Sounds like Zegras was dealing with an injury the beginning of the season. Don't think Anaheim fans or the team believes this is anything more than struggling while playing through a nagging injury. For that reason I don't believe Anaheim would be willing to trade low on him

Sounds like Zegras was dealing with an injury the beginning of the season. Don't think Anaheim fans or the team believes this is anything more than struggling while playing through a nagging injury. For that reason I don't believe Anaheim would be willing to trade low on him

Mercer also started really slow though, and has gotten hot again lately. Despite the slow start, he is on pace for as many goals as last year, and since he's RFA Anaheim would have a chance to get him on a better contract than Zegras

Seems like a lateral move...each side will argue their side deserves more on the margins...

If Mercer extends long-term, I'd keep him.

It is a lateral move with marketing upside. Probably depends on what kind of contract Merce wants

Hughes + Zegras = I'm buying stuff

Lock-in Mercer between $6m to $7m long-term, send futures

I don't see a spot for Z if we trade futures, unless we want to say goodbye to Toffoli. I would also rather trade Mercer than Holtz, I think Holtz is the better player now and has more upside

Also, save the futures for a goalie trade this summer

Holtz > Mercer...really?

I know Mercer had a slow start, but I am not dinging him for that. Still the better player.

Holtz has too many N-zone turnovers at this point...but super high ceiling

Holtz leads the team in 5v5 G/60 and P/60 despite being absolute cheeks in the 20% of his ice time that they stuck him with Tierney and/or Bas

It's true that Mercer has better possession stats, but neither of them have good fancies and Holtz is producing far better. Not to mention Holtz's shot is an asset sorely lacking on this team.

I'd think we can get mercer at 5.5x8

If we can, which I personally doubt, then this trade is a bad idea. I think an 8 year deal would come in closer to 7m.

Depends on how he plays the rest of the year. If he's good enough to deserve 8x7 with 4 full years of RFA control (Boldy/Cozens level play), then I'm not moving him at all.

I think maybe....

Boldy -- $7m x 7 years
Farabee -- $6m x 6 years

or...
Necas -- $3m x 2 years

...if he wants long-term with arb rights

He'd have to play at a VERY high level from here on out to demand the boldy or cozens deal imo. If he does tho we can get more than Zegras for him

He is currently playing at a very high level.

-- first 38 games in 2022-23: 21 pts
-- first 38 games in 2023-24: 20 pts

Rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated

If the Pens are out of the playoff race, this makes sense.

I think his true upside is less than a cozens or a boldy imo.

I don’t think there’s the same superstar potential there. Higher floor tho.