Confirmed with Link: Devils acquire Meier (50% retained) and four others from the Sharks for 2023 1st, conditional 2024 1st, Mukhamadullin, Okhotiuk, Zetterlund & Johnsson

[Cheddabombs]

Part of the negative response feels like people still stuck with the rebuilding mindset. Just trying to hoard young prospects hoping to hit a gold mine so we can get better quicker. There has to room to play these guys though and you have to recognize the window of opportunity here.

Those first round picks could've been used in other trades, sure, but we generally see those go in rental trades which I'm not a fan of and Fitz said he isn't either. Even if we kept them it'd be years before they did something. Muk is a casualty of depth, or the promise of depth with Siegs here and Luke on the way. Zetterlund is probably the biggest blow IMO since he fits well in the bottom 6 and isn't as easily replaceable but I'll stomach it with Meier coming back.

Meier fitting our timeline, hopefully signing an extension and being with us for all our prime years of competing is worth what we gave up I believe.

We also keep our real top prospects that will hopefully make an impact sooner or later.

 

[TF1970]

I’m big on Mukhamadullin, as I said earlier today. Call me crazy, but I would have rather lost Holtz than him TBH (and Casey). Not too bent out of shape about Okhotyiuk, as he needs waivers next season anyways so didn’t see where he fit in given that. Muk and the conditional ‘24 1st are the two pieces that I really hate to lose. But again, fitz had earned the benefit of the doubt from me.

 

[Blender]

We're like the youngest team in the league, 3rd in the NHL in points, and have 2 elite defensive prospects coming up. Fitz masterfully used our pool depth here to acquire an elite piece that fits the age curve of this team.

 

[Better Call Sal]

If we actually walk away with Meier and do not have to give up Luke, Nemec, Mercer, Casey or Holtz that is the freaking heist of the century.

I truly do love it when you’re happy.

 

[Wierzbowski426]

So much of this trade is going to come down to if meier resigns and for how much for me.

 

[bossram]

They were never getting a premium asset like Luke / Nemec back. Holtz was always likely the best prospect that could be available and they spent the last month shitting on him, so there has to be some degree of pleasure there. This is like the Taylor Hall deal on steroids (Mookie better than Bahl).

I mean maybe, maybe not. But I'm sure that was the ask from Grier to start with. And Fitz didn't budge.

 

[Guttersniped]

Wait, so if I'm reading correctly:

We are sending:
2023 1st
Conditional 2024 1st
Fabian Zetterlund
Andreas Johnsson
Nikita Okhotiuk
Shakir Mukhamadullin

We are getting:
Timo Meier
Scott Harrington

Still love it.

It’s very nice work by Fitz as usual and I say that as someone who has a Zetterlund game used Utica jersey that will make me sad for years to come.

People are being weird about the 1sts. We’re in 3rd place now, we got a 1st for the Palms rental w/ Zajac.

I love picks too but we only gave up one top prospect and it was the one it made the most sense to give up.

There’s no way Muk is getting ice time on a playoff team with two other young rookie defensemen in the mix.

Today:

 

[Goptor]

I would say equivalent of 4 picks in the 20s and a 2nd rounder.

Not sure how that compares to #7 + 2nd rounder + 3rd rounder in 3 years that Debrincat brought back. I would put Debrincat's value slightly higher if you ignore whats happened to Ottawa after the trade.

No high picks but its a ton of value going back. Probably more than Chicago got.

 

[Devs3cups]

Now we're trolling

Extension?

 

[TF1970]

Tik tik... extension?

Prolly not. Likely just announcement of the trade itself officially from the team?

 

[Offseason Champs]

He was part of the Hall trade.

Muk was taken with the first round pick that I believe we got from Tampa, which was Vancouver’s first that year. Probably for JT Miller, but I could be off on that.

Muk was TB, Mercer was for the Hall trade if memory serves, yeah.

 

[JimEIV]

That is not a bad deal at all. Muk was pretty blocked. OK and Bahl were battling it out and Bahl won. Zetterlund was very solid but we held on to Holtz. This year’s 1st I do not care about. I need to see the conditions to the other 1st, that’s a bit annoying.

All in all, we got an elite player to battle against the Rangers in the playoffs. I won’t give half a **** about any of this if he helps us knock them off.

I think it's more than just "not a bad deal"

As you pointed out we literally just traded a bag full of spare parts for an elite goal scorer with size and a down low game ...
That's a great deal.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Bratt-Hughes-Meier
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Sharangovich-Haula-Palat
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Boqvist

is what we're looking at right now? Still could use a piece for that bottom 6

 

[GeNeXt]

Unreal... I can't believe we get to keep Holtz/Casey/Nemec. Great work.

 

[EnglishDevil]

The best thing about this trade is we all get to continue arguing about whether Holtz is a good enough skater to make in the NHL.

For that reason alone I give Fitz an A+

 

[NJDevils#4]

I mean if we didn’t have a ton of good spects this would look like an overpayment. Im not crazy about it without a Meier extension in place here

 

[MasterofGrond]

The best thing about this trade is we all get to continue arguing about about whether Holtz is a good enough skater to make in the NHL.

For that reason alone I give Fitz an A+

Fitz keeping HFDevils cooking. A true hero.

 

[Guadana]

Sad to lose Okhotiuk. would prefer to lose Bahl.
Would prefer to lose Holtz over Zetterlund. Understand Shakir as the key prospect piece.

Anyway we still have Holtz, Gritsyuk, Casey, and Nemec with Luke.

It`s a trade of Tkachuk level, but we payed by prospects and saved best.

I think it makes Graves more resignable.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

No GIF party? HFDevils, you are slacking.

 

[BostonDevil]

Bratt-Hughes-Meier
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Sharangovich-Haula-Palat
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Boqvist

is what we're looking at right now? Still could use a piece for that bottom 6

It moved

 

[Hisch13r]

If this is the "lowered" price because there wasn't an extension then what would've been the price with an extension?

 

[Devs3cups]

My boys Nico and Siegs must be THRILLED.

 

[Lou is God]

Bratt-Hughes-Meier
Tatar-Hischier-Mercer
Sharangovich-Haula-Palat
Wood-McLeod-Bastian
Boqvist

is what we're looking at right now? Still could use a piece for that bottom 6

Fitz should 100% troll the Rangers and grab Wilson lol

 

[Saugus]

I'm not thrilled about the second 1st round pick, but otherwise nothing in this deal bothers me that much. I loved what Big Z brought, but he isn't a core piece. Okhotiuk was clearly outplayed by Bahl. Losing Mukhamadullin is unfortunate, but probably had guys ahead of him on the depth chart. Johnsson is a cap dump.

And in return we get Timo f***ing Meier! How could I not be happy about that?

 

[Emperoreddy]

On first blush...this seems like a fair deal? I wouldn't call it a heist for either side.

Definitely not a heist, but I think we did well in keeping our top prospects out of this.

Odds are they don't get our 2024 1st and if they do we are games away from a cup