@Devil1122 how'd i do?

I don't think this team needs this many additions. Some of these look like adds for the sake of adds.

? - Hughes - Sharangovich needs to stay together as a "1st line"
Bratt - Nico - Zacha stays together as a "2nd line"
Wood - McCleod - Bastian needs to stay together as a "4th line" - We love Motor Mike!

Holtz swings in toggling between 3rd and 1st line minutes

Defense
Hamilton is fine
Chariot is a RD, no?

don't see the need for that Butcher trade, could just get a mid round pick for him. I would do the Laine trade in a heartbeat.

Pretty good. I think it'll take more to get Laine. Maybe add Mercer to the deal

Devils should keep Wood-McLeod-Bastian as the 4th line.

I like the Hamilton signing. If everything goes well, I could see this team making the playoffs

This is pretty good. My thoughts
1. RFAs - We would not let Bastian, McLeod, Merkley walk away. At least, we need to re-sign them for minimum exposure requirements for expansion draft.
2. Butcher - We would just keep Butcher if Chiarot is the only return.
3. Laine trade - I probably would not. The value sounds about right, as does the contract, but I'd rather spend that on d-man.
4. Hamilton - Yes, please. But doubt he leaves Carolina for Jersey.
5. Foligno - Not sure what he adds, but maybe as 1-year deal.
6. Other UFAs - like the Mrazek, Wenneberg and Armia signings. Probably add defenseman in there too on 1-year deal.

Where's the top-6 center? We're not moving Laine this offseason without getting that top-6 center.

Not to nit-pick, but what's the drive to keep Merkley?

We need to have 2 forwards and 1 d-man that meet minimum exposure requirements for expansion draft.
(Min requirements: played in 27 games this year or 54 over past two years...and signed through 2021-22).
If we want to protect Hischier, Bratt, Sharangovich, Kuokkane, Zacha, Wood, McLeod....then we expose Johnsson and one of Merkley and Bastian if they are re-signed before July 17th.
If we sign both, we can trade one to a team that needs forwards to meet same requirements.

GM Fitzgerald has also said that he purposely held onto to his 3rd retention spot for a trade after the season, before the expansion draft. That means he plans on at least one outgoing player. My best guess is that he trades a guy like Merkley between Stanley Cup finals and the pre-expansion roster freeze to a team that has too few players meeting minimum requirements.

Makes sense! Thanks for that clarification.