It would have cost you Bratt instead of Severson

Weegar is a top 15 defenseman

So you think 2025 1st, Hughes, Bratt and Clarke?

More like Nemac than Bratt.

Either way, glad we got outbid.

It's hard to comp Hughes/Hischier, both 20/23 year old centers locked up long term on value contracts to JH, a 29 yo ufa wing who can walk next year. Huberdeau far more accomplished, but has reached or past his best years. Maybe the two NJ players never attain similar status as JH, but I suspect they both have more value in trade market due to age, contract and position

Let's not forget Huberdau is a pending UFA who may not sign in Calgary...

I'm just wondering now, there's still lots of time until training camp, but there's a lot of teams over the cap. Does Fitzy try another trade and take advantage of a team that needs cap space?

I dont understand why this is being portrayed as such a big win for Calgary... both Huberdeau & Weegar can walk after the season. They could be left with nothing more than the pick, prospect & 1 year of JH / Weegar.

Yeah but they could also flip both of them at the deadline if they don't re sign. I mean Huberdeau at the deadline retained? That's more assets if he doesn't want to stay in Calgary.

Sure, but I suspect Fitz will ve very selective... eg would have to be a star or a real good fit that doesn't hurt cap flexibility for next season. For example, Bjorkstrand must have been very tempting, but once you look at that contract, the trade seems to offer less value for NJ, who could take one more big swing via trade or next years UFA, if they stay where they are capwise. I'm kinda of resolved to this being it now ... at least until TDL

Sure, could work if they are tanking on the playoffs

Is it safe to say Free Agents want to sign now in NJ? We got Dougie last summer even though we might have overpayed a little, but we just missed out on Gaudreau. We almost had him. You think maybe next summer we could get a big UFA?

There' always all this talk about being a destination for the big free agents but when it comes down to it more often than not it's the team that offered the most money. I think the reporting is that Columbus offered more money to Gaudreau than Devils or Islanders. Usually it comes down to a couple teams that truly make a competitive offer and they choose one of those couple.

The team is certainly exciting & living in NJ suburbs, so close to NYC must be attractive to many ... Im holding out hope that Pasta want to play on Hughes wing ... but NJ taxes are an absolute killer. To match low tax states like Texas, Florida etc, Devils have to pay considerably more just to get to even. This really matters on those big contracts ... its a progressive tax, but everything over $5 mil is hit 10.75% ... over 500k to 5 mil is nearly 9%. So financially it's real hard to choose NJ.

You gotta figure a guy making $10 mil loses approx $1 mil to NJ state tax ... that's a tough hole to compete from on UFAs

You know what, it's ok. I don't think we're there yet to make a trade like this. We're still on the right track with a great core, a solid prospect pool and a good chunk of cap space, especially next summer.

Think we need a season to establish ourselves. Don't finish bottom 10, be close to the hunt and at least respectable on the ice and some guys will look at new jersey as an up and comer and contender very soon and might see us as a more attractive option to play for.