There have been some interesting ACGM scenarios moving Alex DeBrincat to New Jersey. But the prices being suggested and getting a little far-fetched. A number of reasons why:
First…. DeBrincat is not the type of winger NJD needs or is looking to add this off-season. Our priorities for the position are adding (a) a net-front player; (b) a puck retriever that can battle in the corners; (c) a little more shot-blocking from wing; (d) a little more physicality. DeBrincat is an excellent player, but is much more of a want than a need for us.
Second… top-5 picks do not get moved often. In fact, in the cap era, a top-5 pick has never been moved for a player. You would have to go back to the 2001 trade between Senators and Islanders when Yashin was sent to NYI to find anything that resembles the prices being suggested today.
Third…Wingers grow on trees. Sorry, but they do. There are always plenty available and teams should never overpay for them. Just this off-season, Devils have been linked to Gaudreau, Boeser, Forsberg, Fiala, Tkachuk, Garland, Pastrnak, DeBrincat and more (mostly speculation at this point). If there will be a bidding war, it will be over the #2 pick (after all, there is only one of those).
Fourth…the Blackhawks got a great return from Tampa Bay in the Hagel deal. But salary cap had a lot to do with that price as Hagel had 3 years x $1.5 million. DeBrincat makes $6.4 million this year and will likely get $2-3m raise next summer. Additionally, two late 1st round picks is no where near the value of a 2nd overall selection (look up any draft pick trade value chart).
Fifth…listen to comps. History can be a guide to the future, so use previous trade returns to build something this year. It doesn’t matter so much to me which comp you use. None will be perfect. But all of them together will help predict what the market could pay for a player (Patrik Laine, Dany Heatley, Rick Nash, Tyler Seguin, Marian Gaborik, Phil Kessel, James Neal, Scott Hartnell, Artemi Panarin, Mark Stone, Ryan Kesler, Jeff Skinner, Ilya Kovalchuk, etc….there are many to chose from).
Here are few examples of Cat-to-NJD trades from other users on ACGM:
I have a hunch that if you swapped NJD to the central and CHI to the metro, NJD is fighting for a playoff spot and CHI ends up last in that division.
NJD is moving up and getting better but they weren’t competing for a playoff spot in the central in the central this year. Basically every place in the central finished with more pts and wins than the metro, with The exception of WSH over DAL for 4th place, and PHI in last place. The central had 5 playoff teams.
NJD is moving up and getting better but they weren’t competing for a playoff spot in the central in the central this year. Basically every place in the central finished with more pts and wins than the metro, with The exception of WSH over DAL for 4th place, and PHI in last place. The central had 5 playoff teams.
To be fair, the Central has 5 playoff teams only because the Pacific sucks and Vegas completely choked.
I’m thinking rather simple: Debrincat for 2nd overall. I do agree his play style not a great fit. But his timeline is a good fit, better than any other big name out there. I think that’s where the rumours are coming from.
Only downside: He’s an RFA next year and will demand A S*IT LOAD OF MONEY
I just don't think the Devils should give up so many futures for a guy that be a UFA in two seasons. The Cat isn't going to change the fortunes of the Devils next seasons.
Heck for 3m more signing a great UFA like Gaudreau long term and keep your assets.
Marner - year older. 138g and 455 points with an extra year
Cat- 160g & 307 points
Marner is the better all around player without question but Cat is the better goal scorer.
It does help Marner's case the fact that he plays with the best goal scorer in the sport right now. It's not his job right now to be scoring goals, his job is to create places for Matthews.
It does help Marner's case the fact that he plays with the best goal scorer in the sport right now. It's not his job right now to be scoring goals, his job is to create places for Matthews.
its not like cat is playing with nobodies too. patrick kane is still a 100 ish point player even since cat joined the league.
its not like cat is playing with nobodies too. patrick kane is still a 100 ish point player even since cat joined the league.
Absolutely point is they are somewhat comparable. You’d never trade Marner for 2oa. You’d want many more pieces. Not saying the cat is Marner but he is in the ballpark.
Absolutely point is they are somewhat comparable. You’d never trade Marner for 2oa. You’d want many more pieces. Not saying the cat is Marner but he is in the ballpark.
i dont know, i feel i would put cat like a tier lower. but i feel this is getting sidetracked a lot, there is probably better comp for debrincat than marner. and its also a different situation team wise too. maybe they would trader maner for 2nd overall if they were a rebuilding team like the hawks. maybe you get something else on top of 2nd overall, but i think its something like zacha, dont think you would get another prenium asset.
I'd add a #6 and it's not intended to be mean, but more realistic...NJD are a bad team. Worse than the Hawks! So it's not like they're contending next year or likely even the year after. NJD needs to take their time and just be happy with what they have.
The Hurricanes are the team that should trade for the cat. They need a goal scorer, They're trying to win now, and have a really deep farm system too.
Devils have been bad in recent years, but last year was much more a product of bad goaltending. Our top two guys (three of you count Corey Crawford) were out. Our 3rd (Wedgewood) had to be put on waivers since our #1 wouldn’t say he was hurting. We had 8 different goalies suit up, 7 start games.
That is really the hole they should be trying to plug. DeBrincat is just fun to talk about, but not really a need.
jnowariak, NHLfan10506 and Devil liked this.
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