While i think this is mostly the right call. Copp is too high a cap number tho the term is good.
I'd slide kratsov in over blais on the third line. Pushes cuylle into a rotation on the 4th line which is 100% the right call or down to the AHL.

Move Krav to 3rd line...Blais to 4th. Gotta showcase Krav- put up or go back to Russia for good! And Reaves has to go- with the Cap saved here, extend Motte (if # is reasonable) or sign Sturm. Cuylle (or Othmann)-Motte-Blais would be a killer 4th line. And maybe Rydahl fits in here?

In any case- this lineup pushes back some difficult decisions to next year...but I'm OK with that as long as the signings this year don't come with the NMCs which Gorton gave out like Halloween candy!

You summed it up- Stay the Course!

Copp threw up 53 pts. last year. Centering for the Breadman for a full season, his production should rise. Strome had 54 pts. last season and he is out there looking for $6M. At the dot Andrew is 51.8%, Ryan 45.3%. I see $5.5M as a floor. The NYR cannot go beyond $6M. Andrew intends to test the free agent market. If he receives a higher offer than the NYR, I think Andrew would remain in New York if the Rangers can get reasonably close. If the Rangers have to trade, the worst case scenario, a lot of players will be shopped. While I didn't cover the Vitali issue in quite the detail you did, I think the scenario you offered is spot on. I see it pretty much the same way. Appreciate your post!

Hey Jimbo, we are definitely on the same page. Most, if not all of the comments you made are rolling around in the back of my head too. For a "Whitman Sampler," take a look at my response to slater417

Even though signing Copp puts NYR in an immediate quandry next summer- it solves/manages 2C/3C for this year. And I'm OK with that. Best case- if Chytl ready for 2C- Copp then goes to wing in top 6. This in itself makes someone moveable next year (could even be Copp). Not as good a case- Chytl shows he's not capable of C duties...he then becomes easy subtraction next year when several are looking for new contracts.

In the end, any path which Drury takes in fielding next year's team is gonna take a leap of faith somewhere- I just think Copp has shown himself to be a good fit with this team and (esp looking at your #'s) he may very well outplay his next contract if it comes in as 5.5M per.

Filip has been making steady progress, and that includes slow but sure progress at the dot. If he can continue to improve at the dot, he is a C. If not, he's a LW. On board with your comments re: Copp.

The difference is that 54 points was lower than his previous 2 years with panarin, whereas 52 was quite higher than copps usual average.
Additionally Copp isn't getting strome's PP time. Thats going to Laf.
Strome aside from his time in edmonton has been around a 50 point player.
Copp has never been close to that.
You also cant ignore that chytil might win the 2nd center spot outright, which means we'd be paying 5.5 for a 3c.
We also have to think long term as both laf and kam hit RFA next year, and the rangers have to be very careful not to be offersheeted for one or both of them.

If the Rangers go for JT Miller, and they might if they can get Copp, the issue is moot. But let's assume all three are still passengers on the good ship "Blueshirt." They just released a survey of Rangers fans that opted for retaining Strome at 5%, Copp in second at I think it was 33%, and trade 38%. Your view is clearly in the minority. Filip is not a #2C because of his weakness at the dot. Strome is a tad better. There are many people out there who see Filip as a #3LW behind the Breadman, eventually becoming #2LW. He is strong, particularly along boards. As a bottom six C on the NYR, his lack of face success in not as negative to the team overall. The Rangers have $3.4M in buyout dollars coming of the board, that will be as part of the offers to Laffy and the K-man. It's a non-issue. I won't get into a wee-wee contest about the scoring numbers. Take a look at Strome's numbers before he came to New York. His scoring over that time includes the "Breadman factor." Andrew had 30 pts two years ago with WPG, and 35 pts before he came to NYR had scored 18 pt. more. A full year with the Breadman and he will at least match Strome's production. His superior skill at the dot means more O-zone time, likely a stronger power play, and and a less taxed D. Hell, Igor might even get in a nap. Last year they put the scenario on a loop: NYR PP, Lose faceoff - skate 200 ft. - Retrieve the puck - 20 seconds off the clock. There will be a lot of that if either either Andrew Copp or JT Miller (52.7% in faceoffs) are the NYR #2C,