There are 22 names on the Cup, it doesn't mean that they are the best 22 players in the league. Doesn't even mean that they are the best 22 players on the roster. And it is 100% irrelevant as to whether someone else could/should bump any of them from the lineup the next year.

If goals were all that mattered, then your Pelly point would be valid. But they don't. So it isn't.

The biggest cliche is that defense wins Cups. So having 7 goals doesn't fit that. Pelly also has a whopping 3 assists in 48 playoff games. You've been reading too much of you know who's posts and drinking the "*insert one stat here* is all that is important" koolade.

This will be a 55ish pick... A lot of people seem to think of a 1st as a top 10 type pick, a 2nd as a #30, etc. #55ish isn't anything all that special.

Big price for a 4th liner center, Nashville setting the market price early.

I'd imagine this was a deal where the Devils figured they weren't going to get a better offer for Boyle so they made it today. Seems pretty pricey considering there's going to be a decent sellers market this year.[/quote

Really, I don't see many other Boyle type players being available. It'll be a sellers market this year b/c there are still so many teams who think they can make the playoffs, thus, fewer players will be available. That's what NSH is banking on when they stepped up for Boyle.

I like Boyle. His size and experience will help NSH. NSH also has a need with Watson gone. The price is very steep for a 4th liner...rental...but whatever. NSH as a team is better tomorrow than it was yesterday.

Boyle is not just a "4th liner" though. Heading into the playoff run and playoffs themselves, I would rather have Boyle in the lineup than Boyd, Burakovsky, Dowd, Jaskin, Smith-Pelly, or Stephensen.

Imo just seems like a 3rd could have got him

The 2nd round pick has been the price of quality 4Cs for some time now. In fact Boyle was traded for a 2nd round pick 2 years ago. Pleckanec was also also traded for a 2nd last year. Fair deal.

Not many 4th line Centers can play the PP and PK and be on pace for 22G, which would be a new career high, btw. Boyle also brings intangible value to the Preds. He's been a constant playoff fixture on several diff teams, brings experience and he's well liked everywhere. NSH desperately needs PP help and Center depth in general. Great pickup for NSH.

Obviously they tried to pay only a 3rd rounder!!! Shero would've just held on to him for another couple weeks.

I agree it helps Nashville. Both teams achieve what they are looking to do. I always seem to side with the team that wins in the long term future. Losing a 4th line 34 YO pending UFA doesn't really do much to NJD and the 2nd should benefit them greatly. Nashville gets their 4th line center and looks solid down the middle now. They are trying to win now and don't sacrifice anything that will help them during their run.

Haha obviously

It's not as obvious to everyone! Do you think Chiarelli tried to pay Koskinen less than $4.5M AAV, or did he just overpay him w/o negotiating? The latter is actually completely plausible. LOL

I assume chiarelli just has a dart board and just throws darts at random number amounts

He's pretty bad at darts, too.