Keep DeGiuseppe on the fourth line over boyle.. he's much faster and plays the same physical style. ADA won't sign for 2.5m, so someone is gonna have to go. I think the rangers should just offer Strome a 2 year 4m a year deal, not 4.5-- his numbers are definitely inflated by panarin-- hopefully a team will overpay for him, I would stick Chytil with panarin if stromer gets traded. Keep in mind the rangers will most likely have a top 10 pick which means they may have an additional player on the team next year.

Also, only way i resign CK is if rangers do not get a top 3 pick in the draft. Lafreniere trumps Kreider and so does Stutzle (his long term outlook is looking like wing).

Here is hoping Hank agrees to be traded by the deadline since Sheshterkin has taken over the #1 spot

Problem with your CK strategy is that the 6/6.75 offered in this lineup is if he signs before TDL...No lottery team is going to trade their 1st for a rental...and relying on the Ranger's chances of getting into top 3 in the draft...good luck with that- so if they make the decision to sign him after they know their draft position is outside top 3- will require him to go UFA...and the starting point for that will be 7X7...the term will become the real deal breaker here.

who said anything about a lottery first for CK? After rangers sell off they are bound to fall in the standings. I don't think they will make the playoffs, so they'll have a lottery pick-- which means they have the potential to have a top 3 pick (even if it's not probable). I do not think the rangers have a high probability of this, I'm just saying it would be stupid to resign kreider and have Lafreniere's or Stutzle's path to a top 6 LW spot blocked. I'm saying they should follow what the Yankees did a few years back (assuming they don't get a top 3 pick). I know it's baseball but look what the yankees did with Chapman-- they traded him when they weren't playoff bound for Gleyber Torres (stud prospect) and then resigned Chapman in the offseason. All I'm saying is it would be in the best interest of the team to do the same, even if they are interested in keeping CK.


Rangers can talk to CK now about extension and even though it may not be "ethical" they can talk about giving him the opportunity to go for a cup this year and then resigning him to a deal in the summer-- if he really wanted to stay with the rangers he can still take a discount (look at david perron, exposed in expansion draft then signed a team friendly deal with the team that gave him up). The only way your logic works is if the rangers were signing him to a 8 year deal (please god no) for the cap hit to be a bit lower-- they won't be able to if they trade him, the max would be 7 but in the example you say it would be 6 years so it wouldn't be affected.

Anyone think Kreider would resign in free agency and get traded at the deadline?

It's definitely a possibility.. Kreids has spent his entire career in NY, and obviously both sides want him to be a Ranger... but it's not too common so I'm just not gonna get my hopes up.

OK..I think I'm understanding you a little better...you're suggesting trading him for assets now...and then trying to sign him when he goes UFA...I don't want to dismiss that plan...right now anything can happen. I just think that if he offers any "hometown discount"- that will come before TDL (and probably would have already presented itself). If they do trade him to a team they know will be hard pressed to resign him- then the possibility does exist that they jump into the UFA bidding for him. I just think at that point all Kreider will consider will be 7 year offers starting at 7M. I don't think the Rangers will go for that. If they really still want him and they are close right now on money AND term then make it happen ASAP. I wouldn't worry about creating a path for any prospect...that's a good problem to have which you solve when it presents itself as a problem- and if lucky enough to have that problem there should be many options to work it out.

the thing i'm worried about in terms of path for a prospect is i think kreider may insist on a NMC or a NTC.. something I would only do if he took a significant hometown discount.. he's definitely worth around 6.5 the way he is currently playing but I find it hard to believe he will be worth that in 4-5 years... having a NMC/NTC at that point may suck