Even with Bear, the Oil better be sending a 2020 first at least with Lucic and his horrendous contract.

NJ has the cap space to take on a player with 1-2 years tops. I just don't see the Devils taking on Lucic when they need to resign Hall, Nico, and Bratt.

Buying him out next year makes him a $4M cap hit, and Greene and Simmonds come off the books if desired. I don't think that this puts New Jersey in any cap distress. The main issue is whether two seconds and a potential replacement for Greene or Vatanen is sufficient for four years of a big cap hit.

I would trade Lucic for Zajac straight up. Then play Lucic and Simmonds on the same line and bring back that New Jersey hard hitting hockey back!

The Devils are on the upswing of their rebuild. There's no need for them to be taking on cap dumps anymore, especially if they will be on the books for the next 4 years...

You don't like the thought of two second-round picks and a possible replacement for Greene as part of your upswinging rebuild?

Not when it comes at the cost $4m for the next 4 years when you have to sign Smith, Hall, Hischier, Bratt, Hughes, Palmieri, Boqvist, etc in that time. It would be fine if it was for 1 or 2 years, but 4 years is too long since they should be serious contenders in years 3 and 4 of that buyout.

All of those players will have been re-signed by year three, so your objection is non-existent. You are also forgetting that just in the next year, the Devils are getting $16M off the books in three players, only one of whom (if any) is likely to be re-upped. Also, the cap hit for Lucic in the third year (second year of his buyout) is $2.5M and in the fifth, sixth and seventh years is $375,000. Only in the fourth year is it $4M. That's why I constructed the trade that way.