[SuperMatt18]

It's Fitz just parading to try to make the fan base and ownership give him a pass.

Calgary and Nashville are both ahead of the Devils in the standings right now...with goalies in Markstrom and Saros that have strong histories as starting goaltenders.

This isn't the rental UFA market and neither team is desperate to make a move. You have to overpay to some extent to get the player.

It's a bit more complex with some of the extra picks thrown in but I would have argued San Jose was more desperate to move Hertl than the Flames or Predators were to move Markstrom or Saros, and they got a 1st and the Knights top propsect.

I'd also probably argue Markstrom or Saros would be more valuable and would provide more impact than Hertl will for Vegas.

If both teams with goalies are asking for Mercer + 1st...and you're the one saying "No you're trying to extort me" then I think it comes down to you not understanding the market and that you're trying to convince a team to trade you an asset they have no need to move.

Mercer + 1st for Markstrom with 25-50% is fair when you consider the ask to make the trade has to be "overpayment" to get a team to move their starting goalie, that's potentially a Vezina candinate for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.

I wanted the Flames to move Markstrom personally because I think it's the best move longer term to maximize our draft pick both this year and next year...but I also think that Fitz should have realized he would have to overpay if he wanted the goalie his assistant GM said was a top 5 goalie in the NHL.