Perfect DeBrincat Trade idea

[GRADEN]

Ok thought about it a lot: came up with the perfect trade with the 2 teams that I think want to do a fair deal:

Devils receive: LW Alex DeBrincat, D Alec Regula, 2023 3rd, and 2024 4th

Blackhawks receive: 2nd overall (C Logan Cooley), RW Alex Holtz, G Jonathan Bernier (1x4.125 IR-Surgery), 2023 1st (top 3 protected)

This is the deal. It gives each team what it wants. Devils get a star and some potential bottom pairing assets with D Regula and 2 picks 80-100 range. They also shed 4.125m and can really spend big this summer as they have tons of cap space to both sign DeBrincat long term AND sign a top tier free agent (likely on D or in net).

The Blackhawks get what they want which is 3 top tier assets that are all under 21. If Holtz were in this draft when he was in his draft season he’d go at #3 or #4 so I see this as getting 2 top 5 picks. Assuming the Devils make a marginal improvement with the Cat and a free agent I’d assume the 2023 pick would be in that 16-20 range so let’s say #18.

Hawks could get C Logan Cooley, RW Alex Holtz, and 2023 #18.

That’s a legit trio of assets.

It also lends us a good locker room vet in Bernier to mentor Arvid Soderblum and Kevin Lankanen. Not only that but it puts the Hawks squarely in the bottom 5 teams for the draft. Let’s say they get unlucky and pick 5th. That would be say 5, 18, and 26 (TBL) for next draft. A Zach Benson at 5, 2 way wing at 18, and D with potential at 26 grouping with our new core moving forward. Call this a win for both teams.

Why do this devils? Get a star and keep max cap space
Why do this hawks? Acquire potential top line pairing

Sounds like a perfect deal?

[GRADEN]

For devils cap room, about 20mil let’s say

Resign DeBrincat (kicks in 2023-2024) to an 8 / 74.5 (9.31) extension
Sign veteran winger and proven champion Ondrej Palat to 3/18m (6)
Sign C-W Reilly Smith to a 3/14.5 (4.8) deal - adding another vet
Sign G Darcy Kuemper to a 3 / 16m deal (5.3) making him starter
Sign D Justin Schultz to a 2/5.5m (2.75) making him a vet addition

That would add in the necessary veterans that a young roster needs to win. Hughes - Nico - Mercer - DeBrincat can carry the offense

[GRADEN]

Keep in mind it’s been 2 decades since a team traded a top 3 pick

That was #2 Jason Spezza in a deal that sent Alexi Yashin over

Seems like a similar deal.

Makes me think the devils would rethink it. If I were NJ maybe trading back 3 spots to 5 and netting the player they likely want in Jiricek and getting a future 1st back would be better and then over paying Gaudreau

[GRADEN]

I’m curious now on Gaudreau with NJ…. I think they are monitoring his deal closely. Obviously this situation is extremely similar to the Seth Jones or Dougie Hamilton scenario last season. Give up assets for 1 or outbid and no assets for the other.

Gaudreau and DeBrincat are similar players but Cat is younger and a better 2way player imo.

Ultimately I think Calgary ponies up the 8th year and the extra 500k or so and they end up with a mega deal like 8/78 type of deal.

Then there is Jesper Bratt for NJ - he needs a hefty bridge deal… something around 2/11.5-13 perhaps

[GRADEN]

I wonder if the devils would be interested in Murphy as well?