1) NJD – MTL
To NJD:
- Alex Newhook
- Owen Beck
- Jayden Struble
- 16th overall pick
To MTL:
- Šimon Nemec
- Dawson Mercer
Mercer (18OA 2020) > Newhook (16OA 2019): No question, Mercer has more upside, stronger two-way game. But Newhook brings speed and versatility. Add Struble, a young NHL-ready LD with physical edge, and the gap narrows imo. Mercer is still the best forward in the deal, but not by a huge margin. MTL gambles on Mercer becoming a better fit at 2C than Newhook/Dach.
Nemec vs. Beck + 16OA: Nemec is still a top prospect, but three years post-draft, he hasn’t locked down an NHL spot. That window of peak prospect value is closing fast. Beck is an elite faceoff guy with middle-six upside, and 16OA adds flexibility needed for the next trade. Not quite equal, but MTL pays a premium to bet on Nemec’s ceiling as a top 4RD.
NJD sacrifices potential for immediate contributors and a key 1st for the next deal. This is a “shuffle the deck” deal that fits their GMs' comments. Beck & Newhook might cover Mercer's loss; Quinn Hughes will be more impactful on D than Mercer / Hamilton / Casey.
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2) VAN – NJD
To NJD:
- Quinn Hughes
To VAN:
- Dougie Hamilton
- Jayden Struble
- Seamus Casey
- 16OA 2025
Quinn is the prize in this overall deal. A top-3 offensive defenseman, elite skater, leader.
NJD reunites the Hughes brothers, a massive PR and performance play. They overpay as they should for it.
Hamilton is no slouch: Still a #1D when healthy. Add Casey (RH puck-moving D with real upside), Struble (LD with NHL reps), and a mid-1st, it’s a deep, controllable return.
For Vancouver: If Quinn’s future in Vancouver is uncertain, this is a smart hedge. Hamilton holds the fort during the reset. Casey and Struble can fit your long term plans and you now hold back-to-back picks in the 1st.
NJD:
Q. Hughes – Pesce
L. Hughes – Dillon
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
VAN:
Pettersson – Hamilton
Myers - Hronek
Struble - Casey
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3) CBJ – MTL
To MTL:
- 14th Overall Pick
- 77th Overall Pick
To CBJ:
- 17th Overall Pick
- 108th Overall Pick
- 2026 2nd Round Pick (CBJ’s own)
CBJ has hinted at offer sheet interest, so they need their 2026 2nd to stay flexible. They only move down 3 spots in the 1st and up one round in the 3rd. A fair price to recover their own future asset.
MTL gets aggressive as they likely want to move up to catch a top-10 faller ot maybe even use Pittsburgh’s 2nd, they can push further up the board. Buffalo at 9OA maybe? Likely Buffalo would rather a swap of prospects on top of it though.
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MTL walks away with Nemec, Mercer, and better draft positioning which is a significant acceleration of their rebuild (are they even still considered as such considering the playoffs this year?)
NJD turns future potential into proven NHLers and an elite LD cornerstone in Quinn / get the 3 Hughes.
VAN makes a tough call on Quinn, but sets themselves up with long-term flexibility, a top-pair RD, and depth D assets.
CBJ gains flexibility for an offersheet, and likely the difference between 14 and 17 ain't that much in this draft.
Thoughts?
To NJD:
- Alex Newhook
- Owen Beck
- Jayden Struble
- 16th overall pick
To MTL:
- Šimon Nemec
- Dawson Mercer
Mercer (18OA 2020) > Newhook (16OA 2019): No question, Mercer has more upside, stronger two-way game. But Newhook brings speed and versatility. Add Struble, a young NHL-ready LD with physical edge, and the gap narrows imo. Mercer is still the best forward in the deal, but not by a huge margin. MTL gambles on Mercer becoming a better fit at 2C than Newhook/Dach.
Nemec vs. Beck + 16OA: Nemec is still a top prospect, but three years post-draft, he hasn’t locked down an NHL spot. That window of peak prospect value is closing fast. Beck is an elite faceoff guy with middle-six upside, and 16OA adds flexibility needed for the next trade. Not quite equal, but MTL pays a premium to bet on Nemec’s ceiling as a top 4RD.
NJD sacrifices potential for immediate contributors and a key 1st for the next deal. This is a “shuffle the deck” deal that fits their GMs' comments. Beck & Newhook might cover Mercer's loss; Quinn Hughes will be more impactful on D than Mercer / Hamilton / Casey.
---
2) VAN – NJD
To NJD:
- Quinn Hughes
To VAN:
- Dougie Hamilton
- Jayden Struble
- Seamus Casey
- 16OA 2025
Quinn is the prize in this overall deal. A top-3 offensive defenseman, elite skater, leader.
NJD reunites the Hughes brothers, a massive PR and performance play. They overpay as they should for it.
Hamilton is no slouch: Still a #1D when healthy. Add Casey (RH puck-moving D with real upside), Struble (LD with NHL reps), and a mid-1st, it’s a deep, controllable return.
For Vancouver: If Quinn’s future in Vancouver is uncertain, this is a smart hedge. Hamilton holds the fort during the reset. Casey and Struble can fit your long term plans and you now hold back-to-back picks in the 1st.
NJD:
Q. Hughes – Pesce
L. Hughes – Dillon
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
VAN:
Pettersson – Hamilton
Myers - Hronek
Struble - Casey
---
3) CBJ – MTL
To MTL:
- 14th Overall Pick
- 77th Overall Pick
To CBJ:
- 17th Overall Pick
- 108th Overall Pick
- 2026 2nd Round Pick (CBJ’s own)
CBJ has hinted at offer sheet interest, so they need their 2026 2nd to stay flexible. They only move down 3 spots in the 1st and up one round in the 3rd. A fair price to recover their own future asset.
MTL gets aggressive as they likely want to move up to catch a top-10 faller ot maybe even use Pittsburgh’s 2nd, they can push further up the board. Buffalo at 9OA maybe? Likely Buffalo would rather a swap of prospects on top of it though.
---
MTL walks away with Nemec, Mercer, and better draft positioning which is a significant acceleration of their rebuild (are they even still considered as such considering the playoffs this year?)
NJD turns future potential into proven NHLers and an elite LD cornerstone in Quinn / get the 3 Hughes.
VAN makes a tough call on Quinn, but sets themselves up with long-term flexibility, a top-pair RD, and depth D assets.
CBJ gains flexibility for an offersheet, and likely the difference between 14 and 17 ain't that much in this draft.
Thoughts?
