Holtz isn't available

I don’t see NJ signing Hellebuyck to that contract. Also, NJ can’t trade the 2024 1st round pick because it’s still involved with the Meier trade.

We can trade it, it just has to be conditional

I think you'll end up being disappointed in the return you get for helle if he does end up getting moved. NJ isn't remotely interested in paying that high of price for a goalie (for the trade and the extension). There are more affordable options in the goaltending market. They might even choose to run it back with Vitek and Schmid/cheap backup and upgrade elsewhere. Time is not on the jets' side. They probably need to get a helle deal done before the season starts because vezina-calibre goalies rarely get traded during the season. Winnipeg is definitely stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one. I hope you guys manage to trade helle and get a good return for him because it sucks losing the face of the franchise for a bad return but the devils won't be interested in paying anywhere near that. I would love helle on the devils though.

Holtz is 1000% available in the right move but devils won't give up this much for Helle

Oh absolutely in the right move, but never for Hellebuyck. Maybe one for one with a reasonable extension but that's unrealistic.

Devils aren't spending that much on a rental nor on a goalie....and especially not on a rental goalie.

If anything, I'd expect another veteran backup in mix to either back-up Vanecek or play in AHL as Daws is out for a while with injury.

True.
When San Jose asked for Holtz in Meier deal, Fitzy said okay, but if its Holtz, its just Holtz...one-for-one.
Gives you an idea of how they value Holtz internally.



What would a "reasonable extension" be?...
Somewhere around $7m x 5 years ($35m) to $7.5m x 6 years ($45m)?
He wants Vasilevskiy's deal of $9.5m x 8 years ($76m)
So we are about halfway there.

I wouldn't go more than 5 years. Ideally 4.

I imagine an open market, if he hits UFA, would give him...something around....

7 years $6.8m
6 years $7.5m
5 years x $8.3m
4 years x $9.0m
3 years x $9.5m

...he will be 35 at end of 4 year deal, but 38 at end of 7 year deal. Cumulatively, what its costing you for each year....

Year 1: $9.5m
Year 2: $9.5m
Year 3: $9.5m
Year 4: $7.5m
Year 5: $5.5m
Year 6: $3.5m
Year 7: $2.6m

I'd have a 9m goalie that isn't likely to decline while under contract than a 7m one who will be 38 at expiry. Do you know what his evolving hockey projection is?

Lol he should be. He's not the player people thought he was when he was drafted. He could still break out, but he hasn't shown he has the tools to do so

Categorically false

What? When? How? Where do people get this?

He was yo-yo'ed between NHL and AHL last year (not his fault). Had one of the best AHL seasons ever for his age in 2021-22.

They talked about it when he was rumored to go to SJ in the Meier deal that GMs don't think very highly of his skillset, particularly his skating
Edit: PDOCast

He was never really rumored to be part of that deal...the news about Sharks asking for him came out after the trade was complete.
People just speculated about him being involved.
And its the first I have heard about complaints about his skating.

Yeah speculation is the right word. But what I listened to, was before the deal happened. They actually said SJ wasn't interested for that reason and wanted either Mercer or a D-prospect (and obviously Mercer wasn't going to happen).

And his overall hockey sense was the other question mark, similar to GMs thoughts on Fantilli. Except Fantilli's ability was still too undeniably good to drop past 3. Holtz is very skilled and has an amazing shot but the question of if his overall game translates to the NHL level is very much in question among GMs. The Athletic podcast was saying the same thing a little while ago

Hockey sense sounds more accurate than skating. Burnette was doing daily one-on-ones with him when he was a regular scratch to better learn the system. Never had a chance to see if it paid off. There was a lot more east-west in system, which is harder for some guys who instinctively go north-south. So didn’t surprise me that Wood, Holtz struggled at first.

I am still very bullish on Holtz. And goal scorers can develop quickly when things click.