Unpopular opinion time:
I honestly think we don't need to add on defence:

Sandin is ready to have a breakout year after a dominant AHL performance last year and a productive call-up. He has also shown he can play right-side and would not be surprised if he ended up with Rielly. Muzzin and Holl are already a great pairing and don't need to be touched. That leaves us with Dermott and Lehtonen who I'm fine with playing together. So basically, we have a solid second pairing, a wildcard bottom pairing with two guys set to explode this year, and a mediocre top pairing.

People often overlook the fact that an elite defencemen like Rielly doesn't need another elite defencemen, they need someone who plays a complimentary game, like Hainsey. People also overlook the fact that Dermott is already a solid 2nd pairing defensemen at the ripe age of 23. He was a year younger then DeMelo was when he was part of the Karlsson trade, and Dermott is significantly better then DeMelo was at that time. It's ridiculous to think people want to ship Dermott of for scraps just to go sign him.

I think that you have a pretty rosy outlook on those trades. Johnsson for Lemieux is fair value, but I doubt you'd get much more, and I'd be shocked if Myers cost you anyone less than Kapanen. The Flyers have pretty high hopes for him.

Agree, you aren't getting Myers for Engvall...a 4th is a throw in sweetner as is Bracco (who's worth a 4th or 5th)

You also aren't getting Anderson and a 3rd plus Lemieux for Johnsson...that's pretty far off.

Myers is the only rightie behind Niskanen they have signed for next season, and Niskanen is on an expiring contract; moreover, they don't have anyone on that side in the system likely to make the team next year. I don't see Philly being any more eager to deal Myers than Anaheim is to deal Manson.

Since you're a Chicago guy, tell me whether I'm right in thinking that Connor Murphy isn't going anywhere, either.

I agree that the trades are quite optimistic, but I do have to disagree with that part. Johnsson > Lemieux for me unless Johnsson's injury absolutely craters him.

My thought (it's not an effort at evaluation) is that NY will be reluctant to give Lemieux up without a fight; it would have to be a very tempting offer.

Not sure on Murphy. Depends on two things;
1) if Seabs is looking good skating once the practice facility opens up after 3 surgeries in January
2) if there is a CBO or not as Seabs will be CBO'd if there is
2) if Mitchell is looking good once the team starts practicing...there seems to be a lot of faith from the org that he's in the lineup so I think #1 & #2 above is a better indicator if Murphy is moved

I understand a team not wanting to give someone up, but from a value perspective it's still not an even swap.

Yeah, but I wasn't looking at it from a value perspective, I was looking at it from a "whether Rangers would be at all likely to do it" perspective.

In addition to RFA Lemieux, in theory NY also has to re-sign Strome, De Angelo and Georgiev unless they can find willing buyers for value for them, which may preclude re-signing UFA Jesper Fast in light of the oncoming hits from Kreider's $2 million raise and the additional rise of a net $2.6 million from the buyout portfolio. And all this in the shadow of a flat cap. So unless the offer is one they can't refuse (i.e., Johnsson for Lemieux virtually straight up), I don't see Rangers doing it.

Philadelphia doesn't have any incentive to move Phil Myers. Any deal for him would have to be around William Nylander, which seems equally unlikely for him to be moved.

I guess I was thrown off by "Johnsson for Lemieux is fair value" lol. I get what you mean, though.

I agree. I also think Dermott could work next to Rielly as well. Also Liljegren is not as far off being NHL ready as some think. Lets give these young D some NHL minutes and see what they can really do. If by the trade deadline we need to upgrade then do it then.