Speculation: NJ desperate for a high end 3c/decent 2c

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Hopefully they resign Kovy and move Hamilton . Pesce Nemec Kovy right side
Seigs Dillon Hughes left side . Casey traded for forward help. That’s what I want to see happen but I’m guessing Kovy walks , we stuck with Hamilton and Nemec and Casey battle it out for the last spot. Of the two. , I prefer to keep Nemec. Move Casey for someone like Boeser. Casey and a 2nd for Brock ( Boeser or Nelson lol ) however I can’t see Fitz giving up Casey plus pick(s) for rentals. Maybe if desperate enough and max retention?

Jesus christ no.

Blake Lizotte? He’s honestly a very good player and the cap hit would mean you don’t need to shed anyone off the current roster.

Yeah that's a really interesting option

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Sending out a high level asset for a borderline cap dump
Takes up more cap space than NJ has
Gives a rival a potential top 6 D

No chance, doesn't make sense on any level.

It's pretty clear that Carolina values Kotkaniemi more than posters on HF. He's the exact type of player the Devils should be looking for to replace McLeod, and is still really young.

I would be interested in something like:

Nemec
MacDermid $1.15M

for

Kotkaniemi ($1.5M retained)
2026 2nd round pick

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

It's pretty clear that Carolina values Kotkaniemi more than posters on HF. He's the exact type of player the Devils should be looking for to replace McLeod, and is still really young.

I would be interested in something like:

Nemec
MacDermid $1.15M

for

Kotkaniemi ($1.5M retained)
2026 2nd round pick

That's a terrible trade for NJ.
Nemec should not be given away for a 3C

 

[HugeInTheShire]

It's pretty clear that Carolina values Kotkaniemi more than posters on HF. He's the exact type of player the Devils should be looking for to replace McLeod, and is still really young.

I would be interested in something like:

Nemec
MacDermid $1.15M

for

Kotkaniemi ($1.5M retained)
2026 2nd round pick

I'd be more inclined to do this kind of deal rather than a 1-1, still wouldn't love the idea of trading Nemec to a Metro team though.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

That's a terrible trade for NJ.
Nemec should not be given away for a 3C

Kotkaniemi is a solid, young middle 6C. At $3M with term, that's a valuable asset. Add in a 2nd round pick + dumping that awful MacDermid contract...

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Yeah that's a really interesting option

Lizotte for Traff + 2026 or 2027 5th?

and if you want to bump the 5th to a 3rd.. throw in McDermid too

 

[sensfan4lifee]

Josh Norris C for Nemec and a 1st

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Lizotte for Traff + 2026 or 2027 5th?

and if you want to bump the 5th to a 3rd.. throw in McDermid too

Traff and a 3rd for Lizotte and McDermid. Send the papers for me to sign.

 

[HBK27]

Kotkaniemi is a solid, young middle 6C. At $3M with term, that's a valuable asset. Add in a 2nd round pick + dumping that awful MacDermid contract...

There is no value in dumping MacDermid's contract. If he is waived, his cap hit comes completely off their books.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Hate to give up Nemec for a third line center. We don’t need a top line player to play in our bottom six, just a decent center who’s good at faceoffs.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Traff and a 3rd for Lizotte and McDermid. Send the papers for me to sign.

Yes that quick means I’m not charging enough

But yeah I’d do that deal.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Josh Norris C for Nemec and a 1st

Too expensive for a 3C and too many injuries

 

[dgibb10]

Kotkaniemi is a solid, young middle 6C. At $3M with term, that's a valuable asset. Add in a 2nd round pick + dumping that awful MacDermid contract...

MacDermid is fully buriable.

There is no value in dumping MacDermid's contract. If he is waived, his cap hit comes completely off their books.

Translated his post for you:

"I really want to ship out anyone and everyone blocking my beloved Seamus Casey"

Why would the Avs give up Colton if they're not getting something equally good back, like Mercer?

What would be your offer if Mercer isn't included?


What would you offer for Colton?

a 2nd

He went for a 2nd, and hasn't improved his value since then.

Additionally he has a full NTC so we don't have to worry about any other bidders

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

MacDermid is fully buriable.

Ah, I wasn't aware. Change the 2nd to a 2nd and a 3rd

Translated his post for you:

"I really want to ship out anyone and everyone blocking my beloved Seamus Casey"

Translation: We have a backlog at D and need a solid middle 6C at a good cap hit. Nemec projects as a top 4 dman, it's a good trade on value.

Literally has nothing to do with Casey, you seem obsessed with this concept. I'm just not as high on Nemec as you are. He doesn't have top pairing upside IMO, his skating is too poor.

 

[Lou Bloom]

Josh Norris C for Nemec and a 1st

What a terrible trade for the Devils. Norris isn't even worth his contract, let alone Nemec and a 1st round pick. Not to mention the Devils don't even have the cap space to take on Norris' contract.

 

[Lou Bloom]

Kotkaniemi is a solid, young middle 6C. At $3M with term, that's a valuable asset. Add in a 2nd round pick + dumping that awful MacDermid contract...

Nemec has way more value than Kotkaniemi Not to mention the Hurricanes aren't going to eat $1.5M over 6 years of term.

 

[dgibb10]

Ah, I wasn't aware. Change the 2nd to a 2nd and a 3rd

Translation: We have a backlog at D and need a solid middle 6C at a good cap hit. Nemec projects as a top 4 dman, it's a good trade on value.

Literally has nothing to do with Casey, you seem obsessed with this concept. I'm just not as high on Nemec as you are. He doesn't have top pairing upside IMO, his skating is too poor.

Yes, there is a backlog to Casey getting into the lineup (the thing you want to happen).

So, you are very eager to move pieces ahead of him.

I'm sure it's not a conscious effort, just something that your bias will naturally point to. Nemec is the obstacle ahead of casey, so the picture will be warped to paint the view you want.

 

[derkejohnlee]

A cheap 3C would be Puis Suter

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Yes, there is a backlog to Casey getting into the lineup (the thing you want to happen).

So, you are very eager to move pieces ahead of him.

I'm sure it's not a conscious effort, just something that your bias will naturally point to. Nemec is the obstacle ahead of casey, so the picture will be warped to paint the view you want.

No, Casey is just better than Nemec. We should probably move one of them, so I would prefer to move Nemec.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Pius Suter
JGP (would be interested in buying retention)
Dickinson (would be interested in buying retention)
Gourde
Frederic
Colton
Evans
Coyle (would be interested in buying retention)
RoR (would be interested in buying retention)


Would be my list of targets off the top of my head

I think Coyle would be a great fit as our 3C.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Nemec has way more value than Kotkaniemi Not to mention the Hurricanes aren't going to eat $1.5M over 6 years of term.

Kotkaniemi at 4M + a 2nd is worth a slowish defensive prospect who projects as a top 4 dman, especially when we have an excess of D and a lack of quality middle 6 centers.

 

[dredeye]

Boston has a Charlie Coyle available. He has a nmc but given he’d waive I could see the Bruins moving him. One more year on his deal after this one at just over 5 per

 

[Lunatik]

I think Backlund could make a ton of sense if the Flame fall out of the playoff race, which I'm expecting now that we're down to 2 top-4 defensemen.

to NJD:
- Mikael Backlund (50% retained) $2.25m, UFA in 2026
to CGY:
- 2nd in 2025 (Better of WPG and EDM picks)
- Conditional 2nd in 2025 (NJD pick) - Since that 2nd in tied up in the Allen trade, it would transfer to CGY if Allen plays fewer than 40 games. If Allen plays 40 or more games, the pick becomes the better of the Devils 2026 2nd rounds (NJD and VGK)
- Cap Dump of a pending UFA (Bastien?)

Lenni Hämeenaho could also be swapped for one of the picks.

​

 

[dgibb10]

I think Backlund could make a ton of sense if the Flame fall out of the playoff race, which I'm expecting now that we're down to 2 top-4 defensemen.

to NJD:
- Mikael Backlund (50% retained) $2.25m, UFA in 2026
to CGY:
- 2nd in 2025 (Better of WPG and EDM picks)
- Conditional 2nd in 2025 (NJD pick) - Since that 2nd in tied up in the Allen trade, it would transfer to CGY if Allen plays fewer than 40 games. If Allen plays 40 or more games, the pick becomes the better of the Devils 2026 2nd rounds (NJD and VGK)
- Cap Dump of a pending UFA (Bastien?)

Lenni Hämeenaho could also be swapped for one of the picks.

​

Would do this in a heartbeat without thinking twice as NJD.

 

[Smitty426]

Jesus christ no.

great response