75M cap + Stepan Trade

Retirement, not expansion...

Expansion... I can see Vegas taking any of the main players that NYR have unprotected(Lindberg,Fast,Raanta,Grabner), but I think Grabner may have the greatest value in a trade coming off the high goal scoring season and the fact that he has 1 year left on a 1.65M deal.

I can't see Arizona trading away a Chychrun, Keller, Strome, Domi, or OEL in a Stepan deal. Merkley looks to be a potential top 9 center. DeAngelo had a bit of a rough year in terms of shot suppression, but is still developing and can develop into a nice top 4 RHD for NYR. At the #7 pick, I hope the Rangers could land Pettersson, who I think is the 2nd most talented player in this draft behind Hischier. If Pettersson already goes, one of Liljegren, Glass, or Heiskanen will most likely still be available. The Coyotes receive Stepan who can handle tough competition while Strome and Keller develop, and put up 50-60 points if he plays close to 82 games. Antti Raanta has proven that he is a quality goalie in his time with NY, and can give the about same production as Mike Smith. This may not be the exact return that Gorton is searching for, but I think the conversation starts with DeAngelo, 7th OVR, + Prospects/Picks for Stepan + Raanta. I see Stepan and Jordan Staal as somewhat similar players and when Carolina acquired Staal they traded Dumoulin, who was a B prospect, Sutter, who was viewed as a 3rd line center and the 8th OVR pick. Staal was 24 at the time, Stepan is 3 years older, but Arizona is also acquiring a goalie and Stepan's contract is not 10 years long.

Calgary adds a bottom pair LHD, and the Rangers get a center who shows signs of being a solid bottom 6 center.