While the idea might have merit, the proposal just isn’t enough for Zadorov. Any deal for him starts with a 1st round pick (you can argue Firstov’s value in any talks but I don’t see it as the same value of a 1st). His trade comparables would be Ben Chairot and David Savard and both of them got a 1st in return. Add in the fact that multiple teams will try to acquire him at the deadline and the bidding war has to start at a 1st.
Assuming Calgary is then looking to rebuild or retool, and Merrill doesn’t really have any value to them as they already have multiple defence that are trying to get into the lineup and they can sign a veteran for the bottom pair if they felt they needed to.
Because of all that, this just doesn’t make sense for Calgary.

Interesting. I’m not sure how to value Z and I’d probably start with a 1st as the ask too, Firstov looks like you could plug him in a mid 6 role with PP time right now. He’s also a weird valuation.

But I’d be fine with adding another piece or 2 from the Wild POV. I’ll be interested to see if the Flames move Z or Hanafin first and how each return shapes the other.

I'm not paying a 1st for a 6th/7th Dman, that's absolutely too rich.

Savard was at the time of his last two trades at minimum was a serviceable 2nd pairing option. So a 1st for him is/was entirely justifiable. Chiarot was almost a beneficiary of a small Dman market at the time of his trade so his price was inflated a bit because of that. He's also been playing 2nd pairing minutes since going to Detroit, so one could also argue they paid 2nd pairing Dman prices.

Zadorov, meanwhile, has been a consistent 3rd pairing Dman for several years in Calgary. As well as a current healthy scratch. He's absolutely a improvement for Minnesota's bottom pair, but let's not jump the gun, shall we?
Asking for a 1st for him is a significant stretch in my opinion. I could maybe stomach a 2nd, more or less due to the retention involved. But that's kinda where I would draw the line.

Taking Merrill in this trade is the price paid for keeping both teams cap compliant as well as roster compliant too. Minnesota already has 8 D, given that 2 of them are currently on LTIR, a Dman needs to go out in order to fit Zadorov on the roster anyway.

That part is non-negotiable.

I'm not moving Peart, but O'Rourke is certainly an option if another piece is necessary. Besides, given how good Firstov looks in the KHL right now, the Flames would highly be likely to come out ahead on this trade. A potential top-six talent for a 3rd pairing defenseman is almost criminal. Even if Firstov tops out as only a middle-six guy, that's still a win for Calgary.

Then you won’t get Zadorov.

Call him a 6th or 7th d-man all you want, but he splayed top 4 in his career and he brings the physical element that teams covet for playoffs. Am I saying he’s worth a 1st? No. But when multiple teams are going to be bidding on the same player it increases the price (as I mentioned), so you have to beat any other offer to get him.

Merrill isn’t going to be useful for Calgary. They already have guys on their roster looking for ice time, plus probably another 3 that aren’t playing that they could give a shot. What use does Merrill have to them? Minnesota can look to move him in another deal or place him on waivers to assign him to the AHL. If that’s a non-negotiable for them, well sorry it’s no deal for Calgary. They’ll have plenty of other deals that offer a better fit and better value than this.

I think you’re right more or less. The big thing with the Z trade is how much *is* Firstov worth? I assume he’s not coming back to NA unless he’s got an NHL spot so there’s some weird trade leverage.

I do think they are gonna move some prospects this year and it’ll be interesting to see who they move and whether it’s for an impact player or flexibility.

Again, it's been 2+ seasons since he's played in a top 4 role. The fact he has in the past, is entirely irrelevant. He doesn't play there now. Furthermore, when he is going to be acquired by any potential team to play on their bottom pair, and NOT in their top 4, they aren't paying top 4 prices.

Jake Middleton has played in the top 4 for two different teams for his entire professional NHL career. Playing with the likes of Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, and Jared Spurgeon as his primary D-partners for that entire timespan.

He is unanimously considered a 3rd pairing talent by everyone at large and plays in teams top 4 strictly because of his size and physicality.

Sound familiar?

There were at least 4 teams openly known trying to get him at the time he was traded to Minnesota. In the end, he was traded for Kappo Kahkonen and a 5th round pick. That was the extent of the *bidding* war.

A *bidding war* probably only gets Calgary back a 2nd and a solid prospect in the absolute best case scenario. Even then, none of which likely carries close to near Firstov's potential as a top-six foward.

Finally, NHL GM's do NOT move or make additional trades when they don't have to. They're not about to create any additional work for themselves if they can't help it. Guerin isn't going to trade Merrill separately just to acquire Zadorov.

Conroy is in a different position however. He's in the position that he's looking to acquire assets. Whether they be young potential top-nine forwards, to strengthen his scoring depth, or further give himself draft capital. He's fully capable of taking on Merrill, as a favor to Guerin to help keep Minnesota cap compliant, a favor that Guerin now owes to Conroy. Then either waiving Merrill himself or flipping him for another low round draft pick.

This sucks for Merrill, but it's win-win for both Guerin and Conroy.

Probably about on par with Kahkonen in terms of his considered value at the time we traded him for Middleton.

So roughly a late'ish 2nd to a 3rd round pick in value.

Merrill is anyone's guess. Spin the wheel. 5th? 6th? 7th? GOAT Future Considerations.

I think that makes sense. IMO, anything better than giving up an asset to move Merrill would be a win.