Idk if Ottawa would do it but it would certainly make our offense deadly

defense probably take a 1-year step back but still a playoff team.

And you have the money to extend schmid and mercer in the summer next year as well, even before a cap jump

idk about rushing Nemec either, thinking Clifton would come to NJ for cheap and could pair nicely with Bahl who deserves a bridge deal

sure. that would work

the cool kids put walsh as 3RHD in their Devils AGMs just so you know

I don't mind the trade really but can you explain to me how you plan on combatting offer sheets when it comes time to pay Hughes, Mercer, Nemec?

Extending all of them should be fine, provided you put swap Walsh in for Nemec at 3RHD as to preserve one more year of ELC slide, big difference to pay Nemec 900k in 26/27 than 8-9m.
Ahead of either the 24/25 or 25/26 seasons you can also trade Marino out for a pretty good haul and run a right side of Hamilton - Nemec - Walsh (or Casey depending on how quickly he develops).
Palat's contract would hurt a little but his full NMC turns into 10 team trade list in 2025, so another 6m that wouldn't be too difficult to move out at that time.
If it came to it you could trade Hamilton ahead of his last year if some of those young guys really popped off and become top 20 players in the league.

Point is, the Devils could manage adding DeBrincat to the current core and remain cap compliant without having to pay to dump cap.
As for offersheets I wouldn't worry about them as they occur so infrequently.

I mean hes certainly worked his tail off for it why not re-sign him cheap and give him a shot? I am not cool under any circumstance, def not fun at parties.

Hey thanks man

the cool kids aint Tommy Fitz then. Walsh is never playing if Fitz has anything to say about it

i think fitzy could come around on walsh. he's earned a real shot at the NHL

Ottawa accepts.

so it's 12M in space here for next year pre-cap jump. So that covers Merer (can't imagine that's more than 6M).

Nemec you can push off a year and then you can figure out how that goes with like, Hamilton or Marino.

Hughes is 2 years out and shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as the cap jumps.

You can also bridge either of those dudes as needed. and offer sheets don't exist

I would do this in a heartbeat, even if the pick was a 2nd instead

Ottawa should take any Holtz+1st offer, I doubt they get a better offer if they can't make a hockey trade

I could see Mercer getting more than 6 if it's long term but in this scenario it's 100% a bridge

thats what I had initially but I didnt want to get yelled at

he doesnt really have the counting totals for 6M currently but we'll see after next year