True but we aren't trading everyone. We still have players signed to long contracts..Trouba (well soon?), Panarin, Skjei, Zib. It's unfortunate, but sometimes because cap management we can't keep everyone. We have to think about the future when our young stars will be looking for their 2nd contracts. Would hate to lose a Kratsov/Kakko/Shestsorkin/Miller etc because we signed Kreider and Buch to 6M+ contracts.
While you are certainly correct about salary cap management, Buchnevich won't cost $6 million (yet). Kreider also only costs $4.6 million next season, that is still a major asset to the organization. We also don't know what all those players will need long term. For all we know, maybe Lias, Chytil and Howden don't ever make significant jumps, but rather become good support players. See Colorado: Kerfoot, Jost, Compher, etc.
They're projected to have $40+ million in cap space in two seasons, and if the cap jumps again, more. They should be OK. The priority should be bridging Buch/Deangelo/Lemieux to fair contracts ($7-8 million), signing Trouba long term, and then figuring out what they need to do on top of trading Namestnikov to get under for next season. I would attach an asset or two to get rid of Smith's contract; sacrificing a 2nd/3rd + prospect, redundant assets which they have PLENTY of now, is worth it (would do the same thing to retain on Shattenkirk).
The Rangers have drafted, traded for, and signed in FA their new "core group" of players -- Zibanejad, Panarin, Trouba, Miller, Kravtsov, Kakko, Lias/Chytil, Shestorkin, etc. Now is the time to make sure they develop properly while retaining the winning environment. Trading Kreider for a 2nd + prospect, while retaining all three of Staal, Smith and Shattenkirk heading into opening night makes competing for a playoff spot tougher, when they have a path to make it happen sooner.
