Devilbrini

Hughes, Celebrini, Meier, Hischier, Bratt, Holtz, Hughes x2, Nemec, Casey, Hamilton, Swayman

That team has to win a cup at some point

You’d think/hope so but the crazy thing about hockey is it still wouldn’t be a guarantee. Anything can happen in the ploffs.

But a squad like that would presumably get the absolute maximum chance, with a long stretch as a top contender every year, and the goaltending with a high likelihood too be able to have a fantastic playoffs needed to win

Doubt Boston is trading Swayman for Mercer

Swayman might be the only goalie that I'd be okay with the Devils trading this year's 1st round pick for (as long as they don't win the lottery). But like you said I doubt Boston would consider moving him.

The irony is I prefer Mercer to the tenth pick in this draft. Eiserman or Dickinson falling to 10 seems highly unlikely. I could see Berkly Catton fall to 10, but I like Oliver Moore more than him (not an indictment of Catton). He is an exciting little bugger with offensive skill though. Watched him play twice in person including an 8-5 loss to Portland where he did a little bit of everything offensively.

Every draft has that stage where there is a distinct drop off in quality and I think that pick is past it.

I would seriously consider Mercer and the 24 first for Swayman and the 25 first, but I still think if any goaltender is traded it’s Ullmark and he should warrant something very nice in a trade. Ultimately, I don’t think teams walk in trying to trade young players with Swayman’s statistical profile with no cap pressure to do so.