Why do other team's Ideal Offseasons include trading away their old crappy expensive players for ours (NJ) younger and promising that fit our timeline? No, the 2nd rounder doesn't make up the difference.

Devils have zero interest in Kassian. Decline..

If that's what the price is to sign Ilya than the leafs do that but CJ said hes looking for a deal around 4-5M so no way he takes 1.6

For one, Kassian isn't a dead contract, 39 year old grinder with a 8.9 million dollar deal. He still has value, can play, and his 3.2 million dollar contract expires relatively soon. Plus, he put up 1 less point then Mcleod in 20 less games, while being a physical force. I think this deal works out well for Both teams. The oilers get a young guy with decent potential. While the devils (with much more cap space then needed) take a deal that isn't as bad as you think while getting a guy who can put up 20-25 points, and be a body guard for their younger stars. Andthey get an added second round pick to go towards their rebuild.

Why not? They're missing that big physical presence and body guard for their young stars, and Kassian showed this year that he can still do that that and be a 20-25 point guy. Even if they had no interest in Kassian I'm sure the 2nd round makes up for that, No?

So we are basically losing our 2nd best defensive forward with upside under team control for a 25 point grinder who is above 30 and is basically another Mason Geerston. Devils don't lack forwards, they have a lot of guys they have to find a way into the line up like Zetterlund or Boqvist. We need competent goaltending and defensive help. I doubt Kassian even cracks the line up. So it ends up being McLeod for a 2nd which I would not do.

No.. Neither a 20-25 point guy, nor a 2nd do get us a step closer to the playoffs.

In terms of a physical presence, we get Miles Wood back. And if that‘s not enough that‘s a problem we can easily fix at the deadline.

Again, Kassian is of no interest to us.

The devils aren't not building for the near future, their in a rebuild. and when teams are in rebuilds, they take contracts for the added pick. ill admit Mcleod is a bit much but Kassian isn't going there to be another Taylor hall, he's going there for the pick and to play a 4th line role.

So last season the Devils handed out the biggest deal in FA, and this season once again we‘re linked to basically all top end free agents and trade targets (Gaudreau, Fiala, Debrincat, Campbell, …). Meanwhile, you‘re trying to convince me that we‘re „not building for the near future“. I‘m sorry dude, but you‘ve got no clue where the Devils are at in their rebuilding process and what their needs actually are.

But I can tell you, it‘s certainly not Kassian.

Oh and btw: You‘re massively overvaluing McLeod. He‘s a 4th liner. At best.

You're too worried about getting top end talent and being linked to all these free agents you don't realize that Kassian isn't going there for that purpose. Taking on cap is different then getting Gaudreau. The oilers need a starting goalie and a number one d but that doesn't mean they can't go out and get a depth forward? Teams major needs aren't the only thing they need to be worried about. And if im overvaluing Mcleod does't that make it a fair deal? young 4th liner for older 3rd liner and a second? This isn't a blockbuster, team changing deal. The devils have the room to take on cap and getting picks works out well for their rebuild. And if you think the devils are close to the playoffs your delusional. this isn't 2018

I absolutely realise for what purpose we'd be taking on Kassian - because there is none. And if you realise, me telling you stuff about being linked top end talent has nothing to do with Kassian but rather with your wrong perception about where the Devils are in their rebuild. And this is once again underscored by your statement about us not being close to the playoffs.. We would have been a league average team this year if we had gotten competent goaltending. Yet, our goalies were worst in the league. So, I'm not going to tell you we're fixed to make the postseason next year, but don't be surpried if we do. So you're actually the "delusional" person in this conversation.

Now, back to Kassian: We do have no need for him. We have about 4-5 prospects ready to play a 4th line role for us. We hopefully get Miles Wood back who'd be a fixture there. And we don't have any need to take on cap for unnecessary 4th liners since like 80% of our roster needs a new contract within the next 14 months...

So I'm not saying this deal isn't fair value. But it doesn't help us in any way and that's why its not going to happen.[/q

Do you think the Arizona coyotes traded away Connor garland and Oliver ekman-larsson for jay beagle, Loui Eriksson, and Antoine roussel because they wanted some depth scorers?
no, they took those bad contracts for the first and the second. when this deal was finalized those 3 players combined cap hit were 12 million dollars and the coyotes got a first and second
Kassians cap hit is 3.2 million and you guys get a second.

This deals main purpose for the devils is taking on a contract for the pick. And getting an actual contributor (Unlike the above 3 players) sweetens the pot.

And even if you do have 4-5 prospects ready for a 4th line role Kassian provides pressure for them, like it says to them "If you want to make this team, here's the guy you have to beat"
but once again Kassian as a player isn't the purpose of the deal, its the pick.

now I think we can agree on one thing and that's that were tired of writing argumentative essays to someone on the internet so let me summarize this deal so we can move on

When I made this deal my mindset was that the devils are rebuilding, and rebuilding involves gaining picks, which then become prospects. the second rounder provides that.
but the oilers can't just give the devils a pick so the devils take on a mildly bad contract
But Kassian isn't a non-contributor, so the devils give the oilers a 4th liner