Speculation: Roster/Trade Discussion Thread - WTF is up with Brett Howden?

[bobbop]

Trocheck and Matheson were longtime teammates in Florida. He could be helping Montreal management sell the city.

 

[egelband]

I know his name has been floated since last deadline, but why would Toronto move Knies in a deal like that for Trocheck? He's been Matthews's running mate for the last few years, has shown to be a very good goal scorer, and is signed on a phenomenal value deal until he's 28. I know Toronto's assets are overall limited, but if they're looking to retool and stay competitive in the remaining years on Matthews's contract, why would they move him?

Knies not going anywhere. They love him in Toronto.

 

[bhamill]

Remember that time internet fans were melting down about K'Andre's "disrespect" over a picture of RJ Barrett wearing a #9 Rangers jersey? RJ and K'Andre look nothing alike, but the internet was in conniptions accusing KAM of disrespecting Graves.

I do not. That happened? That's ridiculous.

 

[Veaktore Vitto]

The Leafs assets are brutal, they have been trading Robertson for the last 15 years.

It’s true pretty sure NYR can so better with another teams package although Robertson is a good buy low candidate

 

[bernmeister]

I would be shocked if with that lineup you got halfway to the cap floor. I can almost see the NHL offices putting the Rangers in receivership or penalizing them by taking away 1, 2, 3 first round picks over the next 1,2, 3 years. My guess is they would do something harsh.

that's fair, except I did say weaponize short term cap space, and provided one example w/Vatrano. Obv there can be others as long as they are all expiring next season or the one after.
Do you agree there is no good reason not to weaponize cap space?

I also ate a piece of Zib's $$ and that is long term

In flipping Hamilton from Jersey to CGY after pit stop here, that was another max retain.

So yeah, yr pt is valid about having to barely make cap floor at min, but that is not a prob. If nec you really overpay a guy or 2 but w/clear understanding it is only for next season.

Also there are at least 4-5 guys we have YET to sign to entry deals.
We have flexibility to not only add those, and others, but in coupla cases can gamble and pay above elc min which may add to value if those prospects look good.

Finally also, while we want to just barely make cap, we need 20-ish m just for McDavid in case he does split Oil. That has to be ready on standby. If it is not, then you have to try to manufacture that vs a deadline while everybody is aware and will try to extort an add for the cost of you doing so.

____________

I look forward to constructive review of each specific deal.
The cap comments are helpful, but bottom line is does this make the team much better long term?

I disagree w/ @Machinehead in that the team would be that horrible. Yes, we want them to hit a sweet spot of losing a lot of games to finish the plan -- add top Fs next draft after fully addressing D this yr; but then while losing close, meld as a team.
The squad I assembled has 2 high end pivot prospects.
Pretty much the whole lineup -- an exception or 2 notwithstanding -- has both size and speed. We would have Fortescue + on D and I suspect that while raw and there will be growing pains, those will be temporary.

You build the roster as I have, then, a guy like McD/Nylander notices, and may want to come, and thus you add a scorer, last on the to do list.

----------
Peeps say why can't we be the next Ducks?
Ducks sucked coupla yrs.
Then drafted well during.

We need to do as I proposed to get all the defensemen straightened out this draft, even if many have various commitments before they can join us.

And it is not just adding D. It is trading vets for youth -- extensively.

Peeps are forgetting we have to pay for our sins with all those stupid fuggin rentals.
We can pay slow and painful over time.
Or we can lwdb and accelerate the process.

Off to too much to do/too little time to do it.
best to you, my friend
b

 

[eco's bones]

that's fair, except I did say weaponize short term cap space, and provided one example w/Vatrano. Obv there can be others as long as they are all expiring next season or the one after.
Do you agree there is no good reason not to weaponize cap space?

I also ate a piece of Zib's $$ and that is long term

In flipping Hamilton from Jersey to CGY after pit stop here, that was another max retain.

So yeah, yr pt is valid about having to barely make cap floor at min, but that is not a prob. If nec you really overpay a guy or 2 but w/clear understanding it is only for next season.

Also there are at least 4-5 guys we have YET to sign to entry deals.
We have flexibility to not only add those, and others, but in coupla cases can gamble and pay above elc min which may add to value if those prospects look good.

Finally also, while we want to just barely make cap, we need 20-ish m just for McDavid in case he does split Oil. That has to be ready on standby. If it is not, then you have to try to manufacture that vs a deadline while everybody is aware and will try to extort an add for the cost of you doing so.

____________

I look forward to constructive review of each specific deal.
The cap comments are helpful, but bottom line is does this make the team much better long term?

I disagree w/ @Machinehead in that the team would be that horrible. Yes, we want them to hit a sweet spot of losing a lot of games to finish the plan -- add top Fs next draft after fully addressing D this yr; but then while losing close, meld as a team.
The squad I assembled has 2 high end pivot prospects.
Pretty much the whole lineup -- an exception or 2 notwithstanding -- has both size and speed. We would have Fortescue + on D and I suspect that while raw and there will be growing pains, those will be temporary.

You build the roster as I have, then, a guy like McD/Nylander notices, and may want to come, and thus you add a scorer, last on the to do list.

----------
Peeps say why can't we be the next Ducks?
Ducks sucked coupla yrs.
Then drafted well during.

We need to do as I proposed to get all the defensemen straightened out this draft, even if many have various commitments before they can join us.

And it is not just adding D. It is trading vets for youth -- extensively.

Peeps are forgetting we have to pay for our sins with all those stupid fuggin rentals.
We can pay slow and painful over time.
Or we can lwdb and accelerate the process.

Off to too much to do/too little time to do it.
best to you, my friend
b

Not sure who you're talking about. No Rangers fan that I know has ever said 'Why can't we be the Ducks?'---unless maybe just you yourself. But that kind of statement....you're not speaking for anyone I know.

But anyway I was right with your lineup and even retaining half of Mika's salary you don't even get halfway to the cap floor. This team with Mika's retention comes in around $38mil. The cap floor this year will be $76.9.

That team of yours with all your favorite young players/prospects would be lucky to win half a dozen games and I'm thinking most Rangers fans wouldn't watch that. I wouldn't. They'd stay away in droves and the young kids you crave I'd bet most all of them would be absolutely demoralized (as in a form of PTSD) by midway through November---some of them no doubt ruined forever by the end of the year. Just as an example do you really think Garand is going to hold up if he's regularly looking at 60/70/70+ shots a night? because you're defense f***ing sucks. They would be no support. They would collapse. Your goalies will pay the price for that. There's no one on your D with a clue how to run a power play---Konnor Smith spent most of last year in the ECHL. Iorio an average AHL player. Silayev---just a baby giraffe. Your forward lineup--a couple of 3rd liners--the rest 4th liners has beens and a couple green kids low level prospects.

And back to the NHL---they wouldn't allow you to do this. To make the Rangers such a laughing stock around the league would be a black eye for the league. Not following but flaunting the cap would be a second black eye. Even the Ducks--the Coyotes at their worst always found a way to be cap compliant. You'd have no avenue to become compliant with the team you're putting together.

 

[leetch99]

I'm very interested in getting a 2027 1st from Montreal.

Like the 2024 Rangers, they won games with wishes and pixie dust and weren't good at anything.

There's potential for a crash out.

Making the playoffs might not be as easy as some Hab fans think next season . If Hedman is back then so will TB be and Florida likely also back....and Sabres ! So 3 spots locked up might have Habs fightng for a WC all while having a playoff hangover of sorts . WC's won't be a lock either with Sens/Wings right in it again as well and one can never count out hardworking Bruins . If a Metro club can pull it together then maybe we have a real battle for the last WC spot.....nothing is simple and I'm far from sold on Hab goalies and defense ! Maybe Caulfield had a career year ? It would be so much fun if they miss the playoffs !!!

 

[leetch99]

Yeah McPhee was on the small side. We've had some really tough smaller guys though in the past. Domi is the one that most people would think of but Ryan Vandenbussche was super tough--once broke Stu Grimson's nose.....went up against 6'7 Kyle Freadrich and they both went straight from the ice to the emergency room (that's an interesting fight to YouTube)....so was PJ Stock. That said players aren't brought up that way and smaller players don't get in a lot of fights anymore. McPhee as a fighter was a buzzsaw and Stock was too.

Langdon for a an honorable mention ....not the biggest guy in the fighter category by any means but always willing .

 

[Siddi]

Losing in 6 games in the Final? Sure.

I mean, have we won the ultimate prize? No. You can point to this and point to that, but most teams that have been to 5 Conference Finals and one Cup Final in 14 years is pretty successful. Not ultimately successful but there are a ton of teams that would be over the moon at that including Original Six teams.

The "young" elite generational Centers - Mackinnon, McDavid, and Matthews have 1 Cup between them in 34 years of playing and one of them, McDavid, has the honor of playing with another arguably generational center (Draisatl). Matthews has won, what, a single playoff round? McKinnon is one of only 5 President's Trophy winning teams to get swept and he's got a HELL of cast surrounding him with Makar, Necas, Landeskog, Toews, etc... Better that anything Zibanejad ever had.

The question here really isn't our futility - it's the generational center argument vs. the team building argument. I think the latter wins. Clearly.

To further your point about supporting cast. I posted the following a while back.

From 19/20 to 23/24 if we look at the top 25 point producers in the playoffs, only 11 of them produced at PPG+. This is all skaters mind you.

Here is a list of those 11 players:

McDavid
Kucherov
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Rantanen
Makar
Point
Bouchard
Landeskog
Zibanejad

Now if we break it down even further to only centers during that same time period. Among the top 10 point producing centers only 5 produced at PPG+.

Here is a list of those 5 players:

McDavid
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Point
Zibanejad

Another interesting data point is that in the group of 11 PPG+ players, Zibanejad is the only player not having another horse as a teammate. Every other player on that list is accompanied by at least one other teammate.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

I have revised my opus in light of VAN likely keeping 3OA for Maholtra.

Here is revised.
Play nice til I check in this w'e...
peace out.....



1. make a statement to current R players, deal Shesty for 9OA + maybe small add to fL, which is extreme cap tight but needs Igor to replace bob,
for 9OA + Mikkola + Rodrigues + Domingue

Panthers get Bob replacement, Igor waives b’c he saves $$ on state taxes [none], has faster opportunity to maybe get a cup now, and some Russians there [Barkov], so he is comfy.

Rs get 9OA, cap relief, serviceable Mikkola, useful Rodr. and Domingue, whether he is back up to Garand or flipped.

9OA is close enuf you can add and move up


2. jtm + Schneider + both later 2026 3rds (NYI + BUF) to Pit
for Horcoff, EKarlsson + return of nyr 2027 2nd

jt waives b’c it is close ‘nuf to home, and it is clear R mgmt listening to bern and breaking up the vet band. Pens pivot depth is ancient, w/Sid at 40 and Geno just renewed 1 yr, the latter reduced in effectiveness. So whether 3C or top 6 W, jt is welcome. Pens also need Schneid with Letang [also elder] and EKarlsson [no spring chicken] up there, and EK viewed as jumping to SJ first chance/not renewing. 2 current 3rds this yr mitigate vs loss of return nyr 2nd next yr.

Rs will keep Horcoff and parlay EK and the 2nd to SJ this yr


3. Fox + NYR 2027 2nd + EKarlsson
for SJ 2026 1st [2OA] + EDM 2026 1st + 2027 1st

So SJ, Fox is not elite but is superior RD with uber elite hockey sense, borderline par skating, etc. considered effective -> very effective w/correct partner. He is late 20s, 3 yrs, not cheap but not unreasonable for what he brings given higher end RD market. EK should not pay a lot for just to get 1 yr early, but the above is reasonable given
Sharks get a yr out of him now w/less wear and tear. Rs 2027 2nd mitigates trade down on SJ 2027 1st

Rs get 3 picks + still more cap relief



4. SJ 2nd to CHI + EDM 2026 1st
for 4OA + CHI 2027 1st top 3 protected, also CHI 2026 2nd + VAN 2027 2nd

In a side deal, CHI also sends OTT 2026 4th for Berard + Sheary

Blackhawks want an elite W prospect to go w/Bedard, and that is enough to pay to get their guy at 2OA. Oil later 1st this year added to that justifies surrender of next yrs 1st and the 2 2nds.

Berard is not worth a 4th, but he s a fast W and might be an interesting energy stopgap w/Bedard and that help balances the above. Sheary has no value, but is minimal $ and CHI accommodates adding to roster as a favor. That said, he might make the team.

Rs will use 4OA + 5OA but also add....


5. NY-NJ Zib 8.5 reduced to 7 plus DAL 2026 1st (26OA) + Gonchar
for Silayev, Nemec, NJ 2026 1st (12OA) + Hamilton at full pop

Jersey wants more offensive production, and cap relief, esp structural cap relief. Zib = that and 1.5 reduced multiple yrs commands all of this: Moving back 14 slots 1st round is a wince, but Nemec is not a slam dunk for a 2OA so untested Silayev is the only heavy piece surrendered here as while Hamilton has something in the tank and is not a complete bust his supbar season arguably suggests start of decline.

Rs hope Silayev is a keeper -> possible foundation piece and can flip other assets


6. Rs-LA
Gav + 2026 3rd returned + McConnell Barker + Pars + Rads for Clarke, Helenius

Gav + Ks did not burn bridges when he signed to hang w/bud breadman in Gotham. He is long term on good $$. Clarke is comparable and is cheaper now, but when that deal is soon up, will arguably cost more, so deal has strong $$ inducement for Ks. Rs want Helenius so NY adds a bit more. Pars + Rads are picture of meh, but they are cheap stopgap pivots for 1 yr as other better options emerge. BMB is a 3rd rounder pivot helps add a prospect to area of dearth w/retirement of Kopitar. Recovery of 3rd rounder from Panarin deal helps.

Rs go younger to RD if they keep Clarke, add Helenius – bern loves those trees who can skate!

7. Rs-Flames
Borgen, Hamilton has 2 yrs, reduced full pop 9 to 4.5 + Nemec + Morrow for CGY 5OA and Flames 2027 1st top 3 protected.

Flames want D, a need after moving Raz Andy. Borgen is righty shot actual def D, plays either side. Retaining Ham adds value makes him easily moveable if Calgary laters decides to sell as rental. Nemec disappointing for draft position, but still, possible 2OA-ish upside potential. Morrow has pro shot, is raw, but makes team day 1.

Rs take picks and cap relief.


8. Rs-SEA
NJ 12OA acquired above + _____ for 7OA

NY Times article suggests, w/apparent concurrence, that Kraken are on the way as a cohesive team, but to get to the next level, need more higher end talent, which Rs do not have to spare. So Rs will add acceptable picks/prospects for to move up 5 spots.


9. Rs-WPG
Gabe Perrault + CHI 2026 2ND acquired above for 8OA and ‘peg 2027 1st top 3 protected + return of Rs 2026 2nd

Gabe P would go top 10 in a redraft, is already here, contributing, elc, worth 8OA, teams swap a good 2nd rounder this yr for 1st next yr. Helps Winni now, but adds youth, helps Rs w/chance for more Ds or a C this round and adds for nxt yr


10. Rs-MON
LaF + Cuylle + G Spencer Martin for Hage, MON 2026 2nd, 2027 1st, Reinbacher + Montembeault + Gallagher

While not adding a pivot, this is otherwise a big immediate help to Habs. Martin is drek, Monty is better but not much, and is a cap dump here. Gallagher is beyond cooked and at full pop is a cap dump. Hage is the only non-pick of signif value, Rein still has upside, but it is not clear he cannot stay healthy. Deal is ballpark cap neutral, important b’c MON is up vs cap.

Rs continue to gamble on vets for high end youth hoped to have upside.


11. Trochek to CBJ for 14OA + ________
Not sure DET can step up or Tro will go there, so BJs it is.

Col gets 3 yrs at min solid pivot at great price.
Rs get a min 14OA + something nice on top of that.


12. Rs - ANA
Ducks not in trouble but could use cap for max $ available to Carlsson + others.
So Rs will use cap space.

NYR 2027, 2028, 2029 7ths [+ cap relief]
for
Helleson + Konnor Smith + Vatrano

______________

TRANSLATION OF WHAT THAT MEANS:
NYR wind up w/4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 OAs + other good picks for 2026 + 2027.

If we assume Maholtra to VAN at 3OA, w/McK + Stein off the boards, then Rs can draft Reid, Carels, Smits and Verhoff for their D and start to look at bpa Cs.

Roster – want to develop this yr, add top talent next yr’s draft, be ready to emerge like ANA.

Fs
Chmelar - Rodrigues - Laba
Lamb - Kartye - Brodz
Eds - Roo - Rempe
Vatrano - Hel - Sykora
Greentree, Gallagher [if not released]
Hage, Horcoff once ready which is likely 1-2 yrs
extra Fs: give Terrance a shot
Aspinall a yr + away
interested in how Spence, Terrance, Barnhill, develop

D
Mikkola - Silayev
Fortescue - Helleson
Smith - Iorio

Gs
Garand, Monty/Domingue

tons of cap for when opportunity knocks/short term weaponizing
lots of picks

somethin

 

[Veaktore Vitto]

I know a leaf fan that will not be a leaf fan if they did a Knies for Tro type package lol

Can’t blame him cause that would be a bad deal for them

Besides that though TO doesn’t have the assets to get Tro with a Koblar , Danforth, Robertson type package

 

[bhamill]

Langdon for a an honorable mention ....not the biggest guy in the fighter category by any means but always willing .

Langdon was maybe 6 ft and DNGAF. Fought anyone and everyone and rarely took any damage.
The only thing I didn’t like about Darren Langdon was that he looked too much like Mike Milbury

 

[bhamill]

To further your point about supporting cast. I posted the following a while back.

From 19/20 to 23/24 if we look at the top 25 point producers in the playoffs, only 11 of them produced at PPG+. This is all skaters mind you.

Here is a list of those 11 players:

McDavid
Kucherov
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Rantanen
Makar
Point
Bouchard
Landeskog
Zibanejad

Now if we break it down even further to only centers during that same time period. Among the top 10 point producing centers only 5 produced at PPG+.

Here is a list of those 5 players:

McDavid
Draisatl
MacKinnon
Point
Zibanejad

Another interesting data point is that in the group of 11 PPG+ players, Zibanejad is the only player not having another horse as a teammate. Every other player on that list is accompanied by at least one other teammate.

Wasn’t Panarin usually above to PPG for the playoffs he was in with us?

 

[jacknotjake]

I can’t even. I had to look and regret doing so. Holy shit.

Every once in a while, I will click "show ignored content" if the replies I see pique my interest enough. Ill usually read it with the Happy Gilmore quote "Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points" and regret reading the barely coherent ramble.

 

[RangerBoy]

Great news. Drury is running it back.

Keep him? Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[McRanger92]

Not that Dreger’s Rangers sources should be trusted but why is this the reaction of prominent Rangers fans? Should the Rangers make a bad deal? This is the type of low IQ reaction that puts undue fan pressure on organizations. Drury should not capitulate on his ask for Trocheck because Trocheck can still help the Rangers. Really feels like the toxic part of the fanbase wants to see the team burn because they are embittered over 2 losing seasons at the end of an era. Weird entitlement. Drury is doing the right thing by holding firm, regardless of whether you like him or not.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Not sure who you're talking about. No Rangers fan that I know has ever said 'Why can't we be the Ducks?'---unless maybe just you yourself. But that kind of statement....you're not speaking for anyone I know.

But anyway I was right with your lineup and even retaining half of Mika's salary you don't even get halfway to the cap floor. This team with Mika's retention comes in around $38mil. The cap floor this year will be $76.9.

That team of yours with all your favorite young players/prospects would be lucky to win half a dozen games and I'm thinking most Rangers fans wouldn't watch that. I wouldn't. They'd stay away in droves and the young kids you crave I'd bet most all of them would be absolutely demoralized (as in a form of PTSD) by midway through November---some of them no doubt ruined forever by the end of the year. Just as an example do you really think Garand is going to hold up if he's regularly looking at 60/70/70+ shots a night? because you're defense f***ing sucks. They would be no support. They would collapse. Your goalies will pay the price for that. There's no one on your D with a clue how to run a power play---Konnor Smith spent most of last year in the ECHL. Iorio an average AHL player. Silayev---just a baby giraffe. Your forward lineup--a couple of 3rd liners--the rest 4th liners has beens and a couple green kids low level prospects.

And back to the NHL---they wouldn't allow you to do this. To make the Rangers such a laughing stock around the league would be a black eye for the league. Not following but flaunting the cap would be a second black eye. Even the Ducks--the Coyotes at their worst always found a way to be cap compliant. You'd have no avenue to become compliant with the team you're putting together.

You make the bold assumption that you will receive a logical, rational response.

 

[Levitate]

Not that Dreger’s Rangers sources should be trusted but why is this the reaction of prominent Rangers fans? Should the Rangers make a bad deal? This is the type of low IQ reaction that puts undue fan pressure on organizations. Drury should not capitulate on his ask for Trocheck because Trocheck can still help the Rangers. Really feels like the toxic part of the fanbase wants to see the team burn because they are embittered over 2 losing seasons at the end of an era. Weird entitlement. Drury is doing the right thing by holding firm, regardless of whether you like him or not.

Hah, Dreger is the Leafs mouthpiece, if I'd believe anything it's him parroting stuff he's being fed from them after people recently said the lLeafs were interested.

I don't care if they trade or keep Vinny right now, they should try to trade him again at the deadline if they do keep him though.

 

[McRanger92]

Great news. Drury is running it back.

Keep him? Stupid is as stupid does.

What’s wrong with running it back? We’ll get another top pick being the worst team in the league and all

 

[McRanger92]

Hah, Dreger is the Leafs mouthpiece, if I'd believe anything it's him parroting stuff he's being fed from them after people recently said the lLeafs were interested.

I don't care if they trade or keep Vinny right now, they should try to trade him again at the deadline if they do keep him though.

Spot on

 

[haohmaru]

What’s wrong with running it back? We’ll get another top pick being the worst team in the league and all

If you don't get a decent haul for Trocheck you keep him - at least until next TDL

I mean, there are A LOT of worse teams down the middle than -> Zibanejad / Miller / Trocheck / Lab

Let me capitalize that again, A LOT.

There's also A LOT of teams that have a worse first pair than Gavrikov / Fox. A LOT.

They can be competitive if they want to be to a certain extent. Not SC competitive though unless something seriously weird happens.

 

[McRanger92]

If you don't get a decent haul for Trocheck you keep him - at least until next TDL

I mean, there are A LOT of worse teams down the middle than -> Zibanejad / Miller / Trocheck / Lab

Let me capitalize that again, A LOT.

There's also A LOT of teams that have a worse first pair than Gavrikov / Fox. A LOT.

They can be competitive if they want to be to a certain extent. Not SC competitive though unless something seriously weird happens.

The Rangers should build a complete team this year without trading draft picks. “Rebuild” or “retool” means absolutely nothing to me

 

[NYR Viper]

That is straight posturing from the Rangers.

They leak nothing at all, and then one day Dreger of all people says 'Trochek isn't moving'. Yeah, okay...

 

[GAGLine]

Not that Dreger’s Rangers sources should be trusted but why is this the reaction of prominent Rangers fans? Should the Rangers make a bad deal? This is the type of low IQ reaction that puts undue fan pressure on organizations. Drury should not capitulate on his ask for Trocheck because Trocheck can still help the Rangers. Really feels like the toxic part of the fanbase wants to see the team burn because they are embittered over 2 losing seasons at the end of an era. Weird entitlement. Drury is doing the right thing by holding firm, regardless of whether you like him or not.

Here's the problem. Whether he is on the team or not, we aren't winning the cup in the next 3 years. The only thing keeping him might accomplish is making our draft pick next year worse.

No one wants to make a bad deal, but we also have to be realistic about what Trocheck will return in trade. Drury didn't get his price at the deadline. If he doesn't get his price this summer, he never will, so holding onto him and trying to trade him again later isn't going to accomplish anything.

At a certain point, you have to accept what the market is offering and move on.

 

[bernmeister]

Not sure who you're talking about. No Rangers fan that I know has ever said 'Why can't we be the Ducks?'---unless maybe just you yourself. But that kind of statement....you're not speaking for anyone I know.

But anyway I was right with your lineup and even retaining half of Mika's salary you don't even get halfway to the cap floor. This team with Mika's retention comes in around $38mil. The cap floor this year will be $76.9.

That team of yours with all your favorite young players/prospects would be lucky to win half a dozen games and I'm thinking most Rangers fans wouldn't watch that. I wouldn't. They'd stay away in droves and the young kids you crave I'd bet most all of them would be absolutely demoralized (as in a form of PTSD) by midway through November---some of them no doubt ruined forever by the end of the year. Just as an example do you really think Garand is going to hold up if he's regularly looking at 60/70/70+ shots a night? because you're defense f***ing sucks. They would be no support. They would collapse. Your goalies will pay the price for that. There's no one on your D with a clue how to run a power play---Konnor Smith spent most of last year in the ECHL. Iorio an average AHL player. Silayev---just a baby giraffe. Your forward lineup--a couple of 3rd liners--the rest 4th liners has beens and a couple green kids low level prospects.

And back to the NHL---they wouldn't allow you to do this. To make the Rangers such a laughing stock around the league would be a black eye for the league. Not following but flaunting the cap would be a second black eye. Even the Ducks--the Coyotes at their worst always found a way to be cap compliant. You'd have no avenue to become compliant with the team you're putting together.

1. Lots of peeps on this board wanted us to not suck like ANA but reap benefits of drafting well to have a young team.
That took years
My way minimizes that by acquiring higher end picks more likely to succeed if not also quicker.
Of course, nobody wants to pay that price now.
Peeps who said yeah, do a rental, win now, I don't care are not honest enuf to fess up.

2. Defense. Forgot to list Clarke, who I kept in this variation
I see Fortescue as a quick study.
Clarke is established.
They can work those 2 for first pair.
Robertson, etc., fine.
THEY ARE PLACEHOLDERS for the guys we draft.

3. Cap.
Too biz to crunch #s and yours seem reasonable.
Let's say there is a 40-ish mil gap betw what I said and the cap floor, BEFORE ADJUSTMENTS, which I noted were possible.
Garand = elc; Offer him 4.5 x 4 = 20m or almost 4 per on 1 yr of salary.
40-4 =36 m gap

There are a # of guys we can extend now instead of later.
Laba, Chmel, Fortescue.
Let's say that's another 3 guys same-ish deal, net more than 3m over their elcs.
Call it 10m

that's 36-10 = 26
Now there are guys we haven't even signed to elc yet. Can go direct to a larger deal.
Roo, Aspinall, Eriksen, Barnhill, Spence
coupla mil each x 5, that's ballpark 13
26 - 13 = ballpark 13 left

Now weaponizing cap.
Setting aside a scenario where Matthews ++ gets injured in TOR, they have no chance, agree to send us Nylander for picks/futures, that is 10+ right there, 1 guy.

That's iffy/conditional on injury so we'll just call it an unlikely but outside maybe [like drawing an inside straight in poker].
we could outbid for Ras Andersson, use him 1-2 yrs as a placeholder, then sell later when the cavalry arrives possibly w/retention
That's 10+m on just 1 guy!
13-10 = 3

and there's more where that came from

and those are ufas
there are also rfas

So respectfully, the math DOES add up
You have to be creative and work, but it does add up.


4. Fan acceptance
Fans will recognize more of the same = more of the same, and capitulate to that reality, or suffer from continued status quo.

We need to replace our vets w/quality youth that is the bottom line
either it gets done piecemeal over time, or as I propose above in expedited fashion.
But THAT actually IS reality.

A lot of us called to embrace the suck to get best possible draft pick [odds].
So if the team IS a stinker, why would they not accept 1 yr of pain if it is 1-2 steps back to go 8-10 forward?

And also, this is a hungry team that would compete even if they did not walk away w/as man Ws as we would like until after growing pains are gone.

Peace out