PIT declines.

Really? I've seen this mock from multiple PIT fans, that's the only reason why I did it

Maybe…we haven’t really seen anything that indicates we could be sellers (maybe a little on UFAs, but not anyone with term). And a Marino deal could be plausible in off-season as we will have Hamilton returning, Casey on the way…and there are replacement options in UFA.

If anything…add Ceci to deal, so at least NJD has the extra body.

I'd be more than happy to add Ceci, I just assumed most NJ fans would be against me adding him due to the 2nd year of his deal

That’s a ridiculous overpay for Marino

I'm aware but it solidifies our top-4 for the next 2-3 years. We would have a top-10 d-core in the league and wouldn't have to worry about fixing the D. Bourgault and Broberg will both end up being AHL guys if they stay in Edmonton and the picks don't matter since we're going to be competing. I really like this deal for us even if we are overpaying

In a more realistic scenario…I could see Broberg as a guy Fitzy would like. He often describes the dmen he wants as “long, mobile”…and “similar age to our core”.

Toffoli for Broberg + cap space type of deal is one I could see him offering.

If Marino wanted to play in EDM he would have.

From the research I did before making this ACGM it seems that he left for two reasons:

1. There was a log-jam within Edmontons RD prospects at the time
2. They wanted him to play another year of college

Considering he would be getting top-4 minutes on a cup contending team within the long-term future I think he would be at least more open to playing in Edmonton, he also doesn't have a NTC or NMC so Edmonton at least has a chance to sell the idea of him playing there

or maybe he didn't want to be part of the tire fire management that is EDM.
My guess is he'd stay in NJ. It's not like NJ isn't turning into a playoff team.

Lmao ok I mean Edmonton has lost to the cup champs in back to back years, are a top 5 team in the league and literally have the best player of the past 10 years. When he was drafted by them they were a tire fire but to call them that now is just pure ignorance. I'm not saying he wants out of NJ but NJ has a butt load of RD prospects coming up and probably want to move him if an offer like this comes their way.

best player in the last 10 years..... no.

They are still a tire fire in management. That has never changed. Just because McDavid carried them on his back doesn't mean management has improved. Which is how you end up with Campbell as your goalie.

Fact is he didn't want to play there. Had little to do with a "log jam."
Lets not pretend EDM is some place guys want to end up. It's like CBJ. It has a hard time getting people to go there and stay there.

I mean yeah he has been, from 2017-2024 he has been the best player in the league. Has he not? All-time Crosby has been better obviously but as of recent he has been the better player

Edmonton's success isn't due to just Mcdavid, again you seem to have no idea what you're talking about. He had like no goals and 9 points in 16 games during their win streak, within the playoffs depth has also consistently come up big time. They have become a sound and solid team in the NHL. Also yeah Campbell is rough but are we going to ignore how Skinner has become a strong starter for them in Campbell's absence? Every single team has a bad contract, it's not just Edmonton. To call them a "tire fire" for one bad deal is just stupid.

Is there any research that supports him not wanting to come back? From what I read it was due to the log-jam on the right side, not because of their condition.

Obviously Edmonton is a bottom 5 destination but over the past few years players who have signed or been traded there (Kane, Ekholm, Hyman, Kulak and more) have had lots of success and other players recognize that. The only two times a player has rejected a trade to Edmonton is because they are based in Canada, not because of the team they are.

You got a lot of recent bias, your talking about a 10 year period where Crosby won two cups and McDavid has 0. Matter of fact a lot of that time EDM wasn't even in the playoffs.
He's put up more points than other people but that doesn't make you the best player in the last 10 years. There are many more guys who could claim that, MacKinnon, Kucherov being another two.

Just like no goals and 9 points doesn't mean he didn't carry the team.
At the end of the day, when he played bad, the team wasn't winning. If he does not have a good game the rest of the team sinks. No matter how you want to put it, he carries the team on his back. Just look at the beginning of the year.

You seem to think the same management has magically changed. It hasn't. It's still bad. Winning masks a lot of things, but it's still there.
Signing Kane isn't exactly a "plus" for either EDM or management. If anything it goes to show the poor judgement that still exists there.
Fact is management is still bad and that won't change till it does. It's not just pointing out "one bad deal".

Either way, there is no arguing this. If Marino wanted to be there he would be. He didn't.