Buch with McDavid could be deadly. Plus, even though hes overpaid Smith is still a decent defenseman

If you replaced Smith with Staal and Bear with Yamamoto then it's a conversation.

You chronically overrate our players on every one of these. Your proposal is preposterous. This return might be a hair light for Buch, but getting Smith off the books with no retained salary would be a massive win, and losing Buch only really hurts in the immediate short term, he’s not going to have a place on this team when Kakko and Kravstov develop into top 6 RW’s. We could ask for a 3rd round pick or something equivalent in addition to Pulju and Bear but if we want to move Smith, this is realistic.

No, it's fair as it is.

I don't think I have ever seen a proposal from you where you didn't drastically overrate a Ranger player for an outrageous return. I want the best package I can get for the Rangers in any trade. But you have to be somewhat realistic and keep it in the ballpark from time to time.

This is an interesting proposal. Losing Buchnevich hurts. Losing Smkth is good. They have a bunch of young dmen, so Bear isn't a need but he's got value. Puljujarvi is the wild card. He may be a bust. But he wouldn't have much of a spotlight with Panarin, Kakko and Kravstov making their debut.

I like the trade proposal, but I think Holland would want to have quite a bit more that $141,344 in cap space going into the season. Maybe Benning, Bear, and Puljujarvi for Buchnevich, Smith, a middling forward prospect, and the 2nd round pick? That would still clear cap space for Gorton and represents a decent return of talent. It also protects a bit of cap space for Holland and opens up and opportunity for Jones, Bouchard, Persson, and Lagesson.

With respect to Gagner, a buyout is no longer and option since Holland exercised Edmonton's third, and final, buyout under the current CBA. In comparison to Manning, I do think Gagner is a more likely trade candidate with Dorion anyway.

I'd put Brodziak on waivers and send him to Bakersfield, if he clears. Personally, I'd like to see Marody given an opportunity. However, Haas will be competing for the 3C as well, and both Granlund and Khaira can fill in at centre if needed.