Where?
I think we can both agree that Kravtsov on the 4th line is a waste of time. That leaves three lines worth of spots. I know you've advocated for VK at C before, but the team is stacked three deep on centers with Zibanejad, Chytil, and Trocheck. The LW is locked down with Panarin, Kreider, and Lafreniere. The RW has Kakko and two question marks (Goodrow if he's still here? Probably at least an extended audition for Othmann?). So yeah, hypothetically, there IS a spot there. But if you have the Kid line together and put Othmann with Panarin and Zib, then you are looking for another guy for that Kreider/Trocheck "greasy" line. Whether that guy ends up being someone like Vesey or Blais or a similar minimum salary guy, the style of that line doesn't fit Kravtsov at all.
So it really comes down to who do you want on the line with Panarin and Zibanejad? The 23 year old, offense-first guy who has 10 career points (17 per 82 game pace)? Or the 20 year old, shoot first, top prospect?
And all of that is before even thinking about whether or not Kravtsov wants to BE back with the Rangers next year. He's been trying to get out of the org for literal years. This was really a "show me" year, and he's shown...six points.
Show me, but still not properly used.
Letting him go cheap would be unforgivably BAD asset mgmt, which can, and hopefully will be avoided.
In the short term, as I say, we are married to bread. He won't stay his whole 3 seasons after this b'c he is not getting an offer from us, for any $$$, due to cap, so he will waive before, but not now.
Also short term, Goodrow needs to be stapled to bread. Can't have a scenario where he gets bullied, Kreider or Zib step in, and break a hand. If that IS what we have to do in the POs, GG should start with that now.
So:
Goodrow - Zib - Panarin
We do
Kreider - Tro - Krav
then kid line
leaves Vesey brod Gauthier
I see a deal for LaF w/Sens, will post something later during the wk
I believe we can move enuf salary to possibly extend both Chytil + KAM, dep on what they want, but I think they work w/us on 3-5 yr deals since bread and trouba will be gone, and the team has a young core w/upside
Goodrow may have to go dep on that deal
Lindgren will have to go for picks and they need to admit to that reality and do it now to max the return, let Robertson get 3rd pair mins.
I don't want Robertson to turn into another Reunanen, a guy that was underutilized, and eventually we got nothing. If better ahead of him fine give those guys a few games off here and there, and up Reunanen value and deal. Same w/Robbie,
Thanks for Krav at pivot acknowledgment.
When bread goes, with Goodrow following or relocated in lineup, we can explore
Kreid - Krav - Zib
this keeps CK comfy on left, and on def/faceoffs utilizes zib as a righty. Again, on offense, no prob guys floating w/what works.
