Quoting: Rob32sjsharks
While I agree I also agree with getting a top line 35+ goal scoring power forward who is 26 and hitting his prime right as your playoff window is opening up over a late 1st and a prospect who is no longer a sure fire top talent. and sharks can risk him not reaching his potential because their playoff window is still 3+ years away.
Yes, exactly! This is my logic. I mean it may be a different thing if the devils were just making small steps toward contention, but it seems like they are lurching toward that place. And as you say, he is 26, so it's not some aged vet or something.
Plus: a player of his caliber isn't made available that often. On the flip side, it's not a bad deal for the sharks. Holtz + a 1st in a deep draft plus a decent throw in. Maybe Holtz becomes Timo. But it's a maybe. Again, if we were still looking far down the line, that'd be one thing. But the ability to add a player like that without really compromising anything else?
And nobody has mentioned that top line. I mean what is the purpose of this site if not the occasional top line p*rn and that is not too shabby, no? Then a second line that could fit as some team's first line, and a third line that could be some team's second, and a fourth that as it currently stands already produces ridiculously. Add that to an already insane defensive core that has at least two pieces on the way? And a goalie whose GAA is currently second in the league but from whom we only need average/slightly above average.
It's a bold move but it's not unthinkable and I think it's a justifiable. Maybe wait until halfway through the season, 3/4 of the way, but if they are still playing at this clip then I see no reason not to make these types of moves. After all, we still have one of the highest ranked pipelines and will still have plenty of picks going forward to keep the ELC's churning.
It's all for fun though. But again, thanks for the responses I love this type of spitballing.