NJD is already a little thin on defense. Would send back Samberg or Heinola instead of Vasalainen.

You’re joking right? Imo Vesalainen would be an overpayment too if he hadn’t underachieved recently

NJD doesn't need another bottom-6 winger as much as they need another d-man.
If they are sending Butcher, they'd want a d-man back.

First of all, you aren’t getting A prospects like Samberg and heinola. Those guys’ floors are higher than butcher will ever be. And saying that Vesalainen is a bottom 6 guy when that’s his floor is unfair.

If this is what it takes for butcher, the jets look elsewhere. I like butcher, but if I’m giving up a heinola or Samberg, I better be getting a guy like sergachev back lol

I dont see the jets having any interest in Butcher with Heinola and Samberg on their way.
I think this is a bad deal for the jets. Adding another undersized D isnt a good idea for the jets

Please Take Butcher I’ll gladly accept that trade

NJD has a deep pipeline.
Vesalainen would be about their 6th or 7th best forward prospect. Everything I have read about him over last year says his floor is AHL, upside is middle-six.
Heinola and Samberg would be in 4th or 5th best defensive prospect.



Advanced stats show Butcher has been one of better d-men on NJD.
Some fans want 50-pt power play QB...but NJD just doesn't have the scoring yet for that to happen. It will.

Heinola and Samberg would both be your 2nd best defence prospects (after smith). I like bahl and ohktuyk (I tried) but Samberg and heinola are miles better. Samberg is drawing Colton parayko as a comparable for potential (his floor Brandon Carlo) while heinola projects to be an excellent #2/3. Bahl’s potential is a number 3 shutdown d, so kind of similar to Samberg, but also has major question marks unlike Samberg. Heinola would simply contend with smith for best d prospect in your system.

So no they would be your top prospects as they are for us. And we aren’t moving em lol.

His floor is an nhl player. He was nhl ready 2 years ago to be a bottom 6 forward but the jets don’t develop top prospects by playing them in bottom six roles when they can go back and be better (ie Connor). He was sent to the ahl to learn the North American game better and he was the only impact forward for over half the year on that team so his points are bound to decrease. He is likely going to be a top 6 guy or at least a middle - six guy.

For d-man, I was thinking 1 Smith, 2 Bahl, 3 Mukhamadullin, [4/5 Heinola/Samberg], 6 Misyul, 7 Walsh, 8 Okhotyuk. Mukhamadullin is wild card...but Smith/Bahl a tier above all others. The player I could see NJD trading for would be Logan Stanley. I have suggested a McLeod for Stanley swap on here often. Both still have plenty of a future in NHL, and both could use a change of scenery.

As for Vesalainen, no point in selling him low if his potential is still there.

I mean, your rankings are flawed imo. Heinola and Samberg are both easily better than bahl and Mukhamadullin (who was taken way too high) and i don’t think you will find anyone who disagrees.

I like Stanley, but if you rank him higher than heinola bad Samberg, that just proves my point that your rankings are flawed even more.

Yes, for that reason Vesalainen will likely not be moved

I think most hockey observers would agree with me. The most recent ranking was The Atheltic, which ranked best young players (under 23).

64. Smith
115. Bahl
125. Mukhamadullin
139. Samberg
not ranked = Heinola

Also, I wasn't saying Stanley > Samberg & Heinola. I was thinking lesser valued, hence lesser price on acquiring team. Sorry for confusion.

I’d take Heinola Faster than Vaselainen

I didn’t agree at all with that ranking. I saw that on the athletic and I was truly surprised. Heinola and Samberg, and others for that matter were easily better than many of the players ranked ahead of them. Plus, if you look at the athletic’s rankings from previous years, they are wildly different from the majority of rankings. The most reliable rankings are the hockey writers ones imo cause that’s their bread and butter. They haven’t come out yet though...