What makes you think thats a cup contending defence core?

If Adams get the call from Sharks, and it's not about Meier, he hungs up immediately

And Sabres are not destination for taking other teams garbage

Sabres have no reason to do that

Substitute BUF with ARI or ANA or another team. Also, Simek's not garbage anymore -- just overpaid for a year. Lindblom is still serviceable on the bottom line -- they'd have roster spots. Attach a pick/prospect to a team and they can be shipped -- it wouldn't be some kind of crazy impossibility.
Norris dman on the 1st pair, very solid 2nd pair if Knyzhov is healthy, hard-to-play-against 3rd pair.

This is during the offseason -- months after Meier's already traded. And this is just a placeholder team that's likely to consider.

Pasta won’t be testing the market or signing anywhere else.

You should probably substitute Buffalo then. I don't know why anyone thinks they're going to be taking on cap dumps after GMKA put them in a solid situation and they will be resigning some big contracts in the offseason

how much $$$ do you think BOS will offer him (and he'd accept)?

I wouldn’t be so sure

But i am

23' 1st + Mercer + Johnsson for Meier and
Walsh for Reimer
looks good to me, but Mercer is the best piece NJ could offer that isn't Hughes/Nemec. I really doubt NJ lets Mercer go.
SJ needs RDs since shipping out Merkley, so targeting Walsh, Casey, Mukhamadullin, or Nemec from NJ in a Meier trade makes sense, and NJ is likely more willing to trade them since being loaded in the position

Corey Masisak of the Athletic proposed these Mercer trades:
23'/24' 1st + Mercer + Filmon/Hauser + Johnsson for Meier
or
23'/24' 1st + Mercer + Filmon/Hauser + Johnsson + Blackwood for Meier + Reimer
which doesn't give SJ any RDs, so I like your offer better

and the reason I don't think NJ lets Mercer go is because they're fully utilizing him. It's more likely they would give up assets they are not heavily using, like Holtz and their D prospects that are not in the lineup.

Whatever you say. It happens all the time when a teams star player leaves in free agency when they for sure we’re going to stay

I think NJ gives up Holtz or even Nemec before Mercer. The Devils are a contender right now so they shouldn't trade pieces that are already producing. That said, I want a hell of a lot more than a young middle-six forward with potential + a mid level Dman prospect + a late first-rounder.

Maybe I'm dreaming but I want Nemec + Holtz for Meier.

I'd be surprised if Pasta left Boston but I'd be even more shocked if he wanted to go to SJ. That'd be way, way more of a surprise than Gaudreau choosing Columbus. Why would he want to join a rebuilding team in a small, non-traditional market, leaving Boston where he has thrived and has talent around him with legit chances at a Cup the next two years? The Bruins won't let him leave, not matter what dollar figure he wants.

Agreed. Simply put, Grier needs to ask for Mercer, L. Hughes, or Nemec for Meier. Hotlz and a late 1st won't cut it.

As far as Pasta to SJ goes, he's good friends with countryman Hertl, who he'd play on a line with. And when looking at this roster as constructed here, I really do see signs of a very good team in the making. Alternatively, BOS doesn't -- and though that may be controversial to say considering their historically dominant season so far, it's important to consider that many expected BOS to flop this year and this team will be very different and not in a good way without Bergeron and Krejci in a couple of years which will only be the start of Pasta's constract.

A team with Eklund, Bedard, and Bordeleau with solid veteran guys like Hertl/Couture/Karlsson and a few middle guys like Ferraro Sturm (Mercer too in this scenario) on the other hand makes SJ a darkhorse attractive option for Pasta IMO.

Grier would be the best GM in history if he pulls that off. There's no way he gets both but maybe there is a Nemec+2nd deal? Probably not
I don't see Fitz dishing out his top prospects, even though their great pipeline can spare it. Who trades a recent 2nd overall pick? Nobody