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

[Clam Jensen]

There's no way Mercer was ever going to be involved. I'm actually stunned to see how many Sharks fans are disappointed not to get him or another insane ask like Nemec.

But not giving up Holtz or Casey is pretty big lol. If they stop dicking around with Holtz that can prove really useful

The last paragraph is what makes this deal so sweet to me. They kept Holtz/Casey/Vilen/Grits on top of the 3 core studs who were never moving. We have been accruing pieces for years now and Fitz leveraged them masterfully when the literal missing piece became available.

 

[NJDevs26]

I’m annoyed by Zetterlund being included too, I’m a huge fan, but this is what it took to get the deal done.

Those players were UFAs and Meier is RFA.

Stone did come with an extension though FWIW…but that deal was also ridiculously last minute iirc

 

[Blackjack]

I’m annoyed by Zetterlund being included too, I’m a huge fan, but this is what it took to get the deal done.

Those players were UFAs and Meier is RFA.

I agree, it’s not apples to apples but one extra year at $10 million doesn’t seem worth the difference in price paid.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I’m always shocked by how many NHL fans don’t seem to have a good understanding of the league they follow. Mercer or Hughes or Nemec were never going to be part of this deal, it would have been a completely unprecedented overpayment in the cap era. There have been enough of these types of trades for people to look back at and have a decent expectation of what the return usually looks like. But here we are with some people still being surprised with the result. Even our own fans were buying into the BS. I really don’t get it.

 

[devilsblood]

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.

What was the thought on Holtz over there? (Not that the fan perspective should matter)

 

[Guttersniped]

I said this in the Timo thread on the trade board like 2 months ago, but Sharks fans have no idea what it means to be sellers. The entire concept of a quantity for quality trade or learning about prospects that other teams drafted and how they project is anathema to them. The guys they've shipped out previously were all over the hill. My teams have sold Hossa, Kovalchuk, and Hall. I tried to tell them how this works and that they should be thrilled with a return of Holtz, Mukh, and a 1st and they insisted I was crazy. The return they got is arguably better than that depending on how you think Holtz compares to Zetterlund and a conditional first.

they'll come around. Right now, they have no idea what's going on. The media sold them on Mercer or Nemec just like it does for all the other players that get sold for "disappointing" returns.

The more functional media said Nemec and Hughes weren’t involved and no reasonable media member said Mercer was a thing.

They also suggested packages that included Holtz, Muk, and a 1st.

Locked on Sharks is basically a fan podcast with a press pass, so it’s a direct view into the unrealistic expectations of fans.

Sharks fans wanted more for a power forward having a huge season, the Devils fan base would have reacted the same way.

Hall’s injury lost season and underwhelming 2019-20 season cut some of the sense that he would bring a ton back and people weren’t exactly celebrating that return.

 

[Devils731]

What was the thought on Holtz over there? (Not that the fan perspective should matter)

Devils fans told them he stinks so nobody wanted him. I’m only saying that a little tongue in cheek.

 

[Guttersniped]

Stone did come with an extension though FWIW…but that deal was also ridiculously last minute iirc

I don’t actually consider extensions that big a deal in terms of value here.

We got another year of team control, we could even trade Timo ourselves. There’s more value there.

 

[New Jersey]

We’re f***ing BACK, and this time, we’re here to burn the f***er down.

Let’s ride.

 

[New Jersey]

 

[RNCDevil]

I find it interesting that the year the Devils traded away Zacha, they trade for the player Zacha could be...Timo was drafted three spots later. This is the same 2015 draft where Boston got 3 players in a row (Zboril, Debrusk, Seynyshn).

Timo debuts in Colorado. They've scored 19 goals in their last four games.

 

[The New Russian Five]

It's also a reward for putting up results as a team. Zetterlund probably fetches more as a contributing member of a winner than a struggling winger on a lottery team.

Like Bergfors in the Kovalchuk trade, having guys who pass the eye test on a winning team helps maximize their value in a deal.

I don't think that's the case. It's not like Kravtsov's, Sammy Blais', or Gauthier's value went up because they were a part of a winning team.

 

[Dialamo]

Hype levels still sky high since yesterday afternoon, even after being drained by the beach sun. Division rivals on seppuku watch!

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I’m happy the Devils added Meier. I’ll miss Zetts, really liked the kid. I’m just a bit concerned about having two primary UFA’s in Meier and Bratt. I’m not concerned about the two first rounds, because if we don’t resign both, next year’s first will probably turn into a second. This year’s first will be in the late twenties, so not too worried about that pick. I just hope we keep one of Meier or Bratt, not sure if we can keep both. And I’m just guessing, I can see Fitz preferring Mier due to his being more of a physical presence compared to Bratt. Well, let’s enjoy the team we have and see if Fitz can make some small improvements, especially the third line. And I’m happy we kept Bahl.

 

[Nubmer6]

Timo debuts in Colorado. They've scored 19 goals in their last four games.

Unfortunately, I'm no so sure he's healthy yet. I don't want to rush him if he isn't, as disappointing as it would be.

 

[Bleedred]

fwiw McKay deserves to be in some kind of ring of honor...not number retirement or anything but he was an outstanding Devil and heart and soul guy for a long time. Feel he gets a bit forgotten, even moreso than Brylin.

And we got him basically because the Red Wings signed Troy Crowder. He was a 6th round longshot who turned himself into a versatile, tough impact player

The only negative about McKay is that he was one of the first players (first of many) that was a Devils great that was kept around long enough to really get bad. He was really good in 00-01 and then completely hit his expiration date very quickly in 01-02. He also got injured during the 01 playoffs and missed that entire SCF. Whether that’s what ruined him or old age, we’ll never really know.

After him, there’s a long line of really good Devils that stuck around long enough to really cause a lot of pain.

Pandolfo, Madden, White, Zubrus, Salvador, Brodeur, Langenbrunner. I’m probably forgetting a bunch. I’d even say Andy Greene. Not sure I’d say Rolston, as he was re-acquired at 35 years old and his downfall was completely predictable the day we signed him. The last year or two of Dano was also a bit painful.

 

[Signal]

Grier is probably counting on getting Connor Bedard anyway.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I’m happy the Devils added Meier. I’ll miss Zetts, really liked the kid. I’m just a bit concerned about having two primary UFA’s in Meier and Bratt. I’m also not concerned about the two first rounds, because if we don’t resign both, next year’s first will probably turn into a second. This year’s first will be in the late twenties, so not too worried about that pick. I just hope we keep one of Meier or Bratt, not sure if we can keep both. And I’m just guessing, I can see Fitz preferring Mier due to his being more of a physical presence compared to Bratt. Well, let’s enjoy the team we have and see if Fitz can make some small improvements, especially the third line. And I’m happy we kept Bahl.

Meier and Bratt are not UFAs.

 

[Unknown Caller]

I’m always shocked by how many NHL fans don’t seem to have a good understanding of the league they follow. Mercer or Hughes or Nemec were never going to be part of this deal, it would have been a completely unprecedented overpayment in the cap era. There have been enough of these types of trades for people to look back at and have a decent expectation of what the return usually looks like. But here we are with some people still being surprised with the result. Even our own fans were buying into the BS. I really don’t get it.

Is it that shocking though? Vegas moved Krebs and Tuch for Eichel, Erik Brannstrom got moved for Mark Stone, Loui Eriksson brought back Tyler Seguin (depending on how you view that trade). Some of that is just Vegas being super aggressive, but it isn't that unprecedented for a player of Mercer's caliber to get moved in a deal like this. The Devils were on board with moving the Nemec pick for Tkachuk just a few months ago.

 

[Classic Devil]

The only negative about McKay is that he was one of the first players (first of many) that was a Devils great that was kept around long enough to really get bad. He was really good in 00-01 and then completely his Jo’s expiration date very quick in 01-02. He also got injured during the 01 playoffs and missed that entire SCF. Whether that’s what ruined him or old age, we’ll never really know.

After him, there’s a long line of really good Devils that stuck around long enough to really cause a lot of pain.

Pandolfo, Madden, White, Zubrus, Salvador, Brodeur, Langenbrunner. I’m probably forgetting a bunch. I’d even say Andy Greene. Not sure I’d say Rolston, as he was re-acquired at 35 years old. The last year or two of Dano was also a bit painful.

The problem with a lot of those players was we kept using them wrong, pretending they were still their old selves. Madden was still serviceable, but we were playing him like he was a premiere shutdown center who could contribute offense, and there was no more offense there.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m always shocked by how many NHL fans don’t seem to have a good understanding of the league they follow. Mercer or Hughes or Nemec were never going to be part of this deal, it would have been a completely unprecedented overpayment in the cap era. There have been enough of these types of trades for people to look back at and have a decent expectation of what the return usually looks like. But here we are with some people still being surprised with the result. Even our own fans were buying into the BS. I really don’t get it.

I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, this kind of stuff is par for the course.

I don't know how many people I had to tell on social media that Mercer was absolutely, positively not going to be traded. 150? 200? And Sharks fans with their demands, jeez. Mercer + 2nd round pick would have been gross overpayment in the cap era, and they're talking about Mercer, Luke Hughes and a 1st? Just out there.

People have a herd mentality. The talk going on about Mukhamadullin right now is almost silly. The kid is an outstanding -- outstanding -- D prospect. He's big, skates very well, shoots and passes exceptionally well, can defend and muck it up quite well and is still rounding out his rangy 6'4 frame. He's not a finished product, as he still needs to touch up his positioning and defensive anticipation, and can occasionally make the brain-lock mistake. But for the most part, he's very, very good with sky-high potential. I would immediately slot him in as the Sharks' #1 D prospect by a country mile, and he's battling Bordeleau for SJ #2 prospect behind only William Eklund.

Okhotiuk and Zetterlund, if you would consider them "prospects", would both easily make the top 10 in the SJ prospect pool. Neither has the star upside of a Mukhamadullin obviously, but they are both very good candidates for the middle of the Sharks lineup for a long time coming. And the draft picks are huge for a team which obviously needs help in the prospect pool.

The fact that people on both sides thought San Jose was getting the Devils entire future in the Meier deal was insane. But it comes from a lack of knowledge about the prospects, I guess.

 

[Guttersniped]

I don't think that's the case. It's not like Kravtsov's, Sammy Blais', or Gauthier's value went up because they were a part of a winning team.

Zetterlund is awesome and Grier did his homework.

Hatakka is actually an interesting piece coming back. I posted the write ups about him again in the prospect thread.

He sounds like a smart defenseman with good skating.

He’s not a bad depth piece to have in the AHL, he’s probably a guy who could do spot duty in the NHL next season if there’s some injuries.

His biggest weakness is he basically has no offense but his transition game is a strength and he’s defense sounds ok.

Shark fans are a little mystified at them giving him up but I guess Fitz pointed out he gave them two LHD for a winger and got one back.










Hopefully he and Vilén can be roomies next season in Utica and make their own countless memories.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I don’t actually consider extensions that big a deal in terms of value here.

We got another year of team control, we could even trade Timo ourselves. There’s more value there.

I’m very confused, is Meier RFA or UFA? I understood him to be UFA?

 

[AfroThunder396]

lmao I just found out Scott Harrington is a Shero draft pick from his PIT days. Fitz was Assistant General manager at the time. Doesn't mean anything but it's funny.

 

[Guttersniped]

I’m very confused, is Meier RFA or UFA? I understood him to be UFA?

Meier is a RFA with 10m qualifying offer.