So pretty much giving up your best D for likely nothing. Smooth

Not really. If this is the only way the Devils can get Karlsson by offering him the 8 year contract, they should do it. Butcher becomes a redundancy with Karlsson and Smith coming up. Also Severson and Vatanen are better than Butcher .

First off, I don't want eight yrs of EK! You think Andy Greenes contract looks crappy, the end of that is atrocious. You could get Trouba for that same pkg.
If Sami does not sign move him with adds for a Top LHD. Your top D pairings are set.
XXX-Trouba
Butcher-Sevs
Davies-Carrick
Jacobs as the extra

Move Santini and Mueller and a bad contract for one of the shiny new toys Tor has to cough up.

Edit: I'd still move Q to Edm for Bear! Add a pick if you had too. Move onto fixing the feds, Ds done!

Yeah Karlsson isn't signing with the Devils

Good!

I'd much, much, much rather make a play for stralman, send no assets and shore up some D in free agency. Smith is coming up, Davies should be soon , maybe trade assets to acquire one of carolinas d, no $12M d please