No.

Barkov isn't leaving Florida, And that doesn't get him anyways not even close.

Not fair

Gauthier was a healthy scratch for 50% of the season, so you want to sign him for double what he was making this season?

Its just a number, this was made more about Barkov, but its moot.

Point is, Id be more comfortable with Gauthier then making a trade for someone in that position. Hes big and talented, just needs the right people behind him.

The salary cap is just a number too, but every dollar counts. Gauthier is big and fast and talented and plays SOFT like every other top 9 forward we have. If he showed any inclination to play a hard, physical game, I would agree, but he doesn't. The team needs more physical, gritty players, not more of the same, soft, don't hit me wingers.

Im hoping he could develop into one of those kinds of players. If were gonna pull the plug, then Id happily go after a guy like Greenway from the Wild for 3RW and someone like Jenner or Dvorak for the 3C. However, moves like that mean we cant go after any of these big money centers, which tbh I dont think we need in the first place. My ideal move would be for Lindholm since hes contract controlled at a very fair price.

CBJ hard pass. Boone Jenner is worth more than Strome in leadership and production. Strome needs to play with superstars.

In my opinion, a player either plays with grit or they don't. It's part of their dna, and I don't think Gauthier has it. Some people don't like to be hit (in a hockey sense) and others do. I don't think its something you develop in your 20's, you know at a young age. If Gauthier liked using his large size to his advantage, he would have done it already. He's kind of like Kreider, except Chris will be play a physical game at times, and other times he is invisible, which is the most frustrating part of his game. If either of them decided to play a hard physical game every game, they would be beasts. Puts Zucc's heart and grit in either and the you have something special. The Rangers have plenty of top 9 talent, all of which play soft, so to me Gauthier is more of the same, just not as developed as the others. I would trade him for Greenway in a heartbeat, and not because I don't like his potential, but because the team needs toughness and grit that he doesn't possess. Same reason I would be open to trading Kravstov in a package for an elite center, and then build more gritty 3rd and 4th lines.

I agree, players either like the hitting or they dont and its not something you just start liking as a pro. I wouldnt mind bringing in Foligno for a year on a third line that features, Jenner and Kreider.

I assume you mean Nick and I wouldn't mind that at all. He would bring leadership and grit to a team that needs both badly. Wish they could sign him and trade for his brother, but Minny wouldn't trade Marcus unless they got way over his value.