Do you not think that Lias Andersson will start the season with the Rangers next year?

He might start on NYRs roster; but I'd rather have him start the year in Hartford, playing 20 minutes per game and being a leader. I'd like for him to have some stability (which he had not this past year). We can call him up in January when we trade Hayes.

All three deals are pretty fair in my opinion. I don't think Tampa would add Katchouk and the 2nd to dump Callahan, but I would expect they would give you Katchouk and Callahan without the pick.

Katchouk is a A+ prospect, him only going over to Rangers for Leedahl is unfair. I could see Callahan and a mid round pick going for Leedahl.

By no means is Katchouk an A+ prospect. He's having a great Draft+1 season (he's at 1,46 PPG), but that also means he's not elite. If you feel he is, replace him for a B+ prospect and it's fine by me. Callahan is a pure cap dump for which the Lightning pay a 2nd+prospect. It's not just the cap space: this trade costs the Rangers $11M (which they are willing to pay for a good return). A mid round pick is not worth $11M. As for Leedahl, he is a 'contract dump': NYR won't want to take on 2 contracts when none plays in the NHL at a good level. Leedahl has no trade value, but his inclusion is better (for the Rangers) than future considerations.

Most scouts view him as an A- or B+ prospect. Definitely not an A+. He would be about the right price to take away the Callahan contract so the Lightning can re-sign Kucherov. The deal really isn't about Leedahl at all.

We're not taking cap dumps and getting capped out. NYR are not doing the 2/3 year rebuild. I obviously wouldn't, but if we did bring Rash back, 2 years MAX and 4m MAX. Yes he owes us!!!

I confused, why do the Sabers randomly get a 1st round pick if E. Kane resigns, it was never part of the Sabers-Sharks deal back at the trade deadline.

Sabres got a 2019 2nd which turns into a 2019 1st if Evander Kane resigns

Thanks, but wouldn't that mean that the NYR can't get that SJS 1st rounder in the first place?

I actually think you're right and the 2/3 year rebuild won't happen. But I do think it would be the best way to go. And these would be good steps. Note that the only contract longer than three years is Brady Skjei.

By the way, Nash doesn't owe us anything. He's hitting open market (because we traded him) and we'll have to outbid other teams on July 1st. There's no need to try and get him 1M cheaper when we're not contending anyway.

But, of course, who knows what Sather & Co have in store for us this summer.

No, the trade was structured as 2019 conditional 2nd (because, should things stay the same - that is, Kane doesn't resign, it is a 2nd going BUFs way). This means that they can trade their 2019 first. However, older obligations prevail, which is why you insert a condition in the NYR trade determining what happens if suddenly Kane resigns and therefore SJS cannot trade their 2019 1st.

Look at it this way: there is no way that the 2019 first is owed simultaneously to NYR and BUF. Therefore, an identical obligation is not assumed twice, and the contracts (trades) are not contradictory. At least, that's how I understand it after 3 years of law. My knowledge of the CBA is iffy though, so I might be wrong.

So the SJS 2nd round pick in 2019 was traded in the E. Kane deal however that 2nd can turn into a first if Kane resigns with the Sharks, but if he doesn't the Sharks lose their conditional 2nd because it is garneted in the Kane deal but that means if Kane doesn't resign they also lose their 1st rounder due to the fact they traded to NYR in the Zuccarello deal.

So I guess for the Sharks the best move would be to be to resign Kane or else they would lose their 2nd and their first in 2019, that's all depending on the draft results of course.

Yes, that's basically it.

Sharks don't do that trade for a long term rental.