Montembeault will be available only when Jacob Fowler joins the team in the NHL

Not going to touch the Calgary deal, but:

-I don't see Montreal making that trade. Not that the value is off, but Montembault isn't really available (and the reason Allen was traded is tied to that). Montreal would have to really like a player at the Devil's pick to make the trade.
-Even with a NMC, Gavrikov feels likw he'd have a lot more trade value than that.

I'm also not sure Mercer signs a contract like that given how he's spoken about by Devil's fans.

Understandable on the Montembault side, was more so looking at value and cap fit. Mercer may get up to 6x8 on a long term deal, I think anything above that NJD looks to bridge at 3 years sub 4 mill

I don't know if Gavrikov would have more value than that. Full NMC, 1 year rental at 6 mill, LAK needing to clear cap space. I can't see a team offering much more for 1 year of him.

Almost all projections of Mercer's contract don't really fit that get. It may something like 6x6 or around 4 for 2 to 3 years, but if he's as good as I've heard then its unlikely he'd get less. Even without factoring in the rising cap.

And this is the post flat-cap era, there will be a lot more interest on a top-4 D with Gavrikov's playstyle on an expiring deal. He'd have to ask out and only want to play in New Jersey for that return.

6x6 doesn't check out in my eyes after the season Mercer has had and him being pre arbitration. He doesn't have that leverage. 3 years x4 mill maybe could be a possibility.

Gavrikov signed his deal as a market value UFA for 2 years. in the offseason, with an NMC and cap constraints taking away virtually all of LAKs leverage, I don't see who would pay more. I'd expect most teams to target UFAs that can be had for free.

Then he won't sign a deal that pays for UFA years. Arbitration rights is more leverage, it doesn't mean he has to sign for UFA years.

And almost two thirds of the league will have 20+ mil in cap space this offseason. even accounting for players to re-sign, the market for a guy like Gavrikov would be more robust than a 3rd.

What's the market for Gavrikov at 5.875 when some of the alternatives are: Noah Hanifin, Pesce, Skjei, Roy, Brodie, Montour, Demelo, Tanev, Martinez, Walker, etc etc for free?

NHL players like security. Mercer may prefer a bridge, he may prefer a long term deal. NJD will likely opt for wherever the value is best and work the rest of the roster from there

the salt

Remove the first going to New Jersey and we still say no. We have our tandem for the future. It’s Primeau and Montembeault, unless Fowler, Dobes or Volokhin steal their spot in a couple of years