Those vegas prospects are way worse than those devils prospects

Who should Vegas offer instead?

I think the package from the Devils is gonna be Mukhamadulin, Zetterlund, 2023 1st, 2024 2nd

They're worse. But i don't think way worse is a great way to put it. Muk is definitely the best one out of all 4. I think if it's Vegas you see 2 firsts and a solid prospect (Chayka, Sapovaliv, Brisson, Korczak). I think if it's NJD you see Zetterlund + 23 1st + Casey/Muk. I just don't think Vegas has that tier of young NHL player unless it's Hague.

I guess backtracking thinking about it maybe Hague + Spovaliv/Brisson + 23 1st is a bit better of a comp.

That would be a win for San Jose.

Faber
Mukhamadullin
Casey






Chayka
Sapovaliv

Any trade where they keep Holtz and Casey is a huge win for the Devils

The pick is assumed at this point. Zetterlund seems like the most common name out there. And probably a good bet the last piece is a dman considering SJS current pipeline could use another blueliner. Could also see Bahl, Okhotiuk or Walsh as that last piece as it’s been reported that SJS wants young NHLers or near-ready prospects. Each are further along than Casey or Mukhamadullin (but less upside).

Then last piece is whether SJS takes a contract back or retains on Meier. I would think, with his $10 million salary, they’d rather take Johnsson and his $750,000 salary.

So maybe something like…

Meier+[AHLer]

Zetterlund+[dman]+Johnsson+1st

What if the Devils end up spending two first round picks?

My hope is something like Zetterlund + Casey/Okhotiuk/Walsh + Johnsson + 1st. I’d much prefer to hang onto Mukhamadullin.

Adding Bonino to deal would be nice bonus too.

Vegas really only has 2 good prospects left, Brisson and Cormier, and even at that point those guys are more in the tier of Shakir/Casey than they are Holtz.
After that vegas' prospects start becoming C tier guys more comparable to the likes of Vilen/Clarke/Bahl/Walsh/Foote etc

Vegas is going to need at least multiple unprotected 1sts to get this done, they simply don't have the prospect or young roster player capital to get this done from what I can see

I'd be very surprised. I'd still be happy to keep Holtz and Casey.

I don’t know if San Jose is an analytics-driven organization or not, but I imagine some teams will view Walsh as step above those other guys since his 5v5 fancy stats have been so good over last couple years. I believe he was GF% or xGF% leader among dmen in AHL last year and Hockey Prospecting has him ~75% of becoming a star, only behind Hughes and Nemec.

I'd really like to give Walsh a shot at RD3 next year assuming Nemec isn't ready

They said he was ready last year when Subban went down, but hit had covid exposure just after being called up, and missed his chance. I know he had an even-strength slump recently (but uptick in PP production)…but can’t imagine he won’t be ready to start next year.

Very fair when you list the grouping that way. I'm not too familiar with VIlen, Clarke, or Walsh. But Foote and Bahl would probably be a similar tier to Korczak/Sopavaliv in my mind at least for what's that worth. I think they're still fairly solid prospects, but there's also certainly tiers. Personally excluding the guys i'm not very familiar with I think in order it would be something like Muk, Brisson, Casey/Cormier, Bahl/Korczak, Foote. I think Bahl/Korczak are fairly safe to be 3rd pairing guys, and Casey/Cormier both fit the mold of smaller puck movers who are generally very boom or bust. Muk's pretty safe to be an NHL player and his size and tools certainly give him alot of projectability.

Walsh is an older RHD, who profiles very well analytically, could probably play as an effective 3rd pairing dman right now in the NHL, but is obviously blocked by Hamilton Marino Severson
Graeme is lighting up the AHL right now and is nearly 22
Vilen is a very young later round pick but looked really good at WJs and is looking like he could end up being a steal

I would probably have Cormier slightly above Casey, but Bahl in the same tier with them. I’d trust the guys who have done it for more years, on different stages, and are playing pro.