What Rangers hope will happen (this wont happen)

1. Vesey isn’t getting a 1 year deal
2. Kovy is most likely getting 2 years maybe 3
3. Don’t think it’d be wise trading both Hayes and Spooner just to get rid of B Smith contract. Once Spooner got here, he made Hayes into a legit 2 C. If Hayes gets moved, think it’d be more along the lines of a top 4 dman.

With respect to Hayes, he would not play ahead of Tavares or Zibby in the line-up, and no point having him at 3rd center over Andersson. I've seen plenty of Spooner, there are times you watch and think he could be top 6 forward, has a great shot and great pp ability. I have also seen the fatigued/disinterested side of Spooner (who shows up every year for a while) who is unable to play on the opposite side of the puck. From making this team, whether buried or bought out, Smith ruins the ability to keep the cap down. At least Kruger can come of the cap after a year. Also I think Zykov can be dynamite, so a risky move worth taking. I appreciate your point about Vesey, but again, cap space and future. Vesey is yet to show he warrants a contract like Silfverberg or Rakell so he will have to take a low bridge like AA in Detroit.

Oh in regards to Vesey, I figured that he’d get a Jesper Fast type of deal around 3 years near $2M per. Or maybe 2 years for 2M. You do make some solid points, just am unsure if Hayes should be used as a player to get rid of the Smith contract.

In regards to trading for Larson, NYR have Hajek, Lindgren, Day waiting to get call ups. Maybe Staal gets bought out next summer or he waived and NYR retain. Do they get used as trade bait?

Well, its difficult to identify the ceiling for these players as they all have size and their best asset is efficiency/shut down defense, not offence or high risk plays. Its a lot better to have competition amongst them for the best result. In 3 years Staal and Shattenkirk will be out of contract, and by then these D will hopefully have sorted out a pecking order. DeAngelo remains a wildcard and O'Gara will likely plateau as a bottom 6. Its better to have a lot of good D ready and competing, rather than a set top 6 with no backup plan, that gives you Buffalo like consequences. So no, I would not trade any D, just keep adding until its all sorted out.