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

[Blender]

2023 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 2 New Jersey Devils

The Devils’ pool has improved year-over-year after an eight-pick 2022 draft, which included the No. 2 selection.

theathletic.com

For reference, The Athletic had Mukhamadullin at #5 and Okhotyuk at #13 in our top 15 prospects. Hughes, Nemec, and Casey are all above Muk.

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[jkrdevil]

The 2024 first is a really big problem because it wont be around for a deadline deal next year.

It probably means we went to the Final or won the Cup though

 

[Rhodes 81]

Odds are next year we would be hunting for depth instead of a big splash, which sure sometimes those depth guys go for 1sts but you can usually get them for b prospects or 2nds or whatever.

 

[Blender]

How is the trade not final

It is. Don't confuse that we don't have all the exact details with it not being filed with the league. That happened already.

 

[glenwo2]

I’m not worried in the slightest about Meier flaking on an extension here. I think he will be more than happy to do it.

It’s Bratt that worries me down the road lol

I think it depends on what Meier gets from Fitz.

If it's more than Jack (which, I think it's safe to assume that it will be), then I see no reason Bratt won't be re-signed as well.

 

[Hisch13r]

Unless Fitz really lowballs Meier I can't see him not resigning. An already good & young team with a bunch of his pals on it sounds like a great time. Obviously more goes into it but at the surface level it's reasonable to assume it'll get done.

I don't think he'd lowball him because the pressure is on Fitz to make sure Meier signs now when you give up that much. Meier's the one in control here.

 

[Mirka the Turka]

Dang two firsts and Mukhamadullin? That's essentially 3 first round picks as well as a roster player in Zetterlund who was looking promising.

Meier better be that good because we paid a pretty steep price for him.

 

[Guadana]

Yeah, this is where I'm at, mostly. I'm fine with Okhotiuk instead of Bahl, bummed to lose Mukhamadullin but there just wasn't space for him here, and Zetterlund is a perfect Swiss Army knife sort of forward. But there's a lot left on the horizon.

I`m glad we saved two from Holtz\Shakir\Casey. And now we have much more thinner LD prospect pool who is closer to play in the closest future. I really like Zetterlund and Okhotiuk because they were good enough positionally and could play interior\"hard to play against" game. Team trying to add players like that to making their depth better for playoff. And I really like them as a concept. But I understand that Meier is a prime asset and Z&O are not.
Shakir is very intriguing. I saw a lot of his game and potential is there. But he is main piece as prospect. We just cant trade Meier for a couple of late first, Z&O.

 

[Emperoreddy]

It's going to work the same as Tarsenko. He will be signed.

 

[Saugus]

So guys, I'm kind of confused. I don't see where Dawson Mercer is in this deal. Can someone show me what I am missing? Because I was reliably informed that he was definitely going to San Jose in this deal. What could I have gotten wrong?

 

[Devilsgrl35]

When was the last time we didn't make a pick in the 1st round? I can't even remember.

 

[megajake]

Much rather have Holtz than Zetty. Holtz upside is much higher, can never have too many elite goal scorers on a team.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Agree on Holtz. Bahl's better than Okhotyuk though

I don’t think either is good tbh. But whatever. Either would be the 5th best asset in this deal and are essentially throw ins.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

You gonna go flex on the main board? The Timo thread was basically calling you crazy for saying no Mercer/Luke/Nemec.

The Sharks did awesome in the trade, I wouldn't gloat about that tbh lol

 

[EnglishDevil]

The 2024 first is a really big problem because it wont be around for a deadline deal next year.

We can always trade the 2025 & 2026 firsts.

Plus we still have plenty of talent in the pipeline thanks to drafting well in the later rounds. I highly doubt we get another Meier level addition next year anyway, we won't have the cap for it after re-signing Timo & Bratt.

Our core is pretty much locked in now, from this point in it's mostly going to be shuffling peripheral pieces and picking up bottom six depth guys for cup runs.

 

[Patrik26]

So we still have Blackwood? Fitz sucks.

 

[Devs3cups]

Thread started at 5PM. Over 2K posts and 62 pages.

We're maniacs. Love you guys.

What a ride.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Honestly was real smart of Fitz to get this deal done before other GMs legit stop trading with him. When Muk's an ok second pair D and Zetterlund has a perfectly reasonable career as a 20g 20a winger, people are gonna look back and go "wow that's all it took for Meier?" Sharks need to pull a Mercer out of the draft themselves to make this look like a good return.

 

[MadDevil]

When was the last time we didn't make a pick in the 1st round? I can't even remember.

2013

 

[glenwo2]

How is the trade not final

It IS final.

It was tweeted out earlier.

 

[Devs3cups]

The Sharks did awesome in the trade, I wouldn't gloat about that tbh lol

Oh I agree, but you were right about the return so.

 

[NJDevs26]

We can always trade the 2025 & 2026 firsts.

Plus we still have plenty of talent in the pipeline thanks to drafting well in the later rounds. I highly doubt we get another Meier level addition next year anyway, we won't have the cap for it after re-signing Timo & Bratt.

Our core is pretty much locked in now, from this point in it's mostly going to be shuffling peripheral pieces and picking up bottom six depth guys for cup runs.

Yeah we'll be the team adding cheap vets in FA now to play with Hughes and Nico to go Cup chasing.

 

[goonybird]

gonna miss old red face

 

[NJDevils17]

Devils are good for the first time in a decade and people are tilting over late 1sts. It’s a fair package but dang, our “loser” mindset is so pervasive still.