No reason for jersey to give a top prospect for a guy with one year left when they're not even close to contending. Plus, there's no reason for Minnesota to trade him unless they can get a similar roster player in return.

I agree that Jersey probably wouldn't trade Holtz here since he's potentially elite and their top prospect, but this could be the kind of move Guerin is looking for - a top prospect who would be ready to contribute on an ELC soon (along with a 2nd or 3rd perhaps). The Wild cannot take back a roster player with really any significant cap hit due to the Parise/Suter buyouts.

Also it would be a forgone conclusion that whichever team trades for Fiala will have a handshake in place with him and his agent to sign a long term deal. In which case, it would lock him up for whenever the Devils start to compete for real.

First off Fiala is no a guy with one year left. He’s a RFA so if anyone makes a trade for him he’s signing a long term deal right away. Secondly, MN has to trade him. They can’t fit him in with their cap situation. Yes Holtz is a very good prospect but from the sound of what NJ wants is they want a forward to jump start their playoff aspirations. I don’t think they’ll wanna trade the #2 pick so that’s why Holtz is the logical guy

Exactly! Hit the nail on the head. It’s a tough trade to gauge right now because we don’t know who’s all in on Fiala. But if there are 3 teams trying to trade for him then a guy like Holtz is someone that will need to be part of the deal to get it done or the #2 pick.

As a Wild fan, I certainly hope we end up with that kind of value. I’d take Holtz and a pick in a heart beat if NJ would be willing.

Well I doubt we’d get a pick if Holtz was available to us in a trade. He’s a very good prospect. Not their best but he’d be the best on a lot of teams. Hughes would be #1. But fingers crossed for someone good or a good pick. Everyone things we won’t get much but I believe guerin has the ability to get full value in trades. And he’ll create a bidding war