See i've heard that before, I have some good friends who are hard core cyclists and I know they're good guys so I believe that to an extent but I know for a fact sometimes these guys see me, from far away, and are given a wave far in advance of them passing me, and I know they see it but they still choose not to wave back, like they see me, it's safe, no cars coming either way, and they choose to ignore and that to me is a moral superiority thing.
This can get done without trading Nico. Losing a top line center is not the way to go. You just canβt replace that. Minnesota lost because they lacked just a little more depth. Nico is that depth we would be missing. Itβs honestly a little frustrating someone in an official position as yourself is starting trade rumors that could materialize if this story picks up enough traction. Nemec, Mercer, a first, a prospect, maybe a little more should get it done, but not Nico, not without replacing him with a top line center. Itβs possible with the cap, especially going up next year, and especially if we can trade Hamilton away also as there are better d man free agents than centers.
@chrispronger@amandacstein Thanks Chris. Yet another year where us #njdevils fans get excited by off-season moves instead of playoff hockey. Hopefully that changes next year.
@QuestHunt217 Trading Dougie frees up 9 mil. Get a mid d in free agency like Klingberg and that still gives the Devils 5-6 mil to get a forward or two.
@InStilettos_NHL Even further on that, the first time he skated off, Connor Brown yelled for him to come back and Dougie laughed and skated off the ice. Unless there is another explanation, I'm not going to be sad to see him go, with his $9 million contract.
@InStilettos_NHL With all due respect, a guy making $9 million a year should stick salute fans after wins, but he skated off the ice for the last 10 home wins or so and did no stick salute while the rest of the team stayed on. He was disgruntled.
The picture doesn't show but this roster gives the #njdevils $2.7 million in cap space. Plenty to extend Nico and even go after Quinn the following year.
#njdevils 2026-2027 roster:
Sign Patrik Laine, Oskar Sundqvist, A.J. Greer as UFA
Trade Tysplakov and Markstrom for late round draft picks
Trade Hamilton, Daws, 1st round pick (probably other picks) for Hellebuyck
Resign Grits and Nemec to 3 year $4 million deals
Extend Nico
@NHLRumourReport I go to every Devils home game and sit next to the tunnel. After the Olympic break, for every remaining home win, while every player stayed on the ice and saluted the fans, he skated off the ice. Once Connor Brown yelled for him to come back and he laughed.
On any given night this lineup will have 4 guys who can drop the gloves in Noesen, Greer, Dillon, and Kovacevic. This team needs more edge and those four guys bring a lot of that along with Siegs and Meier. Laine is also a big guy and won't be pushed around.
Casey will finally get a chance to be a scoring defender. Dillon and Kovacevic won't be scoring a ton and Casey can jump into the lineup every once in a while to bring a little extra scoring.
Bjugstad will be an excellent 5th center, he's big, and he's had a few 40 point seasons. Hameenaho will continue to develop, he has a strong two way game and his scoring touch will develop massively as the year goes on. Two excellent subs to have.
Last point I forgot, Greer played with Mehta in Florida, I wouldn't be suprised if it was Mehta's idea to bring him in, Mehta mentioned Greer in his presser yesterday, so I think it's a very likely Greer comes back to New Jersey, where Mehta probably had a hand in drafting him.
Nemec is a 2nd overall pick. He is Slovakia's best defenseman and he will be elite for the Devils for many years to come. Getting rid of him and keeping Hamilton makes no sense. Nemec fits the age of this core and Silayev will soon come in to be a force along side him.
Hellebuyck is the man for the #njdevils. He fits the timeline perfectly for Yegorov to find his way as a starter. Hellebuyck is a championship goalie, and the Devils are the perfect team for him to win it with and his contract isn't even that expensive.
People will say Hamilton, Daws, and a 1st isn't enough for Hellebuyck but people forget how good Dougie is. Scores 40 plus points a year, mans the powerplay, can be very physical and a leader. Daws has a ton of potential and immediately replaces Hellebuyck.
I put Grits on the top line with Nico and Timo because he has shown a lot of scoring potential and the ability to create plays and score, more so than Mercer. However, Grits looked amazing with Brown and Glass early in the year so that should always be a possibility.
Tysplakov has potential but changes need to be made and he needs to go. Markstrom obviously has not lived up to his contract, he's getting older and more injury prone. Trade him to a team that has a ton of cap and needs a 1b goalie.