If I'm San Jose, I have no interest in Vrana. Based on your list of untouchables, I'd try Rasmussen instead, with the two picks, and then also throw in something like a Buchelnikov.
Might still take at least another second rounder on top of that. Not sure how much they'll value picks versus cost controlled players.
Well, I'd look at historic value for similar trade deadline first-line power wingers/centers for a relative value.
Keith Tkachuk cost Atlanta a 1st and 3rd in 2007 and a 2nd in 2008 + Glen Metropolit. Would have also cost them a 1st in 2008 if he re-signed in Atlanta.
Marian Hossa + Pascal Dupuis cost Pittsburgh Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a 2008 1st round pick. This was an absolute steal of a trade because it helped get them into the finals 2 years in a row, and Dupuis helped them win a cup in 09.
Bo Horvat with 25% retention cost NYI a 1st, Anthony Beauvillier (Robby Fabbri as a comparable) and Aatu Raty (Joe Veleno as a comparable)
Jarome Iginla cost Pittsburgh Kenny Agostino, Ben Hanowski and a first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
Jeff Carter cost the LA Kings Jack Johnson(blech) and a 1st in the 2013 NHL draft. It really helped LA get 2 cups in 3 years.
Meier isn't cost controlled in the same way Hagel was for Tampa. His QO is huge which I believe would lower his relative value. Maybe something similar to the Bo Horvat trade. No retention makes it a player + a 1st + a 2nd or 3rd rounder?
Vrana might be a reclamation project. He's a goalscorer and San Jose is giving up their top goalscorer in this deal so it might be palatable to get a player who (even though he's a downgrade) fills a similar roster hole in addition to the package offered.
If Vrana isn't the guy they want then Kubalik? Bertuzzi? (Who I admit I like when he's lower in the lineup.)