I believe its the right value for Namestnikov but I don’t think MTL is the right partner. They will probably give a spot to Suzuki instead.

Even tho I think Hughes was the better and safer choice, I’m personally a HUGE fan of Kakko, similar to the Nico H vs Nolan Patrick debate I was on New Jersey’s side of thinking Nico was the better choice, and if I was in Shero’s position I’d be stumped again. That top line if it goes correctly/ Kakko does well is scary

Where do you think he ends up then? San Jose, Anaheim, Colorado, Ottawa or Minnesota all teams rumored to have interest.

Can you please cite where you heard teams were interested in trading for Namestnikov?

https://bluelinestation.com/2019/07/05/new-york-rangers-vlad-namestnikov-trade-bait/amp/4/

Colorado has been rumored to be interested in Vlad since the start of last season, Sharks and Ottawa are more recently rumored. Being this is an armchair GM page and my statement clearly says teams are rumored to have interest, I have no idea if these teams are genuinely interested him, hence rumors.

Ok but this only says the Sharks were interested at the deadline, but then got a better player in Nyqvist, so it probably was not heavy interest. The article does not mention whether the other teams are interested; it just mentions that they have cap space.

I think NYR have to make a trade, but I think if there was enough interest in Namestnikov or Strome these past couple of weeks, at least one of the two would have been moved by now. I think at this point either Kreider or Fast are on their way out (assuming Deangelo is not given a QO, but a two year bridge).

I believe Gorton hasn’t been able to trade any players since other teams see the rangers are over the cap and are offering pennies on the dollar for any Ranger players. Being in cap hell, no one is going to pay fair market value when what the rangers are trading for is really just cap space. I don’t like the Shatty buyout at all, but it does get the rangers under the cap and Gorton can now have some leverage when making deals. I think Kreider or Namestnikov are most likely to go, but Kreider will get the best return and with an additional 6 million in dead cap space next season seems unlikely Kreider gets an extension. Fast makes peanuts, is coming off an injury and loved by coaching staff as well as teammates, I doubt he is moved at all but if he is it would likely be at deadline.

Yes, that's pretty much my entire point. Assuming Lemieux takes a QO and Deangelo is bridged, they will still be slightly over the cap. I only suggested fast because his 1.85 coming off would allow the rangers to be cap compliant, and due to the fact that namestnikov and strome are more of a cap burden, it could be an option other teams are open to. But I agree that Kreider should be traded, for more than just a current cap hit reason.

I wouldn’t be opposed to trading Fast but I just can’t see Gorton and Quinn doing it unless the return was something we just couldn’t pass up. He is such an underrated player especially since he can fill in on top 6 if needed but kills penalties and is great role model for kids. If we aren’t in playoff hunt he will be a highly sought after commodity at the deadline.