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

[Better Call Sal]

Was looking at not being in the playoffs for the fourth straight year and is heading to a team with a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup.

He won one of Willy Wonka's golden tickets.

Always a cynic, eh?

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Great trade by FItz, sad to see some pieces I like go and genuinely surprised Holtz wasn't included. FWIW that was something Pagnotta "broke" yesterday and it turned out to be correct.

Hopefully Holtz takes a step this offseason and becomes an NHL contributor, he fits the team's timeline more than the 2025 1st does. He's got the skill, the NHL in 2023 is just so insanely difficult to play in, a great shot just isn't enough anymore to make the league.

Regarding the extensions, I believe Fitz will priortize AAV over term, and may even be confortable with 4 years for Bratt/Meier. Glad he didn't break the bank on an extension and it will be a delicate process to make sure they both get wrapped up somewhat simultaneously. Worst case scenario of having to give them one year deals is not the end of the world, but obviously quite shitty. Still the fact that NJ has that leverage over them in negotiations is huge and will hopefully get them to sign at a number like 8.25m and really set this team up nicely for a 5 year stretch.

 

[JrFischer54]

Didn't love the whole "NJ will sell itself to Timo"

Really hope he gets locked up and it doesn't drag out. This would be quite a mistake for a year and a half of Timo Meier.

we'll have that talk when leaving the championship celebration parade.

 

[DevilsHughes86]

Great trade by FItz, sad to see some pieces I like go and genuinely surprised Holtz wasn't included. FWIW that was something Pagnotta "broke" yesterday and it turned out to be correct.

Hopefully Holtz takes a step this offseason and becomes an NHL contributor, he fits the team's timeline more than the 2025 1st does. He's got the skill, the NHL in 2023 is just so insanely difficult to play in, a great shot just isn't enough anymore to make the league.

Regarding the extensions, I believe Fitz will priortize AAV over term, and may even be confortable with 4 years for Bratt/Meier. Glad he didn't break the bank on an extension and it will be a delicate process to make sure they both get wrapped up somewhat simultaneously. Worst case scenario of having to give them one year deals is not the end of the world, but obviously quite shitty. Still the fact that NJ has that leverage over them in negotiations is huge and will hopefully get them to sign at a number like 8.25m and really set this team up nicely for a 5 year stretch.

I agree about Holtz, with a few UFA coming up this off season such as Tatar, Wood and Haula, having him break out as his low cap cost will be very valuable for us going forward. Hopefully he gets going here and takes a huge step in his development.

 

[Saugus]

Great trade by FItz, sad to see some pieces I like go and genuinely surprised Holtz wasn't included. FWIW that was something Pagnotta "broke" yesterday and it turned out to be correct.

Hopefully Holtz takes a step this offseason and becomes an NHL contributor, he fits the team's timeline more than the 2025 1st does. He's got the skill, the NHL in 2023 is just so insanely difficult to play in, a great shot just isn't enough anymore to make the league.

Regarding the extensions, I believe Fitz will priortize AAV over term, and may even be confortable with 4 years for Bratt/Meier. Glad he didn't break the bank on an extension and it will be a delicate process to make sure they both get wrapped up somewhat simultaneously. Worst case scenario of having to give them one year deals is not the end of the world, but obviously quite shitty. Still the fact that NJ has that leverage over them in negotiations is huge and will hopefully get them to sign at a number like 8.25m and really set this team up nicely for a 5 year stretch.

I think Holtz is the long term replacement for Tatar in our top 6. I could see Tatar getting a 2-3 year contract at a lower salary than he makes now, and eventually he gets moved down the lineup in favor of Holtz, who ends up on Hischier's wing.

If that's the plan though, nobody has told Ruff, because this is not the way you do it.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

On a completely different note, had a friend in Dallas who used to refer to the Stars as Helsinki South when they had a bunch of Finnish players in the early 2000's.

Does this now make New Jersey Zurich West?

 

[MachoDiablo]

Next time AEW has a show at the Rock the Devils need to get Claudio Castagnoli to walk out wearing a combination jersey with all our Swiss boys' names on it.

That, or have him just tag with Meier and Nico against the House of Black. Meier and Brody King could probably have a pretty sick brawl around the ring.

 

[Hisch13r]

I think Holtz is the long term replacement for Tatar in our top 6. I could see Tatar getting a 2-3 year contract at a lower salary than he makes now, and eventually he gets moved down the lineup in favor of Holtz, who ends up on Hischier's wing.

If that's the plan though, nobody has told Ruff, because this is not the way you do it.

I'd be re-signing Tatar and having Holtz take his spot in the top 6 next year anyway. Move Tatar to the 3rd line. Palat and Tatar on the wings and fill in the middle. That's a recipe for a really strong two way 3rd line. I also think Holtz is definitely more of a fit for Jack. Nico's likely going to get more two way usage. Meier and Mercer on his wings makes sense to me. Then you have Holtz with 2 great playmakers and playdrivers in Bratt and Jack.

I wonder what Yegor would be able to bring in because I really don't see the fit now after this year. Even if Holtz doesn't end up working out (please f***ing work) then I think Clarke will probably make a strong push for the roster next year and would be on his ELC

 

[AfroThunder396]

I dropped by the Sharks board man, oh man, is it verging on civil war. Some of them genuinely thought they were getting Mercer or Luke Hughes for a guy without a contract.

IMO they are insane for thinking they could get a better deal. If Grier let teams negotiate an extension the return would have been higher, but under these circumstances they simply weren't going to be getting a better offer.

 

[The New Russian Five]

This is there rewards of drafting well. Devils had a lot of pieces to move since a lot of of their other prospects panned out/developed well. Sadly that's something my Rangers could never figure out. Good work by the Devils to get a top trade deadline target for a relatively good deal.

 

[Devs3cups]

I dropped by the Sharks board man, oh man, is it verging on civil war. Some of them genuinely thought they were getting Mercer or Luke Hughes for a guy without a contract.

IMO they are insane for thinking they could get a better deal. If Grier let teams negotiate an extension the return would have been higher, but under these circumstances they simply weren't going to be getting a better offer.

I honestly still don’t understand the rationale for not letting us discuss an extension.

 

[Call Me Al]

p

I honestly still don’t understand the rationale for not letting us discuss an extension.

if we couldn’t agree then it could completely take us out of the market and tank the trade value even more

 

[forceten]

Ahh... still can't really believe it.

1. I am sorry to lose Mukhamadullin because while Hughes/Nemec rightfully get a lot of attention, I've felt for a long time he was one of our best draft picks in ages, when you discount obvious top 2 picks. He's really played well and grown/rounded his game in the KHL, the 2nd best league in the world. I hope he has great success in San Jose.

2. I am sorry to lose Fabian Zetterlund because as you've heard me post repeatedly he's exactly what we don't have enough of. He's all heart and effort. He needed strength? So in the off season I guess he started lifting small cars or whatever and got so ripped the team told him to calm down a bit. That's him, he probably doesn't have the tools but he's got the heart and will and that goes further sometimes (yes, I'm looking at you Alexandre Daigle et al)

3. TIMO MEIER is an elite, top line winger, who drives play, makes hits, digs pucks, finishes passes, and is just as happy if not happier in the middle of the ice than in the perimeter. At 26, he's going to be good for at least 6-7 years.

4. This being Hockey's Future, it's hard to swallow losing TWO first rounders but, as pointed out, late first rounders rarely hit the NHL in their first two years, so it will be what... 2026 at the earliest that one of them would step in? Where would they step in? We have several defensemen queued up already. Forward is a thing, yes, but we also have some excess we could use to get some draft (think 2nd round) picks to potentially address that pipeline. But that's future not now.

5. New Jersey selling itself - look, if Meier likes New Jersey a third as much as Dougie Hamilton seems to have fallen in love with it, he's going to run for mayor of Newark.

6. Fitzgerald continues to show he's good at this GM stuff. He sent a lot, but he's also keenly aware that waivers are a thing and we are running out of room for all these players, and losing a player for nothing is not good business. I suspect if he's going to shore up the 3rd/4th line, guys like Boqvist might also be moved out.

7. This team is not perfect top to bottom. But it's markedly better than it was yesterday morning. By a lot.

8. Dawson Mercer's timely emergence really helps with the top 6. If we can just get Holtz going this is a stupid scary top 6 and likely a top 9 team.

9. With our window starting now instead of "next year" do we care about sliding ELCs for L. Hughes etc?

10. I can't wait to see what happens next. I will say this: Carolina is scary good. They're probably a little closer to the promised land. I suspect Boston has a losing streak coming, and they're older - it wouldn't take much to derail the train. But Carolina is very good.

 

[BahlDeep]

From an outsider perspective, NJ is much more appealing than NY.
Much more diverse in the core areas.

 

[Guttersniped]

Devils basically gave up six players to get him.

Two first rounders (though thankfully it looks like those will both be in the late 20's rather than lottery picks) plus four guys likely to slot in fairly soon for the Sharks.

And something tells me Mukh will be the best of the Nemec, Luke, and him trio.

Sometimes placating the fan base isn't the best move hockey-wise.

But we will see. A lot on Meier's shoulders.

You count Andreas Johnsson in the “6 players we gave up”?

I mean sure he could play for them and is a depth forward for us, but the cap exists and salary had to go back.

“And something tells me Mukh will be the best of the Nemec, Luke, and him trio.”

What told you this, the voices in your head?

This is contrarianism for contrarianism sake gone mad. This trade broke you or something.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I dropped by the Sharks board man, oh man, is it verging on civil war. Some of them genuinely thought they were getting Mercer or Luke Hughes for a guy without a contract.

IMO they are insane for thinking they could get a better deal. If Grier let teams negotiate an extension the return would have been higher, but under these circumstances they simply weren't going to be getting a better offer.

I think Grier did it right, you can't let Meier and his agent choose his destination and say "I'm only signing here." Devils bluffed saying this was their package for an extended Timo, but I believe they had no actual interest in extending Timo just making their package look better.

What I don't get is what the plan is for Grier if not a complete rebuild. If you're not rebuilding why was re-signing Timo not considered? And if you are rebuilding why was Zetterlund, a guy infinitely more valuable to a cap team trying to win the cup the target? I guess he just legitmately didn't like Holtz, which is understandable, but liked Zetterlund who should have a very nice NHL career as a depth forward and will be useful for them immediately. So it's a "retool" but he made the team worse for the foreseeable future while adding some 1st rounders.

 

[Guttersniped]

You have to know that this guy is going to spend the next 7 years thinking that Luke Hughes is bad, regardless of what he actually does.



Grier specifically said the Sharks are not doing a full rebuild.

It’s a rebuild and Grier knows it if you read the article. .

He liked Zetterlund. It’s sucks but it is what it is

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Meier's latest card from The Athletic:

 

[MachoDiablo]

I'll say this with Zett; the fact that he's a young guy that has value as quality depth for a team that's making a Cup push might be exactly why the Sharks got him - maybe not this year, but soon there could be another contender knocking on their door for a trade, and Zetterlund is a nice piece to be able to offer as part of a decent package deal that lands them some more pieces for their rebuild. You see baseball teams do this a lot with high-end relievers or mid-rotation starting pitchers: some crappy teams will sign a guy or two like that in the offseason despite the fact they don't project at all to contend, but there's always a market for those kinds of players at the deadline, and if a contender is needy enough they might give you something nice.

I don't think Grier's delusional enough to think the Sharks are just a reload/retool/etc. away; it's possible that Sharks ownership has him under a quasi "don't say 'rebuild'" edict for fear it'll cost ticket sales, though. It's also possible that he sees Zett as a useful player now, maybe playing the type of game he wants to see throughout the organization in some capacity, but I'm just saying there's also a chance they could end up moving him if the right offer came along, since there's always a market for players like Zett.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

It's not 2 first round picks traded* yet.
Its a first and a conditional 2nd.
And if those conditions are met - then I'm happy to have given up that extra first.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I'll say this with Zett; the fact that he's a young guy that has value as quality depth for a team that's making a Cup push might be exactly why the Sharks got him - maybe not this year, but soon there could be another contender knocking on their door for a trade, and Zetterlund is a nice piece to be able to offer as part of a decent package deal that lands them some more pieces for their rebuild. You see baseball teams do this a lot with high-end relievers or mid-rotation starting pitchers: some crappy teams will sign a guy or two like that in the offseason despite the fact they don't project at all to contend, but there's always a market for those kinds of players at the deadline, and if a contender is needy enough they might give you something nice.

I've thought about this a lot - even if they don't keep Zetterlund long term, they can pump-and-dump him. Give him two years in their top-6 to pile up some points and then flip him at the 2025 deadline for a Coleman-like return.

 

[Hisch13r]

I've thought about this a lot - even if they don't keep Zetterlund long term, they can pump-and-dump him. Give him two years in their top-6 to pile up some points and then flip him at the 2025 deadline for a Coleman-like return.

I volunteer as tribute

 

[ninetyeight]

I dropped by the Sharks board man, oh man, is it verging on civil war..

Yeah I regret posting there. These guys obviously have no idea about any other players than their own and seem to be a bit delusional how things work.

I thought the Devils payed a lot! A lot more than the rumored Holtz+Sharangovich+1st, this is basically value worth four 1st round picks. The Devils can afford to lose it, because our prospect depth, especially on D is so good. But that doesn't mean the return is trash, it's a huge return for sub ppg guy without an extension.

I had good intentions trying to give some insight on these players, and was looking forward to rooting for SJ, but after the douche responses I got, nevermind..

 

[OmNomNom]

i don't think grier got robbed - if he waited to the deadline, he might've gotten worse. Timo was an asset that had to be moved, and he got a lot of pieces with potential. If Zetterlund or Mukh hit, then it really helps with retooling. the 1st(s) can be moved to acquire solid assets very soon.

really depends on how grier uses the assets he's got, and honestly could get more (assuming he moves karlsson)

 

[HBK27]

Sharks fans were always going to be disappointed by the return if they thought for a moment that Nemec or Mercer could be part of the deal. They made out better than I expected, but I get why they would feel disappointed with no grade A assets coming back.