Ekholm is a Lefty, If you're trying to wrench a D from Nashville, I'd take Ellis, a Righty.

Also: I don't think any of the other trades are necessary. Maybe Nichushkin, but why swap Kreider and Smith for Skinner? I'd rather have depth than a stacked top line. Besides, I don't think Buch is ready for 2nd line responsibilities, and Miller is too good for the 3rd line.

I'd go:
Kreider - Stepan - Miller
Pirri - Zibby - Zucco
Vesey - Smith - Buch
Grabner - Jooris - Fast

McDonagh - Ellis
Skjei - Kleiner
Holden - McIlrath

Then, for the expansion, protect:
F: Kreider, Stepan, Miller, Zibby, Zucco, Smith, Fast/Lindberg
D: McDonagh, Ellis, Klein/McIlrath
G: Hank

Exempt: Skjei, Vesey, Buch
Fast/Lindberg is a choice between who the Rangers think they'd want more, and is also conditional on how well Jooris and Hrivik play.
Klein/McIlrath is all dependent on how many games Dylan plays. If he hits 42, he is exposed to the draft, if he plays less he is protected, but becomes a free agent.
Seemingly, the way to deal with the Klein/McI situation is to trade Kleiner around the deadline for a small ransom, and then run these pairings:
McDonagh - Ellis
Skjei - Dylan
Holden - Girardi/Clendening

[/quote]Then, for the expansion, protect:
F: Kreider, Stepan, Miller, Zibby, Zucco, Smith, Fast/Lindberg
D: McDonagh, Ellis, Klein/McIlrath
G: Hank

Exempt: Skjei, Vesey, Buch
Fast/Lindberg is a choice between who the Rangers think they'd want more, and is also conditional on how well Jooris and Hrivik play.
Klein/McIlrath is all dependent on how many games Dylan plays. If he hits 42, he is exposed to the draft, if he plays less he is protected, but becomes a free agent.
Seemingly, the way to deal with the Klein/McI situation is to trade Kleiner around the deadline for a small ransom, and then run these pairings:
McDonagh - Ellis
Skjei - Dylan
Holden - Girardi/Clendening[/quote]

You have to protect Girard in expansion draft

Then, for the expansion, protect:
F: Kreider, Stepan, Miller, Zibby, Zucco, Smith, Fast/Lindberg
D: McDonagh, Ellis, Klein/McIlrath
G: Hank

Exempt: Skjei, Vesey, Buch
Fast/Lindberg is a choice between who the Rangers think they'd want more, and is also conditional on how well Jooris and Hrivik play.
Klein/McIlrath is all dependent on how many games Dylan plays. If he hits 42, he is exposed to the draft, if he plays less he is protected, but becomes a free agent.
Seemingly, the way to deal with the Klein/McI situation is to trade Kleiner around the deadline for a small ransom, and then run these pairings:
McDonagh - Ellis
Skjei - Dylan
Holden - Girardi/Clendening[/quote]

You have to protect Girard in expansion draft[/quote]

I'd buy him out before then, I forgot to mention that, but yeah. Buy him out.

You have to protect Girard in expansion draft[/quote]

I'd buy him out before then, I forgot to mention that, but yeah. Buy him out.[/quote]

Not an option. Buy out window opens after expansion draft

I'd buy him out before then, I forgot to mention that, but yeah. Buy him out.[/quote]

Not an option. Buy out window opens after expansion draft[/quote]

Pretty sure the buyout window opens right before the expansion draft. The expansion draft is the 18th-20th of June, and the buyout window is June 15th.

Where I'd the rule about 42 games before being exposed? My understanding is if this is the 3rd season of professional hockey in North America (nhl/ahl) they are exposed. Meaning McIlrath is not exempt at all.

Actually I misread that information, the 42 game rule is:
McIlrath must play 42 games otherwise he goes to Unrestricted Free Agency.
So he isn't exempt, however, we'd probably lose him anyway because of it.
If he plays more than 42 he stays an RFA that we can resign before he hits FA.

Buyout window started Jun 15 this year...it's not going to next year. Usually it's 48 hours from the Stanley Cup being awarded. But the nhl has the option to delay it in an expansion year and they will because they want to make Vegas good asap

Ps. Don't trade Hayes or Kreider, especially for Skinner