I love both your trades with an explanation. However, I do feel that Zibenejad will need to get paid more $$$, and if Grabner has another season like this one, he'll be getting paid a TON more, even if it's not from NYR. This is still a really realistic representation of what NYR could look like. 5 stars.

One last thing, even though RNH is a great player and he's still young, Lias Anderson is probably going to be in that role in a few years, New York would be smart to maybe get an older guy in his early 30's to play second line. A guy like Spezza from Dallas with $2 million retained wouldn't be a bad trade. You also wouldn't have to give up a 1st.

Feel like Holden is a one year wonder kinda like Matt Gilroy

No one knows how he got to 11+23, true. I don't think I like the RNH trade; his term is way too long imo

The worse reason ever for the Canes to trade for Marc Staal to "to play with his brother.". Canes have lots of Dmen, and don't throw around 3m around easily. Kinda like the Oiler trade for both teams. Just wonder if the Rangers will have long term buyers regret, and Oilers short term sellers regret.

Oilers will want more/different for RNH. Nobody wants to lose ~$3 million if it means they have to play old man Staal; furthermore, he doesn't waive his NMC for CAR.

You said it doesn't have to be CAR, but if Staal by some miracle waives his NMC, it's going to have to be with a contending team in need of vet Dmen that has a ton of cap space (this is obviously assuming there would be a ton of salary retained). The only 2 teams that COULD make sense, and this is already a stretch, is BOS and MTL. I feel crazy even saying that...