Your premise is wrong.
He is NOT a reclamation project, ergo, he will not be had for cheap.
If you want to talk what might make sense for both sides, and this is a rare occasion where coke for pepsi could work, that is a discussion we can have.
total bs instantly rejected.
Slaf for LaF straight up is ballpark =. Here's why...
1. LaF was hyped, don't remember verbatim but def to this effect: "... LaF is the best 1OA who is a non generational pick since MacKinnon".
While he has yet to hit this benchmark this early, any objective, intelligent, fair and honest assessment will concur that the weak link in his chain was his skating. It was subpar by NHL standards and it has taken him until end of last season to BEGIN to be up to par. Now that that TEMPORARY problem continues to get addressed and is still improviing, we have reason to believe that LaF will succeed.
2, We are still dealing with Slaf based on potential, which is fine, but let's be clear he has not yet set the NHL world on fire day 1, minute 1.
Objective critique substantiating is this quote from an article directed to me from Yardbarker like 2ish weeks ago.
"Slafkovsky, taken first overall by Montreal last summer, has just two goals through six games. He’s missed some time with an upper-body injury, but it’s clear he was still missing something after slow performances during the rookie tournament in Buffalo, the pre-season and then his short regular season stint. There’s no reason to panic yet about the team’s 18-year-old star – he’s still viewed as one of the best prospects in the league – but it’ll be interesting to see if the team elects to keep him up with the big club or send him to AHL Laval."
_______________
Who is the better player? Right now, LaF.
Who will have a better career. Cannot say.
Slaf is clearly the better skater, but that is it. He is not certainly better, let alone lights out better, than LaF.
The only interest Rangers would have in dealing LaF is if we could help you get PLD early, and w/PLD at pivot and LaF at LW, there is a possibility that Panarin, who will not get renewed 4 seasons hence w/NYR let alone at anywhere near 11m+, might consider waiving. After all, he knows and is comfortable w/these 2 as linemates, MON is a great world stage esp for hockey, and w/couple of correct moves could be contending.
I have heard Habs fans do not want bread now, b'c could help derail plan to tank for 1OA.
I think there is a narrow Goldilocks area where MON can move Anderson + Gallagher at half to Rangers, pay for that plus Panarin + helping get PLD, and with LaF for Slaf, wind up w/killer emerging F situation. It would then suck ass at D and G for balance of season to help drop to good odds for 1OA.
Of course, NY has to get something out of it.
I have nothing vs Panarin.
I want what I can export of his 11m moved asap so I have $$$ for KAM, Kakko, and Chytil.
More on all that another time.
but as is relevant to this, Rangers would consider to gamble on LaF for Slaf b'c of 2 extra elc years.
but that is it.
LaF IS NOT a reclamation project
