New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald is looking to make some major moves this Offseason.
His BIG GAME HUNTING is officially underway, and he officially kicked if off a few days ago…
He solidified the net when he obtained Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames.
Jacob Markstrom is the most legitimate goaltender the New Jersey Devils have had since Cory Schneider.
Fitz now needs to round out the rest of this NJ Devils roster, which includes revamping the defense which looked absolutely pathetic at times last year.
What is one way to go about this?!?
Reuniting Jacob Markstorm with his former Flames teammates, Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev.
I discuss it all in this video.
Check out some beautiful highlights of Nikita Zadorov absolutely destroying people here:
And a BEAUTIFUL one in this year’s Playoffs:
Here is Chris Tanev being an absolute WARRIOR and blocking a shot with his face!:
Checkout AFPAnalytics here:
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Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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44 Comments
Appreciate this late night/early morning upload
Were gonna need Jack And Luke to double team Quinn as hes barking up the Tanev tree too!!! Quinn wants his old partner back!!
Ace, I love that you are at it 24/7. Yours is the 1st channel I to go to for Devils info. Thank you! I think Tanev will be the harder of the pair to sign because he will want a longer term contract. It will depend on what Fitz will feel comfortable with versus the many other teams vying for his services.
6М Zadorov on the 3rd pair?!😮 He wants top 4 role
I love 💌 those D pairings… it really underlines it when you put it up on the screen like that 😎 Hughes/Tanev would be a combo to watch! Please, come on let's go! Getting fired up for next season now. LET'S GO DEVILS!!!
Marino and Siegenthaler are expendable…after Bahl, these 2 can take a hike if we can get a Zadarov or Pesce.
And Smith has no right ever seeing the ice again. Trade him for a Rita's gift card.
I think they could definitely nab one of them. Getting both would be an insane get!!!
If these guys prioritize going after the Cup and being on a team that will be in the hunt every year, NJ is going to be a VERY attractive landing spot. Cap-wise, Fitz can make it work as long as he moves some money out. Siegenthaler and Marino both have a NTC kicking in on July 1st so one of them is going to have to get moved ASAP. Maybe it's a deal that goes down at the draft. The one thing that's really going to be tough, however, is being able to sign both of them and extend Mercer and then trying to get a forward that Fitz says he's hunting for. There's going to have to be a pretty significant move made to clear enough money to make all of this affordable, and unless another Fitzgerald magic trick happens where Palat waives his NMC and agrees to get traded somewhere (which I'd imagine would be done along with a pick as a sweetener to take on that salary), I don't know if there's going to be enough money to go after anyone else of significance. Not impossible, but it's not going to be easy. But if NJ can get even ONE of these two d'men, it will be a massive help on that back end.
“5th grade school teacher” LMFAO
I’m all for bringing these two in and potentially shipping out Marino bastion, and Siegs to make the money work and bringing in possibly Chandler Stevenson or a arvadson, that would be a f**** line up
Yo Ace.. We’ll see what happens, we’re all speculating but I think Fitz will end up acquiring a couple of players nobody has even mentioned yet.
Good video ! Zadarov should be the # 1 priority . I would have him higher up the depth chart than Siegenthauler. If they could pull off that triple move & secure him & Tanev , I think a package move for Ross Coulton & return of Miles Wood would be enough for the offense
The next 8 days are gonna be insane!
If cap space becomes a problem to improve the front end, I think NJ needs to think about finding a trade partner to send a package of Casey and Palat away simply for cap clearing purposes. Palat’s contract is a boat anchor which another team may take on if it meant landing Casey. Picks / Prospects in return and add an improved forward through free agency.
I think it'd be closer to 12 mil for both than 10mil. Zadorov wants 6×6 and Tanev will get at least 5, even at his age, due to market demand. I think Markstrom has a closer friendship with Tanev, but if he can somehow help convince both of them to come to NJ that'd be a grand slam. Excited for next Monday!
It would be a nice defensive grab by Fitz but it would cost. We have cap space. I like to see Fitzgerald sign Mercer and get that over with now!
Man, you're really turning out some content. Keep it up.
Zadorov is the guy. I didn't consider Tanev because he's a couple years older and I thought he might cost more but I guess so would Pesce or Skjei so … why not.
Only want Tanev. Zadarov had 3 more points this yr than Bahl, similar size, and wants 6 mil per yr?? Send Marino to Ottowa for McGroarty, sign Tanev & Dillion.
Zadorov would bring similiar attributes Brady Tkachuk has, he loves to hit so aggressive defansmen. Tanev could be interesting add also since maybe he is not as aggressive he did block heck of a lot of shots so he is willing to get hurt block a shot. Yo Ace, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsPMgNfGL4I this defienlty puts smile on my face. We 100% need that physicality.
People forget we have to pay Luke and Nemec in a few years. No cap room for big guns unless we unload a big gun (Dougie). Which would be ok by me. Dude is lazy and refuses to play defense. But it won't happen the Devils seem to not want to work with Russian players since the Kovy debacle
That would be 2 Huge pieces for Big game hunting, Big Boys like Stevens and Danako back there.
With the Draft coming up so quickly, a trade I think Fitz could go after is, Frank Vantrano & Zegras for our first round pick, Anaheim rebuilding a rebuild like us after 2018 they’re selling this summer think those 2 with Tanev and Zadorov would be a nice 5 (including markstrom) Zegras and Hughes bros have a lot of chemistry growing up on team USA together the power plays would be insane. we could have 2 full power play units 1 minute each similar to Carolina and Florida.
I am only saying because fitz said 5 big moves and remember when everyone said we are the Oilers of the east they made some big time moves after missing playoffs in 2019 and now they’re 1 win away from a cup. They’re a different team with the same core ( Nuge, Nurse, McDavid, Draisaitl ) built the team around them to win in the playoffs huge difference having Hyman over Zach Kassian little things all add up.I could see Vanatro dropping 40 goals on a line with Hughes and Zegras
I want a poster of the defensive pairings.
pssssssssssssst…..resign Toffoli
Ace, I am actively searching for details on the rumors of Marino for Rutger Mcgrorty the gritty prospect that is captain at Michigan and captain of team USA.
Kid wants to play in the US and is giving Winnipeg signing problems. Drafted 2 years ago, scouts are saying he is ready for NHL in 24. 1.4 points per game with a nasty physical edge and huge leadership skills.
Just kicking the tires right now, but this really feels like the year to free up space and salary for UFA defense.
3 years of entry level contract to Rutger looks really nice too.
He is Winnipegs top rated prospect by far. It may take a pick plus Marino (not 10 OA).
Would love your opinion.
I'd like to see Zadorov to ultimately pair with Nemec and Brendan Dillon to pair with Luke for a few years. Would have to move one or both of Seigs and Marino.
Good luck lmao
I like this duo!!! LET'S GOOO!
Love how you said Zadorov can pass as a librarian hahaha never gojng to unsee that now.
Zadarov should be priority number #1 on Fitz list. He would be the perfect physical player the Devils are currently lacking. Also, he can hit some NY Blue Skirt players…lol
Love the thinking. I'd swing for the fences and get Zadorov first. If Tanev isnt possible then get one of Hakanpaa or Dillon. If Zadorov doesn't work out, then get Pesce and still pursue Dillon, Tanev, or Hakanpaa.
I would love Zadorov. I think a bottom pair of Pesece and Dillon would be better than tanev. Marino and Jonas need to go.
I'm a Flames fan who is really interested in what the Devil's are building. I would be weary of overpaying Zadarov but he is a good player. Tanev is an amazing player but also not what most people expect. He's not your typical big gritty D-man who throws hits and is a psychical force. His grit is purely from his ability to take hits and block shots. I think a lot of people get confused at what type of player he is. A Zadarov-Tanev pairing never worked in Calgary which is surprising because Tanev fit well with everyone else he played with. I think Tanev would be the perfect guy to put next to Hughes on the blue line.
I would love to get both of them as well. We have the cap space, we have the roster spots and it would make our team hard to play against. I still believe Seamus Casey will be a stud in this league and will be called up sooner than later this year. This is an unbelievable time to be a Devils fan with so many star studded players.
Zads yes.
I’d prefer to keep Marino but I still want Zadorov bad. He would be great. I just feel Marino has some heart and talent.
Canucks fan here. We love Zadorov too but he wants $6M for 5 years. He’s played great in the playoffs, but his long history in the NHL shows he’s best in a 3rd pairing role. On the 2nd pair, he makes too many mistakes. He’s a beast in the playoffs, but $5.5-$6M is too much for his role in the cap era.
I agree about the Merino deal. His cap hit is higher. They're both the same age. Siegenthaler is a bigger dude. I think Marino is a little more offensively inclined so it's going to suck losing him. I would honestly not want to choose between the two of them. Zadorov is an upgrade over either of them but it still hurts LOL
pesce and zadaorov + brady # let lose of our captain
I agree!
I was big on tanev at the deadline. Graves’ shot blocking was sorely missed.
I think tanev and zadorov would be fantastic to teach the younger dudes as well.
I also agree that its great you are putting out so much devils content and carrying the flag for us devils fan everyday. This franchise deserves more coverage and attention than what weve been getting
I like Marino he wasn’t good last year but his first year with the devils was good. Siegs is decent but he can be traded.
Get rid of Brenden Smith he literally does nothing
ive seen credible insiders say pesce is likely coming to the devils, does this mean its concrete? no but its being said a lot. ive been very open about how i feel about tanev, and id love zadorov as well, i dont know enough about pesce to say hes what we need but i know enough to know that he does play the game the right way.
I think Nemec has more potential to be more gritty compared to Luke so having Zadorov/Nemec (matured version) could be a pretty nasty pairing in a year or two.
Bless you brother, let's go Devils!