In the midst of a 13-game winning streak, the New Jersey Devils aren’t about to change the lineup. So young players that are unable to get any action will need to play somewhere. Today, Alexander Holtz and Kevin Bahl have both been loaned back to the Utica Comets of the AHL.
Holtz, 20, was the seventh overall pick in 2020 and has shown flashes of offensive brilliance in his limited NHL experience. It has been limited though, with the young forward only making it into four games this season and 13 overall.
Last year, Holtz was a dominant force for the Comets, scoring 26 goals and 51 points in 52 games. He was obviously going to outgrow the minor leagues but with an inconsistent NHL performance, found himself on the outside looking in as things started to go right in New Jersey. While he may already be better than the vast majority of AHL players, he needs to play somewhere.
Bahl, meanwhile, brings a rather similar story. The hulking 6’6″ defender was beating up on AHL competition last season, and ended up seeing 17 games with the Devils. This year, after New Jersey made several additions to the blue line, he’s been limited to just three. It doesn’t do the 22-year-old much use sitting in the press box every night, even if there is some value in practicing with the big club.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see one or both back soon, but this will allow them to get back in the swing of things and shake off any rust that may have accumulated.
That’s an interesting one. Seems the Devils have outpaced their own rebuild with the likes of Holtz and Bahl and Nemec not yet on their roster. Gives them good opportunities to replace players on more expensive contracts in the next years.
Better to get the game action if they aren’t cracking the lineup. No need to fix what’s not broken during this 13 game “heater”.
I’m sure Holtz and Bahl will join the club prior to trade deadline to establish their roles moving forward.
Now…only if we can swing a deal for Meier to play alongside Hischer and make the the 3rd line that much more dangerous.
Severson odd man out. On expiring deal and makes too much $($4.16M) to play 3rd line defense.
Perhaps Meier for:
2023 1st
D. Severson (flip him for a 3rd)
R. Mukhamadulin (former 1st, tho a reach)
J. Boqvist (former 2nd)
A. Johnsson (to make the $ work)
As a Devils and Sharks fan, while I think your ball park is right, I think this is too favourable to the devils and not good for the sharks. They need more youth so I doubt they’d want boqvist but more likely a pick from the past 2 years. If Johnsson is a UFA after this year (which I’ve forgotten if he is or not) then that’s fine but if he is signed beyond this year it wouldn’t work as he offers no value and the sharks have no cap wiggle room. Severson actually could probably be resigned at the sharks and would be not a bad add for them compared to their existing situation but Grier doesn’t like soft players and Sevo isn’t super hard nosed. I wonder if the answer to the question here is Bahl. Grier LOVES players like Zetterlund so that’d get their attention. Meier is legit amazing – every team would want him. He’s a player Grier would love and will no doubt try his hardest to resign. I think ultimately he will be paid too much for NJ to take on. But for fun:
NJ get:
Meier (signed before trading so there is cap certainty)
A cheap third pairing D man to replace the loss of Sevo and Bahl
SJS get:
2023 first (protected)
Severson
Bahl OR Mukhamadulin
Zetterlund
Johnsson
I reckon that’s tough for SJS to say no. But I also think that makes it hard for NJ to say yes.
At least i was in the ballpark. lol
The main issue with any trade involving Meier is what it will cost to extend Bratt, currently on a $5.45M RFA contract. I don’t see the Devils giving up a 1st for a rental. They would have to extend Meier, but can they if they extend Bratt? I think they do as they have a ton of $ coming off the books this year. The players under contract for 2023-2024 are:
Hamilton – $9M
Hughes – $8M
Hischer – $7.25M
Palat – $6M (horrible overpay)
Marino – $4.4M
Siegenthaler – $3.4M
Vanecek – $3.4M
Sharangovich – RFA currently at $2M (who will get a raise)
Johnnsson is a UFA after this year. Like that you like Zetterlund. He is finally paying off. 9 points in 14 games and plays physical. Frankly, I think the Devils need to get more physical. Hate to loose Zetterlund, but I wouldn’t allow him to be the reason the Devils didn’t Meier.
Well apparently they want less than debrincat so that was the 7th, 39th and a 3rd.
Meier is basically Zetterlund+. He plays a rough tough game too and has been pretty durable but has hands for days too.
Maybe the price is actually lower…
2023 1st
Severson
Zetterlund
Johnsson for cap purposes
I’m not sure that gets it done but it might. I still think Sevo can fetch a couple of seconds or maybe even a 1st at the deadline so his value isn’t rubbish.
If Meier’s contract is more than 8 per I wouldn’t do it as the devils – they will be carrying 5 massive contracts if that happens which locks up half their cap in 5/23 players (Jack, Nico, Dougie, Meier, Bratt). Then what happens when it’s time to pay Luke H, Nemec, Mercer, Rango etc etc whoever pans out.
I think bottom line is, I don’t think the devils NEED Meier – though I want him lol. They can probably do more by spreading a Meier sized cap hit between say Mercer and Zetterlund and score by committee.