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

[NYRKing]

Can’t underestimate how valuable McLeod was as that 3C.

Gourde, Kunin, Frederic imo would be best for a combo of their 2nd round picks.

Mercer and nemec are going no where.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Max Bultman and Harman Dayal made an article where they picked five contenders and assigned each of them a perfect fit. The Devils and Jake Evans was one of these perfect fits.

"The perfect fit: Jake Evans

The trade: Evans for a 2025 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick"

I think this is fair value for Evans, but I have seen here that the Canadiens fans think that they can get a first for Evans.

2025 NHL trade deadline perfect fits: Proposals for Brock Nelson, Ryan O’Reilly and more

It's an unusual year for midseason trades in the NHL. Let's pick some ideal destinations for names still on the board.

www.nytimes.com

Habs would rather overpay Evans on a 5 year term than trade him for a 2nd and 3rd. My gut says our GM is delaying the contract because he wants to see the offers for Evans first. Without Evans, the Habs take a big step back because we have Dach in the middle between Suzuki and Evans and without Evans, Dach is exposed even more. Dach should be at RW on Evans line. He's a good young player but he is not a center.

I'm not even sure the Habs like that late 1st in the 2025 draft. Seems to be a significant drop at 20+ range (Bob M words). It could very well be Evans for a piece like Mesar (hit and miss). The late 1st rounders in his draft do not have the typical late 1st round values. 2nd round picks are more like the typical 3rd rounders. You don't have to trust me on that but I would trust Bob M.

The Habs are after a 2C and/or a top 4RD. Someone with term that can compete with us for 5+ years. Doesn't have to be a guy in his 20's or prime. Other Habs fans will say Suzuki or under in age but that's not entirely true. We are open to a 30-36 age term if the player has decent skating (less decline concerns). I think we might package Evans with one of our 1st and a prospect to fill that 2C hole. The top 4RD seems almost impossible so we might be forced to move one of our LD's to RD (a real reality)

Yeah, if that is the max you would pay for Evans (2nd and 3rd), I'd give up now and search for someone else. I very much doubt the Habs will do that.

If the Devils want Evans, lets see if we can get a 3rd team in the mix and figure out if we can make all 3 teams happy.

 

[TBF1972]

Backlund would be a 10/10 fit here.
I just don't think he has any interest in moving, I don't think the Flames have any interest in moving him either.

backlund would be a 10/10 fit if 5 years younger. at his age term is a risk.

I get that the drop from a Devils 1st round pick to a Hawks 2nd round pick could be relatively minor, but that's also a huge risk for the Devils to take if somehow things went off the rails next season.

That's basically what happened last year - Devils went from setting a franchise record for points in 2022-2023 and winning a playoff round to getting a top 10 draft pick last summer.

A player like Dickinson is not one that you trade away your only 1st round pick in the next two drafts for.

it's leafs 2nd rounder

 

[TBF1972]

Remind me to use this pitch when I try and sell ondrej palat to someone for their best prospect++

i think we can get any star player who isn't a captain for hischier e.g. makar.

 

[Volica]

backlund would be a 10/10 fit if 5 years younger. at his age term is a risk.

He's once again leading the Flames in shot metrics.
1 unit PK.
2 unit PP.
Projecting his standard 35-40 points, the same player he's been for the past decade minus a couple bumps (Tkachuk bump on a couple of those).
His contract is over next season at a very reasonable 4.5 for a quality centreman.

The only risk he carries with his age and contract is for people posting about hockey on online forums/social media and not real life

 

[dgibb10]

backlund would be a 10/10 fit if 5 years younger. at his age term is a risk.


it's leafs 2nd rounder

It's only 1 year after this. I'd buy retention if possible but he's a stud (imo he's calgary's best player tbh)

 

[My3Sons]

Habs would rather overpay Evans on a 5 year term than trade him for a 2nd and 3rd. My gut says our GM is delaying the contract because he wants to see the offers for Evans first. Without Evans, the Habs take a big step back because we have Dach in the middle between Suzuki and Evans and without Evans, Dach is exposed even more. Dach should be at RW on Evans line. He's a good young player but he is not a center.

I'm not even sure the Habs like that late 1st in the 2025 draft. Seems to be a significant drop at 20+ range (Bob M words). It could very well be Evans for a piece like Mesar (hit and miss). The late 1st rounders in his draft do not have the typical late 1st round values. 2nd round picks are more like the typical 3rd rounders. You don't have to trust me on that but I would trust Bob M.

The Habs are after a 2C and/or a top 4RD. Someone with term that can compete with us for 5+ years. Doesn't have to be a guy in his 20's or prime. Other Habs fans will say Suzuki or under in age but that's not entirely true. We are open to a 30-36 age term if the player has decent skating (less decline concerns). I think we might package Evans with one of our 1st and a prospect to fill that 2C hole. The top 4RD seems almost impossible so we might be forced to move one of our LD's to RD (a real reality)

Yeah, if that is the max you would pay for Evans (2nd and 3rd), I'd give up now and search for someone else. I very much doubt the Habs will do that.

If the Devils want Evans, lets see if we can get a 3rd team in the mix and figure out if we can make all 3 teams happy.

I've seen a few posts saying the MTL GM is delaying a conrtact with Evans to field offers. Maybe multiple posts by you? I'm skeptical of that. If MTL believes Evans is important enough to sign to relatively long term deal then sign him. Holding out for pick 28 over pick 41 and 68 does not seem like a worthwhile effort for a player worth an overpayment on a long term contract. No team is offering a top pick or a top prospect for Evans. If Evans is worth a five year deal to MTL the delay at this point seems unnecessary. Earlier I could understand waiting, but given the news about the cap there is no reason to wait.