Mercer for a bust? Yikes

I think he still has potential. I'm just sick of him in NY. Good trade chip cuz he can benefit from a change in scenery and develop better elsewhere. If he becomes even a 60/70 pt player that contract is a steal. Plus Lindgren is legit

Dude what's your issues with Panarin and Trocheck? Neither of them are waiving. And even at 50% Tampa can't afford Breadman.

Mercer is younger, better, and has more potential than Kakko

That's a very big if, and the Devils don't have room for Lindgren

Well Panarin flat out sucks after April 15th every year. He's a huge liability to not only the current team but the entire NY Rangers franchise and legacy. Getting rid of him is literally the fastest route to a Stanley Cup and I'm confident that if they sent him away they'd win. Good in the regular season but I'm actually disgusted that we are paying him basically McDavid money for him to be a certified playoff ghost. But TB might be able to find value in him, whether it's with a roster spot or just flipping him again for a haul.

Trocheck, while great, is bound to be our 3C very soon. Because he's not overtaking Zbad ever, and Chytil is just getting better and better as time goes on. And you just don't pay that much money for a 3C. It's like Goodrow all over again but worse. Both he and Goodrow are fantastic players and I enjoy them but it's just a money thing. Not personal

I think they'd actually both waive in this scenario. I picked out the destinations really carefully. Who in their right mind would turn down a no-income tax state on the ocean? And I could see Trocheck finding Vegas attractive because they just won a Cup. I think he wants to win and would be happy to have a chance there

He’s getting beat by Bahl/Smith?

Lol. Lindgren is so massively underrated. The only reason why I included him was as a trade chip for Mercer and because I worry we won't be able to afford his next contract. He's fantastic

My man Kappo's like 7 months older. It's not like we are sending over a 29yo for Mercer. I don't really agree about potential because Kappo has the pedigree and is defensively great but currently better, yes I can cop to that. But keep in mind Lindgren is also a part of this deal and he's already fantastic

I don't think it's a very big if actually. If he's sent somewhere with a proper development staff I think it happens pretty quickly. I'd just rather pursue other options on the right side personally. I think NJ would make room for Lindgren. He's legitimately great

And Devils don't have any room for him. He would be bottom pair making too much money

No, he's not getting beat by Bahl/Smith. He's getting beat by his next contract, which isn't worth it since he'd be on the third pair

If you can't afford Lindgren's next contract you definitely can't afford Mercer's. I think he gets 7x7

It's still a massive risk to take when Mercer looks so much better, and again Lindgren isn't of interest since our top 4 is locked in

If I know Drury, he'd probably work out a deal along the lines of Chytil's (4.4375 AAV) for a term that coincides with some bad contracts coming off the books imo. So then he'd get a huge pay day when the cap is higher, and we don't have to worry about people like Trouba, Goodrow, Panarin. On the other hand, Lindgren's contract is up next summer and he's a UFA in 2025. And I think KAM is due to take his spot with Fox in the near future so there's that

Devils and Rangers both say no because neither wants to risk losing the trade. I like Lindgren but as stated above we don’t have the money to pay him to be on the bottom pair. I think Kakko is a very solid nhl player but at this point he’s probably a 50 point guy, maybe has a career year at 70. The team loves Mercer, the fans love Mercer, the kid is just as much apart of the core as Meier or Bratt. He isn’t going anywhere.

If Stephenson would sign for 3 mill Vegas would have signed him to that yesterday. They're also better off going forward with Hague at his cap hit + age than Trocheck at his (not that Trocheck is bad value or anything).

TB Passes especially if Hagel signs that cheap. 7 years younger Hagel was 2nd amongst Fowards to Marner in take aways.

Lindgren probably has more value to NYR than to anyone else due to his chemistry with Fox. Maybe Kakko for Bastian+ deal…but not sure where else he would fit in as our top-9 are centered around speed, possession, transition game.

Tampa Bay declines. They'll keep the younger, faster, more versatile Hagel.

The Devils Will NEVER Trade Mercer ×Infinity