First off: My valuations for this year+next 4 years
Matthews: 17 million.
Mercer: 7 million. On a bridge that walks him right to UFA of 4 years I'd expect a 4x4 deal.
Matthews makes approximately 10 mill AAV more over that time.
However, who do the devils move out.
Unless they force themselves into getting fleeced out of Bratt or Meier on a tight schedule before the deadline, every devil with a contract above 3 mill has trade protection except Jack Hughes.
Haula, Dougie, Bratt, Meier, Palat, have full veto powers.
Marino, Siegs, Hischier have 10 team NTC lists.
Not worth the cap space hassle.