If only you didn't sign Shattenkirk you would be in good shape...

His buyout isn’t that hard of hit. It’s like 1m accept for one year where it’s 6 I believe

NYR did not lose this deal... What Gorton did was give NYR another team to root for, other that TBL, come playoff time. And also more importantly... If Zuc does not resign in DAL, which will cost DAL a 1st if he does, there's a good chance he signs back with NYR.

"Rangers lost that deal with Dallas. Would’ve been better if it was two seconds. Hard to believe that they wouldn’t have accepted the Columbus deal offered for dzingel if it was offered for zuc"

Just wondering if the Rangers think the Stars are going to finish lower standing which makes that second round pick a mid teen pick. I'd be surprised if those two first round picks conditions are met.

I just don’t think they beat wpg, nsh or cgy. They’ll need to beat at least one of them to get to the conference finals, and give the rangers a first rounder

There are three scenarios where they don’t lose this deal

Dallas makes it to conference finals
Dallas makes it to conference finals and resigns zucc
Rangers resign zucc— I’ll take a free 2nd and 3rd if you resign him, but if he goes to another team not named Dallas this is a loss

Great point, I'd also add a 4th senerios if NYR signs Panarin. Zuc is probably the #2 UFA forward on NYR's list after Panarin and ahead of Stone. So I'd add a 4th one to your three for Panarin.

So NYR only loses this trade if DAL loses in round 1or2 or Zuc is not able to play 50% of games and if NYR misses out on resigning Zuc or Panarin or (maybe Stone).

But if it is a loss... It's not a complete loss of losing everything. NYR still walks away with 2nd and 3rd.