Edited Mar. 3, 2023 at 5:38 p.m.
1. My benchmark for a fair deal on Timo Meier was the Kevin Fiala trade between the Kings and the Wild.
Shakir Mukhamadullin + New Jersey's 2023 1st would hit that benchmark.
New Jersey's 2023 1st is not going to be in the Top 2 and I have no idea why that condition needs to be in the trade.
So, let's put that aside.
2. Fabian Zetterlund is what pays for the salary retention on Timo Meier.
3. Nikita Okhotiuk is what pays for dumping Andrea Johnsson.
4. That means the rest of the trade is:
New Jersey's 2024 2nd that becomes a 1st if the Devils reach the ECF in either 2023 or 2024
New Jersey's 2024 7th
for
Colorado's 2024 5th
4 contract spots belonging to players with not much of a future in the NHL
Three of which are waivers exempt (Emond + Hatakka + Ibragimov)
One of which is not waivers exempt (Harrington)
The reason why these 4 contracts are in this trade was to keep San Jose under the 50 contract limit when they made this trade.
If anything, the Devils are doing the Sharks a favour.
This is what makes the difference as to who wins or lose the trade.