I will beat Peter Forsberg AKA Brock Lesnar to it, "Vancouver is not trading Horvat".

Niemela is probably one of our few untouchable prospects, plus Miller is more of a rental for us

Devils don't have room for Hoglander

Easy pass from CAR

Seems like the majority of Miller trades I have seen to TOR it’s Niemela that TOR fans are willing to part with.

I don’t think know where the Vancouver rentals to Carolina idea started, but it needs to stop

Horvat is good but I’d imagine he’ll get a raise which doesn’t fit into CAR plans. Need to bank cap for some big extensions over the next 2 years to our core.

I don’t know where reading comprehension went but it needs to improve. It says right in the trade that an extension is signed, making it not a rental…

Canes would rather likely extend Staal cheaper and keep Necas and a 1st

Easy no from the Devils

Some extensions are coming and with that some tough decisions, with that said I feel like CAR has a shot right now. I guess the question for me is, do they add to give their team the best chance at winning in the next two years? Or do they figure they have a shot regardless so they just let it play it out and hope for the best? Correct me if I am wrong but I don't see a legitimate 2C on what is otherwise a very deep roster.
Signing Horvat to an extension means that another piece would have to moved at some point, unless they can find a trade partner for Horvat, but that's not an uncommon predicament to be in for legitimate cup contenders. COL traded for and signed Lehkonen this year and lost Kadri. With the center position being arguably the most important position in hockey, and Drury likely being a few years away from solidifying himself as 2C (im assuming 2C is his projection), I think it could make sense based on the circumstances.

Don’t like the Hogtown return.
Difficult trade partners.

Both Canes & Devils reject the trades.

You don't like the NJ return based on value or fit? If it's value then why does NJ reject?
I think the value is pretty close. I disagree with other posters that NJ doesn't have space on the wing, and with both Tatar and Johnsson's contract expiring at the end of the season there will be plenty of middle six opportunity for him.

I’m good with the return just not sure NJ likes the offer. Yes Tatar & Johnsson are goners.

Blatantly ignoring KK being the Canes 2C with Necas also likely to get some 2C time. And yeah, he is ready, as when he was put into the top 6 as the 2C last year during the Covid stretch, he performed at about a 1.5PPG pace. Canes have a deep enough C core already, don’t need to waste Necas and a first on Horvat, particularly when they can keep Necas and the first, and resign Staal for cheaper. He isn’t a 30 goal scorer, but he provides everything else that Horvat does, and he would likely do it at a much cheaper rate. If the Canes make a move, it’s for 1 of 2 things: a goal scoring LW, or upgrading their 3rd pairing.

Not blatantly ignoring KK at all. Look at teams that have won the cup over the last 7 years, all but one have had legimiate 1-2 pounches. MacKinnon - Kadri, Stamkos - Point, Kuznetsov - Backstrom, Crosby - Malkin. I'm not saying Horvat is on the level of these #2's, but he is significantly closer to that level than KK is.

The RD that Vancouver would most likely target, I think, would be Reilly Walsh. He seemed to be a fancy stat darling last year in AHL and as you know, Canucks hired away some of our analytics personnel.

Mukhamadullin is favorite of our GM. Doubt he moves him….has spent too many months defending him to let go now.

Alright, what do you think a legitimate 1-2 punch is? Because from what I am seeing from your comment, I am thinking that your definition of a “legitimate 1-2 punch” in this situation is to have 2 superstars/stars playing 1-2C. I’m not criticizing you, I am just curious as to what you would call it.

As for the Canes, the Canes are a completely different monster than all the teams you said have a legitimate 1-2 punch. The Canes value depth and balance above all else. They dont have that game changing superstar outside of Slavin, Aho, and Svechnikov, although there are extremely high hopes for Morrow, Kochetkov, and Trikozov. All of the C the Canes have right now are C who are good in the dot, but above everything else, are really good defensively. The Canes system is based on an elite 2-way transition game, and they have only just started to break that trend with the acquisition of Patches. So centers like Sheifele or Dubois, and certain other C, really wouldn’t fit the system the Canes employ. So unless the Canes are going after players like Barkov or ROR, the Cames are unlikely to have that 1-2 punch you are speaking of.

2C is a question mark but both KK and Necas have the opportunity to show they can take that role. Canes are deep enough to give them that chance without hurting the season next year, especially when we’ll be getting Patches back around the all star break.

If both look terrible then it’s something maybe they address at the TDL but the team clearly liked what they see in KK so we’ll see how it plays out. I’m not sold but I also think it’s too early to tell and this will be the big season for him. I think this FO and coaching staff has gotten most of their moves and risks right so I’m willing to bet on them on this one too.

That's a fair comment, Walsh is someone I would be willing to target instead.