Roger Mussa: Christmas in July part 2? Free Agency and the Devils

The last time I was this excited for free agency was when Elias hit free agency for a few hours

I remember the Rangers were hot for him, but he made the best decision of his career.

On the ball, Mussa. Well done.

Nashville apparently only has 8 forwards under contract and 0 goalies. They also typically have a self-employed cap ceiling. So they aren't going to blow $9M+ on Hamilton.
Crossing my fingers. I’d give him 8yrs to seal the deal. It would hurt in the last 2 seasons but I imagine him still being serviceable. Not many dmen fall off a cliff at 30 like PK did.

The last time I was this excited for free agency was when Elias hit free agency for a few hours

I remember the Rangers were hot for him, but he made the best decision of his career.
- Devils Advocate

I remember that. I was terrified he was going to leave. I was so pumped we got Arnott back but will forever never understand why we didn’t get Arnott and Sykora back at the same time. It would’ve been great for a brief 2 year run.

Bernier has had some traction.

A cheaper option perhaps than Holtby or Halak.

1 or 2 year deal would be great.

On the ball, Mussa. Well done.

Nashville apparently only has 8 forwards under contract and 0 goalies. They also typically have a self-employed cap ceiling. So they aren't going to blow $9M+ on Hamilton.
Crossing my fingers. I’d give him 8yrs to seal the deal. It would hurt in the last 2 seasons but I imagine him still being serviceable. Not many dmen fall off a cliff at 30 like PK did.
- MartysBetter88

Hamilton can only sign a max of 7years for any team

On the ball, Mussa. Well done.

Nashville apparently only has 8 forwards under contract and 0 goalies. They also typically have a self-employed cap ceiling. So they aren't going to blow $9M+ on Hamilton.
Crossing my fingers. I’d give him 8yrs to seal the deal. It would hurt in the last 2 seasons but I imagine him still being serviceable. Not many dmen fall off a cliff at 30 like PK did.
- MartysBetter88

Was that opening line a reference to Mayor Bob White from Doug? He’d say lines like, “excited? You bet we are!”

I like the idea of Bernier signing with NJ. I think he served Detroit well last year in a tough role as the guy backstopping a rebuilding (bad) team with not much help in front of him.

Could be a nice pickup to serve as a veteran backup to Blackwood.

Was that opening line a reference to Mayor Bob White from Doug? He’d say lines like, “excited? You bet we are!”
- MartysBetter88

I like the idea of Bernier signing with NJ. I think he served Detroit well last year in a tough role as the guy backstopping a rebuilding (bad) team with not much help in front of him.

Could be a nice pickup to serve as a veteran backup to Blackwood.
- Matt Ross

Totally agree.

I think the Devils need value in a backup. A goalie who knows his place and ready to step in.

The only thing we need to be adding this offseason is a mentor goalie backup for Blackwood.

I do not want Tarasenko. He's 30 in December and coming off a serious shoulder surgery. We just saw what happened to NJ with PK Subban. Let's NOT bring in another expensive, injured 30 year old again. I feel like I'm the only sane man left in the world sometimes.

I don't want Dougie Hamilton either. We don't need to be breaking the bank for UFAs right now. These adds are NOT going to make us a playoff team, they don't make sense for NJ. Yes, we have a ton of cap room....for now, but the bill is going to come due SOON for guys like Jack Hughes, Ty Smith, Blackwood. It's going to take a ton of money to sign all of them and we'll have Holtz, Mercer and Walsh coming not long after them.

NJ can't afford to blow their load early now on pointless signings/trades on guys like Tarasenko or Hamilton. We're not a playoff team for this year or next, get over it and wait.

The only thing we need to be adding this offseason is a mentor goalie backup for Blackwood.

I do not want Tarasenko. He's 30 in December and coming off a serious shoulder surgery. We just saw what happened to NJ with PK Subban. Let's NOT bring in another expensive, injured 30 year old again. I feel like I'm the only sane man left in the world sometimes.

I don't want Dougie Hamilton either. We don't need to be breaking the bank for UFAs right now. These adds are NOT going to make us a playoff team, they don't make sense for NJ. Yes, we have a ton of cap room....for now, but the bill is going to come due SOON for guys like Jack Hughes, Ty Smith, Blackwood. It's going to take a ton of money to sign all of them and we'll have Holtz, Mercer and Walsh coming not long after them.

NJ can't afford to blow their load early now on pointless signings/trades on guys like Tarasenko or Hamilton. We're not a playoff team for this year or next, get over it and wait.
- jtylerm

I’ll let someone else explain the reasoning and benefit of Hamilton and perhaps Tarasenko. I’m tired of doing it between here and FB.

Lets goooo! Happy free agency day! Really like the potential Bernier signing if it happens, he will be a decent backup/1B for Mac. Lets hope he doesnt retire...!

As for the rest of the day, gib Dougie, Pius Suter, and Vladdy Daddy! Could either be a very exciting day or a major gut punch! Only a couple of hours until we find out

I completely disagree. We haven't had a true #1 defenseman in well over a decade... and we have none in the pipeline. That is not even taking RD into account. Hamilton projects to remain a bonifide #1 defenseman throughout the entirety of a 7 year contract. At some point we have to stop being okay with rebuilding forever and put ourselves out there to succeed.

The only thing we need to be adding this offseason is a mentor goalie backup for Blackwood.

I do not want Tarasenko. He's 30 in December and coming off a serious shoulder surgery. We just saw what happened to NJ with PK Subban. Let's NOT bring in another expensive, injured 30 year old again. I feel like I'm the only sane man left in the world sometimes.

I don't want Dougie Hamilton either. We don't need to be breaking the bank for UFAs right now. These adds are NOT going to make us a playoff team, they don't make sense for NJ. Yes, we have a ton of cap room....for now, but the bill is going to come due SOON for guys like Jack Hughes, Ty Smith, Blackwood. It's going to take a ton of money to sign all of them and we'll have Holtz, Mercer and Walsh coming not long after them.

NJ can't afford to blow their load early now on pointless signings/trades on guys like Tarasenko or Hamilton. We're not a playoff team for this year or next, get over it and wait.
- jtylerm

I have to agree with you.

I do not want Tarasenko, would rather blow that load in next year's free agency.

I’ll let someone else explain the reasoning and benefit of Hamilton and perhaps Tarasenko. I’m tired of doing it between here and FB.
- MartysBetter88

It's not that I think Hamilton is worthless. He's a fantastic D-Man. His timetable just doesn't line up with NJ's and it doesn't make sense to spend a fortune to bring him here now.

I completely disagree. We haven't had a true #1 defenseman in well over a decade... and we have none in the pipeline. That is not even taking RD into account. Hamilton projects to remain a bonifide #1 defenseman throughout the entirety of a 7 year contract. At some point we have to stop being okay with rebuilding forever and put ourselves out there to succeed.
- njmezzy

This mentality is how Lou and Vanderbeek ran this franchise into the sewers

Ok fine..

when else are you going to find a top offensive D that can also play defense, that just turned 28, that is available without having to give up any assets? Almost never. It’s a must-add to help the team of developing players develop, and for the not too distant future of contending. Dougie will be great-good for several years. Guys like PK falling off a cliff at 30 are rare. We have an opportunity to make us better for the next several years (which includes playoff years).. so we cannot miss this opportunity.
We’ve already sucked and gained our top 3 centers.. top 4 if you include McLeod. We gained hopefully some top 4 dmen in Smith, Graves and Hughes. We gained hopefully a top line winger in Holtz, and perhaps a few more top 6 wingers in Bratt, Sharangovich and Foote. We also have a young goalie. We’ll likely finish 10th worst this season even with Tarasenko and Hamilton, but that’s better than last year, and expected with half the team being under 23yrs old. These moves are to help bring stability and talent, which will help the kids now, and will make us better for the future. You can’t pass on Hamilton because you want yet another top pick. He’s too good of an asset, and we’ve already drafted top players. The time is now.

Ok fine..

when else are you going to find a top offensive D that can also play defense, that just turned 28, that is available without having to give up any assets? Almost never. It’s a must-add to help the team of developing players develop, and for the not too distant future of contending. Dougie will be great-good for several years. Guys like PK falling off a cliff at 30 are rare. We have an opportunity to make us better for the next several years (which includes playoff years).. so we cannot miss this opportunity.
We’ve already sucked and gained our top 3 centers.. top 4 if you include McLeod. We gained hopefully some top 4 dmen in Smith, Graves and Hughes. We gained hopefully a top line winger in Holtz, and perhaps a few more top 6 wingers in Bratt, Sharangovich and Foote. We also have a young goalie. We’ll likely finish 10th worst this season even with Tarasenko and Hamilton, but that’s better than last year, and expected with half the team being under 23yrs old. These moves are to help bring stability and talent, which will help the kids now, and will make us better for the future. You can’t pass on Hamilton because you want yet another top pick. He’s too good of an asset, and we’ve already drafted top players. The time is now.
- MartysBetter88

It's not that I think Hamilton is worthless. He's a fantastic D-Man. His timetable just doesn't line up with NJ's and it doesn't make sense to spend a fortune to bring him here now.
- jtylerm

His timetable is just fine. He just turned 28, not 32. If he’s like most 2-way D, he should be good through his mid 30s... that’s at least 5 years and I’d bet closer to the full 7. He makes our D better, which will help our super young forwards be better—- which is completely necessary if we want them to be better players for this future Cup run that we hope to see someday.
It’s a necessary signing.

This mentality is how Lou and Vanderbeek ran this franchise into the sewers
- jtylerm

haha hey different strokes for different folks. Neither of us are paid to make the decisions and this is the beauty of opinion. We'll see what happens.

With PK off the books next year, having Dougie locked in at say, 9.5, is decent value considering he is the premier UFA available. It would be the biggest FA grab in our history and it would make watching next season far more exciting. This would allow our lineup to actually play in roles that fit their skill.

This mentality is how Lou and Vanderbeek ran this franchise into the sewers
- jtylerm

How should we use the absurd amount of cap space then? I feel like bringing in an elite player is exactly what we should do.

Forgot to mention the reality that PK is off the books after this year. We’re just swapping a bottom pair dman with a top pair dman for the same price. Yes we hope every prospect develops into a 10mil player, but there are zero guarantees. That’s a big what-if. I looked at the numbers last season and I agree we’ll be tight if everyone develops as we hope. But it’s not a definite so we can’t not support our kids with talent based on a what-if.

What is a guarantee is Dougie just turned 28 and is a top pair RH dman, we’re at the right time and position to spend, and he may help those prospects develop into high-price players.
And if someday we’re against the cap, I doubt Dougie will be a guy we want to dispose of anyway. We don’t have any mammoth bad contracts. Again, he just turned 28.

How should we use the absurd amount of cap space then? I feel like bringing in an elite player is exactly what we should do.
- rmdevil313

Especially one that projects incredibly well like Hamilton. If his contract is 9.5M AAV, his projected value has him being equal to or still above expectation throughout the entirety of the deal

Plus you add PK coming off the books next offseason, AND the cap isnt staying flat forever. It should start increasing again in a couple years at the latest. Zero reason to be against signing Hamilton