I think both teams decline. Also, why trade Dougie anyway? He was on pace for another 65-70 point season and he'll be a very good 2nd pair defenseman next year.

Sure the Devils can use another d-man, but they really need to prioritize goaltending.

No chance in hell we move dougie while retaining for that ugly coleman deal and a rental

Gotta think nj declines this all day long

6th on the Devils in points, on pace for 43 plays one of the best defensive wings in the league. Kinda tough to call that an ugly deal.

After the retention
Calgary gets: 30 year old norris contender RIGHT dman at 7 mill
NJD gets: 32 year old middle 6 winger at 6.9 mill.

That's not even in the same stratosphere

Where’d I say it was? I simply said it’s far fetched to call that Coleman deal ugly.

4 years of term on a 32 year old middle 6 winger at 5 mill is ugly

Calling it 4 years to fit your point is disingenuous at best. Once again, 6th on the Devils in points, would be nearly tops on the Devils roster in terms of limiting chances and goals against. Borderline egregious to call 4.9 until he’s 35 ugly.

4 years of term at 5 on an older middle 6er with significant trade protections is ugly.

By moneypuck he's at 54.4% xgoals share.

Palat, Nico, Bratt, Toff, Mcleod, Haula, Hughes, and Lazar all rank higher than that. Only Meier (who had a very slow start), Mercer (again a very slow start), Holtz (had his averages cranked down playing half the year with AHL scrubs), and Bastian are lower.

In terms of devils forwards going forward I'd rather take:
Definitely: Hughes Nico Mercer Meier Bratt Toffoli
Probably: Haula Holtz Palat Mcleod

I just don't see a space where paying 5 mill until he's 36 for a guy who would probably slot in on line 4 isn't an ugly contract

I'd love to have Hamilton back, and I don't think you need to retain on the guy. I think this trade would be a huge win for CGY. Hamilton also wasn't a great fit in the CGY locker room the last go around, so I don't think they have the appetite to revise such a deal.

What I think would be a more even swap is Weegar + 2nd for Hamilton.