Just an idea - I think this could really set the Canucks up for short and long-term success.
I see Kreider as the perfect fit with Pettersson and Boeser, for several reasons: their playing styles fit together very nicely, Kreider would be a fantastic addition for a team like the Canucks that is built on young players, many of whom are not big or strong (yet) - he brings that size, toughness and grit as well as great speed, skill and work ethic. He's the full package, although he's not an "elite" player.
There is enough depth that the top prospects (Juolevi, Quinn Hughes, possibly Jack Hughes or Kakko, depending on the draft) to grab pretty much any role, however if they all aren't ready, there's still a lot of depth.
The top 6 up front has quite a lot of skill, and there should be a sufficient amount of secondary scoring. Defensively, Stecher could continue to log upwards of 25+ minutes a night, as he continues to emerge into a very good defenceman. I would pair Hughes with Tanev, as Tanev is the Canucks' best DFD, so Hughes has more room for error with him than anyone else - as a rookie defenceman, it will happen.
IF this is not a playoff-caliber team - I think it is - there will be a lot to be excited for nonetheless. The forwards are overall quite young - the oldest player in the top 9 is Kreider, at 27. After that, in the top 9, only Baertschi and Leivo are older than 24.
Defensively, Stecher, Hughes and Juolevi are all young guys. Stecher and Hutton are smaller guys, however Stecher is in my opinion one of the best defencemen in the league in terms of defensive stick work, positioning, puck management, and zone exits. He's very underrated - there's a reason he is playing 29 minutes a night. He's also +10 on one of the league's worst teams, while mainly playing with Ben Hutton (who is -20). I don't know a lot about Juolevi. Hughes is a fantastic puck-moving defenceman, and has a lot of skill (from what I've heard, he's similar to Ekman-Larsson, Klingberg, Letang), though I'm not sure how he will fare at first defensively (which is mainly why he's with Tanev).
I see Sven Baertschi having a large breakout season next year. He has had a great year this season when healthy, hes a very fast player with lots of skill at both ends of the ice. Jake Virtanen would have a big season as well, as I t
Canucks unload the worst of their movable contracts (by that, I mean something a team will tolerate). Sutter's contract isn't pretty, and there are younger players that will be pushing for his spot.
Devils address their severe lack of depth - Sutter, when healthy, is a good defensive forward and good faceoff man. Devils have more than enough cap space to take him.
Canucks receive an excellent top-six winger, who I think would be an EXCELLENT linemate with Pettersson and Boeser. Kreider is a very hard-working, physical 200-foot player who has quite a lot of skill - he's a fantastic all-around winger.
Sorry to all the Rangers fans out there for mock-trading Kreider.
Rangers add a speedy player with upside in Boucher, and a deadline trade chip in Schaller, as well as a first and a second round pick. Kreider is a valuable player who is likely a trade chip come next season, based on the direction of the team in comparison to his age.
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