Would be great if Lemieux somehow gets the skill to be our Wilson.
Agree on Simmonds, dude is toast.
- Fenrir

You watch it yet?

Glad the Rangers won If the Oilers Leafs or Pens won I’d go crazy. About time.

Two biggest needs that we have on our current roster:

1) legit 2nd line center ------ I like Strome, but I think we can upgrade

2) legit top 4 LHD to pair with Trouba ---- Don't want to rush the kids

Solution:

Trade rights to Strome to Buffalo straight up for Jake McCabe.
If he doesn't pair well with Trouba, he should mesh well with Tony D'Angelo. Alleviates the need to rush Miller. Buffalo needs a 2nd line center and Strome will help them. McCabe is a clear upgrade over Smith and has a better contract.

Trade Nils Lundqvist and our 2020 late 1st round pick to Tampa straight up for Anthony Cirelli.
Lightning have to clear cap space for Sergachev and I realize they want NHL ready players in return, but nobody will offer them a better package than us. I don't do this trade lightly because Lundqvist has a high ceiling, but Cirelli just turned 23 and he could be a rising star. We could sign him for the $$ we are currently paying Strome so our cap hits will actually go DOWN with these 2 deals. Cirelli keeps Chytil on the 3rd line and gives him time to grow.
- TommyGTrain

Great post. I think you are right, Sergachev is the expensive RFA that the Lightening will choose to protect.

I think Cirelli is already the target of multiple teams including the Sens, Devils, Ducks and Rangers. All of them have an "extra" 1st round pick to offer up as a bargaining chip. So, what is the added piece that will make the difference in a possible deal?

Georgie, Carolina's 1st and another asset to Buffalo for the #8?

Let's get Lafreniere and Lundell
- KreiderBomb

I know everyone is lusting for Lundell to have a Finnish guy to play with Kakko, but after taking Lafreniere, our young forwards are very very lefty shot heavy, and Lundell is a lefty.

Kakko, Chytil, Lafreniere, Kravstov, Buchnevich, Howden, Barron, Andersson, Henriksson, Gettinger and then Kreider, Lemieux all left handed shots

I just wonder if it would factor in to their thinking about that 2nd first rounder

You watch it yet?
- JRR1285

Too scared

I know everyone is lusting for Lundell to have a Finnish guy to play with Kakko, but after taking Lafreniere, our young forwards are very very lefty shot heavy, and Lundell is a lefty.

Kakko, Chytil, Lafreniere, Kravstov, Buchnevich, Howden, Barron, Andersson, Henriksson, Gettinger and then Kreider, Lemieux all left handed shots

I just wonder if it would factor in to their thinking about that 2nd first rounder
- jimbro83

Good point, and we know this team likes lefty-righty balance. But some of the lefties can play right wing, which mitigates the need somewhat.

Great post. I think you are right, Sergachev is the expensive RFA that the Lightening will choose to protect.

I think Cirelli is already the target of multiple teams including the Sens, Devils, Ducks and Rangers. All of them have an "extra" 1st round pick to offer up as a bargaining chip. So, what is the added piece that will make the difference in a possible deal?
- spatso

I love Cirelli. It’s who I want the Rangers to target in the McDonagh/Miller deal. I think Tampa tries to move one or two salaries - Tyler Johnson being one - to free up room to keep Cirelli. Moving I think is a very last resort for the Lightning.

Good point, and we know this team likes lefty-righty balance. But some of the lefties can play right wing, which mitigates the need somewhat.
- airjan23

well the good news is we have two of the best righty shots in the world already in Panarin and Zibanejad

I love Cirelli. It’s who I want the Rangers to target in the McDonagh/Miller deal. I think Tampa tries to move one or two salaries - Tyler Johnson being one - to free up room to keep Cirelli. Moving I think is a very last resort for the Lightning.
- airjan23

Vasilevskiy going from 3.5 million to 9.5 million is a killer, ooooofa

I love Cirelli. It’s who I want the Rangers to target in the McDonagh/Miller deal. I think Tampa tries to move one or two salaries - Tyler Johnson being one - to free up room to keep Cirelli. Moving I think is a very last resort for the Lightning.
- airjan23

I believe you are right about what Tampa will try to do. But, there are 10 teams that need to free up cap space just to sign their own players. There are another 10 teams near the cap limits who are unable to absorb much additional salary. And, there are 10 teams that have cap space that can absorb significant salary in deals.

So, as many as 20 teams will be looking for some help from the 10 that have cap flexibility. It is going to be hard (expensive) to move salary.

So it appears the Rangers got the last LAF

Vasilevskiy going from 3.5 million to 9.5 million is a killer, ooooofa
- jimbro83

Gourde - $5.166 for five more years
Johnson - $5 mil for the next four seasons

They have a ton of tough decisions with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy at $9.5 mil each along with Stamkos at $8.5 mil. Giving McDonagh $6.75 mil for six more years looks sub-optimal with Sergachev needing to be paid.

Gourde - $5.166 for five more years
Johnson - $5 mil for the next four seasons

They have a ton of tough decisions with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy at $9.5 mil each along with Stamkos at $8.5 mil. Giving McDonagh $6.75 mil for six more years looks sub-optimal with Sergachev needing to be paid.
- airjan23

they have so many chips in to try and win it all this year, but it's gonna be tough with Hedman hurt yet again

Tampa also gives out NTC clauses like candy

Too scared
- Fenrir

Come on.

Gourde - $5.166 for five more years
Johnson - $5 mil for the next four seasons

They have a ton of tough decisions with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy at $9.5 mil each along with Stamkos at $8.5 mil. Giving McDonagh $6.75 mil for six more years looks sub-optimal with Sergachev needing to be paid.
- airjan23

Everyone is looking at the cap vulnerability of the Lightening. But, they are not alone. St. Louis, Islanders, Toronto, Boston, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton have really tough cap challenges next year.

It is a buyers' trade market. Nobody is going to make it easy for Tampa to give away a $5m salary.

Panarin Strome Kakko
Buch Zib Lafrenière
Kreider Chytil Kravtsov
Lemeuix Howden PDG
- nyrangers9479

You want CK20 to be bounced for 2 rookies??

I know everyone is lusting for Lundell to have a Finnish guy to play with Kakko, but after taking Lafreniere, our young forwards are very very lefty shot heavy, and Lundell is a lefty.

Kakko, Chytil, Lafreniere, Kravstov, Buchnevich, Howden, Barron, Andersson, Henriksson, Gettinger and then Kreider, Lemieux all left handed shots

I just wonder if it would factor in to their thinking about that 2nd first rounder
- jimbro83

Poolparty shoots right.

Poolparty shoots right.
- JRR1285

you are talking Jesse Puljujarvi right?

Gourde - $5.166 for five more years
Johnson - $5 mil for the next four seasons

They have a ton of tough decisions with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy at $9.5 mil each along with Stamkos at $8.5 mil. Giving McDonagh $6.75 mil for six more years looks sub-optimal with Sergachev needing to be paid.
- airjan23

That is the dirtiest use of the term "sub-optimal" I have ever seen!!!

you are talking Jesse Puljujarvi right?
- jimbro83

Yes.

That is the dirtiest use of the term "sub-optimal" I have ever seen!!!
- Tonybere

Agreed. Jan is so polite when he shreds a team.

Everyone is looking at the cap vulnerability of the Lightening. But, they are not alone. St. Louis, Islanders, Toronto, Boston, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton have really tough cap challenges next year.

It is a buyers' trade market. Nobody is going to make it easy for Tampa to give away a $5m salary.
- spatso

Unfortunately, you can add the Rangers to that list, as well. Only for one season, but we have to navigate that somehow before we can set up for the future. Upgrading our 2C will be impossible without moving some salary. So, we might need multiple moves.

I dont think fast is making or breaking a lineup
- picklerick

All I know is getting that #1 gives the Rangers a bunch more options now.

Nice to see Larry Brooks rain on the parade and be negative in his article today haha