Another way Tampa could approach next year. I saw this trade between NYR and Tampa proposed on another site and thought it was interesting. Of course it is contingent on TJ waiving and likely Lundquist retiring, but interesting nonetheless.

Take out Killorn, Johnson, Nils , 2021 first and NYR accept.

lol Rangers decline. The difference between Buch and Cirelli is not big at all. You could probably work out a Buch + 2nd for Cirelli + Gourde (slightly retained)

The real barrier here is the Rangers have no room to take on 15+m in contracts. The Rangers are in a cap crunch already, we can't take on all of those years of Killorn and Johnson AND give Cirelli the extension.

Tampa declines that very quickly. Cirelli has much more value than 1 year of Buchnevich and Tampa isn't interested in moving Gourde.

1 year of Buch? he's an RFA ...

but tbh that's totally fine, would rather hold Buch.

Right, why Lundqvist would have to retire for this scenario to have any real chance. Johnson could also be moved after one year if he wasn't a great fit, or he was and the Rangers just needed space and could get value for him. It's not how I really see Tampa handling things either, as Cirelli is 95% staying while Killorn and Johnson are likely moved in separate deals.

Yeah, 1 guaranteed year of Buch before a new contract would have to be worked out or he'd have to be moved. I'm sure Tampa would likely extend him, but all that's guaranteed would be one year.

I guess... he'd cost you about 5.5 mil annually to sign long term.

Well Said.

That's not even enough really. The Rangers can't take on all of these years of money when they have vacancies coming up and a lot of kids that will need raises soon. Sure they could flip those players but it's not worth their while when they're giving up a young cost controlled asset in Lundkvist and all of those picks. You'd need to sell those players at a much much lower price for the Rangers to consider it because we know how much it's just helping you out by getting rid of players you overpaid a bit.

If it's Lundkvist and the Carolina 1st for Cirelli (which I personally would not do as the Rangers but it may not be unfair value-wise), then it's Buch a 1st and a 3rd for Killorn, who is just an older Buch with more term at surface level and Tyler Johnson who would be the same for us that he is for you basically; a good 3rd line center who is making more money than we want him to. Add in the fact that they're both on the wrong side of 30 and it just doesn't make sense for the Rangers to take on that risk and pay for it with a smile. You have to make it worth the Rangers' while to take on that risk imo.

I didn't come up with this proposal, a Rangers fan on another site did. I just wanted to gauge reaction to it. I don't think either side would ultimately go for it, as Tampa isn't really interested in moving Cirelli. Sure Killorn and Johnson are 30, but neither are overpaid. Both are still top 6 caliber players, with Johnson getting pushed down because of the emergence of Cirelli. He's still a top 6 w or c, and despite his numbers this year, is still good for 50 or so points with that role. I agree that this trade was a slight overpay for the Rangers and that the cap concerns+their young players coming up would likely cause an issue with it.