This Rangers fan loves it. Not sure San Jose would be willing to give up so much for Hayes and Kreider, though I suppose it makes it easier for them to re-sign Karlsson over the summer.

Not true. Why would the rangers go anywhere near that Vlasic contract. That will be worst than Giradi and Staal combined in two years

He's still a top defenseman in the league and is only at 8.5% of the cap hit.

Doesn’t make sense for both teams. If sharks are contending now, they need Vlasic. Rangers are rebuilding and have no use for him and his contract

I get what you’re saying but by the time the rangers finally build a competitive team, he’ll be out of his prime and a burden of a cap hit

It's a slightly risky deal on both sides.

For the rangers: the vlasic contract may be a great one that gives them a 23-25 minute shut down Dman who also can put up 30-40 pts playing PK, PP, and EV against the opponent's top lines. Hes dont it for a decade, and is only 31 (not young, but not old either). Hes on a down year, but he is a top Dman. The term and $$ are a bit risky, but they could give them a #1 Dman. Labanc could also stay a medium 3rd liner, or with better linemates, increased ice time and opportunity, he could explode for 60-80 pts and be a young core piece. Merkeoy could be a #1 Dman in the NHL or a total bust and Blichfeld could be a top 6 Forward in the NHL or a bust because despite being the CHL leading scorer, he is an overager, so it's hard to tell. Melker is a known commodity 3/4th liner, but a great PK player, but not a huge deal, and a 2nd rounder is a crap shoot too with a 1/3 of a chance of being an effective NHLer.

Lots of Risk for NYR, but clearly a good heul in comparison with losing Hayes and Kreider for next to nothing.

For the sharks, it's also a big risk. They give up their #1 shut down dman for decade, and a member of team canada olympic team as well as a heart and soul type player. They lose their top D prospect and only 1st round pick still in the system not on the NHL roster. They lose a very good young NHL forward and they lose the CHL leading scorer (a potential star forward), and another top pick.

And this could all be for two rentals and one year of Kreider. That's a big price to pay both today and in the future for two guys who may not fit in and may not stick around beyond this year (or next).

It's a significant risk for both sides, but it matches the needs of both too. The sharks could use one or two top forwards this year going into the POs, and guys who might resign if the situation works as it has for Jumbo, Burns, Kane, and possibly Karlsson. The Rangers et two very good defensive players in Vlasic and Melker Karlsson, a top 9 forward to replace the two they lost, two great prospects and a high pick.

Its a clear win-win, with big risk on both sides, but also big upside for both as well....

Sharks need to clear space to resign karlsson. Braun, Dillon, Melker karlsson are all clear candidates to move to do that. However, Dillon has emerged as a defensive (really two way) stud this year. Braun alone may not be expensive enough to clear the space alone and Melker doesnt clear that much either while adding significant unseen value. Vlasic has the big money and term, as well as alot of marektability particularly to poor defensive teams. Trading pickles clears ample space for EK 65 while bringing back a return that helps the sharks win now.

For the Rangers, I can see the downside of adding pickles if they don't intend to contend for 3-5 years. If that is true, then they are better off stockpiling 23 or younger players and prospects as well as picks.

I am not sure that is the direction the rangers want to go. Most likely, their top choice is to resign hayes and Kreider long term, trade Zucarello for picks/prospects, and make a run for it next year. However, if they want to compete, they have to improve defensively dramatically. I think this deal makes sense if they want to compete next year. They add Pickles to the D, Labanc and Karlsson to the O, and then begin to get a look at their 5 first round picks over the last couple years.

They also could use solid Vet leadership and off ice value that pickles adds. He was on team canada, not only for his D, but for his character, work ethic, and heart. A team like the rangers, with many young players and prospects, could use a veteran star to look up to and learn from. He brings a wealth of knowledge about how to play good D, how to be a professional, and simply how to win.

Vlasic doesn't hold a ton of value right now, he's a really expensive stay at home defenseman. San Jose would be stupid to lose the great D depth they have and move him. He has already peaked. Players don't improve when they're in their 30s. NYR would have to flip him somewhere. This deal just doesn't make sense for either side. SJ loses a lot of chemistry and NYR gets another bloated contract on the back end.