todd Cordell, it could be Coleman that plays with Gusev and Hughes. However, you could be right in that Hynes wants to take a look at how a line of Gusev-Hughes-Simmnods plays together. Another interesting development is that Hynes will likely be taking a look at the pairing of Vatanen-Subban. Earlier today, Hynes had these pairings playing together: Greene-Severson, Butcher-Carrick and Smith-Mueller

The best news from this morning practice is that Hall was back on the ice and playing at full speed.

Putting Boqvist with Bratt and Zajac is interesting, shows Hynes will give him an opportunity to earn good minutes this season if he plays well enough. Scored two goals in the scrimmage as well.

The biggest positive of playing Simmonds with Hughes and Gusev is his willingness to stand up for a teammate, Hughes will no doubt be a target in his first year. Simmonds is not the greatest fighter, but he is scrappy and will jump in even if he is outmatched.

Like how hynes isn't going easy and making sure things are done right

I know lines will change but based on the scrimmage it does make it interesting to see how things look

Hall hischier palms
Boqvist zajac bratt
Gusev Hughes Simmonds
Wood zacha Coleman
- dmarsden2988

Yea, we'll see. It really makes that 4th line more of the "defensive line", with 3 lines that can contribute on offense.

It'll be interesting to see how things shake out over the next few months, especially since I had people arguing with me on here and fb how Gusev is a LOCK for the top 6!.. because he is! because look at his KHL points in the KHL on KHL ice with KHL players as a 27yr old playing in the KHL!!! yea we'll see. I'm sure he'll be fine, but we'll see. The fact that he sticks in the NHL is an accomplishment enough. But the dude is far from guaranteed a top 6 role.

Wasn’t Zacha our 2C last year and Zajac our 3C.

How did this become Travis 2C and Pavel 4C?
I mean other the Hughes starting at 3C.

Wasn’t Zacha our 2C last year and Zajac our 3C.

How did this become Travis 2C and Pavel 4C?
I mean other the Hughes starting at 3C.
- Queenie_5_hole

it's all just to see what's what, chemistry, etc. I wouldn't prioritize one line over another at this point. We have a wayyyys to go.. like a whole month still lol.

Wasn’t Zacha our 2C last year and Zajac our 3C.

How did this become Travis 2C and Pavel 4C?
I mean other the Hughes starting at 3C.
- Queenie_5_hole

Are you surprised a better player is higher up the lineup? Zajac also had 3:00 more TOI than him last year.

Reilly Walsh can replace Vatanan potentially

The biggest positive of playing Simmonds with Hughes and Gusev is his willingness to stand up for a teammate, Hughes will no doubt be a target in his first year. Simmonds is not the greatest fighter, but he is scrappy and will jump in even if he is outmatched.
- Glak18

I never understood this. If he's sticking up for Hughes it's because the kid already got laid out. So not going to do much good after the fact.

I never understood this. If he's sticking up for Hughes it's because the kid already got laid out. So not going to do much good after the fact.
- devilspep

Less likely to go after the kid when you have Simmonds on the ice at the same time since you know Simmonds won't back down, if Simmonds is on the 4th line for example the other team will just keep their better players off when Simmonds is on the ice

Reilly Walsh can replace Vatanan potentially
- devilspep

unproven kid vs one of our best dman in the past few seasons. mokay.

Todd Cordell: On Taylor Hall's next contract and testing Wayne Simmonds in the top-6
- Todd.Cordell

These contracts are (frank)ing nuts. 4 players on the leafs take up half the teams cap.

Nolan Patrick injured again.

Not hating, but what a sad state of affairs with that kid. Someone on the Flyers blog saying possible concussion issues. Says its been lingering for a while. How do you get injured with a concussion in the summer? At this point even with as much as everyone complains about him, I would rather have Pavel Zacha over Patrick on any given team. As much as I hate the Flyers, its sad to see someones career be so plagued by injuries before it even starts really.

Nolan Patrick injured again.

Not hating, but what a sad state of affairs with that kid. Someone on the Flyers blog saying possible concussion issues. Says its been lingering for a while. How do you get injured with a concussion in the summer? At this point even with as much as everyone complains about him, I would rather have Pavel Zacha over Patrick on any given team. As much as I hate the Flyers, its sad to see someones career be so plagued by injuries before it even starts really.
- TRDevil

Got to feel for the guy. Never want to see somebody's career end to concussion problems and hope it's not something that'll stick with him for the rest of his life.

unproven kid vs one of our best dman in the past few seasons. mokay.
- MartysBetter88

"POTENTIALLY"

I never understood this. If he's sticking up for Hughes it's because the kid already got laid out. So not going to do much good after the fact.
- devilspep

If no one does anything ever it wouldnt ever stop just because it was achieved doesnt mean it wont be thought twice about next time.

Marner, Matthews both overpaid ...

Hall has some hardware, but even then, I'd find it really hard to justify paying a winger more than what Kane is currently making.
- archromat

Perhaps it is a little more than he is worth but as you know there are more variables than just money and term and how good a player is. New Jersey has become somewhat of a more exciting team sure, but we still aren't the NY Rangers or Chicago Blackhawks, etc. in terms of big time brand names so we may have to pay a little more to wrangle in a big name star talent like Hall, by choice.

Other than Will Butcher most of our players are here by trade or draft, not by their choice. I just don't think you can 100% apples to apples any of these situations. Likening this situation with Hall to the Tavares, Parise, Kane is different because they chose where they were going. Hall was traded here so his emotional connection to NJ is rather low I would imagine. Unfortunately.

That comes with a cost. And if NJ taxes the hell out of sports stars like it does the rest of us, that there could be up to a million in variable cost alone if there was another team's state (Florida, etc) who has significantly more desirable tax laws for pro sports stars etc. 10% difference on 10 million is a significant amount. Just speculating but not going to overthink it too much if he gets McDavid money because of the overall situation. That is of course IF he stays.

I like Hall and am board with paying him whatever he wants. He desperately wants a Stanley Cup. We sure as hell want a Stanley Cup. I thinks its a good fit.

If no one does anything ever it wouldnt ever stop just because it was achieved doesnt mean it wont be thought twice about next time.
- Devilish4

I just think it's a bit of an overrated notion in 2019. This isn't the 90s where fighting and brawling was common.

Nolan Patrick injured again.

Not hating, but what a sad state of affairs with that kid. Someone on the Flyers blog saying possible concussion issues. Says its been lingering for a while. How do you get injured with a concussion in the summer? At this point even with as much as everyone complains about him, I would rather have Pavel Zacha over Patrick on any given team. As much as I hate the Flyers, its sad to see someones career be so plagued by injuries before it even starts really.
- TRDevil

I’m wondering if Kakko is next. Ranger fans make fun of Hughes because of his size but Kakko has some health issues already.

I think Kakko will be more successful then Patrick Nolan our the gate, but I wonder how it’s goibg to play out for these guys. Including Hughes.