just an outsiders opinion. ur left side on D is pretty weak

It definitely is, but the right side is one of the best right sides in the league. I consider McNabb an upgrade over Moore, so the left side is still improved. As long as McNabb and Greene remain serviceable, there shouldn't be any issues

The devils are giving up way more than what they gave for Hall, bad deal for NJD

I agree with you for McNabb, but the Devils are desperate for an improvement at Left Defense. Would Santini and Bastian be enough for McNabb? I would prefer to keep Quenneville

You think McLeod and Wood alone would be enough to get Galchenyuk?

Yea man, even then you could add us to throw in a pick or depth guy.
As for Mcnabb, idk why you dont keep John Moore. I like him, i dont follow him very closely but i don't see much of an improvement between him and Mcnabb.
I'll correct myself, you were giving up too much for Chucky but apart from that good post!

Moore is VERY inconsistent and will probably be getting some offers that are way too good for him (Mark Fayne all over again). The Devils need a true stay-at-home Dman in order to reduce Greene's minutes, so McNabb is a big upgrade over Moore in that department

But ain't Mirco Mueller able to do that job? like would you not rather have Greene play on a third pairing and let Butcher and Mueller get top4 minutes?

Mueller has had trouble getting in over a struggling Moore and Lovejoy, so I wouldn't assume that he can jump into that role next year. Also, butcher is a very good 3rd pairing guy, but he is far away from handling 2nd pairing minutes. He gets sheltered minutes, and looks a bit overwhelmed sometimes when Hynes tries to stretch him. Mueller will start the year as the 7th Dman, and will draw in anytime someone gets injured. The hope is that he and Butcher show enough improvement during those opportunities to make Greene expendable at the deadline or the following offseason.

Also, when it comes down to finding a Dman on the left, there are really two options for the Devils:
1) trade Severson in a package to try to get a big return (OEL, Klefbom, Muzzin, Schmidt or Theodore)
2) keep Severson and trade Santini for a cheaper, stay-at-home Dman on a friendly contract (McNabb or Forbort)

I'm not married to either idea, and I have an earlier post where the Devils trade Severson to get Theodore. Also, the Galchenyuk trade is something I see the Devils trying if they are unable to sign a top FA forward like Tavares, Kane, Perron or JVR

Montreal would never trade Galchenyuk for McLeod and Wood. Not even throwing in Jacobs and a 2nd.

Why would we never do it? Chucky has been under producing and will become UFA in two seasons. Mcleod is a big center that has top-6 potential and Wood is a very energetic LW that can play on a third line. No way that's a bad trade for the habs, it's even ripping off the devils.

I guess we could say Galchenyuk is under producing. If we ignore that he has been dicked around and given 4th line minutes ever year until recently. He was top 15? top10 in scoring while playing center last year before his injury? Then suddenly he isn't good enough to be center again despite being far more capable than Drouin in that position. Not to mention he is the highest producer from his draft year, with only Forsberg pushing him.

Maybe I undervalue McLeod or Wood, McLeod is still a question mark at best (understandably Devils had more than enough centers to let him develop in the OHL longer), as he has proven nothing yet. Wood's two seasons in the NHL he has 17 and 29 points respectively.

So forgive me if I am not onboard with trading our best forward most nights, for a "maybe" and a "meh".

Well Chucky's draft class is really weak let's not forget that
But i get your point and i agree, i like Chucky and i'd keep him before Pacio and princess Drouin but i really like Mcleod (him and Brown were the guys i hoped the habs picked in 2016) and i really feel like he's gona be a good top-6 center in this league so maybe replace Wood with like Mirco Mueller to help out our d-core. But then again i'd rather trade Pacio or Drouin before Chucky.

Yeah, I get the weak draft argument, but that can't be held against him. We got the best guy available (arguably). Can't fault him for not having better competition that year.

As for Drouin, I don't think Montreal pigeon holing him into center his first year on a new team was doing him any favours. It would be different if he was a natural center, but its clear Galchenyuk is better at center.

I chose Galchenyuk because the Devils have been linked to him more than any other Hab. The Devils will try to make a splash in free agency, and trades will be the backup option

I have also heard Devil's interest in Galchenyuk. But I have also heard that Montreal isn't interested in trading him for just anything. I just don't see Montreal making this deal. Dealing a young proven skilled forward for a question mark and a depth forward. McLeod and Devils' 2018 1st? I would still be hesitant, but its more desirable I think.

I was thinking the exact same thing.