2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Is he though?

Mercer last season:

GP: 82
G: 19
A: 17
P: 36
+4

Zary last season:

GP: 63
G: 14
A: 20
P: 34
+12



Definitely more than a late first round pick next year. I peg his value at something like a first round pick this year and a good prospect.

Mercer is a center who plays every game every year and lead the Devils in PK ice time vs Zary who got 1 second all season on the PK.

Backlund's points aren't any better than Zary's, but he is better.

Mercer has upside up and down the lineup and can end up in many different roles and excel.

Zary gets way more PP time and when Zary has guys like Hughes/Hischier/Bratt/Meier on his team, he probably gets less PP time, and he doesn't PK. Maybe someday he will but Mercer does now and is 23 and is very good at it at a young age.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Why is it terrible?

Flames, in all likelihood, should/need to trade Anderson. They also don’t have enough room for all the LW/LHS forwards they’ve accumulated over years of ‘BPA’ thinking.

The biggest need the Flames have is a RHS C, with top 2C upside, under the age of 25.

Dawson Mercer:
Under 25: check.
RHS C: check.
Top 2C upside: check.


Feel free to let us know if there’s a better fit out there for the Flames. You have to give to get.

Connor Zary:
Under 25: check.
RHS: no.
Top 2C upside: check.

So we give up Anderson to get a RHS version of Zary and a late first round pick next year.

That feels like terrible asset management to me.

[traptor]

Devils dont need Rasmus. They're pretty loaded on D, especially on the right side.

Zary doesn't make sense because it's just shuffling chairs.

I think 32nd + Pospisil makes sense. They get depth with some upside and bite, plus a 1st.

[Makarov]

And sorry, I have to admit that I mixed up Zary's 2023-24 season stats with his 2024-25 season stats. That hurts my argument a little bit (though I don't think it changes my position). Zary's actual 2024-25 stats:

GP: 54
G: 13
A: 14
P: 27
-7

For what its worth, Zary and Mercer had almost the same amount of powerplay points last season (8 v 9).

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Mercer is a center who plays every game every year and lead the Devils in PK ice time vs Zary who got 1 second all season on the PK.

Backlund's points aren't any better than Zary's, but he is better.

Mercer has upside up and down the lineup and can end up in many different roles and excel.

Zary gets way more PP time and when Zary has guys like Hughes/Hischier/Bratt/Meier on his team, he probably gets less PP time, and he doesn't PK. Maybe someday he will but Mercer does now and is 23 and is very good at it at a young age.

Is Mercer even a centre in New Jersey right now? He was 6th in Faceoffs taken on the team, and was almost 7th to Cody Glass with 14 games played. I'm not sure if he would be anything more than a 2/3 line winger here either.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Connor Zary:
Under 25: check.
RHS: no.
Top 2C upside: check.

So we give up Anderson to get a RHS version of Zary and a late first round pick next year.

That feels like terrible asset management to me.

You seem convinced Zary has top 2C upside but it doesn’t seem like the Flames think so.

See Morgan Frost. Why would the Flames acquire Frost if Zary could do the job? Rightly or wrongly, I don’t think the Flames see it like you do.

I’ll rewrite it for you.

Connor Zary:
Under 25: check
Top 2C upside: seems unlikely -not in the foreseeable future with Kadri, Backlund, Frist ahead of him.
RHS: nope.

Again, where is this other 25 and under RHS C who’s out there?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Top 2C upside: check.

Show us your homework here boss.

As far as i can tell, Mercer has basically never shown massive top 6 offensive upside, in any league. In his last year of Junior he had basically the same PPG as Pelletier, Bourque, Ryan Francis, and Hendrix Lapierre. He seems to get injured pretty often. His best season in the NHL came with a budding superstar... I think he's comfortably a 3rd liner in the NHL.

[Monahammer]

Also, he is absolute dog#### at faceoffs. Probably not a viable center long term, though decent two way player.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by TOfan

You seem convinced Zary has too 2C upside but it doesn’t seem like the Flames think so.

See Morgan Frost. Why would the Flames acquire Frost if Zary could do the job? Rightly or wrongly, I don’t think the Flames see it like you do.

I’ll rewrite it for you.

Connor Zary:
Under 25: check
Top 2C upside: seems unlikely -very not in the foreseeable future with Kadri, Backlund, Afro’s ahead of him.
RHS: nope.

Again, where is this other 25 and under RHS C who’s out there?

To be clear, I don't know that Zary has top-two centre upside. Very difficult to say. I just have Zary the "check" because you gave Mercer the "check", and I really don't see a reason to distinguish between the two on this question.

I also fail to see how your comment regarding the centres ahead of Zary on the depth chart (being Kadri, Backlund and Frost/Afro) does not apply equally to Mercer (if the Flames acquired him).

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by traptor

Devils dont need Rasmus. They're pretty loaded on D, especially on the right side.

Zary doesn't make sense because it's just shuffling chairs.

I think 32nd + Pospisil makes sense. They get depth with some upside and bite, plus a 1st.

I think the Devils will try and move Dougie as Hughes can take over as the big money dman. Rasmus could help them now for cheaper than Dougie and if Dougie lands them a good forward, maybe a top winger that could really help them.

Zary could be attractive to NJD as he probably can be signed for 3-4 years for less than Mercer currently makes. Mercer is an RFA in 2 years. Gives them cap control and NJD are set at the top 2 center positions for a while.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I think Frost will have better defensive metrics, but Mercer has far more offensive upside. I look at what Holloway has become in St. Louis, and I think Mercer could potentially match him offensively. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Show us your homework here boss.

As far as i can tell, Mercer has basically never shown massive top 6 offensive upside, in any league. In his last year of Junior he had basically the same PPG as Pelletier, Bourque, Ryan Francis, and Hendrix Lapierre. He seems to get injured pretty often. His best season in the NHL came with a budding superstar... I think he's comfortably a 3rd liner in the NHL.

I’m with Sandman on this one.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’m with Sandman on this one.

I agree there is potential too with a role that he excels in similar role as Backlund has. I don't see Zary playing the Backlund role or being a top 6 center.

Maybe we get Seigenthaler back too as I bet he is out of the mix n NJ soon.

It would be nice to get another 2nd as well.

I like Zary but Mercer has more potential IMO.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Both teams in the finals have all left shot centers. Not sure what this obsession is with a rhs. Sure it’s nice but not to the point you give away better players so you can say you have a rhs c. Mercer isn’t even a c

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Also, he is absolute dog#### at faceoffs. Probably not a viable center long term, though decent two way player.

Backlund had 8 years between 45-48% on faceoffs. More to playing center than winning faceoffs.

He needs to improve yes but he is 23

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by HitterD

Is Mercer even a centre in New Jersey right now? He was 6th in Faceoffs taken on the team, and was almost 7th to Cody Glass with 14 games played. I'm not sure if he would be anything more than a 2/3 line winger here either.

No he wasn't a center for them, even with Hughes hurt a lot they don't really move him to center.

I think NJ sees him as a winger, similar to Zary here actually

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Both teams in the finals have all left shot centers. Not sure what this obsession is with a rhs. Sure it’s nice but not to the point you give away better players so you can say you have a rhs c. Mercer isn’t even a c

Sure. Instead of a RHS C, let’s just go get one of McDavid, Draisatl, Barkov, Bennett, Lundell, RNH. I think that might be easier said than done.

Bear in mind the want for a RHS C under the age of 25 is coming from the Flames themselves. If you’re not sure what the obsession is, ask Conroy.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Sure. Instead of a RHS C, let’s just go get one of McDavid, Draisatl, Barkov, Bennett, Lundell, RNH. I think that might be easier said than done.

Bear in mind the want for a RHS C under the age of 25 is coming from the Flames themselves. If you’re not sure what the obsession is, ask Conroy.

Mercer OZS% - 43%
Zary OZS% - 54%

Mercer played 346 mins against elite competition
Zary played 189 mins against elite competition

Mercer played 167 mins on the PK
Zary played 1 second

Mercer GA/60 against elite competition 1.39
Zary GA/60 against elite competition 1.73

Mercer is producing similar to Zary, just doing it with way tougher ice time to succeed than Zary gets.

This isn't just a pickup a righty for the sake of adding a righty

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Bear in mind the want for a RHS C under the age of 25 is coming from the Flames themselves. If you’re not sure what the obsession is, ask Conroy.

I'd argue that the preference is RHS but its not an absolute requirement.

Priority #1 = Under 25ish - Center - Cost controlled or able to be - want them to be part of the core (3-5 years)
Priority #2 = LHD - Size/Toughness would be ideal - Good skater - No focus on any sort of scoring requirement
Priority #3 = Elite Potential - Young - Think RFA offer or hockey trade potentially - Possibly a change of scenery type scenario
Priority #4 = Retaining picks - more picks in the next few years - Next 2 drafts and the superstar potential is not lost on Craig

From what I've heard, the focus is to be contending when the new building opens. There's absolutely no rush to go out and sign big money UFA's and try and force something that's not ready. Get the young guys going next year with the focus on building a new "core".

[ForeverFlameFan]

Mercer would need time at center. It’s possible, feels very E. Lindholm-esque in terms of development thus far. I just don’t think he’s the guy to be fixated on.

[Sofa GM]

NJ is an interesting team. On one hand I could see a case for them being interested in Andersson to solidify their blueline long term. But I truly see them bringing in Quinn Hughes in a trade with Vancouver since he has basically come out and said he wants to play with his brothers. So with that, I'm not sure NJ is the best trade partner for us. Could see them moving Dougie and potentially Mercer with picks to Vancouver in a deal for Hughes.