Personally I think Vatrano should not be a priority for the Rangers. He's good but not a difference maker. I'm not sure about the center position (Strome has got to go for sure but I'm also mixed on whether to re-sign Copp) but I think the wings shake out like this:

1st line wings: Lafreniere and Kreider - Kreider is a deflection machine and scores goals closer to the net, I don't think he needs to be on the left side to succeed and a lot of his goals come on the powerplay. Lafreniere on the other hand is stronger on the left side and given that he had like 20 goals or whatever at even strength, he should be on the left.

2nd line wings: Panarin and Kakko - Panarin will drive the offense of this line no matter who the center is. Kakko played well opposite Panarin earlier this year before the kid line took off. Maybe Chytil is here if they don't re-sign Copp?

3rd line wings: Blais and Kravtsov - but of a hot take, I know, but I do think Krav and the Rangers make amends (a la Puljujarvi and the Oilers a couple years back). Blais mostly plays the right side but given Krav's skill and need to develop in the NHL, I think the priority is for Krav to be on the right. Blais is a mix of skill and grit, so I think having him with an offensively skilled guy like Krav would be smart.

4th line wings: Motte and Reaves - centered likely by Goodrow, this line is one of the best fourth lines in the league imo. Defensively savvy, hard to play against. Kind of a dream fourth line if you ask me. And Hunt can sub in for Reaves if they need an offensive spark.

Really no need for Vatrano imo.

If this playoffs showed anything its that Reaves can't be a regular

That’s all dependent on Kravtsov and the Rangers making amends tho. Obviously if Krav is back then there’s no need for Vatrano to be back. Also will be interesting to see how Cuylle and Othmann factor into this and if the team feels like one of them can make the jump to the NHL at some point next year. Center is still the issue with this team tho, even if you get rid of the Vatrano and Rooney signings that would leave us with $5,871,031 in cap. Is Copp worth committing 5-5.5 aav to for the next 5-6 years? And if we do again that leaves us with no room to maneuver at the deadline

That's fair lol. Maybe Hunt takes his place?

Probably, since signing someone else with Hunt and Reaves both under contract and not playing might not be the smartest idea

Yeah that's my concern with Copp. Even if he is worth the money, we're still screwed if we can't offload Trouba the following season (which we probably can't) when Laf/Miller need extensions. Zibanejad/Chytil/Goodrow/Rooney isn't great but Chicago won three cups with little center depth after Toews (trying to convince myself it'll be okay here lol).

I had in mind that Othmann and Cullye basically owned the OHL this year but obviously have to operate as if they will both start the season elsewhere because there are no guarantees either will be ready for NHL action come October. I agree that Cullye will likely be called up at some point during the season though. I believe Othmann isn't AHL eligible next season but we will probably see him either be called up from junior halfway through the season if they think he can be committed to NHL play for half a season or he will be called up for playoffs.

We can't move Trouba until 2024 but we have some buyout money coming off the books

They could always run Panarin Zibanejad Kreider/Kid line/Motte Goody Blais/Hunt Rooney Reaves to start the year and then have about 5-6 million to spend at the deadline on either a 2C or fixing the bottom 6

We can't run 2 4th lines again

True I forgot about that

I agree with Ragsandbluesfan, the two 4th lines really did us no favors earlier this season. Wasn't until we got some depth (Vatrano, Copp) that we started to look really legit.

I just made an ACGM with a Larkin trade at the deadline, while starting the season with the lineup I described here. Laf, Kreider, Panarin, Kakko, Blais, Krav, Hunt, Motte on the wings to start the year, then after trading for Larkin and calling up Othmann, Hunt goes down to the AHL until playoffs just for the sake of cap space.

It can be done as long as we don't re-sign Copp or Strome and wait until the deadline to get a legit 2C.

Who’d you trade for Larkin and what’s our C situation to start the year?

To NYR:
Larkin ($2,000,000 retained)

To DET:
Lundkvist, Nils
Trivigno, Bobby
Robertson, Matthew
Nemeth, Patrik
2023 1st round pick (NYR)
2023 2nd round pick (NYR)

Seems steep at first glance, but Nemeth has negative value and the 2nd is essentially for Detroit taking him off our hands. Larkin is a ppg player so retaining 33% is going to come at a price. Lundkvist + 1st are really the main pieces here. Trivigno is an unknown in professional hockey so far (hasn't had much AHL experience yet) and is expendable imo. Robertson also expendable all things considered.

To start the year, it's Zibanejad, Chytil, Goodrow, Rooney. Not ideal, but we made it to near top of the standings this season with little wing depth and took off after the deadline. Think the same can be said for the Rangers with little center depth to start next season. Especially considering Panarin's ability to elevate his center (Strome is a bum without Panarin).

If Reaves is moved, Hunt is a great fit...as 13F. He's not great as a regular- but in a pinch can provide energy as a bottom 6 winger...and he's cheap w/ no bonus to complicate Cap management. So with Reaves moved and Hunt as 13F, (in this lineup) they do need another forward- preferably cheap....I'd kick the tires on another trade with Vancouver for Highmore. Motte and him I believe worked well together in Van last year. And should cost around what Rooney makes. Maybe trade Gaut or Hajek for him?

At that point I would keep Rooney at the minimum until we inevitably get a top 9 guy at the deadline and move Blais down