202425 VI

nope

Making the pick later doesn’t make Markstrom more valuable

It sure doesn't make him less valuable. NJ was told from day one if they want Markstrom it's going to cost them Mercer and more.

Which isn’t a realistic asking price, even if that’s actually a confirmed asking price

NJ fans need to give it a rest and stop acting like Mercer is worth his weight in gold. It'd take more than just Mercer he isn't worth a number 1 goalie all by himself. Really nothing about those negotiations has been confirmed except that Calgary initially told NJ that Markstrom would cost them Mercer. IOW any offer had to start with Mercer.

Nemec was mentioned too but that was a bit later and probably more of an off the cuff "If you won't trade Mercer then how about Nemec? No? Ok bye!" than anything seriously discussed. Calgary probably would have either done the 50% retention NJ wanted or added something pretty nice maybe even both in a trade for Nemec. An elite RD prospect is worth a lot more than a 3rd line center/winger with good middle 6 potential.

Mercer is another Zacha / Sharangovich only less productive than either on a supposedly better team. Zacha (the best of the three) got them Huala, Sharangovich + a 3rd got them Toffoli (who NJ has already traded away), Mercer isn't going to fetch more than both. There's no room for him at center, he's bounced all over the lineup and will more than likely be traded within a year or two just like Zacha and Sharky before him were.