The Holtz Brunette connection

Forums/Armchair-GM

Page 1 of 1

Created by: NHLfan10506

Team: 2023-24 New Jersey Devils

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 18, 2024

Published: Feb. 18, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Description

Probably over-thinking this a bit. But last year, when Devils had kept Holtz on roster, but Lindy Ruff wasn’t playing him, Brunette become Holtz’s biggest advocate. Worked a lot with him one-on-one, on the ice and off the ice. Was likely the biggest reason NJD did not send Holtz back down to AHL (where he had already proven everything he needed to).

From what I have heard from Nashville fans, if they sold Saros, they would prefer it to be for a young, top-6 center in return (basically the hardest asset in hockey to obtain via trade). Holtz is a right shot winger (but someone you probably want on left side if playing in top-six or on power play).

Trotz and Brunette have talked generally about adding skill and speed to this forward group. Trotz has recently been answering questions on possible Saros offer. And has basically said he would have to be blown away by an offer to consider it.

But, keep in mind that another GM had been saying that he needed to be blown away by an offer before he asked his player to waive NTC. Fitzy finally relented and offered Holtz. The other GM then asked his player to waive. So clearly Holtz meets some ‘blowing away’ standards.

A few different scenarios that I could think of…

A. NJD trades Holtz to NSH for Saros

B. NJD trades Holtz to NSH for assets we use to acquire goalie elsewhere

C. NJD trades Holtz to NSH. NSH uses Holtz towards a top-6 center (Ducks have been rumored to like Holtz…maybe that helps toward Zegras).

D. NJD trades Holtz to NSH for other pieces…both sides keep those pieces (Askorov would be the obvious name if they extend Saros)

Trades

NJD

Juuse Saros

(Scenario A)

NSH

Alexander Holtz

(Picks, other pieces depend on numerous factors, whether NSH takes Vanacek, retains any salary, etc)

NJD

Picks, Prospects

(Scenario B)

NSH

Alexander Holtz

(Devils use assets to obtain a defenseman or goalie elsewhere)

NJD

TBD Players

(Scenario C)

NSH

Alexander Holtz

(NSH flips Holtz and other pieces to third team for a young top-6 center)

NJD

Yaroslav Askarov

(Scenario D)

NSH

Alexander Holtz

(NJD trades Holtz for another young player like Askorov and both teams keep their new player).

Buyouts

Cory Schneider: $2,000,000
Janne Kuokkanen: $325,000

Recapture Fees

Ilya Kovalchuk: $250,000

Draft	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
2024
2025
2026

ROSTER

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

EMBED

TEXT-EMBED

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	OVERAGES	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
23	$83,500,000	$71,618,333	$422,500	$5,540,000	$11,881,667

Left Wing	Centre	Right Wing
Toffoli, Tyler $2,125,000$2,125,000 RW, LW UFA - 1	Hughes, Jack $8,000,000$8,000,000 C UFA - 7	Bratt, Jesper $7,875,000$7,875,000 RW, LW UFA - 8
Meier, Timo $8,800,000$8,800,000 LW, RW UFA - 8	Hischier, Nico $7,250,000$7,250,000 C UFA - 4	Mercer, Dawson $894,167$894,167 ($400,000$400K) RW, C RFA - 1
Palat, Ondrej $6,000,000$6,000,000 LW, RW NMC UFA - 4	Haula, Erik $3,150,000$3,150,000 C, LW NTC UFA - 3	Bastian, Nathan $1,350,000$1,350,000 RW UFA - 2
Nosek, Tomas $1,000,000$1,000,000 LW, C UFA - 1	Tierney, Chris $775,000$775,000 C UFA - 1	Lazar, Curtis $1,000,000$1,000,000 RW, C UFA - 2

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Siegenthaler, Jonas $3,400,000$3,400,000 LD UFA - 5	Nemec, Simon $918,333$918,333 ($3,250,000$3M) RD RFA - 3	Vanecek, Vitek $3,400,000$3,400,000 G UFA - 2
Hughes, Luke $925,000$925,000 ($925,000$925K) LD/RD RFA - 2	Marino, John $4,400,000$4,400,000 RD UFA - 4	Daws, Nico $850,833$850,833 ($57,500$58K) G RFA - 1
Bahl, Kevin $1,050,000$1,050,000 LD RFA - 2	Miller, Colin $1,850,000$1,850,000 RD UFA - 1

Scratches	Injured Reserve (IR)	Long Term IR (LTIR)
Smith, Brendan $1,100,000$1,100,000 LD/RD, LW UFA - 1	Holtz, Alexander $894,167$894,167 ($850,000$850K) RW, LW RFA - 2	Hamilton, Dougie $9,000,000$9,000,000 RD NMC UFA - 5
DeSimone, Nick $762,500$762,500 RD UFA - 1		Foote, Cal $800,000$800,000 RD RFA - 1
Schmid, Akira $850,833$850,833 ($57,500$58K) G RFA - 1		McLeod, Michael $1,400,000$1,400,000 C RFA - 1

Feb. 18 at 10:49 a.m.

DevilsFanZack13

Devils Guy

Joined: Aug. 2020

Posts: 1,355

Likes: 361

I'd really like to see Holtz succeed in NJ. He just needs a legit shot in a top 6 spot. When Hughes came back from injury Holtz was on a line with Toffoli and Hughes and they looked great together. Then Lindy moved Holtz off that line for whatever reason. ATM I know Holtz isn't getting a top 6 spot with Palat-Hischier-Bratt playing amazing together and Hughes-Haula-Toffoli also doing great, but when these lines get into a slump which eventually they will, Lindy needs to try Holtz in the top 6 and not play him 5 mins like he did last night.

Feb. 18 at 11:07 a.m.

We_know_nothing

Go Canucks

Joined: Jan. 2024

Posts: 75

Likes: 24

I think that the NJD should absolutely go after Juuse Saros, he fits in perfectly to their needs. That said, he also fits into what Nashville is doing with a line-up of vets on their roster. They have a young stud in Askarov coming through the system who will be the #1 goalie of the future. The question that Nashville needs to ask is "does this year's underperformance push them into a retool/rebuild?" If that answer is yes, then they should be looking to convert other players into younger assets such as:
Ryan McDonaugh
Gustav Nyquist
Ryan O'Reilly
And yes...even Roman Josi (who turns 34 in June)

These four players (plus Saros) could return a serious haul of 'roster players', 'young prospects' and 'picks'. Nashville would have to view this as a 5 year plan to win the Cup and to milk other teams who are trying to compete now of their farm system.

Now as for Saros and NJD, if I'm Nashville I'm looking at Dawson Mercer as being the main piece coming back, and maybe including Kevin Bahl and a 1st round pick in 2025. (very deep draft year). They would probably need to take Vitek Vanecek too as NJ wouldn't have a need for him and his cap hit, and Nashville will need a vet to support young Askarov.

NHLfan10506 liked this.

Feb. 18 at 11:07 a.m.

NHLfan10506

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2019

Posts: 40,833

Likes: 18,585

Quoting: DevilsFanZack13

Lindy has a bug up his a** on Holtz. No doubt. He is still a young player and mistakes occur. But he will only get better…and Lindy has got put him in roles to succeed.

My thinking was more this … if Fitzy has actually made him available for Markstrom and Saros…I am guessing the extension talks with Toffoli over All Star Break may have gone well. So maybe he is now open to using him as major trade chip.

(Not advocating one way or another…just getting another look of how things could play out).

DevilsFanZack13 liked this.

Feb. 18 at 11:15 a.m.

NHLfan10506

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2019

Posts: 40,833

Likes: 18,585

Quoting: We_know_nothing

I think NJD are very aware that Nashville’s first choice would be Mercer (I probably should have acknowledged that above). But the thinking on this side is that NJD is unlikely to make Mercer available (and if they did, the other terms of deal would have to be very favorable).

The Holtz thing is more about reconnecting him with a coach that likes and trusts him (Brunette) and sending him to a system that is eager to add young skill up front.

(Josi would be nice too…just to get all the Swiss guys together)

Feb. 18 at 12:41 p.m.

DevilsFanZack13

Devils Guy

Joined: Aug. 2020

Posts: 1,355

Likes: 361

Quoting: NHLfan10506

Do you think Ruff is just giving tough love to Holtz kind of like he did his first year with Bratt?

Feb. 18 at 12:49 p.m.

Ennis

Joined: Oct. 2022

Posts: 5,414

Likes: 3,442

Quoting: We_know_nothing

Quoting: DevilsFanZack13

Do you think Ruff is just giving tough love to Holtz kind of like he did his first year with Bratt?

I think the hardest part in gauging a Saros trade is understanding that Trotz wants to make him a long term plan. Don't ask me why, I'd rather flip him for a buttload.
But, because Trotz doesn't want to move him, it's going to have to take a package that'll REALLY blow him away. If a 34 year old Markstrom almost went for Holtz and a 1st, I'd imagine Trotz is giggling like a schoolgirl in his office with what he can ask for Saros. Now it's just about finding a team to make that payment.

Feb. 18 at 12:54 p.m.

dgibb10

I Love J Boqvist

Joined: Jan. 2023

Posts: 12,247

Likes: 3,261

Quoting: Ennis

The thing is I HIGHLY doubt Markstrom did garner holtz+1st, at the very least without vitek+50% retention involved

We_know_nothing liked this.

Feb. 18 at 1:01 p.m.

Ennis

Joined: Oct. 2022

Posts: 5,414

Likes: 3,442

Quoting: dgibb10

The thing is I HIGHLY doubt Markstrom did garner holtz+1st, at the very least without vitek+50% retention involved

Vitek probably was going the other way. It was reported that the trade fell through because of retention. But the package was on the table.

Feb. 18 at 1:09 p.m.

dgibb10

I Love J Boqvist

Joined: Jan. 2023

Posts: 12,247

Likes: 3,261

Quoting: Ennis

Vitek probably was going the other way. It was reported that the trade fell through because of retention. But the package was on the table.

I have yet to see any credible source state Holtz+1st was on the table for an unretained Markstrom, or in general

Page 1 of 1

DISPLAY SETTING

BETTING ODDS

LOCALE

ARCHIVE

CBA

CALCULATORS

FANTASY HOCKEY TOOLS

TOOLS

PLAYERS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

INTERACTIVE FEATURES

Forums/Armchair-GM