Quoting: CD25
Frankly, I don't know why you think so. NJ gets a goalie that can actually carry them through rough patches, all for the price of going from 10 OA to 26 OA. And the goalie comes with a price tag that allows NJ to make other moves to improve the team... The 10 OA is, in all likelihood, not going to make you a better team before at least 2-3 years
Now maybe you think 2-3 years is a better timing than now for NJ, and that's ok. But "totally crap", really?
NJ would be trading for Jacob Markstrom of 2022-23... because he played insulated behind a Darryl Sutter coached team that actually plays well on the board and in front of their net, and he still was horrible. Now that he's playing for nothing this year, oh well he's "okay" again, not great, not MVP... just okay... and then Tanev gets moved, and he sucks ass again.
I will never forget 2022-23... he was horrible, and I just know that's going to be the Markstrom the Devils trade for. Most he's worth is a pick from 22-35 this year just because when he plays at his highest, he's a starting goaltender. NJ is the wrong team for this guy... they don't insulate their goaltenders worth crap and he needs insulation in the worst kind of way or he gets down on himself and starts to really suck... NJ meanwhile have a bunch of 4-5 type defense on their team and the only guy right now who can actually handle top 3 minutes adequately is Hamilton.
NJ trading for a goaltender is a waste of assets until they acquire a defenseman and some forwards who can help insulate the crease with good play on the boards and in front of their net. Until then, they need Nemec to advance two year, Luke to advance four years, and Siegenthaler to actually start winning battles and handling bigger minutes. Bahl also has to play more aggressively and break plays up with his length a lot more.