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

[Hisch13r]

You obviously don't realize the Brannstrom hype in hindsight and how highly regarded he was when he was moved. People were legitimately comparing him to Erik Karlsson. We also tend to overvalue Mercer because we're attached to him. I love the player, but you have to be realistic. Some treat him like he's just a cut below Jack and Bratt.

My point is moving a guy like Mercer for a player of Meier's caliber isn't that outrageous. He just happens to be a fan favorite and on an absolute heater right now. Being cost controlled for the time being helps as well.

Mercer is a 21 year old on pace for 26 goals 54 pts with janky usage and basically no PP or secondary production.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Trading your advantage against the Rags (since they're our R1 opponent as of now) defensively to get progressively worse is the dumbest thing you can do going into the playoffs. Flip Severson with Holtz for a better upgrade? Sure or something of that liking but to get Luke Schenn??

 

[Unknown Caller]

Mercer is a 21 year old on pace for 26 goals 54 pts with janky usage and basically no PP or secondary production.

And his analytics are medicore at best. [Incoming STI rant about chart boys].

I'm not trying to rip the player, I'm as big of a Mercer fan as anyone else. But to act like it would be absurd and unprecedented to trade him for a player like Timo Meier is a little disingenuous.

 

[billingtons ghost]

I need to mention that my cover band picks a band to cover each week. Someone suggested BTO and we laughed him out of the room on the principle of cheesiness.

Best frigging time ever. The riffs, silly Canadian backing vocals. The other guitarist is now a committed fan.

Ps. Jethro Tull night also rocked. I got my wife to dust off her flute from high school. Not a euphemism nor American Pie reference. I will self impose my own ban, thanks.

 

[Hisch13r]

Trading your advantage against the Rags (since they're out R1 opponent) defensively to get progressively worse is the dumbest thing you can do going into the playoffs. Flip Severson with Holtz for a better upgrade? Sure or something of that liking but to get Luke Schenn??

As much as the Sevo for 1+ and flipping that with Holtz for Chychrun is a fun idea I still don't do that. I don't want to give up Holtz for 2 years of Chychrun and especially not when D isn't an issue.

 

[MVP Zacha]

One thing that I don't see people talking about and it really shocks me about this trade, is what I think a major piece involved. We got rid of Andreas Johnsson. That was huge!

 

[OmNomNom]

And his analytics are medicore at best. [Incoming STI rant about chart boys].

I'm not trying to rip the player, I'm as big of a Mercer fan as anyone else. But to act like it would be absurd and unprecedented to trade him for a player like Timo Meier is a little disingenuous.

if he was the guy instead of zetterlund though, it would've been crazier. mercer has a very high floor and he's still so young.

but agreed, if it was like... mercer + johnsson for timo, it would've been okay value wise. just would've hurt even more imo

One thing that I don't see people talking about and it really shocks me about this trade, is what I think a major piece involved. We got rid of Andreas Johnsson. That was huge!

lowkey excited for him to get a shot in SJ

 

[Unknown Caller]

if he was the guy instead of zetterlund though, it would've been crazier. mercer has a very high floor and he's still so young.

but agreed, if it was like... mercer + johnsson for timo, it would've been okay value wise. just would've hurt even more imo

Completely agree, I would have been shocked if they moved him and crushed because I'm attached to the player. Value wise, it really isn't that crazy though.

 

[Triumph]

When Erik Brannstrom was moved he was a massive prospect. Probably more value than Mercer. When the trade went down, Brannstrom was the #19 prospect in hockey right next to Jordan Kyrou and ahead of guys like Boldy, Cozens, Ty Smith, Bouchard, Adam Boqvist, Adam Fox, and K'Andre Miller, just to name a few.

The idea that the 19th rated prospect can have more value than a D+3 2nd/3rd line forward with a year left on his ELC is just ridiculous on its face. If this were at all true, you would see teams moving guys in Mercer's spot for guys in Brannstrom's spot - not often, but sometimes. The fact that it almost never happens should tell you something.

 

[Hisch13r]

The idea that the 19th rated prospect can have more value than a D+3 2nd/3rd line forward with a year left on his ELC is just ridiculous on its face. If this were at all true, you would see teams moving guys in Mercer's spot for guys in Brannstrom's spot - not often, but sometimes. The fact that it almost never happens should tell you something.

The 19th rated prospect in the Athletic's top 50 drafted prospects from 2 weeks ago was Marco Rossi. Yeah Rossi definitely has more value than Mercer lol

 

[TF1970]

not sure if this was already brought up in here, but friedman on his latest 32 thoughts podcast said "i think the only thing the devils look at and say we would have liked is an extension in place. now, we'll see where that goes. i think its gonna be a bit of a challenge. but the fact is, if that is the only negative you have on sunday night, you're pretty happy with it. and you can punt this out to the offseason and see how it goes."

 

[Hisch13r]

not sure if this was already brought up in here, but friedman on his latest 32 thoughts podcast said "i think the only thing the devils look at and say we would have liked is an extension in place. now, we'll see where that goes. i think its gonna be a bit of a challenge. but the fact is, if that is the only negative you have on sunday night, you're pretty happy with it. and you can punt this out to the offseason and see how it goes."

I can definitely see it being a challenge to get him for a price they'd really like. Meier has the leverage here. When teams give up all this for the player then the player is going to be in control. Also can't see how you get Bratt done before Meier because you know Bratt's going to push for the same deal. You're going to have to pay more than you'd like on both but you have to do it.

 

[Triumph]

The 19th rated prospect in the Athletic's top 50 drafted prospects from 2 weeks ago was Marco Rossi. Yeah Rossi definitely has more value than Mercer lol

This sort of thing is why I vastly prefer, e.g. U22 lists than prospect lists, because people just get confused, not remembering that the largest data point - does this player have a history of playing in the NHL, and if so, what was it? - is largely missing from prospect discourse.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

not sure if this was already brought up in here, but friedman on his latest 32 thoughts podcast said "i think the only thing the devils look at and say we would have liked is an extension in place. now, we'll see where that goes. i think its gonna be a bit of a challenge. but the fact is, if that is the only negative you have on sunday night, you're pretty happy with it. and you can punt this out to the offseason and see how it goes."

They'll eat his QO at the worse and probably extend Bratt long term if I had to make a prediction as to why they couldn't extend Meier. 10M QO isn't totally the worst but it's definitely your last resort.

 

[Devs3cups]

not sure if this was already brought up in here, but friedman on his latest 32 thoughts podcast said "i think the only thing the devils look at and say we would have liked is an extension in place. now, we'll see where that goes. i think its gonna be a bit of a challenge. but the fact is, if that is the only negative you have on sunday night, you're pretty happy with it. and you can punt this out to the offseason and see how it goes."

Not even slightly worried. Fitz wouldn’t have made the move if he was concerned with it. A lot of variables are in our favour.

 

[TF1970]

Not even slightly worried. Fitz wouldn’t have made the move if he was concerned with it. A lot of variables are in our favour.

 

[glenwo2]

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 comfortable 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.

Except he's stated in the past that Term was not an issue with Bratt, and he also was quoted as saying he wants Bratt to be a Devil for a LONG TIME.

4 years is not a long time so it doesn't jive with what you said.

Signing Timo for 4 years at bigger money could work if he accepts it (yes. They have to accept the deal. That's how it works. lol ) but it's all STILL speculation at this point and we won't know until the extension(Meier) happens.

I fully expect (on the part of Bratt) for it to be 8 years (I'd be okay with 7, too).

 

[Hisch13r]

Except he's stated in the past that Term was not an issue with Bratt, and he also was quoted as saying he wants Bratt to be a Devil for a LONG TIME.

4 years is not a long time so it doesn't jive with what you said.

Signing Timo for 4 years at bigger money could work if he accepts it (yes. They have to accept the deal. That's how it works. lol ) but it's all STILL speculation at this point and we won't know until the extension(Meier) happens.

I fully expect (on the part of Bratt) for it to be 8 years (I'd be okay with 7, too).

It just makes sense to give Bratt and Meier matching long term deals.

 

[Saugus]

They'll eat his QO at the worse and probably extend Bratt long term if I had to make a prediction as to why they couldn't extend Meier. 10M QO isn't totally the worst but it's definitely your last resort.

If it gets to the point of being forced to accept his QO, that's when I'll be worried. But that's unlikely. I think they will move pretty fast to get both Meier and Bratt under contract long term before the end of this upcoming offseason.

 

[Bleedred]

He seems super excited to be here in his media presser. He can't stop smiling.

So glad he didn't have some aunt and uncle in Cleveland that would make him wanna go to Columbus for the 2 hour drive.

 

[Guttersniped]

When Erik Brannstrom was moved he was a massive prospect. Probably more value than Mercer. When the trade went down, Brannstrom was the #19 prospect in hockey right next to Jordan Kyrou and ahead of guys like Boldy, Cozens, Ty Smith, Bouchard, Adam Boqvist, Adam Fox, and K'Andre Miller, just to name a few.

Mark Stone was traded at the Feb 2019 TDL and he didn’t have more value than Mercer.

You’re talking about Pronman’s best NHL Drafted Prospect list from Jan 2019.

Brannstrom was the 6th defenseman on Pronman’s list in 2019, after Q. Hughes (#1), Makar (#10), Ryan Merkley (#15), Adam Boqvist (#16) and Dobson (#18). Jordan Kyrou was actually #6.

There aren’t a ton of big names after him other than some guys that fell threw the cracks (Norris at #35, Farabee at #39, Fox at #44, K’Andre Miller at #47). Bode Wilde is #21. It’s a prospect list.

Mercer is 45th on Pronman’s latest Best U23 list, which unlike the 2019 list includes NHLers.
Jack is #2, Luke is #14, Nemec is #40, Mukhamadullin is #68, Holtz is #72, Foote is #132 and Gritsyuk is #147.

Playing and producing in the NHL as well as he does now matters a whole lot. Brännström obviously had a good amount of value, that’s why they only had to give up a 2nd with him for Stone.

Mercer for Meier was never happening, that’s the difference here.

Pronman: 2018-19 midseason NHL prospects ranking

Corey Pronman's list of the best skaters and goalies in NHL organizations.

theathletic.com

https://theathletic.com/4046339/2023/01/17/nhl-players-prospects-ranking-young/

 

[Devils731]

And his analytics are medicore at best. [Incoming STI rant about chart boys].

I'm not trying to rip the player, I'm as big of a Mercer fan as anyone else. But to act like it would be absurd and unprecedented to trade him for a player like Timo Meier is a little disingenuous.

This high level card doesn’t look mediocre. Once you combine the actual results with age and contract, you come out with someone who has very high value.

 

[Saugus]

I'm still impressed that Fitz pulled off the classic HF Trade Board Voltron trade.

Cobbled together a bunch of non-premium assets to acquire a star player.

You see those bullshit proposals all the time and you laugh, but every now and then it actually happens in real life.

 

[Classic Devil]

And his analytics are medicore at best. [Incoming STI rant about chart boys].

I'm not trying to rip the player, I'm as big of a Mercer fan as anyone else. But to act like it would be absurd and unprecedented to trade him for a player like Timo Meier is a little disingenuous.

Look at Mercer vs. Meier at the same age.

 

[Bleedred]

Look at Mercer vs. Meier at the same age.

Yup

I remember arguing back in 2017 and maybe even in 2018 in defense of Zacha that he had been better than Meier so far at that point. What a difference 5-6 years makes.

Timo really broke out in 18-19 at age 22 and also received a big bump in ice time starting that year.