Phil Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 Quote Seems to me that GM Tom Fitzgerald’s offseason mandate in New Jersey is crystal as the Devils attempt to make the jump from contender to champion, and that is to acquire a franchise goaltender. And there is likely going to be one available in Winnipeg, with perennial Vezina contender Connor Hellebuyck one year away from free agency and unlikely to sign an extension after seven seasons with the Jets. There would likely be a bidding war for the netminder, who will turn 30 this coming Friday. The Penguins, currently without a GM, would be interested. The Senators might take a look. The Kings might take a gander at the Vezina finalist who carries a $6.2 million cap hit into next season, which would be a disqualifier for some. Quote New Jersey could start by offering Jesper Bratt, the 24-year-old winger coming up on restricted free agency with arbitration rights and a required $5.45 million qualifying offer — and coming off the most disappointing playoff performance of any Devil. Their 2023 first-rounder is gone, off to San Jose for Timo Meier — who found the way to be a valuable presence in the playoffs with relentless physical play despite the 40-goal scorer getting just two in 11 games. But the Devils have depth in their system even while facing the impending unrestricted free agencies of Ryan Graves and Damon Severson. Quote At this juncture, they have just five varsity forwards, five defensemen and two goaltenders under contract for next season. Vitek Vanecek had a stabilizing year in net but was inadequate in the postseason. MacKenzie Blackwood would be a good one to offer up to the Jets in a package for Hellebuyck. Of course, if executive VP of hockey operations Martin Brodeur believes that 23-year-old Akira Schmid is a franchise goaltender in the making, then never mind about Hellebuyck. But I bet the Devils will be in the mix for the 2020 Vezina winner. https://nypost.com/2023/05/13/maple-leafs-penguins-scenario-could-bring-mike-sullivan-to-rangers/ -- Please, please, please go literally anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 3 hours ago, Phil said: https://nypost.com/2023/05/13/maple-leafs-penguins-scenario-could-bring-mike-sullivan-to-rangers/ -- Please, please, please go literally anywhere else. I'm good with this. We know what goalie contracts deep into their 30s look like for HOF goalies let alone just "very good" ones like Hellebuyck. They'll have to sign him until he's 38 to get him to stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, BrooksBurner said: I'm good with this. We know what goalie contracts deep into their 30s look like for HOF goalies let alone just "very good" ones like Hellebuyck. They'll have to sign him until he's 38 to get him to stay. Don’t kid yourself though. New Jersey is very much win now. Hellebuyck may help push that group over the finish line. When that dude is on, he is on. I always felt he didn’t get the respect he deserves playing out in Winnipeg. The Devils playing in front of average goaltending this year got them where it got them. If they had Connor Hellebuyck back there? My bet is they’re still playing. And that they probably would be the favorites to take the whole damn thing. I’m with Phil on this one: anywhere but there. Please. Edited May 16, 2023 by RichieNextel305 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 16, 2023 Author Share Posted May 16, 2023 13 hours ago, BrooksBurner said: I'm good with this. We know what goalie contracts deep into their 30s look like for HOF goalies let alone just "very good" ones like Hellebuyck. They'll have to sign him until he's 38 to get him to stay. You're looking big picture. Look small. Hellebuyck gets them exactly what they need right now to win — a reliable post-season goalie. I want him no where near this team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sod16 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Oh how I yearn for the days of the MacKenzie Blackwood era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 I also saw the idea of them going after Thatcher Demko. Either way, me no like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Morphinity 2.0 said: I also saw the idea of them going after Thatcher Demko. Either way, me no like. Yeah he’s another one that can definitely help bump them over the edge. It’s what they desperately need, so I’m sure Fitzgerald is going to try and make it happen. But I hope teams hold them hostage on the return. Edited May 16, 2023 by RichieNextel305 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 I just hope they convince themselves Schmid is their guy and the miss the boat on some of the better goalies who are available. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 2 hours ago, Morphinity 2.0 said: I just hope they convince themselves Schmid is their guy and the miss the boat on some of the better goalies who are available. Schmid did play pretty well in the games I watched him play this season. That said, I do think NJ will inquire if and when some of these goalies become available. I just hope the price is too rich and they stay in-house. Because with a target on their back, it could be a mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 And he has the perfect last name for the Devils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 12 hours ago, Abe Froman said: And he has the perfect last name for the Devils. This is the only cool part about it. 'Hell'ebuyck jerseys will be flying off the shelves. I always considered it a huge missed opportunity that Miroslav Satan never played there. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Yeah, no. Please. No x1000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 39 minutes ago, RichieNextel305 said: Yeah, no. Please. No x1000. Interesting move. I thought they liked their tandem from this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) 15 minutes ago, jsm7302 said: Interesting move. I thought they liked their tandem from this year. Vanecek had a good season but was dog shit in the playoffs. Schmid, for all we know, was a flash. I wouldn’t be riding with him based off of a handful of starts against a Rangers team with no pulse. They definitely need an upgrade there. And Hellebyuck is the kind of goalie who can be a last-piece type for that team. That is a marriage I do not want to see happen. Edited June 21, 2023 by RichieNextel305 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 9 hours ago, RichieNextel305 said: Yeah, no. Please. No x1000. He's allegedly looking for Vasilevsky-money though, and I doubt NJD would do that. They seem pretty adamant Hughes will be the highest paid player on their team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindG1000 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Maybe this is spite talking, but I've always had Hellebuyck rated a rung below the elite goalies of the league. I don't have him in the Sorokin/Shesterkin/Vasilievsky tier - I've got him squarely a rung below. So, yeah. Let the Devils go acquire Hellebuyck for the ransom of assets the Jets want/will get, let them pay him more than Hughes, let Bratt get instantly pissed off....I'm good with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted June 21, 2023 Author Share Posted June 21, 2023 Y'all are nuts. The last thing we need is Hellebuyck on the Devils. Pray for LA. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted June 21, 2023 Author Share Posted June 21, 2023 The Devils are gonna shit kick the Rangers for the next decade as it is. Adding Hellebuyck would be devastating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long live the King Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 2 hours ago, LindG1000 said: Maybe this is spite talking, but I've always had Hellebuyck rated a rung below the elite goalies of the league. I don't have him in the Sorokin/Shesterkin/Vasilievsky tier - I've got him squarely a rung below. So, yeah. Let the Devils go acquire Hellebuyck for the ransom of assets the Jets want/will get, let them pay him more than Hughes, let Bratt get instantly pissed off....I'm good with it. This is how I feel. Let them give up assets to sign a 31 year old goalie to an 8 year deal with a $9 million dollar AAV. Hellebuyck's .916 career SV% doesn't scare me. If you put any stock in the Quality Start stats on Hockey-Reference, they 'd be better off signing Jarry as a UFA. Wouldn't cost them assets, younger, cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long live the King Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 3 hours ago, Cash or Czech said: He's allegedly looking for Vasilevsky-money though, and I doubt NJD would do that. They seem pretty adamant Hughes will be the highest paid player on their team. Hamilton is their highest paid player... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 7 minutes ago, Long live the King said: Hamilton is their highest paid player... Good point. Vasy money is still more than Dougie's museum budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindG1000 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 39 minutes ago, Long live the King said: This is how I feel. Let them give up assets to sign a 31 year old goalie to an 8 year deal with a $9 million dollar AAV. Hellebuyck's .916 career SV% doesn't scare me. If you put any stock in the Quality Start stats on Hockey-Reference, they 'd be better off signing Jarry as a UFA. Wouldn't cost them assets, younger, cheaper. That's probably an extreme take. Hellebuyck is still a top 10 goalie in the NHL, but you have to be worried about that price tag and the sheer amount of work he's had. There's no goalie who has played more minutes or more games in the RS since Hellebuyck came into the league. Playoffs vault Vasilievsky over him, but that's still a ton of wear and tear in 9 seasons of work. He's a horse. A .916 save percent for the career is still very good - good for 15th since he came into the league. His GAA is good for 33rd in that period as well (among goalies who got at least 40 games in). Very good player - no doubt an upgrade over Vanecek or Schmid. But...lotta wear and tear, big commitment to an aging goalie that isn't even going to end up being the second-best goalie in the division. I'd be skeptical, and I think rightfully so depending on the assets and the contract. And to be fair - these are the exact same questions we should be asking when Shesterkin is due up, even though Shesterkin's clearly a notch above Hellebuyck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long live the King Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 17 minutes ago, LindG1000 said: That's probably an extreme take. Hellebuyck is still a top 10 goalie in the NHL, but you have to be worried about that price tag and the sheer amount of work he's had. There's no goalie who has played more minutes or more games in the RS since Hellebuyck came into the league. Playoffs vault Vasilievsky over him, but that's still a ton of wear and tear in 9 seasons of work. He's a horse. A .916 save percent for the career is still very good - good for 15th since he came into the league. His GAA is good for 33rd in that period as well (among goalies who got at least 40 games in). Very good player - no doubt an upgrade over Vanecek or Schmid. But...lotta wear and tear, big commitment to an aging goalie that isn't even going to end up being the second-best goalie in the division. I'd be skeptical, and I think rightfully so depending on the assets and the contract. And to be fair - these are the exact same questions we should be asking when Shesterkin is due up, even though Shesterkin's clearly a notch above Hellebuyck. The last 4 years. Hellebuyck: .917 SV% and 2.67 GAA Jarry: .915 SV% and 2.62 GAA I wouldn't call him top 10. I don't think there is a top 10. There are 4 or 5 guys at the top, then there are 10-15 that are interchangeable. That may put him in the "top 10", but not noticeably better than the guy in 20th. That's not worth the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) He's a Vezina candidate and won a few years ago. Hard stop, he's a top goalie. That said, you worry about the next 4-5 years with the Devils, not the last 3-4. Devils having that level goalie in their prime makes them a Cup contender probably starting in '24-'25 until probably '28. Edited June 21, 2023 by Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 31 minutes ago, Long live the King said: The last 4 years. Hellebuyck: .917 SV% and 2.67 GAA Jarry: .915 SV% and 2.62 GAA I wouldn't call him top 10. I don't think there is a top 10. There are 4 or 5 guys at the top, then there are 10-15 that are interchangeable. That may put him in the "top 10", but not noticeably better than the guy in 20th. That's not worth the price. In that same window, Hellebuyck is 3rd in GSAA and 1st in GSAx. Jarry is 8th in GSAA and 57th in GSAx. These are cumulative stats so it requires some additional context, but if you built an averaged out list based on games played: Hellebuyck is a very good goalie and Jarry stinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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