swap Meier and Jesper cap hits and this is more reasonable.

Do. Not. Trade. Holtz.

Yes agreed, this was sort of a back-of-the-envelope thing. Just a proof of concept. Switch it up as you see fit.

OK, fine with that too. But then they need to play him and he needs to start showing he can play up to the level we expect. I'm 50/50 on that happening.

Some young players take longer to develop. Holtz will be fine. Be patient. Devils will be happy they were.

True, true. It would also be beneficial for cap purposes also. But it's a weird spot that the devils are in, where they seem to want to keep a good thing going (and why not). I think Holtz will have his shot when Tatar most likely moves out. Thanks for the feedback!

I think Holtz was just called back up, yes? Hopefully the kid gets some quality minutes and PP time. Devils are rolling. Confidence is high. It's a good situation for a young kid to come into.

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.

I'd do it of Meier signs below $7m.

Not at $8m+

Meier is an excellent player but UFA's are unpredictable. I'd hate to see NJ lose a young stud like Holtz for a rental.

Edit: sorry. I didn't realize Meier is an RFA

Agreed. And awesome profile name btw.

Thanks man. 😁

I'm starting to come around to the idea of trading for Meier in large part due to how ridiculously well he's playing this season.
Iirc he's leading the league in shots, shot attempts, shots from high danger chances and producing at a very strong level.
I still think trading Holtz + 1st + other piece is way too much for Meier however.
One of Holtz or the 1st should be dropped from any Meier trade.


Meier is technically an RFA yes.
But given that no GM in the league (other than Grier) would sign him to his 10m QO, he's effectively a pending UFA and should be priced as such if traded, albeit a very good one.

I'd be pretty shocked if they did. And I'd be shocked if the cost for Meier is a blue chip prospect AND a first.

It could be a Nieuwendyk/Iginla scenario. NJ gets Meier who puts the Devils over the top to win a Cup like Niewy did for Dallas. Maybe not this season. But eventually. Sharks get the younger Holtz who emulates Iginla and has a long and productive career. Both teams win.

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.

Look, add/remove what you need but as I said, this is a proof of concept thing. The Devils COULD add a player like Meier to the lineup. and they'll need to replace guys like Tatar and (eventually) Palat. As far as this years pick: I am never of the opinion that teams should throw away picks or stop paying attention to drafting. It is always important. But at the same time, our focus can shift. We have drafted high for YEARS. We can afford to part with a pick if it means young, proven, HIGH END talent to buttress our first line.

I suppose maybe you could throw some other possible picks in there instead of Holtz, who knows.

But again, my point is that it is an acquisition we could make with what we have without throwing off the chemistry we already are showing, or draining our prospect pool or anything like that. It's not a short term move either. It lines up not only with the core but also with guys like Hamilton and Palat, and that has to be taken into consideration.

I know what you are saying, and of course you can rearrange the pieces as you see fit. When I look at these Armchair GM deals, they tend to be homers trying to get away with larceny. I'd refer to this:



Add or remove as you need. But I'd ask you, which would you rather have, the team as currently constructed, with Holtz, or the version I present? It's a crapshoot either way, there are no guarantees. But I think this is a rare opportunity of a deal and one we could regret missing out on. Especially because, as good as we are, I'd love that one more high-end goal scoring piece. If that is Holtz, great. but that's not as much of a sure thing and given our breakout, we have to start thinking in terms of sure things, not gambles (and again, the trade would benefit both teams. If anything, have the sharks send back a second or something).

as do I. your logical and think big picture and are planning for now and the future, and this just makes sense for both teams to not at least consider it. especially with Mercer playing so well Holtz isn’t as vital as he once was. and while i like Holtz to me he is a 20-30 goal 65-70 point at beast player but still something the sharks don’t have on their cloud or in the pipeline on the right side.

Sure. I want to trade for Meier. I just dont think it will cost a first round pick AND a bluechip prospect. Simply doesn't happen in the NHL

I still don’t understand why people undervalue Meier so much on this website. he is what every GM wants!!!
young (26) technically still under team control next year even if it’s a high QO and he is also arbitration eligible so that is another route you could take to resign him. plus he is coming of a 35 goal campaign and is on his way to another 35-40 goal season this year! is fast and has muscle and good size and stays healthy.

and 26 year old 35 goal scoring power forwards don’t become available for trade often in the NHL. Holtz has skill but isn’t proven and his ceiling if he reaches it is less than what Meier is producing now so him and a 1st is fair value.

How is that fair value when DeBrincat, Fiala, Mark Stone, Taylor Hall, Claude Giroux all got way less than that?

Dude LOTS of wingers with offensive profiles like Meier become available and none go for a bluechip and first

We aren’t undervaluing Meier. You’re overestimating his trade value based on historical comparisons

Nj isn't getting Timo without Holtz in the package. Plain and simple. Grier wants Holtz because he and Eklund are best mates and have prior chemistry. It won't happen without Holtz.