if we really wanna go for it, the move is
To ANA: Kakko
To NYR: Henrique and Vatrano
1) Realistically, for us, Kakko will always be a 3rd liner. Hes not better than Laff and Gabe looks very promising. Our RW top 6 is set for the next decade. Yes yes, I know that laff could always move back to LW.
2) Vatrano can provide the 1 year bridge in 24-25 season to allow gabe one more year in college before making the jump
3) Kakko is an RFA this summer, he likely wont want to sign a long term deal because he wants to prove hes worth more and can hit ufa at age 25 if he signs just a 2 year deal. If he signs a 2 year deal, we lose leverage. A 1 year deal puts him just 1 year from ufa when that expires and a long term deal would likely mean low aav which he doesnt want.
All in all, due to the aforementioned, I could see this happening
To ANA: Kakko
To NYR: Vatrano and Henrique with rico 50% retained
To NYR: Duclair
To SJS: 3rd that becomes a 2nd if we make conference finals
Kreider-Mika-Vatrano
Panarin-Trocheck-Laff
Cuylle-Henrique-Duclair
Vesey-Goodrow-Rempe
Rempe/Brodz
That lineup is nails
NO x 2
Listen to Bern, don't trade youth for vets.
Seriously though, I really would rather not trade Kakko. He's still young and did put up 40 mostly 5v5 pts last year. He may never live up to the expectations of a 2OA but still can be/is a solid 3rd liner with upside without a big cap hit.
Unless there's a massive change to the cap rules, you can't just keep splurging on expensive FAs. You need cheap youth to contribute or you're stuck with a team that has no depth because you blew all the $ on expensive vets.
I agree in principle with a lot of what Bern says but don't understand why so much love for Zegras and Sanderson in hypothetical trades. I would be curious if Bern would trade youth for McDavid though.
1. Thanks for acknowledging the bern mantra, glad it is gettinng thru
2. Zegras
consider a base of Othmann + Berard ++ for Z +* not to be excessive loe-> overpayment.
We need an offensively gifted pivot more than we need an offensively gifted W. It is youth for youth, so ok there.
(* I think we can all put our heads together and see if we can come up with the optimal final version of this. Extra credit if you do full analysis and show all work!)
3. Sanderson
This guy early 20s 8 yrs starting next season takes to end of 20s, so prime, prime years. 8-ish m per a tad pricey now but cheap by end of term.
This is THE guy to 1LD match/pair w/Fox now, and if AF slows down and goes to 2RD and a more physically gifted guy (can we get Reinbacher from MON?) moves up to 1RD, Sandy remains our 1LD rock.
Unfortunately, does not look like he can be gotten, but keep at it.
4. Youth for McDavid
We do not deal youth for objective, intelligent reason. Youth = cheap production which -> impacts salary flexibility -> cap control.
That is the rule.
Exception?
- Is McD fully healthy?
- what is his age when this takes place?
- how long is he under contract?
- how likely is he to be a happy camper and put out most nights?
- how gutted is the team by acquiring him?
These ^ need to be known first.
Conceptually McD could be n exception to the rule.
When your only / best options are Cuylle with Zibanejad and Kreider with Brodzinski - yup.
OR
we could try Edstrom as pivot betw Kreid + Zib as Ws.
Byram would have more value around the NHL as a D. Every team is looking for D. It seems Byram has hit a wall in Colorado. Their GM Chris MacFarland was following the Rangers around a few weeks ago. It's the same management team in Colorado. Sakic was the GM. MacFarland was the AGM. Now Super Joe is president of hockey ops and MacFarland is the GM. They scouted Kakko that season. Kakko and Byram went two picks apart from each other. The Avs have Rantanen and Lehkonen. The Avs front office says the two Finns can get Kakko on track. They will have a very good player on their hands and they need more forward depth. The Rangers can move Bryam to another team for a LD, C or RW. The Rangers send Goodrow to Colorado in the deal. Kakko will never be the player everyone expected him to be barely playing. He is bounced from the third line to the "first" line. He isn't used the PK. You would think the Rangers would try to get him more minutes somewhere. He is barely used on the PP. He isn't used in OT.
The Habs might be willing to move their pick in a deal. Not the Jets pick. The draft is loaded with D and the Habs don't need another D. Moving up from where the Habs are expected to pick to the top 2-3 is very expensive. So Zegras is their target.
above para: NO
bottom para:
1. get J Per. from ANA for like Vesey
2. LaF + G. Per + J. Per + NYR 2025 2nd
for
Reinbacher + Slaf + Barron + MON 2025 1st
GPer not here 2 mo yrs = same as Reinbacher
LaF - Slaf _________ somewhat comp, LaF has mo upside, Rs get pick upgrade
Barron helps immediately
Only dealing Kakko in a balzy move for say a Batherson. Deal out of LF
no
