Devils would accept imo if it's the 2025 1st or is playoff protected

Delusional.

Yes

no. please don. don't do this.

Uhh what??? Bruh, be serious. Think it through again.

You wouldn't trade Buch + Leddy for Guentzel and 2 1sts? Granted, it's probably too late to do these flips people like to talk about. But that could very easily equate out to a massive haul and would have no long term committment to retention beyond this year. I don't see a real downside here especially since NJD isn't a guarantee to make the playoffs.

Mokumboi is an idiot don't waste your energy responding to his nonsense.

I wouldn't say that. I know what he would prefer as a return, and I would prefer that as well. I'm just not sure it's out there. This is a very lopsided deal though, even if it makes us noncompetitive next year.

It's two late 1sts, one deferred, and a UFA who is going to want more than Buch asks us for. If it was Krug, then okay. Leddy has actually been worth his paycheck this year, and I envision him as a fantastic 2nd pairing guy moving forward. Also, Guentzel is great, but he's certainly not as physically involved as Buch, which is a direction I'm not wanting to go back in. So no, I would not utilize Buch as a prime asset in this manner. I'm sure others will feel differently, but I'm not judging trades on straight "how much value do we get?" - I'm weighing the opportunity cost of everything. And the opportunity cost tells me there's a better way to spend Buch if we have to (which we don't).

If I have to lose Buch, I'm asking for exactly what I want. And if Guentzel goes early enough today, he'll be the only prime forward to chase. I'm not settling or trying to make extra work to finally get somewhere. They would need to come to me, bearing lovely gifts. Or I'll just keep him. He might even be more valuable in the offseason, when most every team can afford to chase him. That would unlock some amazing D prospects, too, ones most of these contenders do not have to offer.