I really like a Reilly Smith move, but I worry about next season's cap crunch and not having a RW solution

Smith isnt the answer, hes just another big, physical forward with limited offensive skills.

Nah he would fit great on a line with zib and kreids and then kakko could shift back to Panarin and strome line

Not at all, all youre doing is putting another non-skill player with Mika who will continue to struggle scoring goals.

id hardly say that smith hasn't been skilled this season and he's a vet and a playoff guy. I actually think making a blockbuster trade with seattle is the move. Something like Gourde (with retention), Donskoi (half retained) and giordano for nemeth, gauthier, Robertson and a 1st? something along those lines. and making the lines.

Kreids-Zib-Laf
Panarin-strome-kakko
goodrow-gourde-donskoi
hunt-rooney-reaves

maybe even make another move for a top 6 player even if it is smith... by giving up blais and a pick.

Youre not getting Gourde with retention and Donskoi for a bunch of spokes on a wheel. Nemeth will enforce his NTC and reject the trade.

Honestly, the Rangers should use the salary cap they have this year and just make a bunch of moves for rentals. Make a big push for the Cup and continue to move forward with the existing future pieces the following year.

Go after goirdano and donskoi (with retention then). Donskoi hasn’t played well for them. Their true need is a replacement for nemeth and a guy like Bo Horvat to replace strome

Forget replacing Strome, he will likely get resigned. Its gonna be "cheap" to resign him compared to his production. Any trade for a high profile player will come at an extension cost beyond what we can afford.

They should use the salary cap space they have to bring in someone like Pavelski, for starters.

anything above 5.25 for strome wont really work

Supposedly, the Rangers are shooting for around 5.5m tops. If they cant get him at a decent dollar amount then I think they have to do 1 of 2 things.

1. Still make the trade for Pavelski and see if he will extend for a year or 2 at our needed price point.
2. Go balls to the wall and try to trade for the 1OA pick and draft Shane Wright.