I’m hearing more and more of this rumor Grier isn’t letting Claude negotiate with any teams about an extension for Timo prior to a trade. Again still just a rumor but it changes things if true.

Replace Bouchard with Savoie and Edmonton likely accept

If I'm the Devils, I do not entertain for a second Casey and Holtz both being included. If Holtz is in the deal, Casey, Gritsyuk, and Mukh are off the table.

Timo to canes please!

If an extension is agreed upon before the trade I could see Holtz and Casey going but again the rumor is Grier is not allowing extension talks with any team prior to a deal. If this is true, the return will be lowered

I heard he was just waiting until closer to the deadline. Even with an extension, that's an insane, unprecedented return for any player at the deadline.

Likely would have to beat a Canes bid of 1st/Nik that’s why

Casey is about as good as Nikishin. Holtz has been rated significantly higher than both of them.

Fitzgerald asked for permission already and declined.

Could just be negotiating tactic, but will players moving early this year, I am not sure time is such a luxury here. While a Meier-to-NJD once looked like a 50/50 thing…it’s probably more like a 10/90. I’d say go ahead and take Nikishin if he has been offered.

Deal

Would Carolina do that deal with no extension in place though? I think this is the large issue right now. Nobody wants to give up these huge pieces and just absorb the QO problem this summer

Never say never but 99% chance no. That’s not how this FO does business. Now maybe they do it without an extension actually in place if they get a chance to talk to Timo’s agent and they have a handshake deal in place but short of that I can’t see them including Morrow or Nikishin and they may even pivot with that first rounder to another option.

Hope it doesn’t come to that though. I understand the downside to Grier letting teams talk to him but I think the upside and potential return far outweigh it. I’m guessing he’s trying to flush out as many legit offers there are and then give those 3-5 teams a shot at negotiating assuming Timo will sign with any of them.

Grier will let people talk to him. Hes just getting legitimate offers first.

I dont love the guy but hes not stupid, hes just preventing Timo from basically finding a team and demanding to go there

Makes sense. I’m just tired of waiting and don’t want 3 more weeks of this lol. Especially after seeing some big moves go down. This one is more complicated than Bo and Tara. I’d still imagine this gets resolved ahead of deadline since they’re also talking about EK and some smaller moves. Smart tk space it out

Ok then it definitely seems that Carolina and NJ are of the same mindset. Certain players are on the table but contingent upon an extension agreement. I don’t know how much in play Winnipeg and Buffalo are here; that’s the only unknown

WPG I could see making a late push without extension. Maybe a couple other teams like caps or kraken? I’d guess Sabres would want an extension in place tho.

Personally I don’t think it comes down to no extension. If I’m Grier I’m maximizing this return as much as I can. No extension diminishes the return to the point where making a deal no longer makes sense to SJ

Is that bc you think Timo only wants to sign in NJ? Or only NJ unless he gets close to the QO on a long term?

I don’t think he only would be willing to sign here. Is there something behind him and Nicos friendship and going on vacations together, probably. But he wouldn’t turn down Carolina, he wants to be on a competitor I’m sure.

You got a source for that? Holtz has been falling this year and Nikishin has taken a big jump in the ratings.

Pronman for the Athletic had Nikishin as top 25 U23 player or prospect in the league which was higher than holtz. Wheeler had Morrow and Nikishin at 38th and 39th for drafted prospects. Holtz was 22nd. So i don’t think that is significantly higher as you say.

Even then it has little to do with what talking heads have to say and more about what the scouts have to say.

THW had Holtz 8 and Nikishin in the 50s. It mostly depends on how you view Holtz's season and what you think is reasonable to expect of him.

Here’s what it comes down to. Let’s say an extension is agreed upon prior to trade….we give up 1st/Holtz, canes give up 1st/Nik or Morrow. The offers are similar; however NJ holds the value in throwing in Casey or Mukhmadullin to put it over the top and get the deal done. Does Carolina realistically give up both Nik and Morrow? I don’t see it.

Well his season is terrible. Its more like how much you trust NJs management. They obviously dont trust him much yet, and that could be telling or it could be mismanagement

Probably not. Could see them adding Gunler and a second at most but not sure how that stacks up to Casey or Muk

He's hardly gotten looks in the top 6. He's playing extremely sheltered minutes in the two games a month they're giving him. It seems to me that they think he doesn't have anything left to learn at the AHL level, so practicing with the NHL team is what's best for him.