That is why Devils are considering trading a pick that is never traded. To add an established young player to play with our young core. Guys like Farrell, Norlinder, Guhle do little for us. We have a ton of similar prospects in our system.

Caufield, Suzuki is the level of return they are expecting back. Look at what other teams are proposing for that pick.

It may be fine on value, but doesn’t really address any needs. Dealing 2nd overall makes little sense in a sum-of-the-parts deal. Should one piece coming back, two max.

NOBODY is trading young star talent for a pick. Period. Regardless of fantasy posts. THIS is the type of deal you'll get. Guys on the verge. An equal gamble.

Are the Devils going to trade Jack for Bedard?? Will you trade a for sure talent for a maybe????

That's beside the point.
What the community on here is trying to tell Habs fans and others making trades for the #2 pick is that no one trades top 5 picks ever.
It just doesn't happen, probably because teams don't want to give star players for picks yes.
But that doesn't mean teams with top picks trades them away for many different lesser assets.

With Dallas' cap situation, I can't see them making a deal for Petry, unless there is some significant retention and the cost to get him is low. With Benn's contract being an albatross at this point (and Seguin's too, although he is still producing something offensively), young players coming up from the minors and filling out the roster with guys making half of what Petry does is just about the only way the numbers will work to field a competitive team until Benn comes off the books.

Besides the point?? That is EXACTLY. Bullseye pin point hallelujah the point.

NJD will get A heavy contract for a player in his prime. A player approaching RFA, on a team folding to rebuild. Young for sure assets with a decade of control and great futures. OR select the pick.

Lets be real here.

Fine, I'll be real.

Cooley > Your package

Cooley = Caufield

Caufield > Your package

Exactly.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.
We're talking about the #2 pick here.
And this below is from NJD persepctive:

Cooley > Your package

Cooley = Caufield

Caufield > Your package

It's not like I'm saying that Montreal should trade Caufield for #2, if I were Kent Hughes I'd say no to that trade.
But I'm saying that is probably the only way Kent Hughes will get the #2 pick that'd make sense for NJD to do.
From NJD perspective it doesn't make sense to trade #2 for your suggested package, they'd rather have Cooley (or Slafkovsky or Nemec etc).

I wouldn't do the NJD trade if I were the Habs. All the others I like though!

I think people are getting too caught up in the hype of this draft. Everyone has pretty much agreed this is one of the weaker draft classes. Not that there aren't star payers to be had this year, but consensus all the same it's weaker compared to other years.
If any of the current projected top 3 (Wright, Cooley, Slafkovsky) were in the 2021 draft, or even in next years 2023 draft, how would they rank from their peers with only a 1 year age gap? I don't think any of this years top 3 would crack the top 3 of all three years (maybe Wright, but again, very debatable). From a forward position there's Beniers and MacTavish last year, Bedard and Michkov next year.
I'm willing to bet if you asked American scouts who'd they'd select between Beniers or Cooley. All would pick Beniers without hesitation.


The point I'm trying to make is.... don't buy what you deem the value of a "2nd overall pick" is, but the value of the player you'd select in that position. If we all agree Wright will go 1st overall. Is Slafkovsky or Cooley really worth x2 first round picks, what will probably be a top end 2nd round pick, Guhle former 1st rd pick who looks more like a sure bet every day and Farrell possible gem prospect? (Not counting Drouin... doesn't add much trade value anyways....) I don't see it.

I don't disagree. Mainly was trying to thwart NJD. The generic under value anything Habs here is fun to squash sometimes.

Thanks for the reply.

Exactly.

Guys are offered for top-5 picks all the time. (Ie Meier for #4 last year). Habs fans are treating it as if we had to dump the pick.