Mueller is the key to this because there's little about Bastien and Speers that suggests they'll be impact NHLers. In 2013 rankings, Mueller was above Shea Theodore and a number of bonafide NHLers, but he hasn't broken through.

If the scouts think Mueller is a good fit on the Habs big team this year and the 2019 is not lottery protected (no reason the NJD should slide backwards), then it's an OK deal.

It's a horrible deal. Benn stinks and Pacioretty is about to be a 30 year old UFA.

Agreed, if Max walks after a year. But from what I can tell, this is a post-July 1 deal, so presumably Pacioretty has agreed to an extension. At that point, the deal tips hard to NJ -- unless they don't make the playoffs and the pick becomes a lottery pick..