The possible trade deadlines
2019 Zucc, Hayes pending UFAs, what are the guesses to what they return? I'm not entirely convinced either will return even a late 1st but not out of the realm of possibility.
2020 Kreider, Name, Vesey, Fast pending UFAs, I think maybe Kreider depending on how he is playing returns a late 1st but the others probably not.
2021 Shattenkirk, Staal, Smith, Lundqvist, other than maybe Shattenkirk if he is playing well still at that point, I don't see much return there but still some sort of futures.
Spooner?
Given that is where they are, moving those players sooner rather than later has to be the best idea, imagine if any of them become injured and can not be sold at the deadlines prior to them becoming a UFA.
Plus selling sooner likely puts the Rangers in the better draft lottery odds. It's sort of time to tank whether or not one feels that strategy is good, it's just how they seem to be positioned.
If that is the general idea, I kind of understand it, not sure I agree that maximizes the returns that could have happened, or that it will make much sense when the expansion draft comes about, but if the plan is to sell for the next three straight deadlines, the signings this year makes some sense in that regard.