As trade proposals go these are among the most realistic I've seen on here. I would hang onto Holtz, dealing him for a 28 year old winger could backfire if Holtz becomes the player they expect. Not to mention, qualifying Buchnevich will be in the $6-7 million range while Holtz should be fairly affordable for the next few years.

Capitals would accept, They are looking to get younger and this is a fair trade

Devils cup window is now. Buch helps more, imo. Adds size and can play the Devils style.

Blues aren't doing this currently. If they underperform this year, could be possibility at deadline but think they could do better if decided to trade Buch

Yeah I tried to figure out what the Blues plans are this summer. This is obviously very much so an "if they rebuild" type deal. Also You can easily talk me into more favorable conditions on that pick

That's a no for the blues. Also getting a 2025 first or 2026 first just pushes our timeline back 2-3 years just to draft a player and then another 2-3 years before that prospect makes the NHL, so there is really no value to that.

This is a narrative I don't understand. This is clearly a trade in which the Blues have decided to rebuild. Rebuilds take 4-6 years, at least.

Devils window is closing soon...our team is getting old....gotta quickly sell-off our future to go all-in (or at least, equally-in but with older guys)

(its not)

Give us guys with 4+ years of team control...otherwise stay the course

But the blues will most likely not rebuild, we are retooling. However if the blues do trade Buch either now or later it will be 2023/2024 first round picks, not 2025/2026 picks as those are less valuable as the ones now. If the blues were to start the rebuild now we would try to get prospects, young players, and 2023/2024 draft picks so over the next 4-6 years they can slowly grow and improve. IF we targeted a 2025/2026 draft pick we are already in year 3 of the rebuild and then most prospects take 2-3 years just to make the NHL. So now those prospects are just making the NHL in year 5 or 6 of the rebuild. Then it usually takes anywhere from 1-3 years for players to adjust to the league unless they are top 10 picks which these will most likely not be. Problem with your rebuild theory is we have Thomas and Kyrou starting their 8 year contracts next season so we are just going to rebuild through the first 5-6 years of that? The blues GM has already stated that he is not going to do rebuilds like the oilers, devils, sabres where it took 5-10 years of getting high draft picks

This isn't selling off the future and it's not going all-in. But the Devils are not in "bide their time mode" anymore.

Cup windows are not nearly as long as most think. The Devils should do everything they can to win a cup in the next 5 years. Buchnevich (2 years) and Mantha (1, acquired for basically nothing here), both help that goal without sacrificing longterm cap flexibility or asset management. If you think Holtz will help the Devils win a cup in the next 5 years more than Buchnevich in the next 2, well, idk. He's been remarkably disappointing, hampered by nearly all the things that had him outside of my top 10 in that draft class.

My mentality is that you need to commit, HARD, on both ends.

You tear it down hard in rebuilds. you draft high. you dont sign UFAs. you get top tier talent.

once that window opens? EVERYTHING is done to win IMMEDIATELY. Cups are hard to win and windows close fast. Draft picks and prospects are not likely to be what you hope they are, especially not over the course of that window.

Okay, but I don't care about the reality of the Blues situation. This is clearly a hypothetical IF they rebuild.

Also, the Blues should absolutely move Kyrou and Thomas if they start a rebuild. It's the best way to do it.

what is "staying the course" to you?

Just hope that Holtz, Gritsyuk, Sharangovich, Casey hit their ceilings?

Seems silly now that we know we're contenders.

Same with me! I don't care about the devils and their hypotheticals Glad we could talk

If we are adding pieces, let’s not add very expensive rentals. We are not all-in for a year. Find guys with term. Save a little dry powder to fill holes at deadline.

I'm inclined to agree with my colleague, but it must be said that pushing a pick off 3-4 drafts is not going to tempt the Blues so that condition isn't helping.

Buchnevich has two years left, though.

Yeah like I said above, happy to discuss a different condition! The Devils currently have their 24 pick tied up in a condition with the Sharks. if you want to call it a 25 first and you get additional picks in 24, fine by me.

So, why click on it and comment? cmon man. lol

I’d say aim for 3-4 years of team control, if we can. I wouldn’t be against adding two years of a winger, but only at discount (there are always cheap wingers…every off-season).

I edited above but like I said, I think commitment is the key on both ends. commit to the rebuild. commit to contention. I'm fine with paying a price for Buchnevich because I think he's worth it. I also think that, for contending teams picks and prospects are overrated and for rebuilding teams theyre underrated. its weird and that stems from teams not really committing as hard as they should as early as they should

Caps would do that most likely