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Originally Posted by Toonage
Why would Jersey make that deal at the draft when they could have done it at the deadline?
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They couldn't have done it at the deadline, because Calgary would not agree to take Holtz instead of Mercer.
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Conversely why would Calgary agree to that at the draft when they allegedly turned it down at the deadline?
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Trading Markstrom to New Jersey at the deadline might have put the Devils into the playoffs, and would certainly have improved their record for the rest of the season. Also, the Devils would no doubt have insisted on lottery protection for the pick. Trading for a pick that is (for instance) certain to be 11th overall is much better than trading for a pick that might be 17th or 20th or might even slip to next year and be a late pick even then.