Where we getting all that cap space?, this team needs size and physicality. Why do you ignore moving Vitek for Gibson? you know that Vitek goes the other way right.

Why would you sign Hanifin?

Siegenthaler Hamilton - Hughes Marino - Bahl Nemec is a good core

Signing another guy to a big long term deal can make things way harder in the future

If New Jersey is desperate to have a really good goalie, then this trade is doable.
With Gibson’s contract it’s not easy to do.
Would be shocked if it happened soon.

Noah Hanifin isn't signing with the Devils.

I hope the 7th round pick for John Gibson was meant as

And you're only $4,362,500 over the salary cap.

Look who's got the jokes, a 7th for Gibson.

Yeah, sure it doesn't look good, because you went and dumped 7.5 million to pick up a 1LD who's spot should be filled by Hughes.

Akira Schmid doesn’t get tendered an offer?

Go get a Jake Middleton type and spend on Spencer Knight.

WHY do you want Hanafin longterm???? He would handcuff the team from a cap perspective going forward and theres zero reason to sign him and that Gibson offer is waaaayyyy too low.

Future D Core for Reference
Hughes - Hamilton
Siegenthaler - Nemec
Bahl - Marino
Casey

That's 3 no1 Dmen, If the old elite defensive dynamo Siegenthaler doesn't return Bahl has shown incredible promise as a top 4 shutdown guy. Marino has be stellar in general as a defensive guy by just using his smarts and Casey has top pairing potential as he's a top 2 dman in the whole NCAA at 19. Wasting 7.5 mil in cap space for the next 8 years would be a massive waste and prevent signing one or multiple of Luke Hughes, Dawson Mercer, Simon Nemec or Alex Holtz signing longterm. It would also interfere with Hischier's Extension in 4 years, Void any chance at paying a good goalie. And block any opportunity to resign Toffoli. It's quite literally cap suicide.