How do we improve

You already have stud offensive defenseman in Fox, Rags should be looking for a defensive defenseman, that's where you guys are getting beat. Same problem as Edmonton. You can have a offensive team that can score 6 goals a night but it doesn't help if your defense lets up 7. I'd say try and get Lybushkin in free agency he's a sole defense guy. wont get goals from him but he will cut down on goals against and scoring opportunties

Rangers easily decline the Zona trade. Getting a 2C would go a long way helping the NYR.

You underpaid Kakko and Motte. Blais probably takes a one year deal at that value to rehab his value.

I get what you're saying. We bleed chances, but we have elite goaltending. This has been the case the entirety of my adult life. Chychrun's defensive stats aren't terrible. I don't see the harm in adding him.

There isn't any room on the right side for Lybushkin. It's up to Trouba to justify his continued position on this team.

Kakko hasn't done anything to deserve a substantial raise. Since cap space is a premium, he won't get one unless someone throws an OS at him.
Motte's next contract is projected to be in the 1.3 range. I think it's probable that teams compete to sign him and he drifts close to 2-2.5. If thats the case, he's out of our budget. He's a luxury for sure.

There aren't any 2C's that are available that make sense for this team. Maybe Larkin, but we'd only get 1 year of him before we're back to making difficult choices, cutting people loose, etc. Panarin can elevate a responsible player like Copp above their contract value. This is the type of come up this team needs because of how much money is in the back end.

IMO at least. I don't see a 2C move that makes sense for this team that isn't going to need a raise before we have to resign a bunch of kids.

Kakko might not have the points numbers but he is a decent 2 way defender who was the 2nd overall pick so there is some precedence to pay. I think he gets in the $2.5M range (just like Chytil. I agree Motte will get in the $2M range as he is a good 4th liner and GM's value those a lot.

I would love to get Larkin but like you said one year left on his deal and then in line for a raise. Plus he will cost a lot to acquire. I like Copp, Boone Jenner, Chandler Stephenson or maybe Dvorak.