NJ will get one of the 4 D. All of them present a great fit for NJ so a big waste to spend to move up

I think power and berniers are locks for 1 and 2 so NJ will get one of hughes/Clarke

I'd do it as Anaheim for your 1st+2nd, but the Ducks will likely be taking one of Guenther or Eklund, so I wouldn't be too worried...You're likely left with ...similar to Anaheim likely wanting Drysdale last year, but knowing that Ottawa likely wanted a LD over a RD. You're likely going to be left with at least two of Hughes/Edvinsson/Clarke. I'd imagine Power/Beniers/Guenther are the most logical top 3.

Exactly what I was going to say. And the likelihood of Power, Clarke, Hughes being the top 3 picks isn't high

That is my thought as well.
But when I think about seeing Power-Hughes-Clarke go 1-2-3 (kind of our nightmare scenario)...I can talk myself into it.

Good thing we didn't trade up last year

Hopefully we don't trade up this year

Im Fine with Clarke of Hughes at 4

If they both get taken (very low chance), I wouldn't mind Eklund or Edvinsson either

I would agree...(I have Power, Beniers, Eklund, Hughes as top tier)
Really hope that is the case.

That all makes sense to me.
Curious, in retrospect...If Ducks had traded back with Devils (Drysdale for Holtz plus Mercer or Mukhamadullin), do you think Ducks would have been pleased with that?
No offense if its a no...NHL hasn't seen any of the NJD three yet.

Would you trade Holtz plus Mukhamadullin for Drysdale today?
I could certainly be talked into it...but would probably lean against considering how Muk looks now.

I probably wouldn't. Drysdale is a great player, but Devils need Holtz more. Plus, this draft has a bunch of good defensemen and lacks goal scoring wingers

Would you rather have Drysdale and Guenther or Luke Hughes and Holtz?
I would take Hughes and Holtz

I'd rather have Drysdale and Eklund probably...but all good options.

Eklund had better numbers this year as a draft eligible in the SHL than Holtz or Raymond had as D+1's. Hughes looks like a gem and I hope the Devils take him for the brother storyline alone but I'm with you, would much rather have Drysdale and Eklund.

Really cool AGM by the way, love reading hypotheticals and explanations haha

I don't know...I mean, where our prospect pool was last year, there was an absolutely gaping hole on the right side of the d-core moving forward. GMBM traded and got Axel Andersson (Who probably ends up as a bottom pairing guy, but that's fine), and then Drysdale fell to us which was pretty much the dream scenario. I don't know that I could have passed that up. I also don't think that it would have been insanely beneficial to either team.

Personally, if I did move that pick for 7OA and 20OA, I probably would have reached a bit for Lundell (I still think he ends up being one of the top 4 players picked in that draft, based on absolutely nothing other than my gut ).

Then at 20OA, I'm probably taking Justin Barron. Again, a reach, but it was a reasonably talented draft class, and with 3 picks in the first round, I think I could have afforded to wiggle a bit.

Muk looked really good this year, and probably ends up being a really solid pick, but the Ducks are (and were) really at the point that they needed to fill a gaping hole last year in their prospect pool. I wouldn't have jumped the gun on rushing him to the show though