Reaves isn't going anywhere, Gallant would not permit it, and Georgy is worth a 4th rounder, 3rd at best. The Donato trade is a no-go as well. We need Cs that can win faceoffs too, and Ryan can't. The players you offer in exchange, are reasonable, but I hate to lose Jonny. He is good on faceoffs, sound on defense, provides bulk, doubles as a wing and is a valuable reserve player when holes need to be plugged. When Reaves days are over, Jonny would be a good replacement. Re: Copp - I like Andrew too. I think he is a diamond in the rough, at the right price. For me $5.5M is my limit just a bit less than you propose, and I agree with you for 5 years. Playing with Breadman for a full season, and I think Andrew is ready to break out, whatever happens. Which brings me to my favorite subject these days. NHL GMs and NYR GMs in particular may be good hockey people, but none of them are finance majors. Before I focus on the NYR, it should be noted they there are currently 14 players at the $10M or more CAP Hit. Punch the list of them up and you'll find that the number of cups won by the teams that they play for is "doughnut." Yeah I know, Toews and Kane have three each, but they were won when both were making $7.5M each. If there is one guy on the list that commands $10M, I think most would agree its Connor McDavid. If Connor forgoes $2.5M that sets the benchmark, then Leon ..... think about the additional $s that would be available to construct a stronger supporting cast. You can do this with all the other clubs these guys play for including the NYR. The best example of how to do it right is PIT. As a Ranger fan, and no fan of Sidney the Tutu as a rival player (Sid has been the best whiner in the NHL for years), I acknowledge his talent and do RESPECT him in one regard, Sid has been taking $8.7M for years. By doing so the he set the standard, and selflessly left room for the supporting PENS cast. This allowed the PIT to retain a number of solid players, we all know who they are. As a result, Sid and the rest of those guys have three cups on their resumé. It took 15 years for the $s to break down in PIT. Now, in the latter stages of his career, Sid is still one of the top players in the NHL. Removing his age as a factor, how much is Sid worth on the open market today given his production numbers and his faceoff prowess. The defense rests. Now to the NYR. The Panarin and Trouba contracts are awful, a what the NYR did with Fox's contract extension was awful too. Let's stat with Adam. I would have extended him at $7.5M until he was a UFA, and then bumped him to $9.5M. Is ask yourself, is Adam at $9.5M that much more valuable than Kreids at $6.5M. Trouba is worth no more than $6M. Lindgren and Miller taken in up in steps to $6M, Schneider look like a candidate to get to $6M. You get the idea. Low and Slow. Krieds was limited by a lesser supporting cast than the one he is playing with now. He was the one rebuild decision the NYR got right. I mean all of these guys, even the guys at the bottom of the salary scale will be multi- millionaires and set for the rest of lives when their playing days are over. In my world, and using the current salary cap; Panarin $9.5M Fox $7.5M, Trouba $6M vs. their current contracts would put and additional $6.1M in the kitty to upgrade the rest of the roster. I just focused on the two most egregious contracts and reflected the difference if Fox's extension were handled differently.' I know the counter arguments "You can't do this in todays market ..........) yada yada yada. Here's the test. You are Adam Fox, native New Yorker and lifelong Ranger fan, you want to play here. I'm the Ranger GM and I hold a closed door meeting with all the players (the current Ranger locker room is tight). I take them through the analysis I just proffered, and with no agent around, posed the following question "Are you here for the bucks or are you here for the cups?" How would Adam reply or for that matter, any of the other players. But let's focus on Adam's response.

If Reaves were to stick around next season he could easily slot in where Hunt is. I was looking at Donato as adding a bit of scoring to the 4th line but Brodzinski up the middle with Goodrow on the left would be solid too. A package of Georgiev, Kravtsov and Nemeth for Edmonton's round 2 pick in 2023 would also be reasonable. I agree that the NYR got a bit over zealous with the contracts.