2018-19, draft day move with Montreal

Team: 2018-19 New York Rangers

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 4, 2018

Published: Apr. 4, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Draft day move to jump up and get one of the elite prospects in the draft (assuming Montreal stays at 3). Montreal is light up the middle. Names has the two way game Montreal could really use and is plenty young enough to fit into anyone's rebuild (would love to keep him for an all-Russian third line, but you have to give to get). John Gilmour has shown promise as an offensive d man (something else Montreal needs), and is a Montreal native. 10th pick also included.

As for my lines:
Is it me, or does this forward group look more competitive/complete than last year's opening roster?
You can flip flop Chytil and Spooner if Chytil isn't ready for the full time center spot. I see him as a winger in the future anyway.
Brought back Nash on a 2 year deal. Provides leadership by example with a great two way game and flashes of elite offense (we also lack RW capable forwards).
Though I hate having Andersson on the 4th line, with solid wingers this line could really push for ice time and would outproduce most teams 4th lines. Carey had a pretty decent year on a bad team's 4th line. He provides some grit and can slot in at all forward positions. He wins the extra forward job unless Nieves has an unbelievable camp.

As for the D:
This on paper looks like the team's weak spot! Since cap won't be an issue for a rebuilding team this year, Staal survives yet another season (sigh), buyout comes next year when his cap hit will be half of what it would be this year. Brendan Smith gets a chance to redeem himself (what do you have to lose?), he makes too much money to sit in the minors. If all goes well, he learns from last year and comes in hungry/in great shape. He can provide some leadership and grit on the back end. If he does redeem, and the team is still not a payoff team, you can move him at the deadline for something. We need the other D prospects (Hajik, Rykov, Day, Lindgren etc.) to push for roster spots next season before the team can really be competitive.

In goal:
Old faithful, the only reason this team has been relevant for the last 13 seasons. While he might not be tip top Hank, he's still great and a top 10 goalie. I see 2-3 seasons left at this level before he really starts to decline. Georgie has proven he can handle the back up role, and it's a cap savings. He becomes a trade chip the following season when Igor is ready to cross the pond, thanks to the Allaire build-a-goalie factory.