Overreaction to a loss seems pretty typical. Okay, look- rangers jumped ahead of schedule. They started tearing down after the ott series and started a firesale. They had a lot of moving pieces. You want to know how our players will get better? Time. Laf is on a 3rd with two guys who definetely have something you want in a player, but neither can finish. They also have barely any nhl experience with great players. They dont finish partly because of that and because they dont know what works yet. Its youth issue. Panarin, mika, kreider, kakko have all been producing. Its our third people really have gripes with and I get it. As long as we have panarin, i really dont care who plays opposite him. Thats why you pay the man. He will make it work. You free up money for other lines because of it.
. Look at raymond. He is playing with larkin and killing it because he has a dynamo to pair with. Maybe you want that now? If you do, trade chytil because he is probably a winger or he will figure it out on a different team. On gauthier, I like him, but he literally has one move and while his board work has improved, his finishing is just bad. You want this team to be better? Add a consisten third liner. A 30-40 guy. Someone who knows what they are doing and I promise laf will improve.
Kakko is great. I have no qualms about him tbh. Neither does gallant. You know why? It's because hes still playing on the first line. What we want is gaudy point totals but without an access to tangible pp time, it just isnt going to happen. Thats not necessarily bad. That means they will get lowballed and you can maybe get away with a steal.
Strome is probably gone after the season(though who knows) and if so, kakko or laf must be prioritized to be put in his spot.
Overall, its less of a million holes and really only a line and a 3rd pair we have to upgrade. Im fine with that.